"And miles to go before I sleep" - Luke 2:22-40

KAALAGAD Gospel Reflection – February 2, 2020

Presentation of the Lord

Luke 2:22-40

22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), 24and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” 36There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

 "And miles to go before I sleep"

Ang ritwal ay kakambal ng relihiyon. Halos lahat ng mga samahang may paniniwala sa ganito't ganoon ay may mga minamarkahang mga pista, pasko, anibersaryo, mahalagang mga araw at pangyayari na natatangi. Sa mga pagkakataong ito, may mga prusisyon, pagtitipon, pagbabasa ng mga kredo, pagsalaysay ng mga lumang kwento, pag-alaala ng makasaysayang mga katotohanang pinanghahawakan ng may mga pinanghahawakan.

 Maging ang mga fraternities, sororities, clubs ay may mga rites of passage, mga pagsusulit na nagtitiyak na ang mga kasapi ay mga kasapi. Maging ang hanay ng mga sundalo ng Estado, o di kaya'y sa kabilang panig ay kilusang rebolusyonaryo, ay namamanata sa kani-kanilang bandila ng mga may bandila.

 Ano't anupaman, sa hinaba-haba na ng aking paglalakbay at paggalugad sa ibabaw nitong sinasabing mundong makasalanan, may mangilan-ngilang bagay na aking namamalas at nasasabing totoong ganun nga ang totoo. At ang isa sa mga totoong ito, ay ang totoong ayon sa kani-kanilang mga topak, lahat ng tao — ay deboto. At napag-uusapan na rin lang ang pagka-deboto, hindi nagpapahuli sa patimpalakang pananampalatayang relihiyoso ang mga Kristiyano.

 Datapwat gaano man kahalaga ang simbolo, ang buod ay hindi talbos ng uod, bagkus uhay ng buo. Banggit sa bungad pa lang ng kwento, ito ay hinggil sa mga purifications rites required by Law. Sa kabilang banda, ang sinasabi naman ng 1% ng mga abogado, hindi abogasya kundi 'ika "spirit of the law" kamo. At dito ako nababalahaw sa Ebanghelyo ngayong linggo. Tulad malamang ng marami sa inyo, ako rin mismo ay hindi "maka-relate" sa kwento.

 Pakisangguni na lang po ninyo sa ating mga teologong kaparian at obispo, o itanong mo kay Soriano. Kung ano nga ba ang ginawa sa inyo ng mga kalapati at mga kalapati (na siyang Tagalog ng "doves and pigeons" sakaling di n'yo pa alam) — at kailangan talaga silang patayin alang-alang sa ikatatanghal ng ritwal ng tao! Nai-imagine ko tuloy ang umuusok na mga ilong ng taga-PMPI (Philippine Misereor Partnership Inc.)  na mga deboto, "Nasaan ang CHR? Nasaan ang Rights of Nature!"

 Sa ganang payak na utak ng mga gaya ko, ang tanging nasisilip nang di alintana, ay ang dalawang matatandang misteryosong mga propetang Simeon at Anna. Ang kanilang buong buhay ay ginugol at "nilustay" sa pag-aantabay ng tupang mag-aalay ng kanilang buhay, sa ikataguyod  at isakatuparan ng kanilang pakay. Sabi ng isang fan ko, ngayong nakita ko na po kayo  — pwede na akong mamatay!

Wala kasi pating shortcut ang daan ng rebolusyon. At sa mga ibig magtagumpay, ang pustahan sa sugal na ito ay buong buong buhay.

 Naalala ko ang huling saknong ng tula ni Robert Frost na  "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"

 The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

 Sa tuwing nabubuyo na mga oportunidad, sa mga pagkakataong nahuhumaling sa mga seguridad, alalahaning ang komprehensibong pagbabago ng komunidad — ang pagdating ng Kristong Mesias, ang ganap na kaganapan ng mapagkalinga at makatarungang lipunan. Ay isang habangbuhay na adhika ng isang Kaalagad.


GARY GRANADA

KAALAGAD Member

Mercy and Forgiveness?!? - Matthew 4:12-23

KAALAGAD Gospel Reflection – January 26, 2020

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 4:12-23


12Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” 17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Mercy and Forgiveness?!?

