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You are the Christ

(Mk 8:29)

        In From One Jesus to Four Gospels, Fr. Herman Hendrickx writes that the pivotal point of the Gospel of Mark is found in Mk 8:27-30, the pericope on Peter’s declaration about Jesus. Fr. Hendrickx considers the following verses as the hinge holding the first part (Mk 1:1-8:26) and the second part (Mk 8:31-16:8) of Mark’s gospel together: Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

        Fr. Hendrickx observes that the first part of Mark provides the answer to the question, Who is He?. In the beginning, no one seems to understand Jesus’ true identity, not even His disciples. The true identity of Jesus is only gradually revealed until, in Mk 8:27-30, Peter declares: You are the Christ (that is, the Messiah).

        The second part of Mark’s gospel presents the significance of the declaration of Peter: If Jesus is the Christ, what does it imply? Here the concrete meaning of true Christian discipleship is gradually revealed. This is summed up in Mk 10:45: For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many. Thus, the second part of the gospel relates the passion and death of Jesus – the Messiah has to suffer and die so that we may have life.

        I have just finished reading From One Jesus to Four Gospels and as I pondered on Fr. Hendrickx’s commentary on the Gospel of Mark, I came to realize fully that Jean and I essentially live a life with two parts: one part in Manila and another in Jakarta. And as I further reflected on events that happen whenever we are in Manila, it became evident to me that during these visits things happen to show us that Jesus is the Lord and that He is in control of our life. And then I find myself asking: If He is Lord, what does it imply? Are we not to serve Him and do His work in Jakarta? The workers in Manila are plentiful, but does He have enough workers in His vineyard in Indonesia?

        My brothers and sisters, I should like to share with you my reflections on the events that happened during our two-week stay in Manila – reflections prompted by my reading of Fr. Hendrickx’s book. I hope that by sharing my thoughts with you, you may also be led to reflect on how our Lord reveals Himself to you; and having done so, that you may further reflect on what it implies and what your response should be.

        On Valentine’s Day we had dinner with Ruben/Emy Sumo and Jun/Angie Dimarucot and this provided an opportunity for us to listen to Jun/Angie’s sharing on their work as CFC Chapter Leaders in some of the poorest sections of Metro Manila.

        On 17 February, we had dinner with a couple (not CFC member) that has been a very close friend. Another couple (not CFC member but also very close friends) was supposed to join us but on the last minute they called that they could not come because their 15-year old daughter had not returned home since the day before. Concerned about our friend’s missing daughter, we proceeded to their home after dinner. After hearing details of what happened, I led the group in prayer to ask the Lord, and the intercession of our Lady of Guadalupe, for the safe and early return of our friend’s missing daughter. Although we reached home at past midnight, Jean and I decided to offer a rosary for the same intention. We slept confident that the Lord had heard our prayers.

        On Sunday we attended the morning Mass in our subdivision’s chapel and again it just so happened that Couples for Christ was providing the choir for that particular Mass. We were thus invited to join the choir, and after the Mass we had the opportunity to renew acquaintance with friends from our former CFC community.

        From church we proceeded to the home of Pol/Lil Abis to have lunch. They were the first couple that we had invited to CFC. Now they are Unit Leaders and are heading a Christian Life Program in their area. We had so much to share about service in CFC that we did not notice that it was already past five in the afternoon. We left so edified knowing how God has worked so wonderfully in the life of the very first couple that we had invited to CFC.

        On 19 February we had lunch with Rouquel/Nina Ponte. We discussed the forthcoming MER I and II, the Special CLP to be led by Mike/Ellen Pavlich, the pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the 15^th Anniversary celebration in May, and the placement of Ruben/Emy, Jess/Chris, and Nestor/Maricel in their respective communities in Manila. As our top leaders, we find it always spiritually uplifting just talking with them and sharing on our common work in CFC. After lunch, we passed by the CFC Center to buy books and materials for the use of CFC Jakarta.

