Author: bayuop

A Dominican brother tries his best to preach the Gospel...

Jesus, Our Lamb of God

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2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time [B]

January 17, 2021

John 1:35-42

John the Baptist identified Jesus as the ‘Lamb of God.’ If we are attending the celebration of the Eucharist, we cannot miss hearing this phrase. Just before the communion, the priest will hold the consecrated bread and wine, and present them to the faithful, then saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, Behold Him who takes away the sin of the world. Happy are those invited to the supper of the Lamb!”

I am a cradle Catholic, and I could no longer remember when I heard this Lamb of God for the first time. Yet, I never bother asking why Jesus is called such because it does not make much sense. Perhaps, it is just another fancy title of Jesus. I gradually learn this beautiful truth as I go deeper into my theology study and scriptures.

If we put ourselves in the shoes of the disciples who were living in the first century Palestine, we will see a lot more going on. When the disciples heard ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” they quickly understood. It was undoubtedly mind-blowing, but they were expecting to hear that.

Firstly, a lamb was a primarily sacrificial animal in the Jerusalem temple. Every day lambs were slaughtered and offered to God. Especially during the feast day of Passover, thousands of lambs were brought to the Temple and sacrificed. It was a massive display of devotion to behold. Though the lamb’s sacrifice is not the only way to worship the true God, it serves as the ordinary way of worship. By calling Jesus the Lamb of God, we acknowledge that God’s true worship takes place in Jesus.

Secondly, one of the most important Jewish feasts is Passover. It celebrates the freedom from the slavery of God. One of the central features of this celebration is the sacrificed lamb. The Book Exodus gives the details of how the Passover has to be commemorated. An unblemished one-year-old lamb has to be slaughtered. Its blood was placed on the Jewish household doorpost, and its roasted body shall be eaten [see Exo 12]. To accept Jesus as the Lamb of God, we recognize that the sacrifice and blood of Jesus save us, and we need to eat also His body.

Thirdly, one prophesy that connects a person, and a lamb is from Isaiah. The great prophet spoke about the mysterious figure of ‘suffering servant of God.’ This man shall redeem Israel, but He has to endure great suffering and death, despite being innocent.  The prophet wrote, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter… [Isa 53:7].” By receiving Jesus as the Lamb of God, we accept Jesus as our Redeemer who has to suffer and die for us.

Now, we have recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God; we need to do like the first disciples did: they remained with Him. The disciples did not merely know and accept Jesus, but they followed and stayed with Him. It is not enough for us to see Jesus as the Lamb, but we are invited to remain with Him, to become His true disciples.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

photo credit: Daniel Sandvik

Baptism and the Cross

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Baptism of the Lord

January 10, 2021

Mark 1:7-11

Baptism of the Lord is one of the defining moments in the life of Jesus. The synoptic gospels [Matthew, Mark, and Luke] writes this event, though with their own perspective and emphasis. We are in the liturgical year B, and thus, we are listening from the Gospel of Mark. Mark’s version is noticeably the shortest, but it does not mean it does not deliver a powerful message. The Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan is a turning point in Jesus’ life. After this Jesus will be in the desert for 40 days, tempted by the devil, but he will prevail. Then, from this, Jesus will begin His public ministry and unreservedly move toward Jerusalem, to Cross, Death, and Resurrection.

Often, we ask, “why should John baptize Jesus?” We are well aware that John’s baptism is an outward sign of inner repentance. If a person repents, it means that the person has been living a sinful life. Does it mean that Jesus is a sinful man, He asks for John’s baptism? Surely, Jesus who is God, is perfectly sinless, but the question remains, “why should Jesus be baptized?”  Mark does not give us a straight answer, yet the Church offers us the reason. Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners… Already he is anticipating the “baptism” of his bloody death… [CCC 536].”

Simply put, Jesus’ baptism speaks of this solidarity with us sinners, and this solidarity does not stop in the symbolic baptism of John, but this will find its fulfillment in the cross. As sinners, we deserve to die, but it is God who dies for us. The Church’s answer is beautiful, but is it truly in the mind of the evangelists, especially Mark?