This reflection revolves around the Gospel of Matthew, focusing on 4:17, which is pivotal to the flow of the writer’s narrative. After ststing the arrest of John the Baptist, a key formula “From that time” signals the reader of the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Here is the start of a new beginning. Unlike John who preached judgment upon the people, Jesus proclaimed salvation. He announced the start of the realization of the Rule of God in human history.

According to Matthew, the ushering in of the Rule of God has been fulfilled in Jesus. However, such fulfillment took place with strong oppositions. Matthew underlines that it suffered violence in two ways. First, its advent was met by violence – John was arrested and Jesus Himself was crucified – and second, people tried to force their way to its realization violently or most probably through violent means. Such is also pointed out by Matthew in 11:12

 “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.”

 Matthew reiterates that violence has no role to play in God’s rule, that it is strongly contradictory to its principles.

 To what this negative take of Matthew on the use of violence points us? It points us to seriously consider its exact opposite. That the realization of the rule of God in human history can only be achieved, not by violent actions fueled with hate, but via the primary role of mercy and forgiveness that lead to peace. These two kingdom values – mercy and readiness to forgive – are distinct but related lenses through which we must appropriate, participate in. and understand the nature and characteristics of the rule of God as it comes to its full completion.

In Matthew we find consistently an ethical Christianity. Jesus seeks to fulfill the true intention of the law and prophets. Gerd Thiessen observes that “unlike Paul, he (Matthew) does not promise any certainty of salvation. Paul could assure his readers that ‘there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’. By contrast, Matthew says, ‘Not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.’

 Matthew requires at least the readiness to forgive and an elementary readiness to help by performing acts of mercy as path to salvation (cf. Mt 25). Anyone can do that! Even non-Christians!

 The beatitude declares “Blessed are the merciful for they shall be shown mercy.In 5:38-48, Jesus favors love instead of retaliation. The Lord’s prayer exclaims “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, with emphasis on the readiness to forgive. Again in 12:7, Jesus makes clear what manner by which one is to enter the Kingdom of God when He said “I desire mercy not sacrifice”. In 23:23, Jesus cited for the second time Hosea 6:6 in reference to the Pharisees “they condemn the guiltless with their legal interpretations because they do not realize that God prefers mercy over sacrifice”.

 We can look into a more detailed analysis of Matthew’s gospel, like looking at how these themes of mercy and readiness to forgive are further developed in a beautiful literary fashion, but that will require us so much space and time, and therefore not our task.

Hence, for our purposes here, it is enough to underline that the themes of mercy and forgiveness are undeniably highlighted in the First Gospel. That under these two major themes, our take on Jesus’ declaration of the coming of the Rule of God in 4:17 should be explicated.

 Moreover, Pope John Paul II’s encyclical echoes this very idea of mercy in the Dives in Misericordia (God who is rich in mercy!).

 “In Christ, through Christ, God also becomes especially visible in His mercy, that is to say, there is emphasized that attribute of the Divinity which the OT, using various concepts and terms, already defined as ‘mercy’. Christ confers on the whole of the OT tradition about God’s mercy a definitive meaning. Not only does he speak of it and explain it by the use of comparisons and parables, but above all He himself makes it incarnate and personifies it. He himself, in a certain sense, is mercy. To the person who sees it in him – and finds it in him – God becomes visible in a particular way as the Father who is rich in mercy”.

 Theological reflections and actions – the life we live – then must be founded on God’s mercy, as Walter Kasper argues in his book about mercy being the starting point of doing theology. We often say “To know Jesus is to know God”. And it’s not the other way around. And this is very important! Since oftentimes we tend to impose on the Christ image our presupposed ideas of the divine that results in incomprehension rather than understanding the God that Jesus introduced to us. Jesus introduced this God as someone who is so rich in mercy; not a tyrant god; not someone who is quick to judge; not a god who rests on hate and wrath; not vengeful; does not approve any form of violence for he is not a violent god. Unlike what seems to dominate our own society and even the whole global community, this God that we encounter through the life demonstrated by Jesus is a God who is so rich in mercy! John Paul II knew that this world, then and now, seems to refuse to open its doors to mercy!

 “The present day mentality, more perhaps than that of people in the past, seems opposed to a God of mercy, and in fact tends to exclude from life and to remove from the human heart the very idea of mercy. The word and the concept of mercy seem to cause uneasiness in man who, thanks to the enormous development of science and technology, never before known in history, has become the master of the earth and has subdued and dominated it. This dominion over the earth, sometimes understood in a one sided and superficial way, seems to have no room for mercy.”

