Balik-Tanaw, Isang Pagninilay for Easter Sunday

[norma dollaga]

Balik-Tanaw, Isang Pagninilay Lectionary Reflection April 1, 2012   1st  Reading Ac 10:34-43                       Psalm Response  Ps 118:1-23 2nd  Reading   Col 3:1-4          Gospel John 20:1-9   Who are threatened with Resurrection?   How many times must we die and be forgotten?  How many times shall we live and be remembered forever?   Joey Ayala has an interesting song entitled  Magkabilaan (Contrast)   Ang hirap ng marami ay sagana ng iilan   Ang nagpapakain, walang laman ang tiyan Ang nagpapanday ng gusali at lansangan     Maputik ang daan tungo sa dampang tahanan    May mga haring walang kapangyarihan   Meron ding alipin na mas malaya pa sa karamihan  May mga sundalo na sarili ang kalaban At may pinapaslang na nabubuhay nang walang hanggan The wanting   of the many is the affluence  of  few Those who feed, has  unfilled stomach      Those who build buildings and streets  Trek through   muddy road leading home   There are kings without power  There are slaves who are freer than the rest    There are soldiers  whose enemies are their selves There are those who are killed but live forever       The resurrection story has been told and retold. Some may believe on the detailed revelation of this risen Jesus, while others are still in doubt on how true the account is but still chose to accept it as the truth.   Our reflection today will not deal so much on how scientifically proven this risen hero of Christian church is, but will serve as an invitation to see beyond the narrative account. It calls us to celebrate the message   of the resurrected leader, hero, martyr and Lord.     Jesus, who walked in people’s kasaysayan (wisdom story), created a powerful impact in the people’s hearts and minds. He, who was despised by state authority, he who has inflicted trouble   to supposedly law and order, he who created intrigues among the holies and the learned, could have opted to coop with them and stay in prestigious power  desired by  worldly motivation. But for some   shocking and surprisingly decision, this not –so- ambitious Jesus led a life that will be remembered both by sinners and saints.  Not by  magical or spectacular display of intelligence and manly  power but the lifestyle, the principle , the vision and the ability to live and die for the cause that counts so much for those whom he hold dearly in his heart--- the people, the humanity. He  could have been one of those who have been mocked as his vision seemed impossible yet,  the legitimacy   of his cause  remains until today a valid dream--- impossible for those who do not want change, but possible for those who long for a meaningful  change. He could be radical to those who shake the rule, he could be the teacher for those who seek for wisdom and truth, he could be a friend for those closer to him and came to know him intimately, he could be a son—a good son to his mother and father and to multitude mothers and fathers who just need his enabling presence.   He was killed in the most shameful manner. Legally approved by law and consented by rulers. It was a traumatic scene -  witnessing a good man hanging on a cross, slowly dying, and recorded as a criminal.   But beyond law is the great testimony of how much this man lived his life. How much he defended justice, lived out the truth that he knew, and stood his ground wherever he was led , be it at the temple, in the streets, in the garden and in front of authorities. He is the kind of man who learned how to live out his principle, and even died for it. But then his life has not ended in the tomb. His life continues to live, in his followers’ hearts, minds and soul in individual’s life in the church and the people’s continuing journey.This is resurrection!   Killing one’s body is not the end of one’s vision. And those who kill, who harass, who inflict, and persecute are always threatened with resurrection. They will forever live in fear and agony and would use all possible incredible power to punish...but how could they address resurrection? They will eternally be threatened with resurrection because  those who lived up life in just and upright manner will resurrect a million times.      In the film the Last of Samurai, Emperor Meiji asked Algren: “Tell me how he (Katsumoto)   died.” Algren replied, “I will tell you how he lived.”   Resurrection is true. That is undisputable. Like Jesus, those who sincerely follow him  and live out his basic teaching of loving  and serving  the neighbors,  shall resurrect like him in splendid ways. They are like heroes of the Kingdom;    Heroes   can succumbed to death  But not their   integrity, grace and wisdom Their   smile and laughter will always be with us Their love which knows no boundary That touched many of us will always be with us.   They will be with h the soft wind and with flowers They will be with the glittering stars, and morning dew They will be with us to stay forever Their story will be told by their   loved ones and the people they served Their testimony will be re-told by her peers and friends   As the sun rises  and as the stars shine so bright Their lives  will always be  a constant reminder of Life’s gift and beauty For even when death has taken them Their Death will not  lead us to forgetfulness.   For Life and death  are twin,  Heroes are  born and have seen life They have   gently welcomed death into their lives For all of  those who   love them  and believe in their strength We know that they  have lived  life into fullness Death is not the final destiny.. memory  will be the resurrection ‘s agent.     Ms. Norma P. Dollaga (She is a deaconess of the United Methodist Church.She is engaged with Kapatirang Simbahan Para sa Bayan (KASIMBAYAN) as its General Secretary.)    -------oOo----------- Balik-Tanaw, Isang Pagninilay Lectionary Reflection   The Lectionary Gospel, being the official Scripture reading on Sundays, is a great source of either daily or weekly reflection.   The biblical passage can   speak about today’s   situation when its interpretation is relevant to the present context. It is our hope that the reflection material becomes an   instrument for encouraging, summoning and challenging the church people to live-out the mandate of faith  in pursuing justice and peace in a broken world.      The Lectionary Gospel reflection is an invitation for meditation, contemplation, and action.  As we nurture our faith   by committing ourselves to journey with the people, we also wish to   nourish the perspective coming from the point of view of hope and struggle of Filipino people.  It is our constant longing that even as the crisis intensifies, the faithful will continue to    strengthen their commitment to love God and our neighbor by being one with the people in their dreams and aspirations.   The Lectionary Gospel Reflection entitled Balik –Tanaw , isang PAGNINILAY  is about looking back (balik) or revisiting the narratives and stories from the Biblical text and seeing, reading, and reflecting  on  them with the current  context(tanaw) in mind.  Balik-Tanaw, Isang Pagninilay is traveling back to Scriptures and with the end destination in our present time, reflecting on the relevance of the historical narratives and stories with the engagements in the present world.  Balik-Tanaw is honoring the biblical text of the past by making it a timeless source of message in the current period when prophetic call and priestly ministry are direly needed.    ----- You are invited to an ecumenical Easter Sunrise Service

--

"Remove the chains of oppression
and the yoke of injustice;
and let the oppressed go free."
                                        Isaiah 58:6

Visit our website:www.pcpronline.org