Tag: English

A Child as a Gift

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Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist [June 24, 2018] Luke 1:57-66, 80

“The Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her.” (Lk. 1:58)

child in churchToday we are celebrating the birth of John the Baptist. Two figures emerge as the protagonists of our today’s Gospel, Elizabeth, and Zachariah. Luke describes the couple as “righteous in the eyes of God, observing all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly. (Luk 1:6)”. But, they have no child. The possibility to have a child is close to zero as Elizabeth is perceived to be barren and Zachariah is already old. In ancient Jewish society, children are considered to be a blessing of the Lord and a source of honor, and barrenness is a curse and shame.

However, the archangel Gabriel appears to Zachariah and tells him that his wife will get pregnant despite her barrenness and his advanced age. Paying close attention to their names, we may discover even richer meaning. Zachariah, from the Hebrew word “Zakar” means to remember, and Elizabeth, a compound Hebrew words, “Eli,” and “Sabath” means God’s oath or promise. Thus, both names may mean God remembers His promise. In the Bible, when God remembers, it does simply mean God recalls something from memory, but it means God fulfills what He has promised. As God has fulfilled His promise to Zachariah’s ancestors, so God also remembers His promise to Elizabeth. The story of Elizabeth reverberate the stories of great women in the Old Testament: Sarah (Gen 15:3; 16:1), Rebekah (Gen 25:21), Rachel (Gen 29:31; 30:1), the mother of Samson and wife of Manoah (Jdg 13:2-3), and Hannah (1Sa 1:2).

What is God’s promise to Elizabeth and Zachariah, and eventually to all of us? St. Luke the evangelist points to us that God’s promise is to show His great mercy to Elisabeth and Zachariah (see Luk 1:58). The birth of John the Baptist is a sign of God’s mercy towards the righteous couple. Thus, the birth of every child is a sign of God’s promise fulfilled, a sign of God’s mercy to every parent. We recall that mercy is not something we deserve. Mercy is the embodiment of gratuitous love, the gift of love. Mercy is an utter gift. Through every child, God shows His great mercy to us, and together with Elizabeth and Zachariah, we shall rejoice because of this gift.

We are living in the world that is increasingly uncomfortable with the presence of the little children around us. There is this new fundamentalist mentality creeping into millennial generation. It is a mentality that promotes individual success as the prime and absolute value of happiness. Thus, anything that stands in its way has to be eradicated. This includes marriage, family life and finally children. They are no longer seen as a gift to be received with gratitude, but liabilities to be avoided. When I visited South Korea last year, my Dominican Korean friend told me that young generation of Korea is working very hard to the point that they longer consider marriage and having children as their priorities. Indeed, unlike in the Philippines or Indonesia, it was not easy to spot little children playing freely. I guess the decline in population growth is a problem in many progressive countries.

We deny neither the fact that it is a backbreaking responsibility to raise children nor the reality that not all of us are called to become parents. However, it is also true that children are a gift not only to the particular family, but to the entire humanity, and thus, every one of us has the sacred call to protect and take care of the wellbeing of our children. We shall protect our children from any form of child abuse, from the debilitating effects of poverty, from the egocentric and contraceptive mentality and from evil of abortion. To honor a gift is to honor the giver, and thus, to honor every child is to honor the God who gives them to us.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

 

The Death of Priesthood

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(a reflection of a religious brother for three Filipino priests who recently martyred)

June 17, 2018

paez ventura niloThe Catholic Church in the Philippines is once again in profound grief after one of her priests was mercilessly murdered. Fr. Richmond Nilo, from the diocese of Cabanatuan was shot several times just before he celebrated the mass at a chapel in Zaragoza, Nueva Ecija. His body was laying on the floor at the foot of the image of Blessed Virgin, soaked with blood. Another disturbing and painful image. He becomes the third priest losing his life in a bloody attack in the past six months. On December 4, 2017, Fr. Marcelito Paez was ambushed in Jean, Nueva Ecija. Just a few weeks ago on April 29, Fr. Mark Ventura was also gunned down moment after celebrating the mass. We may also include Fr. Rey Urmeneta who was attacked by a hit man in Calamba, Laguna. He sustained a bullet in his body, yet he survived death.

