Fw: Choose You This Day... A reflection on Methodism in the Philippines

[Genesis Salvania]

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Lizette Tapia-Raquel <liztapi...@yahoo.com>
To: Danny Hernaez <dann...@yahoo.com>; Pong Javier <abjav...@sbcglobal.net>; Pong Javier <abjav...@aol.com>; jcco...@yahoo.com; Afrie Songco Joye <asj...@yahoo.com>; jtn...@yahoo.com; benjamin justo <baj...@yahoo.com>; chu kay <chuka...@yahoo.com>; Vic Layug <vic_...@yahoo.com>; lily ledesma <lilyle...@yahoo.com>; Nat Letana <nle...@yahoo.com>; Rey Lopez <rl_...@yahoo.com>; jonathan loscos <ultra...@yahoo.com>; jonavern lungub <jonpl_...@yahoo.com>; cristy manabat <crist...@yahoo.com>; carmen manalac <men...@yahoo.com>; Romil Manglicmot <omin...@yahoo.com>; Leandro Marcos <upm...@yahoo.com>; rae marcuelo <rmar...@yahoo.com>; marycri...@yahoo.com; Constantino Mayo <constan...@yahoo.com>; vic melad <vicme...@yahoo.com>; Framer Mella <fcpm...@utsem.net>; Framer Mella <fcpm...@yahoo.com>; joanne mellad <oa...@yahoo.com>; charles mendoza <charle...@yahoo.com>; everett mendoza <everm...@gmail.com>; Joltz Meneses <joltz...@yahoo.com>; Alicia Miguel <alici...@yahoo.com>; Chita R Millan <crmi...@gmail.com>; molin...@yahoo.com; mervin montano <kamoteq...@yahoo.com>; ntra...@yahoo.com; nazzer oliveros <nmolive...@yahoo.com>; Levi Oracion <levi.o...@gmail.com>; Darryl Osias <jdo...@gmail.com>; Johann Osias <johan...@ymail.com>; Glorilyn Ostoy <gto...@rocketmail.com>; Tony Pacudan <tonyp...@yahoo.com>; Noah Reyes Panlilio <lu...@corecom.net>; Noah Panlilio <pstr...@comcast.net>; Arnolfo Pascasio <ptr_ar...@yahoo.com>; earlie Pasion umyaf <earlie...@gmail.com>; pastorb...@yahoo.com; Marlu Primero-Scott <mscot...@aol.com>; cesar proceso <cesar_...@yahoo.com>; lorraine rabago <elle...@yahoo.com>; Ricarte manny Rapisora <rrapi...@yahoo.com>; dovie raquel <dobx...@gmail.com>; norman raquel <n...@sm.shoemart.com>; mighty rasing <mighty...@yahoo.com>; mighty rasing <mighty...@gmail.com>; Kristel Ravina <kristel...@yahoo.com>; Kristel Anne Ravina <kristela...@gmail.com>; rays...@yahoo.com; homer refuerzo <homer...@yahoo.com>; Homer Refuerzo <href...@hotmail.com>; rev_...@yahoo.com; revart...@yahoo.com; revc...@yahoo.com; revl...@palisadesumc.org; Father Rex Reyes <pad...@trisys.com>; John Riingen <jnri...@aol.com>; janet rodriguez <jaja...@hotmail.com>; bhing romualdo <rrrom...@yahoo.com>; ronald romualdo <rrro...@yahoo.com>; Esperanza del Rosario <sp02...@yahoo.com>; rosew...@yahoo.com; Ruthie Ruthie <tabuj...@yahoo.com>; Connie S <semy...@yahoo.com>; Abner Saballo <abners...@yahoo.com>; thelma sadoy <tlrs...@yahoo.com>; Genesis Salvania <gen7...@yahoo.com>; Jocelyn Salvania <josal...@yahoo.com>; sonny san pedro <spo4sts...@yahoo.com>; josie sanchez <sanchez...@yahoo.com>; Josie Sanchez <masak...@yahoo.com>; jean santiago <geneals...@yahoo.com>; Lisa Gay Santiago <santi...@aol.com>; edward santos <dond...@yahoo.com>; Marlu Primero Scott <wilbur...@nwinfo.net>; Lilian Gallo Seagren <hamum...@hamburg.heartland.net>; serafi...@sbcglobal.net; Ferdinand Serra <fbse...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, June 9, 2011 9:51:51 PM
Subject: Choose You This Day... A reflection on Methodism in the Philippines

--- On Thu, 6/9/11, Lizette Raquel <liztapi...@utsem.net> wrote: From: Lizette Raquel <liztapi...@utsem.net> Subject: Fw: Choose You This Day... A reflection on Methodism in the Philippines To: liztapi...@yahoo.com Date: Thursday, June 9, 2011, 9:27 PM --- On Thu, 6/9/11, Lizette Raquel <liztapi...@utsem.net> wrote: CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY.... In the book of Ruth, we encounter three women at the crossroads of their lives: they were all widows, had no property, and needed to decide where they wanted to go. The choice of Ruth to journey with Naomi has been interpreted in Christian tradition as a conversion experience. She makes the most beautiful vow: “Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” As far as Christian tradition is concerned, Ruth made the right choice: she chose the 'right' God. But a feminist critique of the narrative would expose Ruth's victimization and absence of resistance: Of her own volition, she offers to go to the field to gather grain and find favor with “someone”;1 falls prostrate with her face to the ground in thankfulness to Boaz's kindness to her and receives his favors;2 obeys Naomi's direction to uncover and lay down at Boaz's feet34 and is acquired along with the land which was acquired by Boaz.5 At the end of the narrative even Ruth's son is not hers for “A son has been born to Naomi.”6 She uses her sexuality to ensure security and sustenance and submits to the designs of Naomi and Boaz. Ruth fulfills her roles as wife and mother but loses her independence and identity. I would like to believe though, that she struggled to find herself amongst people not her own. The other woman in the story, Orpah, returns to her people. She leaves Naomi and Ruth with a kiss and nothing more is heard of her. But I think she would have said, “Do not ask me to follow you. Let me be free to leave you! Wherever you go, I cannot go. Where you will live, I cannot live. My people will be my people, and my God will be my God.” Three women struggle to seek dignity and life. Naomi and Ruth have each other. Orpah is alone. All of them take a journey they believe they must take. The United Methodist Church in the Philippines is over a hundred years old. Autonomy, as recent history has shown, has been the clamor of congregations in the Philippines. It was only by technicality that we were not able to achieve what we have worked for so long. The Philippine Methodist Church or the “Carmen Event” is a journey our sisters and brothers have chosen to take. Perhaps, for “a future with hope.” Those who remain in the United Methodist Church have chosen to remain. Perhaps, for the same reason. Or perhaps because they want autonomy for the whole United Methodist Church in the Philippines. Like Ruth, Naomi and Orpah, we take the journey we believe we must take. But more importantly, I believe God journeyed with Orpah, just as God journeyed with Ruth and Naomi. I believe too that God will journey with the Philippine Methodist Church, just as God has journeyed with the United Methodist Church in the Philippines. Let us not be afraid of these changes. But move forward in our own journeys for a future with hope, not just for our Church, but for the Filipino People. LIZETTE G. TAPIA-RAQUEL Assistant Professor Union Theological Seminary 1 Ruth 2: 2 2 Ruth 2: 8-13 3 Ruth 3: 6-18 4 In Hebrew, “feet” is often used as a euphemism for a man's gentals. Thus, it can be said that Ruth was initiating a sexual encounter with Boaz. 5 Ruth 4: 9-10 6 Ruth 4:17