8-Day Retreat

To all of my friends,

In a few hours, I will begin our 8-Day Philippine Province retreat in celebration of the Jubilee Year of the Society of Jesus. We are celebrating the 450th Year of the Death of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the 500th Year of the Births of St. Francis Xavier and Bl. Peter Favre, all founders of the Jesuits. The retreat will end on the evening of the 26th of May. So I may be back on the 27th.

Therefore, I will resume blogging after May 27, 2006. I am sorry I was not able to update because of work --- I gave a retreat to the Grade 4 and 5 faculty of the Ateneo Grade School.

Hope you stay with me. Be assured that I will pray for all of you as I spend these days solely for God.

With all my love and affection,

Jboy SJ

The Church in Transit

9 May 2006. Tuesday of the 4th Week of Easter
Acts 11, 19-26; Psalm 87; John 10, 22-30

The first reading tells us how the Gospel was spread like wildfire. The Greek-speaking Christian Jews fled Jerusalem because of the persecution that arose because of the stoning of Stephen. These Christians spread the Gospel as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. But soon, their message spread to non-Jews who believed and were baptized.

The news reached Jerusalem, thus the Church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to Antioch to assess the situation. Barnabas saw evidence of God’s grace in Antioch that they rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in the firmness of heart. With Saul from Tarsus, Barnabas nurtured the faith in Antioch where they were first called Christians.

Both the first reading and the Gospel thus agree that the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the community both in Jerusalem and outside of it is the work of God’s hands. While the role of the members of the community is to witness and be open to it. In other words, the people of all nations, as the responsorial psalm says (Psalm 87), who believed and who asked for baptism were all ‘drawn by the Father to Jesus’ --- the sheep who knew Jesus’ voice as the Gospel tells us. The fitting response of the first Christians is to rejoice, to witness and to be open to these new development: from a Jewish sect to a universal church.

Fr. John P. Delaney SJ said that the church should be open to all kinds of people: no gates no walls. Those who come to the UP church are diverse. Here we have a cross-section of society: university personnel (students, faculty --- the academic community), the people from different areas. People from different economic and social brackets. People of different temperaments. Those who come in veils and those who come with much to show. Do we rejoice over the diversity of people who come to our Church to worship and to pray? These are the people who find God in our parish. Are we happy that they come?

Second, there are people who come to this church with many questions. In the advent of books, movies and television programs such as the Da Vinci Code and the Judas Gospel, many people are asking questions about our faith. In a way, we are like the Jerusalem community faced by the newness of converts from a different race and shaken by the newness of it, do we react to the questions or do we try to find the answers to these questions? Do we win them by the ‘basta argument’ (just believe, don’t question) or do we educate? Or are we afraid to face them because we know we also do not know? The hard thing to accept is that many of us have stopped studying our faith or even read the bible. What we miss is the fact that to witness to our faith, we also must know why we believe in it. Our faith is reasonable. We should not stop from getting to know it.

Finally, Fr. Delaney built this Church in a transitory period: between Vatican I and Vatican II. Are we open to new things and new ideas where many new ways of worship or ways of doing things are being introduced? Or are we content with just how things are --- and remain petrified and stagnant? We have to trust that the hands of God works in the Church, and we, as a people are being asked to be witnesses to it, to rejoice to whatever new things are happening, and to open to these changes. Vatican II calls the Church, a pilgrim church, a church in transit.

*plane shot by Neo Saicon SJ

Keeping Ourselves in the Flock of the Shepherd

7 May 2006. The Fourth Sunday of Easter
John 10, 11-18: The Good Shepherd

Note: I wrote this for Sambuhay, Sunday missalettes published by the Society of St. Paul

The shepherd holds a central image in the history of Judea. First, the shepherd is committed to the flock. He is personally responsible for the sheep. If a sheep is lost, he seeks the lost sheep, tracking and following the straying sheep’s footprints across the hills. Moreover, he is committed to the community. He is committed to the little flock he has because he knows that the flock belongs not to individuals but to villages. Finally, the shepherd is an image of God. The good shepherd is the picture Jesus drew of God: that the Good Shepherd is what God is like. God rejoices when a lost sinner is found as a shepherd when a strayed sheep is brought home.

