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Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Scripture Reading
Luke 24:13-35 (NRSVUE)

You have heard this numerous times, “life is one big adventure. It is a journey.” Another way of saying is that “life is an ongoing story you get to write and tell.” Christianity is not only a religion of remembering but it is a religion of stories and storytelling. Jesus himself was a good storyteller.

Our own MCC statement of faith tells us two things:

Metropolitan Community Churches is one chapter in the story of the Church, the Body of Christ.

We are people on a journey, learning to live into our spirituality, while affirming our bodies, our genders, our sexualities.

It is important to always remember the importance of looking at our lives, relationships, and communities as stories and journeys. Stories with different chapters and perhaps different trilogies as well as journeys with different phases. Mga paglalakbay na may iba’t ibang yugto. Journeys are important because one sign of life is movement or mobility. You move. You go somewhere. You are not stuck or stagnant in the same place or situation. Stories are important so much so that it the entertainment industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. So is the industry of tourism and travel. Both industries sustain thousands if not billions of lives directly and indirectly. Pag sinama mo pa ang religion also as an industry of stories and meaning-making, and pilgrimages, then the “business” of stories, storytelling, as well as journeys, they affect innumerable lives.

Without realizing it, journeys and storytelling are intricately important in our lives, relationships, communities, and even our faith. That’s why you pay subscriptions to binge watch stories and adventures. That’s why you go to church to listen and reflect on God’s story in relation to your own story and journey. That’s why you go to pilgrimages or your travel locally and internationally to come, taste, and see. Stories and journeys are essential in living, working, and even worshiping. Our own personal lives are stories and journeys that can be told and retold. Our own lives with all our struggles and pain, our mistakes and failures, our hopes, dreams, and longings, the people we loved and lost, falling in love and breaking our hearts – all of these and many more carry seeds of the Gospels, the Goodnews, and you should know this by now that the Gospel can only be told in and through stories. But God is not only found in the stories of the bible – the written text – but also found in the stories and journeys of our individual and collective lives. Ang Diyos ay hindi lamang nasusumpungan sa kwento ng Bibliya, Siya rin ay higit na nararanasan sa kwento ng iyong buhay. Sa kwento ng buhay ng bawat isa. Lalong-lalo na sa kwento natin na magkakasama. You are God’s story being told. We are God’s story being shared. You and I are people on a journey within the story of God.

C.S Song in his book, In The Beginning Were Stories, Not Text, says that,

God is not a concept. God is story. God is life.

A god who has no story to tell is a god of no substance.

Ang Diyos na buhay ay Diyos ng mga kwento at paglalakbay

Ano ang nagpapatuloy na kwento mo at kwento ng Diyos sa buhay mo? Ano ang nagpapatuloy na kwento ng isang mumuting simbahan ng mga LGBTQIA+ sa Pilipinas at ang kwento ng Diyos sa kanilang community? Ano at saan ang susunod na lakbayin?

Our gospel reading for today comes from one of the famous Easter stories of the gospel of Luke. After Jesus got tortured, crucified, died, and was buried, many of his 5000 and more followers dispersed and left him. Many of them who hoped that he was indeed the promised Messiah got disappointed and definitely got scared. Like many other Messiahs before, he too was crucified. Akala nila iba sya from those before. Akala talaga nila sya na ang magpapatalsik sa mga Romano sa kanilang lupain and re-establish the new and everlasting kingdom of David. Kaso, pinako rin sya ng Romano tulad nung ibang mga Messias na nauna sa kanya. Halika na. Uwi na tayo. Tapos na ang kwentong it. Tapos na ang naging paglalakbay nitong Hesus na taga Nazareth. His journey has finally ended, like others, in the Cross and in the grave. Uwi na tayo at balik na tayo sa ating mga pinagmulang mga buhay at ating tiisin na lamang ang Roman oppression and try to survive as best as we can. From 5000 or more followers entering Jerusalem, natira ay iilang piraso na takot na takot na nagtatago sa isang lihim na upper room.

Most likely ito yung nasa isip nung dalwang disipules na dali-daling umalis ng Jerusalem sa takot na sila ay mabilang sa mga taga sunod ni Kristo at hulihin in the coming days. So they left immediately kaya hindi nila nawitness yung Risen Christ. But the Risen Christ met them in their journey of running away and their attempt to going back to their former lives.

When Jesus appeared to them they were discussing everything that just happened to Jesus. When the stranger asked what they were discussion they were described as “stood or walked along sad”. Sad perhaps is an understatement or maybe not a totally accurate translation nonetheless, eto siguro yung pakiramdam of total defeat. Yung pakiramdam ng pagkatalo at regret, and thinking to yourself na nagkamali ka sa pinili mong tao. Naradaman nyo na ba yun? Why did Jesus got tortured and killed. They witnessed him perform great miracles of power. He spoke with authority like no other. He fed thousands. He spoke with wisdom and compassion, and a new way of living. He welcomed and embraced them as farmers, fisherfolks, as women, as lepers, sinners, and children. He saw them and gave value to them by telling their stories of farmers and farming. He gave dignity to women ill repute by allowing them to touch him. He showed compassion when he healed the pederastic lover of an enemy of his people. He showed them diversity and inclusion by healing the daughter of a pagan mother. He broke social and religious barriers by frequently having meals with tax collectors and other despised peoples. Bakit sya pinako sa Krus? Bakit nangyari ang lahat ng mga bagay na ito? Why did everything got fucked up? Sinayang ba naming ang 3 or more years naming na pagsunod at pakikilakbay sa Nazarenong ito? Now, baka pati kami mapiligro at matulad sa kanya? Why did all of these happened to Jesus of Nazareth?

Can you relate? Have you had moments and situations when you asked yourself what happened to your life, relationship, and career? You feel so much pain, sorrow and fear for the future having experienced something terrible previously? Or being left by your former lover? Losing a job? Or perhaps being kicked out of the church and its ministry after you served faithfully and passionately for 10 or more years because they found out na gay ka or lesbian? Have you asked yourself kung nagkamali ka ba na ialay buhay mo sa simbahan only to be replaced immediately kasi babae ka at merong bagong mas batang lalake na gusto magpastor? Does my story end when I got kicked out of the church I served for a decade? Does the story of God in my life end because my partner of 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years left me for someone else? Will my story and the story of God’s goodness end because I lost my job for the company I worked for many years? Does my story and God’s blessing end after I lost thousands of money to a scammer or a failed investment? Does my story and God’s love end because I got diagnosed with HIV? Will the story of liberation and equality and God’s work of justice end because activist leaders were murdered by state forces? Does the journey and story of Open Table MCC and God’s faithfulness end because of the 2012 conflict when the former pastor was de-frocked and removed? Or mag-eend ba ang Open Table MCC with the end of the Free To Be Me project? Hanggang dito na lang ba ang kwento at journey ko nung umalis ang jowa ko or nawalan ako ng trabaho? Tapos na ba ang kwento ng Open Table MCC nung iilang piraso na lang kami sa yellow room at sa NCCP compound?

As the two disciples continue their journey and now with a STRANGER accompanying them, they continued to wonder and to discuss everything that happened. The 3 of them trying to make sense and meaning out of the story and journey of Jesus together with what was written in the Torah and the Prophets. Then they reached the town of Emmaus and there they had to stop for the night to eat and rest. They asked the stranger to join them to also eat and rest for the night. The stranger broke bread and blessed the cup in the manner that Jesus did a few days ago. From there, their eyes were opened and had a profound experience of the risen Christ who, without realizing it earlier, met them on the road and was journeying with them all throughout, speaking to them and helping them understand and find meaning to the story, journey, life, and journey of the Nazarene who got crucified 3 to 4 days ago.

In our confusion, pain, fear, and searching for answers, we do not readily recognize God’s presence in our continuing story and journey even when that new journey is a running away. We feel as if God has died. As if God has abandoned us. God has failed us when things did not go as expected and as promised. For many LGBTQIA+ people, having been repeatedly told that God hates them and then being kicked out of church or their family, their form of running away is to become agnostic or an atheist. Which is not. Necessarily a bad thing. When a relationship failed parang pakiramdama natin na wala ng magmamahal pa sayong iba ulit at parang hindi mo deserve ang mas maayos at mas quality na relasyon. Losing a job. A loved one passed away. A church I served for a decade kicked me out. My parents did not accept me as queer child and in some instances got thrown out of the house. Asan ang Diyos sa lahat ng kaguluhan at pighati sa mundong ito lalong lalo na sa harap ng lahat ng injustices, oppression, and violence sa ating paligid?

Then as we journey on trying to make sense of it all, angry, confused, and pained, strangers come along the way. We find new friends. We see in Instagram a weird and controversial queer community claiming to be a church for LGBTQIA+ Filipinos. We find a new lover; a new job; a new chosen parent or chosen family. We then journey together without realizing that the face and voice of God was precisely the strangers, new friends, and new church we found along the road of running away. We only recognize God again or even recognize Love once more after a long journey and within the intimacy of a shared meal.

After having a profound experience of the Risen Christ, the two disciples immediately travelled back to Jerusalem to tell their story to the other disciples of the crucified Messiah. Hindi na iniiisp yung danger traveling at night at hindi na iniinda yung takot na sila rin ay hulihin at parusahan tulad ni Hesus, dali dali silang kumaripas pabalik ng Herusalem para ikwento ang kanilang naging paglalakbay at karanasan.

C.S. Song further articulates in the same book,

Is there anything you can do except to tell stories in times of helplessness? When you are at a loss as what to do, does not telling stories enable you to regain your faith? In times of crisis, whether personal or national, does not sharing stories help you turn crisis into opportunities? History in story shows the way. Humor in story gives courage. Hope in story empowers us for the future. In the midst of darkness, a story becomes light illuminating our way.”

And in the same story telling along the journey and in the breaking of bread among strangers and friends, we suddenly meet God in the flesh, the living Christ in our midst.

Sabi nga nila mahaba pa ang lakbayin at hindi pa tapos ang kwento mo.

Same with Open Table MCC. Malayo na ang nilakbay at naranasan after 18 years. Maraming mga tanong, lungkot, galit, at pagkalito ang ating tinanong. Ang aking tinanong ng paulit-ulit… bakit ganito? Bakit Ganun? Why this church of LGBT can’t seem to get its act together? Why can’t we become a church that we and God can be proud off? And in the midst of all the questioning, doubting, confusion, bitterness and even frustration along the 18 years of journey, with strangers and friends coming and going, and some staying… Jesus was always with us in our journey as a queer DIY church and making himself known, Sunday after Sunday in the breaking of the bread and in the sharing of our stories.

But the journey does not end at 18 years. The story is not concluded with this chapter or this book 3. As with all journeys that come to their finish and stories that come to a temporary end, new journeys begin and new stories are to written. New challenges. New strangers to meet along the way. New job. New lover. Or even new life as single person. New church. New leaders of this church. New friends to invite to the community and the mission. New people to heal, to touch, to share a meal with, to listen to their stories, and to proclaim God’s love. Scary still as it may seem a new journey that will still lead to the cross, but this time, we have courage, hope, and strength because we lived through the worst and therefore we have proven in each of our individual lives and in this church community for 18 years that indeed Jesus is Risen and he has never left us. He will continue to journey with us in the many different journeys of our individual lives and journey with this community. And that wherever our journey leads, we will always have the promise of the resurrection and will always be alive in the stories that are told long after we are gone. You. You. You. You have stories to tell and journeys to walk. It will not always be a walk in the park or with happy endings but Jesus journeys with you. Jesus and his gospel is in the journey and story of your life and in the story and journey of Open Table MCC. Let us all together journey on and continue our story as Queer Christians and as MCC.

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For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.

Scripture Reading
Matthew 19:12 (NRSVUE)

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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Scripture Reading
John 15:1-12 (NRSVUE)

Coming of Age requires us to do several things. Definitely to reflect on our past and also reflectively plan and envision the future. Last week was all about the many different peoples and experiences that gave birth to us, shaped us, and influenced us for good, bad, or things in between. Another thing we are called to do us ground and anchor ourselves, and in our scripture reading today, root us – pag-uugat, Coming of age asks as where or with whom are we firmly rooted. Saan o kanino tayo matibay na nakaugat. Where or with whom do we get our support to stand and withstand the forces that pushes us here and there? Yung ugat, yun yung firmly nagpapatayo sa isang halaman o puno. Pag matibay, malalim, malawak at healthy, ang ugat, matibay ang pagkakatayo nung halaman o puno. Hindi ito basta-basta mabubuwal o maitutumba ng hangin o ng baha. The roots are also the part of the plan that takes in the nouristment from the earth and brings it to the other parts of the plant or tree to grow. Ugat din ang nagdadala ng sustansya sa sa buong halaman. Where are your roots? Where or from whom do you get your nourishment.

John 15 tells us that our roots, the vine with whom we are rooted and connected is Jesus Christ. The Christian community of the gospel of John was being violently persecuted and they are also dispersed, exiled, and killed and so the Gospel of John reminds the early Christians and us today, Christians in this queer church in the Philippines 2000 years after, that though we are scattered, troubled, and challenged, we can always find our roots with Jesus and through him we are nourished and stand firm. I was reminded by Troy Perry last night, “The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing, and the main thing is Jesus”, and the main thing about Jesus is love through justice. Pero how can we be rooted in Jesus? Ito ba ay simply thinking about Jesus and verbally saying Jesus is my personal Lord and savior? Ang pag-uugat kay Hesus ay sa pamamagitan ng panalangin both personal and communal. Personal, nagdadasal pa ba kayo? Do you intentionally make time for silence and prayer. Kahit nga hindi traditional prayer na chika ka ng chika kay Lord. Kung medyo nawawala ang pag-uugat mo kay Hesus sa panalangin, you can explore different and other kinds of prayer many of which are very simple. Diana Butler Bass tells us that many of the rituals and spiritual practices of the church comes from the most ordinary and simplest of human activities which starts with breathing. If you begin to explore spiritual traditions, both Christian and other religions, they will tell you the most fundamental practice is to BREATHE. Focus your attention on your breathing. In the Christian tradition, pray with your breathing by being aware that the air is partly Spirit because in the book of Genesis, it tells us that God breathed into the human the Ruach of life and the human became a living soul. I personally love walking on a retreat and this is also something you will find in many spiritual traiditons and even among philosophers and scientists. Walking is a deepl spiritual practice when intentionally done.

Our most sacred ritual, the Eucharist, is a meal shared. So find the spiritual practice by which you can connect with Jesus. Connect with Jesus also with community and be part of a praying community. Emmanuel, God with us and the doctrine of the incarnation is about experiencing God with people and through people. Be rooted in a community that can also help you learn, grow, mature, and produce fruits. How to be rooted with Jesus, be part of advocacy and service to others with your unique gifts and talents. Ang pananampalataya – faith – ay dapat buhay, kumikilos, gumagampan, yumayakap, nakikisangkot, at tumutugon, and sa lahat ng ating mga ginagawa duon nakikita natin at nauunawaan na sa ganung paraan tayo nag-uugat kay Hesus, sa kanyang buhay, at mga salita.

Now the other part of my preaching and the other part of the scripture aside from being rooted is being cut and pruned. Some plants and flowering plants, grape vines, and some trees which are being cultivated, require regular cutting and pruning for good health and to encourage growth.

Now, there have been studies that found that plants have some sentience to them. They can feel pain and they have a way to cry out or even scream. They have a way to inform other plants and trees through their root network of any threat. If a plant or a tree in the forest is being cut down or being attacked by pests, it can send a signal through its roots to warn the other plants and trees. Plants do feel some form of pain and sends out signals about it. Perhaps not exactly the same as humans and other animals feel pain, but they feel pain nonetheless.

So when a gardener cuts off branches or prunes a shrub, a grape vine, a bonsai, or a fruit bearing tree or flowering plant, it does experience pain. But it is the kind of pain that is necessary. The pain of cutting infected leaves or branches is necessary so that the infection won’t spread. The pain of pruning several smaller branches, stems, or leaves is necessary to encourage growth and vibrance. The same can be said of our individual lives, relationships, and the church community.

Adulting, growing, and maturing comes from overcoming the many ways that God and life in generally cuts or prunes some pieces of ourselves or our relationships. Some necessary cutting and pruning for our health and growth. Some not so necessary because these were caused by persons and situations who have hurt us, abandoned us, and treated us badly.

As you come of age, it is good to reflect on these things and experiences of people, places and situations that had to be removed from you and your life to encourage your growth and refinement with the acknowledgement that some of these are painful ones like a branch being cut off or a small stem or leaf being pruned.

Then today at this point of your life, asan ka man ngayon sa buhay mo at ano man ang situation mo, ask yourself, are there things, situations, perspectives, and people you need to remove from your life so that you can further grow and flourish? Meron bang mga toxic na tao sayong paligid na kailangan mong ilet-go kahit na mahirap o masakit? Meron ka bang mga habits or practices na kailangan mong tigilan o bawasan to improve your life situation? Similarly, meron ka bang mga memories, traumas, and experiences of the past na matagal ng tapos pero hindi mo mabitaw-bitawan at nanatili kang alipin nito? Do you have any insecurities that you need to address and therefore remove from yourself so you can operate better and also enter better relationships and friendships based on genuine connection and not to feed the insecurity? Meron bang mga doktrina, paniniwala, or even religious practices from your former churches na kailangan mong iwaksi at iexpel sayong sarili? Meron ka bang mga pananaw at perspektibo na baka kailangang bitawan para magkaroon ng espasyo sa isip at puso mo for new, deeper, and much wider perspectives? Kahit pa progressive ka na. At baka tama rin pag-isipan if merong bang partes a pagiging progressive mo ang nangangailangan pa rin iprune para marefined at magencourage na bagong growth, perspective, and inspiration?

Is there anything and anyone in your life right now that does not encourage goodness in your life and runs contrary to your faith as a follower of Jesus or simply as a human being? Are there people, memories, and insights that live rent-free inside your head?

Because if you are infected and withered by holding on to everything and everyone that causes you sickness and toxicity, spiritually, emotionally, and socially, then how can you remain also as a branch connected to a much larger tree or plant, called community? If you are infected by certain toxicity, how can you remain connected with Jesus?

Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 13 – Yun ang Magandang pamantayan sa kung sino at ano ang mga dapat nating iwaksi sa ating mga puso, isip at pagkatao at bitawan sa ating buhay so that we can bear flowers and fruits.

Jesus says, I am the vine and you are the branches. Whoever follows my commandment abides in my love. And then later Jesus further says, “This is my commandment, that you love one another.”

To diagnose what is healthy and what is not healthy in our lives and in our faith will be tested by Jesus commandment to love by which Paul, one of his followers, gave as one of the best definition and articulation of love. Christian Love is never neutral as per Jesus and Paul. And the Love that Jesus exemplified and the love that Paul defined, tells us exactly who and what are those that needs cutting and pruning from our lives, relationships, and communities.

Someone who is rude and irritable. Someone who rejoices in evil. Someone who is constantly impatient. Someone or something that is not kind. Someone na puro sarili lang ang iniisip. Someone na puro kasinungalingan at ginagamit ang kasinungalingan para manlamang sa kapwa. Someone who is brilliant, talented, intelligent pero masama ugali, domineering, at manipulative.

Ask yourself, ang ganito bang mga tao or practices, or perspectives, do you want these in your life? Do they reflect faith in Jesus Christ? Do impatience and irritability express genuine spirituality and love? Or are these things, situations, and people that require cutting and pruning from our lives so that in turn, we do not be the ones cut off and thrown away.

Pero, gusto ko rin sabihin at itanong kahit hindi na ako mag-elaborate, may sitwasyon at pagkakataon rin ba na ikaw yung toxic or masamang implwensya na pinutol ng Diyos mula sa buhay ng iba o mula sa isang komunidad o group? Baka ikaw yung magulo duon at nagpapagulo sa kanila. That is also worth reflecting on. Maturity is also asking the self-accountability question – was it me? Did I do wrong? What was my part in the problem or conflict?

Or pwede rin naman na hindi naman ikaw yung toxic or infected, ikaw yung healthy na branch na kinailangan putulin para igraph sa mas healthy na halaman tulad ng Open Table?

As you have noticed in the past two preachings and in relation to our 18th anniversary month, I do not only preach from an individual and personal context but also from the context of our church community.

Open Table MCC is a small church, a body of Christ, that God planted in Quezon City 18 years ago on the 13th of September, 2006. Ilang beses na muntik muntikang mamatay ang halaman na ito. Ilang beses na rin ito nasaktan ng bonggang-bongga by no less than its own founding pastor. Pero hindi ito sinukuan ng Diyos. God did not give up on Open Table MCC even its very own pastor almost destroyed it.

God did not give up on Open Table even when many others did. And each of those crucial moments of decline and bad church health, we lost people but perhaps it is God’s way of cutting and pruning those that were not healthy for the church and admittedly, during the not so good ages of this church, perhaps the church itself was not good or healthy for some other people who came to church seeking genuine faith and community but the church had unhealthy individuals and lack of proper systems. Kaya marami magtataka sa inyo pag nakikita nyo yung mga lumang pictures ng MCCQC or even MCC Manila and ask, “asan na sila?” Well either one of two things lang naman – God had to cut or prune some of them because they were not healthy or good for the church and perhaps their healing is found somewhere else or the church at the time was not healthy and therefore God had to save other individuals from a church na kulang sa systems and structures to create a genuine safe space.

18 years of Open Table MCC, God never gave up on us as much as we never gave up on God and our queer siblings. Ours is a story of growth, rooted in Jesus, with God’s cutting and pruning para marefine tayo, maging mas healthy, and encouraged to grow better.

And I know as we move forward towards adulting, growing, and maturing as individuals and as church community, the process of cutting and pruning will continue. We are pruned to grow, to flower, and to be fruitful in and with love. With new fruits, the seeds that need scattering for new safe space, new open tables, rooted in jesus and producing fruits in many other places until every queer child and straight ally have a table where God’s love is genuine and true.

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Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala, son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni, son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

Scripture Reading
Luke 3:23-38 (NRSV)

A Coming of age doesn’t only happen when you turn 18 o 21. A coming of age happens every so often in each of our lives and in the life of a group or organization. A coming of age is not only about looking forward into the future. It is also looking back into the past with reflection -pagmumuni-muni.

Winston Churchill once said, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.”

We cannot run away from our past nor can we let it go without acknowledging its truths, even the painful ones or those that bring shame. And often the most profound lessons and/or truths are found in our most painful or terrible experiences and histories. We also know this, that those who run away from their past and do not deal with what happened before are bound to mess up not only their present but also their future.

Christianity is a religion of remembering. It is rooted in our history and spiritual memory. Ang ating pananampalataya ay naka-ugat sa alaala ng nakaraan – (song) Maalaala mo kaya ang sumpa mo sa akin na ang pag-ibig mo ay hindi magmamaliw.

For the first 1500 years the focal point of all Christians was the Eucharist or communion. This is my body I give to you – remember me. This is my blood I give to you. Remember me. Remembering Jesus and doing so we recognize his living presence among us because the eucharist is also a living reality in the present – our spiritual memory is based on God’s tragic story whose symbol is the broken bread symbolizing the broken body of Jesus on the cross and the wine and water poured empty symbolizing the blood and water that came out from his pierced heart.

We are a religion and a spirituality of remembering. Afterall one of the things that make us truly human, an animal with higher thinking, is the capacity for long term and complex memory, and from reflective remembering, create and innovate. Do things better. Be better.

And talking about remembering and scripture, our reading for today is the Genealogy of Jesus, a series of names of the ancestors of Jesus. Some preachers have difficulty in preaching the genealogy text either in Matthew or in Luke kasi it says nothing other than a list of names. Wala syang inspirtational phrase or a commandment like, “love one another.” Anong lesson ang meron dito? The difficulty goes even further because the genealogy of Luke is almost entirely different with Matthew and there’s no explanation why. Modern preachers find difficulty preaching about a list of names because, we, the modern people, think that we are better than our ancestors, and that history and historical names have no significance for us today.

One explanation na nabasa ko – Trivia – scholars have argued that the Genealogy of Jesus sa Matthew is the Davidic line from the lineage of Joseph and then the genealogy in Luke is the Davidic line through Mary, his mother from the father-in-law of Joseph. This means, as per the speculation of some scholars, that both Joseph and Mary were from the same ancestry of David. In short napakalayong magpinsan ni Mary at ni Joseph. The scholars who proposed this have some biblical and rabbinic reasons that we will not go into. Pwede nyo naman hanapin sa google.

Diana Butler Bass in her book, Grounded, says, “We have more information about the past, but less actual connection to it thant those in previous ages. Lack of historical knowledge is a perennial news story. The idea that what is new is better. Now is superior to then. And energy of the young trumps the wisdom of the age.”

When you were younger in elementary, highschool, and college, did you ever think, “Saan ko naman gagamitin itong history?” When I was in college, we had 3 basic subjects, World History, Asian History, and then Philippine History. And many students were asking themselves if the time and effort studying history will ever be relevant to their lives and eventual careers.

No person is an island and no person we know was born out of rocks. Lahat tayo ay may magulang at may pinanggalingan. We all have our ancestry whether we like our parents and ancestry or not or if we really don’t care. But perhaps there is wisdom in knowing who we are based on who our parents and grandparents were. Perhaps there is wisdom in knowing who our uncles and aunties whether we like them or not. Perhaps there is wisdom in remembering and understanding some people of our past that may have had a positive or negative impact on us – a teacher or mentor who believed in us or helped us when no else did; A childhood friend or group of friends; A supportive uncle or auntie when our parents were not. Who were they? What can we remember that we can learn from? Even the bad ones.

What is the story and the genealogy of where you came from? What can you learn from those who have hurt you in the past? What can you learn from family members or ancestors who had a terrible past? Baka meron kang ancestor na infamous for something? Baka meron ka ngang ancestor na serial killer or baka naman malayong kamag-anak ka pal ani Andres Bonifacio, Gabriela Silang or Rizal. Baka naman meron kang ninuno or malayong relative na pari or madre o di kaya naman isang folk healer kaya ka pala religious or spiritual. I was told that my grandfather, Hermito San Jose (First name palang monghe na) entered seminary and almost became a priest. Hindi natuloy dahil nakilala nya lola ko but later yung daughter nya naging contemplative Carmelite and then a grandson nya na sya ang nagpangalan na Cristopher Joseph ay naging pastor ng mga accla. Yung Dad ko may auntie na butch lesbian at may dalwang pinsan na flamboyant gay. Yung isa, according to my lolo, was a pianist scholar of Imelda Marcos and during the late 70s, madalas tumutugtug sa Malacanang.

Sa mom’s side ko, my lolo was a Philippine born Chinese in the mid early 40s nung nagmigrate dito yung parents nya from Fujian province before World War II.

Knowing the roots from where we came from and also the experiences of our past may give us some understanding of who we are, why we are gifted with certain talents and skills, and why we have certain tendencies. Knowing where we came from even if some of them are not so good, may still offer grace and healing. Equally, there is also a lot of wisdom in knowing the history of the Philippines, of Southeast Asia, and the world – the things that happened and the intertwined stories of many people that shaped our communities, churches, and societies today.

In the genealogy of Jesus especially in the version of Matthew, not everyone in the list are good people. Despite, David, being considered as the greatest king of ancient Israel, historians and biblical scholars, upon closer scrutiny, finds David as a terrible conniving, and manipulative person who might have really usurped the throne of Saul. Later when he became king, he raped the wife of his loyal officer and devised a plan to hide his crime by calling his officer home and have him bed his wife and then afterwards order his general to put this officer in front of the battle and sure enough was killed.

Solomon his son and heir was no better when he became king. Despite being described as the wisest king is someone who enforced forced labor and slavery upon the 10 other tribes of Israel and then taxed his people heavily to build his palace and the temple, and to financially support all his wives and concubines.

Medyo hard to swallow ito – Have you heard the saying, “There are no friends nor enemies. Only teachers.” Ang chumika raw nyan ay si Charlotte Maloney. Those we perceived as enemies and detractors, and even the vilest personalities in history like Hitler, Marcos Senior, Pontius Pilate, Caligula, Nero, Herod, etc., these people we consider as evil can be considered as great teachers also because their life and the terrible things they did tells us what we as individuals and as a people should never become. Your parents who have hurt you or abandoned you, if you carefully analyze, should teach you what you do not want to become and should be the ones that motivate you to be a totally different and better person than they were.

Then in the genealogy of Jesus, we also see his Queer ancestors and their stories, despite the bad things about David, he is a queer ancestor of Jesus with his relationship with Jonathan. And then Ruth, their great grandmother was with Naomi and Boaz, a queer family also. There were other good people in the ancestry as much as there were bad. He also had good ancestors. Complicated ancestors. Ancestors who are a mixture of good and bad.

Whether you like it or not, you are who you are today because of your ancestors and the people of your childhood. They are in your DNA. A part of them lives within you and lives through you the same way the ancestors of Jesus is part of who he is as a human being so much so that Luke and Matthew took the time to list down his ancestry. Kailangan pa ba yun ancestry nya? Eh ang importante lang naman ay kung ano yung naging buhay nya at kanyang mga sinabi at ginawa and yet, the gospel writers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, saw the importance of tracing who Jesus is through his ancestors.

Because according to Diana Butler Bass in the same book, Grounded, “Genealogies reveal the quest of ancient people to find a place in the universe and claim divine favor.” Genealogies tells people who they are and where they came from. Genealogies and family trees, even when some are bad fruits or withered branches, tells a story of belonging, struggle, conflict, and healing. And though it is one form of storytelling of the past, it is also gives a direction for the future and a blessing for what is to come. Our ancestors and the stories of the past also gives us comfort and strength in times of troubles and challenges. In the Netflix series, Ghost Detectives, Crystal, a young woman with the gift of visions, was trying to deal with a demon who took her memories and who was hunting her to reposes her body. In one episode when she was really struggling, she had a dream with all her women ancestors who told her that she had the power, the gift, and the strength to defeat the demon and that this strength is connected to all of them, her powerful women ancestors. All she needed to do is to find a way to reconnect to them and tap to the power that goes all the way back to her ancestry.

Let us now neglect, reject, or run away from our past even if there are some rotten apples and some terrible experiences we had. Not everything old or ancient is irrelevant. Not everything that is young are necessarily good or beautiful. Good or bad, draw out strength and wisdom from the deep well of your past and your ancestry.

A fair warning of course. Remembering our past and the people in it does not mean to say that we are held prisoners by the past and that it holds some power over us. While our ancestors and other people of our past have had some part in the shaping of who we are, we are our own person and we have our own capacity to determine our own lives, relationships, and who we are. Perhaps only in knowing our past and the people who were part of our past may help us to break away from those bad things and family traits while also nourishing what is good, holy, and beautiful that our ancestors and other people have gifted us.

Going from individual into the collective, the same can be said for our church Open Table MCC. Kaya I’ve always believed that the history of this church is important to be told as accurately as possible – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Mahalaga na every now and then, in appropriate situations and for the correct reasons, we keep on telling the story of this church not as chismis na pagtatawanan natin or dahil bored lang tayo. Remember, chismis, while entertaining sya, it is a form of spiritual cancer. Within 5 appropriate situations and reasons, we tell the history of this church and some of the people who have been part of it so that current and future generations can learn from the mistakes, lessons, and successes of the past. The founding pastor of his church and the terrible experience we had with him reminds us and teaches us what we do not want to become. Kaya kahit some of the legacy members ay UMAY NA UMAY na sa kakakwento nung nakaraan, it is important that our written and oral tradition, with whatever evidence and testimonies we have, are told and retold as a source of organizational wisdom. Our statement of faith says, “we are part on the story of the universal church, the body of Christ.” MCC is part of the Universal Christian family and the story of Christianity has not always been good with slavery, colonialism, genocide, and religious wars but we also equally recognize the roots of democracy and freedom of religion as well as medicine, astronomy, schools, and development of morality had some of their origins in Christianity. In all our genealogies and stories – the beautiful and good as well as the ugly and corrupted we try to make sense of God. We recognize God’s presence in the lives of our ancestors and the movement of the Holy Spirit in the midst of human imperfection and tragedy.

To forge a new and better future, we cannot forget and run away from our past and the people who were part of it. Nor should we be stuck and held as prisoners of the past. I saw a video of a 78-year-old woman who said, “I have good memories of the past and I remember them well but I am not held by them.” Our ancestors, the people of our childhood, painful and joyful experiences, our own stupid mistakes as well as our achievements and everything and everyone, are all teachers and sources of wisdom. And let us not forget as we attend worship every Sunday that spiritually, we are rooted to all our spiritual ancestors, kay Troy Perry and Fr. Richard Mickley, to all the queer saints and prophets like St. Aelred, Joan of Arc, St. Sergious and Bacchus, Sts. Felicity and Perpetua, to the Babaylans of this Islands, and all the way to Jesus of Nazareth, the one we remember and who is with us even today as we gather in this table. I personally always find some comfort and peace with the idea that we have ancestors watching over us and cheering us on. I find comfort and peace with the idea that Pastor Egay, Choi, Mike Mia, and father Richard are watching over open table mcc from beyond and somehow by some way or manner, are also guiding us. I find comfort and peace knowing that we are all part of the great cloud of witnesses and the communion of saints weaved together by Holy Spirit and ultimately rooted to Jesus, God’s word and the source of power and wisdom.

Listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling us through the gospel of Luke as interpreted and delivered today.

The post Being Raised By Many appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable; it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end.

For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part, but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.

Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults.

Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 13:4-11, 14-20 (NRSV)

What is a coming of age? What does it mean when we say coming of age? What does it mean to say adulting na tayo? Sa mga gragraduate ng college we say, “welcome to adulting life?” Sa mga tulad ko naman na mag-forty na, life starts at 40? What does this all mean? What are the implications of this? How is adulting or coming of age a real thing in your lives? In each of our lives?

It is a transition from one phase or chapter of life to the next. We come to a point, whether by choise or circumstance or both, that we have to change our way of thinking, doing, and way of living, and if I may add in the spiritual sense, also a different way of believing, worshipping, and praying. The Apostle Paul also had something to say about adulting not only in a spiritual sense but also practically both individually and as community. Paul distinguishes about being a child in a particular context with being an adult in the spiritual and communal life. But before we go there let us also look at our own context and understanding of what do we mean by being childish or immature?

I checked 3 articles about signs of immaturity. Articles from Care Counseling, Psychology Today, and healthline. I wanted to see what common elements from 3 different articles on what they say as signs or elements of immaturity or being childish:

1. Does not consider or consider very little other people as to how their words or actions will impact others.
2. Therefore, they seldom if at all, take responsibility for their actions, words, and decisions.
3. Almost everything is about them and their need for attention or validation and personal satisfaction.
4. Therefore, there is also an element of impulsiveness or emotional reactivity. They say and do things out of impulse without much self-reflection. Sa counseling care, it was called “poor impulse control.”
5. Undeveloped emotional communication skills.

Are these things bad generally bad? Not necessarily kasi lahat tayo ay dumaan at dumadaan dyan. Kelan sya nagiging masama? When in the face of truth and correction, whether by a person, group of persons, or by a learning situation, we still choose not to listen and do something to grow. Immaturity might be a natural phase of human development, however staying that way, is a choice. Even if certain immaturities are caused by trauma, the question is always, what are you going to do about it? Will you acknowledge the trauma and that your behaviors and attitudes are caused by trauma? If you stay long enough in MCC, you will recognize immaturity and trauma-informed personalities and praise Jesus that we are a space were wounded people come and feel that this is a safe space for them. HOWEVER, if you stay long enough in MCC, we are also clear here that trauma, mental health conditions, and immaturity is not an excuse to harm others or make this space unsafe. For as much as this is a safe space for you, this is also safe space for others. Although hindi rin naman tayo RIGID dyan and we should learn to practice not just any grace but RADICAL GRACE for each other’s conditions and situations while making sure that we do not justify harmful or toxic attitudes here.

The reality is and this has also been our experience for the majority of the 18 years of Open Table MCC, is that offen times some people grow up but do not adult-up. Tama ba? That elements of immaturity are carried over up until 30 years old, 40 years old, 50 years old or that immaturity re-emerges when the person reaches 40, 50, or 60. Yung bang pag tumatanda na, nawawalan ng considerasyon sa iba, mainitin ang ulo, and bumabalik sa pagiging impulsive and because matanda na, thinks he, she or them, can get away with it with an excuse of “I don’t give an F.” From immaturity, to maturity, to immaturity again.

One can say that a bit of the same were happening in some of the Christian churches during the time of Paul and one such problematic and immature church was the church of Corinth. Paul calls the Corinthians as childish and immature, first in a subtle way in Chapter 13 verse 11:

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.

And then he directly calls them to stop being “children” in their thinking and by extent in their doing and living in Chapter 14 verse 20:

Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults.

Bakit ganito ang chika ni Paul? Why is Paul calling them children or childish and immature? What was happening in the church of Corinth? What were the issues that was brought to his attention that prompted him to write a LONG letter of admonition to the Corinthian church?

A young man took the wife of his father. Meaning, his stepmother, he took for himself. Paul strongly condemned this even to say that such an action is not even practiced among other people. And Paul is not only saying that is sexually immoral to take your stepmother to be your jowa, he is also saying, hindi mo man lang consider ang impact nito sayo, sa tatay mo, sa stepmother mo, and sa church community natin. Ano ang element of immaturity dito? Lack of impulse control and not being considerate to others kung may negative impact ba ito sa iba. Here you will understand to some degree some of our safe space and community guidelines. If you think that that is love and that love is something like, “us against the world” or “our love will prove you all wrong.” Then you are mistaken as per the Apostle Paul. Because love is patient and kind, and therefore considerate of others. It is not impulsive and not selfish or self-seeking in other translations.

What else was happening in the Corinthian church? Nagkakaroon ng favoritism in terms of sino ang unang kakaen at sino ang nasa places of honor. An issue was raised that during the “Lord’s supper” some of the wealthier and more influential members of the church do not wait for others, especially the poorer members, and they begin eating in the Lord’s table. They are given preferential treatment and Paul found this to be problematic because in Paul’s view of the Christian life, we are all equal before the Lord’s Table. Radical community nga ang practice ng first, second and 3rd generation Christians as mentioned in Acts 2 and Acts 4. So again, walang consideration sa iba. Mga sarili lang ang iniisip because I give more to the church. I do more for the church. So I get to say where to sit, when to start, and what I get in the distribution. Arrogance and self-serving. And Paul calls this out as childish and immature. Because a mature person, not even a Christian, considers and includes everyone.

