United in Christ

Over the past few weeks since February, our web was busy preparing for its annual Holy Week special The Seven Last Words. Priests, nuns, members of religious congregations were invited to write the reflections this year because it's the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. Members were tapped to do this or that task. As the weeks gradually led to Holy Week, preparations were taking shape and people who knew about it looked forward when it becomes 'live'.

Last week saw us all focused on a lot of religious activities. For our web, it was this time of year again to hold The Seven Last Words. It is heartwarming to see people coming together, contributing in their own special way to make our online devotion a success. Way back in 2005, when this devotion begun in our web, we started with our own members. Over the years, more people from outside have been involved. This, in spite of our distances.

What brought us all together? Perhaps it is our Lenten panata. Or our desire to share the Gospel with others. It could be our way to be more 'online' during Holy Week, For me, what brought us together is actually a 'Who'. It is Christ. As St Paul writes: "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:13).

As we celebrate the great feast of Easter, join us in offering praise to our Risen Lord for making all these happen, for uniting us all. Together, let us bear in mind how Jesus joined us together this Holy Week. Together, let us bring further His Good News to all, Holy Week or not.

Thank you for your unrelenting support. God bless you all.

Happy Easter!

Feedback Wednesday

A few Wednesdays back, I returned students' assignments and asked them to have a look at their results. I told them too to read my feedback which was written on some parts of their assignment. Not long after, a student raised his hand to say "I do not understand your handwriting!" I must admit that my handwriting isn't really good and so I sat next to the student to read for him what I wrote and to explain further. Later, I saw myself moving from one table to another to talk to students. 

After lunch break, I had another lesson, but this time with two colleagues observing me. Everything has been planned beforehand: register, experiment handouts, etc. However, the technician was absent. Hence, no experiment was prepared. Just the same, "the show must go on". I have to rejig the lesson plan and made it more interactive. A group of students have to complete the missing words in the experiment handout, another group have to put the experiment method in logical order, and another group have to design the experiment. I felt as though my plan won't work, that students would complain, etc. I was amazed, especially with the last two groups, for being proactive. As I move around the classroom, I was able to see how they work, ask questions, and give feedback based on their answers.

After those two sessions, tiring as it may be talking to students one by one and oftentimes repeating myself, I felt satisfied. I may not have taught the students principles and theories, but having that conversation with them was truly a learning experience.

Feedback is a useful tool in teaching because it allows teachers to guide their students and prepare them for their summative assessment. In other fields it is also necessary. Customers feedback a company on the service they provide. Managers feedback staff on their performance. I remember our Faith Section Editor Ana Balla, during the early years of my editorship, to give feedback to our writers because, according to her, it was a way to further develop them. Indeed, it is a useful tool to highlight a writer's strengths and areas for development. For sure, they have appreciated it.

As the Teacher Himself, Jesus gave feedback to people. Remember His conversation with the rich man who wanted to gain eternal life? Or perhaps His comments on His apostles who argued as who is the greatest in God's kingdom? Or how about that exchange of words between Him and the Syro-phoenician woman? 

Some took His feedback to heart, while others scoffed at it. Worse, those not satisfied with it plotted His death. Indeed, not all feedback would be heeded. Lazy students won't be bothered to shape up. Companies may not care about clients' views. Workers might take their boss for granted.  

Holy Week is dawning upon us! I think, Jesus' best feedback was delivered as He was crucified. If you want to know more about it, then please join us in our online devotion The Seven Last Words starting 25 March, Palm Sunday. 

Me Time

It's just a day before Holy Week as I write this piece. Amidst the snow that has been pouring unabatedly from the skies since the wee hours of the morning,  I read with interest today's Gospel reading wherein Jesus hid Himself in a place called Ephraim before proceeding to Jersulem to be hailed as King on Palm Sunday and condemned as a criminal on Good Friday. As He hid in the desert before His public ministry, so He hid in Ephraim (which so happened to be near the desert) before the start of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection.

 

In spite of being a busy, itinerant preacher cum healer, Jesus made sure He had that 'me time'. Jesus was always in communion with His Father.  His disciples would attest how they found Him in a deserted place praying or how He Himself encouraged them to go to a deserted place to rest. For Jesus, rest is important even if it's a brief one. 

