Parang napakaikli ng naging talakayan nina Padre Luciano Felloni at Monsignor Romy Rañada tungkol sa paraan ng pagpapalago at pagpapatuloy ng ating pananampalataya. Ito ang pinaka-13 at huling yugto ng dayalogo nilang dalawa. Mauunawaan ninyo kung bakit, bagamat malungkot ako sa pamamaalam ng programa, natutuwa rin at maibabahagi kong muli ang napakagandang pinale nito. Sapagkat napakahalaga ng mga pananaw na buong rubdob at lalim nilang patuloy na pinag-usapan (nang mistulang kasama ang mga manonood at tagakapakinig nila) kung kaya kasama rito ang aking katuwaang ibahaging muli ang kanilang dunong bilang papuri at pasasalamat sa Panginoon na pinagmulan nila at ng kanilang mga kaalaman. Sa Diyos lamang ang luwalhati.
Ang huling yugtong ito ay ini-rekord, sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, sa istudyo ng Parokya ng Kristong Hari, kung saan si Fr. Felloni ang Kura Paroko. Sinagot na dalangin (ko at) ng kanilang mga tagasubaybay na pansamantala lang ang kanilang pamamaalam.
SINIMULAN NI PADRE Luciano ang programa sa pagsasabing ang pag-uusapan nila ay tungkol sa pananampalataya at kung paano nito inaapektuhan ang ating buhay (at pagkilos) kasunod ang walang-sawa niyang paalala sa mga tagasubaybay na huwag kalimutang ibahagi ang programa sa kanilang mga kaibigan at kakilala sa pamamagitan ng iba’t-ibang plataporma, sa lalong ikadaragdag ng kanilang kaalaman at pag-ibayo ng kanilang paglago sa pananalig.
FF: Ano ang koneksyon ng pananampalataya at buhay? How does faith shape our life?
MR: I think that’s the connection exactly, yung sinabi mo, na ang pananampalataya natin ang nagbibigay-hugis sa ating buhay. How life takes shape from the faith that we have or live. Kaya nga yung faith, sinasabi natin, it’s really life, buhay-pananampalataya. Hindi lang buháy ang pananampalataya kundi ang pananampalataya ay búhay (accents mine for emphasis). It’s life shaped by faith, what we are, who we are. Kaya napakahalaga na makita natin ito kasi yung faith, yung pagtugon natin sa Diyos, sa pagsasalita ng Diyos. At yung pagtugon na yon ay nabibigyan ng hugis ng tinutugunan natin, ang Salita ng Diyos. Ang Salita ng Diyos ay nagmumula sa Diyos at ang Salitang ito ay ayon na rin sa nature ng Panginoong Diyos na absolute, kaya, pag tayo ay tumugon nang may pananampalataya, yung tinutugunan natin, yung Salita ng Diyos, makes absolute claim sa buhay natin.
FF: Paano ho kung halimbawa, yung katwiran ay, “Well, marami akong bisyo, meron akong under-the-table sa trabaho, etcetera, pero, bumabawi naman ako sa pananampalataya, kaya ako’y lay minister, sumasali ako sa mga prusisyon, ako ay hermano ng Poong Nazareno, etc., kaya medyo sablay ako rito sa isang banda pero sa pananampalataya, malakas ako ron, doon ako bumabawi.” Kasi ang daming taong may ganyang pananaw.
MR: Totoo yon kaya nga doon nakikita natin na kulang sa pagiging totoo yung pananampalataya, sa pagiging genuine. Kapagka kasi ang pananampalataya ay tunay, genuine, e it shapes your life, it calls for your conversion, babaguhin ka ng pananampalataya mo. Hindi pupuwedeng para kang nakikipaglaro lang sa mga bagay-bagay sa buhay mo, jina-juggle mo, you have seven balls, you’re juggling with these, para kang yung sa circus. That’s not the way it is. Once you believe in God and God says this, then you have to surrender yourself, that’s what God wants and I follow, hindi pupwedeng this is what I want, this is how I should do it. Lord, dito Ka lang, eto yung iba ko pang concerns (adjust ka lang, Lord, squeezed in Fr. Felloni). Yes, i-ju-jugggle ko.
FF: Ano ang ibig sabihin, mahina ang aking pananampalataya o peke ang aking pananampalataya?
MR: A, masasabi ko siguro, ano ba sa Tagalog yung hindi genuine, I hate to say the word “fake” ji-na-judge ko, pero we have to be authentic, genuine, kasi that’s what faith calls us to be, to be true, you cannot be untrue to what you are, what you believe.
FF: Pwede sabihin na kung hindi ganon, kung hindi kaugnay sa buhay, maaaring religiosity pero hindi pananampalataya?
MR: Maaari. Kasi, merong mga tao na sinasabi nila naniniwala sila pero me ibang paniniwala na nakikilaban don. Kung baga, fighting for its priority. Halimbawa, kung naniniwala kang may Panginoong Diyos, naniniwala ka namang ang kaligayahan mo ay nasa kayamanan, sa katanyagan, so nagko-compete yon. Hindi pa talagang tunay yung sinasabi mong pananampalataya. Ikaw pa rin yung nananaig sa halip na yung Ispiritu na sinasampalatayaan mo ang siyang nananaig at nasusunod.
