Much as I wanted to attend the 83rd Graduation Ceremonies of Central Philippine University last week, my health constrained me. But I got a copy of the commencement message of a brilliant young lawyer who is the only son of my mentor at the Department of Social Work. Addressed to graduates and respective families, the last portion of his speech inspires me. Subsequently, this series of Lenten reflections.
Atty. Peter Irving C. Corvera associates success with significance. For unless our success leaves any imprint on the lives of others, it remains a personal accomplishment. His contention is that success and significance are not dependent on material factors and the length of stay in this world, respectively. Hence, the challenge to make a difference now. He cited the case of Jesus the Christ, whose earthly life was short but significant. The impact of Jesus life on the world and the lives of people is eternal.
Emphasizing service, more than excellence or riches, as something that gives significance to life, he shares the story of his mother. This is where his message penetrates my soul. For I know very well Mrs. Ruth Ciriaco Corvera. How she spent the best years of life on her passion for service as pastor and social worker. Either in church or community, she consistently espouses her development slogan- empower people to reach their full potential before God. I have been a witness to her irresistible commitment. Nothing can stop her, not even problems, difficulties, illness, pains and sufferings. She has given all with seemingly nothing for her old age. Yet, at the age of 82, she was stricken with cancer. Now on the eighth year, six years of which were in stage-4, she continues to think of ways how she could be useful to others.
Every time I think of the life of Ma'am Corvera and others like her, I feel humiliated. Admittedly my wife and I have been devastated by what happened to me. More so, when in crises, we realized our folly of not saving for our own needs. Obsessed in service, we seem to give all. Worse, because one of the major causes of my suffering was principled voluntary work in community and church, especially for pastors. For a year, I continue to wrestle this issue. Now, I realized my experience pales in comparison to hers. Her condition is even worse than mine. Yet, she still has the time to periodically call me and inspire me to hold on and go on with life and service.
When I reflect on the life of Jesus, the more I am humbled in my sufferings. Despite being the only begotten Son of God, He was not spared from the harsh realities in life. Even if we combine all our pains in life, the product falls short to the sacrifices, persecution, betrayal, humiliation, and disgrace he encounters in the name of service. It is in this context that the lent must be viewed, as well as our sufferings.
Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lent. Show all posts
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The EDSA mystery remains unspoiled
This is the last of the series of reflections during the 25th Anniversary of the historic EDSA Revolution in the Philippines on February 25, 2011. Still relevant as the Christendom celebrates Lent.
The spirit of EDSA lives on. Its cathartic power continues to provide relief and refreshes hope. The over arching and encompassing spirit cannot and will never be domesticated. Its mystery remains unspoiled, not completely unfold.
Twenty five years after, the mystery of EDSA has not been fully unfold. Analysts from various socio-political persuasions attempted to explain the event. Some had to come up with new concepts as EDSA Revolution departed from any of the standard categories. While new testimonies from living participants came out every year, they just shed light to understand the pattern of events and contributing factors. But the mystery still remains.
EDSA bloodless Revolution defied logic. For how can you explain this phenomenon: “When guns and tanks of a dictator melted before the flowers held out by priests and nuns, by millionaires’ sons and squatters’ daughters, by ordinary men and women and by young and old alike; when… a new day was ushered in by ordinary Filipino common tao who rose to heroic heights that won the admiration of the whole world…” The quoted description was that of Jorge Lorredo, Jr. in his article “Four Days that changed History” published in Bulletin Today exactly 25 years ago, as cited by Douglas J. Elwood in his book, Philippine Revolution.
Incidentally, I saw the book few days ago before the 25th EDSA Anniversary while cleaning my shelve. It was given as graduation gift from the College of Theology, Central Philippine University in March 1990. I was supposed to graduate in 1984 when the call to respond to the needs of times compelled me to join the Filipino people’s struggle against dictatorship. My political conversion took place while doing pastoral ministry to political detainees in Camp Delgado. Raised up in seemingly apolitical environment, my primary motivation was to witness for Christ. Ironically, I found myself converted to their commitment, dedication, courage and strong resolve in the service of people. Thereafter, commenced my fulltime solidarity work with the Filipino masses until the mystery of EDSA Revolution.