 

During my first retreat ages ago, the retreat master explained to us that  just as soldiers in war retreat to assess themselves and make a better plan of action, so must we examine ourselves and make better our conduct in life. By going 'on retreat' to Ephraim, Jesus wanted to give a closer and harder look at what He has already done and how He could have made it better so as to fulfill the Father's will. 

 

For a couple of Thursdays, I have been visiting the Blessed Sacrament at the St Barnabas Cathedral, a few minutes' walk from where I work.  The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for a few hours and then towards the end of the vigil, a basket full of pieces of paper with names of sick and dying persons is placed near the altar.  Once this is done, the Rosary is recited. 

 

On the first Thursday that I made the visit, I was a bit hesitant to stay on. I was thinking that I need to have my lunch. I was thinking of the long list I have to do in the office. My mind was trying to go somewhere else.  Yet, for some reason, the lovely countenance of the exposed Blessed Sacrament held me to stay put.  When the sacred host was put back in the tabernacle, I left the cathedral refreshed.

 

I'm very grateful to the Lord for giving me the chance to visit Him. I felt that this is one of the devotions that I have neglected for a number of years already.  I wish to carry it on, with God's grace and blessing. It was indeed a 'Me Time' for me. A chance to present my poor, humble self to the Lord and allow Him to clothe me in His love.  Though we are sinners, it is still His love that conquers all. It's His love that matters!

 

God keeps on calling us no matter what or when.  He's there in the quiet of our hearts. As we usher in Holy Week, let's be more attentive to the Lord's invitation. One with Jesus, our Saviour and King, let's return to the Father's embrace and be empowered so that we may lovingly welcome the Judas, Barabas, Hestas (if I may borrow Dona Delila's common expression) in our midst, fearlessly face the mob that is eager to devour us, and patiently carry our crosses.

 

***

 

Today marks the 44th death anniversary of a grandmother that I have never known, save for some accounts told and retold by my elders: Laureana "Lola Osay" Samaniego, my mother's mother.  I was told that Lola Osay used to chant the Pasyong Mahal in the village chapel in Wakas, Kawit, Cavite.  That was a devotion she passed on to Mommy Rosie (Mama's older sister). Mommy Rosie would later pass it on to me.  In a way, her faith continues to thrive in her heirs.  May God bless your kind soul, Lola Osay! We love you.

 

 

 

Holy Week For Kids

A few Fridays ago, I went to make a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament at the St Barnabas Cathedral during my lunch break. Usually, the Rosary is recited at that time. But because it was a Friday (in Lent), the children from neighboring St Joseph's Primary School would be leading the Stations of the Cross. These young children - 5 or 6 of them - were accompanied by two teachers who were guiding them in saying the prayer. I could barely understand what they were saying, yet my eyes(and even my ears)were glued at them.

In their very tender age, they were being introduced to what in real life was gruesome and hard to accept: the suffering and death of Jesus. I am touched by how these kids would say their prayers - full of faith and confidence in the One who is faithful. For me, they were not only leading us older people in reflecting the 14 stations. They were giving us a fresh outlook in life, a life that is worth dying for as far as Jesus is concerned.

As I left the church, I thought to myself it would really be good if children were tapped in the many activities of Lent and especially Holy Week.

Indeed, if we have a look at major events in Holy Week we could see that during Palm Sunday, children come to the fore waving their palms and singing Hossana to Christ the King. At the very end of this blessed week, we once again see kids involved in the Salubong (only in the Philippines)or Easter egg hunt. Perhaps it would be a good idea if we have kids acting as apostles during the Washing of the Feet (In Gagalangin, many, many years ago the late Msgr Pedro Pajarillo tapped young boys to be the apostles for Holy Week!)or reading the Lord's Passion. True enough, some Passion plays (i.e. Senakulo)in the Philippines are performed by the youth.

As I was thinking of this, I had the chance of reading "Holy Week Is For Children", an article by Peter Rehwaldt(a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)in praytellblog. Peter wrote: "What the church does together in its liturgical assembly during Holy Week is almost by definition much more accessible to children than what the church does on, say, the umpteenth Sunday in ordinary time. What the church does during Holy Week, when one boils it down, is simple. In our words and our actions, our songs and our prayers, we tell the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And we tell the story in such a way that children easily find their place within it."

He cited several stories which kids could relate with. An example is Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and then in a few days being reviled by the same people who welcomed Him. This story reminds kids of instances when kids in school who are looked up as heroes today end up being goats tomorrow.