FF: Yung mga naniniwala na yung kulang sa aking buhay ay pwede kong dagdagan pa, kumbaga, para makontento o ma-please ang Diyos, religious practices, yung coherence, ginagawa ko yung alam kong gusto ng Diyos, since hindi ko magawa yon, madagdagan ko yung pagsimba ko, yung rosaries ko, ano ho ang problema ron?
MR: Doon, hindi ka talaga sunod, you do not, maganda yung sinabi mong coherence, that should be coherence between our conduct and the truth of our faith. Kung halimbawang sinabi ng Panginoong Diyos, ang utos Niya, huwag kang papatay. Sasabihin mo, e namomproblema ko dito sa nangyayari sa paligid ko. Ang dami nating krimen, ganoon-ganoon, so anong gagawin mo dito, di patayin na lang. Sorry na lang but I have to kill. Parang ganon na lang but hindi. Thou shalt not kill, absolute yon. Kung yon ang sinasabi ng Diyos, siguro, naniniwala ka sa Diyos na yon ang gusto Niya, yun ang sinabi Niya, hindi mo pwedeng unahin nga yung sarili mong pamamaraan, pag-iisip, paniniwala.
FF: Kayo ay nag-insist in the past, na malakas, na isa sa mga aspeto ng pananampalataya ay pagsunod, pagtalima sa mga gusto ng Diyos. Anu-anong aspeto ng buhay natin ay may gusto ng Diyos. Lahat ba o may mga bagay na tayo ang bahala sa sarili nating buhay, kasi maraming naniniwala na parang, basta ito ang gusto ko e, parang ganon.
MR: Pero kasi, Padre, ang faith kasi, sabi ko nga, makes absolute claim sa buhay ng isang tao. Pag siya talaga’y naniwala, e talagang tatanggapin niya iyon nang buong-buo. At hahayaan niyang buhay niya ay bigyan ng hugis, kung kinakailangang baguhin, hahayaan niyang mabago yung kanyang buhay. At yun ang sinasabi nating total, isip, puso, pati yung conduct, yung pagkilos natin. That’s why napakahalaga rin yung conduct, faith must express itself in works. Ano yung ginagawa mo, just like with love, pag sinabi mong mahal kita, ipakita mo na ganon nga, hindi yung mahal kita pero salita lang yan, o kaya sa isip lang yan, pero yung pagkilos, sinasaktan mo ko…
FF: Yung sahod hindi mo binibigay, gutom yung mga bata.
MR: So hindi coherent, hindi consistent yung ating conduct, yung ating buhay, doon sa ating pananampalataya at sinasampalatayaan.
FF: Marami hong nagsasabi na yun ang paniniwala mo, huwag mo kaming idamay, paniniwala nyo lang yon. So halimbawa, di kayo naniniwala sa pagpatay o sa abortion or whatever, euthanasia, divorce, kayo yon, huwag kaming idamay. Ano ho yung katotohanan, as revealed by pananampalataya, pangkalahatan o para sa mga naniniwala lang sa Kanya?
MR: Yun e para sa lahat. Kaya nga walang two standards, (isa,) para sa mga sumasampalataya, ito, para sa mga hindi sumasampalataya. Pag ikaw e sumampalataya, ito yung dapat mong sundin. Kaya nga ikaw ang magbibigay-patotoo don sa hindi sumasampalataya na ito ang kalooban ng Diyos at ganito ang buhay, at pag ganito ang buhay, ito ang maligayang buhay. So doon sa mga hindi sumasampalataya, hindi natin sila mapipilit kasi, iba naman ang kanilang pananampalataya, hindi natin sila pwedeng pwersahin sapagkat ang pupwede lang nating gawin ay magpatotoo sa ating pananampalataya, pero don sa kanilang gagawin e wala tayong masyadong kontrol.
FF: E sa ating Katoliko, Monsi, devil’s advocate ako ngayon. Yun lagi hong sinasabi ng mga tao na ako Katoliko po ako, pero naniniwala ako sa divorce, pero kung na-rape yung babae e payagan siyang mag-abort o yung rapist kailangang patayin kasi, yung mga yan babalik sa pangre-rape. Katoliko ako pero, ang aking paniniwala ay baligtad sa rebelasyon ng Panginoon. How do you explain that?