When Jesus is baptized, Mark describes the sky as ‘torn apart’ and a voice came, “You are my Son, the Beloved…” The Greek word for ‘tearing apart’ is ‘schizo,’ and the same word is employed again by Mark when he recounts the happening in the Temple when Jesus died on the cross: the giant curtain that separates the holy place and the holiest place inside the Jerusalem temple [see 15:38]. Meanwhile, Mark also recounts a Roman centurion proclaims that Jesus is truly the Son of God, after witnessing remarkable events during Jesus’ death. From here, we can draw an interesting insight. With this basic pattern between what happens in baptism and in the cross, Mark is telling us that these two events are indeed related. The Baptism points to the Cross, and the Cross is the fulfillment of the Baptism.

It reveals the reason why the Father is so ‘so well pleased with His Son.’ The reason is through baptism, Jesus signals to all of us His eagerness to do His Father’s will. Though Jesus is sinless, He takes up our burden of sin and dies for us as proof of the Father’s love for us.

If in His baptism, Jesus accepts the cross, we, as the baptized Christians, are also called to carry our crosses. As we share Christ’s cross and carry it faithfully, we can hope to love radically. As we love deeply, we may hope for our salvation.

 

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Pembaptisan Yesus dan Salib

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Pembaptisan Tuhan

10 Januari 2021

Markus 1: 7-11

Baptisan Tuhan adalah salah satu momen yang menentukan dalam hidup Yesus. Injil sinoptik [Matius, Markus dan Lukas] menulis peristiwa ini, meskipun dengan perspektif dan penekanan yang berbeda. Karena kita berada di tahun liturgi B, kita mendengarkan dari Injil Markus. Versi Markus memang terlihat paling pendek, tetapi bukan berarti tidak menyampaikan pesan yang mendalam. Pembaptisan Yesus di sungai Yordan adalah titik balik dalam kehidupan Yesus. Setelah ini Yesus akan berada di padang gurun selama 40 hari dan dicobai oleh iblis. Kemudian, dari sini, Yesus akan memulai pelayanan publik-Nya, dan bergerak menuju Yerusalem, menuju Salib, Kematian dan Kebangkitan.

Seringkali, kita bertanya, “mengapa Yohanes harus membaptis Yesus?” Kita menyadari bahwa baptisan Yohanes adalah tanda lahiriah dari pertobatan batiniah. Jika seseorang menerima pembaptisan Yohanes, itu berarti orang tersebut membutuhkan pertobatan, dan berarti dia orang berdosa. Apakah ini berarti bahwa Yesus adalah orang yang berdosa, karena Dia meminta baptisan Yohanes? Yesus yang adalah Allah, tidak berdosa. Lalu, “mengapa Yesus tetap dibaptis?” Markus tidak memberi jawaban eksplisit, namun Gereja memberi kita alasannya. Di dalam Katekismus Gereja Katolik tertulis, “Baptisan Yesus adalah penerimaan dan pengukuhan misinya sebagai Hamba Allah yang menderita. Dia membiarkan dirinya terhitung di antara orang-orang berdosa … Dia sudah mengantisipasi ‘baptisan’ dari kematiannya yang berdarah … [KGK 536]. ”

Sederhananya, baptisan Yesus berbicara tentang solidaritas dengan kita para pendosa, dan solidaritas ini tidak berhenti pada baptisan Yohanes, tetapi ini akan menemukan pemenuhannya di kayu salib. Sebagai orang berdosa, kita pantas mati, tetapi Tuhanlah yang mati untuk kita. Pengertian Gereja ini sungguh indah, tetapi apakah ini benar-benar ada di benak para penginjil, terutama Markus?

Ketika Yesus dibaptis, Markus menggambarkan langit ‘terbelah’ dan suara terdengar, “Engkaulah Anak-Ku yang Kukasihi , kepada-Mulah Aku berkenan.” Kata Yunani untuk ‘membelah’ adalah ‘schizo,’ dan kata yang sama digunakan lagi oleh Markus ketika dia menceritakan kejadian di Bait Allah ketika Yesus wafat di kayu salib: tirai raksasa yang memisahkan tempat suci dan tempat tersuci di dalam Bait Suci Yerusalem, terbelah [lih. 15:38]. Sementara itu, Markus juga menceritakan seorang perwira Romawi yang menyatakan bahwa Yesus adalah benar-benar Putra Allah setelah menyaksikan kejadian luar biasa saat kematian Yesus. Dengan pola dasar antara apa yang terjadi di saat pembaptisan dan di kayu salib, Markus ingin mengatakan kepada kita bahwa kedua peristiwa ini memang terkait. Baptisan menunjuk ke Salib, dan Salib adalah penggenapan dari Baptisan Yesus.