Several weeks ago I wrote an emotional reflection on the death of Fr. Ventura (see “A Death of Priest) and I would never hope that I would write another one. Yet, just sometime after the priest was buried without justice being served, Fr. Nilo lost his life in the line of duty. Surely, this is not the first time a priest is killed in the Philippines. The history has witnessed the killing of both Filipino and foreign priests in this land, but to lose three lives in just six months is truly alarming. I was asking myself, “Are we now living in the perilous time for priests? Is to become a priest a dangerous vocation? What’s the point of becoming a priest if it brings nothing but persecution and death?” We have left everything for Christ, our family, our future. Should we give up our lives in this heinous manner as well?

These questions are valid, yet these questions also, I realize, spring from fear. Many priests and even seminarians, myself included, have lived in the comfort of our seminaries, parishes or convents. Provided with readily available basic necessities, with individual rooms, with good-quality education, with other facilities and even amenities, we are actually living as middle-class bachelors. These privileges are meant to make us better and well-formed priests for the service of the people, but getting used to these facilities, we often lose sight of their primary purpose. Our priesthood is called as the ministerial priesthood because the ordained priests are to serve the people of God, but sometimes, the priests end up being served by the people of God. At times, the virus of clericalism and careerism infect our minds. Ordinations and positions in the Church are seen as promotions, career, or prestige. A better position means better perks! If the priesthood is just another way to make us rich, we have lost the priesthood even before we die! The death of a priest is terrible sorrow, but the death of priesthood in our hearts is tragedy!

Bishop Pablo David, DD of Caloocan, Metro Manila, reminds seminarians who are aspiring to become priests, that if the deaths of the priests gave them discouragement, rather than inspiration, it is better for them to forget the priesthood and leave the seminary as soon as they can. Bishop David notes that they are not helpless victims, but rather martyrs that bravely choose to face the dangerous consequence of preaching the Gospel and working for justice.

Since the beginning of Christianity, to become Christians and especially priests are dangerous vocations because we follow Christ in His way of the Cross. Yet, the martyrdom of the three priests turns out to be a shock therapy that wakes us up from our comfortable slumber. It is a call for many of us, seminarians, religious, and priests to ask what the purpose of our priesthood is. Have we died every day to ourselves? Are we ready to give up our lives to God and His people? Are we ready to follow Christ till the end?

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Jesus and His Family

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10th Sunday in Ordinary Time [June 10, 2018] Mark 3:20-35

“For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother (Mrk 3:35).”

family
photo by Harry Setianto, SJ

In ancient Israel as well as in many Asian and African cultures, family and kinship are core to one’s identity. The family is practically everything. A person is born, growing, getting old and dying within a family and clan. In traditional Filipino and Indonesian settings, a house is meant for an extended and expanded family. Several generations are living in one house. When I ask some of my Filipino friends, “If your house is burning, what are the first things you will save?” Their answer is not money, important documents or jewelry, but family pictures! In 1977, the Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere, one of the most prominent African figures during that time, visited the US and talked before the African students who studied there. Before them, he criticized those Africans who received much support from their families and clan, yet refused to go back after their studies. It was an act of cowardice and betrayal to Africa.

 

However, closely reading today’s Gospel from Mark, a good family-oriented and devoted Catholic will be startled. Naturally, we would expect Jesus to welcome Mary, his mother, and his relatives who come and look for Him. Surprisingly, Jesus does not do what is expected, but rather He takes that occasion to show His new family, “looking around at those seated in the circle he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” (Mk. 3:34-35) Jesus’ words seem to be harsh since Jesus appears to exclude Mary and Jesus’ relatives from the composition of His new family. Does it mean Jesus disrespect Mary, His parent? Does it mean that for Jesus, the biological and traditional family have no value?

The answer is plain no. Certainly, Jesus respects and loves His mother as He fulfills the fourth commandment of the Law, “Thou shall honor thy parents.” Jesus also upholds and teaches the sanctity of both marriage and family life (see Mat 5:31-32; Mat 19:19). The early Christians also follow Jesus’ teaching on the integrity of marriage and family life, as reflected in various letters of St. Paul and other apostles (see 1 Cor 7:1-17; Eph 6:1-5). We are sure that for Jesus, marriage and family are good, but the point of our Gospel is Jesus is calling all of us to go beyond this natural relationship. The new family of Jesus is not based on blood but rooted in following Jesus and doing the will of God. This is also the call that Jesus addresses to Mary and His relatives. Surely, Mary becomes the model of faith as she obeys the will of God in the Annunciation (Lk 2:26-38), follows Jesus even to the cross (Jn 19:25-26) and stays and prays together with the early Church (Acts 1:14). St. Augustine says about Mary in his homily, “It means more for her, an altogether greater blessing, to have been Christ’s disciple than to have been Christ’s mother.”

