The following reflection was delivered in the Parish Church of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, UPLB, on May 21, 2014 in coordination with the recollection talk of Rev. Fr. Luis Tolentino on John Paul II's Redemptoris Mater. The Parish Marian Recollection.
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Servers carrying banners of Mary's titles stand before the image of Our Lady of Smiles
as people sing the Salve Regina after the Marian Procession on May 31, 2014
at the St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish, UP Los Banos. |
BLESSED
WITH A BURDEN
When
Pope John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council in 1962, there was a debate
whether the council should have a separate document on Mary. There were
discussion until two groups were to present their position papers: the group
that is approve of having a document and the other which is opposed. The
cardinals chose Cardinal Rufino Santos of the Philippines to defend the side of
those having a separate document. A Filipino. Because there is no one who loves
the Blessed Mother more than Filipinos, kaya nga tayo nabansagang Pueblo amante de Maria- Bayang Sumisinta kay
Maria.
One
time I was watching a movie and then here comes the father saying to her
daughter, “YOU ARE BLESSED WITH A BURDEN.” That
time I was so struck by what was said that I wasn’t able to focus on the rest
of the movie anymore but started pondering what the line meant- YOU ARE BLESSED
WITH A BURDEN.
Jesus
said, “Come to me and I will give you rest. Take my yoke for my burden is easy
and light.”
When
we speak of burdens, hindi ito bastang mga pasanin natin na mahirap, pasakit,
etc. These can be any loads in our lives: our work, our job, our commitments,
our family, ang mga asawa ninyo, anak, etc. Those are your DAILY BURDENS. When
Jesus said ‘Come follow me’ He didn’t say “Oh this life will be easy.” There is
still a burden however it is only easier and lighter. How? Because you know
that in all things that you will be doing, He is with you!
Being
a student is a blessing. Studying is a burden. Being a mother is a blessing.
Weaning a child and waking up in the middle of the night is a burden. But
following the Lord isn’t always easy. Sabi nga, “Following the Lord is not
easy, but worth it.” Man’s cooperation is needed to sustain this relationship.
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
It’s
like this dear brothers and sisters, Pagnilayan natin ito sa mata ng ating
debosyon sa Mahal na Birheng Maria. Take for example the wearing of the brown scapular. It has promises and one of those is salvation from hell. But it doesn't mean if you just wear it you're good. No. It entails a responsibility of doing good, and praying the rosary daily! The scapular is a blessing, yet it gives you a burden to do something. See?
My dear brothers and sisters that is precisely a Blessing to you which is a
burden. The fact that you are wearing a scapular means you are enrolled to the
school of the Blessed Virgin Mary that expects you to pray the rosary daily.
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The First Parish Marian Exhibit opened in STCJP for the whole month of May.
The image of the Immaculada Concepcion under the title Nuestra Senora de las Agua Santa
of Los Banos welcomes visitors. At the back stands the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. |
Mary
was blessed with the burden of being the Mother of the Redeemer. She
was blessed among women. Her role shines in the history of salvation. Ung
mismong pag-OO niya sa Diyos ay pag-OO sa isang mabigat na gawain at tungkulin.
Hindi ito ung bastang pagiging ina, ngunit pagiging Ina ng Diyos, Ina ni Hesus
at sa paanan ng krus makikita natin palalawakin pa ito sa pagiging Ina ng
Sanlibutan, Ina ng mga Mananampalataya.
Maaring
makita natin ang Mahal na Birhen na pinararangalan, inaalayan ng bulaklak,
sinusuotan ng magagandang damit, pinuputungan ng korona. Mary is raised in the
pedestals of our altars because of her role in the life of Jesus. Ngunit itong
pag-tataas sa kanyang dignidad ay hindi dapat maging hadlang para sabihin natin
na hindi natin mapapantayan o hindi natin maaabot ang kanyang kinahantungan.
Sabi nga ni Sta. Teresita, “SHE IS MORE MOTHER THAN QUEEN.” Binibigyang papuri
ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, ginagampanan niya ang pagiging reyna sa
pagiging ina.
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The Reyna de las Flores on the pedestal prepared to be processed.