MR: Sa akin, mauunawaan ko kung bakit ganon ang kanilang reaksyon. Bakit mas papaboran nila halimbawa yung mga nabanggit ninyo, abortion, capital punishment, sa mga ganong bagay, naiintindihan ko yon kasi, ang damdamin natin e talaga namang itinutulak tayo na ganon ang ating gawin, at saka meron tayong mga iniisip na ito yung the best solution. Pero sana, bigyan din ng pagkakataon yung sinasabi ng pananampalataya natin na tamang pagtugon sa ganong problema. Kasi yung problemang yun e pupwedeng matugunan natin nang mas maganda at mas maayos nang ayon sa pananampalataya natin. Halimbawa, kung sinasabi mo na nag-aaway yung mag-asawa o mabuti pa diborsyo na lang, pero ang problema doon napakadali, tapos mag-aasawa naman, tapos the same problem reappears. Kaya ang sinasabi nga natin is napakasagrado ng matrimonyo. Pag ikaw ay nagpakasal, yan ay pagsasalamin sa relationship ng Diyos sa atin at natin sa Diyos. Kaya, bago ka pumasok sa ganyang mga bagay, pinag-iisipang mabuti, pinagbubuhusan natin ng ibayong pansin, kaya medyo mahirap talaga kasi, sa isang taong may pananampalataya, ang sumunod sa kalooban ng Diyos, subalit pag sumunod tayo doon, mas maayos ang buhay. Hindi yung sinolve mo yung problema, talos lalabas doon sangkaterbang poblema rin.
FF: Totoo yon. E yung pananampalataya na may gawa, ano po yung sabi ng gawa at ano yung nakakaligtas sa atin? Yon ang laging pinag-uusapan ng Katoliko at ng ibang kapatid nating Kristiyano, kung kailangan lang sumampalataya at through faith doon tayo maliligtas or yung paggawa ng kabutihan, works of charity o yung pagsasabuhay ng ating pananampalataya. Is it necessary yung pagsasabuhay, paggawa ng pananampalataya para sa ating kaligtasan?
MR: Opo, Padre, kasi yung gawa ng pananampalataya hindi gawa lang ng kung ano lang. Gaya ng nabanggit nyo kanina na, ok naman to e, I will just make up for my lack of faith. Those things that you are doing will not save you. Only faith that manifests itself in genuine works of faith, so hindi talaga tayo mase-save nung gumawa ako ng masama tapos magpuprusisyon ako o mag-hehermano ako just to make up for my kakulangan or sins. Hindi tama yon kasi hindi yon works of faith, works of the devil yon. (Both smilingly dueted on “Niloloko mo ang Diyos.”) Pero yung works of faith, like, nagkaroon ng bagyo sa Catanduanes, binaha ang mga taga-Cagayan, tapos, out of love and concern, you do some donation, nag-act of charity ka, nag-organize kang ganon, that’s work of faith because faith does something for our brothers and sisters.
FF: Hindi siya opposite or different sa faith, parte siya ng pananampalataya.
MR: Correct. That’s why (they’re) works of faith. Napakahalaga non. It’s not works other than faith and then it’s trying to make up for those that have not been manifested by faith. Halimbawa, hindi nagtrabaho ang pananampalataya, iba yung nagtatrabaho, hindi yon trabaho ng pananampalataya.
FF: So yung pagkaintindi natin, yung ibang Christian religion basically is the same with the different name.
MR: Yes, medyo nagkakaroon lang ng problema sapagkat dinivide ba nila yung faith and works. Kaya ang sabi ni St. James, “Show me faith that works and faith that does not work and I will show you faith that works” kasi wala talagang pinag-iba yon dahil works of faith.
FF: So, if faith does not work, it’s not faith.
MR: What it is, I cannot see. Sabi nga ni St. James.
FF: It’s not (a) fake, kundi it’s an absent faith, nonexistent.
MR: Kasi ang pananampalataya po talaga e itutulak kang gumawa ng mga bagay na ayon don sa pananampalataya mo. Hindi pwedeng iba yung gagawin mo. Pagka ikaw e may tunay na pananampalataya, tuturuan ka pang magmahal, kung paano ka magpatawad, kung paano ka magsakripisyo, kung paano ka mag-give-up ng mga bagay-bagay na hindi maganda, hindi mabuti, hindi tama. Maiiyak ka, kasi, pag ikaw e may pananampalataya, minsan iiyak tayo sapagkat napakalaki ng hinihingi sa atin ng Diyos, ng Kanyang Salita, pero yun lang ang nagpapatunay na talagang ang pananampalataya ay genuine, ganap yon. (I cannot agree more on this – it just manifested overwhelmingly to me!)
FF: Sabi ni Cynthia, from HK, tama po kayo, Monsi, kasi kapag napatotohanan ng asawa na may nangyari na di maganda, dapat pinag-iisipan at samahan ng dasal, di dapat dinadali-dali ang pagdedesisyon. Pano pumapasok doon yung pananampalataya sa decision-making, Monsi?
MR: Maganda yung sinabi ni Bishop na “discernment of the Spirit” sapagkat faith also asks of us or pushes us to wait, to reflect and to put before God all these things that are happening sa buhay natin. Hindi ka basta-basta magpapasiya kasi idi-discern mo, kausapin mo ang Diyos sa panalangin, hayaan mong liwanagan ka ng Diyos ng Kanyang Salita sa mga gagawin mo.