 I still remember nang magkasiyahan kami ng ilang kasama (two years ago pa yata ito pero may ilang bagay na di ko makalimutan habang nag-iinuman). Di maiwasan, halu-halong kwentuhan – advocacies, the current political situation and social condition. Napag usapan din ang pagibig sa kapwa at ano nga ba ang ibig sabihin ng sakripisyo, etc. At kung ano pa. One interesting point that was brought up is a kind of poison that is destroying human relations in our families, schools, churches, work and society in general. The poison is called hate. MUHI.

 We are not saying that without hate, everything will be put into place. Our current societal problems are so complex (and systemic) that they require non-simplistic reading and solutions. But at least, as we learn not to anchor ourselves on hate, it will somehow lighten the burdens we inevitably carry on our shoulders as we continue following the way of Jesus.

 The truth of the matter, however, is that the way of Jesus is not always an easy road to walk on especially when violence takes  place in front of our very eyes that usually victimize the poor and the weak – the poor who fell victims of the violence of everyday killings, but by the subtle and more dangerous violence of hunger and sickness due to a political and economic system that only favors the few. Everyday, we witness these things happening. We hear the cries of the oppressed as if there is no rest for them. We see how the workers are exploited and neglected by those who are supposed to serve them. And people get tired. We get tired! Naturally and understandably, there is always this temptation to justify revenge – to walk the popular path.

 But Matthew has to remind us to take the narrow road, that our ethical life, our response to the horrors that (we and) the poor experience opposite the luxury of the rich and powerful, must be anchored on mercy and the readiness to forgive, This does not in any way suggest that such evil must not be confronted and exposed. But again, even our hearts, as we do advocacy works or launch direct actions of confrontation against the power holders, must be always guided not by hate that is so irrational.


ALVIN JIMENEZ

Penuel School of Theology

Pagninilay sa pagputok ng bulkan -January 19, 2020

 KAALAGAD Gospel Reflection – January 19, 2020
2nd Week in Ordinary Time

John 1:29-34

 Ang Kordero ng Diyos

29 Nang sumunod na araw, nakita ni Juan si Hesus na papalapit sa kanya, at sinabi niya, “Narito ang kordero ng Diyos na siyang nag-aalis ng kasalanan ng sanlibutan! 30 Siya ang binanggit ko sa inyo, ‘Kasunod ko ang lalaking mas una kaysa sa akin sapagkat siya'y nauna sa akin.’ 31 Hindi ko siya nakilala; ngunit ako'y dumating at nagbabautismo sa tubig, upang siya'y maihayag sa Israel.” 32 Pagkatapos nito'y nagpatotoo si Juan, “Nakita ko ang Espiritu na bumaba gaya ng isang kalapati mula sa langit at nanatili ito sa kanya. 33 Hindi ko siya nakilala; ngunit ang nagsugo sa akin upang magbautismo sa tubig ay nagsabi sa akin, ‘Kung kanino mo makikitang bababa at mananatili ang Espiritu ay siyang magbabautismo sa inyo sa Banal na Espiritu.’ 34 Nakita ko't napatunayan na ito ang Anak ng Diyos.” (Filipino Standard Version)

Pagninilay sa pagputok ng bulkan

Sa araw na pumutok ang bulkan ng Taal, maraming turista ang namamasyal sa paligid ng bulkan, lalo na sa kalapit na bayan ng Tagaytay. Makikita ang mga dayo ay enjoy sa pamamasyal, nagpo-pose para makunan sila ng picture kasama ang magandang tanawin ng Taal.

 Subalit sa isang iglap ay  biglang dumilim ang langit dahil sa makapal na usok, yumanig ang lupa, umulan ng maitim na abo at nag-amoy asupre  ang hangin. Maya’t maya ay kumikidlat at kumukulog. Biglang sumabog ang bulkang Taal pagkalipas ng 43 taon na pagkahimlay. Lingid sa marami na ang Taal ay isa sa mga deadliest na bulkan. Ayon kasaysayan ay libu-libo na ang namatay sa nakaraan sa pagsabog ng Taal dahil natatamaan sila ng mainit na usok, nagbabagang abo at tipak ng bato at lava o kumukulong putik.

