Tuesday, May 31, 2016

“SI JONAS AT SI YAHWEH”

“SI JONAS AT SI YAHWEH”

Isang Pagninilay sa Aklat ni Jonas sa Pamamagitan ng Maikling Dula

Ni: Jeric C. Cortado, December 2006

SCENE 1: Creation to Conflict (Malikhaing Galaw)

SCENE 2: Si Jonas at si Yahweh nag-uusap patungkol sa Ninive. Si Jonas ay sinugo ni Yahweh.

ONSTAGE

Yahweh : Jonas….Jonas…. Ikaw ay magaling, masunurin, at matapat na lingkod.

Jonas : Aba siyempre Yahweh… Kahit saan mo ako susuguin…pupunta ako.

Anuman ang iyong ipag-uutos susunod ako.

Yahweh : Yan ang gusto ko sa yo Jonas….

Jonas : Ako pa! Susunod ako Yahweh.

Yahweh : Kahit saan?

Jonas : Oo!

Yahweh : Nakita ko ang kanilang kalagayan….nahihirapan at lugmok sa

kasamaan. Walang tumutulong sa kanila upang mabago at lumaya.

Jonas : Aba! Dapat lamang silang tulungan Yahweh. Kaya….

Yahweh : Kaya pumunta ka sa Ninive….

Jonas : Aba! Kahit saan…. Wag lang sa Ninive!

Yahweh : Libo-libong mga naroroon na walang kamalay-malay sa kanilang

pagkawasak.

Jonas : Sila ay dapat lang na magunaw! Karapat-dapat nilang maranasan ang

pagkawasak sa kanilang kasamaan! Sariwa pa sa aking isipan ang pagsasamantala, ang kahirapang idinulot sa aming bayan. Marami sa amin ang nawalan ng ama, ng ina, ng anak dahil sa kanilang kalupitan noong sinakop kami. Marami sa amin ang kanilang binihag at inalipin.

Yahweh : Sila mandin sa kasalukuyan ay nakakaranas ng paghihirap. Marami din

sa kanila ang mga uring pinagsasamantalahan. At inaalipin sa sarili

nilang bayan. Kailangan silang ugnayan at samahan.

Jonas : Nakakalito ka Yahweh….hindi kita maintindihan!

Yahweh : Hindi mo ako naiintindihan dahil galit ang nasa puso mo. Hindi simpleng

bayan ang pinag-uusapan dito Jonas! Kundi uri (tatahimik) na bagamat

marami sa bilang ay inaalipin at pinagsasamantalahan ng iilan.

Jonas : (natahimik sa Jonas) O sige…sige. Ikaw naman ang laging tama eh.

Pupunta ako. Dahil alam ko naman…hindi rin sila magbabago.

Sinasayang ko lang ang panahon ko doon.. Dapat lang silang magunaw.

Yahweh : Ano yong sinabi mo?

Jonas : Hehehe….wala po Yahweh. Sige po Yahweh aalis na ako….

(aalis si Jonas sa patakas sa direksyon ng Tarsis. Subalit ito ay napuna

ni Yaweh)

Yahweh : Hindi diyan ang daan patungong Ninive Jonas…. Pa Tarsis yan… dito

ang patungong Ninive.

Jonas : Aw! Oo nga….Sabi ko nga po…diyan eh.

EXIT

SCENE 3: Sa daan patungong Tarsis….

ONSTAGE

Papasok sa lower right stage si Jonas…lingon ng lingon na tila may pinagtataguan at may humahabol ang tingin sa kanya…makakatagpo niya sa center left ng mga taong patungong Tarsis.

Jonas : Dito po ba ang daan patungong Tarsis (hapong- hapo ang mukha)?

Tao 1 : Oo dito nga…

Tao 2 : Pa Tarsis ka rin ba?

Jonas : (palinga-linga) Hah! Oo… pa Tarsis din ako.

Tao 3 : Sumabay ka na sa amin…

Jonas : Sige..salamat.

[Biglang may malakas na pagsabog at sunod-sunod na putukan….ang lahat ay nagkagulo…nagsihanapan ng makukublihan…papasok ang mga kasapi ng Big Fish community…tutulungan silang makalabas sa kaguluhang yaon]

EXIT

SCENE 4: Si Jonas sa Big Fish Community. Ang komunidad ay magtitipon sa pang-umagang debosyon.

“Kadakilaan Mo”[1]

Kakilaan Mo, O Dios sinasaysay ng bawat tanawing aking minamasdan,

Kapangyarihan mo sa puso nakintal, kaya magpupuri habang nabubuhay.

Sa hangin at bundok, sa tubig at lupa, sa dagat at batis, sa bawat nilikha,

Kapangyarihan mo doo’y nababadya, kaya’t kagalakan ang magpuring kusa.

O Dios dakila! Dakila kailanman! Puso’y sumisigaw, di ko mapigilan,

Kaligayahan ko ang aking isasaysay, kal’walhatian mo na di mapaparam.

