A Maria, Reyna y Madre (To Mary, Queen and Mother)

On the highest of heavens

there resides a Queen

whose radiance is the

reflection

Of the One she bore

who emanates

graces from the Most High

towards earth

in a shower of Light

guiding ships

of all kinds

to safe harbor.

Her splendor

tremble nations;

her compassion

turn heathens to heroes.

Sinners and saints

of all generations

call her Blessed

and declare her the

Ark of the Covenant.

Sino ang Nag-Preside sa Konsilyo ng Jerusalem?

Malamang ay alam ng mga Katolikong nakakaunawa sa Bibliya na ang pinakaunang konsilyong apostolika (Apostolic Council) ay ang Konsilyo ng Jerusalem, na mahahanap sa ika-15 kabanata ng mga Gawa ng mga Apostol (tal. 1-29): sa katunayan, ito lang ang konsilyong mahahanap sa Banal na Kasulatan. Nauunawaan rin ng bawat mananampalataya na na ibinigay ni Jesu-Kristo kay San Simon Pedro ang kapangyarihang mamuno sa Simbahan sunod sa Kanya (Mat. 16:18-19), tulad ng kapangyarihang ibinigay ng Paraon ng Egipto kay Jose sa Lumang Tipan (Gen. 41:38-44).

Kung tutuusin, sa isang organisasyon, ang pinuno ang may huling salita sa mga bagay na pinagde-debatehan ng lahat ng miyembro nito; ngunit sa kaso ng Council of Jerusalem, si Santiago, ang unang Obispo ng Jerusalem (at nagsilbing host ng konsilyo), ang huling nagsalita--at nagdesisyon na magpadala ng sulat sa mga Gentil (Gawa 15:22-29)--at hindi si San Pedro--ang unang Obispo ng Roma, unang Santo Papa, at unang Vikaryo ni Kristo. Bakit ganun? Ibig bang sabihin ng Kasulatan, si Santiago ang pinuno ng sinaunang Simbahan?

Hindi.

Sa pagpupulong, hindi naman sinapawan ni Santiago ang kapangyarihan ng kanyang kaibigang si San Pedro: sa katunayan, siya ang naging kunsintidor sa argumento ni Pedro. Sa madaling salita, sang-ayon si Santiago kay Pedro nang hindi nag-o-overrule sa konsilyo; dahil nirerespeto niya ang authority ni San Pedro; dahil si Santiago mismo ang nakakita sa pagpili ng kanilang Guro kay Simon Barjona bilang maging batong simbolo ng paghahari Niya sa Simbahan sa habang panahon.

Ngayon, i-apply natin ito sa pang-araw-araw na sitwasyon.

Mayroong isang barkada na may mabigat-bigat na problema (ipalagay natin, mayroon silang project sa isang subject); ang lider ng grupo ay may suggestion sa kung papaano paghahati-hatian ng bawat miyembro ang kanilang gagawin. Sa isang iglap, may pumasok sa utak ng isa sa mga kasama nila na nagsabing, "Pwede rin. Ano kaya kung gawin natin yung sinabi niya?" Ibig bang sabihin nun ay siya na ang lider? Hindi siguro. Isa pang example: Mayroon akong grupong hina-handle, at may nag-initiate na ayusin ang mga contacts namin. Ibig bang sabihin nun, siya na ang magte-take over? Hindi. Respetado niya pa rin ako, at eto pa--kinredit ko sa kanya ang pagi-initiate ng aksyong iyon.

Ibig lang sabihin ng mga sinabing ideas, ganoon din ang nangyari sa Konsilyo ng Jerusalem. Si San Pedro pa rin ang tagapangulo, at inapprove niya ang sinabi ni Santiago dahil sang-ayon ito sa kanyang mga argumento. Kungsabagay, gagawin ba ni Santiagong i-challenge ang primacy ni San Pedro (ibig sabihin ng primacy, pantay-pantay ang bawat miyembro pagdating sa ranggo, at nabuo lang dahil sa pangangailangan ang isang lider), kung ang tangi niyang hangarin ay ang sumang-ayon sa argumento at magpahayag ng saloobin? Hindi ibig sabihin na sa pagiging lider, kailangan na manggaling sa kanya ang desisyon ng lahat (pwera na lang kung siya ay isang diktador). Siya pa rin ang namumuno sa isang organisasyon/institusyon kahit hindi siya ang nag-desisyon (dahil ang lider ang pinakapunong kasapi; at ang pagiging kasapi ay ang pagiging bahagi ng iisang hangarin), maliban na lamang kung may masamang nangyari sa kanya o nagbitiw siya sa pwesto sa kahit anong dahilan.

Samakatwid, hindi kinakailangan na maging lider ka para kumilos: kinakailangan lang ng initiative para maisakatuparan ang inaasam ng isang grupo o mangyari ang dapat na mangyari.

Very Late Reaction in PNoy's First SONA

The recently-concluded SONA of President Benigno Aquino III was really a shock for all Filipinos; because after almost a decade (or two), the contents of the annual Presidential speeches to the joint session of Congress were all platforms and fresh tomatoes, though the problems remain--and worse--became more widespread. It served as an eye-opener to those who were ignorant and those who do not care.

