Keeping and Living the Faith

by

Ric F. Maulion

(6^th Entry to  Jeff Goin’s My 500 Words per Day

for straight 31 days of  January)

            “Judge not and you shall not be judged!” This what then living genius Fr. Jaime Bulatao, SJ direct answer to my unsolicited question asked whatever happened to the reality of split-level Christianity existing among Catholics and other practical Christians. In layman’s parlance maybe Christians living complicated lifestyles yet fulfilling their Sunday Christian obligation. The likes of people attending mass or fellowship  while probably complying regular attendance in different faces of  fleeting diversion - thus, second mass at derby arenas and maybe third at Disco or Karaoke Club, casinos and just anywhere else to fill the vacuum of loneliness and emptiness  of  worldly desires. Where your heart is, there’s your happiness also.

Among Knights of Columbus, the prayer meeting, euphemism for drinking and eating binge with all those banters, music, anecdotes, some dancing to their hearts’ delight are actually an expression of  group’s bonding making them all the more cohesive building strong organization giving premium on charity, service and patriotism. This what normally ensued  after the conduct of regular Council meeting, better substitute than hanging around aimlessly in the City wasting what otherwise would have been productive day.

Many saints had been into that experience – St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine and many others – survived and lived meaningful lives later.

The earlier  answer taken verbatim is even required if we are truly to have Christ truly alive in us.  “Forgive them seventy times seven!” the gospel even writes.  Isn’t that four hundred ninety times in sum forgiveness! That’s huge.  God must be joking when He commanded that. But that’s precisely the way it is God requiring us to be humble because humility is the precondition for all other virtues to come in. Reason too that Holy Eucharist demanding  us to look people whom we might have wronged behind us and gladly extending peace first to them to secure your suitability before you deliver your gift offerings to the altar. And what a liberating highs when you later silently uttered:” Lord I’m not worthy to receive you but only say the words and I shall be healed” during the communion.

 Really tough journey here but is there any way out for us if we have to truly follow His commandments? None. The heavier the cross to carry towards our own Calvary, the better we become Christ-like, my friend and classmate Fr. Louie once reminded. And history avers the road less traveled and what  tragedy this travel even had on pilgrims.. Look what happened to apostles who did great favor before  setting the tone of Christian Faith we are now benefiting and enjoying. All  were rewarded with incredible excruciating  physical death – Peter crucified upside down; Paul  and Bartholomew beheaded; Mathew and James the Greater stabbed with sword; Thomas thrust with spear; Andrew, Matthias and Phillip crucified; James the Less stoned to death, Judas the Traitor of course committed suicide. Only St. John died its natural death.  

Way to go guys. But again, this is easier than done as we all are certified sinners albeit there is sacrament of confession we’re required to avail.

But that was not  after retired Catholic Archbishop Oscar Cruz and Bp. Socrates Villegas, present Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines President brought back the relevance of the issue just yesterday (January 6, 2014) as a reaction to the preparation of annual celebration of the Feast of Black Nazarene where millions of Catholic faithful would again walked mostly barefooted braving the unpredictable weather,  danger and fatigues just to fulfill an annual religious obligation from  Quiapo, Manila to Quirino grandstand in Luneta then back to Quiapo Church, home of Black Nazarene. Similarly the same feast would be observed in  Cagayan de Oro City where its replica has been kept. Concerned FB friend thus posted that traffic would be suspended 3 o ‘clock pm onwards to give way to the celebration.

Seasonal or occasional Catholics always in attendance of such big religious event   or of other big religious festivals  the likes of Sinaulog of Sto. Niño in Cebu third Sunday of Janaury and many other hybrid religious feasts   like religious observance of Panaad during Lent in Bacolod and Camiguin; Dinagyang in Iloilo. That has been it! But what’s in the label? Filipinos given their genius and creativity have been doing wonders creating colorful pageantry leveling up the needs of the time integrating traditional belief system into the ever changing cultural pattern  of Filipinos keeping still the best of the essential element – faith that is.  Problem however is same people would be later back to their usual  old ways, Bp. Villegas noted and wailed..

 Maybe emboldened too of the progressive ideas of Pope Francis, last year’s Time Magazine most influential person making the words of God from the bible truly alive and fulfilling, it was deemed necessary to look into its implication of this  still traditional brand of belief  system or our witnessing would lost its luster.

Truly it’s hard to make conclusive statement over the familiar issue. This unless you view it from a religious convert’s context or perspective. But it is hoped that marked improvement on faith and practice would be registered onwards.A little patience and understanding would do. Filipinos like bamboos are pliant. And guided by the Holy Spirit would likely become living gospels too.