[Tapos ng awit, makikita ang daily routine ng komunidad sa umaga at sa buong araw.]

Papasok si Jonas….

Luz : O Jonas! Kumusta ka na? Kumusta na ang iyong pakiramdam?

Jonas : Nasaan ako? Anong lugar ito?

Greg : Nasa sinapupunan ka ng Malaking Isda...isang komunidad. Kami ay mga

kasapi rito…malayang namumuhay dito. Dati kaming mga alipin at

bihag ng digmaan…binihag ng Asirya… Tulad mo mga Israelita din

kami..

Luz : Salamat kay Yahweh at ligtas ka na….

Jonas : (gulat na tugon)Yahweh?

Luz : Oo…bakit?

Jonas : Ahhh..wala po…wala…wala.

Greg : Ano ang iyong pakay sa Tarsis?

Jonas : Hindi sa Tarsis ang punta ko… Tumakas lang ako kay Yahweh… sa

nagsugo sa akin patungong Ninive.

Luz at Greg : Ninive!

Greg : Lungsod iyon ng Imperyong Asiria…

Jonas : Lugar na kinasusuklaman ko…bansang kiniiinisan ko…lahing dapat lang

magunaw at maubos. Silang nag-alipin at nagpahirap sa atin. Ngunit

hindi ko maintindihan si Yahweh….bakit sinugo niya ako doon.

Maligtas daw sila at mabago….

Luz : Mahabagin si Yahweh….

Jonas : Pero hindi siya makatarungan!

Luz : Ang pag-ibig niya ay hindi lamang para sa atin…kundi laan para sa lahat.

Jonas : Dapat lang na magunaw sila! Nararapat lamang sa kanila ang parusa ng

Diyos. Yon ang nais kong gawin ni Yahweh. Wasakin ang mapang-

aliping bayan na yan!

Greg : Isinugo ka hindi dahil sa Asiria…..hindi dahil sa Israel. Ikaw ay lingkod

niya at propeta hindi dahil sa iyong bayan. Hindi dahil sa mga

Israelita…kundi dahil sa kay Yahweh. Mayorya din sa kanila ang uring

biktima ng karahasan at inhustiya sa kanilang bayan. Biktima ng

teroristang pangangatake ng kanilang estado.

Luz : Balita ko…malubha ang karamdamang kinakaharap nila at

nangangailangan sila ng tulong…hangad din nilang lumaya…katulad

natin. Marami din tayong mga kababayaan doon…ating mga ka-uri.

Jonas : (lalakad papalayo sa dalawa….tahimik…nagnilay…makikita ang

pagbabago ng posisyon…mukhang nakumbinsi ang mokong!) Noong

nasa bingit ako ng kamatayan…ang muntik nang maputol ang aking

hininga…naalala ko si Yahweh. Ilinigtas niya ako sa pamamagitan

ninyo… (tatahimik) Tutuparin ko ang kanyang mga sugo.. Kailangan

kong pumunta sa Ninive.

Luz at Greg : Ihahatid ka na namin….

Jonas : Salamat…

EXIT

SCENE 5: Sa Ninive

(Ang mga movers na magpoproject ng kalagayan ay naandoon na…wala pang gagalaw)

Jonas : Nasaan ang mga tao dito? Patay na yata! Mabuti naman kung

ganon. Kahit mangaral ako dito…alam ko matitigas ang ulo nila….hindi

rin sila magbabago. At sa gayon…higit nilang mararanasan ang

paghuhukom …magugunaw ang bayan na ito!

(Ipakikita sa malikhaing galaw ang kalagayan mayroon sa Ninive)

Jonas : Magugunaw ang lugar na ito….masisira ang bayang ito. Hanggat

nananatili ang pagsasamantala! Hanggat nananatili ang

kasakiman! Hanggat nananatili ang pagkagahaman ng tao sa

kapangyarihan. Na sa halip na tugunan ang lehitimong hinihingi ng

kanyang bayan ay dahas ang isinasagot. Gugunawin ang lugar na ito.

Hanggat hindi panghawakan ang pagbabago na kalooban ni Yahweh.

(Pero naroon pa at the back of Jonas’ mind na hindi magbabago ang mga taga-Ninive)

[Si Jonas sa harap ng audience…change mode mula sa pagiging propetang projection]

Jonas : Ok ba ang linya ko…hindi magbabago ang Ninive. (exit going toward sa audience na proud. O Ano maniniwala ba kayo na mababago? (itatanong sa audience habang naglalalakad) Asus! (Paasar na actuation)

(Subalit sa di niya inaasahang pangyayari…nagbago ang mga tao sa Ninive..bagay na ikinagalit niya kay Yahweh.) [Makikita ng galaw na naglalarawan ng pagsisi ng mga tao ang at pagbabago ng lipunan..aawitin ng komunidad na salitan ang mga sumusunod]

LORD, HEAR OUR PRAYER

A A G F E E G G F E D D

Lord, hear our prayer. Lord, hear our prayer

DELIVER US, O LORD

A A A A G A G G G G F-F E D

De li ver us, O Lord. De li ver us, O Lord

Then fade…

Jonas : (Papasok) Hindi dapat mangyari ito!!

