Freedom and New Life (Lord’s Baptism C)

Christian Duguay's Golden Globe-nominated film, Human Trafficking, depicts the horrible world of sex slavery where abducted girls are reduced into sex commodities to be sold and resold over and over to insatiable patrons of this sex industry. The film unfolds the story of four girls who have been kidnapped from across the world and consigned into the hellish prison of international sex trade without hope of escape. Only a specialized team of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are determined to bring down the global network that sponsors such heinous crimes.

One of the four victims is Nadia, a 16-year old girl from Kiev.  She winds up in the brothel after signing up, without her father’s knowledge, for what she believed to be an opportunity for modelling.  Desperate to find her, Nadia’s father sets out to save her and risks his own life by joining the syndicate that runs the dangerous world of sex trade. He has no hope of saving her unless he enters the evil world of sex industry where she is held as a slave. In the end, the risk he has taken pays off. Nadia is reunited with his father.

What has this to do with the Feast of the Lord’s Baptism?  Allow me to spell out two things.  But already at the outset, we can maintain that the film’s motif of slavery and liberation lends itself to a deeper appreciation of our Lord’s baptism which has to be understood within the similar biblical motif of slavery of sin and the promise of salvation.

First point, the Saviour’s solidarity with the sinners. Was there a need for Jesus to be baptized by John? John’s baptism was a summons to repentance and conversion.  It was directed then to the sinners.  Jesus was everything like us except sin. Hence, as far as Jesus’ personal spiritual life was concerned, He did not need John’s baptism.

But why did He submit to John as recalled now by our gospel reading (Lk 3:15-16, 21-22)? Some biblical scholars suggest that Jesus’ submission to baptism is his act of fully identifying himself with the sinful people whom He is called to save.  His public calling as a saviour demands that He be in solidarity with those whom John has called to conversion.  Very similar to the decision of Nadia’s father to bravely enter the world of sex trade to save her, for only this, risky as it may be, gives a glimmer of hope for Nadia’s liberation.

The baptism of our Lord then marks Jesus’ resolve to embrace us even more in our sinful condition in order to save us. He enters our world of slavery that He may liberate us. No wonder that He finds time to laugh and dine with the sinners.  This commitment to be in solidarity with the sinful people culminates in his passion and death on the cross. He pays the price of our sins; and in his resurrection, wins for us our freedom, our new life, and our salvation.

This gives profound meaning to our own baptism.  When we are “immersed” into the water of baptism, we experience ritually our burial into Christ’s death, from which we rise up by resurrection with him, as new creatures (CCC 1214). Our baptism incorporates us into the death and resurrection of our Lord, hence, bringing about new life in Christ.

Nadia cannot help but weep for joy as she realizes her freedom, safety, and new life with her loving father who has risked everything for her.  On this feast of the Lord’s baptism, let us relish the freedom and new life that Jesus has won for us over the slavery of sin and death.

Second point, the Saviour’s true identity.  It’s too risky to plunge into the world of sin. One can easily lose oneself.  But Nadia’s father survives in the sneaky world of sex industry because He knows who he is.  During a raid in one of the brothels, he is cornered by a police officer to whom he appeals, “I am Nadia’s father. I must go and find her.” And he runs away to continue his search. 

Jesus needs to know his true identity as He decides, in his baptism, to be fully identified with the sinful people.  The gospel of Luke reports that after Jesus’ baptism and in his prayer, the Father’s assurance comes as a voice from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with whom I am well pleased” (Lk 3:22). This certainly gives Jesus a shot in the arm in fulfilling his mission. With clarity, He brings with him his true identity as he embarks into the sinful world of the people He is called to save. He is to walk not in the ways of sin but always in the ways that please God, His Father.

In our baptism, we become adopted sons and daughters of God in Christ. And this identity is indelible.  In this sinful world where we move and live, we need to be always reminded about who we really are, lest we easily lose ourselves.  We are the children of God.  Amid the growing Godlessness of our societies and cultures, do we have the conviction to stand as God’s children whose only resolve is to do what pleases the Father?

The world as it is now is beset with terrifying structures of sin.  One of these is the impenetrable structures of human trafficking and sex industry as an example. Lest we succumb to despair, let us allow the Feast of the Lord’s baptism to bring us hope—one that springs from our conviction that we have a God who journeys with us through the road of salvation  and that He calls us his children, hence, empowering us to create structures of grace where freedom and new life is celebrated.

