WORD ALIVE
Fr. Bel San Luis
This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Three Kings or Magi.
Magi were wise men or enlightened astrologers. The feast is also called “Epiphany” (from the Greek word ‘epiphanein’) which means “manifestation” because the newborn Messiah showed himself to the Magi.
What messages can we learn from the Magi event?
The Magi were not Jews but “pagans” who came from the East, likely from Africa and Arab countries.
Hence, the teaching of certain church denominations, like the Iglesia ni Kristo, the Born Again Christians, that they — and only they — will be saved contradicts the message of the Bible, particularly in today’s feast of the Epiphany.
The Catholic Church does not reach out only to a chosen people but to the whole world. Jesus Christ wants that salvation is universal. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus commanded his apostles: “Go out into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to every nation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mk 16,15).
Going out into the whole world and proclaiming the Good News is a priority mission. However, mission work is not only the task of the religious missionary congregations but also of every baptized Christians.
When I was ordained priest in the missionary Society of the Divine Word (SVD), I applied to work in Mexico, Central America. Unfortunately, I never got my wish. The farthest I’ve gone to is Mexico...Pampanga!
That doesn’t mean, however, that I am not a genuine missionary. By my work in the media and supporting seminarians under the “Adopt A Seminarian” scholarship program, I am a missionary.
What counts is not geography, but the spirit or acts of reaching out to the less fortunate and those who have not known Christ.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus is the universal patroness of Catholic missions yet, ironically, she never stepped out of the four walls of her Carmelite cloister.
She merited the title because of her burning obsession to save immortal souls by offering every little act of sacrifice, every bodily pain, and every fervent prayer.
Let’s be aware of our missionary commitment and emulate the persevering faith of the Magi. Jesus said empathically: “He who perseveres to the end will receive the crown of eternal life.”
The lighter side: A Franciscan, a Jesuit, and an SVD missionary paid homage to the Christ Child in Bethlehem. The Franciscan was interested to have a piece of the manger to serve as reminder of the vows of poverty and simplicity which they strictly professed.
The Jesuit was more interested to have Jesus enrolled at their Ateneo school.
When they looked around, the SVD was nowhere to be found. They discovered later that he ran after the 3 Kings — soliciting donations for the mission!
“Dear God, all I ask for the New Year is a fat wallet and a thin body. And please don't mix them up... like you did last year!”
Thank you — for your donation to our Adopt-A-Seminarian scholarship program. Let me request more benefactors since there are more seminarians enrolled this school year. Remember that without seminarians, we cannot have priests, missionaries, bishops and popes.
Donate any amount for their schooling.
For inquiry, e-mail me at: [email protected].