The family as a natural institution is good, but Jesus teaches that we need to be the good disciples of Jesus first before we become a good family member. Otherwise, the family will be exposed to evil and destruction. Corruption, nepotism, and cronyism are evil practices rooted in the natural family. Another extreme is when brothers fight, even kill, each other over inheritance as if they are not coming from the same womb. It is the will of God that we are faithful to one another, that we do justice, that we are merciful especially to the weak and poor. Without Christian values, the family will not become the source of goodness. Echoing the words of St. Augustine, it is a blessing to be part of a family, but it is an altogether a greater blessing to become Christ’s disciple.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Body

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Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ [June 3, 2018] Mark 14:12-16, 22-26

“Take it; this is my body” (Mk 14:22)

last supper africaWe often take for granted that we are created as a bodily creature. Our body is integral to our humanity and created by God as something good; we receive our body as a gift. We freely receive our body from our parents, and our parents from their parents and this goes on till we discover God as the source of this gift. Because our body is a gift from God, we are called to honor our body as we honor the Giver of the gift Himself.

Since the earliest time, the Church has fought against various false teachings that undermine the integrity and sanctity of the body. Early Christians stoutly defended the goodness of the body against the Gnostic sects that condemned the body as evil, a prison to our soul, and a curse to our existence. The Order of Preachers where I belong was founded for the salvation of souls. Some of my friends complain why we only save the soul and disregard other aspects of our humanity. I remind them that the Order was originally established to counter the Albigensian sect, and one of its basic teachings is that the body is evil, that suicide is a great means to achieve final liberation. To preach and fight for the goodness and integrity of our body is essential to the Dominican preaching, as it is to the Church’s preaching.

Unfortunately, the gnostic teaching grows and takes modern forms. Sanctity of our body is ever compromised as our body is trivialized and even commoditized. Human trafficking is one of the greatest abuses of our body. Young women, mostly from a poor background, are lured into prostitution and turned to be sex objects. Young children are forced to work in inhuman conditions in many countries. Organ harvesting has become most luxurious business involving the countless amount of money. There is a price for every organ we have. In fact, there is a nasty story in the social media of a teenager who sells his kidney to buy the latest model of iPhone. For some people, another additional ‘bodies’ in the wombs are just liabilities and hindrance to self-progress and career development, and thus, it is better to abort these ‘bodies’ before they grow and become bigger problems.

In celebrating the solemnity of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, we are invited through our Gospel reading, to go back to Jesus’ Last Supper. There, Jesus freely offers His body as a gift to His disciples, “Take it, this My body.”  He then asks these disciples to share His body they have received to the future generations of disciples. Jesus receives His body as a gift, and now, in His Supper, He passes this gift so that we may have a life. This is the foundation of the Eucharist, as well as the core of the Christian sexuality.

Husband and wife join together in marriage, and they are no longer “two but one body.” As both spouses face the altar of God, they recognize that their bodies are gifts from God, and by lovingly offering to their spouse, they honor God who created them. We oppose any pre-marital and extra-marital sex because unless our body is given freely and totally in lifetime marriage commitment, we are always exposed to objectify our body. A husband’s or wife’s body is not simply the “property” or object to satisfy sexual, psychological needs, but it is a gift from God that even leads us to a deeper appreciation of our own body. In marriage, husband and wife give their body as a gift to each other in love and honor, so that they may have life more abundantly and in fact, they may welcome a new body, a new life, a new gift, into their marriage.

Married life is one among several ways we may accept and offer our body as a gift. Even a celibate life dedicated to service of others is another way to offer our body as a gift. Like Jesus in the Last Supper, it is only by receiving our body as a gift and freely sharing it as a gift that we may have meaningful lives.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Trinity and Us

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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity [May 27, 2018] Matthew 28:16-20

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, (Matt. 28:19)”

big bang
photo by Harry Setianto, SJ

This Mystery of Trinity is rightly called the mystery of all the mysteries because the Holy Trinity is at the core of our Christian faith. Yet, the fundamental truth we believe is not only extremely difficult to understand, but in fact, it goes beyond our natural reasoning. How is it possible that we believe in three distinct Divine Persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and yet they remain One God? Some of the greatest minds like St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI have attempted to shed a little light on the mystery. However, in the face of such immense truth, the best explanations would seem like a drop of water in the vast ocean.