There is however a certain nuance in the image of the Good Shepherd. We affirm that there is only One Good Shepherd and we are all members of His flock. Church leaders --- and even ourselves with the ‘little flock’ we have such our families --- are symbols of the Good Shepherd. Symbols provide tangible experiences which we need. It does not replace Jesus: Jesus is always present, taking care of us, and we as symbols of the Good Shepherd make this truth more felt. In the Second Book of Samuel, Nathan tells the story of the poor man who took care of a ewe lamb, growing up with his children, eating and drinking with them, and even sleeping with him. The lamb was like a daughter to him. This is precisely what the Good Shepherd means to us: it suggests that our relationship with Christ is close and intimate. When we take care of our flocks lovingly, intimately and closely, Christ’s expresses His love with our love to the people we are entrusted to keep.

This image therefore evokes two things: First, the picture of the Good Shepherd is a depiction of pastoral care. Our misgivings, our fears, our unworthiness may lead us to doubt the care of the Good Shepherd. At Easter time, we are therefore invited into this kind of deep assurance, confidence and trust that Jesus will always be present, constantly taking care of us, as the poor man of his ewe lamb. Second, the picture of the sheep is a portrait of maintenance. We also have to maintain ourselves within the fold. We must remain in Christ. We must be faithful and loyal to Him because we can lose sight of God easily in a world full of distractions. We can also lose our perspectives and values when we are hurt, angry or pressured. There are many things that we can do, but let me suggest some simple things to keep ourselves in the flock.

We must take an honest prayer life. When we find ourselves too busy, the more we need to pray. But what type of prayer? I have some suggestions:

First, the snooze time: it is the time between waking up and getting out of the bed. At least two minutes in silence to center yourself in God no matter how late you get up or busy you are (although more time is generally good, this brief constant prayer period will ensure a faithfulness to being centered on God).

Second, the daily travel to work or school. This can be done while on the way to work or home, in the jeepney, train or bus. Reflect for a few seconds quietly on the presence of God in your life. We can be quiet in the crowd.

Third, read sacred scripture at least once a week for five or ten minutes so that God remains a real concrete presence in life rather than a vague entity. In fact, if you are early in church you may want to pick up one of those Sunday missalettes like Sambuhay.

Fourth, keep symbols of our faith with you. Carry a rosary or a cross in your pocket or a picture of Jesus or a favorite saint in your wallet. Be conscious of churches along your route and make the sign of a cross as a sign of reverence. You may want to enrich your life with one of the many devotions in our Catholic life.

Finally, speak about your faith informally with a friend. Our spiritual life is also a legitimate topic to talk about. When you talk about your hopes, your fears and what keeps you strong, you are already talking about your spiritual journey. Talk about it at any time, any casual place.

As we are assured of Christ’s care for us, we also assure Him that we too value being in his flock. As children of Easter, we too take personal care for our faith.

The Way, the Truth and the Life

3 May 2006: Feast of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
John 14, 6-14: The Way, the Truth and the Life

One of the greatest things that Jesus said which have become a very popular slogan is that “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” In fact, you see this in billboards and signs. But it is also the most misunderstood. Like love. Everyone desires it. Everyone pursues it. Everyone is willing to die for it. But it is not fully understood. And so, we ask the question: What does Jesus mean when He said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life”? Let me tackle the question using examples from my experience with those who are young.

First, the Way. The Jews talked much about the way in which men must walk and the ways of God. Isaiah said, “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, This is the way, walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21). The Jews knew the ways of God, but Jesus said, “I am the Way.” What did he mean?

As a moderator of a class in Xavier University High School five years ago, I had the chance to visit the homes of some of my students. The challenge is to find them. So I ask for directions. Usually, you are given something like this: “Take the first to the right, then turn left, count three blocks to your left, then take the road to the right, and then count three houses, until you find a mango tree. The house after the house with the mango tree is his house.” Chances are that we get lost before we get half-way.” But when, like Filipino hospitality, the person we asked for direction says, “Come, I’ll take you there. Sasamahan kita.” That person then is the way, and we cannot miss the house. That is what Jesus does for us. He does not only give directions, but takes our hand and leads us along the way so that we will not be lost. He does not only tell us about the way to God, He accompanies us because He is the Way.