The other thing that was happening in the church of Corinth was the preferential treatment and hierarchy is beginning to be about who has certain spiritual gifts with a particular preference for those who can speak in tongues and those who can prophesy. Mas maganda ako sayo or mas blessed ako ni Lord kasi I can speak in tongues. Mas magaling ang dila ko sayo besh. And therefore, lahat na lang gusto magspeak in tongues. Lahat na lang best in gibberish oral para masabing, Favored ka ni Lord. Kaya ito yung chika pa ni Paul when he says that even if you can speak the language of angels, have faith that move mountains, and even give your body as a sacrifice if you do not have love that is patient and kind, it is worthless. Anong element of immaturity nito? Everything should be about you and your need for attention and validation and not really about loving God and loving others.

These things and other things happening in the Church of Corinth was making the head and the heart of Paul spin and hurt. Masakit sa ulo pag may mga acclang umaaktong hindi tama at naaapektuhan yung overall life and ministry of the church. And so Paul responding to all this SHITTINESS happening in the church of Corinth has so eloquently wrote one of the most beautiful explanation and definition of LOVE – Agape – an all embracing, all good, and certainly mature kind of live – God’s love. And Paul effectively says that to GROW UP and to put away childish things, is to LOVE by being patient and kind because to be patient and kind is to be considerate of others. To be patient is not to be impulsive and reactionary with anger and irritation expressed in foul language. To grow and mature as a follower of Jesus is not to put yourself above others no matter what you do or give to the church or to your relationship. To grow and mature in love is not to be selfish or self-seeking. To grow and mature spiritually does not mean to say that you think you are more spiritual simply because you speak in tongues and that your tongue is talented in many ways. That your spirituality and your value as human is something dependent and determined by your gifts. No. Paul says, everyone has gifts and all gifts are equally valuable in the body of Christ. To grow and mature is not to be envious, jealous or insecure of others and the truth is envy is also a fundamental human emotion, tama? But to mature in love, means to manage our envious impulses and not to be ruled by it.

Love does not celebrate wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. To mature in and through love does not celebrate and rejoice violence the corruption and violence of dictators and their daughters. Love and Maturity does not defend nor excuse a criminally charged religious leader and prevent him from defending himself in the proper courts. Christ himself face the Sanhedrin and Pilate. Peter and John also faced the Sanhedrin during Pentecost. Paul also appeared in a Roman Court to defend himself. All other early Christians were taken to court and many of them martyred. Tapos yung isang religious leader ayaw humarap sa korte.

For Paul adulting as a follower of Jesus Christ is to grow and mature in love that is patient and kind, not arrogant, selfish, irritable, and does not rejoice in what is wrong, impulsive, and false.

To mature is not necessarily about the success of your career, the numbers in your bank account, the number of subscribers you have or kung sino ang powerful na ka- rubbing shoulders mo or ka-selfie mo. To be an adult is to make the decision and the effort to love, care, and be considerate of others even when it is difficult to do so. To be spiritually mature is not to merely memorize bible verses, be the best in defending your doctrines and theologies, or to practice as many rituals as you can. To be spiritually mature is to manifest God’s radical love for others even to the extent of loving those who are different from you, loving the one’s you do not understand, or loving even those we might consider as enemies. What is your success if you’re without love and you live your life as a lonely, bitter, and toxic person? What value is it to God for you to know all doctrinal and biblical knowledge and practice all forms of devotions if you are without love and you do not concern yourself with the injustices of this world?

Now, I have spoken about this mostly from an individual context, drawing parallels from the church of Corinth and their individual issues they had that Paul had to address. But this is also true and even more true when we look at this from the context of our church, Open Table MCC. Open Table MCC will be celebrating its 18th year. Debut. A coming of age. Pagdadalaga. Bagong yugto. And we already had more than enough experiences of how ministry, when it is impulsive, self-serving and all about personal validation, becomes destructive. That was the story of the founding pastor of this church as it unraveled during the 2012 conflict. But it did not stop there, even after the 2012 conflict and when we were re-establishing what was then MCC Quezon City, we did not realize, that many of us and many new people are also doing ministry and volunteering sa church out of personal need for validation and importance, and not really for the love of God and neighbor. And paulit-ulit na naging problema from 2012 to 2019 and mga sexually impulsive na mga acclang hindi mapigilan ang sarili na hindi awrahan ang mga newbies. But this time around, I think as a church, we are really beginning to come to an age of maturing and adulting bilang napaso na tayo sa kagagahan ng ating nakaraan. Natuto na tayo. Alam na natin na hindi na pwedeng proket matalino, brilliant or pabibo agad-agad, sapat na para maglead or magserve. Natuto na tayo bilang simbahan that we value people here first and foremost because they are persons and not because they have resources, talents, or skills. That can come later na.

Natuto na tayo na while radicl and non-normative ang pagtingin natin sa sex and sa many forms of romantic relationships, hindi ibig sabihin nun na kahit ano at kahit sino pwedeng awrahan at magkemehan sa loob mismo ng simbahan ito. I would like to believe and also to testify today that Open Table MCC as a church, has matured in the kind of Love thart Paul was talking about. But we have to continue to mature and become adults in that same kind of love and not regress back or in the words of bord again, back slide in the immature and impulsive ways of the past.

And like any other adulting teenager, we have come to the point where we are now thinking and imagining what kind of future we want for ourselves as a church community. Isa yan sa mga iniisip ng mga teenager na nagtratrasition na talaga into adulting life… Ano bang gusto kong mangyari sa buhay ko moving forward? Same with Open table as we come of age at 18… where do we want to go and how should we forge our future while being mindful of Paul’s immortal words about love as Agape in 1 Corinthians 13.

Isang magandang pamantayan sa buhay, pananampalataya, simbahan, at mga relasyon ang chika ni Paul sa 1 Corinthians 13, and I would extend it to chapter 12 and then chapter 14. Conceptually kasi, isang tuhog yung chapters 12, 13 and 14. 1 Corinthins 12, 13, and 14 interpreted properly is a good standard to assess and measure yourself, your relationships or relationships you are about to enter, organizations you wish to be part of, it is also a good measure and guide for doing ministry, advocacy, and activism whether you are Christian or not. I was watching this animation sa Netflish, the mysreries of Aaravos, and yung High Mage duon had this motto, “Everything I do, I do for my family and for my country. No matter how dangerous. No matter how vile.” And in that story, while the primary intention was good, the manner by which saving and protecting was evil. He used dark magic to destroy an entire civilization and doing so corrupted him and his people into becoming monsters. He also his daughter to become a dark sorcerer. The daughter wanting to save her father out of love parroted the same word, “save and resurrect my dad no matter how dangerous or how vile.” She was willing to release the greatest evil in the world to save her father. So whether the young man who took his father’s wife as his own or the daughter of viren wanting to save her father because she loved him very much, if that “love” is not patient and kind, if it is insistent and arrogant, and vile, then it not matured nor is it from God. The same with ministries, advocacies, and justice work – even if it is justice work – if it is without true love based on what is good and true, if it is willing to do something evil to achieve justice, then it is not only worthless, it is also corrupted. Yes. Kahit hindi Christian, you can appropriate Paul’s discourse on love and organizing sa ibang mga organizations and advocacies.

And in any phase of your life, whether you are graduating from college, turning 30, or like me starting life at 40, or others becoming golden at 50, or hopefully becoming wise at 60, we ask ourselves have we grown and are we continually growing in love:

Patient; kind; Not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. Does not insist on its own way; Not irritable. Does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. Hopes and endures.

Listen to what the Holy Spirit has spoken today through Paul as interpreted by Joseph May the words we have received, inspire us, comfort us, and challenge us. Amen.

The post A Coming Of Age appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Nang malapit na siya sa Betfage at Betania, sa lugar na tinatawag na Bundok ng mga Olibo, pinauna niya ang dalawa sa mga alagad. Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Pumunta kayo sa susunod na nayon. Sa pagpasok ninyo roo’y makikita ninyo ang isang batang asno na nakatali na hindi pa nasasakyan ng kahit sino. Kalagan ninyo iyon at dalhin dito. Kung may magtanong sa inyo, ‘Bakit ninyo kinakalagan iyan?’ ganito ang sabihin ninyo, ‘Kailangan ito ng Panginoon.’ ” Sumunod ang mga inutusan, at natagpuan nga nila ang asno ayon sa sinabi sa kanila. Habang kinakalagan nila ang batang asno ay tinanong sila ng may-ari nito, “Bakit ninyo kinakalagan ang batang asno?” Kaya’t sinabi nila, “Kailangan ito ng Panginoon.” Dinala nila ang batang asno kay Jesus at matapos ilagay sa likod nito ang kanilang mga balabal, siya ay pinasakay nila dito.

Samantalang siya’y nakasakay sa batang asno, inilalatag naman ng mga tao ang kanilang damit sa daan. Nang malapit na siya sa daan pababa sa Bundok ng mga Olibo, ang lahat ng napakaraming mga alagad ay nagsimulang magsaya at magpuri sa Diyos nang pasigaw tungkol sa nasaksihan nilang mga kababalaghan. Sinabi nila,

“Pinagpala ang Haring dumarating sa pangalan ng Panginoon! Kapayapaan sa langit at luwalhati sa kataas-taasan.”

Ilan sa mga Fariseo na nasa karamihan ay nagsabi sa kanya, “Guro! Sawayin mo ang iyong mga alagad.” Ngunit sumagot si Jesus, “Sinasabi ko sa inyo, kung tatahimik ang mga ito, magsisigawan ang mga bato.”

Pagbasa
Lucas 19:29-40 (FSV)

A week from now, ang sang-kabaklaan ay magcoconverge sa Quezon City, specifically sa QC-Circle for what is considered as the main and biggest Pride event of this year in Metro Manila, and perhaps in the Philippines. Ang estimate and ineexept ng organizers ay about 200,000 individuals lalo na pagdating ng gabi, with the entertainment program.

And it all started in 1992 and 1994. Na iilang pirasong mga Lesbiana ay nag-martsa sa Women’s march of 1992 insisting their space, voice, and presence in the women’s movement. And then for the first time iilang piraso, around about 40 to 50 individuals – mostly members of Pro Gay Philippines and MCC Manila, for the first time 30 years ago, nag-martsa to commemorate Stonewall Uprising, to be visible bilang bakla at lesbiana, and to voice out our rights and our intersectional oppression. Nagsimula sa iilang pirasong mga gagang lesbiana at bakla na hindi natakot lumantad at mag-martsa para sa sabihing, andito kami. Kami ay tao. May karapatan. May dignidad. At merong kaapihan. Walang performers. Walang gobyernong sumusuporta. Walang nga negosyanteng nagsposponsor. It was individuals and groups organizing and mobilizing a protest. And from those iilang pirasong mga bakla at Lesbian, nagpatuloy ang mga Pride Marches na mostly nuon ay sa Remedios Circle at sa area ng City of Manila. Every year. Dinadaos kahit iilang piraso lang of 50s to a hundred. To a fee hundreds. Not enough to be noticed at kung manotice man sa media, mabilis na nakakalimutan. And MCC has always been there from the very start to every other Pride March that has ever took place and Father Richard Mickley, ang magulang ng MCC sa Pilipinas at isa sa mga magulang nung unang Pride March nung 1994 marched every single year and attended until year 2022. Nung 2022, he went to both QC and Pasay. Did he have to be there? No. Can he be exucused because of his age? Yes. But for someone who lived at a time where there was so much animosity and violence against LGBT people when the term LGBT did not exist yet – for someone who lived at a time na yang violence against LGBT was not only real but also the norm – He had to continue marching in a foreign country he called home. Abraham lang ang peg noh? Called from different country and told to go to another country. Kaya wala tayong dahilan para hindi patuloy na magmartsa at magprotesta para sa intersectional na karapatan at dignidad ng bawat LGBTQIA+ na Pilipino na nabibilang sa lahat ng mga sector at nabibilang rin sa simbahan.

In our gospel reading today, we listen to the famous palm Sunday reading of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. New Testament Scholars speculate that when Jesus entered Jerusalem from the Eastern Gate, he had with him approximately at least 5,000 men with him and not yet counting the women and children who also went with him. Pero bago nagmartsa si Hesus sa Jerusalem, nagsimula rin ang kanyang Martsa sa palibot ng Galilee with just a few men and women. Iilang pirasong mga pesanteng mangingisda, magsasaka, at mga kababaihan. And the culmination of his travelling ministry was to march towards the center of religious and political power, Jerusalem. With him marching the so called “sinners” and the unclean with him he ate with and became friends with. Jesus marched into Jeruslame through the Eastern gate – a revolutionary and subversive action – rebellious and treasonous action because of a prophesy that the messiah will enter Jersusalem through the Eastern gate. And while Jesus enters the Eastern Gate, New testament scholars also speculate that a roman legion was entering through the opposite gate, the Western Gate and a legion is about 6000 Roman legionnaires. It was a very delicate situation kung saan takot na takot yung mga temple leaders na baka magkagulo at magkaroon ng Roman reprisal. And so, the temple leaders – who were both religious and political leaders – “Guro! Sawayin mo ang iyong mga alagad.”

Pero most likely they told Jesus – Patahimikin mo yang mga tagasunod mo. Manahimik kayo. Ang ingay nyo. Nakakaperwisyo kayo. Nakakapagcause kayo ng traffic. Gumagawa kayo ng eksena. Tumigil at manahimik kayo kasi baka magalit yung mga Romano. Sounds familiar?

Sumagot si Hesus, “Maski patahimikin ko sila, mismong mga bato ay magsisipagsalita. Magsisigawan. Magpapahayag. Magproprotesta.”

Bilang progressibong mga Kristianong Bakla, Lesbiana, Transgender, Bisexual, Intersex, Queer, Non-binary, Asexual, Pansexual, Poly, and mga alyadong Cisgender-Heterosexual – Let us never forget that our spiritual bloodline goes all the way back to 1994, to 1992, to 1991 when MCC was established here in the Philippines. Goes all the way back to the 80s AIDS protests, goes all the way back to 1970, the first Pride Marches and Parades, and then goes all the way back to Stonewall of 1969. Goes all the way back to 1968, the founding of UFMCC. Then all the way back to the early picket lines when we were still called faggots and dykes, and homophiles. Our ancestry goes all the way back to Marcova and the comfort gays of the 2nd world war, all the gay. Lesibans, and trans that were raped by the Japaenese along with other women. We go all the way back to Babaylan Tablot who rebelled against the Friars and Spaniards. It goes all the way back to the other Babaylans and Asogs that were martyred by feeding them to the crocodiles. We go all the way back to the early pilgrimages of gender minorities in Europe, making their way to the our Mother of Montevirgine. Our spiritual ancestry of protest goes all the way back to Jesus of Nazareth and the early Christians, goes all the way back to his ancestors, David and Jonathan, Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, all the way back to the slaves of way back to the Hapiru, the slaves of Egypt who cried out to God for deliverance and we go all the way back to Joseph who wore a princess dress, and to his father Jacob who wrestled an Angel or God all night long up to Abraham and Sarah whom God called from a different land into another to be a blessing to all nations. Our spiritual bloodline and spirit of protest goes all the way back to a God whose nature if Love and who has always desired justice, equality, and common good for all.

Pride as love. Pride as Faith. Pride as Protest goes all the way back to every person, queer or not, who has ever marched, protested, and resisted injustice and oppression and we are their living legacy. We are their continuing memory. We are the continuation of the struggle for genuine justice and liberation for ALL people. Ikaw at ako ang nagpapatuloy ng kanilang pakikibaka at pananampalataya.

While it is good to have performers and entertainers. Pride is not about them and Pride will not stop without them because Pride started without them. While it is good and we appreciate celebrities becoming allies, Pride is not about them. They should not be the center and focus of Pride. While it is good that we have businesses sponsoring Pride, Pride is never about profit and capitalism. While it is good that we have foreign embassies cheering Filipino Pride, Pride should not be influenced and dictated upon by them and by their funding. While it is good that a local government supports Pride and indeed Quezon City government under Mayor Joy Belmonte is the most LGBTQIA+ responsive and progressive LGU, Pride is not about Mayor Joy or the city government of QC. We appreciate and celebrate Mayor Joy for his allyship and for collaborating with LGBT organizations for local ordinances and programs, it is also equally true that Pride is not about her even as it includes her and with all her efforts and work for the community, it does not give her ownership of Pride. We love Major Joy. But Mayor Joy is not Pride and does not own pride. Pride is you and me, all of us, and every other soul who will attend the event. Every other soul who have attended Pride events in other places and will attend pride events next week. Pride is about every organization and community making genuine effort for the movement and for new generations of queer Filipinos. Pride is about our weekly worship service and a safe space for Queer Christians. You are Pride. We are Pride. We are the ones who own it and says what it is and how it should be. Pride is collective. Pride is community. Pride is global solidarity with Palestine and every other people threatened by Western Empires. Pride is the wider movement and it is a continuing protest. Nagpapatuloy na protesta at pakikibaka na hindi mapapatahimik kahit walang LGU o business sponsor or performers. Mga bato ang magpeperform. Mga Puno ang magsasalita. Ang mismong lupa ang sisigaw para sa pantay na karapatan at tunay na katarungan. So let us march carrying our placards. Ating salubungin ang mga emperyo at mga romanong dadalo sa Pride. Tayo ay magmartsa sa espirito ng ating mga ninuong accla at sa pangalan ni Hesus na nagmartsa rin at nagprotesta sa Herusalem at sa templo. Let us march with renewed faith and inspiration knowing we are never alone, and we will never silenced. The resistance continues. Pride continues until every queer child is loved, has enough, wars ceased and all creation lives in Harmony. In Jesus name. May it be so. Amen.

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Bumalik si Jesus sa Galilea sa kapangyarihan ng Espiritu at sa buong lupain ay kumalat ang balita tungkol sa kanya. Nagturo siya sa kanilang mga sinagoga taglay ang papuri ng lahat.

Dumating siya sa Nazareth na kanyang nilakhan. Gaya ng kanyang nakaugalian, pumasok siya sa sinagoga nang araw ng Sabbath at tumindig upang magbasa. Iniabot sa kanya ang aklat ng propetang si Isaias at pagkabukas dito ay natunghayan niya ang dako kung saan nasusulat, “Sumasaakin ang Espiritu ng Panginoon, sapagkat hinirang niya ako upang ipangaral ang mabuting balita sa mga dukha. Isinugo niya ako upang ipahayag sa mga bihag ang paglaya at sa mga bulag na sila’y makakita upang bigyang-laya ang mga inaapi, at ipahayag ang pinapagpalang taon ng Panginoon.”

Inirolyo ni Jesus at isinauli ang aklat sa tagapaglingkod, at siya’y naupo. At ang mga mata ng lahat ng sinagoga ay nakatitig sa kanya.

Pagbasa
Lucas 4:14-20 (FSV)

One of the great beliefs and practices of MCC is the so called “priesthood of all believers” which says that spiritual and liturgical power is not concentrated in the person of an ordained pastor. All baptized Christians can lead, serve, and bless all the sacraments, rites, and other liturgical practices of the church community, indeed making us spiritually equal and democratic, and I feel the closest to the intentions of Jesus and later by Paul on how communities of faith should be. I am out sick today because of the multiple meetings I had last Tuesday and Wednesday, with a 5AM global MCC board meeting Wednesday morning. I’m doing better but not yet totally and so I decided to rest this Sunday. Salamat sa lahat ng gagampan sa worship today. The Holy Spirit is with you all, moving and working with, in, and through each one of you to sustain our safe space, to proclaim God’s love, and to do advocacy work, all of them sa pamamagitan ng ating worship service.

This will not be a full sermon as I usually do because you will have arts and crafts for the duration of the preaching part of the worship.

Marcus Borg considers our scripture reading today as the inauguration of Jesus as per the writer of the gospel of Luke. This inauguration also sets what was, in Luke’s eyes, the central purpose and goal of the ministry and mission of Jesus. Remember that Luke’s gospel frame is about Metanoia – Transformation. But how? Through the prophetic tradition, and here specifically, the one declared in Isaiah.

For the author of Luke, the mission of Jesus is centered in this prophetic proclamation from the scroll of Isaiah, na bibigyan ko ng sarili kong rendering:

Ibahagi ang mabuting balita sa mga mahihirap, paglaya sa mga nakagapos,

Ipahayag ang pagkamulat o pagkakita sa mga bulag at nabubulagan, Palayain ang lahat ng mga inaapi at pinagmamalupitan, at ideklara ang pinagpalang Taon ng Panginoon.

Para sa manunulat ng Lukan Gospel, the mission of Jesus is to transform society through the Isaiah passage – Goodnews to the poor. What is goodnews to the poor? That they will no longer be poor, hungry, and homesless. Release to the captives – paglaya literally and figuratively: Paglaya ng mga political prisoners at iba pang mga prisoners na inosente pero kinulong. Release sa mga nakakulong na ang tanging kasalanan ay dahil mahirap sila. Release mula sa pagkagapos sa mga toxic at mapang-aping mga paniniwala kasama na ang paglaya mula sa mga toxic ng mga religions and religious groups. At minsan paglaya rin mula sa mga pamilyang mapanakit. Madalas ibig sabihin rin nito ay paglaya mula sa sarili nating mga kaisipan na tayo ay hindi karapat-dapat. Paglaya mula sa kaisipan o paniniwala na tayo ay walang puwang sa simbahan at Lipunan. Sa kaisipan na hindi ka maganda o kamahal-mahal. Sight to the blind – pagkamulat sa maraming mga katotohanan na dati hindi nakikita o naiisip man lang. Pagkamulat sa katotohanan ng pag-ibig ng Diyos para sa lahat ano man ang iyong pagkatao, pinanggalingan, at maski kasarian or SOGIESC.

Maging mulat na hindi porket straight ka, hindi ka na api. Makita mo na may kaapihan ka rin sa iyong kasarian bilang cis-hetero person.

Jesus wishes to transform society through Isaiah’s call to bring freedom to the oppressed – Kalayaan at buhay na ganap sa mga inaapi at pinagmamalupitan; Freedom and fullness of life for the oppressed, discriminated, and exploited. Na sa ating LGBTQIA+ sector, isang malinaw na paraan dito ay ang pagsasabatas nung SOGIE Equality Bill. A true transformed society is mark by the declaration of the great jubilee year of the Lord, which biblically means – Lahat ng utang ay cancelled na and forgiven. If you do not know, our capitalist world is built and sustained by debt. And oppression and poverty is based on systemic continuation of indebtedness – Pagkakautang. The biblical Jubilee wish to abolish this and set people free from pagkakautang. Jubilee also means, ang mga lupang sinanla at binenta, maski ang mga ninakaw at kinamkam ay ibabalik sa mga una at tunay nitong mga may-ari. May paglaya, pagkakapantay-pantay, katarungan, at buhay na ganap para sa lahat. Eto ang tunay at biblical na Jubilee year that many so called “bible-believing” Christians fail not only to live-up to but even to consider in their lives and in their churches.

If you are really a follower of Jesus, his mission is also our mission both individually and as a community. We have the same prophetic mission from Isaiah. We are not only ap priesthood of all believers, we’re also prophets of all believers. Bawat isa sa atin ay propeta rin by virtue of our baptism. As we continue to commemorate Pride Month by by honoring our queer ancestors and the 30th year of the first pride march, and as we move closer to this year’s Pride March events, let us carry into our hearts and minds the prophetic mission of Jesus as Queer Christians. Let us march proclaiming Goodnews to the poor. Proclaiming release to captives. Proclaiming freedom and rights not only for LGBTQIA+ people but also for the people of Palestine. Let us proclaim the fullness of Life and God’s love for LGBTQIA+ Filipinos. Let our prophetic proclamation also become our protest against the oppressors and oppressive systems of church and society.

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Kayo ang ilaw ng sanlibutan. Hindi maikukubli ang isang lungsod na itinayo sa ibabaw ng isang burol. Hindi nagsisindi ng ilawan ang mga tao at ilalagay lamang sa ilalim ng isang takalan. Sa halip, ilalagay ito sa ibabaw ng isang patungan, nang sa gayo’y magbigay liwanag ito sa lahat ng nasa bahay. Sa gayunding paraan ay paliwanagin ninyo ang inyong ilaw sa harap ng mga tao, upang makita nila ang inyong mabubuting gawa at luwalhatiin ang inyong Amang nasa langit.

Pagbasa
Mateo 5:14-16 (FSV)

We continue with our season of rainbows and pride month series with a famous reading today from the gospel of Matthew. Usually, itong reading na ito is always together with verses about salt. Asin. But before that, does anyone remember my preaching about this during last year’s anniversary and official opening of the Wilshire Chapel?

For today, we will interpret it a little differently in the context of queer struggle and fighting for our rights.

Jesus says, you are the light of the world. Kayo ang Liwanag ng daigdig.

Remember that Matthew wias writing the Jesus story and teachings in the light of the persecutions of Rome and their separation from the Jewish community after the destruction of Jerusalem. So when Matthew writes that about Jesus saying, you are the light of the world this is also specifically telling the persecuted Christians – You are the light of the world.

Sa kabila ng violence laban sa inyo ng occupying government of Rome and despite being excluded by the Jewish community – patuloy kayong magliwanag. Wag nyong itago ang Liwanag nyo. Let you light shine for everyone to see. Wag kayong matakot na magning-ning at patuloy na magliwanag sa mundong nababalot ng dilim at lagim.

We can say the same right now. There remains discrimination and exclusion of LGBTQIA+ people by majority Christian groups. Here and there, and every so often LGBTQIA+ people experience violence, verbal and physical abuse, exploitation, and economic hardships like the early Christians under empire. Sa harap at kabi-kabilang mga chakang ganap at atake, Jesus tells us today as he told them before he died, and as he told the community of Matthew through the gospel writings, kayo mga accla ang Liwanag sa mundo. Ipagpatuloy nyong magning-ning. Wag intago ang makulay nyong Liwanag. Jesus in the gospels tells them as they tell us today:

paliwanagin ninyo ang inyong ilaw sa harap ng mga tao, upang makita nila ang inyong mabubuting gawa.

And when Jesus tells speaking this through the written gospel of Matthew, it is always addressed to a group of people or community. Therefore, As Jesus was telling this to the crowd and the author of Matthew is writing this for his Jewish Christian community, so are we being told of this both as individuals and as a community of mostly queer Christian of today.

To continue fighting for our rights we need to shine our light and help others shine theres.

So hindi lang maging woke at magpa-woke. Magning-ning at magpa-ning-ning as well.

How do we do this?

• Developing Yourself:
  • Character and Values, and personal awareness of your imperfections
  • Your skills and critical thinking
• Know when to Shine and Not to Shine within the larger movement
• Let others shine beside you and after you.

Developing Yourself:

Kung kaya naman nating magning-ning at magliwanag ng Maganda, makulay, at scented pa, why not? Wag tayong makuntentong magliwanag bilang cheap or poor quality na kandila. And when I say cheap I don’t mean that in terms of economic or being anti-poor. What I mean in terms of high quality candle that burns would be in terms of character and skills. Kung tayo na rin naman ay magliliwanag dapat magliwanag tayo ng maayos at maganda. Hindi makalat at hindi masakit sa mata. Hindi rin fire works lang na bombastic, maingay, pero panandaliang pa-show-show lang.

To shine you have to develop two things about you: Character which includes values, and your skills.

Develop Character:

Develop character and values. Because only those with good character and firm values will ultimately shine without much effort. People will naturally see you shine when you have developed good character and values. Mabuting pagkatao, asal, at pakikipagkapwa including professionalism sa lahat ng bagay na inyong ginagawa sa personal, sa pamilya, jowa, at mga kaibigan, sa trabaho, sa community, sa ministry at advocacy. Develop character and values even if you are not a leader yet. A solid character will also the source and core of your inner strength and resilience when bad things happen, when you fail, commit mistakes, or make wrong decisions. Sa mabuting character huhugutin ang lakas ng loob at tapang na harapin ang mga chakang pangyayari sa ating buhay at mga ginagawa. Ang taong gustong magliwanag agad-agad pero hindi nagdedevelop ng character at values will eventually face a lot of problems and hardships because the lack of character and values in leadership will ultimately show ego, selfish motives, and intentions that wish to only exploit others. Part of developing character and values is having the self-awareness of your own imperfections and tendencies so that you can manage and/or mitigate them. Part of developing character is finding the inner strength to admit mistakes and failures, and when you do to overcome them and try again. Developing character and values is also developing patience and calmness to not be reactive but rather respond to both negative and positive situations intelligibly.

The stage of public life and the spotlight will be unforgiving and will eventually showcase and even amplify negative character and evil intentions, if not sooner, definitely later. There is nothing hidden that will not come to light specially for those who think that the stage of public life, the platform of advocacy, and the spotlight cast upon them are things and spaces to be exploited for one’s own sole benefit.

Gusto mo magning-ning – patiently develop your character and values, and your capacity to be self-aware. Develop your character by learning from mentors and teachers; learning from historical events and experiences. Learning from your own BS in the past. Learning from other people’s BS. Develop character through service with or without recognition.

Those who develop their sense of self – character, values, and sharp self awareness – are the ones who will truly and naturally shine and be recognized.

Your skills and critical thinking – Syempre hindi naman puro character lang. Medyo kulang kung puro character pero walang skills and critical thinking. Hindi pwedeng Ms. Friendship lang then waley na. Kaya nga maski pageants, some of them, may pa-talent portion and pa-question and answer. Hindi pwedeng puro ganda at pa-friendship lang si accla. Dapat talentado at brainy rin. Ang ating pakikibaka ay nangangailangan ng mga gagampan, maglilingkod, at maglelead na merong kakayanan, talento, at talino. Hindi pwedeng puro mema lang at dinadaan lang sa pa photo-op. Develop what is uniquely your skills and your intellectual capacity. Know what you are good at that the world desperately needs; that the LGBTQIA+ movement desperately needs to push our shared justice work. Dito, I also want to re-echo Paul in his 1st letter to the Corinthians when he talks about the variety of gifts, talents, and functions in the church community. Paul asks, are all apostles? Are all preachers? Are all prophets? No. Each according to gifts that the Spirit in accordance to the larger and wider work of the community.

Know when to Shine and Not to Shine Within the Larger Movement –

Whatever you do, whatever you say, and how you do and say things, and when, You should always consider this from the Bigger picture. Ang ating focus ay yung mission na inaatang sa atin at bahagi tayo. Kaya tayo nag-vovolunteer; kaya tayo nagiging leader; kaya tayo nagsasalita o tumatayo sa harapap; sa simbahan or sa advocacy, it is because of the mission, vision, and goals of the organization and how that organization is part of the larger work of the movement. For example, sa HASH, LoveYourself, or sa PANTAY, magvovolunteer ka duon kasi you firmly believe sa unique na work nung organization and how that work of the organization makes a difference. Hindi naman dahil para maging STAR ka ng pasko sa organizationa na yun. To shine your light, you need to consider the bigger reasons within the bigger space.

Itatanong mo sa sarili mo palagi kung ikaw ba ang dapat magshine on a specific space, event, situation, project, or group of people. Yung particular skills mo ba ang nararapat para duon? Hindi yung ang tingin mo sa organizations or sa simbahan ay stepping stone TO BE SOMEONE. I’m not saying it is not but you are looking and thinking of it in a wrong way and at the wrong things kasi mas nakafocus ka dun sa Magandang mesa or sa Maganda candle holder kung saan nagnining-ning yung iba kesa duon sa rason kung bakit sila nagnining sa mesa or candelabra where sila nakalagay.

So dapat honest, humble, and careful tayo sa mga invitations or mismong tayo presenting ourselves for something kung nabubulagan lang pala tayo ng need to be SEEN and validated. Kasi ending nyan, baka mapahiya ka lang din kasi when the time comes you are not equipped for the role or the task, o kaya naman hilaw ka pa.

Naalala ko yung isang CNN Philippine interview with a doctor. Yes, medical doctor sya pero obviously hindi mo expertise yung HIV and AIDS at sa malamang you have barely exposed yourself medical work and community work sa HIV and AIDS. And so the interview was a disaster and na-call out yung CNN for interviewing a medical doctor who doesn’t know what he was talking about. Yung doctor din, kung text book lang ang alam mo at hindi ka naman nainvolve sa medical work and community work with HIV and AIDS, bakit ka magpapa-interview? Bakit hindi ka nag-refer ng ibang kakilala mong doctor who is in that field? Bakit? Ego and the desire to be interviewed by CNN. Know when you are not the right light to shine in a given space, situation or event. Baka instead na makatulong yung Liwanag mo, ang ending mapasao ka, mapaso ang iba, at mapaso ang ating movement.

On the matter of shining in the right place and right situation for the right reasons. If you are given the space, platform, or the role where you and your skills can shine do so excellently as best as you can. Pag ibignigay naman sayo, live up to it. Use it for optimum effect. If the mantle of leadership is given to you, panindigan at patunayan mo. For when much is given, much is expected and demanded. Hindi yung volunteer ka or leader ka tapos hindi ka gumagampan and you do not put your heart into it. When it is your time to shine and you are the right one for it, BLAZE. Magliyab. Mag-alab. But have the awareness and the humility to know that leadership, volunteer work, or to be represent your organization, whatever it is, it is a privilege given to you for a short period of time. Your position of power, your speaking engagement, an event that showcase your creativity will never last. Being a pastor or a leader is given and not something you deserve or own. Other people and institutions are the ones who call you a leader. You do not claim that for yourself. Maski naman sa corporate pag napromote. Ikaw ba ang nagpromote sa sarili mo?

The company promotes you because they see your potential and see that you have the skills for the particular position. So when you are given the role, position or the platform use it for the best. Use it to advance justice work. Use it for the good of people and to further develop yourself. Wala naman masama kung idevelop mo sarili mo while in the process at mas lalo ka pang matututo basta’t hindi excessive at hindi in a way na ineexploit mo ang ibang tao or mga subordinates mo, and hindi to the detriment of the Bigger Picture. To shine our light, we need to know when, where, and how to best shine our light and when not to, always considering the mission, the vision or the bigger picture.

Let others Shine with you and after you.

You can never have too much light in darkness. All lights are welcome to contribute. Your light is not deemed when there’s another light shining. And it is necessary to have other lights who will shine after you have been totally spent.

It is so egotistical and also leadership unbecoming if you think na ikaw lang ang dapat na magning-ning sa simbahan, sa adbokasiya, sa trabaho, sa magkakaibigan or sa pamilya. It is also egostistical to think na pwede mong ma-outshine ang iba. May kanya-kanya tayong galing, talino, at kapasidad na may kanya-kanyang moment of shinning at paraan ng shinning. We have to celebrate this. We have to appreciate the light of each person and what light they offer to our lives, our communities, to our church, and to our advocacy. Let us also not think that we will be the one to shine forever and ever. We have to search out, recognize, nurture, and feed the light of younger ones gently and patiently with some space for certain mistakes and failures. Kasi dun lang din sila matututo sa kanilang own failures and mistakes which will refine them the same way that you have been refined. And if we want our light to shine continually long after we are gone, we can only do so when we pass on some of our light to the next generation of queer Christians, queer pastors, allies and friends, other activists and advocates.

Shine your light and let your goodness be seen, Jesus says. Pag-liwanagin ang sarili sa kabuuan at katotohanan ng kung sino ka at ano ang maibabahagi sa iba at mga aba. Magliwanag sa pamamagitan ng paglilingkod, pakikisangkot, at pakikibahagi. Wag sarilinin at angkinin ang spot light o ang malawak na entablabo. Alamin kelan at saan ka dapat magliwanag. Kilalanin ang Liwanag ng iba. Magliwanag ng magkakasama. Ipasa ang Liwanag ng mabuting balita at pakikibaka. Bigyang chance na magliwanag din ang mga Kabataang accla na magpapatuloy after natin. Let us continue to fight for our rights by shinning our light together with the light of others. Ipaglaban ang kulayaan sa pag-aalab ng sarili at sap ag-aalab ng iba. Magning-ning at magpaningning in Jesus name, our one true light.

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Matapos silang makapagpatotoo at maipahayag ang salita ng Panginoon, bumalik sina Pedro at Juan sa Jerusalem na ipinangangaral ang magandang balita sa maraming nayon ng Samaria.

Matapos ang mga ito, inutusan ng isang anghel ng Panginoon si Felipe, “Tumindig ka at pumunta patungong timog, sa daang pababa mula sa Jerusalem patungong Gaza. Ito’y ilang na daan.” Tumindig nga siya at umalis. Dumating naman ang isang eunukong taga-Etiopia, na tagapamahala ng buong kayamanan ni Candace, ang reyna ng Etiopia. Galing ang eunuko sa Jerusalem upang sumamba. Pauwi na siya noon, nakasakay sa kanyang karwahe at binabasa ang aklat ni propeta Isaias. Sinabi ng Espiritu kay Felipe, “Lumapit ka at makisakay sa karwaheng ito.” Kaya’t tumakbong palapit si Felipe at kanyang narinig na binabasa ng lalaki ang aklat ni propeta Isaias. Tinanong siya ni Felipe, “Nauunawaan mo ba ang binabasa mo?” Sumagot siya kay Felipe, “Paano ko ito mauunawaan kung walang magpapaliwanag sa akin?” At kanyang inanyayahan si Felipe na sumakay at maupong kasama niya. Ito ang bahagi ng Kasulatang binabasa niya:

“Tulad ng tupang dinala sa katayan; at ng korderong hindi umiimik sa harap ng kanyang manggugupit, gayundin hindi niya ibinubuka ang kanyang bibig. Sa kanyang pagpapakababa ay ipinagkait sa kanya ang katarungan. Sino ang makapaglalarawan sa kanyang lahi? Sapagkat inalis sa lupa ang kanyang buhay.”

Sinabi ng eunuko kay Felipe, “Maaari bang sabihin mo sa akin kung sino ang tinutukoy ng propeta, ang kanya bang sarili o iba?” Mula sa talatang ito, ipinangaral ni Felipe sa lalaki ang Magandang Balita tungkol kay Jesus. Sa kanilang paglalakbay, nakarating sila sa isang lugar na may tubig. Sinabi ng eunuko, “Tingnan mo, may tubig! Ano’ng hadlang upang ako’y mabautismuhan?” [At sinabi ni Felipe, “Kung sumasampalataya ka nang buong puso ito’y mangyayari. Sumagot ang eunuko, “Sumasampalataya ako na si Jesu-Cristo ang Anak ng Diyos.”] Pinahinto ng eunuko ang karwahe at lumusong silang dalawa sa tubig. At binautismuhan siya ni Felipe. Nang umahon sila sa tubig, biglang inagaw ng Espiritu ng Panginoon si Felipe, at hindi na siya nakita ng eunuko. Nagagalak itong nagpatuloy sa kanyang paglalakbay. Samantala, natagpuan si Felipe sa Azotus. Mula roon ay ipinangaral niya ang Magandang Balita sa lahat ng mga bayan hanggang sa makarating siya sa Cesarea.