 

I have no illusion that I could explain the mystery better than the brightest minds of the Church, but we may reflect on its meaning in our ordinary lives. The joyful Easter season ended with the celebration of the Pentecost Sunday last week, and we resume the liturgical season of the year or simply known as the ordinary season. As we begin once again the ordinary season, the Church invites us to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity or the Trinity Sunday. The Church seems to tell us that the unfathomable mystery of Trinity is in fact intimately closed to our day-to-day living, to our daily struggles and triumphs, to our everyday pains and joys. How is our faith in the greatest mystery of all connected to our ordinary and mundane lives?

We often have false images of God. We used to think that God or Trinity is the greatest person (or three persons) among things that exist He is like a universal CEO that manages things from an undisclosed location or a super big and powerful being that controls practically everything. Yet, this is not quite right. He is not just one among countless beings. God is the ground of our existence. He is the very reason why anything exists rather than nothing. Thus, the act of creation is not what happened at the Big Bang 13.7 billion years ago. It is fundamentally God’s gift of existence to us. To be created means that we do not necessarily exist. Every single moment of our life is God’s gratuitous gift.

The Scriptures reveals the mystery of our God. He is not solitary and self-absorbed God, but our God is one God in three divine persons. Our God is a community founded on creative mutual love and constant self-giving. Therefore, our creation is not a mere accident, but God’s creative act and His gift of love. We exist in the world because God cannot but love us and wants us to share in the perfect life of the Trinity. St. Thomas Aquinas rightly says that we only believe two fundamental teachings, two credibilia : first, God exists, and second, we are loved in Jesus Christ.

We often take for granted our lives and immerse in daily concern of life; we rarely ask what the purpose of this life is. Yet, it does not diminish the truth that God lovingly sustains our existence and cares for us, even to the tiniest fraction of our atom. Whether we are busy doing our works, focus on our family affairs, or simply enjoying our hobbies, God is intimately involved. Thus, apart from God, our lives, our daily toils, and concerns, our sorrows and joys are meaningless and even revert to nothingness. Celebrating the Trinity Sunday means to rejoice in our existence as a gift, and to glorify God who is immensely loving and caring for us.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

The Holy Spirit of Pentecost

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Pentecost Sunday [May 20, 2018] Jn 20:19-23

“We hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God (Acts 2:11)”

small candle
picture by Harry Setianto SJ

Just a week ago, three churches in Surabaya, Indonesia were attacked by suicide bombers.  Fear immediately seized me knowing the bombing sites were not far from our Dominican community. Some of my good friends were from Surabaya, and they might have been harmed by the senseless explosions. I was somehow able to breathe upon knowing that they were safe, but part of my heart remained deeply hurt because many people, Christians and Moslems, police officers, ordinary citizen, and even children, died and were wounded. These were people with their hopes and dreams, their stories and faith, with family and friends. Yet, the brutal attacks instantly destroyed all. As we are now celebrating the Pentecost, we may ask ourselves: What does it mean to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a world chocked by fear and violence? How do we call ourselves the hopeful Pentecost People in the midst of persecution and death?

 

On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit does appear in the form of the tongues of fire and rests on each apostle and disciple. They are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak different languages and to proclaim the mighty acts of God to people coming from many nations. From the story, we discover that people from different languages and nations are able to understand, and begin to be one community as they listen to the mighty acts of God. Thus, the mission of the Holy Spirit is to become the principle of connection and unity among people separated by many walls and divisions.

We are coming from different languages, culture, and nations, having diverse upbringings, characters, and value system. We possess different convictions, beliefs, and faith. It is the work of the devil to sow the seed of fear and lies, and with so much fear and misconceptions of the others, it is easier to build higher fences and dig deeper trenches. These are the roots of fundamentalism and radicalism that kills rather than heals.

The Holy Spirit pushes us to go out from ourselves and reach to the others. If we are created in the image of the Holy Trinity, and if the Trinity is three unique divine persons living in the unity of love, we are designed to be unique individuals and yet we are also made as a person with others and for others. The Holy Spirit is like a mother eagle that when the right time comes, will throw its young brood from the cliff and let them learn how to fly gracefully like a mature eagles.