Gifts of the Magi (Epiphany C)

Christmas gift-giving in the early centuries was originally done on the Feast of Epiphany understandably on account of the Magi’s presentation of gifts to the infant Jesus as we hear in the Gospel reading today.  With our present practice though, all the exchanging of gifts have been done by now and what’s left probably are the piles and litters of gift wrappers and boxes in our rooms (or in my room particularly).

But we can still take this Feast of Epiphany as an opportunity to make sense of our experience of gift-giving on Christmas.  Is there still sense to it?

The Lettermen’s “What Can I Give You this Christmas?” is one of my favourite Christmas songs. Some lines stand out for me as meaningful:

What can I give you this Christmas?
Not a thing that I’ve seen will do
So I’ll give you my heart and my own true love
That will last the whole year through.

I resonate not so much with the Lettermen’s genre as with the song’s expression of the existential ache common to us all to give no less our heart when we love.  Love compels us to give. One cannot love without giving. Giving is an act of love. Gifts then are signs of love, symbols of our hearts.  Oftentimes, however, we find the Christmas exchange of gifts a mere routine for merry-making, an activity to fill in the Christmas parties we have organized.  So that after all the parties, the real gift-giving happens in a less conspicuous way when we approach the people we truly care for and hand them what represents our love for them or when we quietly reach out  in charity to those who are less fortunate.

In today’s gospel (Mt. 2:1-12), the wise men from the east inspire our practice of gift-giving.  After travelling far and wide in search of the Lord, the Magi, led by a brightly shining star, found the infant Jesus with Mary his mother. “They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then, they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (v. 11).

Again, gifts are symbols of love.  In this particular event, the gifts of the Magi highlighted the great irony in the history of salvation:  The pagan people, represented by the wise men from the east, had come to express their love to Jesus and to receive the Messiah while the chosen people of Israel who had been waiting for their promised saviour would eventually hate and reject him.

Gold is a gift befitting a king for gold stands as the king of metals. With this gift the Magi expressed their love and acceptance of Jesus as King. This was in stark contrast to the evil intent of Herod, Israel’s King, against the child whom he saw as threat to his kingship. The frankincense, moreover, is high quality incense, the aroma and smoke of which goes up heavenward and exudes divinity.  With this gift, the magi expressed their love and worship of Jesus as God.  The God of Israel became then the God of all nations.  The third gift, myrrh, is used as a perfume in the preparation of the dead for burial. This gift foreshadowed the passion and death of our Lord as human being. With this gift, the magi expressed their love and acceptance of the humanity of Jesus and his obedience unto death.

On this Feast of Epiphany then, we may do well to pose some reflective questions pertaining to our experience of gift-giving this Christmas:

What gift did I receive that I am most grateful for? Right now my place is still in shambles as I come back from Christmas break.  As I start to get rid of the litters of gift wrappers, ribbons, boxes and what not, I realize it is not for a particular gift which has come with the wrappings that I am most thankful.  It is the gift of friendship, of love and of family that has made the Christmas season not just merry but truly happy for me. For others, there may be some outstanding gifts that they can easily be grateful for.  In whatever case, this Feast of Epiphany invites us to relish our sense of gratitude and just be thankful.

What gift have I given that bears the sign of my heart? How have I given this Christmas? Have I given with love? Have I reached out to those who are in need? Our honest answer to this will allow us either to appreciate our own capacity to share and to be selfless or to be aware of our tendency to be close to ourselves and to our own needs.  Let Epiphany be a manifestation for us of our own capacity to give love or our need to grow more in it.

What gift have I given to Jesus who is the be-all-and-end-all of this season? Despite the widespread annual celebration of Christmas, our societies have given way to secularism. God and His precepts have been increasingly brushed aside from public affairs. There is even talk of renaming the Christmas tree into holiday tree to avoid the religious connotation of Christmas! While the present day Herods reject God, can we continue to stand by Jesus as our King, worship Him as our God, love Him and suffer with Him as one among us?

We may have crooned and belted out Christmas songs this season including my favorite, promising to give even our hearts as gift, but the real challenge is that on this Feast of the Epiphany we are called to offer to the Lord once more the gifts of the Magi.

