Archdiocesan Shrine and Parish of St. Jude Thaddeus, Naga City | v.4, n14 | issn 2599-5030 | 7 to 13 April 2019
SCARLET WOMAN FORGIVEN
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his drama took place in Jerusalem, by the temple, where Jesus had been teaching the past days. Early in the morning, a commotion ensued. A couple was caught in the very act of adultery. Knowing that Jesus was close by, the scribes and Pharisees took this opportunity to present the case to Him. Jesus wisely resolves the dilemma with Surprisingly, only the woman was these words: “He who is without sin among subjected to such utter embarrassment and fear. They spared the man. Clearly, they were you, let him throw the first stone at her.” The law says that the first to throw a stone shall not serious about putting the couple into be the witnesses, followed by the rest of the trial. Trembling, the woman surmised people. They retreated quietly, without that soon, she would be stoned to arguing, beginning from the death, and then denied of proper SUNDAY burial. The scribes and Pharisees REFLECTION elders. After all, everyone knows everyone’s sin. did not care about her. She was When everyone has left, Jesus turned to only a tool for their nefarious the woman. He did not ask whether she was intentions. Jesus was the real one on trial. guilty or not. He only asked whether there They called Jesus ‘teacher,’ but not was anyone who condemned her. because of respect. It was an introduction to To Jesus, the woman was clearly guilty. the humiliation they intended to inflict on But Jesus neither condemned nor excused Jesus. It was a trap. They were thinking, “if He was indeed a teacher, he should be able to her sin. Jesus told her: “From now on, sin no more.” Jesus offered her a fresh start. resolve the dilemma.” Commenting about this story, “To stone or not to stone the woman.” If Augustine writes: “Let this woman be Jesus says “yes” to stoning, He would no punished, but not by sinners; let the law be longer be the man of mercy and applied, but not by its transgressors.” Jesus compassion. He would also be in trouble did not approve of her sin; but Jesus was with the Romans for only they could more concerned about the self-righteousness execute criminals. On the other hand, if of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus says “no”, he would be in trouble with Many times, we quickly judge single the Mosaic Law. mothers, LGBTs, alcoholics and drug The question was meant to test Jesus. addicts. Yet we are slow to see our own There are two kinds of test: God’s test and failures and addictions. Like Jesus, we must the devil’s test. The devil tests to cause us to learn to forgive. Like the woman, we must fail. God tests to cause us to succeed. In the Lord’s Prayer, we say: “lead us not to the test, humbly experience the mercy of Jesus. 4 fr. wilmer joseph s. tria but deliver us from evil.”
giya sa prayer meeting
lukas 22:14--23:56 Domingo nin Palaspas, Taon C
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aloy ko nang pinagmàwot na magkakan kaiba nindo kaining Paskwa…” An Paskwa pagrumdom kan pagligtas ni Moises sa mga Israelita sa Ehipto. An Paskwa ni Jesus pag-antisipar kan pagligtas nya sato sa kasàlan. Ini an LECTIO kapinùnan kan Simbahan, DIVINA kan saiyang bàgong banwaan. An Paskwang sato nang ginigibo sa paagi kan Banal na Eukaristiya. Anong rinurumdom ko sa Misa?
“An pinakadakula saindo dapat na magin siring sa kangudhan; an lider dapat magin siring sa naglilingkod…” An pangapudan kan Dyos sa Kristyano bako sanáng magselebrar kan Santa Misa arog baga kan pagbabasa o pagpapakumunyon o pagkakanta o pagkokolekta. An buhay kan Kristyano dai natatapos sa mga rito asin liturhiya, kundi sa mga gibong herak, magin ini sa hawak o sa kalag. An Parokya masasabing buhay bako sa dakul na bilang kan mga nasa Worship Ministry kundi sa mga naglilingkod sa kasaraditan asin sa banwaan. Anong ministry sa parokya an aayunan ko tanganing makatabang sa kasaraditan? Tàno?
“Bakong an kabùtan ko kundi an kabùtan mo an kukuyugon ko.” An agonia kumbinasyon kan excitement asin kahandalan, siring sa ekspiryensya kan sarong soldado o atleta na maayon sa laban. Ini an pagmati mismo ni Jesus sa hardin mantang nakikiulay sa Ama na ilikay sya sa mapait na kagadanan, alagad andam na sya sa pagkuyog kan kabùtan nya. Ini an pinakamadramang pamìbì ni Jesus na dawa an gànot nya nagin siring sa mga tagdo nin dugo. Ano an pinaka-harani kong ekspiryensya sa agonia? 4