Pagbasa
Mga Gawa 8:25-40 (FSV)

In our story today, Philip, the deacon, also known as Philip the Evangelist (this is not Philip the apostle), inutusan daw ng isang Anghel si Philip, the deacon, to na imeet ang isang Eunuch from Ethiopia. Nag-usap sila about sa scroll of the Prophet Isaiah. Ininterpret and pinaliwanag ni Philip in relation sa kanyang faith kay Hesus na taga Nazareth. Nag-pabaptize yung Eunuch kay Philip sa gilid ng daan. Most likely, hindi kalinisan na tubig iyon. Eh nasa trabi na daan eh. Then according sa kwento, the Spirit snatched Philip and brought him tio Azotas, and there he continues his proclamation and preaching.

We do not know much both with Philip the Apostle, and Philip the deacon, and madalas na-coconfuse sila sa isat isa. But based on what we know it is safe to intelligently assume a few things:

1 – It is possible na 1st generation Christian si Philip, the deacon and someone who also witnessed and experienced the Historical Jesus. Kung hindi man sya first generation, possible rin na second generation sya, meaning, hindi nya nawitness si Jesus per se pero he met all the first generation leaders, yung apostoles and other disciples who met Jesus. But I think, it is more than possible na he met Jesus and we will go with this intelligent or scholarly assumption. Therefore, Philip is someone who knew many things about Jesus and his fellow 1st and 2nd generation Christians. Marami syang alam at nauunawaan sa mang nagyari kay Hesus at sa kanila, sa lahat ng mga tinuro ni Hesus at mga patuloy na pagtuturo nung mga Christian leaders like Peter, James, and John. May kamulatan si Philip.

2 – By his name, Philip, he might most likely be gentile or non-Jewish who converted to Christianity. Pwede rin na he and his family was a Jewish convert. Gentile dati and then became Jewish, and now became a Jewish-Christian. But whichever it is, his name denotes that he has Greco-Roman origins since he has a Greco-Roman Name.

3 – As part of the early Christian community in Jerusalem, most likely he is also poor or from the peasant working class. Double the oppression and discrimination. Socio-economic, poor sya like the other Christians, and then part pa sya ng isang bagong SEKTA, and persecuted by Jews as blasphemers and persecuted by the Roman Empire as followers of a Rebel named Jesus.

4 – Lalake sya and it is safe to assume cis-gendered. We do not know anything about his sexuality or if he was married like most men, even Christian men, at the time.

The Ethiopian Eunuch: From Ethiopia – Dark skinned. A Jewish convert who just did a pilgrimage sa temple sa Jerusalem. Castrated from a young age so that he will eventually serve sa Harem ng Hari ng Ethiopia, and indeed according sa description sa kanya, serves Queen Candace or more accurately, Queen Kandsake, of Ethiopia as her treasurer – ingat yaman.

Despite his position and the wealth this Eunuch manages, meron din syang kaa-pihan. Most Eunuchs in ancient times where young boys who NEVER chose to become Eunuchs and who never willingly chose to be castrated.

As catrati, they are also discriminated as boys or men who are made to become somewhat of a woman but not really. In ancient times also, minsan ginagamit ang salitrang Eunuch – kung ano man ang equivalent nito sa ibat ibang ancienrt languages – bilang pangkukutya or pang-iinsulto. Sometimes Eunuch is used as an insult the same way the word Bakla is used today and zspeciaklly in rthe 80s and 90s bilang kabawasan at kababaan ng pagkakalaki. Pagiging duwag, mahina, at malambot.

I am not implying that the Eunuch is gay. Although, may ilang instances talaga that some Eunuchs are “gay”. But we do not know what is the exact sexuality of the Eunuch only that by being a Eunuch, they are or the concept of Eunuch, are the closest, but not exactly, equivalence of Gay man or transwoman of today. Being from Ethiopia and a Jewish convert, meaning hindi sya Jew by race and birth, meron din yang discrimination sa Jewish temple culture and communities bilang very racially exclusivist and Jewish culture specially during that time. The religion allows converts. Wala namang nagbabawal na maging Hudyo ang ibang lahi, pero human imperfection, it is same to assume na within Jewish circles, merong racism mask isa kapwa nila Jew na hindi nila kalahi.

And so in this story we have 2 people na may kanya-kanyang multi-layer karanasan of oppression and discrimination under the Roman Empire and the existing Jewish religious culture.

Isang pesanteng grecong taga sunod ni Hesus na may kamulatan. Most likely one of those who were also there during the Pentecost event. Appointed and tasked as a deacon with 6 others. He was told by an Angel to go to another oppressed and discriminated person from a far-away land so that he may also enlighten the other. One woke person guiding another one to also wake sa pamamagitan nung mensahe ni Hesus at pag-gabay ng Espiritu Santo.

In this story we are also like Philip – the Progressive Woke Christians who are mostly Queer – called and tasked to teach, guide, and help others na naguguluhan sa usaping relihiyon at pananampalataya. Kung paanong si Philip na isang pesanteng Greco na namulat sa pesanteng Mesias na si Hesus, ay nagmulat rin ng isang Eunuko – tinuturing na mahina, binabae, at duwag – tayo rin na namulat sa mas mapagpalayang pag-ibig ng Diyos kay Hesu Kristo – ay dapat rin magmulat ng mga kapwa nating mga api, sila ma’y accla o hindi.

Sa other progressive groups merong tinatawag na ED, short for education. At yan ang importanteng gawain sa mga progressive and activist groups and ED. Eto ang isa sa mga paraan para magmulat ng mga tao lalo na ng mga Kabataan sa tunay na kalagayan ng Lipunan at ng mundo. Pero hindi yan bago. Without realizing it, the church is the first and most effective in doing ED through Sunday school, catechism, VCS – Vacation Church School, and Christmas Institute.

And it is not just about Education in terms of giving information. It is FORMATION Paghuhubog ng puso’t diwa na merong kamulatan. Values formation. Critical thinking formation. As progressive Christians, LGBT ka man o hindi, ang pagmumulat ay importante at hindi natatapos na gawain. Education as formation is also what ensures the movement continues. Kasi nasa pagmumulat through formation education, tayo naghuhubog ng next generation who will carry the torch – the lamp – forward. May turn over talaga at pagpapamana.

We are in a long line of generations of Queer Christians, na despite walang formal at intentional na curricular na formation education before, eh naririto pa rin tayo and NOW we do have an intentional and curricular Formation program para patuloy na mamulat at magmulat hindi lamang sa kapwa natin LGBTQIA+ Christians but also to other straight Christians who are equally oppressed by the stereotypical expectations and norms of toxic Christianity. Actually, this time it is in reverse… Yung Eunuch ang syang nagmumulat hindi lamang sa mga kapwa nya Eunuch bagkus pati na rin sa mga Philip of today represented by Straight Christians na pagod na rin sa toxic Christianity.

Paano ba tayo patuloy na mamumulat at magmumulat?

Have a mindset of Curious Learning – Ang pagmumulat sa sarili, kahit mulat ka na, ay hindi natatapos. Minsan nga, kailangan mor in ulit-ulitin kasi nakakalimtan natin. Nadidistract tayo ng temptations ng Emperyo. Ano ba yang mindset and attitude of curios learning? Always asking yourself, what can I learn from this experience, from this mistake, from this success, from this struggle? Ano ang pwedeng matutunan sa mga bagay at taong nakapaligid sa akin? Sa mga nagyayari sa akin? Syempre part dyan ang critical thinking din. Di naman pwedeng kung ano-ano na lang na impormasyon ang ating tatanggapin? Kung ano-anong pananaw na hindi naman Maganda at nakakaganda? Hindi ko maipipilit sa inyo na magbasa kayo, BUT, something is to be said of reading hindi lamang for learning at pagmumulat but also keeping the mind sharp. Babalik din ako sa mga ilan sa atin na galing sa mega churches – dati merong HUNGER to LEARN and to READ. Binasa mo yung purpose driven life and then kung ano-ano pang ibang mga evangelical books pinagbabasa mo dati. And then dati, meron kang daily devotion where you pray, read the bible, and journal. Then nung naging progressive Christian… asan na? Where is the hunger to learn, read, journal? Ayaw na kasi toxic daw. The content and the pressure might be toxic, but the process itself is not. The process of reading, journaling, and learning from multiple sources is equally and if not more needed sa ating mga progressive Christians. Hindi pwedeng mema-mema lang dahil narinig mo lang kay Pastor and then parroting lang. It is just a matter of looking for the write authors and other materials to read, to listen to, and things to write. Curious learning is also about asking the critical questions lalo na sa mga bagay na panglipunan at pangrelihiyon. Eto din yung isang sign ng tunay na woke – asking critical questions in a world that’s too comfortable with oppressive norms. Laging maging mapanuri at laging maghanggad ng pagkatuto.

Be intentional and take it upon yourself to be a gentle mentor or have a mindset of a gentle mentor – Hindi man ngayon o agad-agad, and not always in a formal way, but somehow, somewhat, become a mentor of those who are still confused with what may seem to be many complexities in our world today. Lalo na yung mga confused pa na LGBT whether may puwang ba sila sa mundong ito at sa pagmamahal ng Diyos o wala? Sa mga cis-hetero friends natin na sa kabila ng kanilang privileges, ay meron pa ring ka-apihan sa pagkakahon sa kanila sa kung ano lang ang katanggap-tanggap na lalake at babae, at ano ang ideal na pamilya? The queerness of LGBTQIA+ people is also the cure for the heteronormative boxes of cis-hetero people. I wont dig deep into that, parang pang isang semestral yan or isang Magandang thesis. Bukod sa hunger to always learn, you must also have the hunger to teach and guide. Ang woke ay nagpapawoke rin sa iba. Naipapasa dapat ang wokeness. Hindi sinasarili. Hindi rin yung nambabarda lang every opportunity.

At nauunawaan nang isang tunay na woke na ang mission is to open and enlighten hearts, minds, and lives as a way to effect change in people’s lives and therefore change society. Kailangan nating dahang-dahang magturo, gumabay at magmulat tulad ni Philip sa Eunuch.

Encounter people where they are and be patient – Hindi tayo makakapagmulat kung hindi tayo kumikilala at nakikihalubilo sa ibang tao. Kung hindi natin chinichika ang mga nasa paligid natin. Sa sarili nating pamilya at mga kaibigan. Biblical stories are also stories of encounter and from that encounter, enlightenment or transformation. When Abraham and Sarah encountered God with the 3 persons who came to them. When Jacob encountered and wrestled with an Angel all night long. When Moses encountered the burning bush. When the widow and her child encountered the prophet Elijah. When Jesus encountered the first disciples; encountered the women at the well; encountered the lepers; encountered the Roman Centurion and the Syrophoenician woman. Besides, as Christians, Jesus sends us out into the world to meet people and tell them his message of transformation kung basehan natin ay gospel of Luke, presence of God kung basehan natin ay Matthew, and the centrality of Love – Agape, kung gospel of John. Jesus sends us to encounter people and bring the message to them. Sa ating family and friends, sa mga katrabaho. Baka pati na rin sa ka-grindr? Like Philip, we must go on our way to meet the many Eunuchs who are travelling alone and trying to figure out sacred scripture, and for us, the WOKE progressive Christians, to guide then and teach them. Pero we also have to be patient and gentle because not everyone, not even LGBTQIA+ individuals would be receptive to the message of radically inclusive love. A message of an activist faith that cares for our broken world. Kailangan din maging pasensyosa tayo pagkat hindi lahat ay handa or may kanya-kanyang level ng kahadaan. Some may need a little more time and more guidance than others. There will be those who will NOT accept the message even among our own sector. But there will be those who will receive the message kahit na hindi rin member ng ating sector.

Paano ipaglalaban at ipagpapatuloy ang ating kulayaan – patuloy na matuto at mulatin ang sarili para tayo rin ay makapagpamulat sa iba. Hindi madali. Hindi agad-agad. Pero eto ay parte ng ating misyon hindi lang bilang community pero bilang individual Christians and individual LGBTs.

The post Mamulat at Magmulat ng mga Accla appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Pagsapit ng Araw ng Pentecostes, nagtitipon silang lahat sa isang lugar. Biglang nagkaroon ng isang ugong mula sa langit, gaya ng isang napakalakas na hangin, at napuno nito ang bahay na kanilang kinaroroonan. May nakita silang tila mga dilang apoy na nahahati at lumapag sa bawat isa sa kanila. Napuspos silang lahat ng Banal na Espiritu, at nagsalita sa iba’t ibang wika, ayon sa kakayahang magpahayag na ipinagkaloob sa kanila ng Espiritu. Naninirahan noon sa Jerusalem ang mga Judiong masigasig sa kanilang pananampalataya. Galing pa sila sa iba’t ibang mga bansa. Nang dumating ang ugong na ito, nagtipon sila at namangha sapagkat nagsasalita ang mga alagad sa mga wika nilang mga nakikinig. Labis silang nagulat at namangha, kaya’t sila’y nagtanong, “Pakinggan ninyo! Hindi ba mga taga-Galilea ang lahat ng mga nagsasalitang ito? Paanong nangyaring naririnig ng bawat isa sa atin ang ating mga sariling wika sa kanila? Tayong mga Parto, mga Medo, mga Elamita, mga naninirahan sa Mesopotamia, sa Judea, at sa Capadocia, sa Ponto at sa Asia. Mayroon din sa ating taga-Frigia at Pamfilia, sa Ehipto at sa mga lupain ng Libya na sakop ng Cirene, at mga panauhing taga-Roma, mga Judio at mga nahikayat maging Judio. May mga taga-Creta at taga-Arabia rin dito. Paano sila nakapagsasalita sa ating mga sariling wika tungkol sa mga kamangha-manghang gawa ng Diyos?” Namangha sila at nalito, kaya sila’y nagtanungan, “Ano ang kahulugan nito?” Ngunit ang iba nama’y may pangungutyang nagsabi, “Lasing ang mga iyan.” Kaya’t tumayo si Pedro, kasama ang labing-isa, at nagpahayag sa malakas na tinig, “Mga kababayan kong Judio at mga naninirahan sa Jerusalem, unawain ninyo ito at makinig kayong mabuti sa sasabihin ko. Hindi lasing ang mga taong ito, gaya ng akala ninyo. Ngayo’y ikasiyam pa lang ng umaga. Sa halip, ang pangyayaring ito’y katuparan ng sinabi ni propeta Joel:

‘Ito ang mangyayari sa mga huling araw, sabi ng Diyos, ibubuhos ko sa lahat ng tao ang aking Espiritu; magpapahayag ang inyong mga anak na lalaki at babae ng mensahe mula sa Diyos, makakakita ng pangitain ang inyong mga kabataang lalaki, mananaginip ang inyong mga matatandang lalaki, maging sa mga aliping lalaki at babae, sa mga araw na iyon ay ibubuhos ko ang aking Espiritu, at sila’y magpapahayag. Magpapakita ako ng mga kababalaghan sa langit, at ng mga tanda sa lupa; dugo, apoy, at makapal na usok. Magdidilim ang araw, at magkukulay-dugo ang buwan, bago sumapit ang dakila at maningning na Araw ng Panginoon. At mangyayari na sinumang tumawag sa pangalan ng Panginoon ay maliligtas.’

Pagbasa
Gawa 2:1-21 (FSV)

The first act of fighting back is speaking out. True? Ang unang gawain sa pakikibaka ay paghahayag. Tama? Because we can only fight back and protest those that we can identify and we can name; That which we can speak about. Mahirap iprotesta at labanan ang mga bagay at pangyayaring hindi mo masabi-sabi. Paano mo ipaglalaban ang iyong kaapihan kung hindi mo ito unang mabigkas? Hence, the first work of fighting for rights is to speak out, cry-out, and voice out? Oppressors and systems of oppression do not only exploit you, they silence you also. Part of the silencing is to tell you that your oppression is normal and normative and the very best way to do it is to say that God ordained it to be so. Some idiotic preachers would even teach na niloob talaga ng Diyos na merong mayayaman at merong mahihirap at parte talaga ng kalooban nya na merong injustice. Kalooban ng Diyos ang Patriarchy and that women’s highest honor is to be home makers. If that is not enough, the same system will tell you that if you deviate from the system, it will shame and ostracize you or worst do violence against you and your family for SPEAKING OUT like what happened to Jesus, an annoying preacher who will not shut-up. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the temple priest and other leaders told Jesus, manahimik ka at patahimikin mo ang mga sumusunod sayo to which he replied, kahit patahimikin ko sila mismong mga bato at pader ay magsasalita. Oh eh di yun, pinako sya sa Krus. However, hindi mo kasi mapapatay hindi lamang si Jesus, pero gayun dun yung mensaheng kanyang inihayag. You cannot kill and bury Jesus and the message he proclaimed. Where there is systemic and structural sin, God will always rise up from the many massacres and graves that we try to bury God into. The God we worship will not be silenced so why should we? God will always and continue to rise up with each new generation of the oppressed. The resistance and the Jedi will always be reborn even at the brink of annihilation. This is what Easter means. Hindi maililibing ang Diyos na palaging babangon sa bawat henerasyon ng mga api because the first generation Christians were literally a group of oppressed, mga pesante at api sa emperyo at templo. And what Pentecost means is not just the Spirit that anoints the oppressed followers of Jesus but also the Spirit speaking out the Easter message through a people who were once afraid, silenced, and voiceless. Ang mensahe pa rin ng Pentecost ay ang muling pagkabuhay – if I dare say, ang paulit-ulit na pagkabuhay at pagbangon ni Hesus sa mga inaaping nagpupumiglas at nais maghayag at magkwento. The followers of Jesus were a group of no bodies. They were powerless individuals with no significant wealth or influence. Despite witnessing the resurrection they remained as cowards huddled together in a room fearing for their lives because they might also get arrested, tortured, and killed by Jewish and Roman authorities. They were huddled together in an upper room with windows shut and doors locked. And despite witnessing the risen Christ eating and drinking with them, and then later, according to Luke and Matthew’s story, ascended to heaven – wherever heaven is – they didn’t know what to do next or where to go. Easter joy was wrapped with with fear lalo na nung umalis na si Hesus somewhere out there. But somehow, for some reason, all of a sudden they woke-up one morning with such bravery and boldness that they went out to proclaim a dangerous message – Jesus is risen and the Spirit testifies to the work and message of Jesus of Nazareth whom Temple and Empire tried to kill but could not; That his radical vision of society of equality and justice rooted on radically inclusive love remains and will push forward. Kaya dangerous yung message. Na si Hesus at ang mensahe nya ay buhay at magpapatuloy despite the violence of temple and empire.

And this message proclaimed by the disciples in that first Pentecost was heard and understood by many people of different languages. Why? Aside from the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon them like tongues of fire, voicing out a message of freedom, equality, and new life outside the Imperial systems of this world is something that every human being, especially the oppressed, can understand and will understand. A message of hope and new life in the person of one who is like them, a peasant from Nazareth is something that hearts of the oppressed will recognize. The language of the oppressed is universal. The language of love based on justice is universal. The Language of human dignity and rights is universal. Pag may nanakit sayo o sa mahal mo sa buhay; kung may nambastos sayo; kung ninakawan ka or pamilya mo; each one of us will have the same feelings and reactions, and we of course naturally and universally want to make it right. Yung ngang nagkamali sa sukat sa lupa kahit kapiraso lang ang nakuha sa iyong lupain, kinagagalit mo o kaya ng pamilya mo; To drive the point further, inagawan ka ng jowa nung kaibigan mo. Sumakabilang kaibigan yung jowa mo, diba magagalit ka? You are not only offended and disrespected, ang pakiramdam mo talaga ninakawan ka, inisahan ka, binetray ka? We all understand and recognize what injustice looks like even in such situations kaya walang makakapagsabi sino man sa atin na hindi nyo alam o naranasan ang injustice or being treated unfairly. Sino ka man, ano man ang antas ng iyong pinag-aralan, ano man ang iyong pinaniniwalaan o hindi pinaniniwalaan – pag alam mong ginawan ka ng masama, alam mong may nanglamang sayo, naturalmenteng gusto mo itong maitama. Naturalmente na gusto natin patas at pantay ang laban. The experience of exclusion and exploitation is universal whether you see it or not. Justice is what love looks like in society, and therefore it is as universal as love. No race, language, religion, culture, or Empire can de-universalize love expressed thru justice and common good, which is the core message of every religion and spiritual tradition anyway – the heart of the Jewish covenant, and the core commandment of Jesus – Love your neighbor as you love yourself. This is the way to Love God.

Tayo who claim to be Queer progressive Christians – we claim to follow Jesus while recognizing human imperfection – we are called for the first task of protest – Proclamation. Pagpapahayag. I use the word proclamation rather than evangelization because na-hijack na ng ibang Christians ang word na evangelization to mean preaching God’s word in order to convert anyone into their version of toxic Christianity.

So let us use proclamation. Afterall it is the same thing. To Evangelize is to Proclaim Goodnews to the poor and oppressed, give sight to the blind, give freedom to the captives and declare the Jubilee of the Lord as per Luke 4:18. How do we Proclaim? How do we make chika bilang Easter and Pentecost people 2,024 years after?

Discern, pray, and reflect – Hindi chika kaagad kung hindi naman malinaw mismo sayo ano ang ichichika mo. May moment na kailangan pag-isipan maigi ang ichichika. Lalo na sa ating mga accla, ang dami rin sa atin chika ng chika ng hindi muna nag-iisip maigi. Before Pentecost came, the followers of Jesus were together constantly praying and it is safe to assume that in their prayers, both individual and as a group, they also reflected and tried to make sense of everything that happened to Jesus from the beginning of his ministry in Galilee, the many miracles he performed, to his entry into Jerusalem, his arrest and torture, condemnation and eventual crucifixion and death, and then later witnessing and experiencing him alive and eating and drinking with them. Before they could come out and proclaim, they prayed and reflected, and in their prayers waited for the Holy Spirit. Hindi tayo nagsisimba dito linggo-linggo para lang magbaklaaan although walang masama sa mga baklaan natin, kwentuhang drag or biruang Bini, while at the same time, what we do here individually and together has to be very clear and part of it is our prayer life and reflection. We pray for God’s guidance and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We prayerfully reflect, asan ba ang Diyos sa mga kaganapan sa aking buhay? Asan ba ang Diyos sa kaganapan sa Open Table MCC? Asan ba ang Diyos sa kaganapan sa LGBTQIA+ movement? Asan ang pagkilos ng Diyos sa mga Pride events at mga martsa? Asan ba ang Diyos sa mga kaganapan sa iba’t iba pang mga sector? Paano Sya patuloy na kumikilos sa ating panahon ngayon? Ano ang kanyang ibinubulong sa puso ng bawat isa at sa ating kolektibo kung ano ba ang ating mga dapat gawin, ganapin, at kalahukan ayon sa ating mga kakayanan? Before we can proclaim — actually, hindi before but AS WE PROCLAIM we must constantly seek and discern God in prayer and reflection. Many of the Christians Mystics even those who are activists like Dorothy Day, the trappiest monk Merton, and the gay priest, Di umano, Fr. Henry Nouwen all said that Justice work like spirituality, require a deep sense of prayer. To check the health of our work as a church, they said to check our prayer life. Kumusta ang prayer life natin individually and as a church community? We must continually discern and reflect God’s presence and wisdom in our continuing mission of proclamation.

Bravely Proclaim – Upon the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first generation Christians, despite the threat of the similar imprisonment, torture, and possible execution that Jesus endured, they bravely went out to proclaim Christ’s resurrection and his message of a love thru compassion, justice, and common good. Yung mga duwag na nagsitakbuhan nung at nagsipag tago nung inaresto si Jesus; yung mga disipules na nowhere to be found during his crucifixion except for some women, now they were bold and brave to speak publicly about Jesus and his message. Wala na silang pakielam kung hulihin sila and indeed hinuli nga si Pedro at Juan at dinala sa Sanhedrin. They went out and proclaimed. Lumabas sila at nagpahayag. There is no way circumventing this and dito tayo natatalo ng mga conservative Christians kasi sobrang kakapal ng mukha nila that some of them will knock door to door, “Gusto mo bang marinig ang mabuting balita ni Hesu Kristo?.” Pero wala ito sa kakapalan ng Mukha actually. It is in their conviction. They are so convinced that they need to convert people to their version of Christianity and their church. While the intention and motivation is problematic, the conviction is really convincing many. Sobrang convicing minsan pati kapwa nating accla nacoconvince nil an pwede silang mabago sa pamamagitan ng exorcism. Diba? Habang tayong mga progressive Christians na naka aircon sa 16th floor ng Wilshire Annapolis Plaza, tend to be cloistered and think that making chika sa labas is so beneath us; to “evangelize” is so ewww. Even when we are equally convicted na mas mapagpalaya, logical, at mas maka-Diyos at makatao ang ating mga pinaniniwalaan at ang ating misyon, we cringe at the idea of handing out pamplets.

Now, I am not saying na next week mag-door-to-door tayo sa mga condominums sa Mandaluyong or dyan sa Manhattan sa Cubao or dito mismo sa building na ito. Pero it is really something to think about and consider not only on how we can do better sa ating proclamation but also if we have the conviction to proclaim God’s love as a way to challenge the evangelization of toxic Christians and their toxic Christianity.

Individually – how do you bravely proclaim what you have found either in your life before MCC or here in MCC. Eh di ikwento mo. Ikwento nyo. Tularan nyo si Jack na nag-evangelize nung unang date nila ni Glenn. During the dark ages, merong isang best in invite – Ang chizmiz, yung mga nameet nya na hindi nya bet, dadalhin nya sa MCC. Hindi man kita maging jowa, maging sister, brother, or sibling kay Lord. Although parang hindi ata recommended yun noh? Do we chika the inclusive and liberating faith in Jesus Christ as proclaimed and practiced by Open Table MCC? Do you? Shinashare mo man lang ba ang announcements natin sa facebook and IG? How do you chika SOGIESC101 to your friends and family? How do you chika about SOGIE equality bill to others even among other LGBTs na wala pa rin ding clue about it? Aside from making chika about church – Do you still come out and tell your story as a way of proclamation?

Your story is a Jesus story. Ang Diyos ay kumilos at patuloy na kumikilos sa iyong buhay bilang Queer Christian – ito ba ay inihahayag mo para ma-encourage, inspire, or mabigyan ng lakas ng loob ang mga kapwa mo LGBT lalo na mga batang LGBT na once upon a time was YOU? Kung ikaw ay isa sa mga pinagpalang anak ng Diyos na hindi nakaranas ng pang-aapi sa sariling pamilya dahil yung family mo ay either walang pakielam or yung family mo ay tanggap ka ng buong-buo, hindi ka parin OFF duty of proclaiming the message of God’s love found in your life. As blessed as you are, you are still asked to proclaim God’s love found in your story.

Don’t get me wrong. I will uphold and honor the idea na Coming Out is each person’s decision and I respect those who do not feel to come out. But consider this baks… Simply because okay ka na, kung okay ka man talaga and you feel that you do not own anyone and this world your story… are you not being a little selfish and a Diva sa ganyang linyahan? Attituderang “I DON’T CARE!” Until we reach that day and society where coming out is a thing of the past, until then, every single one of us will STILL need to come out and tell our story to help, inspire, and give courage to our nakshies, beshies, and even our grannies who lived at a different time and generation of being queer. Kahit utang-uta na ako sa pagchika ng kwento ko bilang baklang pastor na pumasok sa seminary – when needed I tell the story. You need to tell your story if and when you are ready but not from an attitude of apathy. Someone needs to hear your story. Someone has to hear your journey from pain and struggle inside the closet and out into joy, freedom, and success. Someone needs to hear your love story. People need to hear the 17 years relationship of Pastor Egay and Kuya Vince. That it is possible for Queer people to live happy and successful lives. Someone needs to hear your story of survival from HIV and AIDS. Someone needs to keep telling the stories of our fallen friends who died because of AIDS and the stigma propated by no less than Christians. That you as a person living with HIV, you are now living a life of joy; that your status does not prevent you from pursuing a joyful and meaningful life. A newly diagnosed person needs to hear your story if only to another life. And that in everything you had to experience, struggle, and endure, even in your most painful experiences, that GOD was, is, and always there. Now, don’t get me wrong, hindi ko ibig sabihin. You come out everywhere, anytime, all the time. Of course, be wise and discerning when, where, and how for not everyone deserves your story, but definitely, someone does. Some needs to see and hear the Gospel through you and through your story. Remember this, dead is the person who no longer has any stories to tell. And certainly you do not worship a dead God but one who is alive and ever present – Immanuel – God with us.

Actively and passionately Volunteer in the different ministries of the church and share in our financial responsibility – So it is not just proclaiming God’s love as individuals, it is also proclaiming God’s love as a Church. And we effectively do that when each of us volunteer and do our part of the work. We are able to do more and reach more people when the most basic things of church organizing and worship are done not just out of duty but out of love; out of conviction. Babalik ako dun sa chika ko kanina na kaya madalas talo tayo ng mga conservative Christians is because, yung frustration natin with them bitbit natin dito sa MCC and therefore, we no longer give our better and best. Nung nasa megachurch pa ako, ganito kalaki ang binibigay ko at ganitong amount of time and spend ko sa kanila pero nung nag-MCC na… well. Hmmm. Now, I’m not saying rin naman na gawin nyong mundo at buhay ang MCC in the same way as before. One of the core commitment of the leadership of this church and me as your pastor is to respect and honor your personal autonomy and freedom, and to always encourage you to do other things outside of this church. To have some distance from this church. To experience God in other places and other relationships. While at the same time, I want us to think deeply and carefully how much do we want our church to BE THE CHURCH that God intended it to be and TO BE THE CHURCH WE CAN BE TRULY PROUD OF? A progressive church that offers a Christian spirituality that is liberating, logical, diverse, compassionate, and hindi toxic. May chika ang group nila Joms during the visioning workshop last year na hindi naman masama ang maging Mega Church at maging mainstream ang isang progressive church na tulad ng MCC kung napaka buti ng naidudulot nito as experienced by each of you. Kung papatulan ko yang dream of a queer mega church – the question is, what are you willing to do? How much of your time, talent, energy, presence, patience, and finances are you willing to POUR OUT into that vision and into the mission? DO You have the conviction to say to them, if you can, we can even better? Yan chika nung founding pastor ng Free Community Church Singapor, nung nagsisimula pa lang sila at wala pang sariling facility, merong conviction sa puso nya na “if the conservative Christians can do it, we can do it even better. We will show you all.” Cause if we will continue to just give barya barya of our time, talent, treasure, barya barya of our heart, body, mind and spirit – Let’s not expect or dream of something we are not willing to put ourselves into. And again this is matter of conviction and commitment that I will never pressure you, shame you or manipulate anyone of you. It is a matter of conviction and conviction that each of you have to decide for yourself again and again. To proclaim the story of God’s love for queer people and for all people in and through Open Table MCC, we must open ourselves to the inspiration and anointing of the Holy Spirit to do what we can in the different ministries, advocacies, and administrative tasks of this church we call our home, our family, and our mission.

This year is the 30th Anniversary of the 1994 Pride march by our queer ancestors of MCC Manila and Pro-Gay Philippines. I would interpret the coming of the Holy Spirit when the first Asian MCC Bishop, Rev. Tong Han came to the Philippines, April of 1994 and encouraged MCC Manila to conduct the first Pride march and because of that, June 26, 1994, nagmartsa ang MCC Manila and Pro Gay Philippines with the banner, Gays and Lesbians Unite, Fight for Our Rights! Lumabas sila tulad nung mga unang disipules nung Pentecost. Lumabas sila bilang mga marginalized upang ipahayag sa lahat ang kanilang pagkatao, karapatan, at mga ka-apihan. Bilang MCC lumabas rin sila para ihayag ang mapagpalayang at mapangyakap nap ag-ibig ng Diyos para sa sang-ka-acclahan sa Pilipinas. After the Pride march they continued to tell stories in the pulpit during worship and proclaim during dinner times of the community. 30 years after, we continue to tell their story and proclaim the same message they did. 2000 years after we continue to tell the story of a carpenter’s son and his message of love found in the parables of farmers and fisherfolks. In memory of the first century Christians during their Pentecost Moment and in memory of the first Pride March in the Philippines by our queer ancestors, with the power and anointing of the same Holy Spirit let us continue fighting for our rights by proclaiming God’s love rooted in justice and equality. Let us continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus found in the stories and struggles of our lives. Sa ngalan nila Ipaglaban natin ang ating Kulayaan sa pamamagitan ng paghahayag ng ating karapatan, pagkwekwentong ating mga karanasan, at pagpapatotoo sa pag-big ng Diyos kay Kristo. Amen.

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“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you, for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one. While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Scripture Reading
John 17:6-19 (NRSVUE)

The gospel reading for today from the revised common lectionary is the famous LONGGG Jesus prayer in the gospel of John written approximately between year 90 to 120 AD or around about 60 to 90 years after the crucifixion of the historical Jesus of Nazareth. It was written at a time when Christianity was already separated from the Jews and are already, I would say, 90 to 95% gentiles. It is safe to assume that almost all of the apostles were already martyred or died of natural causes and there would have been very few, if at all, any first-generation Christians. 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation Christians na ang meron by the time that gospel of John was written. The gospel itself, while attributed to the apostle John, most likely did not write the gospel. It might have been written by one of the 2nd or 3rd generation Christians na follower ni Apostle John hence the attribution. Other’s claim that this gospel along with the 3 letters and the book of revelation might have been written by a certain John of Patmos who may not really be the apostle John. The historicity of this prayer is doubtful. Perhaps there are bits and pieces of the prayer that might have come from Jesus himself, but we do not know for sure. BUT it is sufficient to say that Jesus of this gospel and the gospel story itself contextualized and imagined in the light of their current experiences and struggles as a persecuted community of Christians cared and prayed for his followers. There was very little chika about other things, topics, and possibilities about Jesus and Jesus’ words in the first gospel, the gospel of Mark. And one that caught the attention of the writer of the gospel of John would be, nung malapit ng mamatay si Hesus, during the last supper, ano kaya ang iba pang chika ni Jesus sa kanyang maiiwang mga followers? What else could Jesus have said to his followers knowing he is about to die and leave them? Ano kaya ang kanyang huling habilin? Ano kaya ang mga concern nya sa kanyang mga followers? Not just the first followers and the first generation Christians, pero ano kaya ang posibleng chika ni Jesus for all his followers lalo na sa amin who never met him, 60 years after?

And so, the writer of the gospel of John, using whatever material information he has from the stories of the apostle and other first generation na nakahalubulo nya, wrote this LLLONG Jesus discourse of the last supper including this prayer of Jesus where Jesus is entrusting his followers to Go – to keep them safe. Maging ligtas sila. To keep them united. Praying so ardently na hindi nila makalimutan ang mga habilin at turo nya. That they may have and keep his Joy – the joy of Jesus within them – even in the midst of struggles, violence, and persecution.

The intention of the Jesus prayer is also both to encourage persecuted Christians and to remind them to whom they belong; to whom they have assurance, hope, joy, and salvation; to remind them of the Truth they have received – God’s word made flesh who walked and ate with some of them 60 to 90 years ago. Ang panalangin ni Hesus sa gospel of John ay nagsisilbing pampalakas ng kalooban sa harap ng mga kaguluhan, pag-papaalala sa kung sino ang kanilang sinasampalatayanan at katotohanang kanyang inihayag, at pagbibigay pag-asa sa harap ng kasamaan at mga pagpatay.

Unahan ko na muna, hindi naman lahat ng magulang ay mabuting magulang. Despite the ideal mother figure, hindi lahat ng ina o nanay ay mabuting nanay for whatever reason. And even the majority of parents and mothers, try as they can, barely live-up to the standards and ideals of motherhood or parenthood.

Gayun pa man, para sa isang magulang o in ana nagsusumikap na maging mabuting magulang, bagaman hindi perfect, ganito rin naman ata ang kanilang iniisip sa kanilang mga anak lalo na sa kanilang pagtanda at nalalapit na pagpanaw specially now with everything that is happening in our country and world today – paano ang aking anak o mga anak na maiiwan? Ano ang mangyayari sa kanila? Ano ang buhay na kanilang raranasin given sa nangyayari sa ating mundo at bansa? At tayong mga LGBT, some of us, medyo relate tayo dyan sa ganyang eksena kasi minsan yung usapin ng ating sexuality or gender identity ay pumapaloon sa concern ng magulang natin sa kinabukasan… “Sinong mag-aalaga sayo sa pagtanda mo?” While this will elicit a lot negative reaction, I think the core concern is still valid despite the question being problematic. Genuine ang pag-aalala ng ating magulang na wala namang masyadong alam sa makabagong perspektibo ng pagpapamilya at ibang uri ng pamumuhay labas sa tradisyonal na pamilya at buhay na kanilang kinagisnan. I have heard this a number of times also, that some parents are worried for their queer children because they perceive that this world is cruel to LGBTQIA+ people. Ayoko syang maging bakla o lesbian kasi mapanakit, mapang-husga, at mas-mahirap ang mundong ito para sa kanila. If it is possible to spare them from the cruelty of this world by NOT being LGBT, then I pray and hope na straight ang aking anak.

The prayer of Jesus in the gospel of John, written in the context of struggle, persecution, and cruelty is a prayer of concern, reminder, and encouragement. In the context and intention of this prayer, Jesus cares for us, the marginalized, the persecuted, the discriminated, and the oppressed. He cares for us like a parent who is genuinely worried for her children living by themselves in a cruel world. And this includes LGBTQIA+ people.

Now, in the prayer I am particularly struck with these lines:

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.

I have given them your word -Jesus has given us his word, and what is that word, LOVE. Agape. The central discourse of the John-tradition (Gospel and letters) is the teaching and commandment of sacrificial, enduring, life-giving, and all-embracing love.

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them – A love that flattens the Patri Familus system of the Roman Empire. A love that makes no distinction between Jews and gentiles, slaves or free, women and men. A love that ensures the welfare and well-being of each one. That leadership is about calling and gifts, and not gender. That was the Christian practice of love in the first century that threatened Roman society. Hence the world hated them. And today, we have received the same word of Jesus – the teaching and commandment of love – a radical love that does not distinguish nor judge based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression and the world hates us for it. Christians hate us for it. Discriminates and vilify us for the same all-embracing, life-giving, and sacrificial love of Jesus Christ.

because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. – Remembering some LGBTQIA+ Filipinos being told, “wala kayong puwang sa lugar na natin. Kayo ay marumi. Hindi pinapakinggan ng Diyos ang inyong mga panalangin. Walang ginawang bakla ang Diyos. There’s no such thing as a gay Christian. Either you are a straight cis-gendered Christian or you are LGBT living a life of sin outside the Christian faith” As both jews and roman imperial religion looks at Christians as heretics and as rebels in the first and second century, so too are we, progressive and queer Christians of today considered as heretics and rebels by the dominant church and by evangelical megachurches.