FF: Sabi ni Jayton Pacuan III, faith and work complement each other. An act of faith cannot be an act without work or else that faith doesn’t exist.
MR: Siguro yung word lang niya na complement. Actually, faith and works do not complement each other. One flows from the other, works flow from your faith and faith manifests itself in your works. Hindi lang po iyon simpleng complementary, they are really one, isa lang po yon. Para pong ako ay nabubuhay at ang buhay ko ay pananampalataya.
FF: Is it okay to say that works of faith ay talagang integral part of faith? I think, kasi, isa sa malalaking confusion ay dahil dinistinguish, parang two different things.
MR: Yes. Kasi ang history nyan, I think, would have to go back scripturally don sa sinasabi ng mga Hudyo about the law, kautusan ng Diyos. Pag ginawa mo yung mga kautusan ng Diyos, ito naman ay yung pananampalataya natin na ang Diyos isinugo Niya sa atin si Hesukristo upang Siyang ating maging Tagapagligtas. Ang Diyos ang siyang magliligtas lamang. Itong mga kautusang ito ang naging diskusyon kasi noon, Padre, dahil sa pag sinabing works, works of the law, which means ito yung mga ipinatutupad na batas. Halimbawa, Sabbath day, tithings, ito yung mga works of the law. Gawin mong lahat ito, ikaw ay maliligtas pero sabi ni St. Paul nga, ba’t kaya ganon, habang eto yung mga batas, laging ipinakikita sa akin ang lahat ng aking mga kakulangan. Mabuti pa siguro wala nang batas, kasi kung may batas, nakikita mo ang dami ko palang pagkukulang. Pero hindi naman puwedeng ang mga gawa ang siyang magliligtas sa iyo, hindi. Ang magliligtas sa atin yung pananampalataya natin sa Iisang Diyos sapagkat Siya’y nagliligtas, subalit dahil sa may pananampalataya tayo binibigyan Niya tayo ng lakas at tulong para tayo ay makasunod sa Kanyang kalooban. So hindi na ngayon yon kontradiksyon, actually, it becomes two become one. Pero ang sentro non, si Kristo. Sapagkat it is Christ who works for us, sa atin lang ay co-work with Him, cooperate with Him.
FF: May tanong si Ramon, an interesting question, sabi niya, it may be helpful to advise our Catholic fellows about the distinction between religiosity and spirituality. Fr., somebody said that we Catholics are more ritualized rather than evangelized and spiritual. How can our church hierarchy address this sad situation?
MR: Una po, yung sinasabi nating religion and spirituality, magkasama po talaga yan. Religion is the embodiment of your spirituality. If there’s spirituality in you, you will have to express that bodily, kailangang ipakita mo, isasakatawan mo yon. Halimbawa, ang spirituality mo ay “Ang Diyos ang siyang makapangyarihan sa lahat at Siya ang Panginoon lamang.” So papaano mo ipapakita yung pananampalatayang yan? Sa pamamagitan ng pagsamba, whether you like it or not, iri-ritualize mo yung pagsamba, di po ba? Halimbawa, paano ka ba magbigay-galang sa Diyos? E tatayo ka (he rises), sasamba ka (bows from the waist), magba-bow ka nang ganon, so that’s part of religion. Religion consists of talk, creed and code. You cannot just say, “Ah, I have spirituality, I just meditate, I just pray.” You have to embody that in other forms of gestures. You have to show that as being part of a community. Lahat po yon, kaya spirituality and religiosity, they go together. Dapat lang ma-purify natin things that in our religion are not compatible with our spirituality.
FF: Yung short-cut, kasi, ginagawa, halimbawa, religiosity as kapalit ng spirituality or kapalit ng religion so yun lahat ipinalit sa religiosity so ginawang magic tuloy.
MR: Gusto ko lang idagdag, what gives depth to religiosity is spirituality. Kasi kung wala naman pong spirituality e puro ritual lang yon, walang depth, walang lalim. Pero kung wala naman pong religiosity, parang abstract naman yung spirituality mo, walang rituals.
FF: Bilang humans, kailangan po natin. We have even our own daily rituals, yung pagtimpla ng kape mo, yung pagkwan ng radyo, may mga bagay na because humans are like that, yung structure helps us, everything. For even in religion, our relationship with God, we need structure. Otherwise, ang mangyayari, lahat ay magdedepende sa mood ko. When I feel like I have to go to church, when I didn’t feel to forgive, I don’t forgive, everything will depend on my mood, then, patay tayo dyan.
MR: Tama sinabi mo, Fr. Kumbaga, sometimes, religion makes spirituality easier. Sabi mo nga, kung wala ka sa mood, at least, I can still be there and be present bodily, susunod na lang yung spirit ko. Like, bakit kayo paulit-ulit magdasal ng “Hail Mary,” “Our Father?” Because the formula makes it easier for us to be connected with God, which is the essence of prayer.
FF: May nagtanong, si Daisy, not going to Mass regularly due to Covid prohibitions, is it not trust in God enough?