Ang biglaang pagsabog sa Taal pagkatapos ng mahabang panahon na pananahimik ay maihahantulad sa isang pangyayari sa ating binasang talata mula sa aklat ni Juan. Ito ay ang biglaang pagdating ng isang propeta sa bayang ng Israel pagkatapos ng mahabang taon na pananahimik. Ang propetang si Malakias ay ang huling propeta na nangaral sa bayan ng Israel. At sa dumating na 400 na taon ay walang boses ng propeta na maririnig. Ito ang tinatawag ng ibang bible scholars na “silent years” sa gitna ng Luma at Bagong Tipan sa Biblia.   Subalit isang araw ay bigla na lang narinig ng bayan ng Israel ang isang  malakas na tinig mula sa ilang o voice in the wilderness. Siya ay si Juan Bautista o John the Baptizer. Sya ay nangangaral sa may ilog ng Jordan at ang sinuman sa mga nakikinig na nais magsisi sa kasalanan ay kanyang ilulubog sa ilog at babawtismuhan.

Ang ipinapangaral ni Juan ay patungkol sa pagdating ni Hesu Kristo. Alam niyang anumang oras ay magpapakilala na si Hesus sa publiko. At isang araw ay bigla na ngang dumating si Hesus sa ilog ng Jordan. At ang unang sinambit ni Juan ay “Narito ang kordero ng Diyos na siyang nag-aalis ng kasalanan ng sanlibutan!”

Nang nakita ni Juan si Hesus, ang ginamit na paghahambing sa kanya ay kagaya sya ng isang kordero o isang batang tupa na  kakatayin, susunugin bilang alay sa templo. Sa nakaraang daan-daang taon, ang mga taga Israel ay nakaugalian na magdala ng isang hayop bilang alay sa templo. Ito ay bilang pagsunod sa kautusan ng Diyos at pagpapa-alala na isang araw ay darating ang tupa ng Dios na syang magliligtas sa sanglibutan.

Masasabi natin na noong nakita ni Juan si Hesus, ang una niyang sinabi at pinahiwatig ay si Hesus ay kagaya ng kordero na mamatay para sa kasalanan ng sanglibutan. Narinig at alam ni Hesus na kamatayan ang kahihinatnan nya pagkalipas ng maikling panahon. Subalit hindi naupo si Hesus at naghintay na lamang sa araw ng kanyang kamatayan. Sa loob ng tatlong taon, sya ay nangaral, binigyan pansin ang mga bata, nagpagaling ng mga may sakit, nagpakain ng mga nagugutom, nagpalayas ng demonyo, binuhay ang patay, at inilantad ang kasamaan ng mga lider ng relihiyon.

Pagdating ng naitakdang panahon, pumasok na si Hesus sa bayan ng Jerusalem upang harapin ang mga sundalo na syang huhuli sa kanya. Kusa niyang binigay ang kanyang sarili para litisin at ipako sa krus. Pagkalipas ng tatlong araw, siya ay nabuhay na muli at umakyat sa langit.

Sinabi ni Juan na si Hesus ay anyong tao subalit sya ay buhay noon pa man at magpakailanman. Sa pamamagitan ni Hesus, ang bawat mananampalataya ay makakaranas ng kaligtasan. Mamatay man ang kanilang katawan subalit dahil sa grasya o biyaya ng Diyos, mararanasan nila ang buhay na walang hanggan sa piling ng Diyos sa kalangitan. Ang mga katotohanang ito ay dapat mabalikan at mapagisipan sa panahong ito.

Kapag may napapabalitang trahedya o kalamidad kagaya ng pagsabog ng bulkan o matinding bagyo,  napapagtanto ng mga tao na kahit anong pagiingat ay may mga krisis na hindi mo mapipigilan. Ang Pilipinas ay tinawag na nasa Pacific Ring of Fire dahil mayroong mahigit na 50 aktibong bulkan sa iba’t-ibang lugar na maaring sumabog at magdulot ng lindol at tsunami. Ang bulkang Pinatubo ay itinuring na dormant o comatose dahil hindi ito natitinag sa loob ng 400 na taon. Ngunit isang araw ay bigla na lang itong sumabog at nagdulog ng napakalaking sakuna.

At kahit na gaano na ka-hitech at ka-moderno ang syensiya ay hindi pa rin kayang mataya ng mga scientists kung kailan ang eksaktong araw na darating ang pagsabog ng bulkan. Dito natin matatanto na kahit gaano pa ang pagyabong ng syensia at lahat ng kaalaman sa mundo, hindi pa rin kayang pantayan ang kaalaman at karunungan ng Diyos. Ang pasabog ng bulkan ay nagpapakita ng kanyang kapangyarihan at paghahari sa kalikasan at sa buhay ng mga tao.

