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Krus at Lipunan: A Filipino Theology of Liberation

Ephpheta!

Is 35:4-7a | Ps 146:7,8-9,9-10 | Ja 2:1-5 | Mk 7:31-37

As the Philippine economy struggles to rise from the raging pandemic, the country also deals with the fresh surge in infections driven by the highly transmissible Delta variant, health workers on the front lines continue to suffer from poor working conditions and delayed benefits. Which these overworked and underpaid health workers slowly walks away while this delta variant continues ravages the Philippines.

These are really uncertain times not only because the new COVID 19 Variants keeps mutating but also the fluid political climate of the Philippine political game. While politicians continues to scrap the barrel for dominance and stability for upcoming 2022 elections our health care system is mired by alleged corruptions and irregularities. The Filipino people continues to struggle to meet both ends in the midst of all these. It seems that those who are in the seats of power are deaf, and even treating the common folk, the Filipino masses mute.

In the gospel for this Sunday, Jesus is now constantly on the move in the territory of Decapolis, (a Greek word meaning ten cities, refers to a region east of the sea of Galilee stretching down to northern edge of the Dead Sea.) a deaf who has difficulty speaking came to Jesus for healing.  Reflecting on the gospel of today, we can say that this deaf somehow represent the Filipino society in general. Jesus Christ is telling us Ephpheta! To the people who abuse their power and privileges to the extent of ransacking the coffers of the Filipino masses, Ephpheta! To Christians who look away blindly to his or her impoverished neighbor, Ephpheta!  To Church leaders who find themselves in the comfort of their parishes, rectories and convents while the faithful struggle against the tide economic and social injustices, Ephpheta! To the policymakers and our politicians especially those who are Christians who puts their political interest first than serving their constituents, Ephpheta! Tayo mga nabinyagan na kristiyano, nang tayo’y nabinyagan nabuksan ang ating buhay ispiritwal. Niregaluhan tayo ng Diyos ng pananampalataya . narinig natin ang mga salita ng Diyos. Hinubog tayo sa pagpapahayag ng mabuting balita ni Hesus. Nabuksan an gating bibig. Hindi na tayo dapat bingi’t utal. Maliwanag na an gating pandinig at pagsalita. Ang problema ay kung magpasakop tayo sa demonyo, sa pamamagitan ng kasalanang personal at panlipunan. Babalik tayo nian sa pagka-bingi at utal. At ito nga ang malimit na mangyari sa ating buhay. 

                                

                                                                                                  Lou Joshua M. Francisco


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