MR: Well, kailangan po yung connectedness natin with God continues despite Covid. You won’t probably be able to come to church onsite or in person but you can follow Mass online. So that itself is giving importance and priority to your faith, you have to hear God’s Word, you have to be part of the community’s worship, so tuluy-tuloy pa rin tayo. Covid does not stop our connectedness with God. As a matter of fact, it even enhances our connectedness with God through community worship and prayer at Mass. (I felt Him closest during all my trials, this crisis only being the latest, which did not scare me because of His faith that my faith is stronger than fear.)
FF: Totoo po ba na kung may pananampalataya tayo sa Diyos, na dyan yung mahaba ang pasensya natin sa mga bagay-bagay na nangyayari sa ting buhay? Nagse-shape ng ating ugali. (Only a while ago manifested; when I repented, a blessing (prayer unasked) suddenly fell from heaven (yet answered).
MR: Oo. Ugali, pag-iisip, yan po ang nagagawa ng pananampalataya talaga. Yung sinasabing conversion to God, that’s what faith produces in us, yung conversion, from being turned into yourself, you turn to God.
FF: Ngayong Year of Mission, Monsi, anong kaugnayan ng ating pananampalataya na nagpapakita sa Panginoon sa pamamagitan ng ating gawa, ng ating ugali, ng ating kilos bilang testimony, bilang pagsaksi ng pananampalataya?
MR: Una, Fr., yung pananampalataya kasi natin, first of all, starts with our encounter with Christ. Pag na-meet natin si Hesukristo, through the Word of God, through the Sacraments, Christ calling us, what is He telling us? “Come, follow Me.” Tapos, what do you mean to follow, to be a disciple? It means to be with Jesus, to stay with Jesus, to learn Jesus, so that you will be able to give testimony to Jesus, to His life, to His teaching. Kaya maganda, Fr., yung theme ng CBCP, e yung letter pala ni Archbishop Orlando Quevedo, sabi niya, “That we, Christians, become missionary disciples.” Kasi, yung pagiging disciples, nandodon na yung pagiging missionary. If you are a true follower of Christ, you have such faith in Christ, you have accepted Him into your life, you have allowed Him to shape your life, then you become also somebody who shares this life with others. So you become an apostle or a missionary.
FF: Maka-attract sa iba. (Ise-share natin si Christ, habol ni Monsi) We remember the words of Mahatma Ghandi, in India. He loved the Gospels and said, “When I read the Gospels, I would love to become a Christian, but when I see the life of the Christian, no, thank you.” He never became a Christian because of the life of the Christians. (I heard this serious joke and I wanted to laugh but it was so true it hit a nerve I kept it as a memory aid.)
MR: It’s a pity Gandhi did not meet Mother Teresa and the saints. That’s the problem. Because sometimes, naka-caricature yung Christian. We do that also to other religions pero ang problema is, sometimes, we look at the worst representative. (Monsi was being kind as to even suggest “Look who’s looking.”)
FF: Correct, the bad example. How to let your faith become ugali, pananaw, when you are struggling, for example, with yourself, your vice, your temper or an addiction. How to let your faith win over you? Is it right to say win over you kasi meron tayong mga ugali na parang ayaw mamatay, ayaw umalis, ayaw ma-reshape. How to let faith work so that it can reshape you?
MR: Sa akin, Fr., napakahalaga yung patience sa sarili. God is patient with me, why can I not be patient also with myself? Because ano po yun e, stages of growth and development natin. Hindi naman sa nagkaroon ka ng pananampalataya, absolute ka na. Meron ding proseso po yan. Yun bang ongoing conversion, discipleship with the Lord. So lifelong (the two agreed). It would take some time but focus on your victories, I have overcome this thing today, for the past three days, one week, one month, hanggang unti-unti po mababago tayo. Ang mahalaga lang po is we let ourselves be shaped by the Word of God, surrender ourselves to Him, at mahalaga rin sa akin yung transparency, to be transparent with God, I mean, of course God knows what’s happening within us but for us to be transparent o Him, we don’t have to pretend, hide before God, He knows, we just have to be transparent to Him. You can say, “Lord, look at me, I’m this, I’m that, I’m this and that, accept all your weaknesses and limitations at the same time allow His grace to change, transform you. And truly, if you allow Him to change you, you’ll be amazed at how you’ll be changed by God’s grace.
FF: Ano ang bahagi nitong relationship ng pananampalataya na nag-transpire into words, nag-shape our lives, etc., anong kaugnayan dito ng church, ng community?
MR: We (the Church) need support. The community is what gives us support. Ang hirap maging mabuti, magpakabait nang iisa ka lang. Parang ikaw rin, pag gusto mong magpapayat, mahirap mag-isa o kaya mag-diet mag-isa pero kung tatlo kayo, apat, ganito, magse-sharing kayo, mas madali. That’s the beauty of belonging to a community or to a church. You have a support group and, besides, ang gusto talaga ng Diyos kayong lahat, hindi lang ikaw, kayong lahat ay maligtas.