Sa panahong ito, nagiging matingkad ang katotohanan na tayong mga nilalang ng Dios ay isang katiting na alabok lamang na dumadapo sandali sa lupa.  Dahil hindi natin hawak ang ating buhay, nararapat na alalahanin ang mga sinabi ni Juan Bautista sa ilog ng Jordan. Kailangan natin tumingin at manampalataya sa kordero ng Dios na syang tagapagligtas natin. Kahit na tayo ay mawala sa mundo, may pag-asa tayo na hindi lang dito sa lupa ang ating buhay. Niligtas tayo ni Hesus sa pamamagitan ng kanyang dugo upang tayo ay makasama niya panghabang buhay.

At kung sakali man na malampasan natin ang trahedya o anumang krisis na ating hinahanrap ngayon, mainam na hindi tayo maging kampante. Maikli lang ang buhay at darating din ang araw na tinakda ng Diyos na tayo ay kukunin nya. Dapat ay tularan natin ang Panginoon. Alam niyang bilang kordero ng Diyos ay itinakda siyang mamatay sa krus. Subalit hindi sya naupo o nag-enjoy sa buhay at naghintay na lamang. Naging masigasig sya at naging mabunga sa paggawa ng kabutihan sa mga tao sa paligid, lalong lalo na sa mga mahihirap, may sakit at may bigatin sa buhay. Nawa ay maawa ang Dios sa ating bayan at humupa at matapos na ang pagsabog ng bulkan sa Taal.


Ched Arzadon
Kaalagad Member

Baptismal Benefits -- Matthew 3:13-17

KAALAGAD Gospel Reflection – January 12, 2020 

Baptism of our Lord

Matthew 3:13-17

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

 Baptismal Benefits

 The short gospel passage this Sunday relates briefly a very important event in the human life of Jesus. After several years of his undocumented private life with Joseph and Mary in Nazareth, Jesus approached John the Baptist in the river Jordan to be baptized. John is a relative of Jesus and he has been preaching all along to his followers that he is merely paving the way for the Messiah who will save the Jewish people so he must have easily recognized Jesus approaching the river. Instinctively, he hesitated to baptize Jesus as he did not think he was worthy enough to give his baptism of repentance to the Messiah! However, a simple response from Jesus convinced John to proceed with his ritual and as Jesus emerged from the water, the Holy Spirit and the Father came to confirm Jesus is one with them as our Triune God! Truly another epiphany after last Sunday’s revelation to the Magi!

 Allow me to focus my reflection of this Sunday’s gospel passage on just the response of Jesus to John’s hesitation: “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” (verse 15)

 John the Baptist has been preaching for quite a while in the desert asking people to “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Mt 3:2) His call for repentance is not merely what many of us today after confession express as our sorrow for having sinned, it is not just praying the “Our Father” five times and saying the Act of Contrition and being sorry for having done or said bad things. The real message of John is a call to conversion, a return to full faith and trust in the Lord, a change in lifestyle! And John’s baptism of the people who have repented is the ritual of immersion in the river to symbolize their radical conversion and their return to God. So, he would naturally be hesitant to baptize Jesus because he had been telling everyone that the One who was coming after him is mightier than him and will baptize, not with water as he does, but with the Holy Spirit and fire. (Mt. 3:11)

 Jesus did not contradict John’s hesitance anymore because He understood John’s dilemma. Instead, He convinced John to proceed with the ritual of baptism which will lead to proper fulfillment of all righteousness.

 Righteousness is basically doing the right thing, right? This may be generally acceptable to most people today but we are also aware of the recent trends of considering being right as no longer absolute but rather plainly relative, depending on culture, perception, or standard. It is sad that topics such as divorce and same-sex marriage are now being debated upon and even legislated! Even some government leaders in authority can find killing of people justified as long as it leads to a “greater goal”. I don’t propose to reflect on relativism at this time, however, as this topic invites much longer discussions at another time.

 Righteousness in the context of our gospel passage today is right living, good deeds, and life-giving relationships according to and following the will of God. I maintain that we only have one absolute standard – Jesus. Our righteousness is measured only in the way we try to imitate Jesus in our life. This was the mission of Jesus when He was sent by the Father to teach and guide us by example and through His words with the absolute and universal message of love for God and neighbor.

