Sermon

In my play productions of Dr. Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere, friars are portrayed as villains. Though centuries have passed, Rizal's Noli reminds us of their abuses. Through his novel, he accounts the excesses of the Spanish colonizers yet this generation acknowledges their lasting contribution to the Catholic faith.

It has been a practice to hear novena mass at the Redemptorist church as my way of professing my devotion to the Mother of Perpetual Help. A practice that has for so long recalling its onset renders futile.

It's difficult to forget the past especially if it's documented, studied, staged and handed down from generation to generation.  But it's forgivable especially that the same faith has brought us all Filipinos united in many trying occasions that marked our national identity. It is the same Catholic faith that played a vital role in toppling several corrupt government officials.

But like a healed wound that has been stripped off with its skin once again, coming fresh, it's a reminder, a revivification of the past. Much more when present religious, church leaders are involved and exposed to scandals, anomalies and other compromises.

The latest incident involving a priest scolding a young single mother during a baptismal for having a baby out of wedlock is indeed a manifestation of a past coming to life. But unlike before, the incident has created fast reactions as it went viral. Present technology allows others to vent out their sentiments about the incident. The pressure was great and mounting that led to the priest's immediate issuance of public apology in social media, the very source of the pressure.

Initially the young mother was disappointed. She said that she should have been personally asked for an apology since she was the one emotionally and psychologically battered due to the incident.

It is amazing to note that had it not been the pressure from the social media, the priest would not realize that what he did is entirely uncalled for, and later on asked for an apology. As moral vanguard, thinking that all through the years, practicing such public humiliation in the disguise for moral education is socially acceptable.

The incident does not affect my faith. After all, like other social institutions, this religious hierarchy is composed of men and women who are vulnerable mortals.

But this is the very institution that is supposed to provide moral guidance to those who are stray and not to provide shame in public. Because doing so would not get the looked for transformation but only humiliation, and further desolation. And to some extent, hatred to the one giving out such debasing sermon.

I have come across an interesting definition of the word "sermon" which states: "In modern language, it can also be used pejoratively in secular terms to describe a lengthy or tedious speech delivered with great passion, by any person, to an uninterested audience." Indeed interesting to note that what happened was a speech delivered with great fervor but to a disgraced audience. Apathetic and dishonored because such action is plain inappropriate and demoralizing.

We all have our own shortcomings. And at some point, in our interactions with others, we end up abused and bruised. And these experiences, great realizations would come when there are ways for us to stand up once more and be the person we want to be. We don't need another unpleasant, humiliating experience for us to realize. Words are supposed to encourage and lift our spirit up. All we need are heartening words and concrete ways for enlightenment and guidance.

We have had enough of the abusive Spanish rule. We were once tattered as a people. We don't want a repeat of the history, or even experience the remnant of it.