I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one. – Meron tayong puwang sa mundong ito. Kabahagi tayo nito and I hold on to this prayer that we are protected and guarded not only from the evil one but from every form of evil. That in the face of any evil, God through Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit, we are made strong to stand firm and to stand together. We are given courage to speak out and resist. We are anointed with wisdom to proclaim God’s love. Both as individuals and together as a community.

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. – And what is that truth? What is God’s word? Jesus himself, his teaching and commandment of love, and his example of love. Loving those who suffer, loving the unlovable, and even loving his enemies: a love that is all-embracing, enduring, sacrificial, nurturing, and life-giving. God sanctifies us, the oppressed holds on to the truth of Jesus’ love. God sanctifies us, the suffering who try our best, hard as it is, to love the same way Jesus did. We are sanctified by God’s love when we reflect that same love. This echoes what is written in the first letter of John chapter 4 verse 16 – God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.”

Kung ano anong kumplekadong truth ang pinagsasabi ng ibang mga Christians forgetting that the truth of God in Jesus will always be about love and true sanctification only comes from the same kind of love that Jesus taught and embodied, which the first century Christians practiced as dscribed in Acts 2 and Acts 4. Sabi nga sa kanta ni Jolina Magdangal:

… Sana’y pag-ibig na lang ang isipin Ng bawat isa sa mundo. Sana’y pag-ibig na lang ang isipin
Sana’y magkatotoo

… Sana’y laging magbigayan Sana’y laging magmahalan
Sana ang tao’y ‘Di nagugutom o nauuhaw

As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. – Jesus sends us. Progressive Christians – queer, trans, straight, black, white, brown, top, bottom, versa, side, asexual, lipstick, butch, non-binary, abled, differently abled, etc. We are sent out to bring God’s truth in Jesus – the truth of love – Agape. – A love that loves everyone including one’s own self. A love that loves community. A love that seeks to love a world hungry for love. We are sent to embody and proclaim that same truth that sanctified us so it may sanctify others.

So ano man yang pinagdadaanan mo accla, whether this prayer of Jesus in John is historical or not, we can be sure that the truth it says and proclaims for the persecuted Christians in year 90 or 120 is still true for you and me today. Jesus cares for each of us as a mother who is worried for her children and entrust them to God’s protection, sanctification, and care. Easter is the triumph of love and life over the violence of empire. We are an Easter people sanctified by the truth of God’s love through the Risen Christ, a mother who cares for us, let us bravely go out towards Pentecost and Pride month to proclaim his love for those who need to healing and new life.

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As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing, but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Scripture Reading
John 15:9-17 (NRSVUE)

Magandang hapon sa inyong lahat. It is a privilege to be given again this opportunity to stand in front of these beautiful and handsome people ng MCC and to share my interpretation of the Word. I hope that this preaching will leave us more loving and caring than before. Let’s pray.

Ano nga ba ang pag-ibig? For most of our lives na exposed sa media, we’ve been constantly taught na ang love ay all about feelings. Something na dapat ma-feel mo at ma-enjoy, something that feels good. Dapat exciting, may sparks, or parang isang roller coaster ride.

Napakaevident nito sa mga kantang lagi nating naririnig, lalayo pa ba ako? Ito isang example, I will be reading an excerpt from a musical composition:

Ano ba itong nadarama, oh shux
Ito ba’y pag-ibig na
Totoo ba ang pinadama,
Cause boy, it feels so good

Sabi nga ng ating minamahal na girl group, BINI.

On the other hand, I’m not saying na mali ang pursuit ng happiness or that feeling good is an unworthy pursuit, yan nga ang rason why we are working and why we also attend Church and even serve here.

What I just want us to be aware of is that things that give us good feelings such as love entails hard work and even sacrifice sometimes, something na na-mimiss out natin in the age of IG or FB na curated ang mga nakikita natin sa ating mga feed.

Of course, sa mga in a relationship diyan, sweet sweetan ang ipo-post natin sa feed or story natin instead of those “stop the car” moments ng ating mga love life, relate ba? Or baka kami lang ni ZJ un, eme lang.

When we say love requires hard work, sacrifice, and choice, that is actually the definition of the original Greek word used in the passage which is Agape. We only see the translation “love” but there are actually several types of love used in the New Testament which is only rendered as love sa ating mga English Bibles.

Ano nga ba ang Agape? Agape is a type of love that isn’t born just out of emotions, feelings, familiarity, or attraction, it comes from the will, a choice made by a person. Agape requires faithfulness, commitment, and sacrifice without expecting anything in return.

It is not waiting for feelings or catching feelings tulad ng mga naririnig natin sa mga kanta, it’s a deliberate choice. It is a lifestyle that we consciously and intentionally cultivate. The feelings will come after the action or our decision to love, not the other way around, the feeling is the reward of our choice to love, byproduct lang sya ng ating desisyon. And it’s in this regard that I will focus this preaching on, how do we cultivate Agape? There’s only 3 points that I want to leave you today.

First is to love yourself.

Sabi nga sa nabasa ko sa FB post, “You cannot pour from an empty cup.”

Napansin ko lang, yung mga taong sacrificial are usually people who are in-tuned, confident, and fulfilled sa mga sarili nila. Maybe, there’s something in knowing yourself no? Kasi the more that you know and love yourself, the more that you will be in tune with your strength and limitations which makes you confident and in turn makes you a more sacrificial and loving person. Kasi ok ka na sa sarili mo that you can’t help to now spend your resources and soul sa ibang tao. Kaya nga sa Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-actualization ang huli dahil you need to meet your basic needs first before you meet the needs of others.

Self-awareness is also a form of love, because the more that we know ourselves well, the more that we know how we can love others based on our strengths and we’ll also know our limits.

In this way, we avoid hurting the people we love due to us not being aware that some of our actions are hurtful whether maganda ang intentions natin.

So enjoy life, work on yourself, pursue happiness there’s nothing wrong with that (of course, do it responsibly) but also don’t forget that we are not in this world only for ourselves, and remember that happiness shared is happiness squared2, para sa mga magagaling sa math diyan, at syempre hindi ako yun.

Love your community.

The command to love one another was given by Jesus to his disciples. It is the mark that we keep his commands. Love is the measure of our Christianity, not our doctrines or achievements.

MCC Bishop Darlene says that the Church is like a gym, but for the spirit. Like any skill, loving takes constant and gradual practice. The more we practice love, the more our capacity to love will grow. Parang sa gym, I started lifting light weights, but as I train more, mas bumibigat na yung nakakaya kong buhatin without me realizing. Paano tayo magpapractice magmahal kung walang magiging recipient ng pag-ibig natin? As Christians, our gym is the Church.

Ngayong nasa seminary ako, exposed ako sa buhay ng maraming Church workers,

there are moments na napapatanong ako na paano nila nagagawa iyun? How were they able to serve in the Church selflessly? They serve even with minimal compensation, they continue kahit may mas magagandang opportunities naman for them out there. But when I look at their lives, I ask ganoon na ba sila katagal nagseserve? Years and years. Maybe their commitment to serve allows their love-muscles to grow, and the more na expose sila sa gawain, the more na nakikita nila ang needs ng iba, ang bigat ng kanilang responsibilidad, and its capacity to bring transformation sa buhay ng mga taong pinaglilingkuran nila, kaya they become more determined to “lay down their lives for their friends” sabi nga sa passage natin.

Pastor Joseph mentioned that Agape isn’t necessarily devoid of feelings. The closest feeling to describe it was the same feeling that we experienced during Pink Rallies, (ask audience) it is close to national pride, the feeling of being part of something bigger, or that feeling na worth it yung decision even if it entails sacrifice. For me, siguro the closest is here sa MCC, I can’t explain it but there are Sunday services na parang I felt at peace and proud seeing our Church working towards collective action to embody our progressive ideals which makes our pagod worth it. Kayo do you have the same experience ba?

My hope is that Agape will serve as reminder sa mga moments na tinatamad or even na-dedemotivate tayo magserve dahil hindi natin feel ang mga bunga ng ating gawain. Or hindi natin nakikita that our work is transforming lives, one queer children at a time.

Kaya, love your community, hindi kailangang bonggang bongga ang acts, like what I mentioned kanina, when we go to the gym as beginner, hindi naman mabibigat ang binubuhat natin agad. The same if we want to be involved sa ating communities, hindi naman tayo magseserve as pastor agad diba? As simple as pagpupulot ng kalat sa chapel ay isang act of love. So take the first step, and serve, wherever community you are called. Kahit sa mga NGOs yan, volunteer groups, even sa homeowners’s association nyo or PTA ng mga pamangkit niyo. Take the first step and serve.

Love the world

For God so loved the world.

Some Churches teach us to not love the world. Focus lang tayo sa heaven, kasi temporary lang naman ang mundo.

With our action right now mukhang totoo nga na magiging temporary lang talaga ang mundo because of the degradation that we humans are causing.

Napakaganda ng mundo, napakaganda ng mga taong nakatira dito. No wonder na mahal siya ng Diyos, for God so loved the world, cause it is God who created it. What we should hate is not the world but the human systems that destroy God’s creation including human dignity.

We’re at the moment in history na napaka crucial na mas mahalin pa natin ang mundong tinitirhan natin. Feel niyo naman yan recently diba tuwing tanghali? Kaya nga ung iba sainyo nag Church lang para sa aircon, joke! Iisa lang ang mundo na pwede nating tirhan, well, as of now, baka nga may iba pang habitable planets out there na conducive for human life. Pero sa ngayon we only have one earth, and in this globalized and interconnected world, we should all the more be conscious of our actions, lahat ng actions natin gaano man kaliit ay may epekto that goes across continents. While Climate Change does not discriminate, mas walang laban pa rin ang mga mahihirap to at least lessen the effects of Climate Change in their lives.

Our carbon emissions here in San Juan affects not only our country but even other countries whose emissions are very miniscule or who doesn’t even produce emissions at all. Imagine, our actions are basically displacing a group of innocent people out of their homelands.

Jesus asks us to “not lay up for ourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” Matthew 16:19-21. Jesus wants us to help the poor rather than focus on accumulating wealth, and in our capitalistic society right now, I think it’s more urgent for us to heed this command, because in the destruction of the environment caused by our overconsumption or accumulation of wealth, mahihirap parin ang pinaka apektado.

I won’t guilt trip us as individuals on this because we also acknowledge na mas malaki ang responsibilidad ng mga korporasyon at mga bilyonaryo on this matter tulad nung isang artist na nag release ng album recently, won’t discuss here na the details of her private jet usage.

While we can only do so much in our battle against climate change, wala tayong laban sa mga malalaking players na sumisira sa ating mundo. The best we can do as individuals is at least to be aware and conscious, it’s better na may awareness tayo than none at all. Maybe, questioning our consumption habits is a good start. Ask yourself bago ka bumili “kailangan ko ba talaga ito para sumaya?”

Before I close, again let me clarify that I am not anti-feelings. Feelings and emotions are important, they are a gift from God, and from an evolutionary standpoint, feelings are there to prevent us from danger and is necessary for the preservation of our species. What I’m presenting this afternoon is an alternative to the commodification of “good feelings” that our capitalist society is selling us.

Agape as a way of life produces love and joy that stems from our decision to love, something that we cannot buy but only experienced through our action and our collective action as a community.

Agape is considered the highest form of love in the Christian tradition, and I think this is for good reason, because it is conscious and sacrificial, which summarizes the life of Jesus.

I’ll end it with this cheesy question, if papipiliin ka “yung taong in-love na in-love sayo? Or yung taong araw araw ay pipiliin ka?

Maybe most of us will choose the latter, which is an example of Agape, because we all know that feelings will eventually fade, and the greatest expression of love that we can receive is a love made out of someone’s choice to choose us even when they have the reasons not to.

Kaya, in the same manner, ating patuloy na piliing umibig – pag-ibig sa sarili, pag-ibig sa community, at pag-ibig sa ating mundong uhaw sa pag-ibig. That’s Agape for you. Salamat.

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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Scripture Reading
John 15:1-8 (NRSVUE)

How do we, as a church, fulfill our triple mission?

(Keeping our church a safe space. Proclaim the radically inclusive love of God for all people. Participating in the wider work of justice and peace.)

To answer this question, I want to take the metaphor of Jesus as the vine and us as the branches, and apply it on a few different levels.

Background of vine imagery: In my research on this, I learned from enduringword.com that the symbolism of a vine, as in a grape vine, was often associated with Israel. Israel was a vine which God planted and tended. This was written during a time when Christianity was splitting from Judaism, becoming its own thing.

As a church, we are a branch of Christianity. If we are to bear the fruit of the vine that is Jesus, we can’t lose our connection to Jesus’ teachings and commandments. We need to remain in Jesus as Jesus remains in us. Let us not think that we can’t go the road that many other branches of Christianity have, of becoming disconnected from anything Jesus taught or commanded.

And what’s the greatest commandment?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, strength and mind. And the second greatest commandment is this: love your neighbor as yourself.

Later in this chapter, in verse 12, Jesus says:

If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

What does it mean to lay your life down for your friends? At this church, we don’t believe dying was Jesus’ objective from the start. Martyrdom was a risk he accepted. Empire killed Jesus.

Here’s how I interpret laying down one’s life for one’s friends. And loving your neighbor as yourself.

We are connected. My freedom is bound up in your freedom. There is no liberation for some of us without liberation for all of us. We need to see other people’s and other sectors’ struggles as things which affect us. Greater love is when we so invest in another’s wellbeing, that we take on some of the risk, some of the pain, in order to liberate them.

Even as, and especially as we fight oppression, as we deal with persecution as queer people, we cannot forget love.

Sometimes, it’s a really hard ask. When we see people who seem determined to not love us.

And also, we may find it difficult to love the people closest to us. There have been and will be times in this church, when we struggle to show love to one another.

Fortunately, it’s not all on us. Jesus is the source of radically inclusive love.

If we abide in Jesus, we will bear much fruit. The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And God will prune us, so we bear even more fruit. Trim away the parts of us which aren’t beneficial to us. Don’t be afraid of this process. Be open to change.

The holy spirit transforms us.

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“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, so when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away—then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters them. The man runs away because he is a hired hand cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice. And there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Scripture Reading
John 10:11–18 (NRSVUE)

Nasa core ng queerdom ang salitang love. Every Pride, we emphasize the slogan, “Love is love.” When attacked by homophobic “Christians”, we, queer Christians, often quote Matthew 22:39, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” Here at Open Table-MCC, we regularly recite our mission statement, which includes proclaiming the radically inclusive love of God for all people. However, sometimes, because of casual usage and excessive repetition, the profound meaning of love becomes diluted.

But good news, in our reading for today, in John 10:11-18, Jesus shared a story that would help us understand the meaning of love, and particularly, the “radically inclusive love.” Sa verse 11, binasa ng reader natin na inihambing ni Jesus ang kaniyang sarili sa isang mabuting pastol, a good shepherd. Isang simpleng metaphor pero familiar dito ang kaniyang audience which are the Jews. Sa Psalms, ilang beses nahalintulad ang Diyos sa isang pastol. Sa panimula ng Psalms 23, sinabi ng salmista (na pinaniniwalaan ng karamihan na si David) na “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” Maging ang mga propeta ay ginamit din ang metaphor na ito upang idescribe ang Diyos. Sa Isaiah 40:11, binanggit doon na “He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms”. Habang sa Ezekiel 34:11-16, inilarawan naman ang Diyos bilang isang pastol na aktibong hinahanap ang kaniyang mga nawawalang tupa at magbabalik sa kanila sa kanilang tahanan at magdadala sa kanila ng hustisya.

Matapos nating balikan yung mga passages na iyon, I guess naiimagine niyo na yung audience ni Jesus that time. By the way, mixed yung audience nya. Nandoon yung mga regular people, followers niya, at may ilan ding Jewish leaders. Kaya malamang may mga gulat. May mga nakangiti rin. And for sure, may mga galit. Bakit? Dahil yung rumored Messiah, he compared himself to a shepherd—a role that MOST religious authorities of the time did not embody. It’s not common for them to encounter a leader who would prioritize care and compassion. A leadership far from the religious structures in their community which were oppressive. Far from most of the religious leaders of their time who are known to have been more concerned with maintaining their power and preserving tradition than with prioritizing the well-being of the people they should have been protecting and serving.

Ngunit panimula pa lang ito ng pagpapaliwanag ni Jesus sa kung ano nga ba ang “radically inclusive love”. Maliban sa kakayahan nitong umunawa, mag-alaga, at magpakita ng awa, wala rin itong bahid ng pagbubukod or exclusion. Sa verse 16, sinabi ni Jesus na mayroon siyang ibang mga tupa at ang mga tupang ito ay kaniyang dadalhin upang magkaroon ng isang kawan.

Bago natin alamin ang kahalagahan ng sinabing ito ni Jesus sa time natin at sa pinag-uusapan nating radical love, alamin muna natin yung konteksto ng passage. Noong panahong iyon, pinaniniwalaan ng mga Hudyo na tanging sila lamang ang grupong pinili ng Diyos at sila lamang ang magiging bahagi ng paghahari ng Mesiyas. Ngunit sa sinabi ni Jesus sa gospel of John, binali niya ang pagkakaunawang ito. He challenged the mindset of those Jews by professing that Gentiles or non-Jewish people are also part of his mission, and his shepherding and the salvation is not exclusive to one particular group. Sa sinabing ito ni Jesus, naging mas malinaw sa audience niya noon at maging sa atin ang radical love ng Diyos. Never would Jesus promote or practice exclusivity. Jesus’ “radically inclusive love” celebrates expansive diversity, blessed with care and compassion.

And take note, hindi lang hanggang salita si Jesus. There are numerous events in the Gospels where Jesus is observed showing love in action.

Mauubos yung time natin if ieenumerate ko lahat kaya I just picked two to share this afternoon.

First, the story of the Samaritan Woman at the Well. Sino ba ‘to si ate girl? Una, she’s a Samaritan. Matagal nang hindi bet ng mga Jews ang mga Samaritan. Why? It’s a long history, but to cut it short, Jews view Samaritans as racially and theologically inferior. Sa tingin ng mga Jews, mga mabababang uri sila. Sa John 8:48, ginawa pa nga yang pang-insulto kay Jesus. Sinabihan siya na Samaritan at demon possessed.

Next, maliban sa pagiging Samaritan, babae rin siya at sobrang unusual noon na kausapin ng isang Jewish man ang isang babaeng Samaritan. Idagdag pa, si ate ay laman din ng chika ng mga marites. Nakailang marriage na siya at yung lalaki na kinakasama niya noon ay hindi niya asawa. Pero kinausap siya ni Jesus kahit may strict segregation noon ang Jews at Samaritan at men and women.

Maaaring hindi ‘to very surprising para sa atin given that we’re living in a country and time na hindi naman yun bawal, pero napakalaking bagay na yun noon. Jesus willfully disregarded the societal norms of his time, and what made the situation particularly powerful was his display of radically inclusive love by engaging in a theological discussion with a Samaritan woman. Walang gagawa noon ng ganun. It’s like a middle finger moment for the patriarchal society that silenced women’s voices, especially in religious matters. By treating her as an equal participant, Jesus affirmed the value of women’s perspectives. As a result of this encounter, when the woman testified about Jesus, many Samaritans believed in him. And another amazing thing happened: when he was invited by the Samaritans to stay with them, Jesus stayed with them for two days.

(Alam niyo kapag narereview ko yung ganitong mga stories, talagang navavalidate yung reasons ko for joining the Jesus fan club. Napapapa “Yas! Stan Jesus!” ako.)

Pero may isa pa. This is the story of the Healing of the Centurion’s Servant from the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 8:5-13 and the Gospel of Luke Chapter 7:1-10. In the story, a Roman military officer approached Jesus and asked him to heal his servant. Hearing this request, parang pwede namang sabihin ni Jesus na “Ha? Ayoko nga. Inaapi niyo kami tapos biglang may paganyan. Sorry. Hindi pwede. Ayoko. Bahala ka sa buhay mo.” Pero sa Verse 7, alam niyo kung ano agad yung response ni Jesus? Sabi niya, “I will come and cure him.” Walang pagdadalawang-isip! This man is a symbol of oppression and tyranny. Napakadaling magsabi ng hindi at maiintindihan yun ng crowd. But Jesus did what “radically inclusive love” compelled him to do. In verse 10, he affirmed the officer’s faith, saying, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith.” This moment vividly illustrates the universality of God’s grace and the expansiveness of His love, which includes even those whom we may consider as oppressors and enemies.

After kong reviewhin ‘tong examples ni Jesus, ang nasa isip ko, nakakapressure. Kasi bilang bahagi ng Open Table-MCC na laging nagsasabi na “we are called to joyfully and prophetically proclaim the radically inclusive love of God for all people”, baka hanggang recitation lang ako ng mission statement, hanggang salita lang, kulang sa gawa. Kasi sino ba naman ako, sino ba naman tayo, para magkaroon ng ganoong perpektong pagmamahal? Sa aking pagninilay, naisip ko, minsan dahil part ako ng minority groups, dahil bakla ako, hindi ako mayaman, Pilipino ako, Asian ako, madalas yung mga bagay na iyon, nagpapalimot sa akin na may gampanin din ako bilang tagasunod ni Jesus na mas ipamalas pa ang “radically inclusive love.”

Kung paanong si Jesus ay kabilang noon sa oppressed class pero nagawa niyang magpamalas ng pag-ibig sa iba’t ibang klase ng tao, hindi pala hadlang ang oppression sa pagpapalawak ng pagmamahal. Pero madalas, mas madali kasing gawing kalaban yung iba eh, “homophobic kasi ‘tong mga ‘to”, “‘di kasi mulat ‘tong mga ‘to”, “sarado kasi isip ng mga ‘to”. But how can we mimic the example set by Jesus in terms of loving those we may consider as “other,” or as “enemy” or better yet, how can we avoid seeing these people as “other” to activate the love exemplified by Jesus?

May dalawang pangyayari sa buhay ko na nagpaalala sa akin na there’s room for this particular kind of love to grow. At sa dalawang moment na yun, nanay ko yung kasama ko.

Yung una ay noong kakacomeout ko lang. Sobrang tapang ko noon. Sobrang galit. Gusto kong awayin yung isang tita ko at idiin sa kaniya kung gaano kakitid yung mga isip nila, that they don’t know unconditional love, at na mali yung theology na pinanghahawakan nila. Nung time na yun, ang tingin ko sa kanila kaaway.

Pero sabi sa akin ni Mama, “di ba sabi mo sa akin, Nak, it’s a process? Di mo magagawa na in a snap, maiintindihan ka agad ng isang tao. Buong buhay nila, iyon ang akala nilang totoo at tama”. Sabi pa niya, “before ka magcome out, naniniwala rin naman ako na maling maging bakla, kasi yan yung itinuro sa akin, pero sinusubukan kong maintindihan”.

After niya sabihin yun, parang shems, ang hirap nga gayahin ni Jesus. Kasi mas madaling magantagonize, mas madaling mag other. Mas madali kasing isipin na wala nang pag-asa, na walang bridge na magcoconnect, na hopeless na yung ibang tao. Yung pangalawang beses naman ay noong nagwedding anniversary yung tita at tito ko. Itong tita ko na ‘to hindi siya yung kanina ah. Never siyang naging homophobic sa akin. ‘Pag nagkikita kami minsan, kinakausap niya ko na parang walang nagbago. Kapag may nakikita siya sa Facebook na kamukha ko, finoforward niya kay mama. In short, I know that my tita still loves me.

At nung nagwedding anniversary sila ng tito ko, nageexpect pala siya na magpapadala ako ng gift kasi tradition yun sa family na may regalo sa mga nagaaniversary. Kwinento sa akin yun ni mama at ang response ko agad, “binati niya ba kami ni Jandi noong kami naman yung naganniversary?”

I was surprised by how raw that statement is, but at the same time, I was disappointed in myself. Kasi alam ko namang may rason kung bakit hindi niya kami mabati, kasi alam ko namang hindi madaling gawin iyon, at alam ko rin na hindi naman magiging kabawasan sa pagkatao ko kung papaganahin ko ang pagmamahal at ipaparamdam na gaya niya na palagi akong naaalala, naaalala ko rin siya kahit magkalayo kami at hindi pwedeng mag-usap. (Sa mga di pala nakakaalam, tumiwalag kasi ako sa mga Jehovah’s Witness at ang kapalit nun, hindi ako pwedeng kausapin ng mga relatives at friends ko na Jehovah’s Witness.)

Itong mga nabanggit kong karanasan, mga taong mahal ko pa sa buhay yung involved pero hirap na kong unahing paganahin yung pag-ibig. Kaya napapaisip ako na sa bawat araw, sa aling mga aspeto pa kaya ng buhay ko maari kong palawakin yung aking pag-ibig? Anong mga grupo pa kaya ng tao ang pwede kong pagpakitaan ng pag-ibig?

Noong matapos ang eleksyon at hanggang ngayon, nakita ko kung paano nahirapan ang marami na paganahin ang “radically inclusive love”. Nagsimula ito sa pagoother. Sabi ng ilan, “sana tama kayo, sana mali kami.” Tapos naging, “deserve nila yan, yan binoto nila eh.” Magandang itanong, sasabihin din kaya ni Jesus yun? Ioother din kaya ni Jesus ang mga tao na para bang sila ang kalaban at hindi mga biktima ng misinformation, ng impluwensiya ng political dynasties, at ng realidad na ang everyday life ng mga tao ay hinubog ng kapitalismo kaya’t konti na lang ang oras at lakas ng mga tao na higit na makialam sa mga sociopolitical concerns? Sa Matthew 5: 43-44, sabi ni Jesus, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Do we embrace this attitude each day? Can we extend our love to those who support those people who oppose or mistreat us? Or paano kaya if dun sa mismong mga nangooppress sa atin and we consider as enemies?

Kung babalikan din natin ang verse 16, kung noon gentiles ang malamang na tinutukoy ni Jesus, sa panahon kaya natin, sino kaya itong other sheep na sinasabi ni Jesus? Marahil ito ay yung mga taong kaiba natin ng political views, mga taong biktima ng bad theology, mga taong iba ang relihiyon, o mga taong ibang-iba ang kultura sa atin. Kaya ba natin silang ituring na magiging kabilang sa ating kawan? Kaya kaya nating palawigin pa ang ating pagmamahal para maging sakop sila? Hirap sagutin, no? Hirap panindigan?

One suggestion would be from Brene Brown in paraphrase: We can strongly argue against those who espouse hateful rhetoric – those who hate us and would even do violence to us if they can – but we must never give in to dehumanizing them. To use hatred the same as they do. Siguro example nito ay yung tawagin nating bobo or tanga yung kakaiba ang pananaw o ibinoto kesa sa atin.

The really challenge is how can we eat with some pharisees who question us and belittle us while at the same time challenge them and their beliefs? The gospel also tells us that Jesus also entered the homes of pharisees and ate with them. But each time he did, he challenged them and their beliefs.

Pero maganda ring pag-isipan, inaasahan ba ni Jesus na maging gaya niya talaga tayo? To some extent yes, kasi nga followers tayo ni Jesus. Magkaroon ng perpektong “radically inclusive love”? Syempre hindi rin kasi hindi tayo perpekto at Hindi tayo ang good shepherd sa John 10. Tayo ay kabilang sa kaniyang mga tupa (mga cute na tupa). At sabi niya sa verse 14, “kilala ko ang aking mga tupa”. Alam ni Jesus ang ating mga limitasyon, mga pinaglalabanan, at mga kahinaaan. Sabi nga sa 1 John 1:8, if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Despite being progressive as MCC, we are not perfect and we cannot deceive ourselves na wala na tayong pagkukulang o pagkakamali. And that’s not a bad thing to affirm also. That’s a liberating affirmation.

Hindi pala natin kailangan lokohin ang sarili natin na we can always love radically and inclusively kahit pa ba nakakapressure yung mission statement ng MCC. Instead, it’s better to adopt a mindset like Paul’s. In Philippians 3:12, he acknowledged that he hadn’t reached the goal but continued pressing on toward it. It is also comforting to know na sa kabila ng pagkukulang at pagkakamali natin sa pagmamahal bilang mga cute na sheep na minsan pasaway, we have the good shepherd who will guide us, show us the way again, and never give up on us.

The only thing that we should do is to keep on trying to love. Try and try and try. In trying, we progress and improve. We might fail several times but nothing’s wasted. Because in each of our individual attempts to be Christ-like, collectively as Easter people, we are already participating in continuing Jesus’ mission to promote radically inclusive love for all people.

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While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see, for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. Yet for all their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering, and he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

Scripture Reading Luke 24:36-48 (NRSV)

Our gospel reading is from Luke, and since ako ang preacher for today, of course we will talk about context, we have learned na yung mga gospel are not really written by who they are named after, that they are only associated with them, pero as I research about the gospel of Luke, medyo iba yung cheka, kasi malakas yung association nya kay Saint Luke na isang greek at gentile, na nagmula sa Antioch, Syria, kung saan din di umano naisulat ang gospel around 63-70 CE, isa din sya dun sa 3 synoptic gospel (Mark and Matthew) where much of the gospel is derived from the Gospel of Mark, and just the same it talkes about the life and death of Jesus Christ, pero ang unique nga kay gospel of Luke is yung part ng infancy or birth of Jesus, yung pa census ni Caesar, pati yung circumcision ni Jesus and yung pakikipag chekahan ni Jesus at the age of 12 sa mga elders dun sa temple about the law. at sequel din nya yung Acts of the apostles, dahil sabi, Si Luke the evangelist ay isang close associate din ni St. Paul the Apostle.

As I go through what I wanted to talk about my preaching today, and as I reflect about my life, there’s are a few things that came into my mind, and one of them is Legacy, sa ating binasang gospel, ito yung moment na parang sinasabi ni Jesus, this is it guys, I feel nyo na, in flesh and blood, Kasi last na to, this is the last time na mararamdaman at mahahawakan ninyo ako so seize the moment, this is also the time na parang gusto na nyang mag iwan ng kanyang “legacy” sa sangkatauhan, at yun ay ang gift of the holy spirit. very much like when we are about to lose a loved one, yung moment sa hospital bed, at hawak mo yung kamay ng mahal mo sa buhay na alam mong any minute, or any second ay hindi mo na makakasama habang buhay, na kung pwede lang i freeze yung moment na yun ay ginawa mo na, and somehow, with the help of technology, we we’re able to capture that moment, yung pipicturan mong hawak mo yung kamay ng mahal mo sa buhay, at ipopost ng black and white sa FB, para manlang kahit papaano ay mabalikan mo yung huling sandali na nakasama mo sila. Nothing can ever really prepare you when it comes to losing someone. In my personal life, having lost my Dad at a very young age and then my brother just a few years after, death seems to be very close, that I know I had to somehow prepare myself for another one, particularly my grandmother. So I had to mentally prepare myself by making sure that I seize every moment I had with her knowing that she won’t be here for long, it was also interesting to note how these deaths occured during the commemoration of the birth, and rebirth of Christ, we lost our dad around 1 am during Christmas of 2004, my brother during black Saturday in 2007, and on April 7, 2020 we lost Inang, that was also during holy week, and the same date as my brothers. We had an internal joke sa family na ay, alam na namin kung sino sumundo sayo Inang, referring to my brother, who lived with her in the province until he passed.

Back to the gospel muna, so Jesus, knowing na nga the tendency of his disciples, perhaps he might be shaking his head, edi wow! hindi parin sila convinced, na hindi nga ako multo, sige, pahawak ko sa kanila yung mga kamay at paa ko, ay wiz parin, sige nga try ko makikain kasama nila, baka with that ay ma convince na sila na ay oo nga, He is Risen, He is here with us.

As we say, the bible is a library of books, with various forms of literature, songs, poems, stories, parables etc. At sa storyang ito, If I am to describe yung main character that is Jesus Christ, sobra nyang “matalinghaga” parang tata lino levels, or yung parang mga ermitanyo sa movies na susubukin ka, alam nya na as human beings talagang most likely mag fe fail parin yung mga tao, pero binigyan parin nya ng chance. Parang yung favorite mong teacher na hindi isu-spoon feed sayo yung sagot, rather icha-challenge ka pa until ma figure out mo yung answer on your own, para sayo yung credit at hindi sa kanya. And yung character din ni Jesus dito sa binasa natin is parang meron din syang super powers no, na parang with the snap of his fingers, he made teem understand the scripture, just like yung story about the road to Emmaus, yung may nakasalubong syang dalawa sa kanyang followers, na hindi rin sya nakilala, until again, with a snap of his fingers, na recognize sya aventually, or maybe, it’s their own doubts thats clouding their judgement.

Isa pa sa mga thoughts na nangibabaw as I read through the text is about “Ghosting”, I have been told by someone really special to me that I have a gift of reaching out to people, and I’d like to believe that to be true, kaya sobrang benta saking yung character development eksena na yan, lahat naman tayo, deserve na mabigyan ng chance to for a character development , na cheka ko na to sa ilang untuck moments with the nakshies, I am the kind of person na if may something off about someone, I tend to be on the side of knowing that person more, in order to understand where it’s coming from, kaya na rin talagang hirap arukin ng isip ko ang Ghosting, I have experienced being ghosted,and I would never understand why, I was able to convince myself that it’s not me, it’s them, so bakit nga ba ghosting, kasi, again, the historical Jesus, did not ghost humankind. Ayun lang.

So going back to Legacy, it makes me reflect on what I can leave my family and the community when it’s my time. If you ask my younger version about Legacy, I will probably talk about material things, literal na pamana, or in my case, as someone who was a breadwinner, something to leave my family for them to have a kickstart in life without me.

But If you ask me now, and as I reflect on the gospel and being a queer Christian and a minister of Open Table MCC for the past 8 years, and having experienced death in my personal life and here sa ating church community. Here is what I thought, ang selfcentered pala to hope na sana pag wala na ako ay naaalala parin ako ng mga tao, na sana may naiwan akong something, or somehow na touch ko ang lives nila enough to still remember me, in a way, may point naman, I will never get tired of saying this, PEOPLE WILL FORGET EVERYTHING YOU DID FOR THEM, BUT NOT HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL, at applicable to sa aspeto ng pagiging magulang, anak, teacher, student, advocate, and of course as an “acclang simbahan” pwede mong gawin ang lahat para sa mga taong mahal mo at makakalimutan ka parin nila, pero kailanman, hindi nila makakalimutan kung paano mo naiparamdam sa kanila ang isang bagay, kaya choice mo na yung pangit ba yung feeling na yun or maganda.

As I think about legacy, it made me realize na hindi nga importante na ma alala ka nila, sabi nga diba, kaya may araw ng mga patay, yun yung moment para alalahanin mo sila, ang pinka importante sa lahat is yung sa abot ng aking makakaya, ay makipamuhay ako sa bawat isa, share happy, sad, victorious, and even lowest moment of our loved ones lives.

Nothing can ever really prepare us for death, but what’s important is to always live for the moment, yesterday is herstory, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, that’s why it’s called present, so life is special.

Tayo na’t mabuhay sa kasalukuyan, because when we live in the present, we get to have awareness, we get to take action, as little as it may be, makisangkot tayo, kahit paminsan minsan lang, para hindi parang hangin, na tayo’s napadaan lang (Ricky Lee) National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts.

At dahil nandito narin nga tayo sa topic, what is it that I want to be remembered by: I would like to be remembered as someone who was a beacon and advocate of taking up space, as a queer christian, and how do we take up space? by simply living, existing, as our true authentic selves, be it to shaken the belief of the conservatives or remind them that they don’t have the monopoly of the bible and faith, that we queer christians exist and we are here to stay, or maybe to inspire another queer kid that there’s nothing wrong with your sexuality and it’s never in conflict with your spirituality. Isa kang accla, kristyano, at hindi kailanman ikaka offend ni Jesus kung mag falseto ka at mag cartwheel through praise and worship dahil at the end of your days, ang mahalaga ay kung paano mo tinuring ang iyong kapya, kagaya nalang ng pagtuturing mo sa Dakilang may likha.

And so to close this, as I continue to struggle through what would be my legacy, I realized na parang somehow, yung sinabi ko about how I understood na hindi na importante saakin na maalala nyo ako, pag wala na ko, ay taliwas dun sa mga tinuran ni Jesus, because yung sa kanya na during communion nga diba, whenever you share these amoung yourselves, do this in remembrance of me! Oh well! Hindi naman ako si Jesus, but then again, as christians at followers of Jesus Christ, it has been a challenge to keep up to Jesus, na in this day and age, it’s a challenge na makipamuhay sa mga taong itinakwil ng lipunan, sa mga mahihirap, sa mga oppressed, parang naging mas madaling piliin parin yung magnanakaw, na sumang ayon nalang sa kagustuhan ng emperyo, na wag nang makisangkot, at makialam, kahit pa minsan lang, parang mas madali nang pumikit muli, pagkatapos mong mamulat, ang manahimik , magbulag bulagan, bingi bingihan habang lowkey ay inaassert na ng Tsina ang kanilang kapangyarihan, ang mag maang maangan, tila mas madaling suportahan ang isang apponted son of God na registered sex offender at wanted sa ibang bansa, kaya ibaling nalang natin ang sisi dun sa drag artist na nag ala Jesus Christ, kasi nakaka offend! Hindi lahat ng tama ay madali, at hindi lahat ng madali ay tama.

The true legacy of Jesus is precisely this, that the marginalized of his time remembered how he made them feel- not just welcomed but accepted, included, and loved. He did not just heal them physically, he made them whole socially, emotionally, spiritually, and even religiously.

The second legacy of Jesus is not just what he did for people but he empowered them to carry on the work of healing, inclusion, justice, and love.

Kaya okay lang na makalimutan tayo. Ikaw. Ako. Kung yung ginawa nating kabutihan at pakikibaka ay ipinagpatuloy ng iba at ng new generation. Anong kwenta ng legacy at alaala natin kung namatay kasama natin ang ating adbokasiya at ministry?

Again, the category is “Legacy.” Sabi nga ni Erin Benzaiken na isang florist, gardener at author: “The ripples you create are innumerable and unknowable, make sure they are good ones, that is legacy.”