Yahweh : (Papasok) Jonas…Ano ang iyong problema?

Jonas : Alam ko na ikaw ay mahabagin, O Yahweh. Matiyaga, punong-puno ng

Pag-ibig at awa. Madaling mapawi ang iyong galit. Ibig ko pang mamatay

kaysa mabuhay at nakikita ko kung papaano mo ginawang ligtas ang

Ninive. Kaysa makitang buhay ang mga tao sa bayang iyan. Mamatay na

lang sana ako!

Yahweh : Ano ang iyong ikinagagalit? Ang nais ko sa aking bayan ay maging

makatarungan sa lahat. Maging daluyan ng paglaya…ibigin ang

kapwa…ihayag ang Mabuting Balita…yan ang iyong Misyon. (Going to

exit with Jonas, habang inaakbayan). Ako ay Ako nga. Ako ay Diyos na

manlilikha…hindi lang kayo ang concern ko….sila din. Kung papaano

ang pagpapahalaga ko sa inyo…ganon din sa kanila…

Jonas : Ang labo mo kasi kung minsan Yahweh….hindi kita maintindihan…

Yahweh : Buksan mo lang ang iyong puso…imulat mo ang iyong mga mata sa

kalagayan ng iyong paligid…naandoon ako…nakikipag-uusap…

nakikipag-usap sa’yo…tiyak maiintindihan mo…..O aawit na yata

kayo … pumunta ka na.

Jonas : Anong ka? Anong ako?…kasama ka doon… di ba? Anong saysay ng

awit…anong mensahe…kung di ka namin kasama (may ngiti). God is

with us.

Yahweh : O siya…..

EXIT

FINALE : Aawitin ng Choir ang THE MISSION o ng grupo (movers) ang PANANAGUTAN.

Walang sinuman ang nabubuhay para sa sarili lamang,

Walang sinuman ang namamataya para sa sarili lamang.

Koro:

Tayong lahat ay may pananagutan sa isa’t-isa, tayong lahat ay tinipon ng Diyos na kapiling Nya.

Sa ating pagmamahalan ang paglilingkod sa kanino man, Tayo’y itinuring ng Panginoon bilang mga anak. (Koro)

Sabay-sabay na nag-aawitan ang mga bansa, tayo may magdadala ng Balita ng Kaligtasan. (Koro)

TABLEAUX

Lahat: Sa Pangalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Santo Espiritu. Amen.

EXIT

Curtain!

[1] Komposisyon ni S.E Ruperto, isinalin sa Filipino ni Dr. Romeo del Rosario, kasalukuyang Pangulo ng Union Theological Seminary.

“SALO-SALO”

“SALO-SALO”[1]

Isang Pagninilay sa Dulang ng Panginoon

Jeric C. Cortado, July 2006

Pastor: Ang lupa at ang mga bunga nito ay biyaya ng Diyos na dapat matamasa ng lahat. Sa ating pagsasalo-salo, ating alalahanin ang mga magsasakang may dahilan bakit may makakain tayo ngayon.

Rodel: Nakakalungkot nga lang isipin na silng nagbubungkal ng lupa, nagtanim ay sila ngayon ang walang makain.

Greg: Maalala ko rin sa pagsasalong ito, ang mga manggagawa sa Hacienda Luisita, na sa sahod ay binabarat at hinaharas dahil sa pagpapahayag ng kanilang lehitimong daing.

Manny: Nakakalungkot isipin na ang mga magsasaka sa kanayunan, mayorya sa bilang ay pinagsasamantalahan ng iilang monopolista sa lupa at gahaman.

Carol: Maalala ko rin sa diwang ito ang buhay ng ating mga manggagawa sa iglesya, mga taong simbahan na nagbuwis ng buhay upang isulong ang hustisya at kapayapaan.

Ferds: Oo nga, si Fr. William Tadena, Rev. Edison Lapuz, Rev. Raul Domingo, si kapatid Noli Capulong.

Carol: Si Pepe Manegdeg, si Ptr. Isaias Sta. Rosa at marami pang iba.

Pastor: Hay naku! Habang ang lipunan ay naghahangad ng malayang buhay at kapayapaan. Sumasampalataya tayo na si Cristo ang ganap na kapayapaan (tutugon ang grupo ng Amen!). Ating inaalala ang kanyang salita, ang pagkakaloob niya ng kanyang buhay, at ang kalakasang kaloob ng Santo Espiritu.

Berlin: Pero, ano nga ba yong dinaluhan ni Jesus? Hapunang pampaskuwa ba yon? O regular lang na hapunan? (sasabihin ito habang nakatingin kay Jeric)

Jeric: Well….(tatahimik)..hindi ko alam. Ewan. Mahalaga pa bang alamin yon? Kailangan bang pagtalunan yon?

