Cleansing

WHAT is the proof that the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) already existed in Biblical times? Jesus cleared the temple area of vendors and money changers.

* * *

The cleansing of the temple was not just a case of law enforcement or a cleanliness project for Jesus. It was a real zeal for His Father's house. "My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." This gospel episode (Jn. 2:13-25) is one of the rare times when Jesus really got angry, and so to say, "lost his cool." Even Jesus became "high blood." Is it all right to be angry? Is there such a thing as holy anger? Or a healthy anger? Yes, if you get angry in defense of what is good, and for the rights of others, and not just to get even or to cover up for your insecurities, its okay. Go ahead. Please get angry.

* * *

Jesus was passionate and uncompromising when it came to doing His Father's will. If only we had the same passion in doing God's will, and ridding ourselves of the sins, vices and attachments that make us lukewarm, compromising and complacent. Sad to say, we spend a lot of our lifetime just deciding whether we are for God or against God. In the meantime, many of us just sit on the fence, neither this nor that, and before we know it, time has passed us by, life itself has passed us by. Do you make a difference? Do you count? Do you have zeal? Do you have passion?

* * *

If Jesus came to the Philippines today, would He still recognize the church He founded? Seeing the structures we have built and continue to build, would He feel at home? Would He even enter our churches when there are so many "un-churched" around us? Would He not question the traditions and sub-cultures in our way of running His church? Would He even sit down in our countless meetings when there are so many people suffering around us? And if Jesus were to look at us Christians and our doctrinal devotional divisions, would He not chide us for encasing Him within our fences instead of opening our doors to our brothers and sisters of different cultures and religious traditions? We cannot, we should not contain nor stifle God's love. God's love is open for all, and none of us has the monopoly of the truth, and none of us has the sole distributorship of the Good News.

* * *

The meeting of the Mission Secretaries from different Asia-Pacific countries this week was a "cleansing" experience. We were able to rid ourselves of our "little screens" and the "big picture."

Fr. Tom Ascheman, SVD, our Generalate Mission Secretary, spoke of the three shifts we need in doing our mission at our recently concluded meeting of Asia-Pacific Mission Secretaries-i.e. the shift from nest-building toward flying together; the shift from control to that of team work; the shift from that of being a star to that of being a cheer leader. It is God's work. It is His mission. We are just His instruments, His unworthy servants, and we are all co-missionaries.

* * *

It has been proven again in our recent meeting that Filipino hospitality can do wonders. Instead of driving away people, we must focus on bringing in people. Aside from the wonderful sharing of experiences and insights, our Asia-Pacific confreres were one in saying that the warmth and hospitality of our people are what they will never forget. I am sure many of them will go home with fond memories of a welcoming and smiling people. Are our homes still welcoming? In spite of our own troubles, are we still smiling and sharing?

* * *

One of the highlights of our meeting was our encounter with Pamela Javellanosa, the 14-year-old girl who had an accident in 1995, and was healed through the powerful intercession of Blessed Arnold Janssen. Listening to Pamela, now 22 years old, all of us SVDs, S.Sp.S, and the Pink Sisters were so touched by her simplicity and deep spirituality. She helped us get connected to our founder, Blessed Arnold Janssen, in a very special way that beautiful afternoon. At the end of her sharing she simply called Blessed Arnold "Papa Arnold." Many of us were misty eyed. She made us realize that indeed, we have a papa, a real father in St. Arnold Janssen.

* * *

The war in Iraq has begun. The cruel war is raging. Soldiers will have to fight. And die. And so will many innocent civilians. When will we ever learn that evil cannot be overcome by evil? We don't need arms that kill. We need arms that reach out and embrace.

* * *

There is an old Korean saying that when whales fight, it is the small shrimps that get hurt or die. How little we are, and how fragile world peace is. At this point all we can really do is pray, and hope. Through it all, let us not forget the power and the presence of God. And through it all, let us pray for real cleansing of our hearts and our nations of pride, greed and violence. Amen.

* * *

A moment with the Lord

Lord, cleanse our hearts, cleanse our lives, cleanse our nations, cleanse our world. Amen.