“The hand of God was there…” was the explanation of the late Dr. Quintin Doromal, former PCCG commissioner & president of Siliman University. Quoted by his friend Douglas Elwood in the book, Doromal, an Ilonggo leader, was a witness to the event, having joined his old friend Fidel Ramos at Camp Crame and stayed there with him throughout those critical anxious hours. Indeed, God acts through people, as surely as he speaks through people, and that he uses the sometimes complex interconnection of human forces to serve his larger purposes.
Relating the mystery of EDSA to our Lenten reflections, St. Paul in his epistle aptly describes the life of Jesus: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8 NIV)
The spirit of EDSA lives on. Its cathartic power continues to provide relief and refreshes hope. The over arching and encompassing spirit cannot and will never be domesticated. Its mystery remains unspoiled, not completely unfold.
Twenty five years after, the mystery of EDSA has not been fully unfold. Analysts from various socio-political persuasions attempted to explain the event. Some had to come up with new concepts as EDSA Revolution departed from any of the standard categories. While new testimonies from living participants came out every year, they just shed light to understand the pattern of events and contributing factors. But the mystery still remains.
EDSA bloodless Revolution defied logic. For how can you explain this phenomenon: “When guns and tanks of a dictator melted before the flowers held out by priests and nuns, by millionaires’ sons and squatters’ daughters, by ordinary men and women and by young and old alike; when… a new day was ushered in by ordinary Filipino common tao who rose to heroic heights that won the admiration of the whole world…” The quoted description was that of Jorge Lorredo, Jr. in his article “Four Days that changed History” published in Bulletin Today exactly 25 years ago, as cited by Douglas J. Elwood in his book, Philippine Revolution.
Incidentally, I saw the book few days ago before the 25th EDSA Anniversary while cleaning my shelve. It was given as graduation gift from the College of Theology, Central Philippine University in March 1990. I was supposed to graduate in 1984 when the call to respond to the needs of times compelled me to join the Filipino people’s struggle against dictatorship. My political conversion took place while doing pastoral ministry to political detainees in Camp Delgado. Raised up in seemingly apolitical environment, my primary motivation was to witness for Christ. Ironically, I found myself converted to their commitment, dedication, courage and strong resolve in the service of people. Thereafter, commenced my fulltime solidarity work with the Filipino masses until the mystery of EDSA Revolution.
“The hand of God was there…” was the explanation of the late Dr. Quintin Doromal, former PCCG commissioner & president of Siliman University. Quoted by his friend Douglas Elwood in the book, Doromal, an Ilonggo leader, was a witness to the event, having joined his old friend Fidel Ramos at Camp Crame and stayed there with him throughout those critical anxious hours. Indeed, God acts through people, as surely as he speaks through people, and that he uses the sometimes complex interconnection of human forces to serve his larger purposes.
Relating the mystery of EDSA to our Lenten reflections, St. Paul in his epistle aptly describes the life of Jesus: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:5-8 NIV)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Remembering the cathartic power of EDSA Revolution
The previous post marks the merging of my blog from other site. Today’s article is the first of the series of reflections during the 25th Anniversary of the historic EDSA Revolution in the Philippines on February 25, 2011. It is still relevant as the Christian world celebrates Lent this year.
Lent in the Christian tradition, as Wikipedia explains, is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday celebrated last March 9 to the Easter Sunday on April 24. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. It is a period of 40 days of prayer, repentance, almsgiving, fasting and abstinence.
Considered as one of the major liturgical seasons of the Roman Catholic Church, Lent is celebrated by other Christian denominations including Protestant groups. Although the calculation of forty days vary according to respective traditions. It has reference to the experience of Jesus before the beginning of his public ministry where he spent forty days of fasting in the desert enduring temptation, according to the Synoptic gospels.
But the number forty has long been universally recognized as an important number. Its frequency and the uniformity of its association has been associated with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement. For it points to the action of grace (5), leading to and ending in revival and renewal (8). This is certainly the case where Forty relates to a period of evident probation. But where it relates to enlarged dominion, or to renewed or extended rule, then it does so in virtue of its factors 4 and 10, and in harmony with their signification.
Among the Biblical references are the forty days of Moses on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18); the forty days and nights prophet Elijah spent walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8); the forty days and nights of rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4); the forty years of the wandering in the desert by the Hebrew people to reach the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33); the forty days reprieve for the city of Nineveh to repent as prophesied by Jonah (Jonah 3:4).