Leah: Eh di itanong mo kay Pastor.

Pastor: Ang tingnan natin dito ay ang mga pangyayari sa salo-salong yaon. Noong gabi bago siya hulihin, kanyang kinuha ang tinapay, hinati at ipinamahagi sa kanyang mga alagad. At kanyang sinabi: “Tanggapin ninyo at kainin…ito ang aking katawan…ibinigay para sa inyo at sa lahat. Gayundin, kanyang kinuha ang saro at nagpasalamat. At kanyang sinabi: Ito ang aking dugo na aking inaalay sa inyo para sa inyong kasalanan. Gawin ninyo ito sa pag-alaala sa akin.

Leah: Pero pwede po bang humirit?

Pastor: Ano naman yon?

Leah: Sa salo-salong yaon, may mga babae rin kaya doon?

Rodel: Maari ngang meron.

Greg: Posible ngang sila ang naghanda ng hapunan eh.

Manny: Ngunit wala naman akong nababasa sa BIbliya na may mga babae sa tagpong iyon. Basahin mo sa Mateo 26, may makikita ka ba doong babae?

Ferds: Sa Markos 14, sa Lucas 22, at I Corinto 11, may sinasabi ba? Wala eh.

Carol: Pero possible ngang mayroon kababaihan sa ganoong pagtitipon. Ngunit dahil sa patriyarkal ng kalagayang panlipunan, hindi binabanggit ang babae. Ang partisipasyon ng mga kababaihan sa mga pagtitipon na hindi lang tagahanda ng pagkain, kundi kasama sa diskurso.

Berlin: Katulad ng ipinapakita sa pagtitipong naganao sa bahay ng magkapatid na Maria at Marta. Sa Lucas 10, habang si Marta ay abala sa paghahanda ng pagkain sa mga nagpupulong. Si Maria naman ay naandoon…maganda ang pagkakaupo sa paanan ni Jesus, at possible nakikipagbalitaktakan din yon.

Jeric: Sa lahat ng gawain ni Jesus laging naroon ang mga kababaihan.

Leah: So…may mga kababaihan sa hapunang yon?

Pastor: Posible nga… Sa diwang ito sa ating pagsasalo-salo, sa gitna ng karukhaang dulot ng karahasan.

Leah: Ating ipagdiwang ang kasaganaan at pag-asa.

Pastor: Sa gitna ng pagsasamantala at pang-aalipin.

Rodel: Ating ipagdiwang at pag-alabin ang pangako ng paglilingkos at kalayaan.

Pastor: Sa gitna ng ating mga pag-aalinlangan, panghihina ng loob sa walang pakundangang karahasan sa kanayunan at kalunsurang nararanasan.

Carol: Ating itaguyod ang pangako ng pananampalataya.

Pastor: Sa gitna ng pananakot at pagtatraydor.

Manny: Ating isulong ang pangako ng katapatan.

Pastor: Patuloy nating ipagdiwang ang isang buhay na Cristo sa ating kalagitnaan. Bilang katawan ni Cristo, maging tinapay din tayo ng pagbabago. Ang dugo ni Cristo, ang saro ng kalayaan.

Lahat: Ating tanggapin!

Curtain!

[1] Una itong ginamit sa ginawang LITURHIYA NG LUPA AT MGA MAGSASAKA (Thursday Chapel) noong ika-14 ng Hulyo, 2006 ng Union Theological Seminary.

“DREAMS IN THE FAMILY”

“DREAMS IN THE FAMILY”[1]

By Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, Southern Philippines Methodist Colleges, Inc. (SPMCI)

One of the Monday Morning Praise and Prayer in our school, our SPMCI President Prof. Framer Cristy P. Mella shared her experiences during her Christmas vacation at Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. She met the one of our country’s treasure, an old woman named “Lang Dulay”, who was awarded in the international and national level because of her gift on designing T’nalak. Our president asked her where did she get her ideas of designing T’nalak and she humbly replied, “I’ve seen it in my dreams.” For her, dreams are very important sources of inspiration to sustain our journey as a family and a community. This is also the point that Pope Francis wanted us to ponder during his visit - a dreams in the family. The Pope stressed in his speech that parents dreams of their sons and daughters in the womb for 9 month and they dream of how they will be. This is grace or gift that when we lose this capacity, according him, we lose our capacity to love. In our current situation today that a family are confronting a lot of issues and struggling family problems, Pope Francis pointed out that solutions may come up when the family will have time to reflect and to dream, or to revisit their dreams they have from the start.