Dari sini, kita tahu kenapa Bapa ‘berkenan kepada Putra-Nya.’ Ini karena melalui pembaptisan-Nya, Yesus memberi tanda kepada kita semua bahwa Dia akan melakukan kehendak Bapa-Nya yakni menuju Salib dan Kebangkitan. Meskipun Yesus tidak berdosa, Dia memikul beban dosa kita dan mati untuk kita sebagai bukti kasih Bapa bagi kita.

Jika dalam baptisan-Nya, Yesus menerima salib, kita sebagai umat Kristiani yang telah dibaptis juga dipanggil untuk memikul salib kita. Saat kita berpartisipasi di salib Kristus dan memikulnya dengan setia, kita bisa berharap untuk mengasihi lebih dalam. Saat kita mengasihi lebih dalam, kita bisa berharap untuk keselamatan kita.

 

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

We are the Magi

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The Epiphany of the Lord

January 3, 2021

Matthew 2:1-12

The Christmas season ends with the feast of Epiphany of the Lord or the Feast of the Three Kings. However, if we read the Gospel carefully, we will discover that one who visited Jesus is magi, and the word “king” is not used to describe them. The Gospel of Matthew also reveals neither their number nor names. St. Matthew only speaks of three gifts offered: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Magi is coming from the Greek word ‘magos’, and it is the same root word for magic. In his book ‘Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives,’ Pope Benedict XVI explains that Magi has a wide range of meanings. In one sense, it may point to a black magician like Simon the Magician [see Acts 8:9-24], but in another sense, the magi may refer to the philosophers of noble birth coming from the land of Persia. Ancient philosophers are educated people who devoted themselves to the pursuit of wisdom. This is the reason why we call the magi also the wise men. It seems that the wise men have eventually discovered through their careful study, that the great king who is the embodiment of wisdom herself has been born in the land of Judea.

Are they kings? The Church recognizes that the magi who brought three particular gifts are the fulfillment of ancient prophecy. Isaiah said, “Nations shall walk by your light,

and kings by your shining radiance. Raise your eyes and look about; they all gather and come to you… bearing gold and frankincense, and proclaiming the praises of the LORD [Isa 60:3-4,6; which is our first reading].” In short, Isaiah prophesized that the light will guide kings, and they will come and bring gifts of gold and frankincense, and praise the Lord. The magi match the description of Isaiah’s prophecy, and from here, we can also say that the magi are also kings who were guided by the light of the star and offered precious gifts to Jesus. They might be indeed kings of small nations or perhaps, members of royalty, otherwise Herod the great would not have received them in his palace and welcome them cordially.

What about their names? Writing from the 8th century, ‘Excerpta Latina barbari,’ introduces them as Balthasar, Melchior and Gaspar. Whether these are their real name or not, we are never sure. However, we are invited to have the spirit and character of these wise men.

To find Jesus, they left their homes’ comfort and embarked into a long and challenging journey. They also learned to open their hearts as they discovered that the great king is not in Herod’s palace, but a poor home of Joseph and Mary. Ultimately, they humbled themselves before Jesus as they worshipped Him and offered the best gifts representing their lives. Then, they may go home with great joy.

Epiphany means God’s manifestation to the nations, yet this manifestation requires the magi to get up, search, and be humble. We are the magi. We are invited to look diligently for Jesus. To be baptized, catholic is undoubtedly excellent, but it is just the first step of our incredible journey. We are called to go deeper into the beauty of our faith. We are challenged to see Jesus in even the most unexpected places. Unless we go out and seek, we never find. It is because we are the magi.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Kita adalah Orang Majus

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Hari Raya Epifani

3 Januari 2021

Matius 2: 1-12

Masa Natal diakhiri dengan hari raya Penampakan Tuhan Yesus atau juga dikenal sebagai Pesta Tiga Raja. Namun, jika kita membaca Injil dengan cermat, kita akan menemukan bahwa orang yang mengunjungi Yesus adalah orang majus, dan kata ‘raja’ tidak digunakan untuk mendeskripsikan mereka. Injil Matius juga tidak menyebutkan berapa atau nama mereka. St. Matius hanya berbicara tentang tiga hadiah yang dipersembahkan: emas, kemenyan dan mur.

