GE N! VI R LA VI VA Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus, Naga City | v.3, n.36 | issn 2599-5030 | 2 to 8 September 2018
CLEANLINESS OR GODLINESS?
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n an excerpt of chapter 21 of the “Little Prince” the fox said:”If you want a friend, tame me . . .What must I do, to tame you?” asked the little prince. “You must be very patient,” replied the fox. “First you will sit down at a little distance from me—like that—in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me, every day . . . One must observe the proper rites . . .’What is a rite?’ asked the little prince.” aimed at inspiring these Christians to be This question of the little prince could more steadfast in their devotion to the be the same question which we may ask ideals of Christ rather than performing after reading the Sunday Gospel (Mk 7:1-8) during this 22nd Sunday in ordinary time. It traditional rituals. These set of Christians which this Gospel was written for were not were the Pharisees—the antagonist familiar of the Jewish ritual washings. If in this Sunday Gospel story who these rituals were forced on insinuated the question. SUNDAY Pharisees were a religious REFLECTION them then unifying them into the true fold of the Church will group at the time of Jesus who be doomed for division instead. were overly scrupulous in the The ritual that the fox suggests to the observance of the law, they impose that which is more than the written law; they add little prince was meant to build their laws that are merely spoken—they insist that friendship. What if the little prince did not perform the ritual? Will their friendship not the traditional rituals are equivalent to the succeed? Will the fox not be tamed? A rite law. The Pharisees claim upon themselves to in itself is good but when they are treated be the better ones in society because they with a rather greater value than the object hold fast to their traditions. This is the for which they are performed then that reason why the “ritual washing” became a ritual becomes problematic. question which Jesus have to deal with. This It is given that people in the time and is the reason why Jesus said: “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as place of Jesus wash their hands before eating. We Filipinos do the same as a matter of it is written: These people honor me with practice. Eating together builds friendships. their lips, but their hearts are far from me. But not washing our hands before eating They worship me in vain; their teachings are should not make enemies. Will we allow our merely human rules. You have let go of the traditions to defeat our Christian commands of God and are holding on to philosophy—our purpose to be united with human traditions. (Mk 7:6-8)” God and with the entire humanity? Anyway, The Gospel of Mark was written for gentiles converted to Christianity who were cleanliness is always only next to Godliness. 4 ramon l. almoneda, ph.d.-th. at the same time persecuted, that is why it
giya sa prayer meeting
marko 7:31-37 Domingo 23 (Taon b)
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inara ninda saiya an sarong bungog-bilot, asin ipinakimaherak saiya...” Kabaing ini duman sa paralitiko na dinara kan mga amigo ki Jesus. Huli ta bungog, dai sya makataram na malinaw. Siring man kaini an mga LECTIO disipulo. Daing gayo DIVINA malinaw an mga katukduan ni Jesus. Daing gayo ninda ini nasasabutan, kun kaya dai man sinda nakakapagtukdo sa iba. Iyo man ini an kamugtakan nyato gabos. Sagkod na dai malinaw an satong pagdangog, dai kita makakaharubay kan tataramon kan Dyos. Ano an makaribong na katukduan ni Jesus para sako?
“‘Effetha’, na an buot sabihon, mabuksan ka.” Nagtingkalag si Jesus sa langit sa paghagad tabang sa saiyang Ama. Naghangos syang hararom huli sa pagkaherak. Dangan nagtaram sya. Nabuksan saiyang an talinga sa pagdangog asin natalingkas an saiyang dila sa pagkagapos tanganing makapagpahayag. Dawa kinakaptan ni Jesus an talinga asin an dila, narahay an lalaki huli kan makapangyarihan na tataramon ni Jesus. Sisay pa an bungog-bilot na buot kong darhon sa Kagurangnan?
“Lalo man lugod sindang naghaharubay.” Dawa sinda binawalan ni Jesus sa pagtaram dapit kan saiyang ginibo, bakong maraot an pagharubay ninda. An saindang pagharubay bunga kan saindang dakulang kaugmahan sa karahayan na ipinapahiling ni Jesus sainda. An mga karahayan na ini tanda na sya totoong Dyos. Siring man kaini an mga mahihigos na prayer leaders na dai nagsasawa sa pag-alok nin mga myembro sa pagpamibing sarabay asin sa pagharubay kan ebanghelyo. Anong kaugmahan an sakong namamatian sa Kagurangnan? 4