Hours after the bombing, people also flooded the hospitals where the terror victims were treated and offered themselves to be blood donors for the victims. One remarks that blood knows no ethnicity, religion or nation; it only knows type O, A, B or AB! The Holy Spirit works against the work of the devil, the father of lies. Thus, the Holy Spirit empowers us to proclaim the truth and the mighty acts of God. Minutes after the bombing, the social media was flooded by a graphic picture of people killed as to spread fear, but then the Indonesian netizens refused to share further the fear and began to place in their social media accounts hashtag #wearenotafraid.

The heroic stories also emerge. There is Aloysius Bayu, a parish volunteer, who died in the explosion. Had he not stopped the terrorists who tried to enter the church premises, countless people could have died that day. His death does not only end his life but also scatters the life of a woman who expects his husband to come home and a little baby who needs her father. Yet, it is not without hope. It succumbs to fear or anger, Bayu’s friends see his death as a sacrifice that leads to a new hope. One of his friends remarks, “We must not stop going to the Church because of fear. If we stop, Bayu would have died for nothing.” The Holy Spirit does not blind us to the harsh and ugly world we have, but the Holy Spirit empowers us to be brave and work for better future of this world.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Ascension and Mission

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The Ascension of the Lord [May 13, 2018] Mark 16:15-20

“Jesus said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mk. 16:15)

father and daughter at beach 2We normally do not want to part away from the people we love. The emotional bond that has grown makes it difficult and painful for us to be away from the persons whom we love. Parents do not want to be separated from their children. Couple hates when they have to be far from each other. Friends cry when they have to go separate ways.

However, Jesus does the opposite when He is ascending into heaven. The resurrected Jesus could have stayed, done more miracles and accompanied the disciples. His permanent physical presence could boost the disciples’ morale, give them comfort and protection. Yet, He chooses to go and leave His disciples on earth. Why does Jesus do that cruel thing?

When we read today’s Gospel closely, Jesus does not simply leave behind His disciples, but He sends them for the mission, “Go to the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mrk 16:15) In fact, the Ascension is more about sending rather than departing. He goes up so that the disciples may go forward. Jesus understands that to stay put means to infantilize the disciples and hinder the disciples to become the men they are meant to be. As they go, they grow to be the persons whom they never expect before. They have faith even more, and to gradually grow in hope and charity. Had Peter stayed behind, he would not have become a leader of the great Church. Had John gone home, he would not have become the elder of the Church in Ephesus and written the Fourth Gospel.

The story of faith begins with a mission. God called Abraham, asked him to go from in his land of Ur, and made his way to Canaan. He became the Father of great nations not in his homeland, his comfort, and his safe zone, but in the dangerous and unknown land. God called Moses and Israelites to go out from the land of Egypt, from the land that gave them cucumber, onion, and garlic. They became people free to worship their only God, not in Egypt, land of thousand gods, but in the land, God has promised them. St. Dominic de Guzman began the Order of Preachers by sending his small and fragile community into various cities. Some brothers doubted others resisted, and few objected his decision. Yet, his decision was proved to be a watershed for the Order. The mission of Order is not to be another ancient stable monastery, but a group of iterant preachers. Dominic’s faith has given birth to the Dominican family that is currently present in more than 100 countries.

I always thank my parents for allowing me to enter the seminary at the tender age of 14. I know it was a tough and painful decision, but their courage has made me a man who I am now. At first, both my parents and I were not sure what would come for me, what my particular mission in life be, but we are sure that I have been sent, from the comfort of my family into the midst of an immensely vast Church. Have we grown and become mature and courageous people? Have we allowed people we love to grow into the person they are meant to be? Have we entrusted ourselves and our loved ones into God’s mission?

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

The Death of a Priest

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(for +Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura)

Sixth Sunday of Easter [May 6, 2018] John 15:9-17

mark venturaWe are living in the part of the world that violence and death have become our daily consumption. Every day, people’s lives are forcibly snatched away for unbelievably trivial reasons. Parents kill their babies. Brothers murder their brothers. Friends manipulate and sell their friends. Some of us used to go down on the street and cry for justice. Yet, many of us are just busy with daily pressing concerns like works, study and chores. We become numb or blind to the soil that has been painted red by the blood of our brothers and sisters. The life, precious in the eyes of God, turns out to be cheap at the hands of men.