Pope Francis emphasized the three qualities that sustain our family to be strong enough to confront issues and problem. First, resting in the Lord, which is essential for family’s spiritual health that would lead us to have a clear hearing of God’s voice and understand what God asked for us. It challenged us to make our home a God’s Temple, making time each day for prayer, and contemplation about the will of God for us. He further stressed that it is a family that we first learn how to pray, and learn how to learn. We learn to move beyond our own needs, to reach out others and share them the grace we have experienced with God through our family bonding. Second, rising with Jesus and Mary, like Joseph, which means, once we have heard the voice of God we must get up and act. It is said that faith without work is dead because faith is the manifestation that you really heard the voice of God. The manifestation that you really listen to the voice of God is your action. In our present time where family is threatened to the new ideology which is trying to destroy family bonding, we are called to recognize the dangers and protect our family from those. And third, the Pope Francis reminds us of our Christian duty to be a prophetic voice in the midst of our communities. Like what Mary and Joseph did to Jesus, they played a great part to God’s plan of salvation. Mary and Joseph became a good model for Jesus that he grew in wisdom, age and grace. It means that when family brings children into the world, we see to it that they become liberating elements in our society and that through them God’s love and justice is active and present.

The speech of Pope Francis reminded us as a family, to be a visible expression of God’s love to all creations. And keeping our dreams for our family as a guide and thus keep us sustain in doing the sacramental ministry of the family. Amen.

[1] A Reflection Paper based on the Speech of Pope Francis during his visit and meeting with the families held at the Mall of Asia arena in Manila, Philippines, Friday, January 16, 2015

“A WAY OF LIFE AND A WAY OF LOVE”

“A WAY OF LIFE AND A WAY OF LOVE: A Theological Reflection”

By Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, August 2014

Last July 19, 2014, I attended the FAMILY AND LIFE ARCHDIOCESAN ASSEMBLY of the Roman Catholic Church Archdiocese of Davao held at Stella Maris Academy in Davao City, participated by almost 1,000 couples coming from the different vicariate and parishes. I understand that it was a continuing campaign to promote the natural family planning guided with the theme, “NFP: A Way of Life and a Way of Love”. I will focus my reflection to the following: the assembly, the dance presentations, and the theme.

First, the said assembly defines the Natural Family Planning as scientific, natural and moral methods of family planning that can help married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancies. The methods are based on the observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. The Church consider this as unitive and procreative nature of conjugal act which in accordance to the plan of God for human and married love. Based from the testimonies and on my readings of some related articles, the NFP promote a holistic approach to family planning which both respects procreation and has the potential to deepen the intimacy of husband and wife. It strengthens the marriage life since it requires dialogues between husband and wife to cooperate with each other in the most intimate area of their lives. Husband and wife will live in a renewed courtship as they discover the non-sexual ways to express their love to each other, and develop within them the discernment of God’s will for their marriage.

Second, aside from the lectures, one of the highlights of the activities that I enjoyed so much was the dance presentations of the couples. It was so inspiring and amazing. I enjoyed watching not on their professional level of presentation but on their love to each other manifested on their dances. For me, dancing is a way of communication that enlightens each other. Dancing is one of the most effective medium of self-expressions of thoughts, ideas, feelings, and theology as well. I am so blessed and inspired watching them not on how they professionally executed the dance steps but how sweet, lovely and happy they are on their presentations. I know that such presentations are coupled with sacrifices of time and effort to learn the steps. But it was fulfilling for them because they danced with their partner in life and manifested in their faces that they danced based on the beat of their hearts. The dance presentations portrayed a lot of potentials to make marriage life great.

Third, the theme of the assembly, “NFP: A Way of Life and a Way of Love” simply points out the Natural Family Planning as pillars that constitute a successful marriage and family life. Marriage life in the Natural Family Planning perspective is a conjugal act of life which is a liberating action. It is a liberating life since it sharpens our communications with each other, as husband and wife. In this sense, NFP leads husband and wife to pour out their energy and have shared responsibilities for safeguarding God's gifts of human sexuality, marriage and family. The Husband must learn not to focus on his own self but on the self of his wife, and the same breath with the wife. It is a challenge leading both husband and wife to a joyful experience, realizing that the more they love each other, the more they are conscious that they are loved by the other. Husband and wife were joyfully sharing what they have for the common good of their family, develop the principles of priority for the common creativity and well-being of the family.

Based from the testimonies I’ve heard, the challenge for the Filipino family will be, first, allocate certain times of the day for the purpose of just talking together; second, practice listening without interrupting; third, understand the context; and fourth, live out the principles that the dignity of a couple is the one who decide how many children. We are reminded by the teachings of the Church (Lumen Gentium), that family is a domestic church which delivers a new citizen of human society. The husband and wife sealed in the marriage life through the service of matrimony should become first preachers and teachers of faith by word and in deed to their children. Let’s make this our way of life and our way of love. Amen.

Monday, May 30, 2016

“ISSUES THAT CONFRONTS MARRIAGE LIFE”

“ISSUES THAT CONFRONTS MARRIAGE LIFE”

Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, 2016

A family ministry specialist said that, “A wedding lasts for a day, while a marriage lasts a lifetime.” What makes a marriage is what you do tomorrow, and the next day, and the following weeks and months and years. And in doing our marriage life, God in Genesis 1:28 reminds, that our lifelong goal is to be fruitful in life and being productive in life. Fill the earth and subdue it with our love to God and to one another. As we go along to our marriage life there are lot of issues and concerns needs to confront as married couple.

