Beautiful CBCP exhortation: Rejoice and Be Glad!
To “the peacemakers, to God’s children,” these highlights of the first 2 of the 7 themes contained in the beautiful July 9th CBCP statement.
On the first theme, PEACE: OUR COMMON VOCATION AND MISSION: “Our enemies in this world are not fellow human beings, not “flesh and blood” (Eph 6:12). We do not fight our battles with guns and bullets. We do not seek protection from those who might wish to harm us by wearing bulletproof vests, because the battles that we fight are spiritual. In these times of darkness, when there’s so much hatred and violence, when murder has become an almost daily occurrence, when people have gotten so used to exchanging insults and hurting words in social media, we admonish the faithful to remain steadfast in our common vocation and mission to actively work for peace.
“Not as the world gives peace do I give you peace.” (Jn 14:27). His peace is never the peace of compromise or capitulation to evil; it is also not about the absence of conflict and turmoil. Was he not rejected by his own townsfolk in Nazareth (Lk 4:16-30), called crazy by his own relatives (Mk 3:20-22), called a “prince of demons” (Mk 3:22-30), a drunkard and a lover of tax collectors and sinners? (Mt 11:19)”
“Did he not show us how to deal with adversities when he slept in the boat, or walked on water even in the midst of a storm? (Mk 4:35-40; Mk 6:45-52) But like the apostles, we are often so easily overcome by fear and panic.” Let God calm us in these turbulent times “with his abiding presence — “Be not afraid; it is I!” (Mt 14:27)”
Theme 2 discussed THE COST OF WITNESSING TO CHRIST: “What is new about priests being murdered for witnessing to Christ? What is new about modern prophets being silenced by the treacherous bullets of assassins? What is new about maligned servant leaders because they have carried out their duties configured to their Chief Shepherd?”
Remember that “the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.” It is what has kept the Church alive after 2,000 years. Our Master said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul into Gehenna” (Mt 10:28).”
“We are no strangers to ridicule and persecution: “They sharpen their tongues like swords; they aim bitter words like arrows to shoot at the innocent from ambush, shooting suddenly and recklessly (Psalm 64).” To persecuted or humiliated disciples, the Lord said, “rejoice and be glad” (Mt 5:12). “When we are insulted, we respond with a blessing; when persecuted, we bear it patiently; when slandered, we respond gently.”
How to deal with divisions among ourselves, with fellow “Christians” who see nothing wrong about the killings, who just laugh when our God is blasphemed, and who take part in passing on fake news?”
“The Lord warns: working for peace means going through the crucible of conflicts (Lk 12:51-53). There have to be divisions among you so that the genuine among you may become known (ESV 1 Cor 11:19).”
All are asked to pray and do penance on Our Lady of Carmel Feast (July 16), then three days of fasting, prayer and almsgiving (July 17- 19) to invoke “God’s mercy and justice on those who have blasphemed God’s Holy Name, those who slander and bear false witness, and those who commit murder or justify murder as a means for fighting criminality in our country.”
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