Majus berasal dari kata Yunani ‘magos’ dan ini adalah akar kata yang sama untuk ‘magic’. Dalam bukunya ‘Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives’, Paus Benediktus XVI menjelaskan bahwa kata ‘magos’ memiliki arti yang cukup luas. Di satu sisi, kata ‘magos’ menunjuk pada seorang penyihir seperti Simon yang mencoba membeli rahmat dari Petrus [lihat Kisah Para Rasul 8: 9-24], tetapi dalam arti lain, ‘magos’ merujuk pada para filsuf dari keluarga bangsawan yang datang dari tanah Persia. Filsuf kuno adalah orang-orang terpelajar yang mengabdikan diri untuk mencari kebijaksanaan. Inilah alasan mengapa kita menyebut orang majus sebagai orang bijak. Mereka tidak berhenti sampai menemukan sang Kebijaksanaan itu sendiri.

Apakah mereka raja? Gereja melihat bahwa orang majus yang membawa tiga hadiah ini adalah penggenapan nubuat kuno. Yesaya berkata, “Bangsa-bangsa berduyun-duyun datang kepada terangmu, dan raja-raja kepada cahaya yang terbit bagimu. Angkatlah mukamu dan lihatlah ke sekeliling, mereka semua datang berhimpun kepadamu… akan membawa emas dan kemenyan,  serta memberitakan perbuatan masyhur Tuhan. [Yes 60: 3-4,6; yang merupakan bacaan pertama kita].”

Singkatnya, Yesaya menubuatkan bahwa raja-raja akan dibimbing oleh cahaya dan mereka akan datang membawa persembahan emas dan kemenyan, dan memuji Tuhan. Dari sini, kita juga bisa mengatakan bahwa orang majus juga adalah raja yang dibimbing oleh cahaya bintang dan mempersembahkan hadiah berharga kepada Yesus. Mereka mungkin sungguh raja dari kerajaan kecil di timur atau anggota keluarga kerajaan, jika tidak Herodes Agung tidak akan menerima mereka di istananya dan menyambut mereka dengan hormat.

Bagaimana dengan nama mereka? Sebuah tulisan yang berasal dari abad ke-8, ‘Excerpta latina barbari,’ memperkenalkan mereka sebagai Balthasar, Melchior dan Gaspar. Apakah ini nama asli mereka? Kita tidak pernah tahu dengan pasti. Namun, kita diajak untuk memiliki semangat dan karakter orang majus tersebut.

Untuk menemukan Yesus, mereka meninggalkan kenyamanan tempat tinggal mereka, dan memulai perjalanan yang panjang dan sulit. Mereka belajar juga untuk membuka hati mereka ketika mereka menemukan bahwa raja agung tidak ada di istana Herodes, tetapi ada di keluarga miskin Yusuf dan Maria. Akhirnya, mereka merendahkan diri di hadapan Yesus saat mereka menyembah Dia dan mempersembahkan hadiah terbaik yang mewakili hidup mereka. Hanya dengan demikian, mereka bisa pulang dengan penuh sukacita.

Epifani berarti penampakan Tuhan kepada bangsa-bangsa, namun hal ini menuntut orang majus untuk bangkit, mencari dan menjadi rendah hati. Kita adalah orang majus. Kita diundang untuk mencari Yesus dengan tekun. Dibaptis menjadi katolik memang rahmat yang luar biasa, tetapi ini adalah langkah awal dari perjalanan besar kita. Kita dipanggil untuk masuk lebih dalam lagi untuk menemukan keindahan iman kita. Kita ditantang untuk melihat Yesus bahkan di tempat yang paling tidak terduga. Jika kita tidak mau pergi dan mencari, kita tidak pernah menemukan-Nya. Ingat bahwa kita adalah orang majus.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

photocredit: jeff jewiss

Holy Families

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Feast of the Holy Family [B]

December 27, 2020

Luke 2:22-40

We are celebrating the feast of the Holy Family, and indeed, we are celebrating not only the family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph but every human family. Through this liturgical celebration, the Church is inviting us to recognize the importance and the value of our family. Not only acclaiming the fundamental worth of family, but we are also invited to embrace and celebrate family lives.