When we are young, we always get lost: It is a time of countless mistakes, a million misses, a thousand hurts, innumerable bruises, deep pains. It is a time when we lose directions. It is a time when we do not know the way. It is a time when we simply are confused. Conversely, it is also the time when parents make countless mistakes, a million misses, a thousand hurts, innumerable bruises, deep pains. It is a time when parents lose directions, when parents do not know the way. Because when we are young, and when we take care of the young, the way is dark and dangerous.

And when Jesus said, “I am the Way,” he meant that “I will accompany you.” And maybe this is the reason why we get lost: We refuse to be accompanied; we shun another person’s hand; we would like to look for our home ourselves; we would like to find the way without another. We simply want the directions. That is why the young look for ways in magazines like Candy, Glamour, etc. There you find recipes “How to keep your boyfriends excited about you.” “Checklist in order to know that your partner loves you.” “Ten interesting ways to attract the opposite sex.” But we soon find out that that is not the best way. We discovered that we are at the losing end: we experience rejection, break-ups, and goodbyes even if we have faithfully followed the directions. Most of life’s truths is learned with someone around. And I guess this is what parents and friends should do: the best way is Jesus’ way. To have Jesus accompany us in the dark and dangerous way. To have our parents and friends take us by the hand and say, “Come. I’ll take you there.” And soon, you will find your way.

Second, the Truth. Many people have taught us the Truth: parents, teachers, friends, and mentors. Education teaches the truth. But none have embodied the Truth. Only one person has done that: Jesus. When one teaches about moral truth like parents, their character makes all the difference because it would lend credibility to the ones they teach. A selfish person who teaches the value of generosity, a proud individual who teaches the virtue of humility, a hateful person who teaches the beauty of love and an unethical teacher who teaches Ethics are bound to be ineffective. Moral truth cannot be conveyed solely in words; it must be conveyed by example. And thus parents, who disrespect their own parents, cannot teach their children to respect them. Truth and virtue is not learned in the classroom, but mostly imbibed from example. The truth we all know, even when we are young, are learned from what we see. There is an ad “Sa mga mata ng bata” that strikes me. A woman, who gets her plate full, with ice creaming dripping from her mouth, is witnessed by a child. If we teach proper etiquette but we do not do it, we cannot expect our young to follow suit.

Finally, Life. In the last analysis, what we are looking for is life. Our search for the proper road, our search for knowledge, and our search for our identity are not sought for their own sake: but what will make life worth living. When we fall in love, suddenly life finds meaning and direction. The dead parts of ourselves suddenly bursts with vigor. Love had brought life. That is what Jesus does. Life with Jesus is life indeed. And the proper way to love is the way Jesus loves. It is not what you read in magazines. A large part of loving is sacrifice; a large part of loving is experiencing the hurts and pains of relationships.

For the young, we believe that when we are enjoying ourselves, when “natutuwa ako sa kanya”, when roses and chocolates are given, when love texts are sent, our relationships are alive and kicking. But when we stop enjoying ourselves, when true colors show, when roses and chocolates cease to be given, when love texts are seldom sent, we say that our relationship should end. But love isn’t like that: when the romantic part of loving ends, we end the fantasy. When the fairy tales of our loving relationships either with friends or lovers end, we begin to see reality, the truth. That love is not all feelings. That is commitment. That commitment is a decision. That commitment is pain. That commitment is the cross on which Jesus was nailed. And today, on the Feast of Philip and James, the apostles, that commitment reached its peak on the Philip’s preaching Phrygia and James martyrdom in the hands of King Herod as reported in Acts 12: 2. That is the extent one can go in order to show much love. “To die for one’s friends.” And thus, to achieve eternal life. Jesus said, “The seed must die, in order for it to live.” So shall we who claim to be followers of Jesus, our Way, our Truth, our Life. Jesus who alone is the way to God. In him alone, we see what God is like; and he alone can lead us all into God’s presence without fear and without shame.