Based on what we have experienced as a United Methodist Clergy married to a United Methodist Deaconess, having a child affect our marital intimacy as married couple. After our seminary education we were assigned by our bishop in a small Methodist community of Cotabato City for two years (2007-2009). This was our first assignment as married couple and both of us received P2,000.00 monthly allowance, enough to survive and sustain our basic needs in the parsonage (convent). It took almost 2 years (1 year and 7 months) when we have our first child that changed our lifestyle as husband and wife, as a pastor and deaconess of our church. Our budget for food, medicines, and clothing affected and changed. Since, we need to consider already the diaper, milk, medicines, and other needs of our baby. Even our regular routines changed. In addition to our schedules of Bible Study Fellowship during weekdays, visiting the sick and elders, and other pastoral work and services is our post-natal check-up and vaccination of our baby in the barangay health center. Although this is not a big issue to us, but it’s a big deal to those young couple who got involved in teenage pregnancy and who did not prepare themselves to such concerns of bearing and rearing a child. According to the report, teenage pregnancy cases are increasing and very alarming. This happen mostly when they go to college and far from their family.

This is the period when they encounter new environment and culture different from our home. This is also the stage where our young people prone to many temptations and distractions. In these issues and concerns, the role of parents should help their children to define the necessary conditions for serious decisions of life. Christian parents are tasked to guide their children to be in God-centered, person-oriented, and environmental friendly home and community. The teaching of the Church pointed out that, “authentic conjugal love will be more highly prized …….if Christian couples give outstanding witness to faithfulness and harmony in their love, and to their concern for educating their children….” (Gaudium Et Spes # 49).

Meaning, the teachings of the Church on Christian family, Marriage, Human Sexuality and Parenting should be transmitted, taught and being discussed to every family. Realizing that truly “the family is a kind of school of deeper humanity. ….it needs the kindly communion of minds and the joint deliberation of spouses, …… in the education of their children. The active presence of the father is highly beneficial to their formation. The children, especially the younger among them, need the care of their mother at home. This domestic role of heirs must be safely preserved…..” (Gaudium Et Spes # 52).

Going back to our experience, the first three month of having a first child is very challenging yet inspiring because it prepared us into more complex child parenting and that would help us as husband and wife to love with truth and vitality each other while enjoying doing our task. It made us more confident to give advises during our Pre-Marriage Seminars and homilies during Christian Wedding Mass. Even we have so many responsibilities to do, the smile of each other, especially of our daughter strengthen and replenish our energy to work.

This simply says that marriage is not a piece of paper, it is a gift. Marriage is a gift, the gift of yourself, of your life. And it is not just today. Every day from here forward, you must continue to give yourselves to one another. Amen.

COMPLEMENTARITY IN MARRIAGE AND IN THE FAMILY

"COMPLEMENTARITY IN MARRIAGE AND IN THE FAMILY"[1]

By Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, 2015

In his address, Pope Francis finds the meaning of complementarity in the first Letter of Apostle Paul to the Corinthians (chapter 12:4-27) declaring that, “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of working, but it is the same God who inspires them all in every one. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are inspired by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ……God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose.…there are many parts, yet one body. …..members may have the same care for one another. … If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”

First, Pope Francis defines complementarity in the context of marriage wherein both husband and wife learn to appreciate one another as a gift and with a gift to enjoy by both and by their family. Complementarity in the context of marriage means harmony just of the human body who work together for the benefit of each and their family. Acquiring the arts of living together which provides a place where both and their family breath a new values and culture as Christic Stewards and Peacebringers. Second, Pope Francis pointed out tensions as reality to family but provided frameworks on how to resolve it. He defines complementarity in this context that both husband and wife will nurture their reciprocal symbiosis in bringing their contributions to their marriage and to the formation of their children. The husband and wife should be willing to pour out their energy and effort into an ideal relationship of oneness. Third, Pope Francis stressed the decline of marriage culture due to the increasing poverty, corruptions, violence in our society wherein elderly, women and children are the most vulnerable. According to the government, most of the Filipino family are living in extreme poverty suffer from hunger, malnutrition, and ill-health. Women and children are vulnerable to various forms of abuse. In such situations, the pope challenged us to promote the fundamental pillars that govern our nation which is the family.

Complementarity in the context of the family is a perpetual commitment of both husband and wife in living out solidarity, fidelity, and fruitful love. Complementarity in context of marriage and family means allocating certain times of the day for the purpose of just talking together as family, enjoying the reciprocal symbiosis; listening without interrupting; understanding each other; and live out the principles that the dignity of a couple is the one who decide how many children. The address of Pope Francis, reminded us (Lumen Gentium) that family is a domestic church which deliver a new citizens of human society. The husband and wife sealed in the marriage life through the sacrament of matrimony should become first preachers and teachers of faith by word and in deed to their children. Although both husband and wife have their own personality and individuality but they are one establishing and nurturing a family. Amen.