At a human level, many social experts have understood that healthy and thriving societies begin in robust families. The families do not only fill the communities with human populations, but they provide an environment where children can grow into physically and psychologically mature men and women. A healthy and mature adult turns to be an asset to society.

From the perspective of faith, the Church always considers family as the basic unit of society and the Church herself. In his apostolic exhortation, Familiaris Consortio, Pope St. John Paul II affirmed the family’s fundamental role as the intimate community of life and love. In the family, husband and wife learn to love each other deeper and deeper every day. In the family, parents offer unconditional and sacrificial love for their children. In the family, the children learn to give honor and respect to their parents and their brothers and sisters. Because only in love, human persons find their true fulfillment as God’s image who is Love.

The Scriptures also give premium to family life. To honor our mother and father is one of the Torah’s highest commandments [Exo 20:]. Sirach even claimed that honoring our parents can atone for our sins [Sir 3:3]. St. Paul himself, in his letter to the Colossians, instructed each member of the family on how to behave [see Col 3:12-21].

Yet, going back to Jesus, we discover that for Him, a family is indeed indispensable. As God, Jesus could have come to us directly from heaven. He did not need human aid. Yet, He chose to be born of the virgin Mary, and through the angel, instructed Joseph to become the husband of Mary and, thus, His foster father. When He became man, He entered a human family and grew through Joseph and Mary’s guidance and protection. Jesus has become part of a family, and His presence sanctified His human family. This is a poignant message for all that family is a school of holiness because Jesus is present.

We also admit that family life is not always smooth and sweet. Moments of frustrations, misunderstanding, anger, and sadness often come and struck us. Various problems ranging from economic stability to emotional immaturity beset our familial relationship. However, these ugly situations may be transformed into means of holiness if Jesus is present among us. Raising children can be tough and even irritating, but we can offer this cross to the Lord as prayer. A relationship with our spouse can be filled with misunderstanding, but before we vent our emotions, we may pause a moment and ask the Lord the best course of action we shall take. Thus, through these difficulties, we are made closer to the Lord.

We thank the Lord for the gift of life, love, and family.

Happy feast day of the Holy Family!

 

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Keluarga-Keluarga Kudus

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Pesta Keluarga Kudus [B]

27 Desember 2020

Lukas 2: 22-40

Kita merayakan pesta Keluarga Kudus, namun kita tidak hanya merayakan keluarga Yesus, Maria dan Yusuf, tetapi setiap keluarga di dunia. Melalui perayaan liturgi hari ini, Gereja mengundang kita untuk menyadari pentingnya dan berharganya keluarga kita. Tidak hanya menghargai nilai dasar keluarga, kita diundang untuk merangkul dan merayakan kehidupan keluarga.

Di tingkat manusia, banyak ahli sosial telah memahami bahwa masyarakat yang sehat dan berkembang dimulai dari keluarga yang kokoh. Keluarga tidak hanya mengisi komunitas dengan populasi manusia, tetapi juga menyediakan lingkungan di mana anak-anak dapat tumbuh menjadi pria dan wanita yang dewasa secara fisik dan psikologis. Manusia-manusia dewasa yang sehat dan mapan menjadi aset masyarakat dan bangsa.

Dari perspektif iman, Gereja selalu memandang keluarga sebagai unit dasar tidak hanya masyarakat tetapi Gereja itu sendiri. Dalam Seruan Apostoliknya, Familiaris Consorsium, Paus St. Yohanes Paulus II menegaskan peran fundamental keluarga sebagai “komunitas hidup dan kasih”. Dalam keluarga, suami dan istri belajar untuk saling mencintai semakin dalam setiap harinya. Dalam keluarga, orang tua memberikan kasih tanpa pamrih dan pengorbanan untuk anak-anak mereka. Di dalam keluarga, anak-anak belajar untuk menghormati dan menyayangi orang tua serta saudara-saudara mereka. Karena hanya dalam kasih, manusia menemukan pemenuhan sejatinya sebagai citra Tuhan yang adalah Kasih.