FF: Minsan din, ano Monsi, yung same community will make you grow by way of encouragement, challenging you, yung tipong meron kang malditang kasama sa ministry na talagang made-develop ba yung pasensya mo, charity mo. And then you grow in patience, understanding. Sometimes, the same community with problems, difficulties is like the family, can make you stronger, your faith more resilient.
MR: May mga tao kasi na takot sa challenge. Pagka ano, ganito pala rito, aalis na sila, but they’re just starting, let the community shape your life, with the challenges, the affirmations that you would be seeing.
FF: So how to let our faith shape us. Nasabi nyo kanina, scripture. Pwera sa Salita ng Diyos, anu-ano pa ang gawa ng pananampalataya na nagbibigay-guhit sa ating buhay?
MR: Naisip ko yung lives of saints. How people were able to live the Word of God in their lives. How happy they have been, how they were able to make the necessary sacrifices in their lives giving up this, giving this person up and then becoming so happy, full of joy, love and peace. Second is, getting yourself involved in works of charity, pagka na-involve ka sa mga trabaho, halimbawa, ng mga dukha, mahihirap, tumutulong ka don, nakikita mo yung face of God, the face of God shows Itself to you on the faces of those people. Pag nakita mo yung kahirapan nila, you participate in the power of God to also do something to have a change in the lives of those people.
FF: Siguro dagdag ng dalawa pa. Yung isa, ito yung ginagawa natin, yung sharing your faith, being a formed and informed Catholic. Yung may alam ka sa pananampalataya gives you strength, satisfaction, liwanag. Hindi yung basta may alam ka lang which is good but learning your own faith ay malaking bagay at tulong. Yung isa naman ay yung Sacraments, Eucharist, confession, anointing. Ako, habang tumatanda, lalong ina-appreciate ko yung routine ng liturgy, yung paulit-ulit, there is somehow beauty in repeating the same things always. Simple, you don’t have to super-decorate, to make super ganda yung music, very simple, calm repetition, there is beauty.
MR: I agree with you, Fr., kasi siguro pag tumatanda na tayo, we want to be more passive rather than active and that’s precisely what God wants us to be. Let yourself be a clay in the hands of a potter, parang ganon. So the Lord shapes you, leads you, perfects you. Sa liturgy nakakatuwa rin yung Sacraments, for instance, kaya lang ngayon Covid 19 na e. I really appreciate receiving communion sa tongue. And me, as a priest, giving communion sa dila, very Sacramental din yon. It’s the Lord feeding you. Ako as a priest, me doing that to my parishioners napaka-meaningful sa akin non kasi parang I’m feeding my people with Christ. So that itself is a very meaningful act, rather than self-service ka. Pero sa akin lang, where you find great meaning in what you do. The Sacraments really po are full of meaning, and not just meaning, but saving. (Can’t agree more with Monsi. I quit from being an EMHC because I felt unworthy to hold His body; preferred to proclaim His Word instead. Yet it saddens me to hold Him again when I long to receive Him on my tongue, if that were allowed, His Entirety unblemished by my dirty hand.)
FF: I think there’s another beauty of the Catholic Church, the Sacramental life and it’s important. As a young priest, I used to like a lot of dagdag, dekorasyon, palitan yung intro to the “Panginoon, maawa ka,” everyday different. Now na tumatanda, I really appreciate this thing, yung repeating, and I think it’s somehing about life, you create rituals all throughout since you wake up until you sleep and also in your faith it becomes an integral part of you, parang breathing, something that becomes part of you.
MR: Tama. Meron din akong natatandaan sinabi rin ni Pope Benedict. Minsan daw, sa liturgy, masyado tayong nag-aalala kung anong gagawin natin, Ayos-ayos, kung anu-ano, may sayaw-sayaw pa, may kanta-kanta pa pero sa totoo lang, nalilimutan natin na ang emphasis is what God is doing in us, for us, rather than what we are doing for God. Pagdating po sa ating Sacraments, liturgy especially in the Eucharist, the emphasis is more on what God does for us. Halimbawa, the Word of God is proclaimed, you listen. You might have to stay silent. You don’t have to fill the silence with things you need to do. Just being silent. I notice maraming Pilipinong Katoliko na pagka silent na, hindi na nila alam kung ano gagawin. They want to do something for themselves. Just relax ka lang. The moment that the Lord is feeding you with something, be attuned to Him.
FF: Gawa ng Diyos basically ang liturhiya, it’s not gawa natin. Sabi ni Ems, serving the Lord is a thanksgiving in faith but the more you serve, for me, laging sinusubukan ang faith mo, ganon po ba talaga? Kasi I’m a LeCom.