However, few days ago, I was deeply troubled by the news of a young priest brutally murdered. His name is Fr. Mark Ventura, and he was just 37 years old when he was merciless gunned down. His life was taken moments after he celebrated his morning mass in Cagayan, Philippines. He was still inside the small chapel, had given his blessing to children and suddenly, an unidentified man shot him. His advocacy for justice and peace in his place may be the reason why he lived so short.

His death is less dramatic than of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador. The holy bishop was killed right after consecration of the body and blood of Christ, and he fell to the ground, his blood was mingled with the blood of Christ. Another bishop, a Dominican Bishop Pierre Claverie, OP of Oran, Algeria suffered the same fate. The terrorists planted a bomb in his car, and its explosion did not only kill Bishop Pierre, but also his young Muslim friend and driver. In a bloody scene, his flesh was mixed with the flesh of his Muslim friend. Yet, that is beside the point. Witnessing Fr. Mark’s body laying soulless on the ground and soaked with blood, is not only deeply disturbing, but is also deeply hurtful. It is enormously disturbing because it gives us the chilling effect that if these evil men could mercilessly kill a priest, the herald of forgiveness and mercy, now they may kill anyone who stands on their way. Yet, his death is also painful because his death is also our death as the People of God. His white soutane soiled and colored by blood, is our white garment we wore during our baptism. His lifeless hands used to bless the people and consecrate the holy hosts and wine, are also our hands that raise our children and build our society. His silenced mouth used to proclaim the Good News, to forgive sins, and to denounce evil, are also our mouth that receive the Holy Communion and teach wisdom to our children. The murder of Fr. Mark is a murder of a priest, and symbolically it is the killing of all of us, Christians.

The way of the priesthood is what some of us choose, the way that often provides us with earthly comforts, and unexpected bonuses; the way that catapults us from a rug to a rich kid; and the way that showers us with fame, success, and glory. Yet, it is the same way that confronts us with the face of evil; the way that challenges us to be at the side of the victims and to denounce injustice; and the way that gets us persecuted, mocked and killed. The choice is ours. To end my humble reflection, let me quote Archbishop Oscar Romero, “A church that doesn’t provoke any crises, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed — what gospel is that?”

 

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

 

The Vine

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Fifth Sunday of Easter [April 29, 2018] John 15:1-8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. (John 15:1)”

running to crossIf Jesus is a carpenter, why does He speak about the vine in today’s Gospel? Does He have the competency to draw wisdom from a field that is not His expertise? We recall that Jesus grows and lives in Galilee, and in this northern region of Israel, the land is relatively fertile and agricultural industry is thriving. Some archeological findings suggest that in Nazareth, despite being a small village, the community members are engaged in small time farming, grapes press, and winemaking. A young Jesus must have been involved with this farming activities and perhaps even helped in a nearby vineyard. Thus, Jesus does not hesitate to teach wisdom using the imageries coming from the agricultural settings, like parables related to the vineyard (Mat 20:1-16), planting seeds (Mat 13:1-9), wheat and weed (Mat 13:24-30), and harvest (Mat 9:35).

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples that He is the true vine and His Father is the vine grower. Like Jesus, the disciples are certainly familiar with grapes plantations and wine production. In fact, for the Jews, drinking wine is not mere merriment, but also an essential part of their ritual Passover meal in which they relive the experience of liberation from Egypt. Thus, the images of the vine, vine grower and vine branches are not only familiar to the disciples, but turn out to be potent means to deliver Jesus’ teaching.

The context of this teaching is Jesus’ Last Supper, and we imagine that as Jesus teaches this truth, the disciples are enjoying their meal and cup of wine. As they are drinking the wine, it is at the back of the disciples’ mind that the high-quality wine comes from superior-quality grapes, and these grapes are produced by the best vineyard with its healthy vine and hardworking vine growers. From the taste of the wine, one can assess not only the value of the wine but also the entire production, from the vineyard (viticulture) to the winemaking (vinification). Through this imagery, Jesus has assured His disciples that He and His Father have done their share in making the branches fruitful, and now it is the free choice of the disciples to bear the fruits. As branches, the only way to produce fruits is to remain united with the true vine.