And I thank you!

The post Category Is: Legacy appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Scripture Reading John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

Would you believe me if I told you that water is not a conductor but rather an insulator of electricity?

Probably not, right? Telling you that water does NOT conduct electricity goes against what you’ve learned from authority figures in your formative years, be it your grade school science teacher, or your concerned parents when they warned you not to ouch electric appliances with wet hands. The information that water is a conductor is so widespread that it has now become common sense for the majority, if not for everyone of us.

It’s so widespread that you can even find this in popular media: remember that time when fire bender Mako defeated the water bending genius, Ming Hwa, with a bolt of lightning directer at her water tentacles?

In most people’s minds, water is indeed a conductor. But that’s what most people get wrong. Contrary to popular belief, water is, in fact, an insulator.

It is not water itself that conducts electricity, but the impurities dissolved in water that do. Be it the sodium in your Sodium Chloride, or calcium, or magnesium, or just about any ion whose charge allows for the flow of electricity through the water. Are you liking my chemistry lesson, so far?

Kidding aside, this tidbit of chemistry demonstrates our tendency to create and believe truths based on our limited perception and limited understanding of things. Without fully knowing, without fully understanding, without getting the bigger, if not the entire, picture, we have this particular tendency to create and believe truths based on how we, as individuals, experience things.

The people of long ago relied on these limited experiences-turned-“truths” for their very survival. 200,000 years ago, that was the case for our species. One person dying after eating a certain mushroom is more than enough for every other person to create and disseminate a new truth — that that mushroom is poisonous. Back then, it was a matter of survival. The humans of 200,000 years ago did not have the luxury of checking and understanding whether it was really the mushroom that’s poisonous, or if it were the presence of other pathogens on the surface that could have been easily removed by a simple rinsing at the river. In other words, the humans of that age did not have the luxury of doubt. I’m inviting everyone to take a look at today’s gospel with a different perspective, to dive deeper for a new understanding of the story of Doubtful Thomas.

The story takes us days after Jesus’s death, with Jewish leaders on the high alert to round up and capture the followers of Jesus. The disciples, save for my boy, Doubtful Thomas, were said to have gathered together, their doors locked, when Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst, bringing them peace, breathing into them the holy spirit, and letting them know that they now have the ability to forgive anyone’s sins.

Now my boy Doubtful Thomas, as we have read earlier, was given a firsthand account of this. Take note, it was not hearsay. It was not some chika from some Marites that reached Thomas’ ears, but the firsthand account of the 10 apostles and other disciples he spent a big chunk of his time with. Surely, that should lend some level of confidence to the veracity of the story, right? But, no! Doubtful Thomas, and as I am sure you already know the reason for such moniker, remained, well, doubtful. Skeptical. Incredulous, even.

Not only did he verbalize his doubts, he also demanded hard, empirical proof as a condition for his belief. “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Well, well, well? Isn’t he demanding?! I cannot say this for certain, but maybe, maybe some eyebrows were raised at Thomas for demanding that.

How dare he doubt? “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This was the main point of the countless sermons I’ve listened to when I was growing up. Faith is inexplicable. Faith is beyond our limited capacity for understanding. Faith is something that just is. Just believe. Stop asking questions. It just is.

These words tormented 7-year-old me to no end. I had so many questions. I longed to understand. But I, like other people who share this experience, was made to feel like I’m committing the biggest and most unforgivable sin of all time… that I’m not supposed to doubt. I was made to feel like doubting is the opposite of having faith.

I was made to feel that the greatest gift we can give to God is to have blind faith. Unfortunately, this dogma of blind faith easily coincides with our tendency as human beings to believe truths based on how we experience things. More unfortunately so, compared to the humans of 200,000 years ago, we have continuously developed more and more sophisticated means of both oral and textual communication, thus making it easier to proliferate our created truths to wider and wider audiences, which in turn become generally accepted truths. What examples do we have for this? Let’s see…

Oh, I know one: homosexuality is a sin! Don’t question it, just believe! After all, who are you to doubt the interpretations of the Roman Catholic Church? They are the authority figure. They say that homosexual feelings and attractions, when acted upon are sinful and disordered, so it must be true. And faith alone should be enough of an explanation for us to accept that as the truth.

I have another one — that women should submit to their husbands because that’s what Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, instructed us to do. Who are we to ask about the accuracy of the way that line was translated?

Here’s an even better one: abstinence, and not condoms, is the answer to the HIV pandemic. People should wait until after they are blessed through the holy sacrament of matrimony before they consummate their love for each other, and that they must only do so for the purposes of procreation. Doing the opposite is akin to giving in to the mortal sin of lust, which is sure to give you a one way ticket to eternal damnation in hell.

Ay, ano yan?! Sorry! Hindi ko na-delete. Cute si koya pero… never mind.

Again, the church figures say so. An authority figure tells you so. How dare you doubt? Just believe it. It is the truth. Even sadder still, this whole situation goes beyond faith and religion.

Just a few years ago, I’m sure you’d remember passionate testimonies of some Lolo’s and Lola’s of how the Philippines was in its golden era back when the disgraced dictator Ferdinand Marcos was in power. These were Lolo’s and Lola’s who were there, who were alive at that time. And their experiences, no matter how limited and incomplete they may be, became truth. After all, they are authority figures, they were firsthand witnesses, who are we to doubt? There have been attempts to explain why human beings have this particular tendency.

The story of the 5 Monkeys Experiment comes to mind. If you’re not familiar with this, let me give you a quick summary. According to the story, one psychologist conducted an experiment with monkeys. He had them locked up in this big cage with a ladder at the center. On top of the ladder sat a bunch of bananas.

Now, whenever one monkey reaches the topmost rung of the ladder, the remaining four monkeys would get sprayed with ice cold water. The remaining four monkeys supposedly associated this icy water as punishment for the action of the first monkey, and consequently beat him for this. This kept happening until it reached the point where if any monkey even dared to try to climb the ladder, the rest of the monkeys would stop him and beat him up. After ilang months, pinalitan ni Mr. Psychologist ang isa sa limang monkeys ng bagong matsing. Itago na lang natin ang bagong matsing sa pangalang RODRIGO. Bilang bago, hindi knowing ni Rodrigo ang icy water punishment kapag may nagtry umakyat sa hagdan. And being the monkey that he is, Rodrigo, naturally, tried to climb the ladder in an attempt to get his hands on some yellow bananas. This time, HOWEVER, Mr. Psychologist did NOT spray icy water on the four remaining original monkeys. Pero kahit na wala pang punishment na icy water, MATIK na for the four original monkeys na sugurin at bugbugin si Rodrigo. The learned behavior was so strong that they ended up beating Rodrigo even without the icy water punishment.

After some time, pinalitan na naman ni Mr. Psychologist ang isa pa sa natitirang four original monkeys. Itago na lang natin ang second NEW money na ito sa pangalang FERDY JR. Bilang unggoy din siya, no, as expected, nagtangka din si Ferdy Jr. na akyatin ang ladder para kumuha ng saging. Guess what happened? Kahit wala ulet icy water punishment, yung tatlong original monkeys ay sinugod at binugbog si Ferdy Jr. And that’s not all! Rodrigo ALSO joined the three original monkeys and himself beat Ferdy Jr kahit na never naman niya na-experience maparusahan ng icy water spray! Kaloka si Rodrigo, di ba?! Mr. Psychologist thought that the learned behavior of beating anyone who tries to climb the ladder was also passed on to Rodrigo, and Rodrigo accepted it without question. Rodrigo couldn’t ask questions; he is a monkey after all. EME.

The experiment went on until all the original 5 monkeys were replaced with new ones. And despite this new set of monkeys never having experienced the pain of being sprayed with icy water continuously, they now hold this belief that whoever tries to climb the ladder to get bananas must be stopped and beaten. People say that if the monkeys could talk, they would probably say this: we don’t know why we’re beating anyone who tries to climb the ladder, but that’s just the way it is. Stop asking questions. Just follow.

This story has been used over and over again in the corporate world to demonstrate how cultures, and in their perspectives, how organizations tend to keep doing things without questioning or revisiting the reason behind it, even long after that reason ceases to exist. (Intersol Group, May 2020) Funnily enough, this story is FAKE. And if I had blind faith and hadn’t doubted the authority figures who kept telling me this story, I would not have found out that it was.

Now, we don’t have enough time for me to summarize the actual study but I guess, fake or not, the message it tells us is quite relevant to the point I want to leave everyone today. Jesus, in the story of John, did not abhor the doubts expressed by Thomas. He did not admonish Thomas for his doubts. On the contrary, Jesus entertained Thomas’ doubts.

“Put your finger here; see my hands.” Jesus said. “Reach out your hand and put it into my side.”

He humored Thomas’ demand for empirical evidence. He allowed Thomas to see and feel and experience him. “Stop doubting and believe.”

In response to this, in response to his experience of Jesus, Doubting Thomas could not help but proclaim, “My Lord and my God!”

Out of his doubt and through his lived experience of Jesus came a powerful confession of his faith. A faith that is not blind, but rooted in his certainty of the risen Christ. (Rev. Phil Hobbs of South Bay United Church) According to Reverend Phil Hobbs of South Bay United Church, Doubting Thomas was the first disciple to profess his faith that way. This, for me, confirms that doubt is not the absence of faith. On the contrary, doubt is that yearning for certainty. The burning desire to have those questions inside of you answered, to discover, to feel Jesus, to experience the divine. Having doubts does not mean we are not faithful.

Having doubts, at least for me, is crucial and a vital part of our journey towards authentic faith — a journey that ends in us powerfully professing out faith the way Thomas did. “My Lord and my God!” There is nothing wrong with doubting. In fact, I urge all of you to doubt. Doubt and start your journey towards a more authentic faith. Let us do away with blind faith. Let’s yearn for that deeper connection, a stronger type of faith that can only be developed with the certainty we can get from experiencing God. Do not get me wrong; I am not advocating for us to doubt until we see a miracle the way Thomas did. I am not saying that we should only believe when we finally see Jesus for ourselves and put our fingers in the holes on his hands and feet.

God can be experienced anywhere, even in the most unlikeliest of places. We all have our doubts. As part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I have long doubted if I were part of God’s children. I was made to believe that my existence was a sin, and that my expressions of love was an abomination. Luckily, I did not have blind faith. I refused to believe that God’s love for me was conditional upon the gender of the person I choose to love. I kept looking for experiences that will give me that certainty. I almost lost hope, truth be told.

My doubts, which were originally anchored in my desire to discover and experience God, was slowly turning to resentment and disbelief. But just like what I said a while ago, God can be experienced anywhere, even in the most unlikeliest of places.

For me, everything started in that small and quite old Afonso De Oro Building in Mandaluyong City. For me, I got my certainty that God is my God too, that I am God’s child, too, when Jack invited us to partake in the fight against religious oppression, or when Pastor Joseph laid his hand on my head to, “Pray the Gay to Stay,” or that moment when Mariz and Mikay exchanged their wedding vows, or whenever I talk to the members of MCC without feeling the need to act and pretend to be somebody that I’m not.

I did not get to see Jesus, nor did I get to touch the holes on his hands. But through MCC I got my very own experience of the divine, and this experience was made more profound by my doubts.

I am ending my preaching today with the invitation to do away with blind faith, to always question and to employ critical thinking, not only in our faith and religion, but also in our political choices and in the ways we participate in society. I am inviting you to doubt.

At dahil gusto kong panindigan ang pagiging RESIDENT ACRONYM MAKER ng MCC, I also want to leave you this in the hopes that this will help you redefine doubt: What does it mean to be like Doubtful Thomas?

D – Desire for understanding.

O – Openness to exploration.

U – Unwavering trust in Christ.

B – Biblical inquiry.

T – Transcending uncertainty.

Thank you for having me today. Once again, this is Dale, signing off and leaving you with the challenge to doubt and start your journey towards authentic faith.

The post Doubting Thomas: Redefining Doubt appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed, for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Scripture Reading John 20:1-9 (NRSV)

Happy Easter!

As someone from the Evangelical/Pentecostal/Protestant tradition, I remember Easter (Resurrection Sunday) as one of the busiest days in our calendar. A friend Jeb and I met with two weeks ago remarked that it was a surprise that I have time to catch up considering Resurrection Sunday is just a few weeks away. We used to spend months of preparation for choir pieces. The music team is a little bit extra for the sunrise service (yep, the program starts at 5 am and we have to come earlier for the preps; para rin maiwasan ang traffic dahil sa Salubong). The dance ministry would be sleepless from choreographing. Ushers are all in their Sunday best. And even the kids’ ministry is involved. You can almost taste the excitement (and exhaustion) in the air because, as the folks would often say, “… if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain and your faith is in vain”. You see, we were part of a very triumphalistic church where our image of Jesus is Christus Victor so Easter, really, is a big deal. It is very colourful, festive, and loud.

But an aspect that is sometimes downplayed by the people of the resurrection is that Easter and the crucifixion is intertwined. Life comes only after death. In our former tradition, the death of Christ, the cross, was akin to the symbol of victory and of glory. But is it?

Let us walk through the resurrection account by looking at some of the characters in the narratives.

Jesus was crucified. It was not a glorious death. There was nothing majestic or royal to his end. He did not just die. Jesus was killed.

Jesus was killed because he touched lepers. There was no contempt as he ministered to their bodies being eaten away by illness because he knew there was something worse than the ills of the body.

He was killed because he openly conversed with women, with “adulterers,” with sinners, with the nobodies. Those who sought the best places on the table were frowned upon. For him, the last will be first; the first will be last.

Jesus was killed because he dined and partied with misfits. He thought they were his equals. He enjoyed their company.

He promised and proclaimed to those under Roman occupation “release to the captives, sight to the blind, freedom to those who are oppressed.” He also proclaimed a kingdom not like that of the Empire, of course, he was killed.

Ultimately, he interfered in the temple business with his business of turning tables. (No… You do not interfere with church business.) This was a big factor which led to his death.

Yes, we understand that if you speak ill against the empire and its other institutional collaborators, like the temple, troubles and death will follow. We have heard stories of martyrs and those who came before us who were too loud and too proud and who met their end. We have heard whispers of those who were nanlaban and the tragedy they encountered. We listened to the accounts of political prisoners who were tortured because of a glorious hope they are dreaming.

The crucifixion and death of Jesus was political. “Good Friday is the result of the collision between the passion of Jesus and the domination systems of his time… the normalcy of civilization.” The Jesus movement is that of compassion and love, economic sufficiency, lasting peace, public justice, and righteousness. What is routine in the world is that of violence. What is normal is injustice.

The sin of the world, this injustice, caused Jesus to be crucified. His peaceful, symbolic, and nonviolent protest and resistance to imperial Roman oppression and the Jewish religious leaders made waves. His death was certain. The one who came in a humble colt, who was called Messiah, was later seen hanging on the cross with his fellow criminals. He did not die for the sins of this world. Jesus was killed because of the sins of this world.

The death of Jesus brought fear. It also brought sadness. “Standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene”. They wept, and waited upon the Lord. “When the men in the company of Jesus betrayed him (Judas) or denied him (Peter) or went back home (disciples of Emmaus) or accepted defeat and refused the vision Jesus once shared with them, the women stayed on.

In Luke, it was said that the women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid… On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They were surprised to see the stone rolled away and the missing body of Jesus. Two men in dazzling clothes told them that Jesus had risen.

Mark 16:11 said that “when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by [Mary Magdalene], they would not believe it. Verses 8-11 of Luke 24 then said: “…Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.”

Akala ng mga apostol ay kahibangan/kadaldalan/tsismis lamang ang kanilang sinasabi kaya ayaw nilang paniwalaan ang mga kababaihan.

The women witnesses were silenced. Pinatahimik dahil tila tsismis lang raw ang mga tinuran nila.

This is not a surprise. We’re accustomed to receiving such comments. Women suffer from stereotypes, like this. We were often labelled as emotional while men are cerebral. For them, that makes us unable to perform/lead like men.

Throughout history, women are silenced. In the pages of the stories of humankind, her narratives were hidden in between the lines. In the Bible, women are not accounted for; they were not counted as witnesses to the feeding of thousands. We were side-lined, neglected, and made quiet. And this is very evident in the Bible.

One woman who received injustice from the hands of the people handling Scripture was Mary Magdalene. Many were said about her. They said that she was a prostitute, and as Mariz shared to us last Community Connect, she was not.

Early church leaders confused Mary with other biblical women in order to portray her as the original repentant whore. The Catholic Church stopped referring to Mary Magdalene as such centuries ago in 1969 and began to distinguish her from the sinful woman who anointed Jesus described in the Gospel of Luke. However, Mary Magdalene’s status has been diminished by her association to prostitution. It somehow makes her less, like she was not fit to be a leader.

But this is not the case. Let me geek out a bit.

The Bible that we have today was a product of centuries of transcription, translation, and replication (parang DNA lang). Scribes very meticulously copied texts text (continuous-text manuscripts, or lectionary manuscripts) which may be dictated or from another into papyrus or parchment. The process takes time and a lot of money (they’d need 50-60 sheep or goats!). Sometimes there would be accidental mistakes, like doubling of letters/words, omission, or the like. Minsan parang lasing ata mga scribes eh. But sometimes, there are “mistakes” that reflects theological “improvement”or historical dilemmas.

Balik muna tayo kay Maria Magdalena.

The text we read this afternoon came from the Gospel of John. The oldest and most nearly complete manuscript of the Gospel of John is thought to be Papyrus 66. It is dated to 200 CE. A female scholar, Elizabeth Schrader, noticed that there is something notable in 𝔓66. In her article, she described that with all of these scribal adjustments at the beginning of the chapter, John 11 in 𝔓66 stands out. It is especially evident that the name “Mary” has been changed to “Martha” in verse one. It is just one letter. In the Greek text, iota becomes theta and Maria becomes Martha.

Additionally, there is a full line in John 11:3 that only mentions one woman by name.

Originally, John 11:3 reads “Therefore Mary sent to him saying, ‘Lord behold the one you love is ill.’” But it was changed to “So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, ‘Lord, he whom you love is ill.’”. Her name is totally scratched out and it’s changed to say “the sisters.” (1) A woman’s name is completely erased and (2) all the verbs are changed from singular to plural. Mary was made Martha.

Is it just a human error? In more than a hundred different manuscripts of the Gospel of John, there are other instances where Mary changes to become Martha, singular verbs appear where plural verbs would be expected. That’s a lot of editing. In some manuscripts, Mary performs actions that one would expect Martha to perform, such as serving the supper in John chapter twelve. The scribe of 𝔓66 cannot simply be sloppy as it is not consistent with how crucial the manuscript is with many other issues readings.

We can discuss more about this some other time or I can even provide you the journal article. Let’s go back to our text.

Why are female Biblical scholars concerned with Mary being erased? Please do note that Martha is not erased; she was just used/misplaced in John. Martha is a real character in the Gospel of Luke. She is not even a sister to Lazarus (she owns the home; ownership in Greek). She is an awesome character herself. Why attribute to Martha some of what she said and do? Why discuss this?

Because it concerns Mary Magdalene. She is a very controversial character.

This may be because of her status. She’s perhaps a leader in the Jesus movement. For example, a certain Mary, generally known as Mary Magdalene, is frequently mentioned in the Gospel of Mary, which is a piece of New Testament apocrypha found in the Nag Hammadi collection, as being more beloved by Jesus than the others. This caused debates, and that causes the text of John to get edited.

In the second motif of the resurrection story in John, when Mary Magdalene, in verse 16, realized that he was talking to Jesus, she exclaimed “Rabbouni!” which in Aramaic literally translates to διδάσκαλε (“teacher”). However, in some early manuscripts, ῥαββουνί is instead or also translated as κύριε/domine (“Lord”) as supported by philological, text-critical, exegetical, and patristic evidence.

Why is translating rabbouni teacher or lord important?

Well it may be argued that Mary Magdalene was not very intelligent and that she had poor insight into the identity of the risen Lord if she refers to Jesus as teacher. You see in John, the title of Jesus changes and ascends. Kaya nga it is a good text for an ascending Christology. Teacher is the same title that Jesus bears in John 1.

Alam nga ba ni Maria Magdalena na si Jesus ang Panginoon? Balikan natin yung geeky discussion kanina. Take note of this account in John 11. I will be replacing the Martha’s with “Mary”

Mary [Martha] said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Mary [Martha] said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

This Christological confession made by Mary was akin to the Petrine Confession. She knows, that Jesus is the Messiah. She believes that he is the Son of God. She witnessed how Lazarus came back to life. She believes so much that she stayed. She held on to the end. Thus she became the first witness to the resurrection. It was not incidental. She was a true believer, a true disciple, an apostle of Jesus. But, like the problem we still have today, her contributions were diminished, if not erased.

Why? Because Mary is too much for her time. She supports the Jesus movement. She is a disciple. Imagine a woman having a faith and status like that of Peter, the rock. There are studies and account wherein “Mary” is called Magdalene not because she is from Magdala but because she is a “tower-ess,” the “magnified one”. As Peter is the Rock, so Mary is the Tower.

She is too much, so her name had to be removed and replaced. She is too much so she has to be dumbed down to one not understanding who Jesus is. She is too much that even if she is the first witness, her story has to be edited so a man was given the chance to touch the resurrected Lord. She is too much so she has to be silenced, stigmatized, and suppressed.

And what do we do when we discover stories like this? Papyrus 66 was discovered in the 50s, it was translated by the 60s and the issues we discussed above were known by scholars. Did scholars took interest? Nope. That was basically it. Nothing is done. The silence is kept.

Remember that you will be silenced.

You see, there were other women in the Scriptures whose stories may be different from what we think. There’s Elizabeth, Mary of Joseph and/or James, Salome who was also at the foot of the cross. But all their stories were edited out to keep them on their places, to keep their silence.

Women, the LGBTQIA+ community, indigenous people, our workers, farmers are a few groups that were being silenced by the existing powers in the world. We have the desaparecidos, our political prisoners, personalities like Leila De Lima, Pura Luka and other. The story of Jesus death reminds us that if we challenge those in power, we will be silenced.

As a woman, a unionist, I remind myself how every day is a risk, how we will be surely silenced. Some of you know why Jeb and I are here. How I was kicked out of the church where I got baptized, where I started ministry, because I commented on staff welfare, and why, after 10 years of working there, I was not even a recognized employee (Eh yung kababata kong lalaki, kakapasok pa lang regular na, pastor na, may benefits na…Char!).

But we find, not comfort, but affirmation when we are silenced. It means, we are disturbing the norm. That they are concerned about our presence, our actions, and our mere existence. Be affirmed that what you are shouting are heard because those in positions of advantage are being affected. (After my encounter with the pastor, the other volunteers and the new hires got the benefits I was demanding to be given to us.)

Find beauty in the struggle.

It is in small communities where big movements are formed. Remember how the Jesus movement started. Keep in mind the beginnings of our denomination/church, of Open Table MCC. A small group of people with minds unafraid to question, a community where those who are oppressed is at their heart, and whose hands are never doubtful to help can be something. A small drop may ripple to form a wave too strong not to be ignored.

The journey may be hard, it may be long and frustrating, but keep on. We will find stories of people finding hope with our actions. We will hear whispers of joy, of love in our midst. We will be connected to people who will be of significance in reference to our mission. The struggle is real, but we must press on.

Stay, come out, and see the resurrection.

Women are great contributors in the Jesus movement. They provided financial, and logistical help. They offered hospitality and opened their homes to the workers. They were disciples who sat at the feet of Jesus. They also stood and stayed at the foot of the cross at the time when all the rest of men went running away. And because they stayed on, they were the first witnesses of the resurrection.

Come out of where ever you are just like these women. Face the darkness. Walk towards the tomb. Be comfortable in your doubts and fear, in death, in sadness. Choose to come out rather that hide in fear.

Bagaman maigsi lamang, paano na ang edukasyon ng mga kababaihan kung walang katulad ng mga Kababaihan ng Malolos? Paano na ang karapatang politikal kung wala ang women’s suffrage movement sa iba’tibang bansa? Kung walang mga kampanyador, mga namumuno sa kilusang mapagpalaya, mga kapwa kababaihang magtataguyod ng karapatang politikal, ekonomik, panlipunan, pangkalusugan at iba ng mga kapwa kababaihan, ano na kaya ang sitwasyon ng mga babae ngayon? Kung walang haharap sa mga kalalakihang nasa podium, nasa pulpito, sa trono, nasa posisyon sa lipunan, paano mailalahad ang kalagayan ng mga kababaihan?

Choose to come out rather than hide in fear. Choose to speak, to shout, rather than remain in silence. Choose to lead rather than remain to be a slave because of inequality and injustices. Face the darkness, face the grimness of the situation. Face the tomb, face death for only then will you be reminded of life.

As we are being reminded that Jesus has triumphed over death, we must also remember those who came before us in struggling against oppression. In the light of the fight for justice and equality, we will choose to remember and to press on. We will continue until every young girl or queer kid will be comfortable with themselves. Until all will feel safe, and all will be free.

Happy Easter to all.

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“A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.” Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me,’ and ‘because I am going to the Father’?” They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Scripture Reading John 16:16-24 (NRSV)

The preaching from Pastor Joseph last week is titled Grace through Impermanence – Temporality. Ang pagiging “fleeting” o panandalian ng lahat ng mga bagay, mga sitwasyon, mga tao at mismo ng buhay. Isa itong magandang balita kase kung lahat ay nagbabago at magbabago. Kung walang permanente, mas nagkakaroon ng kulay ang buhay. Mas interesting mabuhay.

Kung mabuti yung nararanasan mo, diba mas nagiging espesyal sya dahil hindi sya palaging ganun. Imagine if everyday is your birthday or everyday is Christmas, Easter or New Year. (Pause) Hindi ba mawawala yung pagiging espesyal nya kung sa loob ng 365 and ¼ na araw sa isang taon ay araw araw mo icecelebrate ang isang espesyal na okasyon. Imagine if you’re in a relationship and never kayong nagkaiba ng gustong kainang restaurant, panooring movie, sisimulang hobby, susubukang sex position or any major life decision ng partner mo. (Pause) Medyo boring diba? Kailangan ng konting spice. Need ng konting diskusyon at compromise paminsan-minsan para yung moments na parehong-pareho kayo ng mga trip sa buhay ay maaappreciate mo pa rin ng lubos.

Kung masama naman yung nararanasan mo, mas madaling tanggapin at matuwa na walang permanente sa mundo. Syempre. Wala naman sigurong nakakaranas ng hirap ng buhay tapos ang dasal eh manatili sya sa ganung estado. Lahat ng hindi kagandahang nangyayare sa atin ay natatapos – one way or another. We always welcome that change from negative to positive.

Whether it’s from a scientific, Buddhist or even Christian standpoint, as discussed last week, change is inevitable. Kung tuusin, ang pagbabago ay kaakibat ng pagiral. Change is a fundamental part of existence. Sabi nga ni Benjamin Franklin – When you’re finished changing, you’re finished. Wala na. Done ka na daw.

While impermanence is good, the changes it brings are not always pleasant. Minsan chaka talaga sya. Minsan mas chaka pa sya sa ex mong cheater or sa kadate mong hindi ka sinipot sa first meetup nyo. May mga pagbabago talagang hindi komportable, masaya o nakakainspire na pagdaanan. Kahit anung iwas at takbo mo sa kanila, hindi mo sila matatakasan lahat. One way or another, you will have to go through some of them. So if I were you, pagdaanan nyo na yung mga kaya mong daanang chakang changes sa buhay especially while you are still young and very able-bodied. Nakakabuild din talaga yang mga yan ng backbone so you will be ready to face bigger life challenges in the future.

Of course, hindi naman lahat ng changes ay chaka. Meron din namang magagandang pagbabago. Ganito yung mga changes na usually pinagdiriwang natin at sinasabi nating nakakadagdag sa pagkatao natin – Nakagraduate ka. Natanggap ka na sa trabaho. Nagkajowa ka na. Nakabili kang bahay. Nakabili kang kotse. Nakatravel ka sa mga dream destination mo. Nakapagtayo ka ng negosyo. Nakagawa ka na ng foundation mo. Natikman mo na finally si crush.

In our Gospel reading for today on Grace in Progress, we also see significant life-changing transtions. The setting of the story is somewhere in Jerusalem, likely a day or some days before Jesus’s betrayal and capture courtesy of Judas Iscariot. Sabi ni Jesus sa mga disciples – “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.”

This is of course a prophesy of his coming death and resurrection.” It’s a very frightening and dismaying event followed by a glorious one that the disciples and all of Jesus’ followers had to go through. Imagine if you are one of Jesus’ followers during this time. Yung pinakaleader ng inyong pagaaklas laban sa emperyong Romano na kasakasama nyong lumalaban biglang ipapako sa krus at mamamatay. Paano ka kaya magrereact kung andun ka at isa ka sa masugid na tagasunod ni Hesus?

And yet the difficult times, did not last. Jesus eventually resurrected after 3 days. Jesus even reassured them before the nasty things started going down – “Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.”

Think of the following for a little bit.

• Do you think there will be a resurrection if Jesus didn’t go through all his pains and sufferings leading to his death on the cross?
• Do you think any of his followers completely understood how important it was that Jesus die so he can eventually come back to life?
• Ilang beses ba na habang nasa kalagitnaan ka ng isang napakachakang ganap sa buhay mo ay naiintindihan mo kung baket mo kinailangan pagdaanan yung ganap na yun? Kadalasan naman diba hinde.

Negative things will happen, in fact I think they are necessary in some situations, TO BRING ABOUT SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS. From death to resurrection. From labor pains to child birth. From sunog ng kilay sa pagaaral to graduation. From Open Table Dark Ages to Open Table Renaissance. From kayod sa trabaho to sweldo para may pang EUT – Eat Unwind Travel.

Syempre hindi naman pwedeng puro maganda lang or puro panget lang. Balance lang ba balance. Kinakailangan din ang mga hindi maganda or so-so lang na pangyayari dahil may pwede pa rin silang idulot na mabuting pagbabago or PROGRESS lalo na kung may natututunan tayo.

According to the Collin’s English Dictionary, progress is the process of gradually improving or getting nearer to achieving or completing something. Honestly napaisip ako ng malala dun sa “something” sa definition.

Anu nga ba yung ultimate something ko sa buhay na ito that I want to progress in and eventually complete. May naiisip naman akong sagot pero medyo complicated at baka isang buong preaching ang kailanganin para maexplain ko ng may konting kaayusan so wag na lang.

On a daily basis, we aim to progress numerous things in our lives. Andami nating iba’t ibang responsibilidad sa pangaraw-araw. Pero aside from all these things that you need to achieve and complete, what is your life’s ultimate something. I’m quite certain that we have different answers to this question. The question is basically – What is your PURPOSE in life? That’s difficult to answer because that’s one of the biggest philosophical and existential questions of all time. What is your purpose in life that you need to achieve or complete?

We all have different somethings/purposes in our lives that we want to progress in. I will not stand here in front and pretend that I have the slightest idea kung anu yung something or purpose na yun para sa inyo. Truth be told there are many days I don’t feel sure kung anu yung akin. Gusto ko na lang siguro imaintain yung pagiging perfect ko throughout my life! Char lang! Panuorin nyo yung preaching ko two weeks ago sa mga hindi nakagets.

Kidding aside, I think this topic on Grace in Progress is an important part of our Lenten series on Grace through Imperfection. Kase nga kung nasa perfect state na ang kung sino man at anu man, anu pang progress ang kinakailangan mo? Wala ka nang kailangang pagdaanang pagbabago. Perfect ka na kase. Bakit mo pa babaguhin ang perfect na diba. Being perfect means you already know your life’s purpose and you’ve already fulfilled it. No need for any progress.

I will share a little bit about my life progress for the past half year of my life. Promise very short lang ito and patapos na rin ako. The latter part of September 2023, I was promoted in work at a Singaporean company so there was a very significant salary increase. That was a very good month of course. At the same time, I lost time for my Sun Life business, so I was not able to meet my annual sales quota. As a result, I lost my second professional financial license in November. That was my license for selling Mutual Fund investments. Buti napagbigyan akong ikeep yung insurance license. Nagpromissory note muna ako na gagalingan ko pa ang pagbebenta sa 2024 ng insurances. Ang super stressful nun para sa akin kase ang hirap ng exam sa SEC to get that second license ha. November rin nagkaroon ng falling out yung two people that are part of my innermost circle. Up to now, I’m still upset about that. November rin nangyare ang retreat ng Batch 2 – Batch Resilience ng MCC. Syempre super happy naman yun. Mid-December I started dating someone an acquaintance. January we became official partners kaya mas happy. Also in Janaury, inannounce na magsasara ang aming project sa Singapore kaya ayun super stressed na naman ako. Imagine kakapromote ko lang a few months ago. Di pa nagiinit pwet ko tapos isasara na kagad. Kainis noh? Also in January, I received an opportunity to be part of the MCC Board. Challenging yung new role as I learn more about the responsibilities and tasks pero sige keri. Holy Spirit Activate uli. I attended the historic implementation of the F2BMe Project. February need na magtipid tipid sa gala kase last month of work ko na sa Singapore. We closed Feb 15. It took me only last week lang to get a very promising work opportunity that I want to pursue kase work-from-home tapos 50% more than my last pay nya. I have my second interview this Tuesday so please pray for me. Please please please. Thanks!

As you can probably imagine, the past 6 months have been a rollercoaster ride for me too. I’m sure marami sa inyo ang makakarelate. Whether it’s for work, church, relationships or even personal health and finances, andaming ups and downs. Those I’ve mentioned are but a few of the major changes that I had to go through. May maganda, may chaka at may so-so lang. Through all of those, I still see significant progress. If I will plot each day since September 2023, it would really be full of sudden positive spikes and negative ditches, but generally it’s still an upward trend. I’m sure yung mga mahilig sa mga graphs dyan would easily relate. Pataas pa rin ang trend ng buhay ko pero I have to admit that an optimistic mindset played a big role for me to still see it that way. If I only look at particular months, may mga di talaga maganda but if I look at the bigger timeline, I have a better view of the progress I’m making kahit may times na marami ring hindi magandang nangyayare. Hindi ako exempted sa chakang life events.

Unfortunately for us human beings, we only see but a tiny fraction of our entire story, our complete timeline. Wala tayong powers ni Dr. Strange para makita ang mga outcomes para makapili tayo ng ating best case scenarios. Humans are not designed to see and appreciate the bigger picture of things that are still relatively far in the future, especially when we’re going through the rough patches in life.

Think about this. In a study in the US, they found out that about 25% of Americans never think about what life will be like five years into the future, and over 50% never think about life in thirty years.

Studies here in the Philippines have also demonstrated that we “Filipinos are known to follow a Natural Clock or Organic sense of time- doing things in the time they feel is right. They are present-oriented: which means that one attends to a task or requirement at the time it is needed and does not worry much about future engagements. This allows the Filipino to adapt and be flexible in doing the tasks at times not bound to a particular schedule or timeframe. This allows them think on their feet and be creative in facing whatever challenge or task they have even when it is already right in front of them.” In short madiskarte daw tayo.

Syempre kung ikaw ay kailangan kumayod araw-araw para lang may makain, hindi mo iisipin ang mga bagay na malayo layo pa sa hinaharap. Eh di lalo na kung 5, 10, 20 years in the future pa ang usapan. Ang una mong iisipin at bibigyan ng atensyon ay yung pagkain, tubig, renta, kuryente, tuition, gamot, etc. Yan ang difference ng 1st world at isang 3rd world developing countries.

It’s harder for many of us to see difficult times as part of progress especially if we have to fixate on the present to make ends meet. Naturally, we’ll see the situation as very dark and hopeless. At kahit anong sabihin ng ibang tao sayo na okay lang yan, na matatapos din yan, na wala yan kumpara sa kung anu mang sitwasyon, usually hindi naman talaga nakakatulong yung sinabi nila. Aminin nyo yan masarap lang din talaga na may napaghihingahan ng mga bitbit natin sa dibdib.

The latter part of the verse for today reads “So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me.”

Jesus never really gave the full details of what’s going to happen to him and to his followers. He didn’t lay out the specifics of the how, when, where and who of everything that he will go through after he entered the gates of Jerusalem. All his followers had to watch him go through agonizing pain and humiliating death on the cross. All they had was his promise that their hearts will eventually rejoice. Of course, they indeed rejoiced when he resurrected. I can only imagine many of them thinking na eto na ang panahon. Kaming taumbayan naman ang bida. Susugod na tayo. Lalaban ako. Lalaban tayo. Char! They were hoping for the fall of the Roman Empire in the hands of the true Son of God. Hindi yung taga down south na hinahabol ni Uncle Sam at ng double chambers naten. Kaso ayun nga, as we all know the rest of the story, Jesus didn’t really stay with them as they expected. He didn’t topple the Roman Empire the way they probably imagined he would. Ang ganda na sana eh. Happy na sana ang mga early Christians pero Jesus had to leave. He left but he sent the Holy Spirit to dwell on his followers, then many of them got persecuted and killed because they were spreading his teachings. Christ’s followers knew in some ways that they will be persecuted and yet many of them still went on their way.

But you know what, there is still another promise given by Jesus. In the Gospels, he promised that he’ll one day come back for good so our joy will finally be complete. I still strongly believe in this even if I don’t know when and how it will all come down. I’m sure that many of us here today in the chapel and online still believe in the same promise. We can still hold on to that whatever gets thrown at us while we’re progressing through this life.

In ending, I pray that this Lenten Season remind us that pain, suffering and difficulties are part of this journey called life. They are part of progressing in life as much as the joy, pleasure and comforts we experience. Whatever your purpose may be in this life, take comfort that Jesus, the one we follow and celebrate, knows exactly what we need and when need it, however positive or negative we may perceive something. And despite all our individual differences, he prepared the best for us, we only need to progress towards becoming versions of ourselves modeled through Jesus’ love. Amen.

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You make darkness, and it is night, when all the animals of the forest come creeping out. The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they withdraw and lie down in their dens. People go out to their work and to their labor until the evening.

O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. There is the sea, great and wide; creeping things innumerable are there, living things both small and great. There go the ships and Leviathan that you formed to sport in it.

These all look to you to give them their food in due season; when you give to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things. When you hide your face, they are dismayed; when you take away their breath, they die and return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Scripture Reading Psalm 104:20-30 (NRSVUE)

Pag natutolog ba kayo, hanggang paggising n’yo ng umaga, iisang posisyon lang kayo? Your body needs to change position, to move. If you stay in one position for a long time, your body will experience discomfort.

Change and movement are fundamental in the very fabric of existence and your body. And I would argue that change is existence itself. No movement and no change, no existence.