MR: Talaga pong ang faith ay dapat ma-challenge in order for it to continue to grow. Hindi po tayo dapat maging kampante na na-reach na natin yung goal natin. Ito nga po ang mahalaga rin sa pananampalataya . Faith tries to reach for the end, for the fullness of what faith can give, or wants to give. Huwag po tayong makokontento na ok na to kasi meron pang gustong ibigay sa atin ang Panginoong Diyos, buksan mo yung sarili mo. Faith makes us open, totally open, to what God wants to give us that’s why kung ikaw ay nagse-serve kay Lord at nasusubukan ka, pasalamatan mo ang pagsubok sapagkat pinalalaki ka, pinalalawak ang puso mo, pinagma-mature ka. Pero kung iniisip natin na ok ka na, hindi po yun ganon. Ang pananampalataya po really forces you to look forward to the plenitude, ika nga, to the fullness of what faith wants to give you.
FF: Sabi ni Ramon, according to Dr. Peter Creaves, a Catholic convert from Protestantism, there should be no contradiction between the Protestant concept of faith and ours. His metaphor is of the tree, which consists of the roots, trunk and fruits, which the Catholics resemble, faith, hope and love, respectively, whereas the Protestants view the whole tree as faith. Dr. Creaves says an authentic faith, to Protestants, is manifested by good deeds. So basically we say the same. Iba ang pagkasabi kaya doon nagkaroon ng mga misunderstanding. Sabi ni Maria Haydee, noong bata pa ako naging maliwanag sa kin gusto kong maligtas ang kaluluwa ko, pero habang tumatanda ako at dumarami ang karanasan, as long kaya kong panagutan kung anong ginagawa ko, parang wala na po sa akin kung maliligtas ang kaluluwa ko o hindi. Doesn’t matter, basta alam ko, nagkakaintindihan na kami ng Diyos. Ok lang po ba yon?
MR: Hindi ko po kayo matugunan nang direct kasi hindi ko alam kung ano po yung pagkakaintindihan nyo ni Lord. Pero maganda po kasi na meron din tayong community of persons with whom we can check whether yung ating iniisip at nararamdaman ay correct. Kaya be open to other people po to advise you, to your priest, somebody who is more mature in faith to challenge you also kasi mahirap na magkamali tayo. Meron po tayong sinasabing presumption, we should not presume things too much. Let us be always open to the counsel of others, to the wiser among us and get yourselves validated. So, hindi ko po masasagot yung tanong ninyo kasi po hindi ko exactly alam yung mutual understanding ninyo ni Lord. But, it’s good to always have somebody to validate or to challenge what that is exactly.
FF: Galing kay kay Rufina, Head ng Faith and Formation Ministry ng aking parokya. Sana po ay ma-involve ang servant leaders proclaiming the Word of God by joining BEC even through prayer meeting upang doon mapag-usapan ang pagmimisyon sa kapwa, how to extend our help to the needy. Dahil tamang-tama ang Gospel everyday on what’s happening around us. I hope magjo-join ang lahat ng servant head sa prayer meetings or formation para lumalim ang faith ng bawat isa at ang pagmimisyon together to reach ang faith with works which true Christians may uphold.
Ang problema ni Rufina at siguro ay problema nating lahat ay paano makukumbinsi ang ibang lider ng simbahan na importante ang formation in faith. Monsi, bilang head ng Commission on Formation and Faith, how do you respond sa naririnig kong, “Ano ba, pwede bang seryosohin natin ang formation?” Kasi, parang may perception among servants na formation is not that important unless required. Pag ni-require, obligatory, saka lang nako-comply, otherwise, mas magandang takasan. (Both laughed at this.) So ano ang kahalagahan ng formation para sa mga leader?
MR: Di po ba, sa ating parokya, meron po tayong Worship Ministry, at the other side, meron tayong Social Action, of course meron pang BEC. But in-between these e formation. What holds worship and social action together, to me, is formation. Because it enables you to see that worship alone is not enough without social action and vice-versa. Formation bridges the gap between them. Pag kayo po e nag-undergo ng formation, once it becomes very meaningful for you and then social action becomes the same, nakikita nyo na one flows from and to the other. Kaya, mas fulfilled ka, ang pakiramdam mo ay masayang-masaya ka kasi you’re not just doing social action as if you are a social worker or you are not just doing formation as if pari-pari but you see how all these things come together because of the formation that you receive.
FF: I think minsan we need a whole session to explain how our dividing into ministries is not like you will do charity, I will do formation and you will do worship because these are components for all of us. Kahit hindi ako miyembro ng Social Action, if I don’t help the poor, malaki ang kakulangan ng aking buhay-pananampalataya. Now, even if I’m not a lay minister, but if I don’t participate in the worship, talagang pilay na pilay ang aking pananampalataya and the same even if I’m a Social Action member or BEC, if I don’t have formation, mahina ang aking pananampalataya, it’s not nurtured. Even if we have different ministries, it doesn’t mean na you can choose one and then the other aspects of life e parang bale-wala.
MR: Maganda po yung sinasabi ni Fr. Luciano na integral, buo po tayo. Andodon lahat ng sangkap at lahat ng iyan e meron ka. Kumbaga sa pagkain, kumpleto ang sangkap, kumpleto ang buhay mo, kumpleto yung ministry mo, kumpleto yung pagse-serve mo sa Panginoon. Kasi, batid mo ang reasons behind “Why am I supposed to do this?” Because there’s always the “Why?” and if you have the “Why?” Then it becomes, “A pala!” It’s meaningful.