        On Tuesday evening Jean and I attended the CFC Elders Core Group Gathering (ECGG) composed of all Chapter Leaders and above from Metro Manila. Bishop Gregorio gave an excellent talk on CFC and the Catholic Church.

         In the morning of Ash Wednesday, our friend called to thank us for the prayers and to inform us that his daughter was already home safe. Then Jean and I attended a meeting of a new Catholic community in La Vista composed mostly of mothers with children studying in Ateneo. After the Mass celebrated by Fr. Nuñez, a Spanish Jesuit from Ateneo, I gave a talk on Finding Jesus Through Our Christian Marriage. It was a wonderful experience sharing the teachings of CFC with a small but enthusiastic community.

         On Thursday afternoon Jean and I visited a friend’s 92-year old mother who has been terminally ill and bedridden for the past four years. Considering her mother’s age and knowing that she has already received the last rites of the Church twice, I led the prayers asking not for physical healing but for God’s mercy and compassion, that when the Lord finally calls her, He may welcome her immediately into His presence accompanied by His holy angels.

         On Saturday morning we visited the Seminary and Retreat House of the Order of Friar Minors Conventual (OFMConv). We have been sending some financial support to the Conventual Franciscans during the past three years, although we have not met or visited them. We met Fr. Leonardo, an Italian friar who is the Director of the Order, and were given a tour of the facilities. It was inspiring to learn about the Franciscans and their work with the poor.

         That Saturday afternoon, we learned that our friend’s mother passed away. We went to the wake that evening assuring our friend that her mother must already be very happy in heaven. When we returned home that evening, we (together with our son, Joubert) prayed over our son Joel, who is a special child. We went to bed at one in the morning and woke up at four to prepare to go to the airport for our early morning flight to Jakarta. And the second part of our life begins again.

         As I reflect on these events during the four-hour flight from Manila to Jakarta, I cannot help but think that whenever we visit Manila, the Lord allows certain things to happen so that we may know Him better. During our talks with Jun/Angie, Pol/Lil and Rouquel/Nina we felt God’s loving presence; during the ECGG and our meeting with Fr. Leonardo, we heard His gentle voice; and during the Sunday Mass with friends in CFC and my talk in La Vista, we saw how Jesus touches the hearts of people.

         God also allows us to be part of events that lead us to come to Him, pray to Him, and seek Him. This was precisely what happened in the case of our friends’ missing daughter and terminally ill mother. We felt that the best way we could help was through prayers. And by answering our prayers, the Lord tells us that He is a faithful God; He nourishes our faith and teaches us to be humble and utterly dependent on Him.

         This is what I consider as the gradual process by which Jesus reveals Himself to us. Jesus shows us who He really is – or more precisely, who He really should be in our lives. Indeed a reflective consideration of all the things that happened during the past two weeks shows clearly that Jesus wants to more fully reveal Himself to us – allowing His presence to be felt and His voice to be heard; and answering our prayers so that we may more fully recognize that He is indeed the Messiah, the Christ, our personal Savior and Redeemer.

         If Jesus is our personal Savior, what does it imply? If He answers our prayers and provides for all our needs; if He gives us consolation and allows us to feel His loving presence and hear His gentle voice; and if He gives us the grace to know Him, what do these imply? How shall we respond? I think that the answer is in what He wants us to do in Indonesia. If we recognize Jesus as our Savior, shall we not allow ourselves to be His instrument in accomplishing His work in Jakarta? If He says “yes” to all our prayers, shall we not also say “yes” to all His commands? If salvation is only through Him, shall we not try our best to do His work?

         Because of the events of the past two weeks, we came to know Jesus a little bit more. And knowing Him, we become a little bit more courageous to face the tasks ahead of us in Jakarta, to endure the trials and difficulties that accompany service in CFC, and like Peter, to boldly proclaim Jesus to other couples and declare “Jesus is the Christ.”

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