The gifts of the Spirit support this promise. That being God’s Delight, though we are suffering, God will supply us with wisdom, understanding, fortitude… gifts that will allow us to shine to be truly God’s Kahalihalinang Liwanag.
As forerunners of just peace, equity, and liberation, like John the Baptist, who announced the coming of the Messiah, the task is truly a challenge and may possibly cost one’s life while in the process. Announcing God’s jubilee would mean proclaiming that salvation does not only involve the soul but as well as the physical, mental, economic, social, and political aspects of our human life.
This Second Sunday of Advent we are admonished to have a second look at how we understand what it means to repent.
Let us command, not beg. Let us make love our collective political capital to stand up against the enormous political power that has been the cause of our struggles in life. Jesus’ command to love God and to love our neighbors is our primary source of strength and inspiration.
By JENNIFER FERARIZA-MENESES Board of Women’s Work of The United Methodist Church Ps 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 Jer 31:7-9 Heb 5:1-6 Mk 10:46-52 The Faith of the Poor During Jesus’ time, the beggars on the street were considered to have the lowest economic status. They would sit on the side of the street and situate…
I am reminded of the life of Fr. “Pops” Tentorio, PIME, an Italian priest who spent 33 years of his life serving the indigenous people and poor peasants in Mindanao. For being good and true to the call of priesthood and servanthood, he was killed by elements believed to be members of a para-military group.
“Ipagtanggol mo ang mga di makalaban, ipaglaban ang kanilang karapatan. Ipahayag mo nang malinaw ang katotohanan at ang katuwiran, at igawad ang katarungan sa api at mahirap.” (Kawikaan 31:8-9)
Tandaan natin na si Kristo ay nakaranas ng matinding mga paratang, paniniktik, pananakot, pag-aresto, pagtortyur, at pagpako sa krus hanggang kamatayan. Ngunit muling nabuhay na muli kapiling ng mga ordinaryong mamamayan tulad ng mga magsasaka, manggagawa, mga ulila, byuda, mga aping kababaihan at bata. Sa katunayan, sila ang mga pinapahalagahan ni Kristo- silang mga minamaliit at pinagtatabuyan ng emperyo. Ang mga tulad nila ang dahilan ng kanyang pagsasakatawang tao upang maisulong ang kaganapan ng buhay para sa lahat at hindi lamang sa iilan.
Carrying ones cross and to sacrifice is truly difficult. A prophet is not a fortune teller but somebody who has the courage and boldness to tell the truth in a particular context by announcing the good news and denouncing the evil that plagued that society.
The lectionary reading for this Sunday presents us the different complimentary facets of the persons of the Holy Trinity.
Sa paglapag ng Banal na Diwa sa mga alagad ni Hesus na magkakasama sa isang lugar, nagsimula nilang maranasan ang kapangyarihang bigay nito. Kabilang dito ay ang kapangyarihang makapagsalita sa iba’t ibang wika.