The spirit of EDSA lives on. Its cathartic power continues to provide relief and refreshes hope. The over arching and encompassing spirit cannot and will never be domesticated. Its mystery remains unspoiled, not completely unfold.
These three insights summarized my reflections on the 25th Anniversary of People Power. For the past weeks, it preoccupied my mind as past involvements flashbacked in my memory. EDSA recollections and learnings was the focus of my media activities. From radio and CATV programs to academic discussion. In my Live CATV show over CPU Channel, I invited past activists from various sectors who were participants to the pre EDSA struggles. We sponsored a University Forum for consciousness raising and internalization of the celebration.
Cathartic power
Nobody will ever deny that EDSA Revolution had provided relief to wounded and bruised nation, captive for decades by an abusive rule. Although debates over extent of healing still looms, it does not diminish the magical power of the historic event. I continue to experience this power while recalling my half a decade involvement in people’s struggle in the local context as part of the national call. Inevitably, haunting past events involving comrades, friends and the basic masses characterized the slow and painful process undertaken until that victorious day.
The feeling of gratitude to God for my survival and the thoughts of my contribution in shaping the history has been cathartic. Although my involvement pales in comparison to the intensity and period suffered by nameless and countless faces. The cathartic power of EDSA also refreshes my hope to attain full recovery from lingering illness. Chronic heart ailment, compounded by nerve disorder, has constrained my active life of service for more than a year now. The delay of complete healing makes me vulnerable to discouragement and depression. But recalling EDSA Revolution gives me new drive to conquer, if I will not give in to despair.
Lent in the Christian tradition, as Wikipedia explains, is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday celebrated last March 9 to the Easter Sunday on April 24. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. It is a period of 40 days of prayer, repentance, almsgiving, fasting and abstinence.
Considered as one of the major liturgical seasons of the Roman Catholic Church, Lent is celebrated by other Christian denominations including Protestant groups. Although the calculation of forty days vary according to respective traditions. It has reference to the experience of Jesus before the beginning of his public ministry where he spent forty days of fasting in the desert enduring temptation, according to the Synoptic gospels.
But the number forty has long been universally recognized as an important number. Its frequency and the uniformity of its association has been associated with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement. For it points to the action of grace (5), leading to and ending in revival and renewal (8). This is certainly the case where Forty relates to a period of evident probation. But where it relates to enlarged dominion, or to renewed or extended rule, then it does so in virtue of its factors 4 and 10, and in harmony with their signification.
Among the Biblical references are the forty days of Moses on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18); the forty days and nights prophet Elijah spent walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8); the forty days and nights of rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4); the forty years of the wandering in the desert by the Hebrew people to reach the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33); the forty days reprieve for the city of Nineveh to repent as prophesied by Jonah (Jonah 3:4).
The spirit of EDSA lives on. Its cathartic power continues to provide relief and refreshes hope. The over arching and encompassing spirit cannot and will never be domesticated. Its mystery remains unspoiled, not completely unfold.
These three insights summarized my reflections on the 25th Anniversary of People Power. For the past weeks, it preoccupied my mind as past involvements flashbacked in my memory. EDSA recollections and learnings was the focus of my media activities. From radio and CATV programs to academic discussion. In my Live CATV show over CPU Channel, I invited past activists from various sectors who were participants to the pre EDSA struggles. We sponsored a University Forum for consciousness raising and internalization of the celebration.
Cathartic power
Nobody will ever deny that EDSA Revolution had provided relief to wounded and bruised nation, captive for decades by an abusive rule. Although debates over extent of healing still looms, it does not diminish the magical power of the historic event. I continue to experience this power while recalling my half a decade involvement in people’s struggle in the local context as part of the national call. Inevitably, haunting past events involving comrades, friends and the basic masses characterized the slow and painful process undertaken until that victorious day.
The feeling of gratitude to God for my survival and the thoughts of my contribution in shaping the history has been cathartic. Although my involvement pales in comparison to the intensity and period suffered by nameless and countless faces. The cathartic power of EDSA also refreshes my hope to attain full recovery from lingering illness. Chronic heart ailment, compounded by nerve disorder, has constrained my active life of service for more than a year now. The delay of complete healing makes me vulnerable to discouragement and depression. But recalling EDSA Revolution gives me new drive to conquer, if I will not give in to despair.
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