Alkitab juga sangat menghargai kehidupan keluarga. Menghormati ibu dan ayah kita adalah salah satu perintah tertinggi dalam Hukum Taurat [Kel 20]. Sirach bahkan mengklaim bahwa menghormati orang tua kita dapat menghapus dosa-dosa kita [Sir 3:3]. St. Paulus sendiri dalam suratnya kepada jemaat di Kolose, memberikan instruksinya kepada setiap anggota keluarga tentang bagaimana berperilaku yang baik sebagai anggota keluarga [lihat Kol 3: 12-21].

Kembali kepada Yesus, kita menemukan bahwa bagi Dia, keluarga memang sangat esensial. Sebagai Tuhan, Yesus bisa saja datang kepada kita langsung dari surga. Dia tidak membutuhkan bantuan manusia untuk menebus manusia. Namun, Dia memilih untuk dilahirkan dari perawan Maria, dan melalui malaikat, Dia menginstruksikan Yusuf untuk menjadi suami Maria dan dengan demikian, menjadi ayah angkat-Nya. Ketika Yesus menjadi manusia, Dia memasuki keluarga manusia, dan tumbuh melalui bimbingan dan perlindungan Yusuf dan Maria. Yesus telah menjadi bagian dari sebuah keluarga, dan kehadiran-Nya menguduskan keluarga manusia-Nya. Ini adalah pesan penting bagi semua keluarga bahwa keluarga akan menjadi sekolah kekudusan karena Yesus hadir.

Kita akui juga bahwa kehidupan keluarga tidak selalu mulus dan manis. Saat-saat frustrasi, kesalahpahaman, amarah dan kesedihan seringkali datang dan menghantam kita dengan keras. Berbagai masalah mulai dari stabilitas ekonomi hingga ketidakdewasaan emosional melanda hubungan kekeluargaan kita. Namun, situasi buruk ini dapat diubah menjadi sarana kekudusan jika Yesus hadir di antara kita. Membesarkan anak bisa jadi sulit dan bahkan menjengkelkan, tetapi kita bisa mempersembahkan salib ini kepada Tuhan sebagai doa. Hubungan dengan pasangan kita dapat dipenuhi dengan kesalahpahaman, tetapi sebelum kita melampiaskan emosi kita, kita mungkin berhenti sejenak dan bertanya kepada Tuhan tindakan terbaik yang akan kita ambil. Dengan demikian, melalui kesulitan-kesulitan ini, kita menjadi lebih dekat dengan Tuhan.

Kita berterima kasih atas karunia kehidupan, kasih dan keluarga.

Selamat Pesta Keluarga Kudus!

 

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Emmanuel

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Christmas – Mass during the Night [B]

December 24, 2020

Luke 2:1-14

Christmas is one of the most beautiful and joyous times of the year. Christmas is the time to gather with the families and friends and to have an exchange of gifts. Christmas is the time to put up Christmas trees, place Nativity scenes, and play Christmas songs. Surely, Christmas is the time when families once again go to the church together.

However, this year, things do not go as we want them to be. The pandemic caused by Covid-19 continues to plague our societies, and it significantly affects how we do things and relate with one another. Some of us can no longer go home because of our nature of professions or travel restrictions. Some of us will not attend the beautiful Christmas vigil liturgy because the Church remained closed. Some of us have no special meals on the table because the poor economy hits us hard. For some of us, it is just a lonely and sad Christmas because some of our family members are sick or even have passed away.

Is this still a Christmas? In these difficult situations, all the more, we are invited to reflect on the mystery of Incarnation. The drama of salvation begins with a little baby with His poor parents. Joseph was David’s son, yet he was no more than a poor carpenter, who cannot even provide a decent place for his wife to give birth. Mary was a young mother who had to endure unimaginable shame and various threats to her life. And, at the center of Christmas is the baby boy who is God and yet chose to be born in the most unworthy place of all, a cave filled with animals. He did not opt for much grander places like a royal palace or a magnificent castle. He did not decide to be wrapped with a purple royal garment, but a simple linen cloth. He did not select a golden and comfortable bed, but an unhygienic stone manger.