FF: Eto, interesting comment ni Yana. Napaka-healthful po ng ganitong usapan lalo na sa aming Generation Z (those born from 1990 to 2010), mga kabataang younger than millenials, na mabilis ma-tempt at magpadala sa mga bagay-bagay sa paligid namin. Napaka-overwhelming lang na through this, na-deepen namin ang aming pananampalataya. We just have to let God mold us sa kung anumang nais Niya para sa atin truly because God always wants the best for us. Sa servant talaga, na nate-test ang ating pananampalataya, nasa paligid lang ang temptation. Minsan nga, kasama pa natin sa loob ng simbahan. (Not anymore. If I don’t have a 10-foot pole to keep it at bay, I flee from the occasion of sin.) Faih works when you also work.
MR: Make an effort ha, tama po.
FF: Question ni Teresita Fernandez, Fr. and Monsi, paano po natin sasagutin yung mga tumutuligsa sa mga pananampalataya natin bilang Catholic like, tanong nila e bakit December 25 ang Pasko, bakit may mga rebulto sa simbahan, etc. Ngayon po, ayaw nilang makipag-friendly talk, how po natin sila kakausapin? Thanks po.
MR: Mahirap po yung tanong nyo kasi kung minsan, people resort to discussion on level ng mga bagay-bagay, rebulto o whatever pero kung minsan, hindi makababa dito sa puso. Tayo ring mga Katoliko, kung minsan, we also,try to engage yun lang, pag-uusap, batikusan, ano po. Pero kasi, mahalaga rin na ma-encounter natin ang isang tao, tao sa tao, puso sa puso. Kasi talaga po, kung minsan, ang hirap namang kumbinsihin ang isang taong meron na siyang set ng paniniwala e, ano ba yung gagawin natin dyan, magtatalo lang tayo. Subalit, start with a very good relationship of heart-to-heart, sharing, what you believe and why you do things that you do. Coming from your own conviction and then, from there, things should happen, should flow. A akin, ganon ako, Padre, kasi. Dati, parang ang sarap makipagdiskusyon, makipagdebate pero kung minsan, ano lang uon, parang mental gymnastics lang sa akin.
FF: Oo. Di open, tsaka hindi maganda, minsan ang layunin ay talunin kita, parang ganon e. So that’s why sometimes I ask them when they ask me, “Ano ba ang layunin mo? Are you trying to prove me wrong?” So there is no point if that’s the point. It’s not a competition, it’s not a debate, we can enrol in a UP Debate Club kung gusto nating debate but faith is not about debate. Kaya maganda yung friendly beginning with people, and that’s where you can share yung paniniwala mo. Sabi ni Regie, hello po. Sa pagkakaroon ng sakit po ba doon sinusukat ang pananampalataya sa Diyos? Yun po kasi ang lagi kong iniisip, tama po ba? Pray for my general anxiety.
MR: Kapagka po tayo nagkakasakit, pag tayo’y nagkakaroon ng mga problema, talaga pong nasusubukan yung ating pagtitiwala sa Panginoong Diyos, yung pananalig natin sa Kanyang pagmamahal sa atin at sa kung ano yung magiging mabuti para sa atin. Magkakaroon tayo ng doubt pero every time po na malalampasan natin yung pagdududa na ito sa kagandahang-loob ng Diyos, sa pag-ibig Niya sa atin ay naggo-grow yung ating pananampalataya. It also teaches you to be patient. It also teaches you to endure. Yung endurance. Para po yang sa exercise e, kasi, Padre, nagte-tennis pa rin ako, pero minsan, pagod na pagod ka na ba, parang gi-give-up ka na. Pero, you endure. You start building your endurance, your struggles, and it does not happen overnight. It takes days, months, of doing the same thing over and over again until you reach such strength, capacity, to endure.
FF: Correct. Sabi ni John Dexter, formation is very important, it helps us to understand what, why and who we believe. It is important for our parishes to have catechism, apologetics and evangelization.
MR: Correct.
FF: So, Monsi, final words of closing the whole module on “Fundamental Theology.” If you have to put your teaching of the two forms, revelation and faith, into a short statement, how would you do it?
MR: Pinagpala tayo ng Panginoon sapagkat lumapit Siya, nagpakilala Siya sa atin, at binigyan Niya tayo ng tulong para magbukas ang ating sarili at tanggapin Siya. Yun ang faith and revelation. It starts with God revealing Himself to us, who He is, inviting us to walk with Him, and then you say, “Yes, Lord, I’ll follow. I’ll do as You say.” And then goes the journey. Of faith. And all along the way, God continues to reveal Himself to you. So continue with the journey.
What word? Maganda siguro yung journey, Fr. Paglalakbay. Nag-umpisa ang Diyos lapitan tayo at iniabot Niya ang kamay Niya sa yo at inilagay mo yung kamay mo sa Kanya, lumakad ka kasama ang Diyos.
Amen.