Apostle to the Apostles

During His public ministry, Jesus was supported by the Twelve Apostles and other followers, including women such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna (Lk 8:1-3).  While Jesus' band of brothers - minus John the Beloved -  fled for fear of the Jewish authorities, Mary Magdalene (and other women disciples) were present in Calvary to be with the Lord in His final moments on the cross. Her role did not stop on Good Friday though. The Gospel for her feast day tells us: "Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb" (Jn 20:1-2). The remaining verses tell us how she recognized the Risen Lord and how she relayed Jesus' message to His apostles. Hence, Rabanus Maurus and St Thomas Aquinas gave this faithful disciple  the title "Apostle to the Apostles". 

Way back in 2016, Pope Francis, through the Congregation for the Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, raised the celebration of St Mary Magdalene with a rank of Feast. It was formerly a Memorial. Archbishop Arthur Roche, Secretary for the Congregation, wrote: "[Mary Magdalene] is the witness to the risen Christ and announces the message of the Lord’s resurrection just like the rest of the Apostles. For this reason it is right that the liturgical celebration of this woman should have the same rank of Feast as that given to the celebration of the Apostles in the General Roman Calendar and that the special mission of this woman should be underlined, she who is an example and model for all women in the Church".

Reflecting on the world's current situation, Mary Magdalene's story comes to the fore. As she tended to the Apostles of old in their lockdown, modern Mary Magdalenes - women healthcare professionals and other key workers - brave the invisible enemy that is Covid-19. While most of us stay (and at times complain) at home, these women (and men alike) have been out there to tend the sick, the poor, and others adversely affected. We do not know when will this virus end. The lockdown has engendered other "viruses" such as inequality, discrimination, and indifference. During Mary Magdalene's time, women (as well as children) were treated as second class citizens. In our present time, people afflicted with the virus or those looking after those suffering from the virus have been looked down or even ostracized. There are also governments that, instead of prioritizing this issue have used this for political aggrandizement.

As we celebrate the feast day of St Mary Magdalene on July 22, let us ask for the grace to be new witnesses of the Lord's triumph over sin and death, bringing hope to the downtrodden and working tirelessly so that justice and peace would reign in our society.

St Mary Magdalene, pray for us.

What Did You Realize?

Covid-19 has been a life-changing experience. Homes had the privilege of becoming a school, an office, and a church. Someone in social media posted a question: "What did you realize this lockdown days?". Reactions from friends vary. Some expressed health concerns, while others mentioned their long-forgotten skills. Some wrote about how grateful they are in spite of the situation. Another wrote about more time being spent with family. Still some others shared how they come to realize and appreciate their parents' hard work in looking after them. This comment, in our view, stands out.

Covid-19 has brought the best out of parents and carers. In an instant, parents have become teachers, counsellors, and extraordinary ministers to their children. Indeed, churches may have closed, but the Church - God's People - has been deployed. Outside the home, other people from various walks of life have faced the challenges of Coronavirus: doctors, nurses, priests, nuns, police, barangay officials, and other key workers. It is heartwarming to witness how these people have gone out of their way, have taken the extra mile to serve others. Some have even lost their lives after being exposed to the virus.

The lock down has been some sort of the long retreat. Most of us stay at home to be safe and to look after our loved ones. We do not know yet when will this end, when will things be back to normal. Perhaps the word "normal" might have a new meaning when we do go back to where we left prior to the lock down.  

In his homily during Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Francis said "Let us pay attention to the voices that reach our hearts. Let us ask ourselves where they come from. Let us ask for the grace to recognize and follow the voice of the Good Shepherd, who brings us out of the confines of selfishness and leads us to the pastures of true freedom". 

What sort of voices speak to our heart during these challenging times? Are they voices full hope or despair? Is it the voice of the Good Shepherd or the Father of Lies? During this lock down, let us keep on discerning God's will for us. Doing His will is our vocation regardless if we are married or single, ordained or lay. And if we have discerned what God wants us to do, let us be open to it. Openness to His call will surely bring "us out of the confines of selfishness and leads us to the pastures of true freedom". Openness to His will would help us become a holy parent, a holy child, a holy professional, a holy minister of the Church, a holy frontliner.  And for our young people and those of us who seem to be clueless, openness to His will would pave the way to discover in what vocation God is calling us.

United with Mary and Joseph, may we have the grace to listen to the Shepherd's voice, to revive our homes as seedbeds of vocations.

Baptized and Sent

Pope Francis designated October 2019 as the Extraordinary Missionary Month with the theme: "Baptized and Sent". Through Baptism, God has claimed us as His own children. The life we have as baptized is best described by St Paul when he wrote: "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20).

If Christ lives in us, we ought to share Him with others, especially those who still do not know Him as well as those who reject Him. Sharing Jesus and His Good News is not only the responsibility of the clergy! If we look at our own families, the first missionaries we encountered were our elders - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. For sure, we would have been taught about the faith by our elders through their words or deeds. We would have learned our first prayers, thanks to our elders.

The Holy Father has often described the Church as "a field hospital" or one that "ventures forth". Through those adjectives, he is insisting that God's People ought to be missionary and not an archive. God's People, having gathered to receive Jesus in Word and Sacrament during Mass, should "[g]o and announce the Gospel of the Lord" (Words of Dismissal, Order of Mass). 

Whatever walk in life we tread, we have a part to contribute in announcing that Gospel. We may not have the gift of gab, but perhaps we have the concern or willingness to help out. Remember, most of the apostles were uneducated men and yet because of their willingness, Jesus chose them for missionary work.

Whatever gift we have, let us use it as Jesus sends us to reach out to others. We may not necessarily go to far-flung areas; the family, neighborhood, or parish we belong to may be our only missionary area. Still, let us go forth. The Gospel on the previous weekend (Luke 16:19-31) is a wake up call for us. God, in adopting us as His children, has endowed us with gifts and opportunities. Let us not waste those gifts, let us not miss those opportunities.  May the Father, "[h]elp us make it possible for all peoples to experience the saving love and mercy of Jesus Christ" (Prayer by Pope Francis for the Extraordinary Missionary Month).