According to Gautama The Buddha, change or impermanence is one of the three realities of life. This reality observed by many peoples across different cultures and times have been a constant topic of existential inquiry. Whether east or west, whether Chinese philosophy or Greek philosophy, pinagmumunihan nila ito.

Sa bible, ang pinaka-famous na chika about change is in Ecclesiastes, in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3: “for there is a time and a season for everything under heaven.” There are other places in the bible that talks about change and impermanence. Psalms 104 sings about God’s wonderful creation. It says that God created darkness and evening. And when darkness in evening comes, there are creatures who come out to hunt and look for food. And then when the sun rises and the light comes, they will retire. And then the humans will then come out to do their work.

Nilikha ng Diyos ang gabi, at umaga, at bawat oras in between. At mayroong nagaganap sa bawat pagpalit ng oras o panahon.

God as Creator is the first or the primary mover. In Genesis 1, God started a series of movements and changes. Beginning with the creation of light. And from there, days, weeks, seasons started to roll into their cycles. Change started with creation. From nothing into something. From static singular non-movement into an expanding multiplication and evolution.

The universe started with a singularity. A small point, almost the same size as a pinhead. Everything that you see right now, and everything that you know or imagine, and everything that we do not know yet – everything started and all came from a single dot na kasinglaki ng ulo ng karayom. A dot of energy. For whatever reason, or no reason at all, this dot of energy expanded like a balloon. And then, with its expansion, energy changed. Matter and anti-matter cancelled each other out, until matter is what is left. Matter survived and continued the expansion, and with that expansion of matter, it multiplied and evolved into many different forms, elements, particles, and subatomic particles. And then gravity pulled them together. And they began to come together for the birth of the stars. And then the stars gathered together to become galaxies. Galaxies into clusters and superclusters. And as stars died, they evolved and changed into different things, most common of which are black holes. Some stars will cool down to a version of a white dwarf or a red dwarf. As stars were being born, matter also became planets, asteroids, and comets. This process of expansion, evolution, change, and transformation continued to happen for billions of years. Stars and planets were born. Stars and planets died. And from the remnants of these dead stars, new planets and stars were born again. Until such time that it gave birth to our star that we call the sun. And Earth formed, and the other planets formed. For whatever reason, or no reason at all, nang lumamig na ang Earth, the non-living carbon material became a single-cell carbon-based life. This single-cell life eventually expanded and evolved, and changed into multi-cellular life. It then evolved further to become water-dwelling creatures. And later crawled into land as reptiles. And then reptiles into birds. And then, all became dinosaurs of Jurassic Park. And then, into mammals. And then, into complex, intelligent conscious life form that eventually called itself as humans.

This is creation. A constant continuation of change. From a biological standpoint, according to an article by Scientific America, the human body gets replaced. Every single day, billions of cells in your body are changed and replaced with new ones. Approximately 80 to 100 days, a little over three months, your body is a totally new body.

Ngayon, bakit may pa-review ng Science, pastor?

This serves as a reminder that both religiously and scientifically, change is fundamental to existence.

Existence itself is change. Creation is an act of change. Creation requires itself to be impermanent, in relation to change. Change is built into the universe, and it is built into your own bodily system. Whether you’re aware of it, and whether you don’t like it. Change is around us, in us, and we are here because of change. Change in itself is fundamentally good. Even when sometimes we think or feel that it is bad, uncomfortable, or scary.

The best thing about change and impermanence is that, unlike natural forces, humans have the power to effect change and determine the change that we want for ourselves.

The problem is not change. There are two problems in relation to us humans. According to the Apostle Paul, ang problema raw is when we look for something eternal and lasting in a world that is mortal and temporary. When we expect material things to give us perpetual or never-ending satisfaction, and interpret that satisfaction as joy.

There is goodness in the material and temporary. God created the material and temporary, and God said it is good. But do not confuse the temporal with the eternal. Do not grasp on material and temporal things as if they are forever.

According to Paul, three things shall remain. Faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love. In Greek, it is “agape” – a love that is based on choice and does not grasp.

Love is eternal, but it has many phases, and for it to be love, it changes and has cycles of change.

Love is the fuel of growth. Love is the fuel of transformation, and therefore love, perhaps, is the energy of change.

Ang isa sa realities ng buhay ay change or impermanence. Ang pangalawa diyan ay suffering. Existence is suffering. And that this suffering comes from attachment or grasping tightly. We desperately hold onto things, peoples and situations. And we get so attached and connected, or engaged, with temporary things, that when a person, thing, or situation changes, the consequence is that we suffer. We get disappointed. We get hurt.

True love never grasps. It allows things and people to change, and grow, and move.

Bakit marami ang ayaw sa pagbabago? Lahat tayo, may iba’t ibang resistance sa change. Ayaw ng tao sa change because they will lose control. Lalo na sa mga perfectionists. Walang control kasi unfamiliar and may uncertainty. It requires you to take control of your life and happiness.

Change also requires freedom. And freedom is also equal to responsibility.

Ang iba, ayaw ng change because it requires changing the way you do things. Change, in some situations, will require you to live and work with people who are imperfect. Change also means not working with the people you feel most comfortable working with.

Change is not the problem. Change is not evil. Ang pagbabago, bagaman minsan ito ay hindi komportable, o walang kasiguraduhan, hindi ito ang problema, at hindi ito masama. Ang problema ay ‘pag hindi natin niyayakap at tinatanggap ang katotohanan at reyalidad ng pagbabago. At hindi natin ginagamit ito para sa ating ikabubuti.

Change, good or bad, can be a turning point for growth and learning. At tulad ng sabi ko kanina, unlike sa natural forces that bring about change, evolution, and multiplicity, tayong mga tao, we as humans who evolved into this magnificent mechanism of creation, we can effect change. We can make change work for us and with us.

Created in God’s image and gifted with our capabilities, we can create and recreate ourselves and our surrounding into what is good, beautiful, and true. Change is the other name for creation. Change is the other name for growth and progress. Change reminds us that evil things, or evil people, or evil situations will not last, no matter how long it takes.

Change, as the venue of God’s grace and goodness, reminds us na hindi mananatili ang problema o ang mga chaka. Ang lahat ng mga bagay ay nagbabago at magbabago. Change or impermanence, temporality, or mortality gives rise to infinite possibilities.

Impermanence or mortality was so good! It was so good, that out of great love, God left eternity and became a mortal human to experience change and to experience the mortality of the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

So, huwag kang matakot sa pagbabago, anuman ito. Gamitin mo ito para sa ikabubuti mo at ng iba.

Though change can be scary and uncomfortable, welcome it, and allow it to flow in your life. God’s grace flows with the change. It is an act of creation. Change is exactly the doorway toward grace and blessing. Nasa pagbabago ang pagpapala at grasya ng Diyos. Nasa pagbabago ang kalayaan at bagong buhay. Nasa pagbabago ang panibagong pag-asa. Impermanence or change is existence itself, whether you like it or not. Do not resist it, but rather welcome it and see how it can work for your benefit, or can teach you something. God’s grace and power will meet you, will encounter you there only if you are willing.

I end this preaching with the end verse of our reading today from Psalm 104: When you send forth your spirit, they are created. And you renew the face of the ground. So, hold onto God’s promise that God always creates something new, beautiful, and true.

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Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

Scripture Reading Colossians 3:12-16 (NRSV)

Let me start with a confession that I was a very annoying perfectionist in my younger years up to my mid 20s. I trace it back to my very timid and obedient nature when I was kid. I was one of those kids raised to fully submit to authority. Anything an authority figure says, I consider as unbreakable. Syempre number one authority ang parents ko. I am very proud to say na sobrang sipag at disiplinadong mga tao ng parehong magulang ko. Naalala ko dapat may sinusundan kameng routine, schedules and particular ways of doing things para na din siguro mas madali sa kanila na alagaan kameng apat na magkakapatid habang nagbabanat sila ng buto dahil hindi naman kame mayaman. In short, I had a very structured childhood. Nakalayout na ang mga bagay bagay tapos susundin ko na lang PERFECTLY yung tinuro ng parents at older brothers ko para walang problema.

My mode is the same when I was at school. Private Roman Catholic school ako from preschool, elementary, high school and even college actually. Of course yung routine, schedules and particular ways of doing things andyan din talaga sa school. Hindi rin pwedeng nababali ang mga bagay bagay, otherwise you are subjected to specific consequences. May dagdag na pressure na bawal malate or magabsent. Bawal below 75 ang grades. Dapat palagi ako nasa honors. Dapat kasama sa class officers. Dapat clean and neat ang uniform hanggang uwian. Dapat laging prim and proper ang mga actions. I dreaded any type of punishment during that time because I felt like it was me being IMPERFECT.

Those are the backdrop of my formative years. I took so much pride from being able to follow the rules, routines, schedules and particular ways of doing things. I will also include the consistency in academic excellence. What was supposed to be amining and striving for self-discipline and excellence became a pursuit of PERFECTION to me. Anything less than ideal is not acceptable, good enough or something to be proud of.

Why did the goal transform to PERFECTION from something as positive as DISCIPLINE and EXCELLENCE?

I would say it’s because I also had to overcompensate. I felt the need to be much better than the rest of my peers because I don’t feel like I fit in. I’m not straight, nor did I fully identify as gay during that time kase nga I also like girls. Hindi po uso ang bisexuality nung 1990s at early 2000s. Pausbong pa lang internet noon mga panahon na yun.

Ang tanong ko noon – SAAN BA TALAGA AKO BELONG? Instead of finding an answer to that question, I ended up focusing all my energy on what I do best which is to be a PERFECT SON AND MODEL STUDENT. Wala halos problem saken yung parents ko. I do my chores. I do my assignments with little supervision. Hindi ako mabarkada. Wala akong bisyo. Sa school naglalaro lang ako lagi sa Top 1- 3 . I was always in the Top 10 of the batch after each school year. I was always President or Vice President, leader sa mga group activities and projects at pambato sa interschool competitions. I lived the typical story of an overachieving but closeted batang accla wanting to belong and to be recognized.

Siguro some of you would say na – Jun, that doesn’t sound so bad.

With all those achievements and in the pursuit of perfection, nagdevelop ako ng mga toxic mindset and behaviors that I wasn’t very much aware of until I was already in my mid 20s. Syempre if hindi ka aware, hindi mo naman alam na may need ka na palang ayusin hanggang sa naging habit mo na sya. Paulit ulit na ganun na lang ang nangyayare. These toxic mindset and behavior attacked not only other people but also my own self.

1. On one hand, I secretly craved for the attention and recognition of people around me. Kapag may ginawa akong PERFECT dapat marecognize nila yan. At the same time, I became easily discouraged whenever something I do is not reaching a minimum acceptable level. Kapag feeling ko hindi na ganun kaganda, kaayos or kabongga yung magagawa or matatapos ko, nawawalan na ako ng gana. Minsan ayoko nang tapusin. My pride keeps shouting that I am capable of PERFECTION. I became so hyper-critical towards myself that it was causing me so much anxiety. Feeling ko nga malaking factor yan kaya ako nagstart ng pimple breakout nung 2nd year high school. Prior dun sobrang kinis ko po talaga.
2. I also became very judgmental towards other people. I used to get easily annoyed with people who I feel are not giving it their best when doing something important. Nung nasa high school ako, andami kong expectations sa mga classmates ko na para bang dapat alam na nila ang mga bagay bagay kase parepareho naman kame ng mga natututnan. At the same time, ayoko ng nauungusan ako ng ibang tao. I take so much pride in being better than other people. That mindset carried on even when I was already working during my early 20s. Sa call center kase ako mostly nagtrabaho nung panahon na yun. Secretly, ambobo ng tingin ko sa mga kawork ko na hindi nagagawa yung mga pinagagawa samen sa calls because I generally find it very easy after a few attempts. Again, my pride and ego were getting a big boost while some people are already feeling miserable.

As you guys can probably realize by now, andaming negative effects ng perfectionism on an intrapersonal (sarili) and interpersonal (with others) level. Actually, I started checking recent studies about perfectionism. Apparently, it’s already a big area of concern sa mental health.

In their 1991 paper, Psychologists Paul Hewitt and Gorden Flett defined three forms of perfectionism: [2]

• Self-oriented perfectionism. When someone demands perfection from themselves. (Check, meron ako nito)
• Other-oriented perfectionism. When someone demands perfection from other people. (Check din ito! Yey!)
• Socially prescribed perfectionism. When someone feels pressure from others to be perfect. (This is a typical pressure for so many accla while growing up. The pressure to perfectly fit in. And yes, I also had this.)

So Jun anung kinalaman ng reading naten today dyan sa personal story mo?

First of all let us be reminded that this letter was written to the early Christians in the city of Colossa. It was intended for them and not for us 2000 years after. This letter, also is a disputed letter of Paul. Meaning, mukhang hindi si Paul and nagsulat and someone else wrote either in his name or on his behalf.

Ang titignan natin ay ano kayang chismis ang pwede nating makita at sa sulat na ito, and ano ang pwedeng matutunan sa pakikichismis natin sa letter to the Colossians?
Sabi sa letter, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” The demand for perfection from others is not compassionate. It’s not kind. It’s not humble. It’s not meek nor patient.

Perfection forgets the humanity that we all share. Wala naman perfect na human being. We are all flawed in some way and in varying degrees. Kase kung merong taong perfect in this day and age eh di sana wala na si Jesus. Sya na lang nagpapako sa krus, nilibing, nabuhay at nagascension.

Perfection demands that people will always be at their 100% with everything, everywhere, every time, all at once! Perfection forgets that people are rarely at their 100%. And even if they feel they are at their 100%, sometimes what we expect from them may just not be their own thing. Remember that we are all given diverse gifts that we can use to help other people in the communities we move around in. Iba iba yung binigay sa atin eh. Iba iba din yung dinevelop natin as we age. That’s why we all have different strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats – SWOT. Char but no char! SWOT and so many tools were developed to understand the diversity of the human family. Eh di kung pareho na lang lahat tayo wala nang diversity yun. Amboring diba? Diversity and inclusivity nga ang dalawa sa mga bagay na ineembrace at pinopromote natin dito sa MCC diba?

Let’s assume for a few seconds na kahit wala na yung Bible reading for today. Is it still not true that perfectionism is harmful to ourselves and also our relationships with other people. Hindi nakakagood vibes and PERFECTIONISM.

And since some semblance of perfectionism was discussed by Jesus in the gospels and by Paul in some of his letter, and other writers who wrote in the name of Paul, it also only means, it is a problem even before lalo na among those who think they are holier than. Problema na sya na na-identify ni Jesus at na-identify ni Paul.

Bakit sasabihin sa letter sa mga members ng Church in Colossa, “to clothe yourselves with compassion”? It only means nagsisimula sila maging less compassionate. There’s no point of saying it unless it was a problem. Baki babanggitin yung kindness, humility, meekness, and patience? Kasi there’s already MEAN attitudes among them; Binanggit yung humility, because meron na sa kanila na nagmamataas. Bakit meekness and patience? Kasi meron na among them na perfectionist na nagsisimula ng magtaray at manakit all in the name of perefectionism.

Whether we’re talking about our families, schools, workplace, or simply group of friends, it’s unfair to expect that people will fit in impossible molds that we create in our heads. Diba ang unfair nga na may molde na para sa babae at lalake bago ka pa ipanganak tapos expected ng society na magcoconform ka na lang dun? Bakit mo gagawin sa iba yung ayaw mo sanang ginawa sayo?

Although, let us be clear, when we say na wag tayo magin perfectionist would mean hahayaan natin ang mga abusive, manipulative, or other bahaviors na talagang masama. Hindi porket sinabi nating wag maging perfectionist, means to justify mediocrity and malevolent behaviors. Hindi yun ang ibig sabibhin natin. There are actions and behaviors that can be tolerated and easily forgiven. There are imperfections that na ang sagot ay patience, compassion, and kindness… kasi nga baka gutom lang or pagod si accla kaya mainit ulo. And then those imperfections na medyo mas Malala – they would require a matured way of communication, feedback, and accountability that hopefully leads to forgiveness and reconciliation

Huwag na tayong lumayo. Let me tell you a little bit about how MCC was when I started. Aalog-alog ang MCC when I came in. It was January of 2022 when I first visited our last chapel in De Oro building in person. Kase 2021 puro online pa yun kase nga covid pa. The only people I saw for the first few weeks were of course sila Pstr Joseph, Jack, Sean, Chris, Ralph, Dandy, Josh, Kuya Vinz, Chase at Victoria. Ang konti lang ng mga tao and I noticed from the very beginning na andami dami dami dami dami dami dami nilang kailangan gawin.

But you know what, that imperfect state of Open Table was so attractive to me because I don’t understand why these people still do what they do considering the situation. Ang question ko nga nun ay bakit ba gumagampan pa etong mga accla na ito kahit ganito ang estado ng kanilang simbahan. I started observing and understanding the people behind Open Table in the next few weeks. Here’s what I figured out.

THEY WERE SIMPLE AND IMPERFECT PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND AND NAVIGATE THEIR WAY IN MAKING SURE THAT AN IMPERFECT SMALL DIY CHURCH THAT CAN SERVE AS A SAFE HAVEN FOR CHRISTIAN LGBTQIA+ FILIPINO IS STILL OPERATIONAL. A SPACE WHERE WE WILL NOT BE REJECTED, INVALIDATEd, DISCRIMINATED, EXORCISED or CONVERTED TO BEING STRAIGHT.

The church had very little resources. There is an ongoing pandemic with no clear end in sight. They recently lost beloved members. They had to carry the burden of the dark ages with its horror stories. Kaya tayo may mga reminders as read by Hermana if you guys were listening to the introduction.

Ganun ang mga eksena. Gawa lang sila ng gawa every Sunday. Saluhan ng trabaho. Tanungan kung sino pwedeng gumawa ng ganito at ganoon. Paalala pag may nakalimutan at di nagawa. I’m sure nagaaway at nagkakagulo din sila. Imposibleng hindi. Andami kayang kailangan gawin at tapusin.

Syempre umabot sa punto na nakakahiya din naman na nakaupo lang ako dun every Sunday habang aligaga ang lahat ng mga tao sa paligid ko. Kahit bisita pa lang ako noon, hanap ako ng konting pwede gawin. Pasweet lang muna. Busy-busyhan school acting. Isa sa mga tumatak saken noong panahon na yun – HELP AS YOU ARE WILLING AND ABLE! TUMULONG KUNG GUSTO AT KAYA! WALANG PILITIN. HAYAAN MO NA ANG HOLY SPIRIT O KONSENSYA (kung di ka spiritual) ANG MAGTULAK SA IYO.

Fast forward, two years. Our church’s size grew. Syempre hindi pa rin perfect ang state. Hindi pa rin perfect ang mga tao. Napakarami pa rin kailangan gawin. Ang kinaibahan lang ay mas dumami na yung mga tao na willing magshare ng load ng trabaho. Again, walang sapilitan. HELP AS YOU ARE WILLING AND ABLE pa rin!

May mga tumutugtog at kumakanta na bukod kay Jack at Josh. Hindi na si Pstr Joseph at iilang tao ang nakakapagpreach. May nakakapagasikaso na sa mga bagong bisita. May iba nang naglilinis ng espasyo natin. May iba nang naghahandle ng streaming. Naging mas consistent ang live hangout at online connect sessions. Nangyare ang mga ito at lumago ang Open Table kahit imperfect ang state at imperfect ang mga taong nandito, myself included.

Pwede naman pala yun. Pwede naman palang lumago at bumongga ang isang simbahan ng mga accla kahit ang imperfect ng mga tao at sitwasyon. Ang importante lang naiintindihan natin baket tayo nasa MCC, sinusuportahan natin ang bawat isa, tinatapik ng marahan kapag kailangan, nakikinig higit sa lahat sa mga nauna saten at kumikilos ng kusa para makatulong.

Marerealize lang din natin na mararanasan natin ang grasya, presensya, at pagpapasensya ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng imperfection ng bawat isa – na merong mga taong magpupuno nung kakulangan ko. Na merong mga taong pwedeng tumugon sa hindi ko kaya o hindi ko pa kayang gawin. Nararanasan ko ang biyaya ng Diyos sa aking pagkakamali sa mga taong nagtutuwid o pupuna sa akin na may pagmamahal. Na ako ay natututo at nagiging mature sa aking imperfection dahil sa grasya at pasensyang ibinibigay ng iba. I’m able to fully experience and know what grace through my imperfection; Grace is God’s response to my imperfection and through the imperfection of others, because we extend grace to each other.

Sabi rin sa reading “Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” kaya sana kalmahan lang natin.

Paalala po sa mga MCC minsters at regulars bilang ineembrace ko ang pag kuya kuya nyo saken. Kung may pagkakasala, pananakit, pagkakamali o pagkukulang ang isa man sa atin, normal naman mainis o magalit, valid yan, pero sana kalmahan pa rin natin. Sana tandaan natin na isa lang din syang imperfect na taong kagaya mo, kagaya ko, kagaya nating lahat na hindi laging nasa tamang wisyo. Minsan gutom lang or pagod kaya masungit o kaya naman na-ekis sa booking the previous night kaya mainit ulo ni badeng. Pagpasensyahan mo na. Kung talagang kailangan ng konting tapik at chika, gentle but firm feedback. Lalong mas kumalma kung marami din namang nagagawang maayos yung taong hindi mo gusto o kasundo. Huwag natin silang ipako sa krus kagad dahil hindi sila perpekto.

Baka minsan nageexpect tayo ng hindi talaga kaya o hindi pa kayang gawin ng isa sa atin. We have to be extra careful kase minsan yung other-oriented perfectionism pwedeng magmukhang “good-will” or “concern” for others, pero self-serving pala para lang masatisfy yung need natin for perfectionism habang nakakasama na pala dun sa taong nageexpect tayo na maging perfect with everything, everywhere, every time, all at once!

Let us remember during this Lenten season that none of us is perfect. We are remembering the life and crucifixion of Christ because we need a role model to show us the best way to live a full and good life. We anticipate his resurrection as a triumphant testament of how he conquered this imperfect world and imperfect states we are in.

Pero baka may pwede ka din gawin. Baka may maiaambag tayo kahit kaunti. **In any situation where you expect for something significant from someone, please check both your mind and heart whether it’s coming from genuine love and not mainly because of a personal need that is begging to be satisfied. If it’s out of love, I’m pretty sure the other party will be more receptive of you.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.**

I’ll end this preaching and leave you with an anonymous quote that I found on the net

No one in this world is pure and perfect. If you avoid people for their little mistakes, you will be alone in this world. So JUDGE LESS and LOVE MORE.

AMEN!

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I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.

Scripture Reading 1 Romans 12:1-16 (NRSV)

Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor. “What is your request?” he asked.

She replied, “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.”

But Jesus answered by saying to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?”

“Oh yes,” they replied, “we are able!” Jesus told them, “You will indeed drink from my bitter cup. But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant. But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Scripture Reading 2 Matthew 20:20-28 (NLT)

Even if we have individual tendencies toward arrogance, self-righteousness, we imagine ourselves as better, if not the best, than other people, there is a social structure. There’s a sociopolitical, economic structure, and culture that pushed us or molded us to have those tendencies and to be that way.

Perfectionism is first taught at home and in school. You are rewarded and applauded when you get a perfect score or a high mark sa quiz, sa test, or sa exam. You are celebrated when you graduate with honors, lalo na if you graduate as valedictorian or salutatorian.

Kaya nga sabi sa article ni Sharon Martin, which was mentioned last week, The root of perfectionism is believing your self-worth is based on your achievements. Ang value mo as a person comes only from what you produce. What you become.

Perfectionism starts at home. And I quote Sharon Martin, “Perfectionism is encouraged in some families. Sometimes parents knowingly and unknowingly establish perfection as the standard. Mistakes are also harshly punished in these families. The punishment may be severe, even abusive, It is conveyed to the child in words or actions that mistakes will not be tolerated.”

And for some LGBT+ people, being LGBT+ is in itself already a mistake. Hence the punishment to some LGBT+ individuals. As a Church that claims to be progressive, and one of the values that we practice, mababangit sa latter part, we practice critical thinking. So, we must also be aware and understand that that different ways of perfectionism have been practiced, encouraged, and manifested in our families as part of a larger sociopolitical and historical system that goes all the way back to the Roman Empire.

What many call as the traditional or normative family goes all the way back to the Roman Empire. It is an enduring legacy, or more correctly, it’s the persistent curse that has reached us even today.

Sa social order na ‘yan, the father is the head of the family, and then the Emperor is the father of fathers. In the Greco-Roman Empire, the young man is expected to excel in athletics and combat, philosophy and rhetoric, the management of one’s household and enterprise. You are to reflect and emulate the excellence and the perfection of the Emperor, the father of fathers.

This entire culture and sociopolitical consciousness that privileges perfection through male excellence is also based on hierarchy, dominance, and conquest.

Pero ang akala natin, that is all in the past. It’s also here now and today.

Promotion based on excellence and productivity is based on two things. Competition and process. Productivity is based on competition, where you need to show that you can do better and more than the other person, to such an extent that you have to slave yourself to prove that you are the better person. Mag-overtime ka nang walang pay nang bonggang-bongga to outshine the competitor sa trabaho. Kahit hindi na makatao, basta ma-promote ka lang.

Paano na? This version of competition within corporations, and perhaps the competitive culture we have, is our version of the Roman conquest. To dominate. To climb the corporate ladder while kicking others to fall from the ladder. It is not even about excellence and productivity per se. It is primarily competition, conquest, and climbing the hierarchy.

Sa mga accla, sa LGBT – pagalingan at pagandahan. Ako ang mas magaling. Ako ang mas matalino sa ‘yo. Ako ang mas sosyal. Ako ang mas may class. Ako ang mas maraming body count. Ako ang mas magaling.

Ang ganitong mga behaviors and attitudes and practices within our social and corporate circles na mostly, hindi tayo aware, ay may malalim na hugot at pinanggagalingan. Bukod sa self-awareness, we also have to have socio-political awareness of why we live in a world of male privileging, competition, and hierarchies. Why women have to do more to be promoted. Why LGBT have to do triple more to be promoted. Dahil ito ang pinakaugat at kaluluwa ng oppression at kaapihan. An entire cultural, social, and political system that would want us to believe and continue to practice perfection based on competition and hierarchical domination.

Bakit? Kasi, it is all around us. And it is in the very fabric of the almost everything we do and everywhere we go. Most basic of which, sa bahay, sa school, sa corporate na trabaho or negosyo. At maging sa mainstream and dominant churches. Kung bakit in some churches, lalaki lang ang puwedeng maging pari o pastor.

Our gospel reading today is a direct reaction and resistance against the Roman social order and hierarchy. The reason Jesus was killed is because he was offering a totally different social order. And why the early Christians got killed. Our Gospel Reading today is a direct reaction and resistance against the Roman social order and hierarchy. Those who lead are the ones who must serve and must be willing to give their lives for their people. The Roman society says – the one who leads is the one on top. Served, glorified and privileged. Worthy of the wealth of the people. The wealth that the people worked for, or the wealth of the conquered peoples.

Even in the Jewish mindset, as expressed in the Gospel story, genuinely believed that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Who will expel the Roman occupiers? (Kasi ang Messiah in the Jewish thinking is not spiritual. The Messiah is a political person, a liberator, similar to Moses and to David.)

Jesus, I think, coming from the prophetic tradition, and knowing well the heart of the Jewish covenant law, saw that the problem is much deeper. Mas malalim yung problema, than simply paalisin ang mga occupiers. He saw that a kin-dom on earth must not be the same as the other kingdoms of earth where leadership is based on competition and conquest between the powerful and those who can assert through violence. Kin-dom is not about competition or hierarchy for Jesus. Leadership and Kin-dom is not based on outshining each other’s excellence, beauty, or productivity. It is not about who sits on the right, who sits on the left, and who’s the queen at the center.

And yet exactly the opposite is what most of us do. It is exactly the opposite kind of leaders we look for and we vote for. It is exactly the kind of leader most of us want to become. To be the powerful, the most beautiful, the strongest, and the smartest above everyone else.

But that’s not what Jesus is saying. In the kin-dom of Jesus, the Greek word “basileia,” leadership is about service and not personal gain or glory. Leadership is not about outshining the other, but making sure we recognize and encourage each other’s light.

Di ba ang sabi ni Jesus: “you are the light of the world.”

Lahat kayo ay liwanag, at lahat kayo ay dapat magliwanag at magningning. Hindi lang si Queen Bee ang magniningning. After all, there is no way to outshine light. Pwede ba mag outshine yung ilaw sa ilaw? Light is light, and they dissolve into one another.

Leadership is not about others serving you and dying for you, like the Roman Emperor. It is you serving and dying for your people. That’s the example of Jesus. And for the greater cause.

If every single person is willing to die for each and every other person, then no one would have to. If all of us are willing to die for the person next to you, then no one in the world would have to die. And then the world will finally know and experience genuine peace.

The problem that Jesus wanted to address is not simply expelling the Roman Empire and replacing it with a Jewish Empire, and bring back the good old golden days of David and Solomon. (Which by the way, historians and archaeologists and other biblical scholars tell us, was not really a golden age at all.)

Jesus wanted a new and different kin-dom. Where there is no competition, but rather communal cooperation, community cooperation. Jesus envisioned a new and different kingdom where there are no longer enemies, because even enemies are people we must love, feed, and pray for. And when there is conflict, Jesus saw a kin-dom, or wanted a kin-dom where there is a matured way of communicating. Of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Jesus wanted a kin-dom where the poor and those who seek justice are the ones who are truly blessed. Blessed are the poor. And the peacemakers are the true children of God and not the emperor. A kin-dom where there’s always room for grace and redemption. Even for those who have lost their way. Instead of punishment and torture. A kin-dom where everyone shared everything in common and gave according to each one’s need. Eating and praying together with glad and thankful hearts as practiced by the early Christians told to us in Acts 2 and Acts 4. As compared to the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Empire, where a few live in luxury and comfort, while other people are hungry and thirsty. While other people are overworked and underpaid. Or worse, others live in comfort and luxury, while other people are constantly displaced, homes are taken, neighborhoods are bombed, civilians tortured, and children killed.

All the conflicts and problems in the world today can be traced back to the system of empire that demands and encourages perfection through domination and competition. It is all around, and it is within each one of us to recognize this, especially when you wish to rise and succeed.

I want to end this preaching with the Letter of Paul to the Romans:

I appeal to you, therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. Do not be conformed to the standards of competition in this world, in this age. But be transformed by the renewing of the mind so that you may discern what is the will of God. What is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me as I say to everyone among you, not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For us in one body, we have many members. And not all the members have the same function. So we who are many are one body in Christ. And individually, we are members of one another.

In short, pantay-pantay tayong lahat. Tayo ay magkakasama. Walang mas maganda o mas magaling. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us. Prophesy in proportion to faith, ministry and ministering, the teacher in teaching, the encourager in encouragement, the giver in sincerity, the teacher in teaching, the leader in diligence, the compassionate in cheerfulness

Let love be genuine. Hate what is evil. Hold fast to what is good. Love one another with mutual affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal. Be ardent in spirit. Serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope. Be patient in affliction. Persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints. Pursue hospitality to the strangers, the people you do not know. Bless those who persecute you. And mahirap din minsan, di ba? Bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those who weep – especially with your LGBT friends. Live in harmony with one another, even if you are different. Do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly. Do not claim to be wiser than you are.

Yes, we have to excel. Yes, we have to achieve. Yes, we have to be productive. Yes, we have to be beautiful. But we have to be aware of the ways that this world is trying to make us isolated and enemies to one another.

And like Jesus and the early Christians, we have to resist the system, and the culture of competition and domination. In the name of Jesus, who came to serve and not to be served.

Amen.

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He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Scripture Reading Luke 18:9–14 (NRSV)

Have you ever thought of yourself as someone better than someone else? Minsan mo na bang naisip na mas magaling at mas matalino ka than your sibling, coworker, or even churchmate? Minsan niyo na rin bang naisip na mas matalino, mas maganda, o mas magaling ka kaysa sa jowa mo?

Lahat tayo ay nakapag-isip na ng ganyan. Nakapag-isip na tayo at one point that we feel or think that we’re better than someone else. At baka nga mas madalas natin ‘yang iniisip nang hindi natin napapansin. And some of our attitudes and behaviors come from this way of thinking.

Now, according to the article of Sharon Martin from the website, Psych Central, a website for psychology, and I quote, “The root of perfectionism is believing that your self-worth is based on your achievements.”

A lot of high achievers and successful people have a tendency for perfectionist attitudes and behaviors. Or ‘yong high and rigid standards. Maraming leaders, tendency ‘yan. Kahit saang larangan. But there are also those we call as toxic perfectionists, where nothing you will ever give or do will ever be satisfactory.

We see some caricatures of these in movies like “The Devil Wears Prada,” by the character of Miranda Priestly, na bet na bet ng mga bakla na ini-imbibe sa kanilang mga sarili. Pero sa totoo naman, hindi naman maganda. O ‘yong prequel ng story ni Cruella de Vil na “Cruella.” ‘Yong perfectionism ng kanyang nanay, ‘yong sobrang taas, sobrang ganda, at sobrang galing ang tingin mo sa sarili mo, everyone else ay chaka, mababa, at loser.

There’s no distinction between you as a human being and the success you have achieved, or imagined having achieved. Achievement feeds and hardens perfectionism. Ang problema, merong mga taong perfectionists at napakataas ng tingin sa sarili, pero in truth, hindi naman talaga.

In the article, “What Causes Perfectionism?” Sharon Martin continues by saying: “Perfectionism is encouraged in some families. Sometimes parents knowingly or unknowingly establish perfection as the standard. These parents require straight As in school, or flawless piano recitals. Mistakes are also harshly punished in these families. The punishment may be severe, even abusive. This can include name-calling, yelling, shaming, the silent treatment, and physical punishment. It is conveyed to the child, in words or actions, that mistakes or failure will not be tolerated.”

This is, of course, common experience nating mga LGBTQIA+. We excel academically and in other extracurricular activities to compensate for our sexuality or gender identity. Sometimes, it is also the way we try to evade or soften the homophobia or transphobia in our families. Siguro, mas matatanggap nila ako kung honor ako sa school at kung marami akong awards.

Minsan naman, ito ‘yong means ng ilan sa atin sa LGBT+ community para bumangon at magpursige na may pangako sa sarili na “bukas, luluhod ang mga tala”, o kaya “bukas, dudurugin ko kayo.”

But, of course, this is not only true for LGBTQIA+ people. Kahit may privilege ang mga cis hetero people, some of them equally experience unfair standards and stereotyping expected of a straight man or a straight woman. Panganay na lalaki ka, dapat magaling, madiskarte, at matalino. Hindi ka dapat weak para mag-provide sa ‘yong magiging asawa at pamilya someday.

But if we are not careful, our own success, independence, or even wokeness – or our own excellence can be cataracts that blind us. Our own self-image can become poison to our life, can become fatal to our faith, and can become toxic to our relationships. And we’re not even aware of it.

A commitment to excellence is good, and everything should always be committed to do and give their best no matter what challenges or struggles that may come, and no matter what career, craft, field, or endeavor.

It’s okay to be committed to excellence, to striving. And many ancient philosophers din naman – both east and west – ay maraming chika tungkol sa struggling and commitment to excellence of anything that you will do. Tama at nararapat magpagaling at magpaka-excel. Maikli masyado ang buhay para sayangin ito on mediocrity.

The problem is not excellence. The problem of perfectionism is the attitude that we think and feel – whether we are aware of it or unaware – that we are above others and others are below us. At dahil ‘yon ‘yong thinking natin, then we set unfair or uninformed expectations and judgements on others.

I think (and let me propose) that perfectionism comes from this internalized idea that you are above someone else, and therefore you impose your perfectionism or high and rigid standard towards others, and even towards yourself.

In our reading today from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells us a parable. It’s about someone who thinks too highly of himself and his self-image, and his self-image rests upon the faults and the sins of others.

Nagdadasal siya: “Panginoon salamat at hindi ako tulad ng ibang tao! Salamat at hindi ako magnanakaw. Hindi ako cheater or adulterer. Hindi ako taong tampalasan. At lalong hindi ako tulad nitong tax collector na ito. Ako ay nag-fa-fasting, dalawang beses sa isang linggo at nagbibigay ako ng ten percent gross income computation.”

So hindi lang problema na mataas ang tingin niya sa sarili niya. Ang kataasan ng imagination niya ay nakatungtong sa tingin niyang pagiging mababa or chaka no’ng kaniyang kapwa.

Wala siya actually sinabing mali, and most do’n sa kaniyang dasal. Tama naman. Hindi dapat magnakaw. Hindi dapat bumoto ng pamilya ng mga magnanakaw. Hindi dapat manloko ng kapwa or commit cheating sa isang relationship (maski pa sa open relationship.)

Tama at tunay naman na dapat maging mabuting tao sa lahat ng oras lugar at panahon. Tama naman, dapat woke tayo sa maraming mga iba’t-ibang isyu ng lipunan at mundo. Tama na mayro’n tayong ethical commitments na pinaninindigan at tinitindigan. Pero hindi dapat ito nakatungtong sa kasamaan o pagkakamali ng iba. Hindi dapat nito sinisilip ang bawat kilos or hindi pagkilos no’ng kapwa para lang masabi na “Hoy, ako ay magaling. Kasi siya ay hindi magaling.”

Mabuti ka kasi mabuti ka. At kung tunay na mabuti ka, hindi ito kailangan pang i-mention kay Lord and sa others.

Goodness, beauty, excellence – like truth – has a way of speaking and revealing itself. They shine by themselves without resentment nor arrogance.

Beh, masyado kang mapagmataas. Masyado ka nang perfect. We have to be careful that simply because we consider ourselves as good – and perhaps totoo naman – that we are doing good. But you have to be careful not to look down on others who do not believe, think, or do the things the way that you do. Worse, you must be careful not to demonize or dehumanize others, even if by every standard, the other person or other group of people are indeed committing sin. After all, no matter how good we are, how good you are, and how much good you are doing, no one can ever be perfectly good. No one is so intelligent or excellent that they do not need others to learn, to grow, or to succeed.

In the Gospel of Mark, and then later, in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asked the question: who is good but God?

Self-righteousness or self greatness is the other name for perfectionism or the basis of perfectionism. And everyone has a tendency for it.

Both the pink-lawans and the pulawans think that they are above each other. Both religious conservatives and progressives think that they are above and over the other. Gen-Z’s, millennials, and boomers – all of them think that they know better and are above the other generation.