Or Jesus' betrayal which is similar to kids dropping their old pals in exchange to be part of a "better" bunch of students.

Peter wrote that "Holy Week is made for children, who grapple with defeat and failure and brokenness all the time...who long for this grand, sweeping unconditional love...who long not for an explanation of God’s love but for an experience of that love."

Let us therefore encourage our kids to take an active part in the life of the community and of the family this Holy Week. I am saying this because, as a child, my elders exposed me to the various events making up the Semana Santa: pabasa, Way of the Cross, Mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, procession, etc. That experience developed my knowledge and love for Christ. Eventually, I was inspired to serve Him.

And because we older people, regardless of age, are also God's kids let us not be bashful when there is opportunity for us to help out in the parish this week. Setting ourselves as good role models, our actions would be a strong encouragement for the young.

Christ once said "Let the children come to me" (Mk 10:14). Can we say no to such an invitation?

Walk With Mary!

One of the great attractions at the St Peter’s Basilica in Rome is the Madonna della Pieta, a marble statue sculptured by Michelangelo depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless body of Jesus. The Virgin’s head is bowed down gazing on her Son. Her left hand opened as a sign of resignation for such a great loss. Her face is serene and young. More so, her body seems bigger than that of Jesus. Some people would argue that having been totally drained because of hunger, lack or absence of sleep, and physical and mental pain Jesus would surely be emaciated. A high school teacher once explained that the reason for such depiction is to show how big a mother’s heart is for her children, how it embraces us no matter what.

If we try to put ourselves in the shoes of the Blessed Mother, how would we feel when we hear how our child has been unjustly tried, tortured, and killed by the same people to whom He showed unconditional kindness? There’s an interesting scene in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” where Mary approached Jesus who stumbled under the weight of the cross. Mary asked her Son if she could take her place. Jesus replied: “Mother, behold I make all things new.”

As we enter Holy Week and recall the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, let us walk with Mary! Possessing that stout heart and obedient faith like her, let us allow Jesus to “make all things new” in our life. Let us allow Jesus to fill in the gaps in our being, to heal the wounds in us, to cleanse the stain in our heart, to sustain our spirit.


***

In my previous article, I raised my reservations on the Pasyong Mahal that is currently being used in Tagalog-speaking regions in the Philippines this Lent and especially during Holy Week. I have read that Bienvenido Lumbera (National Artist for Literature) criticized this as “a piece of plagiarism which was an attempt to update the language of Aquino de Belen”. (Gaspar Aquino de Belen, a 17th century Filipino writer, poet, and translator, was the first one who wrote the Pasyon under the title of “Mahal na Pasison ni Jesu Christong Panginoon Nation na Tola” in 1704. The current work was written by an anonymous writer in 1814.) Lumbera was also uneasy with the absence of rhyme or rhythm and it was halatang kinopya!

It was said that other versions from Aquino de Belen were published, but were found to be heretical and have been censured by the Spanish friars.

I think, the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines (CBCP) particularly the bishops in the Tagalog-speaking regions, should invest time and effort to review the Pasyong Mahal and weed out what is not based on Sacred Scriptures and Sacred tradition, that includes the portrayal of St Joseph as an old man when he was wed to Mary and, much worse, a coward who preferred to die rather than see Jesus suffering. The CBCP should involve people from the academe or the likes of Lumbera as the Pasyon is also a work of art, a religious art. I cannot comment on non-Tagalog versions of the Pasyon, but it’s worth a project to also assess these. Otherwise, our religiosity would be tainted with fanaticism and what-have-you which will make it more of a stumbling block to appreciating our faith for what it really is.

***

I had an interesting conversation with a colleague professor in the university I’m working in. He lamented how students’ mobile phones would ring during lessons and the calls subsequently taken. I told him how the late Prof Gloria De Castro-Bernas, when she was Dean of the UST College of Science, banned the use of mobile phones during lessons. If a phone rang and its owner identified, the gadget will be confiscated by the teacher. This will only be redeemed when the erring student submits his/her ID card – to the Dean or the Board of Discipline Chair! My colleague liked the idea and told me we should do it because he believes that something more important is happening in a lesson (i.e. exchange of ideas, sharing of knowledge) and that no phone calls should disrupt this.