Like what he said in the closing moments of his speech: "Ang nakikialam, walang hanggan ang reklamo; ang nakikilahok ay nakikibahagi sa solusyon." He admits, though covertly, that he cannot change this country alone, making the people his "boss". Thus, it is every Filipino's duty to part of the solution rather than to bombard the government with nonsense complains.

Pusong Sugatan at Banal

Bakit po ganun?
Pinili Mong masugatan
ang Puso Mong umiibig sa lahat?
Na hinayaan Mong nagdurugo
hanggang sa mga oras na ito?

Masidhi po ba ang ninanais Mo
para sa sangkatauhang
nagkasala sa 'Yo?
Hindi Ka po ba nagsasawang
magmahal?

Siguro nga'y
ito ang nais Mo sa akin--
na makita ko ang lahat
ng dapat kong makita
sa Iyong Pusong Banal at walang hanggan;
na magmahal sa lahat
ng walang pakundangan
at walang kahit anong reklamo.

You must be wondering why I'm not writing Sunday Gospel Reflections anymore.... It's because Bro. Dean Bascon (my kuya in UST) is back in Lamp Upon Our Feet; that is aside from me having said it all from my lengthy reflections. But I'd still be active here, though I may only write occasionally and in another genre--socio-religious communication. Anyway, may God bless you still.

Goin' to the top with God: On Charice Going Rome Sweet Home

The ever-beautiful worldwide sensation, Charice, at the Pasig Cathedral for her formal "homecoming" to the Catholic Church. This lass was a former Manalist, and now leaving behind her past to be reborn in a new life in the Love of Christ administered by the successors of His Apostles. Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN broadcaster Karen Davila: http://tweetphoto.com/23397303

Last Thursday night, after dinner, I went online to do the usual stuff--checking updates, comment on Facebook posts, and think of what would I say (I'm picky and careful when I comment on something; not to be indifferent, but to be fair and to respect someone's opinion). As I check the blogs I'm following, I stumbled on Fr. Abe's post on The Splendor about Charice converting to Catholicism.

And I was like, "WHAAAAT?!!"

You heard it right.

The YouTube sensation-turned-versatile recording artist, and her brother Carl, left Felix Manalo's cult for the Church built by Jesus Christ Himself and received the Sacraments of Initiation last May 22, 2010, at the Pasig Cathedral. Her list of godparents included Oprah Winfrey (though not personally present), who believed in her from the first time Charice appeared in The Oprah Winfrey Show, her mentor, David Foster, OC, ABS-CBN boss Gabby Lopez, acclaimed "King of Talk" Boy Abunda, Presidential sister Kris Aquino-Yap, husband-and-wife broadcasters Julius and Tintin Babao (the latter came in late), and entertainment columnist Ricky Lo among many others.

How did Charice, Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco in real life, and Carl became members of the infamous INC(M) cult? It is because their father is a member of it, and that their mother, Raquel Relucio Pempengco, converted to it in the years where they were still together. When Raquel knew that was it, she packed their bags, returned home (to her parents and to the Church), and never heard of Charice's father ever since. But I can say that this dark past they experienced has already been overshadowed by the attention the world gave; and by seeing the Light that inspires her to be more of herself and being fully incorporated in the Catholic Church--the True Church--there is a hope that the Holy Spirit would be in all her albums and tours.

And this is something surprising: After recieving the saving grace of Baptism, being sealed by the Holy Spirit, and hopefully, receiving Christ in the Holy Eucharist, she offered a soup kitchen as reception for underprivileged children as part of her mission! Can you believe that? She made her first charitable act as a Catholic--as a True Christian--right after her enlistment as a Soldier of and for Christ!

In her famous single, it says that love stands "like a pyramid". If love is like that--standing "to the very end"--I firmly believe that the Lord's love for us is much, much more than that. May our Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be praised in all her endeavors, and may He endow her with more blessings! TO THE TOP, SISTER CHARICE!!!

On Loving One Another Through our Own Ways

First Reading: Acts 14:21-27
Responsorial Psalm: I will praise Your Name for ever, my King and my God. (Ps. 145: 8-9; 10-11; 12-13)
Second Reading: Rev. 21:1-5a

Gospel Reading: Jn. 13: 31-33a; 34-35

When Judas had left them, Jesus said,

“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

If God is glorified in him,

God will also glorify him in himself,

and God will glorify him at once.

My children, I will be with you only a little while longer.

I give you a new commandment: love one another.

As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.

This is how all will know that you are my disciples,

if you have love for one another.”

Dissection:

The Gospel passage, taken from the Last Supper account of the Gospel of St. John, has this scenario: Jesus knew who will betray Him, and in the verses before this, it was emphasized how His glorification be in His crucifixion.

Reflection:

"Love one another." Very cliche, isn't it?

How would we express this kind of love in this time of hatred and uncertainty? Simple. we have to forget, even for a while, our own interest for the company of others, in which God is in our midst, so that by glorifying Him through our works in correct application of faith, we are also glorified. Therefore, loving one another by working hard for God is glorifying Him, and in turn, He shares this glory to those who do His will.