Even if we are truly woke, good, and have impeccable character, perfectionism expressed in self-righteousness poisons our heart and our souls. It also becomes catarcts that blinds us from our own flaws and areas of our own characters that we need to also address, confess, and transform.

To be extreme about it – when the Marcoses genuinely confesses their sins, and the sins of their family, with such remorse and guilt, and therefore willingness to correct the mistakes of the past, they would be better and justified and redeemed, than any pink-lawan who thinks that they are still way better and above. A truly repentant Duterte will be made right and redeemed, than for any activist who will continue to see themselves above others. A repentant conservative Christian, willing to listen and to talk, will be far better in the eyes of God than a progressive queer Christian unwilling to forgive and extend reconciliation.

Do not let your woke-ness, be in itself, a sinful attitude.

Lest I be misunderstood and intentionally misquoted by malicious individuals. I’m not justifying BBM or Duterte, or anyone else, or the pulawans. I’m not justifying mediocrity in our careers, relationships, crafts or in this church community. I’m not justifying ‘yong idea na “puwede na.” I’m not justifying intentionally committing hurtful behaviors and actions, then excusing them because imperfect naman tayo lahat.

We must continue to be good and to do good to everyone. We must continue to be woke, at magpatuloy sa pagmumulat at pagpapanday ng sarili at ng iba.

What I’m saying for today’s first Lenten lesson are two things.

Number one: do not think that you are above others or that you are already okay by virtue of your own goodness or success. And do not let your goodness stand upon the flaws of others. Wag mong masyadong silipin ang iba at gamitin ang ka-chakahan nila para pagandahin ka.

Number two: Leave room for grace, for those who are most difficult to love or care for. There is grace for you and there’s also grace for others.

The most difficult and radical thing about Christianity is that there is grace, even for someone like Hitler. No one is outside of God’s grace.

Brené Brown tells us from her book, “Belonging” (in paraphrase) – Let us resist that tendency to dehumanize those who are polar opposites to us. Even if they are doing exactly that to us and to others. Do not demonize and dehumanize those who dehumanize you. Do not become that which you are fighting against.

Who is good, but God? Who is perfect, but the Lord alone?

No one among us must think too highly of themselves. No one must see their own goodness or woke-ness as better or above. No one must use the flaws, failures, and even the sins of others, as stepping stones to rise higher.

No one is more spiritual or more holy than anyone els,e even if it is true that you are spiritual or holy. The grace of God is given to all, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to each according to the purpose of ministry or calling, inside and outside the church.

The ground where we all stand is flat. All of us are flawed and continually need of God’s grace, and the grace of one another. We are all flawed. Lahat tayo ay may imperfection. Lahat tayo, may ka-chakahan. Kasi kung perfect ka na pala, hindi mo na kailangan ng Diyos, simbahan, o iba pang tao. Tumira ka sa liblib na kuweba o kaya sa isang isla. Mag-isa at doon mo mag-isang purihin ang sarili mo.

Perfectionism poisons our hearts and souls. It poisons our faith, ministry, and advocacy. Perfectionism poisons our faith, ministry, and advocacy. We must excel and achieve. But we must do so in and with God’s grace. With a little room for failures and mistakes. Because only through failures, sins, and mistakes that we genuinely grow into the maturity and spirituality of God’s love. God’s love that is both gentle and firm.

Amen.

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My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

Scripture Reading James 1:2-5 (NRSV)

Nung sinend sa akin ni Pastor ‘tong reading natin for today, sabi ko, “Shems, ang hirap.” Kasi sa surface level parang ineecho ni James yung mga cliché slogans like “Everything happens for a reason”, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, “Just be positive,” “Everything will be okay”, and “Look on the bright side.” Pero alam kong hindi kayo pumunta ng Open Table MCC today para magaslight. And the last thing I want to do is to romanticize suffering at magpakalat ng toxic positivity on a Sunday afternoon. Iwan na natin sa pandemic era yang mga ganyan.

Pag stressed tayo, stressed talaga tayo. Pag malungkot tayo, malungkot talaga tayo. Pag nabibigatan tayo sa mga problema, yun ay dahil mabigat talaga sila.

Today, God wants to tell you that your feelings are valid. The emotions you’re experiencing are real. You don’t need to doubt them.

Yun nga lang, parang iba naman yung sinasabi ng reading natin. Ano ba kasi yang talak na yan ni James?

Bago ko idefend si James sa quotable passage niya, I also want to share na hindi tayo 100% sure na James talaga yung pangalan nung nagsulat ng Letter of James. Sa Christian tradition, pinaniniwalaan na si James na brother ni Jesus ang author ng letter while may mga scholars naman na nagsasabing kay James nga galing yung material na nasa text pero iba yung mismong nagsulat ng letter. But for this preaching, we’ll refer to the author as James for the sake of simplying the discussion.

Now, going back, ano ba talaga ang ibig sabihin ni James nung sinabi niya na 1. Consider trials as joy. 2. Testing your faith produces endurance. 3. Let endurance have its full effect so that you may be mature and complete.

In that passage, verses 2-4, he actually raised three interesting points that are far from the toxic positivity that we may get from it if we only read the text on a surface level.

Let’s start with Verse 2. In this verse, when he said consider trials as joy, he distinguished joy from happiness.

Madalas kasing nagiging interchangeable yang dalawa ‘di ba. Lalo na sa ating mga Pinoy na ‘pag may paessay writing, nagthethesaurus. Pero bawat salita, may nakakabit na unique na kahulugan. And when we forget that quality of language, pati yung reality natin pwedeng maapektuhan. Kaya if we always interchange joy and happiness, baka may namimissout tayong irecognize sa buhay natin. Kasi akala natin same lang sila. So ano nga ba itong joy na ito na pwedeng magexist even if we’re suffering?

Para maintindihan natin, let’s further differentiate joy from happiness.

In the 1828 version of Webster’s Dictionary, Joy is defined as the passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good. In comparison with happiness, which is defined as sensations which spring from the enjoyment of good or we can also call as gratification, joy is not something you can get from a present pleasurable or fun event. It’s a manifestation of someone’s faith that there’s good to come. That’s why in Galatians 5:22-23, joy is said to be one of the fruits of the spirit. And if a person is guided by the Holy Spirit, these fruits will manifest anuman ang external circumstances. Now, it’s clear to us that they’re different.

In the Bible, there are characters who are described by the scriptures as joyful amidst suffering. In Acts 5:12-42, the apostles, despite being imprisoned and flogged for performing miracles and acts of kindness, are described as rejoicing. Ibig bang sabihin nun masaya silang hinagupit sila? Hindi. Hindi BDSM fans ang first Christians. The right word to use in Filipino is nagagalak or in English, joy. They felt joy and were able to rejoice because they knew that there’s good to come and they stayed true to their principles.

Sa panahon natin, masasabi nating ang hirap pala maging joyful. Parang walang ikagagalak masyado dahil naiipit tayo sa kabi-kabilang “trials”. Sa personal lives natin may mga sahod na kailangang pagkasyahin at mga conflict within the family and friend groups na kailangang ayusin. Sa bansa natin, nagbabardagulan ang mga pulitiko at parang walang silver lining lalo na noong nakita mo yung survey para sa 2028 elections. At higit sa lahat, ilang buwan na nating hinihiling na magkaroon ng ceasefire sa Gaza pero wala pa rin. Kaya paano natin magagawang magalak sa kabila ng lahat ng ito?

Sinasagot ng second main point ni James ang tanong na yan.

On Verse 3, he wanted to point out that trials are a significant factor in our spiritual growth. And as we try to find joy in each of our trials, we also get the chance to cultivate the other fruits of the holy spirit that are mentioned sa Galatians.

Let’s have a quick review. Ano nga ba ang mga fruit of the holy spirit? We have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Kung bibigyang pansin natin, itong trials na kinakaharap natin, are opportunities to let these fruits grow. Paano? Sometimes, we need to use love to resolve an issue. Minsan, baka patience naman ang kailangan natin. Baka kailangan din nating pairalin ang kindness, self-control, o ‘di naman kaya gentleness para masolusyunan ang isang problema. As we try to seek joy out of these challenging moments in our lives, we also let the other fruits of the spirit develop within us.

Kaya kung babalikan natin yung tanong, keri bang magawang magalak sa kabila ng lahat ng problema sa buhay? Yes. It’s possible. But only if we let the trials transform us. Yan ang pinakapunto ng Verse 3. The testing of our faith has the potential to help us understand ourselves better, be mature, and of course, bear the fruits of the holy spirit.

Minsan parang ang hirap imaginin. How’s that possible?

Lahat ba tayo rito nakaranas na ng breakup? Hindi madali, ‘di ba? Minsan parang ikamamatay mo na. But after you moved on, marerealize mo na pinush ka pala nung breakup to grow. Kaya nga nauso yung sinasabi nilang may mga taong ginamit ka for character development. Masakit man pero it’s true to some extent because breakups like all other devastating and negative events have the potential to propel us towards a growth na we might not have been able to achieve if comfortable at masaya lang tayo every day.

What’s also amazing here is that this transformation isn’t limited to the personal level; it extends beyond individual growth. The history of this church serves as evidence of how trials lead to a community’s metamorphosis. There was a period in MCC’s history when it was on the verge of collapse. Umabot nga sa point na muntik nang magsara ang MCCQC. Sa dami ng mga nakakalokang ganap noon, tinawag natin yung phase na yun na dark ages. But because the legacy members persevered, rejoiced despite the struggles, and believed that there’s good to come, nandito tayo ngayon sa Wilshire. Hindi tayo makakarating dito kung hindi ibinaon ng mga legacy members ang learnings mula sa mga problema at kung ano anong kachakahan sa past. It made the members wiser.

Yun nga lang, hindi natin maitatanggi na may mga problemang pagkatagal-tagal matapos. Kaya sa Verse 4, James raised his last main point, which is something that would comfort us. If we paraphase his message into something simpler, it’ll be “trust the process.” Sometimes, we just really have to wait and trust the process.

And in going through that process, mayroon tayong hindi dapat kalimutan. On Verse 5, it was emphasized that we need to ask God for wisdom and God who is generous will give it to us.

Pero how does God provide wisdom? After mo ba magpray, ang smart smart mo na? Alam mo na agad ang solusyon sa lahat ng problema mo? Syempre, hindi ganun. Hindi ka magiging si Jimmy Neutron na may Brain Blast moment or gaya ni Archimedes na may Eureka moment.

Most of the time, you need to dig. You need to actively search for wisdom. Sabi nga sa Proverbs 2:4, “look for wisdom like silver. Search for it like hidden treasure.” At dahil napakaraming source ng wisdom from God, I can only discuss two resources this afternoon.

First, scriptures. Before I elaborate this one, I have a question for all of us. Sino sa atin ang nabasa na ulit ang buong bible after umalis sa previous church? Or sino sa atin ang nagkachance nang ireinterpret ang mga bible stories na natutunan natin noong bata pa tayo?

I think kokonti pa lang sa atin. Probably, because we still have this fear na hindi natin kayang maintindihan ang Bible, fear that was instilled by our former religious leaders. Or baka naman iniisip natin, nandyan naman ang MCC, nandyan naman si Pastor, nakikinig naman ako nang mabuti ‘pag Sunday service. Keri na yun. Pero keri na nga ba talaga yun? O baka we can find time to read Bible passages at makita on our own yung sinasabi sa Proverbs na hidden treasure we’re looking for?

I think it’s time for us to deeply reflect and contemplate on that question kasi I believe that each of us here can reinterpret those bible passages we’ve learned in the past. Pastor Joseph provided us with fundamental tools for queer theology and jeepney hermeneutics and IQThS will continue to guide us in that journey. Ilapat natin sa context natin. Sa mga pang-araw-araw na struggles natin. What can we learn from the Israelites noong nasa wilderness sila? Anong matututunan natin sa mga propeta at propetisa ng Ancient Israel? What can we learn from the fall of King Solomon? If we need courage, what if we check out Queen Esther’s story or Daniel’s story or Jeremiah’s story? Can you still remember all of Jesus’ miracles? Ako hindi but what wisdom can we get from those stories? If we approach the bible in a new light, ang dami pa nating matututunan.

To end this preaching, I want you to look to your left and then to your right. Anong napansin niyo?

Ang cheesy nitong sasabihin ko but we have each other. This community is a source of wisdom. God reveals his wisdom through community. With our diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and perspectives, God already speaks to us in various languages and diverse truths. Wisdom is found in the multiplicity of trutht. Sometimes even in the contradictions of truths. We can learn from each other, and we can be there for each other as we overcome the challenges that life presents.

Kaya going back to the title of this preaching, let’s just keep on swimming. Kaya natin ‘to. At hindi lang kaya. With God’s wisdom and the support of this loving community, we can consider this life of ours nothing but joy – joy that is constant and that which passes through and overcomes struggles.

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Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves; keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for [...]

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In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. [...]

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O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know [...]

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so John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And the whole Judean region and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him and were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a [...]

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In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, [...]

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Nang pasimula, naroon na ang tinatawag na Salita. Ang Salita ay kasama ng Dios at ang Salita ay Dios. Sa simula paʼy kasama na siya ng Dios. Nilikha ang lahat ng bagay sa pamamagitan niya, at walang anumang nalikha nang hindi sa pamamagitan niya. Ang Salita ang pinagmumulan ng buhay, at ang buhay na itoʼy [...]

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At sinabi ni Maria, “Buong puso kong pinupuri ang Panginoon, at nagagalak ang aking espiritu sa Dios na aking Tagapagligtas! Sapagkat inalala niya ako na kanyang abang lingkod. Mula ngayon ay ituturing akong mapalad ng lahat ng henerasyon, dahil sa dakilang mga bagay na ginawa sa akin ng Makapangyarihang Dios. Banal siya! Kinaaawaan niya ang [...]

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The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight,’ ” so John the baptizer [...]

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“But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. “Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. Then he [...]

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“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once the one who had received the five talents went off and [...]

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“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water [...]

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Plants demand a steady supply of sunlight, moisture, and nutrients to thrive. They absorb sunlight through their foliage and draw moisture and nutrients from the soil through their roots. You’d never not water your garden, and you should feel the same way about feeding. As the soil becomes depleted, you need to add fertilizer, also [...]

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Pruning trees and shrubs is an art and a science. From an artistic perspective, a discerning eye is needed to evaluate a plant, then determine what (if anything) must be done to achieve the desired appearance. From a scientific perspective, knowing the when, where, and how of pruning a plant is equally, if not more, [...]

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Soil health is the foundation of productive farming practices. Fertile soil provides essential nutrients to plants. Important physical characteristics of soil-like structures and aggregation allow water and air to infiltrate, roots to explore, and biota to thrive. Diverse and active biological communities help soil resist physical degradation and cycle nutrients at rates to meet plant needs. Soil health and soil quality are terms used interchangeably to describe soils that are not only fertile but also possess adequate physical and biological properties to “sustain productivity, maintain environmental quality and promote plant and animal health” (Doron 1994).

According to the (USDA) Natural Resource Conservation Service, “Soil quality is how well soil does what we want it to do.” In order to grow our crops, we want the soil to hold water and nutrients like a sponge where they are readily available for plant roots to take them up, suppress pests and weeds that may attack our plants, sequester carbon from the atmosphere, and clean the water that flows through it into rivers, lakes, and aquifers.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a complex of diverse components, including plant and animal residues, living and dead soil microorganisms, and substances produced by these organisms and their decomposition. SOM influences the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the soil in ways that are almost universally beneficial to crop production.

This tiny fraction of the soil volume (agricultural soils average 1-6 percent) has an overwhelming influence on most other soil properties. Often classified as “the living, the dead, and the very dead,” it is composed of three components: living organisms, fresh residue, and well-decomposed residue. Each of these components contributes to the vital functions of soil.

Bacteria, fungi, protozoa, earthworms, tiny insects, and other organisms form the living fraction of soil organic matter.

The second fraction of soil organic matter is the “dead”–fresh residues that have been recently added to soil. This is active, easily decomposed material that provides the fuel for soil organisms.

The soil is alive.

Contemporary Reading
Soil Quality Information – Lynn Kime, PennState Extension

He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle because the harvest has come.”

Scripture Reading
Mark 4:26-29 (NRSV)

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When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every people under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Fellow Jews and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

Scripture Reading
Acts 2:1-18 (NRSV)

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Volunteer Lay Preacher:
Sib. Dandy Dy-Liacco

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Scripture Reading
Luke 24:44-53 (NRSV)

When pastor Joseph assigned me the reading to preach on today, I thought: “this is a hard one.” Because, isn’t this part at the end of the book? Hasn’t everything already happened?

Well. I came to discover a valuable lesson, to be found in these 10 verses, and the first chapter of acts – a lesson relevant and applicable to our lives today. And it has to do with waiting.

Looking at the literary context: The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles were written as a two-part series. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus lived his life on Earth, instructed his followers on how to live, then he suffered, died, and rose again. In the Acts of the Apostles, we’ll see how Jesus’ followers spread His teachings and organized His church after their teacher was no longer with them in body.

The part of the story we find the apostles in now, is between the conclusion of one chapter, and the start of the next. Between receiving their mission from Jesus (to tell how they witnessed his suffering, death, and resurrection, and to proclaim the repentance and forgiveness of sin to all nations starting in Jerusalem), and before the apostles received what they need, to carry the mission out (that is, the Holy Spirit).

In this in-between moment, we find the apostles… waiting.

There are many times in our lives where we might find ourselves in similar situations.
Waiting for a groupmate or coworker to finish their part of the project so we can do ours. Waiting for the boss to give us the materials we need in order to do our task.

Waiting can leave us feeling bored, restless, unfulfilled. We might be eager to take action.

The PLHIV experience a kind of waiting that’s common among people with chronic illnesses. Waiting outside doctors’ offices. Waiting for lab work or test results to come in. Waiting to hear back from your doctor when you text them about a new symptom or development.

Waiting can be a time of anxiety. When you don’t have answers, when you don’t know what happens next.

It’s in these times, of uncertainty and vulnerability, when we’re not in control, that I find waiting is an act of faith.

It takes faith, to stand back and trust that the other party will do their part. It takes faith to rest easy. And believe, internalize, that your turn to act will come.

And this is hard. It sucks to not know. To have no control. It’s especially true when you’ve had an experience like this before and you were let down. Or when the person or body or institution has not done a lot to foster much trust.

So what can we do? To make it less hard. Reduce the anxiety of waiting, and make the most of our time?

Let’s turn back to the apostles, and see what they did as they waited. What lessons will we be able to learn, and apply to our lives today?

Turn to God in praise, prayer and scripture. 2. Be in community. 3. Prepare.

Turn to God. In praise, prayer, and scripture.

Subsection 1.a: Praise God.

The apostles, it’s said, after Jesus ascended: went to the Temple and blessed the Lord. They worshipped Jesus, it’s said, with great joy!

How would this look in our context today? Singing praises to God. Giving thanks.

And here’s why this helps: When we remember God’s promises – how God’s seen us through in the past. Both in our own individual lives and as a church across all of this time. It brings to the front of our mind the evidence – for why we are in good hands.

In cognitive behavioral therapy, I was given this worksheet to do. I’d fill it with, “what am I worried about?” and, “what is the evidence this won’t come true?” and, “In the event that it does come true, how will I handle it? Will I, eventually, still be ok?”

When I remember that God, the most powerful being that is, loves me, watches over me, and wants to see me flourish. When I remember that God is with me, even when things are most dark. Then I have access to a great source of comfort.

Subsection 1 b! is Prayer.

The apostles devoted themselves to prayer. The eleven disciples, and women among them!

So why should we pray? How does it help us relieve our anxieties?

When we hand over to God, our worries and struggles and fears. We entrust them to God, that God will take care of the things we can’t control. When we do this, the burdens can weigh on us less. If we can’t control it, it’s not ours to carry. So just let it go, and leave it to God.

And what about things within our control? Difficult choices we may have to make. We can pray to God for guidance.

What does this look like? Well, for me, I keep a prayer journal. Writing helps me sort out my thoughts. I’ll write out my problem. My feelings and thoughts. Ask God for help. Write down my options. Doing this gives me clarity.

How is this different from regular journaling, in which there’s no God involved? Believing that my concerns are heard, and I am not alone. That somebody knows how much I am struggling, and cares with all their love.

So how can we get an idea, of what God wants us to do? We can familiarize ourselves with God’s character, and for that we turn to scripture.

The scriptures give us a window, to Christians and Jews in the past. What choices they made and how they played out. What they believed, and how they acted in doubt. We see God’s promises and God’s instructions.

Reading scripture reinforces all the other points I make here. This is how:

Want to see more about how God keeps promises? You can find examples in scripture!

Want samples of prayers? Want to see what God tells people in different situations? You can find examples in scripture!

At the start of the reading in Luke, Jesus reminds his apostles of the things he taught them while he was with them, and he opens their minds to understand the writings of the Old Testament with new insight. We’re blessed to have Jesus’ teachings, and the Old Testament available for us to learn from today.

Here’s another thing about scripture: these stories about the first Christians, allow us Christians today to have a connection to our ancestors in the faith, ties us together in a community that stretches across time.

This brings me, at last, to point 2: Be in community.

The apostles went through these things together. Not just the 11, and Mary, and Jesus’ brothers: the community of Jesus’ followers numbered about 120.

How does this help: You aren’t alone. You don’t have to go through your struggles alone. We can lend each other support. One member of our church to another. One organization supporting another. How Open Table is working with Free to be Me and Metro Manila Pride.

And we as a movement of liberation for the LGBT+ should stand with other marginalized sectors. Like the PLHIV. And PWDs more broadly. Major depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and other kinds of neurodivergence like autism and ADHD are disabilities that occur in our community. (Also blindness, hi Trix!) We should learn about the different axes or kinds of oppression, from the people most affected. Because the people with the most first hand knowledge of a kind of discrimination know what it looks like the most. And they know what helps the most. We should care because, firstly, it’s the right thing to do. Secondly, to support the members of our community in the intersection of being LGBT and the other oppression. And thirdly because these axes or modes of oppression affect us all.

Let’s take ableism as an example. Ableism says, if you have a weakness in your body/mind, and need support for it, especially if it’s a kind of support most people don’t need, then that’s a you problem. If you can’t do things everyone else can do because of your disability, ableism will treat that like it’s your fault. Like you’re not trying hard enough. Ableism is not considering people who can’t access places or resources or opportunities because of their disability. Ableism is when you allow them to get left behind.

How does ableism affect everyone?

Internalized ableism. When you don’t want to start wearing glasses or hearing aids or a brace even though you know you need to. When you get sick, and refuse to accommodate for the current limitations of your body, and force yourself to try to achieve all the things you would with a healthy body.

Machismo, toxic masculinity that laughs at boys who aren’t athletic, that punishes perceived weakness? That has a root in ableism. The way men are more likely to die from suicide, because showing weakness, asking for support, is so stigmatized? That has a root in ableism. If you’ve ever thought yourself better off dying young, than living to be old and dependent on others, because you think your value as a person lies in what you can do – that is to say, on being able-bodied? That is also ableism.

When we remove structural barriers and unlearn ableist thinking, like when we guarantee sick leave and recognize that all people deserve dignity regardless of what they can or can’t do.

This benefits those most affected, and everyone else as well.

All oppressions are connected. As people with different experiences, we can offer each other perspective. No person alone, no one demographic alone, has the whole picture.

And that brings me to my final point: prepare.

When we wait, it gives us an opportunity to rest, to wind down between periods of action. It is also an opportunity to gather ourselves, and ready our next move.

Peter addressed the gathered community, about filling a leadership role. They elected two candidates, and prayed for God’s guidance, cast lots, and that’s how one was chosen. This, I’d say, was an act of preparing, by the first of Jesus’ followers, before they came out to the world, to proclaim the good news.

How does this look today? We as a church discuss plans with our members in congregational meetings. We hear your perspectives, pray and prepare before we launch our projects. Free to be Me. The Metro Manila pride concert number.

When we look at our queer history, we see examples of massive protests, which had to be planned and organized. For example: In the 80s, during the AIDS crisis, there were protests known as die-ins. There was one where over five thousand, gathered in front of a New York cathedral. Hundreds of activists entered the church, and laid down between the pews. Symbolizing all of the people who died, from the government’s inaction. From the government, society, and the church, all acting like AIDS, an illness, was the fault of the victims.

ACT UP, an AIDS activist group, organized this together with WHAM!, a group focused on women’s heath, who protested the Catholic Church’s blocking of abortion. In solidarity across demographics, is how they achieved such strength in numbers.

Ironically, this demonstration was called “Stop the Church”. But as I see it, calling out injustice, demanding accountability, and change, that is just like what the prophets did. It’s in line with what Jesus did.

These are Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at that big protest. Their organization recognized MCC’s founder, Troy Perry, as a saint.

Open Table MCC has roots in LGBT activism. And we are a church, descended through common teaching, from those first century Christians.

When we wait, let us do so as an act of faith. Let us turn to God, in praise, prayer, and the reading of scripture. Let us confer with community, to share support and gain perspective. And may we do these as part of preparation. So when it’s time to come out to the world and make a statement, bongang bonga ang handa natin.

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Volunteer Lay Preacher:
Bro. Sean Malang

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

“I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

Scripture Reading
John 14:15-21 (NRSV)

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Volunteer Lay Preacher:
Bro. Jun Torres

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe because of the works themselves. Very truly, I say to you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Scripture Reading
John 14:1-14 (NRSV)

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Volunteer Lay Preacher:
Bro. Ralph Sarza

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Scripture Reading
Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)

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Volunteer Lay Preacher:
Bro. Rhick Esteves

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Scripture Reading
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

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Guest Preacher:
Rev. Sis. Wowa Ledama
of Iglesia Filipina Independiente

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’s head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed.

Scripture Reading
John 20:1-8 (NRSV)

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This Good Friday, we remember Jesus’ death on the cross. We remember how he was betrayed by one of his own disciples, how he was arrested, beaten, and mocked by soldiers, and how he was sentenced to death by crucifixion. We remember how he carried his own cross to Golgotha, where he was nailed to it and left to die. We remember how he cried out in agony, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” We remember how he breathed his last and died.

Listen to Pastor Joseph’s message for Good Friday 2023.

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This Maundy Thursday, we remember Jesus’ last meal with his disciples before his death. We remember how he took bread and wine, blessed them, and gave them to his disciples saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” We remember how he washed his disciples’ feet, showing us that true leadership is service. We remember how he gave us a new commandment to love one another as he has loved us.

Listen to Pastor Joseph’s message for Maundy Thursday 2023.

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Tenebrae (meaning ‘darkness’ or ‘shadows’) is a prayer service which involves extinguishing candles one by one as we remember Christ going through his passion.

Scripture Readings:

Matthew 26:17-29 – The Last Supper

Matthew 26:36-56 – Jesus is betrayed and arrested

Mark 1 5:1-5 – Jesus before Pilate

Mark 1 5:16-32 – Jesus is crucified

Matthew 27:45-54 – Jesus dies on the cross

Isaiah 52:13 – 53:5 – The Suffering Servant

Matthew 27:62-66 – Jesus is laid in the tomb

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We want to believe or guarantee our safety if we just eat right, take the right vitamins, marry the right person, and pray the right prayers. But the truth is, we can’t. Sometimes, we do everything right and still get sick, still get into an accident, still lose the person we love.

Pain is not a sign that God has abandoned us, it’s just a part of the human experience. I have lived and breathed the thought that God is here. I am sure of it as I am of my own face in the mirror. That there is something divine, something big, and unexplainable in the midst of tragedy. It’s a hard earned but stubborn conviction.

Contemporary Reading
Everything Happens For A Reason And Other Lies I’ve Loved
by Kate Bowler

I felt the powerful presence of the Lord, and his spirit took me and set me down in a valley where the ground was covered with bones. He led me all around the valley, and I could see that there were very many bones and that they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal man, can these bones come back to life?”

I replied, “Sovereign Lord, only you can answer that!”

He said, “Prophesy to the bones. Tell these dry bones to listen to the word of the Lord. Tell them that I, the Sovereign Lord, am saying to them: I am going to put breath into you and bring you back to life. I will give you sinews and muscles, and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you and bring you back to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

So I prophesied as I had been told. While I was speaking, I heard a rattling noise, and the bones began to join together. While I watched, the bones were covered with sinews and muscles, and then with skin. But there was no breath in the bodies.

God said to me, “Mortal man, prophesy to the wind. Tell the wind that the Sovereign Lord commands it to come from every direction, to breathe into these dead bodies, and to bring them back to life.”

So I prophesied as I had been told. Breath entered the bodies, and they came to life and stood up. There were enough of them to form an army.

God said to me, “Mortal man, the people of Israel are like these bones. They say that they are dried up, without any hope and with no future. So prophesy to my people Israel and tell them that I, the Sovereign Lord, am going to open their graves. I am going to take them out and bring them back to the land of Israel. When I open the graves where my people are buried and bring them out, they will know that I am the Lord. I will put my breath in them, bring them back to life, and let them live in their own land. Then they will know that I am the Lord. I have promised that I would do this—and I will. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

Scripture Reading
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (GNT)

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As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am he.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.

Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

Scripture Reading
John 9 (NRSV)

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Directed by God, the whole company of Israel moved on by stages from the Wilderness of Sin. They set camp at Rephidim. And there wasn’t a drop of water for the people to drink. The people took Moses to task: “Give us water to drink.” But Moses said, “Why pester me? Why are you testing God?”

But the people were thirsty for water there. They complained to Moses, “Why did you take us from Egypt and drag us out here with our children and animals to die of thirst?”

Moses cried out in prayer to God, “What can I do with these people? Any minute now they’ll kill me!”

God said to Moses, “Go on out ahead of the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel. Take the staff you used to strike the Nile. And go. I’m going to be present before you there on the rock at Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will gush out of it and the people will drink.”

Moses did what he said, with the elders of Israel right there watching. He named the place Massah (Testing-Place) and Meribah (Quarreling) because of the quarreling of the Israelites and because of their testing of God when they said, “Is God here with us, or not?”

Scripture Reading
Exodus 17:1-8 (MSG)

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And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”

Scripture Reading
Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)

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Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’ ”

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Scripture Reading
Matthew 4:1-10 (NRSV)

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On the sixth day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.

Scripture Reading
Genesis 2:2-3 (NRSV)

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Related: Father Richard Mickley, a Pioneer of the LGBT Movement in the Philippines, Has Passed Away

Nang sumapit na ang araw ng kanilang paglilinis ayon sa Kautusan ni Moises, dinala ng kanyang mga magulang ang sanggol sa Jerusalem upang ihandog sa Panginoon. Ito ay ayon sa nakasaad sa Kautusan ng Panginoon, “Ang bawat panganay na lalaki ay itatalaga sa Panginoon.” Nag-alay din sila nang ayon sa sinabi sa Kautusan ng Panginoon, “dalawang batu-bato o dalawang batang kalapati.” May isang tao noon sa Jerusalem na ang pangalan ay Simeon. Ang lalaking ito ay matuwid at masipag sa kabanalan at naghihintay sa pagpapalaya sa Israel. Sumasakanya ang Banal na Espiritu. Ipinahayag ng Banal na Espiritu sa kanya na makikita muna niya ang Cristo ng Panginoon bago siya mamatay. Sa patnubay ng Espiritu ay pumasok si Simeon sa templo. At nakita niya na dala-dala si Jesus ng kanyang mga magulang upang gawin ang nakaugalian ayon sa Kautusan. Kinarga ni Simeon ang sanggol at nagpuri sa Panginoon. Sinabi niya,

“Ngayon, Panginoon ko, ayon sa inyong ipinangako, mapayapa mo nang kunin ang iyong alipin. Sapagkat namalas na ng aking mga mata ang iyong pagliligtas, na inyong inihanda, sa harap ng lahat ng bansa: Isang ilaw ng pagpapahayag sa mga Hentil at para sa kaluwalhatian ng bansa mong Israel.”

Scripture Reading 1
Lucas 2:22-32 (FSV)

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Scripture Reading 2
Luke 2:22-32 (NRSV)

Update on Donations:Father Richard has been honorably and peacefully laid to rest in Cavite City last Sunday, February 19, 2023.

We will stop accepting donations by February 21.

The organizing team of Open Table MCC will be completing the financial and narrative report and will be releasing it in the next 1 to 2 weeks.

Thank you to everyone who visited Father Richard’s wake and to everyone who donated.

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There’s a quote by John Wenger that states, “You can’t pull on the plants and expect them to grow faster.” That is, you can’t force a seed to grow faster than nature intended it to, and you can’t make trees bear fruit on demand.

All you can do is create the best possible conditions in your garden, plant the right seeds, and give those seeds the care and attention they need. Then, trust that nature will take care of the rest.

When it comes to your goals, you also have to be patient and trust the process. You can’t force these things to happen. All you can do is take the action that is most likely to produce the results that you want, and then patiently await the results.

Contemporary Reading
The Garden As A Metaphor For Life by Marelisa Fabrega

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Scripture Reading
Philippians 4:5-7 (NRSV)

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After you’ve prepared your soil and planted your seeds, there’s still lots of work to do in your garden. A garden requires constant care and attention. You need to do all of the following:

Set a watering schedule; Pull weeds regularly, or crabgrass and all kinds of unwelcome weeds will sprout up; Prune trees, shrubs, and bushes; Cut away dead or overgrown branches or stems; Add fertilizer; Check to see how the plants are growing and take corrective action if necessary.

Just as a garden needs constant tending, so do your goals and dreams. Make sure that you take the action necessary to achieve your goals on a continuous basis. It’s the only way you’ll get your goals to bear fruit.

Contemporary Reading
The Garden As A Metaphor For Life by Marelisa Fabrega

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and each will receive wages according to their own labor. For we are God’s coworkers, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Scripture Reading
1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NRSV)

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Well planted is not easily uprooted; Well taken care of is not easily taken away; And will be honored from generation to generation. Cultivated in yourself, goodness becomes real. Cultivated in your family it grows; Cultivated in your village it multiplies; Cultivated in your country it flourishes; Cultivated in the world it brings goodness everywhere. We understand others through understanding ourselves.

Contemporary Reading
Tao Te Ching

The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.

Scripture Reading 1
Proverbs 16:9 (NRSVUE)

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future. The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.

Scripture Reading 2
Proverbs 19:20-21 (NRSVUE)

Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.

Scripture Reading 3
Proverbs 24:27 (NRSVUE)

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“Keep, then, the entire commandment that I am commanding you today, so that you may have strength to go in and occupy the land that you are crossing over to occupy and so that you may live long in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give them and to their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey. For the land that you are about to enter to occupy is not like the land of Egypt, from which you have come, where you sow your seed and irrigate by foot like a vegetable garden. But the land that you are crossing over to occupy is a land of hills and valleys watered by rain from the sky, a land that the Lord your God looks after. The eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

“If you will only heed his every commandment that I am commanding you today—loving the Lord your God and serving him with all your heart and with all your soul—

Scripture Reading
Deuteronomy 11:8-13 (NRSV)

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Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry out or lift up his voice or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Scripture Reading 1
Isaiah 42:1-3, 6-9 (NRSV)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

Scripture Reading 2
Matthew 3:13-17 (NRSV)

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Pastor Rev Joseph San Jose, together with his partner, Lawrence Baterina, shares with us their twelve ideas on how to have a joyful and fruitful life as we face the new year of 2023.

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The pastor of Open Table Metropolitan Community Church – Rev Joseph San Jose – updates us on the status of the church for the past year of 2022 and what to look forward to on the upcoming new year of 2023.

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The Jewish and Christian stories of faith are about God responding to the call and outcry of the people. Central to the Jewish faith and covenant is the story of God responding to the outcry of the slaves in Egypt. Central to the Christian faith and hope is the God who heard the cry of the people for the promised Messiah.

But God’s response is also God’s calling and request. In God’s response to the slaves, God called Moses and told him to lead and set free the slaves – God’s people – in Egypt. In God’s response to the promised Messiah, God called and asked Mary and Joseph; Elizabeth, Zachariah, the Magi of the East, the shepherds, and many other people in different situations and different ways.

Christmas is the story of people. People responding to God’s call as much as God’s response to our call. Pagtugon sa pakiusap at pagtawag ng Diyos, habang and Diyos rin ay tumutugon sa ating pagtawag at pagtangis.

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Reverend Goudy here, and I bring you greetings from Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA – where I’m honored to serve as Pastor. I’m also honored to serve as an elder with Metropolitan Community Churches.

Prayer covers all God’s people for a most wondrous Christmas Eve. On this night on Christmas Eve, many churches sing a song titled “Oh Holy Night” – Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear savior’s birth.

What does it mean to be holy?

Well to be holy is to be set apart, not better than anyone but instead to be holy is to step away, to separate one’s self from ordinary awareness and enter into spiritual awareness.

I will never forget one of the sermons of the founder of Metropolitan Community Churches – Reverend Troy Perry was preaching one day about God’s love for all people. God’s love for LGBT people, and this was pretty early on, when I was with MCC so it was probably in the 1990s – and during this sermon Reverend Perry quoted from chapter 2 of the first letter of Peter and it’s that marvelous verse. That you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God’s own people, in order that you might proclaim the mighty acts of The One who called you out of the shadows and into God’s marvelous light.

Once, you are not a people, but now you are God’s people.

Now, that day, without a doubt, it was confirmed to me through Reverend Perry’s sermon that LGBT people were holy, that MCC was holy, that we were a people separated out, called to proclaim God’s mighty acts, and while we may not have been a people, we were now God’s people, and we were expected to share God’s mercy and grace and justice and goodness and love.

So this night, this holy night is unlike any other night. It’s separated out, set apart from those 364 other nights of the year. On this holy night, the Prince of Peace and wonderful counselor breaks through to our broken world, giving us renewal and hope.

Through the savior of the world, God has called us, is calling us, and will continue to call Metropolitan Community Churches in the decades and in the centuries to come.

God says you are my Chosen Ones. You are my people, you are holy, and we are astonished. And yet we say “Amen” and we trust that it is so.

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“I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Scripture Reading
John 14:25-27 (NRSV)

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Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal; be ardent in spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; pursue hospitality to strangers.

Scripture Reading
Romans 12:9-13 (NRSV)

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We know that we have passed from death to life because we love one another. Whoever does not love abides in death. All who hate a brother or sister or sibling are murderers, and you know that murderers don’t have eternal life abiding in them. We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister or sibling in need and yet refuses help?

Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in truth and action. And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him whenever our hearts condemn us, for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness before God, and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.

Scripture Reading 1
1 John 3:14-24 (NRSV)

They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Don’t go after them.

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify.