Come to think of it, in prayer, there is something more important happening (i.e. communication with God). Therefore no distraction – phone, iPAD, etc – should come between our space with the Lord.

***

Stay tuned to our website as we hold once more “The Seven Last Words” this Holy Week. Many thanks to this year’s writers: Bianca Alcantara, Rodney Vertido, Cy Wussow, Jenni Fonseca, Mario Albano, Ana Payod-Balla, and Grace Madriñan! Thanks to Mike Flores who will take charge of our layout design and to Allan Dabu who created this year’s poster! Thank God, it’ll be our 8th year of presenting this kakaibang online experience and we hope you’ll find this an inspiring companion during Semana Santa.

May we all have a meaningful, focused, and Christ-centered Holy Week!

Yes, Daddy!

At this point, Chiara is learning how to say those words and, hopefully veer away from saying “No”. I could now understand why kids could easily pick up this word. More often than not, we parents give them instructions in the negative form – “No, it’s hot outside!”; “Don’t do that!” etc.

Hearing my daughter say “Yes, Daddy!” makes me feel that she is going to do what I told her and that she fully trusts me. Obedience and confidence are two things we expect from our children, right?

Speaking about these two fine qualities, I’m suddenly reminded of how one son obeyed and trusted his father in spite of the many hardships he has to face in order to fulfil his father’s wishes. In the desert without food or drink for 40 days and nights, he became too weak making him an easy target for the devil. What did he do? He confronted the devil head-on, upholding the importance of God.

His ministry seemed full of happiness – the sick were healed, the loaves multiplied, the dead came back to life. Yet towards the end of that three-year ministry, he was betrayed by a close friend. While praying in the garden, he would have imagined what kind of suffering he would be enduring. He was in anguish; an opportunity which the devil didn’t want to miss. And yet, what did he tell his Dad? “Your will be done!”

Having been arrested by the Jews and then sentenced to death by a kangaroo court, he was led to Calvary. Nailed to the cross, exposed to the scorching heat, hungry, writhing in pain his detractors asked him to come down from the cross. I bet the devil too was there, waiting eagerly for this man to be swayed by the crowd. To his enemies’ dismay, before he breathed his last, he said to his father “Into your hands, I commend my spirit”.

Unfortunately, not all would want to travel the path that Jesus took. Take for example Pontius Pilate who found Jesus not guilty of any crime, but feared the mob if he would side with him. Instead, he delegated that power to that hakot crowd.

Until now we could still see people who, although in power, could not make a decision on vital issues. The proposal to bury the former dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani should have been shot down by President Aquino from the day it reared its ugly head. Instead, he asked Vice President Binay to study the matter. Now Binay (dubbed as Pontius Binay in an editorial of Philippine Daily Inquirer) has asked the public to send his office their views on Marcos burial through e-mail or text messages. I actually sent him an e-mail message expressing my negative vote. I would encourage you to do the same. Send him a e-mail message in: blog@ovp.gov.ph or text through 0926-7468212 (for Globe subscribers) and 0949-6295575 (for Smart subscribers).

It’s very obvious that Marcos ruled the country with untold injustice and corruption. That his regime was evil and burying his remains at the Libingan would be tantamount to say that EDSA Uno is a farce and the likes of Ninoy and Cory Aquino (the President’s parents), Jovito Salonga, Rene Saguisag, Jejomar Binay (the Vice President himself who used to be a human rights lawyer) and the many Martial Law victims are fools (Saguisag, in an interview, was saying that if Marcos is buried there, his grandchildren would brand him a fool for fighting a hero.).

The President admitted he was partial to the issue. The Vice President confessed that if his personal answer were to be sought, there is no more need for any discussion on the matter. Being partial to an issue shouldn’t bar us from making a decision. At the end of the day, we have to make an option. If leaders can’t do it then there is no reason for them to stay in authority. If my heroine Cory Aquino were still alive, she would lead in protesting our leaders’ indecision.

This vacillation is not found in Jesus whose conviction was made clear to his followers. He may at times speak in veiled languages, but people around him know where he was coming from, that he would call a spade a spade even if it would cost him his life.

This is the challenge for us Christians especially as we enter the Holy Week. From being disobedient and doubtful, let us put on Christ’s obedience and trust. For the many times we said “No” to God, let Christ’s “Yes” to his Father be ours from now on!