 His baptism by John the Baptist is perhaps the “proper” moment for Jesus to begin His public ministry. While Scriptures pointed out when His parents found Jesus in the temple that He, at the age of 12, actually started doing His father’s business and that He needed to be in His father’s house! But then the same gospel of Luke also said Jesus then went back to Nazareth where He remained until the time He was baptized by John.

 With His baptism, Jesus in effect stood in solidarity with all the people who were inspired and baptized by John to start changing their lives fully according to God’s will. And Jesus has also initiated His mission from the Father for the salvation of man against the burden of sin. Jesus came to teach us about righteousness, to become our standard for righteousness, and to enable our righteousness.

 Reflecting on the baptism of our Lord should lead us all to reflect as well on the meaning of our own baptism. Like most Catholics around me, I was baptized when I was still a baby and my parents took on the task of ensuring that I grew up knowing the value of righteousness as a way of life. The struggle between good and evil in my life was constant. Later in life, I experienced another baptism – one they referred to as “baptism in the spirit” – when my wife and I experienced a Life in the Spirit seminar (LSS) given by a Catholic community. I found my second baptism more meaningful and even fulfilling perhaps because, as an adult, I understood and felt more the love of Jesus as shared by the speakers then. Up to this day, I tell my family and friends that I was able to develop and nurture a personal relationship with Jesus since that LSS Seminar more than 30 years ago. In a way, I was “born again” with my second baptism.

The baptism of Jesus in today’s gospel passage sent a message to John and his followers that He was about to undertake His mission to bring salvation to the people through a life of righteousness. We continue to receive this message through our own baptism inviting us to share in Jesus’ mission to bring love and righteousness into our world. Then, perhaps we can also earn the same blessing that Jesus received from the Father: “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased!”


JOLAN LUMAWIG

KAALAGAD Member

The Visit of the Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12

KAALAGAD Gospel Reflection – January 5, 2020

Epiphany of the Lord
Matthew 2:1-12

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

 The Visit of the Wise Men

 The Feast of Epiphany or the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi (Matthew 2:1–12) is traditionally celebrated the first Sunday of the New Year.  Also known as The Three Kings, it is a festival commemorating that day.

It tells of a time when three wise men, coming from the East, looking for a child that is said to be born king as was prophesied. They were astrologers and arthromeres and had travelled from afar, guided only by the star that appeared miraculously in the sky.

These three wise men represented the learned men or men of great learning who are greatly esteemed.  They were probably even rich given their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  This shows that Christ appealed not only to the shepherds during that time but to learned and rich men as well. It was a tribute to the universality of Jesus. Jesus was a God for all including Gentiles and foreigners and much more including the whole universe.

They were guided  by a star and it stopped at the house where upon they saw a child with his mother Mary.  John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, viewed the star as purely miraculous: "How then, tell me, did the star point out a spot so confined, just the space of a manger and shed, unless it left that height and came down, and stood over the very head of the young child?

Indeed it was as if the whole of cosmos wanted it so. Thus the whole of humanity; all sheep and farm-animals and even the evergreen trees welcome the birth of their king!

Springs of water, bless the Lord. Seas and rivers, bless the Lord. Sea beasts and everything that lives in water, bless the Lord. Birds of heaven, bless the Lord. Animals wild and tame, all bless the Lord. Children of the earth, bless the Lord. Israel, bless the Lord, give him glory and praise for ever. (Daniel 3: 77-83)

The birth of Christ is indeed a reason to celebrate, but we should not forget.  There is a dark side to this event.  I would like to note the last line of the reading:  “And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.”  And so the three wise men left without informing Herod any news of the new king.  Herod,  thirsty for power, and afraid that he can be dethroned,  thus ordered  the slaughter of all young boys 2 years and below. The innocent children have been sacrificed so that Jesus may live.

And this year, as we celebrate Christmas joyfully, a dark side haunts us all too. The order by the President to kill drug users does not stop even on Christmas Eve.  So another alleged drug user in Navotas was executed in front of his family.  Young and old are not spared.  Their death, though, was drowned by the celebration.  They become simply statistics that are easily forgotten. Maybe in the future as we celebrate the birth of Jesus we can also remember the innocent boys slaughtered by Herod, and offer a prayer for them, just like the fallen victims of EJKs.


Vio Esguerra

Kaalagad Member