Hope and Forgiveness in the Holy Year (Mary, Mother of God C)

As we gather together to celebrate the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, we find ourselves at the brink of a New Year—a special year, the Jubilee Year 2025. This year, we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope. As we journey together, we are invited to become agents of hope in the midst of so much uncertainty and struggle in our personal lives and in our aspirations as a nation.  Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Peace 2025, entitled “Forgive us our Trespasses; Grant us your Peace” calls us to find hope in forgiveness and in our commitment to work for justice and peace in the world.   Let us reflect on three key points: embracing the Jubilee spirit, understanding forgiveness as a path to peace, and the Pope's three concrete proposals for building a more just society.

Embracing the Jubilee Spirit for 2025. The Jubilee is a time of liberation and hope, echoing the ancient Jewish practice where every fiftieth year was proclaimed a time of forgiveness and freedom. This year, we are called to embrace this spirit of hope as we aspire for our own restoration and healing as a people. For many Filipinos, the weight of economic challenges, political turmoil, natural calamities owing to climate crisis, and social injustices can be overwhelming. From the struggles against poverty and unemployment to the cries for justice from victims of violence, we badly need our anchor of hope to offer us a sense of stability and security as we struggle in our journey. 

Mary, as the Mother of God, embodies hope and resilience. Her acceptance of God’s plan reminds us that even in our darkest moments, there is a glimmer of hope. Jesus, her Son, is our anchor amidst this turbulent time. This year, let us embrace the Jubilee spirit by acknowledging our own burdens and calling for communal healing. How can we, inspired by Mary, actively contribute to lightening the load of our neighbors? Whether through acts of compassion, solidarity in our communities, or advocacy for systemic change, each of us plays a role in fostering a spirit of renewal and hope.

Forgiveness as a Path to Peace. Forgiveness is crucial to healing the deep divisions in our society. In the Philippines, where we experience on-going cycles of conflict—be it between communities, within families, or against the backdrop of political strife—approaching one another with a spirit of forgiveness can be revolutionary. In his message for the World Day of Peace 2025, “Forgive us our Trespasses; Grant us Your Peace,” Pope Francis emphasizes that forgiveness is not an easy act but is essential for our collective peace.

Consider the wounds inflicted by violence and injustice, such as those faced by families who have lost loved ones to extrajudicial killings, or those who bear the scars of historic injustices and discrimination. Forgiveness does not dismiss the pain but allows for transformation. Mary, Mother of God, brought Jesus to the world whose entire life had shown the power of forgiveness to bring healing and reconciliation. As we enter the New Year, we are invited to ask ourselves: Who do we need to forgive in our hearts? How can we foster peace in our communities? By prioritizing reconciliation over resentment, we contribute to the healing of a fractured society.

Pope Francis’ Three Proposals. Let us also reflect on Pope Francis’ three proposals for building a more just and compassionate world, which resonate deeply within our Philippine context:

Debt Forgiveness: The Pope calls for the cancellation of international debts that threaten the future of many nations, particularly in the global South. In the Philippines, where many families struggle under the weight of poverty and economic instability, advocating for debt forgiveness is a crucial step toward justice and equity. We must work towards policies that alleviate the burden of debt and promote sustainable development.

Respect for Life: Upholding the sanctity of life is paramount. In a society where violence and injustice are prevalent, we are called to be champions of life. This includes advocating for the abolition of the death penalty still in place in some societies and correcting this culture of extra-judicial killings which undermines the hope for rehabilitation and forgiveness. We must strive to create a culture that values every life and offers hope for a better future.

Redirecting Resources for Peace: The Pope urges the international community to redirect funds from war expenditures to initiatives that combat hunger and promote education. In the Philippines, where many children go hungry and lack access to quality education, we must advocate for a shift in priorities that invests in our youth and communities. By supporting programs that promote peace and development, we can help build a brighter future.

As we celebrate this New Year and the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, let us carry these reflections in our hearts. May we embrace the Jubilee spirit filled with hope, commit ourselves to the path of forgiveness, and actively engage with the Pope’s proposals for a more just and peaceful Society. Let us follow the example of Mary, who teaches us to trust in God’s plan and to be vessels of peace in a world that so desperately needs it. Amen.