Scripture Reading 2
Luke 21:7-13 (NRSV)

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Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Go now to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there, for I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” So he set out and went to Zarephath. When he came to the gate of the town, a widow was there gathering sticks; he [...]

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When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by watching, but the leaders [...]

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Prayers by Rev. Joseph San JoseList of names sourced from https://tdor.translivesmatter.info/reportsList of names prepared by Rhick EstevesRecording by Stanley TehVideography by Christopher Celeste Each year the LGBTQI+ community in many places mark November 20th as Transgender day of Remembrance (TDOR) where we remember and raise our voices for the countless fallen transgender and gender queer [...]

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When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what [...]

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Death is but a transition of one life to the next. As followers of the Resurrected One, we hold true in our faith that those who have passed away are received into God’s eternal loving embrace. Jesus tells us that God is the God of the living and not of the dead (Mark 12:27 and [...]

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Now listen to me. I will give you counsel, and God be with you! You should represent the people before God and bring their cases to God. Teach them the statutes and instructions and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do. You should also look [...]

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The post Qualities Of A Pastor appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. The ear that heeds wholesome admonition will lodge among the wise. Those who ignore instruction despise themselves, but those who heed admonition gain understanding. Scripture Reading 1John 15:14, 31-32 (NRSV) Awe came upon everyone because many wonders and [...]

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The post You Do (Not) Need A Pastor appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” “Then who [...]

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The post The Pastor Is (Not) Jesus appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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It is pure invention that pope, bishops, priests and monks are to be called the “spiritual estate;” princes, lords, artisans, and farmers the “temporal estate.” On the contrary, all Christians are truly of the “spiritual estate,” and there is among them no difference at all but that of office. There is no true, basic difference [...]

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But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires [...]

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The post Nagbigay Ka Na Ba Kay Lazaro? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it [...]

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The post Our D.I.Y. Church appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in [...]

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The post Sometimes You Need To Get Lost appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your [...]

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The post Transformation Is The Road To Justice appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Humiliation and dehumanizing ARE NOT accountability or social justice tools, they’re emotional off-loading at best, emotional indulgence at worst. And if our faith asks us to find the face of God in everyone we meet, that should include politicians, media, and strangers in Twitter with whom we most violently disagree. When we desecrate their divinity, [...]

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The post More Than Being Civil appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to [...]

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The post Be Transformed To Transform appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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We’re going to need to intentionally be with people  who are different from us. We’re going to have to sign up, join, take a seat at the table. We’re going to have to learn how to listen. Have hard conversations. Share pain. And be more curious than defensive. All while seeking moments of togetherness. Seven [...]

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The post Vault, Integrity, Non-Judgement, and Generosity appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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You don’t wander into the wilderness unprepared. Standing alone in a hypercritical environment or standing together in the midst of difference requires one tool above all others: Trust. To brave the wilderness and become the wilderness we must learn how to trust ourselves and trust others. Seven elements of trust emerged from the data as [...]

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The post Boundaries, Reliability, and Accountability appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Is it possible to live a faithful spiritual life while being LGBTQIA+ at the same time? Why, of course it is! For the longest time, the general society has this misconception that LGBTQIA+ people cannot have faith and spirituality because of their LGBTQIA+ identity. This is simply not true! It’s high time that we reclaim our own [...]

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The post #AtinAngKulayaan – Living Faith: Queer Theology and Spirituality appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force–no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number [...]

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The post True Belonging appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Theologians, writers, poets, and musicians have always used the wilderness as a metaphor, to represent everything from a vast and dangerous environment where we are forced to navigate difficult trials to a refuge of nature and beauty where we seek space for contemplation. What all wilderness metaphors have in common are the notions of solitude, [...]

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After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying [...]

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The post At Sabi Ni Hesus, Tumayo Ka appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your [...]

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One of the great liabilities of life is that all too many people find themselves living amid a great period of social change, and yet they fail to develop the new attitudes, the new mental responses, that the new situation demands. They end up sleeping through a revolution. And I submit that nothing will be [...]

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The post Tuloy-Tuloy Na Pag-Ibig Kahit Kaunti appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Ano ang “party-list”? Bakit at paano ito nabuo? Paano ba pumili ng party-list na iyong iboboto ngayong halalan? [...]

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The post Ano Nga Ba Ang Party-List? – Eleksyon 2022 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Ano nga ba ang role ng ating mga senador at kongresista? Anong kwalipikasyon ang kailangan nating hanapin mula sa mga kumakandidato sa mga posisyong ito? [...]

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The post Ano ang Role ng mga Senador at Kongresista? – Eleksyon 2022 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey [...]

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The post Hindi Mesiyas Si Leni appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Ano nga ba ang role ng simbahan at mga leader ng simbahan tuwing eleksyon? Ano ba ang ibig-sabihin ng seperation of church and state? Dapat bang manatiling neutral at walang ine-endorso ang mga simbahan at religious organizations? [...]

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The post Ano Ang Role Ng Simbahan Tuwing Halalan? – Eleksyon 2022 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Tama at importante ang mang fact-check at mang-correct ng fake news. But do it with a heart. Huwag maging mayabang at mapangmataas habang nangfa-fact check ng ating kapwa. Isang mensahe mula sa Open Table MCC. [...]

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The post Mang Fact-Check With A Heart – Eleksyon 2022 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes [...]

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The post Why Are You Looking For The Living Among The Dead? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Kahit noon, sa panahon ng Bibliya, may mga trolls na pala at fake news. Ito ang naging dahilan ng pagkakapako sa krus ng ating Panginoong Hesus. Anong lesson ang ating matututunan mula sa kwentong ito? [...]

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The post #GoodFriday: Pinatay si Hesus ng Trolls at Fake News – Eleksyon 2022 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Mahalaga ka. Mahalaga ang iyong boto. Mahalaga ang iyong pagka-Pilipino. Magsuri at pumili ng matalino ngayong eleksyon. Isang mensahe mula sa Open Table MCC. [...]

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The post #HolyWednesday: Magsuri at Pumili – Eleksyon 2022 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Human transformation comes when love casts out fear, assuring us we’ll never be disowned, abandoned, or destroyed. Only in the rich soil of unconditional love can we truly grow. Believing in God’s desire to save every person calms our fears of death and destruction. It assures us of God’s acceptance. Grace gives us the grace [...]

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The post Do Not Focus On Sin appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Mahalaga ka. Mahalaga ang iyong boto. Mahalaga ang iyong pagka-Pilipino. Bumoto ng matalino, tapat, at totoo. Isang mensahe mula sa Open Table MCC. [...]

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The post Mahalaga Ka At Ang Iyong Boto – Eleksyon 2022 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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I had put off my garment; how could I put it on again? I had bathed my feet; how could I soil them? My beloved thrust his hand into the opening, and my inmost being yearned for him. I arose to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid [...]

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The post Sexual Ethics appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the Lord. You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages [...]

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The post Sin Against Truth appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The need for certainty is sin because it works off of fear and limits God to our mental images. And God does not like being boxed in. By definition, God can’t be. I believe we are prone to forget that. God is good to remind us – by any means necessary. If we are willing [...]

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And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place [...]

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The post Hubris And Greed appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we [...]

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The post Rethinking Sin appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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God, there are days we do not feel grateful. When we are anxious or angry. When we are alone. When we do not understand what is happening in the world, or with our neighbors. We struggle to feel grateful. But this Thanksgiving, we choose gratitude to accept life as a gift from you, from the [...]

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The post Nagpapatuloy Na Paglikha appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Boundaries are basically about providing structure, and structure is essential in building anything that thrives. Boundaries define us, they define what is me, and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. Knowing what I am to own and taking responsibility [...]

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The post The Boundaries Of Life appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The ultimate form of intrinsic motivation is when a habit becomes part of your identity. It’s one thing to say I’m the type of person who wants this. It’s something very different to say I’m the type of person who is this. The most effective way to change your habits is to focus not on [...]

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The post Proseso Ng Paglikha appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Happiness comes from within. It is a state that is produced by our minds. Since happiness and unhappiness are states of mind based on your interpretation of events, or what you choose to see, you can change the state of your mind by supplying your mind with new information. You may not always have such [...]

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The post Building Blocks And Pieces appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The beginning of spiritual maturity is the demolition of old habits and the construction of new ones. Contemporary Reading(From Anonymous) Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has [...]

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The post Spiritual Demolition appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Scripture ReadingProverbs 16:2-3 (NRSV) Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so you shall become. Your vision is the promise of what you shall one day be; [...]

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The post Rebuilding With Vision appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Scripture Reading 11 Peter 5:10 (ESV) Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Scripture Reading 2Romans 12:12 (ESV) [...]

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The post The Only Option Is Courage And Hope appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Scripture Reading 1Proverbs 24:3-4 (ESV) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the [...]

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The post Rebuilding With Experts appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there. Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran. The Lord [...]

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The post I Will Rebuild You Says The Lord appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Kumusta ka? Kumusta ang inyong 2021, ang nagdaang taon? Have you had the time to look back, reflect, think about the past 365 days of 2021? Nagkaroon na ba kayo ng pagkakataong pagmunimunihan ang 2021? Kumusta ang inyong Pasko? Mayroon ba kayong ipinagpapasalamat sa taon ng 2021? Are there things that you are thankful for, [...]

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The post New Year 2022 Message appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Mula sa amin dito sa Open Table MCC, hangad namin na magkaroon ka at ang iyong pamilya ng isang masagana at mapayapang kapaskuhan. Ang kapaskuhan ay hindi lamang para sa mga bata, kundi para sating lahat na nais maging maligaya, masagana, at mapayapa ang araw ng ating pagdiriwang sa kapanganakan ng sanggol na si Hesus. [...]

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The post Christmas 2021 Message appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Rev. Joseph San Jose, a pastor who is praying for other pastors. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 9: A Pastor’s Prayer For Pastors appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Rev. Joseph San Jose’s reflection and prayer in our current time of pandemic. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 8: Prayer In A Time Of Pandemic appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Rev. GV Basbas, together with his husband, Anthony Bailey, and their prayer and story. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 7: A Prophet’s Prayer appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Rev. Miak Siew, our friend from Free Community Church Singapore, and his prayer for those who are experiencing grief. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 6: Prayer In The Season Of Grief appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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This young man discovered that to truly give, you must know what is wanted. To know that, you must form a relationship with the other–you have to love them. Love is merely the willingness to know the other person as he or she truly is, and then offering yourself as you truly are. In love, [...]

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The post Giving As Loving appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Pauline Ong, our friend from Free Community Church Singapore, and her prayer in the changing seasons. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 5: Prayer In The Changing Seasons appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Rev. Joseph San Jose’s prayer for the young LGBTQIA+ who are struggling with their faith and sexuality. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 4: Prayer For The Young LGBTQIA+ appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Ralph’s story and his prayer as someone who is a ‘breadwinner’ – the main provider for his family. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 3: Prayer Of A Breadwinner appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Oriel’s story during his time of desperation and darkness, and how faith and prayer got him through a tough crisis in his life. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 2: A Desperate Prayer appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Come pray and reflect with us this Christmas season, with our friends and colleagues who have different stories to tell and come from different walks of life. Listen to Mommy Loida’s story and prayer as a mother. [...]

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The post Mga Panalangin Ng Pasko: Simbang Gabi Reflections – Day 1: Prayer Of A Mother appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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I was speaking in a classroom of third-graders one day about kindness and generosity. I asked the kids why we should do nice things for one another. Hands popped up: “Because it’s the right thing to do.” “Because it makes the other person feel good.” “Because then they’ll be nice to you.” Then a girl [...]

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The post The Joy Of Giving appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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We are all generous to greater or lesser degrees. And we are all generous in different realms. We’ve learned to be openhearted in some areas but not in others. It’s good to take stock of just where and when we are and aren’t generous. Once we’ve become conscious of our habits, we have more freedom [...]

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The post Not Giving As Giving appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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There was a farmer who was a premier corn grower in his community. His corn was always sweeter and better than anyone else’s, and it always won the blue ribbon at the county fair. At the end of the growing season, he would take his seed corn, the corn that would be sown the following [...]

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The post Giving Is Living appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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One of the central functions of the dark night, he says (referring to St. John of the Cross), is to convince those who grasp after things that God cannot be grasped. In John’s native Spanish, his word for God is ‘nada’. God is no-thing. God is not a thing. And since God is not a [...]

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The post God Is No Thing appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab. But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the angel of the Lord took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him. And [...]

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The post God’s Humor appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” [...]

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The post The One Who Is Naked appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Death is but a doorway to the other side of life and existence. As followers of the Resurrected One, we believe that those who passed on are received into God’s eternal loving embrace. Jesus tells us that God is the God of the living and not of the dead (Mark 12:27 and Luke 20:38). By [...]

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The post Remembering The Dearly Departed appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry; my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, [...]

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The post The One Who Takes Sides appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who [...]

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The post Holy Darkness appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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For thus says the Lord: I will extend prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of the nations like an overflowing stream; and you shall nurse and be carried on her arm, and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in [...]

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The post In Her Holy Name appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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But Moses said to God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” He said further, “Thus you shall say [...]

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The post In The Image Of Man appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my [...]

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The post Where Shall We Go, Lord? – Open Table MCC’s 15th Anniversary appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in their yield; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land, a sabbath for the Lord: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. You shall not reap the aftergrowth of [...]

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The post August is Sabbath Month appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and cure him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: Queers Of The Bible – Jesus Heals The Centurion’s Servant appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Throughout Christian history, Ruth’s vow to Naomi has been used to illustrate the nature of the marriage covenant. These words are often read at Christian wedding ceremonies and used in sermons to illustrate the ideal love that spouses should have for one another. The fact that these words were originally spoken by one woman to [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: Queers Of The Bible – Ruth & Naomi appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: Queers Of The Bible – David & Jonathan appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The prayer of the heart is indeed the way to the purity of heart that gives us eyes to see the reality of our existence. This purity of heart allows us to see more clearly, not only our own needy, distorted, and anxious self but also the caring face of our compassionate God. When that [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: Pride & Praise Worship appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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SulongVAKLASH! Several church groups and conservatives oppose the SOGIE Equality Bill – the bill that seeks to address the discrimination based on one’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. These conservatives often cite concerns that the proposed bill “oversteps” on their freedom of religion. They even claim that such a bill is no longer necessary [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: HolyEquality – SOGIE Equality Bill & Freedom Of Religion appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Ang ikatlo at huling maipapayo ko, makisangkot ka. Ang buhay na hindi inilaan sa kapakanan ng iba ay parang lantang gulay o bilasang isda na walang nakinabang. Huwag kang kuripot. Ibigay mo ang buhay mo sa iba, maski na paminsan-minsan lang. Pumunta ka sa mga bukid, sa mga minahan, sa mga bundok, sa mga batang [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: What’s Next? Annoy Them! appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Conservatives often use the biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah as justification for their homophobia. In this webinar, we will debunk the idea that homosexuality is a sin according to the bible (it’s NOT), and we will analyze what the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is really about. Note: the video presentation from this webinar [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: Holy Equality – Sexuality & The Bible (Unclobbering Sodom & Gomorrah) appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: Let Your Light Shine appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: What’s Next? Come Home, Mother Is Waiting! appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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What is Sexual Orientation? Gender Identity? Gender Expression? Sex characteristics? What does it mean for the LGBTQIA+ movement? As a western concept, how does it overlap on our Filipino culture? What does it mean, and how can it enrich our faith and spirituality? Part 2 – Discussion on SOGIESC Speakers for this discussion are: Naomi [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: Holy Equality – SOGIESC and Beyond – Part 2 – SOGIESC Discussion appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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What is Sexual Orientation? Gender Identity? Gender Expression? Sex characteristics? What does it mean for the LGBTQIA+ movement? As a western concept, how does it overlap on our Filipino culture? What does it mean, and how can it enrich our faith and spirituality? Part 1 – SOGIESC101 Sean Malang, the Advocacy Officer of Open Table [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: Holy Equality – SOGIESC and Beyond – Part 1 – SOGIESC101 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: What’s Next? Reach Out And Touch Him appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said [...]

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The post #SulongVAKLASH: What Now? Live! Love! Tell! appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, [...]

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The post Where Is Easter With A Mother’s Prayer appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your [...]

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The post Love In The Time Of Pandemic appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the [...]

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The post Emptiness appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does [...]

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The post The 8% Rainbow Flock appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures;he leads me beside still waters;he restores my soul.He leads me in right pathsfor his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,I fear no evil;for you are with me;your rod and your staff—they comfort me. You prepare [...]

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The post Lead Us To Community Pantries appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it [...]

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The post Fear And Doubt In Faith appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the [...]

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The post Our Labor For Love Continues appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the [...]

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The post Where Is Easter? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Is there any good news in the cross of Jesus Christ for the LGBTQIA+ individuals, when in truth, the death of Jesus on the cross has been used to oppress us? Rev Joseph Tiu San Jose of Open Table MCC has insights on what it means to be an LGBTQIA+ Christian this Holy Week. [...]

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The post Good Friday: Is There Good News In The Cross For The LGBT+? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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If you are to have a future, it will be a future together with others. A prayer of hope is a prayer that disarms you and extends you far beyond the limits of your own longings. Therefore, there can be no talk of prayer so long as praying is thought of as an activity which [...]

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The post Palm Sunday: Praying Is Social appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Deep silence leads us to realize that prayer is, above all, acceptance. When we pray, we are standing with our hands open to the world. We know that God will become known to us in the nature around us, in people we meet, and in situations we run into. Prayer creates that openness in which [...]

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The post Ulit-Ulitin Mo: Mahal Ako Ng Diyos appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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We know there is some connection between prayer and silence, but if we think about silence in our lives, it seems that it isn’t always peaceful – silence can also be frightening. Just as there are two nights, there are two silences: one is frightening, the other peaceful. For many silence is threatening. They don’t [...]

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The post God’s Gentle Whisper appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Praying is no easy matter. It demands a relationship in which you allow someone other than yourself to enter into the very center of your person, to see there what you would rather leave untouched. The resistance to praying is like the resistance of a tightly clenched fists. This image, shows a tension, a desire [...]

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The post God Brings Us The Test appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Do you still pray? How often? Do LGBTQI+ people pray? Does God listen to queer folks and do queer people listen to God? Why do you pray? What do you pray for? Or perhaps you’re struggling with praying or doubt its purpose and use? Or maybe you no longer believe in prayer and consequently no [...]

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The post With Open Hands appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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February is love month in the Philippines because of Valentines’ Day. Like Christmas it is a very popular, highly celebrated (and commercialized) “holiday”. The primary focus is on romantic love (eros) and the grand gestures of romantic love; Whenever we talk about love it is hyper focused on romance when in fact it is so [...]

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The post Love Is Not Just Romance appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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February is love month in the Philippines because of Valentines’ Day. Like Christmas it is a very popular, highly celebrated (and commercialized) “holiday”. The primary focus is on romantic love (eros) and the grand gestures of romantic love; Whenever we talk about love it is hyper focused on romance when in fact it is so [...]

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The post Love Is Not Ownership appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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February is love month in the Philippines because of Valentines’ Day. Like Christmas it is a very popular, highly celebrated (and commercialized) “holiday”. The primary focus is on romantic love (eros) and the grand gestures of romantic love; Whenever we talk about love it is hyper focused on romance when in fact it is so [...]

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The post Love Is Not Found appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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How do we make sense of hope for the coming year? How do we begin the year of 2021 with hope after everything that has happened in 2020 and the pandemic will continue to rage on going into 2021? Reading on the work of Scholar and Theologian, Diana Butler Bass, I found that gratitude does [...]

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The post Debt Of Gratitude appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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How do we make sense of hope for the coming year? How do we begin the year of 2021 with hope after everything that has happened in 2020 and the pandemic will continue to rage on going into 2021? Reading on the work of Scholar and Theologian, Diana Butler Bass, I found that gratitude does [...]

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The post Grateful Together appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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How do we make sense of hope for the coming year? How do we begin the year of 2021 with hope after everything that has happened in 2020 and the pandemic will continue to rage on going into 2021? Reading on the work of Scholar and Theologian, Diana Butler Bass, I found that gratitude does [...]

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The post Practicing And Cultivating Gratitude appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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How do we make sense of hope for the coming year? How do we begin the year of 2021 with hope after everything that has happened in 2020 and the pandemic will continue to rage on going into 2021? Reading on the work of Scholar and Theologian, Diana Butler Bass, I found that gratitude does [...]

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The post Sometimes It’s Hard To Be Thankful appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10-11 (NRSV) [...]

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The post 2021 Dedication Sunday: Lord Teach Us To Pray appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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For thus says the LORD: Only when Babylon’s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you [...]

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The post New Year’s Eve 2021: To Pray Is To Hope appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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What does the birth of Jesus teach me today? This is the question in my heart every time this season approaches. As peacemakers, we should always be thankful and welcoming of all the shepherd’s and the magi that have entered and continue to enter our lives. We have been blessed with people who want to [...]

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The post Christmas: Shepherds, The Wise Ones, And Drama Queens appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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“God is always waiting for us. The God for who we wait never ever gives up on God’s people. We might give up on ourselves or take our present circumstance as the end of the story, but our God always holds a promise of healing, of wholeness, and of redemption. Advent for me has always [...]

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The post God And The Covid Conspiracy appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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One of the things that makes this season difficult for some is the sense of imposed happiness – the fact that we’re supposed to fee, or pretend to feel, something deliriously joyful. Imposing emotions on folks is troubling, not least because it doesn’t work, but also because coercion is never a manifestation of love. The [...]

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The post Joy Without Picture Frames And Alarm Clocks appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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It was Christmas break. My first semester of college had ended, and I was on the train home from New York City. Thick snowflakes had begun to fall. As I left the station, my father was there to greet me. We shared a strong relationship. We talked about everything: Faith, relationships, dreams, the latest Starbucks [...]

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The post Hail Rainbow Children Of God, The Lord Is With You appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Real Hope is hard. I confess how hard I find it to open daily to my own pain, let along my heart open for a hope that’s wide enough to envelop Aleppo, Haiti, Don Dale, Manus, Baghdad, Hebron, the Great Barrier Reef. Or even just enough hope for reconciliation with those from whom I am [...]

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The post Keep On Swimming appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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I was moved to read in Chris Beam’s book Transparent about a group of teenage transpeople in Los Angeles who mentor and assist one another in learning the skills necessary for survival in a transgender-phobic society. Who taught these trans-teenagers to be so helpful and faithful to one another? Chris Beam found that “whether they’re [...]

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The post #TransLivesMatter: Ms Naomi On Being A Gender And Development Advocate appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Once we’ve made it through the door, transpeople can have a profound impact on all faith communities. For instance, Queer theology often encourages a non- or multi-gendered understanding of God. As Tanis explains, “Transgender people… have a unique opportunity to witness to the gender of God. We who embody more than one gender within our [...]

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The post #TransLivesMatter: Mx Dan on Being a Non-Binary Christian appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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As M Barclay puts it: “This chapter talks about night and day and land and water, but we have dusk and we have marshes. These verses don’t mean ‘there’s only land and water, and there’s nowhere where these two meet.’ These binaries aren’t meant to speak to all of reality—they invite us into thinking about [...]

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The post #TransLivesMatter: God Of In Between And Beyond appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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We, too, still often expect change from the top-down. We look for redemption with the lens of empire clouding our view. It can keep us, from recognizing Christ among us, around us, or within us. It is not until these two are practicing the very things they learned from Jesus that they are able to [...]

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The post Resurrection: The Room appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God’s purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience [...]

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The post Opening The Door To Happiness appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus was famished. Then tempter approached and said, “If you are the Chosen One of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘One does [...]

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The post Embracing A God Of Light And Dark appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an immigrant, in the land of Canaan. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. [...]

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The post The Story Of Joseph appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Resurrection is not a do-over. We don’t move on as though nothing ever happened. No, redeemed life is a new kind of life. Jesus was resurrected with scars. The scars weren’t simply a reminder of the past; they were the pathway to the future. They were there to show that the cause of death had [...]

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The post Building With Rough Hands appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Galatians 5:22-23 (NRSV) [...]

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The post Love In A Time Of Pandemic: Charles & Mon appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. Galatians 5:22-23 (NRSV) [...]

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The post Love In A Time Of Pandemic: Paola & Nessa appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Love Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the [...]

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The post Open Table MCC Anniversary Sunday 2020 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (NRSV) [...]

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The post Love In A Time Of Pandemic: Don & Yhel appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. [...]

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The post Pentecost Question: What Will I Do After the Pandemic? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape [...]

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The post Filipinos Trapped In Modern-Day “Egypt” appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!” A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the [...]

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The post Trapped – Staying Active And Surviving Prisons appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!” A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the [...]

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The post Trapped In A Den Facing Lions appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening [...]

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The post Trapped – The Good News While In Lockdown appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 (NRSV) [...]

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The post Queering A Queer Church appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. Revelation 7:9 (NRSV) [...]

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The post A Queer Saint And Her Queer Faith appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light [...]

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The post Queer Christ Becoming Flesh Always appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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What is “queer”? How do we define “queer”? And what is Queer Theology? How do we relate it to the LGBT+ movement within our churches, as queer people of faith? Listen to the first entry of our July teaching series podcast on Queer Theology: What Is Queer And The Queerness Of God? [...]

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The post What is Queer And The Queerness of God? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to [...]

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The post For Queer People, Good Theology Is Not Enough appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, [...]

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The post Coming Out: Paglaya Mo, Paglaya Nila appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them [...]

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The post Pride 2020 and the Great Commissioning from Ricky Lee appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance [...]

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The post The Stonewall Riots As Pentecost appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, [...]

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The post Dora Dorado, Isaiah, and Ascension appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. “I will not leave [...]

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The post The Gospel of Star Wars, Lord of The Rings, and Prince of Egypt appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on [...]

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The post Jesus Is The Way, Not The Map appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls [...]

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The post Shepherding a Flock of Unwanted Sheep appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your [...]

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The post The Good Shepherd and Labor Day appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And [...]

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The post Easter: A Journey With Strangers appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. [...]

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The post Physical Touch and Our Easter Hope appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the [...]

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The post Easter’s First Witness Was a Woman appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, [...]

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The post Palm Sunday At Home appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary [...]

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The post Where Were You God? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works [...]

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The post God, Human Suffering, And The Law appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to [...]

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The post Let’s Be Community Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and [...]

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The post Junia, The Woman Apostle – HERstory: Women In Scripture appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the [...]

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The post Naming The Nameless Woman – HERstory: Women In Scripture appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, where we are reminded of our mortality. That one day, we will die and the earth will reclaim our bodies. Reminding us of our deaths, we are reminded of our lives and how we are living it. We are reminded to think carefully on where we are, what are our [...]

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The post Ash Wednesday 2020 Reflection appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Summary by Jay Smith / Biblehub.com In chapter 1, Ruth remains loyal to her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of her husband and in-laws. Naomi decides to return to her home land of Bethlehem alone, however, Ruth insists on staying with her and adopting Naomi’s God as her own. “But Ruth said, “Do not urge [...]

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The post Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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John 4:5-18 (NRSV) So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said [...]

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The post Jesus Flirts At The Well appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Genesis 32:22-30 (NRSV) The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. [...]

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The post God Gets Intimate With Jacob appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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2 Samuel 1:26 (NRSV) I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. [...]

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The post David Loved Jonathan More Than Women appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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1 Corinthians 12:12-14 (NRSV) 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 in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink [...]

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The post One In Christ (Week of Prayer in Christian Unity) appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Mark 1:9-11 (NRSV) In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the [...]

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The post Baptize The World In God’s Love appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Matthew 2:1-12 (NRSV) In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, [...]

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The post Dedication Sunday 2020: Christ In Me, Christ Through Us appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are [...]

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The post Blessed Is The Fruit of Your Womb appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Mark 2:23-28 (NRSV) One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and [...]

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Preaching by Open Table MCC’s Pastor Joseph Tiu San Jose at Resurrection MCC in Houston, Texas, USA, last November 17, 2019. [...]

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Galatians 2:19-20 (NRSV) For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in [...]

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Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV) On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they [...]

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Preaching by Open Table MCC’s Pastor Joseph Tiu San Jose at Resurrection MCC in Houston, Texas, USA, last October 29, 2019. [...]

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The post Sin, Gospel, and The Door appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Volunteer Lay Preacher: Dan Dy-Liacco Reading: 1 John 4:16-21 (NRSV) So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the [...]

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Guest Preacher: Professor Lizette Tapia Prof. Lizette is an ordained deacon of the United Methodist Church. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of the Philippines, Diliman; a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, summa cum laude (2005); a Master of Theology through the Southeast Asia Graduate School of Theology (2010), with distinction. [...]

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Reading: Luke 20:1-2 One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” [...]

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Guest Preacher: Rev. Irma Mepico-Balaba of UCCP Pagbasa: Mga Taga-Galacia 3:28 Wala nang pagkakaiba ang Judio at ang Griego, ang alipin at ang malaya, ang lalaki at ang babae. Kayong lahat ay iisa na dahil sa inyong pakikipag-isa kay Cristo Jesus. [...]

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Reading: Luke 4:16-21 (NRSV) When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was [...]

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Reading: Matthew 16:21-28 (NRSV) From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, [...]

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Reading: Luke 12:13-21 (NRSV) Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; [...]

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Reading: Matthew 9:35-38 (NRSV) Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful [...]

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Reading: John 20:19-31 (NRSV) When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his [...]

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Reading: Luke 10:25-37 (NRSV) Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all [...]

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No fems? No fairies? Did Paul really think that the “effeminate” would not “inherit the kingdom of God” in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10? And what did Paul mean about women “exchanging natural sexual relations with unnatural ones” in Romans 1:21-28? Was he referring to LGBT+ relations as we understand it today; or is there something more [...]

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The post Homosexuality is NOT a Sin: Part 4 – Paul’s Letters to Romans / Corinthians appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Reading: John 15:11-13 (NRSV) I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. [...]

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Did you know that a “gay” and a “lesbian” couple is present in the bible? Or that a queer family is portrayed in the scriptures? Or how about when Jesus affirmed a “gay” couple? “Homosexuality is NOT a Sin” is our 5-part series that aims to have a progressive and critical approach to Scripture. Hosted [...]

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The post Homosexuality is NOT a Sin: Part 3 – Brokeback Mountain and Polyamory in the Bible appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Reading: Luke 8:26-39 (NRSV) Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When [...]

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The post In the Name of Jesus, I Exorcize You Evil Spirit of Homophobia appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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The story of Sodom and Gommorah is one of the most commonly-used bible stories against homosexuality. But if we investigate the story further, is the story really about being gay or LGBT? “Homosexuality is NOT a Sin” is our 5-part series that aims to have a progressive and critical approach to Scripture. Hosted by Open [...]

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The post Homosexuality is NOT a Sin: Part 2B – The True Sin of Sodom appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Did God really create only Male and Female? Did God create Male first, and then Female? Is this evidence that there is no space for LGBT+ people in the Christian faith, or is there much more to the Genesis story, if we investigate further?“Homosexuality is NOT a Sin” is our 5-part series that aims to [...]

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The post Homosexuality is NOT a Sin: Part 2A – The Androgynous Adam appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Reading: Acts 2:1-17 (NRSV) When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested [...]

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So ang unang Topic for Pride Month is Bible in Context. I know many of you wish to emediately know and understand yung anim na supposedly ay anti-LGBT verses. Pero napaka-importante na malaman muna natin ang basehan at ang method paano ba dapat tignan ang mga verses na eto at ang iba pang verses na [...]

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Reading: John 14:23-29 (NLT) Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is [...]

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Listen to Bro. Michael Mia as he preaches for the fourth Sunday of Resurrection. Reading: John 10:22-30 (NLT) It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication. He was in the Temple, walking through the section known as Solomon’s Colonnade. The people surrounded him and asked, [...]

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Once you’ve truly seen and experienced the Risen Christ, there is no turning back. Even if you hide or run away, there he will be. Listen to Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he preaches for the third Sunday of Resurrection. Reading Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Sea of Tibe’ri-as; in this [...]

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Listen to Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he preaches for the second Sunday of Resurrection. Reading On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with [...]

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Listen to Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he preaches for Easter Sunday. Reading On the first day of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find [...]

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Listen to Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he preaches for the fifth Sunday of Lent. Reading Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table [...]

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Listen to Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he preaches for the third Sunday of Lent. Reading There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the [...]

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Listen to Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he preaches for the second Sunday of Lent, about the transfiguration of Jesus. Reading Now about eight days after these had been said, he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face [...]

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Listen to Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he preaches about the temptation of Jesus by the Devil for 40 days. Reading Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert, for forty days being put to the test by the devil. During that time he [...]

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Listen to Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he preaches during Dedication Sunday for the new Open Table MCC sanctuary. Thank you to all the generous donors who trusted us and gave us the financial means and made this possible. Also, to the core group who remained faithful, thank you. Our sanctuary is now officially [...]

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Divas Divine: When God Speaks Through Women’s Music Featured Artist/Song: Mariah Carey / Outside Can we find God through secular music? In this podcast series, we try to achieve that goal by looking into some of the most iconic musical pieces by powerful women in the music industry, commonly reffered to as “divas”. In the [...]

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Divas Divine: When God Speaks Through Women’s Music Featured Artist/Song: Whitney Houston / I Look To You Can we find God through secular music? In this podcast series, we try to achieve that goal by looking into some of the most iconic musical pieces by powerful women in the music industry, commonly reffered to as [...]

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Listen to the preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu San Jose as he discusses the meaning of grace from a progressive Christian perspective. [...]

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The post What Does Grace Mean? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Divas Divine: When God Speaks Through Women’s Music Featured Artist/Song: Madonna / Live To Tell Can we find God through secular music? In this podcast series, we try to achieve that goal by looking into some of the most iconic musical pieces by powerful women in the music industry, commonly reffered to as “divas”. In [...]

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Ang “Salita ng Buhay” ay isang podcast series kung saan pag-aaralan natin ang iba’t ibang Hebrew at Greek Words na matatagpuan sa bibliya. Ano ang ibig nilang sabihin sa orihinal nilang lengwahe? Ano ang kanilang kahulugan sa konteksto at kulturang kanilang kinabibilangan? At ano ang kanilang kahulugan para sa ating mga Kristyanong nasa kasalukuyan? At [...]

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The post “Berakhah” / “Blessing” / “Pagpapala” – Salita ng Buhay Series appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Ang “Salita ng Buhay” ay isang podcast series kung saan pag-aaralan natin ang iba’t ibang Hebrew at Greek Words na matatagpuan sa bibliya. Ano ang ibig nilang sabihin sa orihinal nilang lengwahe? Ano ang kanilang kahulugan sa konteksto at kulturang kanilang kinabibilangan? At ano ang kanilang kahulugan para sa ating mga Kristyanong nasa kasalukuyan? At [...]

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The post “Lev” / “Kardia” / “Puso” – Salita ng Buhay Series appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Ang “Salita ng Buhay” ay isang podcast series kung saan pag-aaralan natin ang iba’t ibang Hebrew at Greek Words na matatagpuan sa bibliya. Ano ang ibig nilang sabihin sa orihinal nilang lengwahe? Ano ang kanilang kahulugan sa konteksto at kulturang kanilang kinabibilangan? At ano ang kanilang kahulugan para sa ating mga Kristyanong nasa kasalukuyan? At [...]

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The post “Ruach” / “Diwa” – Salita ng Buhay Series appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Ang “Salita ng Buhay” ay isang podcast series kung saan pag-aaralan natin ang iba’t ibang Hebrew at Greek Words na matatagpuan sa bibliya. Ano ang ibig nilang sabihin sa orihinal nilang lengwahe? Ano ang kanilang kahulugan sa konteksto at kulturang kanilang kinabibilangan? At ano ang kanilang kahulugan para sa ating mga Kristyanong nasa kasalukuyan? At [...]

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The post “Chai” / “Buhay” – Salita ng Buhay Series appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Mark 6:14-29 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some weresaying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Mark 6:1-6 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is [...]

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The post The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading 1: 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Luke 24:44-53 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Luke 24:44-53 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: 1 John 4:7-12,16-21 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Luke 24:36-48 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why [...]

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The post Did Easter Really Happen? Did it Not Happen? So What? appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr. Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: John 10:11-18 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Bro. Michael Mia. Reading: John 14:15-23 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him [...]

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The post Jesus Gave Us The Holy Spirit, NOT The Bible appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Isaiah 14:12-20 How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the [...]

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The post Temptations of Power – LOTR And The Bible appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Isaiah 41:9-10 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; do not fear, for I am with you, do not be [...]

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The post Who Is Your Galadriel? – LOTR And The Bible appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by MAPuzon. Reading: 1 Samuel 17:41-45, 48-49 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. The Philistine said to David, “Am [...]

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The post Gandalf’s Fall, Goliath’s Fall – LOTR And The Bible appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring Gandalf: That wound will never fully heal. He will carry it the rest of his life. Elrond: And yet, to have come so far, still bearing the Ring, the hobbit has shown extraordinary resilience to [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 1, Ch 2, The Shadow of the Past ‘Hold it up!’ said Gandalf. ‘And look closely!’ As Frodo did so, he now saw fine lines, finer than the finest pen-strokes, running along the ring, outside and inside: lines [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by MAPuzon. 1st Reading: Song of Songs 6:10-12 Friends: Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession? He: I went down to the grove of nut trees to look at the new growth in the valley, [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Psalm 42:1-5 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God? My tears have been my food day and [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Mark 12:28-34 One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Mark 6:30-34 The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that there [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-4 At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus says the Lord: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: John 1:1-16 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.In him was life, and that life was the light of [...]

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The post God In Flesh – Christmas 2017 appeared first on Open Table Metropolitan Community Church.

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”— “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching, a liturgy and sermon integrated into one by professor and scholar of New Testament and Biblical Studies, Professor Revelation Velunta. Read by Choi Discipulo, the HIV/AIDS Coordinator of Open Table MCC. Also available as a blog post. Reading: Mark 1:40-43 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Matthew 25:34-40 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Isaiah 56:1-7 This is what the Lord says: “Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the one who does this— the person who holds it fast, who keeps [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Wisdom 7:7-11 Therefore I prayed, and understanding was given me; I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepters and thrones, and I accounted wealth as nothing in comparison with her. Neither did I liken to [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Luke 4:16-21 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, [...]

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Listen to this Sunday’s preaching by Ptr Joseph Tiu SanJose. Reading: Acts 2:44-47 All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together [...]

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Listen to last Sunday’s preaching, as MPPuzon speaks about “Having Space on a Table”. Also available as a blog post. Reading: Luke 14:7-14 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place [...]

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