Looking at the circumstances, Jesus’ birth is not that impressive, but this is what makes the mystery of Incarnation touch every human heart. He did not come as an imposing and authoritarian king like Augustus. He did not come as a shrewd military leader like Julius Caesar. He did not come as a smart politician like Herod. God comes to us as the weakest baby in the humblest place. He is a God who radically loves us and wills to embrace even our weak nature.

Christmas reminds us that Jesus is with us when we are broken by economic conditions; Jesus is with us when we cannot be with our loved ones. Jesus is with us when we are losing our family members. The first Christmas points to us that God does not always spare us from suffering, but He promises to be with us in these terrible times.

One of my friends just lost his father due to Covid-19. It was sudden and untimely death. And what made it very painful is they could not give the last farewell for him as the remain brought immediately to the cemetery. When I had a chance to talk to him, I discovered he could accept the death, and then I asked him the reason. He narrated to me that before his father was admitted to the hospital, he gave his father a brown scapular. He also learned that his father passed away when he was praying the rosary. He believed that his father was not alone when he died; God is with him. Indeed, Jesus is the Emmanuel: God is with us.

Merry Christmas!

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

photocredit: debby hudson

Immanuel

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Malam Natal [B]

24 Desember 2020

Lukas 2: 1-14

Natal adalah salah satu masa terindah dan menggembirakan. Natal adalah waktu untuk berkumpul dengan keluarga dan para sahabat, dan juga bertukar hadiah. Natal adalah waktu memasang pohon Natal, merancang Gua Natal, dan memutar lagu-lagu Natal. Pastinya, Natal adalah saat keluarga pergi ke gereja bersama-sama.

Namun, tahun ini, banyak hal tidak berjalan seperti yang kita inginkan. Pandemi yang disebabkan oleh Covid-19 terus menghantam masyarakat kita, dan memengaruhi secara signifikan cara kita melakukan sesuatu dan berelasi satu sama lain. Beberapa dari kita tidak bisa lagi pulang karena profesi kita atau pembatasan perjalanan. Beberapa dari kita tidak akan dapat menghadiri liturgi malam Natal yang indah karena Gereja tetap tutup. Beberapa dari kita tidak memiliki makanan spesial di atas meja karena ekonomi yang buruk memukul kita dengan keras. Bagi sebagian dari kita, ini adalah Natal yang dingin dan menyedihkan karena beberapa anggota keluarga kita sakit atau bahkan telah meninggal dunia.

Apakah ini masih Natal? Dalam situasi sulit ini, semakin kita diundang untuk merenungkan misteri Inkarnasi. Drama keselamatan dimulai dengan seorang bayi kecil dengan orang tua-Nya yang miskin. Yusuf adalah putra Daud, namun dia tidak lebih dari seorang tukang kayu yang sederhana, yang bahkan tidak dapat menyediakan tempat yang layak bagi istrinya untuk melahirkan. Maria adalah seorang ibu muda, yang harus menanggung rasa malu yang tak terbayangkan dan berbagai ancaman terhadap hidupnya. Dan, di tengah Natal adalah bayi laki-laki yang adalah Tuhan sendiri, tetapi memilih untuk dilahirkan di tempat yang paling tidak layak, sebuah gua yang dipenuhi dengan binatang. Dia tidak memilih tempat yang sangat megah seperti istana atau kastil yang megah. Ia tidak memilih untuk dibungkus dengan pakaian kerajaan berwarna ungu, melainkan kain linen sederhana. Dia tidak memilih tempat tidur emas dan nyaman, tetapi palungan batu yang tidak higienis.

Melihat keadaannya, kelahiran Yesus memang tidak terlalu mengesankan, tapi inilah yang membuat misteri Inkarnasi menyentuh hati setiap manusia. Dia tidak datang sebagai raja yang mendominasi dan otoriter seperti kaisar Agustus. Dia tidak datang sebagai pemimpin militer yang lihai seperti Julius Caesar. Dia tidak datang sebagai politikus yang cerdas seperti Herodes. Tuhan datang kepada kita sebagai bayi terlemah di tempat yang paling rendah. Dia adalah Tuhan yang sangat mengasihi kita, dan ingin merangkul bahkan kodrat kita yang lemah kita.