[1] Reflection Paper based on the Pope Francis’s address entitled “The Complementarity of Man and Woman in Marriage”

“PASS IT ON”

“PASS IT ON”

A Reflection based from the movie entitled “Lucy”

REV. JERIC C. CORTADO, 2015

This box office movie written and directed by Luc Besson was shot in Taipei, Paris and New York City and stars by Scarlett Johansson as Lucy, the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient and immutable personality in the story; Morgan Freeman who played as Prof. Samuel Norman, portraying the character of wisdom; Amr Waked as Capt. Pierre Del Rio, representing the emotion of the people; and Choi Min-sik as Mr. Jang the ultimate evil in the story. The cast represents our planets with diverse personalities and cultures facing the different challenges and threats of their existence.

As I understand in the movie, Lucy is a young American lady studying at Taipei, Taiwan who was forced by her boyfriend to be a drug carrier and be delivered to a Korean drug lord named Mr. Jang in a hotel. The briefcase contains CPH4 a synthetic drug that enhance physical and mental capabilities basically given to fetuses during the prenatal period. When she was captured by the goons of Mr. Jang a bag of CPHR is forcibly sewn into her abdomen to transport in Europe. During her captivity, she was harassed and tortured resulting the breaking of the bag of drug in her abdomen, and released a large of quantity of drug inside her body. As a result, she began acquiring enhanced physical and mental capabilities beyond the average person can do, such as telepathy, telekinesis, mental time travel, and ability no to feel pain, fears, worries, and discomforts.

According to the lecture of Prof. Samuel Norman played by Morgan Freeman,

human being have 100 billion neurons in his/her brain. But an average person could only acquire 10 to 15 percent of it, where human can communicate, manage his/herself, comprehend, plan for his/her self, invent and create things that is useful for his/her living. During their conversations, if a person acquires 20 percent, then she/he can access and control his/her body, locate an object from a distance, receive a broader spectrum of lights, sounds, and impulses. At this level, we can develop our own body metabolism, manage our heartbeat, our cell production, repair our damaged cells, and read what is in the mind of others. If you reach the 28 percent, you can colonize your own brain, control magnets and electrical and electronic gadgets. You feel no pain, fear, and desires, and knowledgeable about everything. If you reach 30 percent, you can control and pacify other people and the animals. If you reach the 40 percent, then you can control the people and other matter. You can make other people and matter float in the air. If you reach 50 percent of cerebral capacity, then you can control everything, read the wave of the transmitter, transmit the message in your own, you are certain of what you are doing, and have the capacity to persuade and hypnotized. If you reach the 60 percent, then you can control the movement of the people and other matter in the public, scan the past, present, and future. If you reach 70 percent of cerebral capacity, you can change your hair and physical appearance, float yourself in the air and even fly. If you can reach 90 percent, then you can create a new generation computer, stop the time and travel in the time. If you reach 100 percent, as the movie pictured out you are everywhere.

In the movie entitled Lucy and the article entitled Artificial Intelligence, there are three things to contemplate, first, it is true as I observe today that human being are more concern for having than being, which is the spirit of consumerism. Human being wanted more than enough to what he/she needs as capital for domineering others that satisfies their security and comforts of life. I have no question of striving to be the best person in the world as long as you consider other’s dignity and worth, rights and welfare which is equal to you as human being in this world. Second, time is the proof of existence of matter, without time we do not exist. Since our life existence is a journey in the time and that our journey gives as the opportunity to acquire knowledge. The more knowledge we acquire the faster our journey. In the laboratory of Prof. Samuel Norman, Lucy discussed the nature of time and life and how people’s humanity distorts their perception. Third, the nature of life is to pass what was learned, the purpose of knowledge is to pass it on to others and to the next generation. This is what Lucy did, she transforms all the gadgets and objects in the laboratory into a new generation computer that contains all of her enhance knowledge of the universe. She further explains that everything is connected and existence is only proven through time. Life was given to us a billion years ago. Now you know what to do with it. Pass it on for the next generation.

The supercomputer in the movie entitled “Lucy” is called by Tanya Lewis in her article, “Artificial Intelligence: Friendly or Frightening””, as thinking and talking machines. In the internet age, terms always in the day is about artificial intelligence and developing intelligent system that make people’s lives easier. One of the leading companies today who do the research about AI is the Goggle Company. They pioneered the use of computer system that people can have a deep learning, allowing computers to do things such as recognize patterns from massive amounts of data. Stephen Hawking in one of the interviews in the BBC told about the threat of Artificial Intelligence in the human race, “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of human race.” AI is more potential threat to humanity than the nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction. The question before us is that, are the people really ready for it? If we are not cautious about it, then the machines become more intelligent that subjugate and destroy humanity. Like what the movie entitled “Lucy” tries to point in the character of Mr. Jang, new technologies and creating intelligence machine are the greatest achievements in human history. But it might also be the end of human history. In so, we have to pass it on properly that would uphold life and dignity of all creations, eradicating war, diseases and poverty. ###

“A PEOPLE’S EXEGESIS AND ACTIONS FOR LIFE”

“A PEOPLE’S EXEGESIS AND ACTIONS FOR LIFE”

Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, March 2007

We always meet the term “worship”, “liturgy” and “Eucharist”, but the question is, what are their meanings? What is liturgy? What is worship? And what does the Eucharist mean?