She extends her arms as if saying, "Am I not your mother?" |
In
all the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the most touching for me is the
apparition to Blessed Juan Diego. Mary declared, “AM I NOT HERE WHO AM YOUR
MOTHER?” It is very touching that she comes to our aid when we are afraid, who
brings forth healing when we are broken, who cheers us in our sorrow. She knew
all these things because she went through them all. She can feel for all of us.
How
can we be like the Blessed Mother? It is by becoming human. Human to one
another; human to those in need of humanity. She saw the need at the wedding at
Cana so she pleaded to her Son. She knew how it feels to lose someone dear to
her yet all she did was ponder them in her heart. She saw the suffering world
yet she stood firmly by the weight of the cross. She saw the new day of hope
and rejoice in the resurrection. AM I NOT HERE WHO AM YOUR MOTHER? The
Motherhood of Mary is God’s blessing to her yet it is her spiritual burden. She
did well. Can you?
There
are four great Marian hymns which traditionally are sung every change in
liturgical season. These songs express the life of Mary in the life of Jesus.
During
the Advent and Christmas seasons we have the Alma Redemptoris Mater.
Alma
Redemptoris Mater, quæ pervia cæli
Porta
manes, et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
Surgere
qui curat, populo: tu quæ genuisti,
Natura
mirante, tuum sanctum Genitorem
Virgo
prius ac posterius, Gabrielis ab ore
Sumens
illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.
She
sets her role as the Mother of the Redeemer, the Gate from which heaven is
opened. Through her yes to the Divine Will during the greeting of Gabriel, it
brought forth the dawning of the forgiveness of sins.
In
the Lenten observance, Mary’s grief and sorrow also manifests.
Stabat
mater dolorosa
juxta
Crucem lacrimosa,
dum
pendebat Filius.
Cuius
animam gementem,
contristatam
et dolentem
pertransivit
gladius.
The
piercings of the nails in the hands and feet of our Lord are like swords that
lash through the Virgin’s heart. She too feels sad when we, her earthly
children, continue to crucify her Son with our sins.
By
the Easter Season she rejoices exultantly with a ringing
Regina
cæli, lætare, alleluia:
Quia
quem meruisti portare, alleluia,
Resurrexit,
sicut dixit, alleluia,
Ora
pro nobis Deum, alleluia.
And
in the course of our meditation on our pilgrim life on earth, there we sing to
her the Salve Regina.
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| An image of Our Lady of Piat (popularly in the Northern Philippines) lent for the exhibit. |
WE
ARE BLESSED WITH A BURDEN. This
challenges us today to be a community with the Blessed Virgin as our Mother. We
are BLESSED TO HAVE A MOTHER, and it is our burden to listen to her and DO
WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU. Ang
pagdedebosyon natin sa Mahal na Birhen ay hindi lamang sa panlabas na mga
ritwal, ito din ay naghihikawat sa atin at nagsusumamo na gayahin at pakinggan
siya.
As
you hold your flowers to offer to Mama Mary, think of it as your burdens which
God gives you as a blessing.
“Ah
Lord, this is my job in the office, a flower, a blessing you send me from
heaven. Although I get tired and stressed here, I offer them to your mother, to
my mother who will caress me in wearisome moments.”
“Ah
Lord, these are my subjects. Ito din po ang aking mga professors, they are your
blessings to me as they impart knowledge kahit minsan they do become burdens to
my academic life. I offer them to your mother, to my mother who is the Seat of
Wisdom.”
“Ah
Lord, this is my family- my husband, my wife, my parents, my children, mga
kapatid ko. They are my life-time burdens, yet they are blessings. I offer them
to your mother, to my mother who is the Queen of the Family.”
“Ah
Lord, this is my friend, my bestfriend, my closest friend. This is also the one
who have hurt me most. They are burdens as much as they are blessings. I offer
the to your mother, to my mother who is our company in this life’s journey.”
“Ah
Lord, these are my thanksgivings, the graces I have received. By this flower I
am to bring before you, may it be a sign of praise. Thank you for the good
health, my financial provisions, my talents and skills, everything that you
have given me are blessings. Yet I know that these blessings entail a great
burden- the responsibility to use them for your greater glory and the building
of your kingdom. I offer them to your mother, to my mother, who sang her heart
out: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my
Savior!”
