PRAISED BE JESUS, MARY, AND
JOSEPH!
2 weeks ago, the Supreme Court of
the United States declared the recognition of same sex marriages in all the 50
states. This declaration was lauded by so many people all over the world as the
liberation and victory of “love”. Although in the Philippines, we are beyond
the jurisdiction of the US Supreme Court, many people are of the opinion that
it will simply be a matter of time when same sex marriage will be recognized
here. The prophecy of Our Lady of La Sallete in 1846 is being fulfilled: “All
the civil governments will have one and the same plan, which will be to abolish
and do away with every religious principle, to make way for materialism,
atheism, spiritualism, and vice of all kinds…for disorder and love for carnal
pleasures will be spread all over the earth.” (Our Lady of La Sallete, 1846)
In the first reading, God sent
the prophet Ezekiel to the people of Israel, “rebels who have rebelled against
me. They and their ancestors have rebelled against me to this very day. Hard of
face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you.” (Susuguin kita
sa bansang suwail. Pagkat mula sa kanilang ninuno, naghihimagsik na sila sa
akin hanggang ngayon. Matigas ang kanilang ulo at walang pitagan.) Isn’t this
an appropriate description of our present society which dares to redefine
reality in order to suit our love for carnal pleasures? What we have today is
an outright rebellion against God. And Christians who stand by the Gospel are
labelled as narrow-minded bigots (panatiko). We are simply told that no one has
the right to say that they know what God said. However, to say such is to deny
the existence of Divine Revelation. We cannot deny the fact that God spoke to
us through prophets and through his Son Jesus Christ.
Sa bayang matigas ang ulo,
patuloy na sinusugo ng Diyos ang kanyang mga propeta: “Kaya puntahan mo sila at
sabihin mong ito ang pinasasabi ng Panginoong Diyos. Sa makinig sila o sa hindi
– pagkat matigas ang kanilang ulo – malalaman nilang may isang propeta sa gitna
nila.” In spite of the stubbornness of the world, the Lord continues to send
us: “Behold I send you like sheep among wolves.” (Mat. 10:16) the Lord does
this because he does not give up on the world. He continues to call us to
conversion, even despite the stubbornness of our hearts. Christians are
supposed to be prophets who prophesy by walking against trends, by swimming
against the tide. We bear a message that opposes the logic of the world. Thus,
we expect opposition to the Gospel we are sent to preach.
Although being sent like sheep
among wolves is frightening, the Lord assures us: “Ang tulong ko’y sapat sa
lahat ng pangangailangan mo; lalong nahahayag ang aking kapangyarihan kung ikaw
ay mahina.” The Lord arms us nothing but the cross and St. Anthony of Padua
told us: “Christians must lean on the cross just as travelers lean on a staff
as they begin a long journey.” We are sustained by that Cross. That is why we
should say together with St. Paul: “Buong galak na ipinagmamapuri ko ang aking
kahinaan upang palakasin ako ng kapangyarihan ni Kristo. Dahil kay Kristo,
walang halaga sa akin kung ako’y mahina, kutyain, pahirapan, usigin, at
magtiis. Sapagkat kung kailan ako’y mahina, saka naman ako malakas.”
Jesus, I trust in you. O Mary
conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
No comments:
Post a Comment