Liturgy is a term that comes from the Geek word “leitourgia” which means “work or actions of the people,” or “a service of the people and for the people.” The word “leitourgia” is a composite word of “leitos” (from “leos” equivalent to “laos” which means people) meaning “public,” and “ergo” which means “to do.” From this we have “leitourgos,” which means “someone who performs a public duty, and “leitourgia,” the public duty itself. It seems there is no connection to God. But, if we try to deepen it, “works or actions of the people” or “the service of the people and for the people” are action, work, and service for the Lord. As what the Gospel of Matthew (25:40) says, “…whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!” Liturgy gives an “ordo” (pattern) on how our worship may be ordered according to our particular situation.

On the other hand, the term worship comes from the Old English “woertscipe” which means, “giving respect to something or someone”. This term was originally used in connection with giving respect to a king, until it became common usage for giving worth and respect to God. For the Filipino, worship is any action that gives worth to God. Worship is a celebration of the gospel in which God calls us anew to through the risen Christ, and the Holy Spirit within us enables us to hear and respond. The rhythms of call and response bring us to a communion that unites us with God and with one another, renewing us as the Body of Christ for the world. Eucharist is derived from the Greek word “eucharesteo,” which means “thanksgiving.” It reminds us to give thanks to the God who gives life and hope for salvation. Throughout the centuries, the words of the Eucharist have been maintained but their meaning have been distorted and substituted.

Liturgy and worship is a people’s movement that expresses their aspirations and agenda before God. A people’s actions that express service to the God we believe in. it is grounded by our concrete experiences, thanksgiving, aspirations, that strengthens our principles and faith. Liturgy and worship is a continuing experience of God’s intervention in our life as we continue in our journey and struggles. Worship is more meaningful when it is the work of the people, when it expresses the concerns and celebrations of the people’s everyday lives. The Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant churches both endorse that the full service of Word and Table be the norm for Sunday Worship which should be an expression of who we are. The Eucharist then becomes a call to unity, challenging people to commit themselves to a life of dialogue, wherein the attacks to life, oppressed lives and abused resources are the agenda. Wherein, amidst cultural, economic, and political chaos, the seeds of a relevant, engaging, and liberating faith are propagated. Wherein, the profound task and aspiration of nation-building, community building, and social transformation are flaming. Wherein, the spirit of truth and righteousness is the motivating force of the people. The Eucharist becomes a venue for being united with the liberating Christ, and for fleshing what he stood for. Christ lived and still lives in the people. The Eucharist must help open the eyes, the ears, the mouths, and consciousness of the people to their reality. Also, it is a celebration that uses the native language, elements and resources of the people, thereby creating and strengthening community.

It was August 11, 2006, when I visited with my friends the community of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines in Victoria, Mindoro Oriental, to help in the preparations for the marriage ceremony of our couple comrades and to celebrate with them. We helped them preparing the physical arrangement of the church sanctuary and the ordo of matrimony. I was task to conceptualize a creative movement or cultural presentation. The concept was about love and relationship, and how it works for the benefit of our service and mission. The ceremony for my assessment became a liberating event for the community. Some said it was something unique and new for them. It broke the traditional ordo that is commonly used by our churches. It was simple yet meaningful, because it was grounded in their real-life situation. You can feel in the community the happiness and hope for the newly-weds. The wedding entourage’s attire was simple and not costly but meaningful and liberating.

The liturgy of the people need not be costly; it can be simple but grounded in the feelings and emotions of the people. The liturgy we used in that wedding ceremony was prepared and planned rooted in the emotion and feeling of our two friends, taking into consideration also the community where they belonged. It is not the pastors themselves who makes or creates the liturgy, even for weddings. The liturgy must be necessarily based on the people’s reality. It must be the product of the minds of the people, and not by the pastors alone. The liturgy should cater to the communal feeling and emotions of the people on a particular occasion. It must become an avenue to express their wholeness and perspectives of relationship amidst the struggle for life. Liturgy is the expression of the theology of the people. The work of the people, liturgy is an exegesis of realities, an exegesis of opportunity for the people to overcome the oppressive system in their midst. Doing liturgy or creating liturgy is going into the people, because our text is the people, a living text of the realities of life. Creating liturgy is entering behind the text, behind the structural and institutional definition of the people’s life. ####