Natal mengingatkan kita bahwa Yesus menyertai kita ketika kita bergulat dengan kondisi ekonomi; Yesus menyertai kita saat kita tidak bisa bersama orang yang kita cintai. Yesus menyertai kita saat kita kehilangan anggota keluarga kita. Natal pertama menunjukkan kepada kita bahwa Tuhan tidak selalu melepaskan kita dari penderitaan, tetapi Dia berjanji untuk selalu menyertai kita di saat-saat yang sulit ini.

Salah satu teman saya baru saja kehilangan ayahnya karena Covid-19. Hal ini adalah kematian yang tiba-tiba dan terlalu cepat. Yang membuatnya sangat menyakitkan adalah mereka tidak bisa memberikan perpisahan terakhir karena jenazah segera dikubur. Ketika saya memiliki kesempatan untuk berbicara dengannya, saya melihat dia sudah dapat menerima kepergian ayahnya. Sayapun menanyakan alasannya. Dia menceritakan kepada saya bahwa sebelum ayahnya dirawat di rumah sakit, dia dapat memberikan skapulir coklat kepada ayahnya. Dia juga mengetahui bahwa ayahnya meninggal ketika dia berdoa rosario. Dia percaya bahwa ayahnya tidak sendirian ketika dia meninggal, Tuhan menyertainya. Sungguh, Yesus adalah Imanuel, Tuhan beserta kita.

Selamat Natal!

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

photocredit: debby hudson

Mary’s Fiat

On By bayuopIn Advent, EnglishLeave a comment

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]

December 20, 2020

Luke 1:28-36

Christmas is fast approaching, and the Church is inviting us to reflect on the story of the Annunciation. Allow me to once more focus on the Blessed Virgin’s Fiat. To appreciate her answer to God’s will and plan, we need to see at least two things. Firstly, it is her historical and social context. Secondly, it is the language analysis of her response.

Mary was a young girl. According to tradition, she was around 13 or 14 years old when she got married. For many of us, living in urban settings, Mary’s marriage was remarkably too early. But, this kind of practice was nothing but expected. Lives were hard, and many people died too young due to sickness, famine, calamity, or wars. To sustain a healthy number of populations, young girls were prepared for the duty of motherhood.

Mary was betrothed to Joseph from the family of David. In the Jewish community, betrothal is the first formal step in a Jewish marriage. The exchange of vows was done in this betrothal. Mary and Joseph were spouses in the eye of Jewish law and society, except for the intimate relationship. The couple had to wait around one year before the bride moved to the house prepared by the groom from the betrothal. Usually, there was a light procession from the bride’s original place to the new house, where the wedding ceremony and reception would occur.

Legally, Mary was Joseph’s wife, and if something wrong happened, it was judged to be adultery. The Law of Moses abhors adultery since it reflects Israel’s infidelity toward Yahweh, breaking the sacred covenant. Thus, for those who were unfaithful, severe punishment awaited them. In Deu 20:22, the Torah explicitly stated that if a betrothed woman commits adultery, she and the man shall be stoned to death.  As a good Jew, Mary was aware of this terrible consequence when archangel Gabriel announced the glad tiding. If she gave her affirmation, she might face certain, untimely death. Nobody would believe her if she tried to defend her supernatural virginal conception. “She must be insane!” some would say. However, despite this imminent horrible future, Mary accepted her mission.

Now, why did she say her Fiat? I used to think that Mary’s fiat is about surrendering everything to God.  She did not understand, but her faith enabled her to trust in God’s providence. In the face of ominous dangers, to have this kind of faith is extremely remarkable. However, as I read more about this Fiat, I discover that Mary’s Fiat is more than an act of self-surrender. The Greek word used by Mary is “genomai.” This word is rather special because it expresses not an act of submission but an act of longing. This tiny detail spells the great difference. Mary did not just submit to the will of God, but she longed to do it. She was not passively accepting her fate but rather proactively fulfilling God’s plan in her. There were no traces of fear, doubt, and worry. Her yes was driven by passion, hope, and eagerness. Despite bleak tomorrow, she knew that she was about to depart into an unimaginably amazing journey. For her, the Lord’s plan is always the best and the only way to reach our utmost potential.

Do we have what it takes to have Mary’s Fiat?

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

photocredit: Phil hearing