FOOLS FOR CHRIST, a homily

I would like you now to re-imagine the gruesome, heartless, inhumane November 23 massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao. Heads were shot. There were women; harmless yet slaughtered and buried like pigs. Then suddenly, we would just learn few weeks from now that the case is dissolved or the real murderers are found NOT guilty. Nah! What if that happens? Will you still continue advocating for truth and justice given the obvious dim situation? If yes, then expect someone will tell you “FOOL! Gahago-hagu ra ka!”
Allow me to use again these radical yet valid words which I believe are not new to us – i.e., to become a FOOL FOR CHRIST (I know these words sound harsh, and I’m really sorry if I’m going to use them again. I simply just would like to emphasize how radical and deep God’s love is).
In the first place, who initiated all these “foolishness”? Who went down from the glorious heavens just to be born like one of his vulnerable and weak creations? Who was the one who said that if someone slaps you on one cheek, you also give your other cheek? Who was the one who still chose a humiliating death rather than practically leading a revolution with the Jews? No other than JESUS! And see how this “foolishness” spread like bacteria into the lives of his first disciples: The fishermen chose to become even poorer (or poorest) by leaving their nets (their only little livelihood) and followed Jesus. And see how this “foolishness” spread even faster and wider like a Trojan virus into the lives of people living 2009 years after his birth: Let us remember the very striking heroism of an unrecognized 18-year old Muelmar Magallanes who saved over 30 people from Ondoy’s raging floods in Quezon City. Finally, he heard a scream: a mother and her baby on a Styrofoam box slowly being swept away. He was able to save the mother and the baby, but ended up not being able to save himself due to exhaustion. See his generosity! See his “foolishness”! Pobre na syang daan; he could have stopped doing such things after securing the safety of his family, but still ended up embracing death. He was not given a CNN hero award like Peñaflorida. We believe that his reward will be great in heaven. The word in our Gospel today: “This is the time of FULFILLMENT” (Fulfillment, meaning, that the salvific plan of the Father has been FULFILLED in His Son through His birth. Or Jesus as LIGHT over darkness) is Muelmar’s most valuable trophy.
We too have foolish hearts. I heard some of us said, “Kulang kaayo bakasyon bai. Nakulangan siguro sa kaon ug inom sessions.” How foolish we are! The world is still offering us amounts of pleasure to satisfy our very human longings. And here we are, MOBALIK gyud! Even though our coming back to the seminary requires us to continue making our pending or piling-up reflection papers. Si Dongkoy nga sa iyang pangidarong 31 anyos mobangon pa’g sayo, manghugas pa’g plato, mohawid pa’g silhig. And we’ll soon be facing naughty students in our catechisms and recollections; and here we are, staying humble and patient. Some of our FY5 brothers will again continue preaching about good elections in parishes despite the seemingly-dili-na-matambalan nga corruption sa nasud.
Why do the 34-year old RicBacs and the 31-year old Cliffy still want to stay in the seminary? Why do they still want to become priests for Jolo and Basilan? I think, we don’t essentially need Good Seminarian Awards or CNN Hero Awards to inspire us to stay here. I believe this is our one great fundamental reason: If we are going to re-phrase the last sentence of our 1st reading today, then this is what Jesus will surely assure us, “Bong, why is your heart sad? Am I not MORE to you than the very powerful forces of the world?
My brothers and sister, let us stay FOOLS for Christ. Let us continue our advocacies and RESCUE more people through the very example of Jesus and through the formation that we learn from the seminary. Mao unta kana atong pukot o inspirasyon sa atong pagpanagat.