The instruction of Jesus to remain in Him seems not difficult to follow. But, just hours after the Last Supper, Jesus will be arrested, and the disciples immediately forget everything that Jesus says. Judas betrays Him, Peter denies Him, and the rest run away and hide. Only a few disciples remain with Him, some women disciples, the Beloved Disciple, and His mother. The point is clear now. It is easy to remain with Jesus when things are easy and convenient, but when the things get tough, the disciples are facing an existential question whether to remain in Jesus or to abandon Him.

The question is now given to us. When our lives become desert-like and do not yield expected fruits, are we going to remain in Jesus? A friend told me how he was initially excited to serve the Church by joining an organization. Yet, after some time, he got frustrated by scandalizing attitudes of some members. He realized that the group was no different with other organizations that were plagued by gossips, intrigues, and factionalism. Naturally, I advised him to leave the group and look for a better group, like the Dominicans! Yet, he chose to remain and said to me that this difficult group provides him an opportunity to love Jesus more. Then, I realize that the mere fact that he stays, he has unexpectedly borne much fruits: patience, mercy, and understanding.

The same question now is addressed to us. Shall we remain in Christ in challenging times? Do we stay even when we do not feel the fruits? Do we remain faithful till the end?

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

photo by Harry Setianto, SJ

 

The Good Shepherd

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Fourth Sunday of Easter [April 22, 2018] Jn 10:11-18

“I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (Jn. 10:11)”

good shepherd
photo by Harri Setianto, SJ

The Bible itself is filled with the good shepherd image. My personal favorite among the psalms is Psalm 23, “The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.”  Prophet Isaiah who consoles the Israelites in Babylonian Exile, speaks of God who is like a shepherd who gathers back the lost sheep and brings them back home from the land of exile (Isaiah 40:11) Some great leaders of Israel are shepherds. Moses is tending to his father-in-law flocks when he is called by God in the burning bush (Exo 3). David also is taking care of his father’s sheep when Samuel comes and anoints him king (1 Sam 16).  No wonder, Jesus takes the image of Himself and introduces Himself as the Good Shepherd.

 

 From today’s Gospel, we can learn several characters of a good shepherd. Firstly, Jesus distinguishes between the Good Shepherd and the bad shepherds. The good shepherd owns the flocks and is responsible for their lives. Meanwhile, those bad shepherds do not own the sheep, and they work primarily for the money, not for the sheep. That is why when the danger comes from the predators’ attack or the thieves’ ambush; the hired workers would run and save their own lives rather than to protect their sheep. The prophet Jeremiah criticizes the corrupt and abusive leaders of Israel during his time as he prophesies, “Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the flock of my pasture (Jer 23:1).”

The second character of a good shepherd is he knows well his sheep and call them by name. I used to think that “calling sheep by name” is just exaggerated metaphorical language to show shepherd care to his sheep, but later on, I discover “calling by name” actually literally happens. The sheep in Judea are raised both for wool and for sacrifice. Especially those intended for wool production, the shepherd shall live together with his flock for years. No wonder if he knows well each sheep, its characters, and even its unique physical features. He will call them by name like ‘small-feet’ or ‘large-ears.’ Because of the intimate bond between the two, the sheep were so familiar with the voice of the shepherd and will listen whenever he calls them. It reminds me of our pet-dog in our house. Our family calls it “cipluk,” and my mother and young brother take good care of it. Thus, every time my mother or brother calls its name, cipluk hastens to approach them. Yet, every time I go home and try to call its name, cipluk just won’t give any attention!

The third and more important character is the good shepherd will lay down his life for his sheep. This character seems to be an exaggeration. Why would you die for your sheep? If we recognize that the shepherd has a strong bond with his sheep and takes good care of them, he will have no second thought in defending his sheep from that attack of dangerous predators and robbers. At times, the robbers simply outnumber the shepherd and mercilessly beat the courageous shepherd to the death. The shepherd literally lays down his life for the sheep. This is not uncommon happening in the time of Jesus in Palestine, and in fact, still happening in our time in some parts of the world.

To have the Good Shepherd as our Lord means that we belong to God intimately for better and for worse. He knows each one of us personally, and He will not abandon us when our lives face serious problems and dangers. He will not only care for us as long as we produce “wool,” but He continues to love us even we have not been good sheep. In fact, Jesus lays down His life on the cross, so that we, His sheep, may have life, a life to the fullest. Have we become a good sheep? Do we recognize His voice? Do we listen to Him? Do we truly follow Him?

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP