CFC- SOLD BAHRAIN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MARCH 12,2021

HOLINESS AND LOVE

GOOD AFTERNOON BROTHERS,

I HAVE CATERED A SORT OF REFLECTION FOR US SERVANTS OF THE LORD ON THE TOPIC WHICH IS
RELATED TO CFC THEME FOR THIS YEAR ABOUT HOLINESS AND LOVE.

THIS REFLECTION IS ACTUALLY DERIVED FROM ORIGINAL REFLECTION BEING GIVEN BY BISHOP VIRGILIO
“AMBO” DAVID- BISHOP OF KALOOKAN, TO THE CFC IN AUSTRALIA. “ SRTRIVE FOR HOLINESS PUT ON
LOVE” BU I REPHRASED THE TOPIC TO HOLINESS AND LOVE JUST FOR OUR PERSONAL REFLECTION .

NOW LET ME DIVIDE THE TOPIC INTO 2 PARTS – PART ONE IS HOLINESS AND PART TWO IS LOVE.

FOR HOLINESS – WE HAVE FIVE POINTS FOR REFLECTION

1. HOLINESS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU STRIVE FOR

2. WE ARE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF A HOLY GOD
3. HOLINESS IS WHOLENESS
4. HOLINESS IS THREE DIMENSIONAL
5. HOLINESS IS TRINITARIAN

NOW – ARE YOU READY ? WE WILL START…

POINT 1 - HOLINESS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU STRIVE FOR….. I AM SORRY IT SEEMS THAT
THIS IS A REACTION TO THE THEM – STRIVE FOR HOLINESS.

WHY ?

BECAUSE WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD.

AND WE HEAR THAT IN ( LEV 9:2 ) “ BE HOLY , FOR I THE LORD YOUR GOD AM HOLY .”

IN FACT IT IS THE INSPIRATION OF THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT WHEN
HE SAYS “ BE PERFECT AS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT “

AS WELL AS IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE WHEN HE SAYS “ BE COMPASSIONATE AS YOUR FATHER IN

HEAVEN IS COMPASSIONATE.

AND THE OPPOSITE TO THE IDEA OF BEING LIKENESS OF GOD IN THE SENSE OF BEING HOLY IS THE
SERPENT’S LIE .

IN GEN :3 WE HEAR ABOUT THE SERPENT WHO LIES ABOUT THE MEANING OF OF LIKENESS

HE SAYS “ YOU MUST BE POWERFUL AS THE LORD YOUR GOD IS POWERFUL” IF I MAY PARAPHRASE
WHAT HE WAS INTICING THEM TO DO , BECAUSE HE SAID “ YOU WILL NOT DIE IF YOU EAT OF THAT
FRUIT – ON THE CONTRARY “ YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD” ….. YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD…. KNOWING GOOD
AND EVIL. HE IS DEFINING THE LIKENESS OF GOD IN HIS OWN TERMS AND HE IS DEFINING IT
BASICALLY AS “ POWER”.

SO HOLINESS IS WHAT GOD HAS DESIGNED US TO BE ….. IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE STRIVE FOR.

WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR ABOUT “ ORIGINAL SIN” BUT WHAT IS MORE ORIGINAL TO SIN IS “ GOD’S
OROGINAL BLESSING.” AND THAT ORIGINAL BLESSING IS THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN CREATED IN
GOD’S BLESSINGS AND LIKENESS.

SO IT IS NOT RIGHT TO EQUATE HUMANITY WITH SINFULNESS. AS IF THOUGH WE WERE SUCH BAD
CREATURES, NO NO NO, WE ARE CREATED BY THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD AND WE ARE BY
NATURE GOOD.

I USUALLY REACT TO THE FILIPINI SAYING ( SAPAGKAT KAMI AY TAO LAMANG…) ….. PLEASE DON’T
UNDERSTIMATE YOUR HUMANITY ….BEACAUSE OUR HUMANITY IS HOLY ..OUR HUMANITY IS
INNATELY SACRED AS CREATED BY GOD.

THIS IS WHY IN THE LETTER OF ST. PAUL … HE ADDRESSES THE COMMUNITY AS THE HOLY ONES

HE WOULD SAY IN HIS FINAL GREETINGS …. “ WOULD YOU SAY MY FREETINGS TO THE HOLY ONES IN
CORINTH… AND THOSE HOLY ONES ARE NOT THE SAINTS THAT WERE CANONIZED BY THE CHURCH …
THAT WE USUALLY THINK OF…. THE HOLY ONES ARE THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY … THEY ARE
YOU AND ME …. AS FAR AS ST. PAUL IS CONCERNED EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY IS
SUPPOSED TO BE A HOLY ONE.

POINT 2 - HOLINESS IS A GIFT - IT IS GOD WHO MAKES US HOLY.

THAT IS WHY IT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU STRIVE FOR BECAUSE IT IS A GIFT. EVEN IF WE DON’T
STRIVE FOR IT ….GOD GIVES IT TO US…… SO IT IS GOD WHO MAKES US HOLY

AND OF COURSE IN OUR XTIAN FAITH … WE BELIEVE THAT CHRIST ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN SO THAT
THE HOLY SPIRIT COULD DESCEND UPON US…. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE “ GIFT OF ALL GIFTS……

WHO MAKES OUR HOLINESS POSSIBLE….. THE HS DESCENDED ON THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY.

TAKE NOTE ON WHAT WE SAY IN THE CREEDO……

WHEN WE SAY …. I BELIEVE IN GOD ….. THE CREEDO IS BASICALLY IS THE ASSERTION OF FAITH IN THE
TRINITARIAN GOD. …. I BELIEVE IN GOD …THE FATHER .. THE SON.. AND THE HOLY SPIRIT…

TAKE NOTE OF THE ATTRIBUTES THAT WE SAY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT ….. WE SAY

I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT …..

THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

THE RESSURECTION OF THE BODY

AND THE LIFE EVERLASTING …. PRODUCTS OF THE MEDIATION OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH .. THAT IS US… WE ARE ONE , HOLY, CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
HOLINESS IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF A CATHOLIC CHURCH.

THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS …. THE SAINTS ARE THE HOLY ONES IN THE LANGUAGE OF ST. PAUL…

SAINTS BOTH LIVING AND IN HEAVEN.

THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS …. WHAT MAKES US HOLY IS THE FACT THAT EVEN WE ARE SINFUL ….

WE ARE FORGIVEN… THIS IS THE FORGIVENESS THAT WE ATTAIN THROUGH THE PASSION , DEATH,
AND RESSURECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY …. DEATH DOES NOT HAVE THE FINAL SAY , BECAUSE WE ARE
CALLED BY GOD TO SHARE IN ETERNAL LIFE.

LIFE EVERLASTING ……OUR LIFE IS NOT JUST IN THIS WORLD, WE ARE JUST PASSING THROUGH THIS
WORLD. … WE ARE HEADED FOR ETERNITY BECAUSE WA ARE CALLED TO PARTICPATE IN THE LIFE OF
OUR ETERNAL GOD.

SO IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT MAKES US HOLY. HOW DO WE BECOME HOLY ?????

BY INCORPORATING US INTO THE “ BODY OF CHRIST “

SOOOO.. TO BE A CHRISTIAN IS NOT JUST TO ACCEPT JESUS AND PUT HIM INTO YOUR HEART …

ARE YOU FAMILIAR ABOUT A PIOUS QUESTION OF OUR EVANGELICAL BROS AND SIS ? USUALLY THEY
SAY…. HAVE YOU ACCEPTED JESUS ? HAVE YOU PUT JESUS INTO YOUR HEART AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD
AND SAVIOUR?

WELL IT SOUNDS RIGHT AND SOUNDS PIOUS…. BUT SOMETHING IS NOT REALLY ACCURATE ABOUT IT….

BECAUSE BEING A CHRISTIAN IS NOT JUST PUTTING JESUS IN OUR HEART.

IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU… ACCEPTING JESUS …MAKING HIM PART OF YOUR LIFE NO.. NO NO… IT’S THE
OTHER WAY AROUND.

IT IS ABOUT US …. BEING ACCEPTED BY JESUS …. HE IS THE SUBJECT … HE IS ABOUT US BEING ACCEPTED

BY JESUS … AND BECOMING PART OF HIS LIFE … OF HIS MISSION.. OF HNIS BODY THE CHURCH….

THAT IS HOW WE ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIFE AND MISSION OF CHRIST.

THAT IS THE HOLY LIFE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

POINT 3 = HOLINESS IS WHOLENESS IN TAGALOG “ BUO “

WHOLENESS IN LATIN - INTEGRITAS …. IN SPANISH - INTEGRIDAD ( BEING COMMITED ) TAGALISED

ALSO INTEGRIDAD. IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT VALUE OF THE FILIPINO.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A PERSON OF INTEGRITY ? ASSOCIATED BY BEING COMMITTED… BE ING A
PERSON OF ONE WORD… ( MAY ISANG SALITA )

OPPOSITE IS A PERSON WHOSE WORD CANNOT BE TRUSTED ( SINUNGALING / MAPAG KUNWARI /

PLASTIC ETC )

THIS IS THE FRAGMENTED WORDS – THUS WHERE YOUR THOUGHTS , YOUR SPEECH AND ACTION
CONTRADICT EACH OTHER .

YOU KNOW THE WORD FOR WORD IN HEBREW IS “ DABAR “ AND IT IS TRANSLATED INTO GREEK AS
“‘LOGOS”… LOGOS MEANS YOUR “ THOUGHT – SPEECH AND ACTION ARE NOT APART TO EACH OTHER
BUT UNITED TO EACH OTHER.

WHEN WE CONTRADICT OURSELVES – OUR WORD IS NOT WHOLE – WHEN IT IS CONFLICTED…

A CONFLICTED WORD IS THE MOTHER OF LIES ( OF LYING AND TREACHERY ) AND THIS IS THE WAY OF
SATAN.

TO THINK ONE THING AND SAY OR DO SOMETHING ELSE

SAY ONE THING AND THINK OR DO SOMETHING ELSE, ( LIKE WE MAKE PROMISES AND DON’T KEEP
THEM) WHY DID YOU PROMISE ? WHY DID YOU SAY YES .. WHEN YOU MEANT NO…

THE CONFLICTEDNESS OF WORD IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THEW LACK OF INTEGRITY.

I REMEMBER DURING THE ORDINATION FOR THE DEACON .. WHEN THE BISHOP IS HOLDING THE BOOK
OF THE GOSPEL AND HANDED IT ON TO THE DEACON – AS HE SAID THESE WORDS.

“RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD, WHOSE HERALD YOU NOW ARE”

BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ …TEACH WHAT YOU BELIEVE …. PRACTICE WHAT YOU TEACH….

IF WE WANT TO BE HERALD OF THE WORD OF GOD , WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT THE WORD OF GOD
BECOMES WHOLE – IT IS NOT CONFLICTED…. TEACH ONLY WHAT YOU ARE TO DIE FOR .

WHEN WE TEACH AND DON’T PRACTICE WHAT WE TEACH – OUR WORDS “BOOMEERANG” TO US ..

WE MAYBE CALLED LIKE WHAT ST. PAUL SAYS ….. THE NOISY GONGS AND THE CLANGING CYMBALS..

POINT 4 -- HOLINESS IS THREE DIMENSIONAL

IT IS NOT PURELY PERSONAL; ITS NOT A ME AND MY JESUS KIND OF DYNAMIC… SOMETIMES WE MAKE
HOLINESS TOO EASY .. IT IS NOT ABOUT PIETISM, NOR SPIRITUALISM,

EVEN GOING TO MASS IS IMPORTANT , GOING TO PRAY IS IMPORTANT , EVEN IF HAVING A PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS IMPORTANT BUT IT DOESN’T END THERE…. IT IS 3 DIMENSIONAL IT IS
NOT PURELY PERSONAL … WHAT DO I MEAN WITH THAT ? … WELL THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD HAS
IMPLICATIONS ON 3 THINGS….

FIRST ON MY RELATIONSHIP WITH ONESELF ( MYSELF )

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS ……AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIETY AND THE WORD.
THESE ARE THE THREE DIMENSIONS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT

IN PHILOSOPHY WE CALL IT

THE INTRA – PERSONAL … THE INTER- PERSONAL AND THE META- PERSONAL

INTRA PERSONAL -- THE OPPOSITE IS CONFLICTEDNESS OF SELF, AS WHEN INTEGRITY OF THOUGHTS ,

SPEECH AND ACTION IS COMPROMISED.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE CONFLICTEDNESS WITHIN THEMSELVES… EVEN HATE HIMSELF ….WE CAN BE
OUR OWN WORSE ENEMY… ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DON’T EVEN HAVE RESPECT ON OURSELVES AND
SOMETIMES WE DON’T REALIZE THAT WE DISRESPECT OUR OWN DIGNITY … WHEN WE CANT BE
CONSISTENT WITH OUR THOUGHTS , SPEECH AND ACTIONS.

INTER PERSONAL – LEV 19:18 LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.. WHICH JESUS PICKED UP

AND JESUS LINK IT UP TO THE GREAT COMMANMENT - LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL ….

INTER PERSONAL ASPECT OF HOLINESS IS HAVING - EMPATHY, SYMPATHY, CAPACITY TO FEEL THE PAINS
AND THE JOYS OF OTHER PEOPLE AS OUR OWN – PAIN AND JOY …. BECAUSE WE CANT BE HOLY ALONE,

WE CANT BE CHRISTIAN ALONE …. TO BE AN INDIVIDUALISTIC CHRISTIAN IS A CONTRADICTION IN

TERMS,. XTIANITY IS INNATELY COMMUNAL … COMMUNITARIAN..

HOW CAN YOU IGNORE INTER PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP IF OUR OBJECTIVE IS REALLY TO BUILD A
COMMUNITY IF DISCIPLES.?

AND WHEN WE BRING IN THE COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES - THEN THERE IS SPRITUAL BONDING

OUR SPIRITUAL BONDING IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT , BECAUSE IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT
THAT KEEPS US BONDED TOGETHER.

WHEN WE ARE BONDED TOGETHER AS ONE BODY … THEN WE WILL BEGIN TO FEEL THE PAINS AND JOYS
OF OTHER PEOPLE.

IF YOU ARE NOT AFFECTED AT ALL … WHAT MAKES OTHER PEOPLE SUFFER….IT MEANS YOU ARE NOT
CONNECTED AT ALL TO THEM.

THERE IS A SAYING IN FILIPINO “ ANG SAKIT NG KALINGKINGAN AY RAMDAM NG BUONG KATAWAN.

( THE PAIN OF ONE PART IS THE PAIN OF THE WHOLE BODY ) IS THAT TRUE ?... WELL IT DEPENDS.

IF THE BODY IS NUMB OMETIMES IT DOES NOT ABLE TO FEEL THE PAIN OF OTHER PART.

ONE GOOD SIGN THAT THE BODY IS ALIVE IS WHEN YOU FEEL PAIN… PAIN IS SOMETHNG NOT ALWAYS
NEGATIVE…IT IS AN INDICATOR THAT WE FEEL THE PARTS OF OUR BODY… COULD BE A WARNING
SIGNAL ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE NOT WELL.

NOW RELATE THAT TO COMMUNITY … WHEN WE FEEL THE PAIN AND SUFFERING OF OUR BROTHERS
…. THAT’S POSSITIVE… THAT IS THE SIGN OF HOLINESS … WE CARE … IT IS COMPASSION …. BECAUSE
THERE IS COMMUNION THERE CAN BE COMPASSION,
COMMUNION IS THE SPIRITUAL BOND , WHEN WE ENTER INTO A FELLOWSHIP IN A COMMUNITY OR
NEIGHBOR, THEN THER WILL BE COMPASSION, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE CARE AND CONCERNFOR THE
WELFARE OF OTHERS.

HOW CAN YOU BE A CHRISTIAN AND BE INDIVIDUALISTIC AND BE CONCERN ONLY WITH YOUR OWN
WELFARE?

META PERSONAL IT IS BEYOND ---- BEYOND THE INTRA AND INTER PERSONAL.

THIS IS ABOUT – BUILDING STRUCTURE, BUILDING INSTITUTIONS FOUNDED ON GOD’S JUSTICE AND
MERCY.

IN THE VOCABULARY OF THEILOGIANS IT IS CALLED “ POLITICAL HOLINESS” IT MEANS POLITICS IS NOT

ABOUT ASPIRATION FOR POWERS BUT AN ASPIRATION FOR THE COMMON GOOD. FOR GOOD
GOVERNANCE SO THAT THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE IS LOOKED AFTER.

ALWAYS PRIORITIZING ESPECIALLY THE DISADVANTAGED IN SOCIETY . THIS IS VERY RELEVANT

PARTICULARY DURING THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC ,WHEREIN A LOT OF PEOPLES HAVE TERRIBLY BEEN
AFFECTED FINANCIALLY, PHSYCHOLOGICALLY, EMOTIONALL, MENTALLY.

AND OF COURSE WE ARE AWARE THE ECONOMIC EFFECT OF THIS PANDEMIC ON MLLIONS OF PEOPLE

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS, THEIR BUSINESSES HAVE GONE BANKRUPT, AND MANY
PEOPLE ARE DISPLACED.

SO TO ASPIRE FOR THE COMMON GOOD IS A SIGN FOR POLITICAL HOLINESS … HOLINESS SHOWS ITSELF
ALSO IN THE WAY WE CONDUCT OURSELVES IN SOCIETY.

WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ALWAYS PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF THE MOST DIS ADVANTAGE

THE POOR, THE PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY SICK, THOSE WITH DISABILITIES , THE ELDERLY , THE
CHILDREN, AND THE ABUSED.

POINT 5 HOLINESS IS TRINITARIAN --- BECAUSE TO BE HOLY IS TO BE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF A

TRINITARIAN GOD. IF WE ARE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ,
TAKE NOTE THAT IS WHAT WE DO – WHEN WE SIGN OUR SELVES WITH THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.

TAKE NOTE OF WHAT WE SAY – IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY
SPIRIT. AMEN …. MEANING WE PARTICIPATE IN THE LIFE OF OUR GOD,…. WE DO WHAT WE DO IN THE
NAME OF GOD….. IN THE NAME OF THIS GOD WHO IS FATHER, IN THE NAME OF THIS GOD WHO IS
SON AND IN THE NAME OF THIS GOD WHO IS HOLY SPIRIT … AND THIS GOD – THE FATHER IS DISCRIBED
IN OUR CREED …. AND THIS GOD THE FATHER IS ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH CREATION… I BELIEVE IN
THE THE FATHER ALMIGHTY CREATION OF HEAVEN AND EARTH ….. THE FATHER WHO CREATES ….. WE
ARE IMAGE OF A CREATOR FATHER….

SECONDLY .. WE ARE ALSO IMAGE OF A SON --- THE SON WHO REDEEMS… THE SON WHO GIVES HIS LIFE
FOR OUR REDEMPTION… AND IF WE ARE ALSO AN IMAGE OF A REDEEMING SON … THEN WE ARE ALSO
TO BE REDEEMING OURSELVES … WE HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN GOD’S WORK OF REDEMPTION.
THIRDLY … WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT … AND THIS HOLY SPIRIT IS THE ONE WHO SUSTAINS THE
BODY OF CHRIST… HE SUSTAINS THE CREATIVE WORK OF THE FATHER AND THE REDEEMING WORK OF
THE SON…… THERE IS THE WOMDERFUL TEAMWORK OF THE HOLY TRINITY.

THE WONDERFUL TEAMWORK OF THE FATHER WHO CREATES, THE SON WHO REDEEMS AND THE
SPIRIT WHO SUSTAINS THE CREATIVE AND REDEMPTIVE ACTIVITY OF THE FATHER AND THE SON.

SO --- HOW DO WE REFLECT THIS TRINITARIAN GOD? HOW DO WE LIVE OUT THE HOLINESS BY THE
IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF THIS CREATOR GOD, REDEEMING GOD AND SUSTAINING GOD.??????

SIMPLE … BY BEING CREATIVE OURSELVES…. WE ARE NOT JUST ORDINARY CREATURES…. WE ARE
PROUDLY THE MOST CREATIVE CREATURES OF GOD. WE ARE GOD’S CO – CREATOR…..

THAT IS WHY … WE ARE THE CLIMAX OF CREATION … WEA RE CREATED ON THE 6 TH DAY ACCORDING TO
THE BOOK OF GENESIS…..AFTER GOD CREATED HUMAN KIND…HE THEN LOOKED AT EVERYTHING THAT
HE HAD CREATED AND HE SAW THAT IT WAS VERY GOOD. I DON’T YOU IF YOU HAVE NOTICED THAT IN
THE BIBLE… WHEN GOD CREATED OTHER THINGS .. YOU KNOW HE LOOKED AT THEM AND SAW IT WAS
GOOD- DAY TWO = IT WAS GOOD .. DAY THREE – IT WAS GOOD…. BUT AFTER THE 6 TH DAY … AFTER
HUMAN KIND IS CREATED… GOD WILL LOOK AT EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD CREATED … AND HE.. SAW
THAT IT WAS VERY GOOD.

MEANING GOD’S CREATION BECOMES VERY GOOD , BECAUSE NOW HE HAS A PARTNER IN CREATION SO
WE ARE CO CREATORS… PLEASE TAKE NOTE … WE ARE NOT CALLED TO BE DISTRUCTIVE.. IT IS NOT OUR
NATURE TO DISTROY, THAT IS WHEN WE BECOME DISTRUCTIVE THEN WE’RE PROBABLY DIS-
ORIENTED--- THEN IT IS POSSIBLE THAT MAYBE WE ARE DECEIVED BY THE ENEMY…..WE ARE BY NATURE
CREATIVE NOT DISTRUCTIVE.

SECONDLY … THEN IF WE ARE IN THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF A REDEEMING GOD ..THEN WE MUST
OURSELVES BE REDEMPTIVE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?... IT MEANS TO BE ABLE TO LOVE EVEN OUR
ENEMIES.. TO DO GOOD EVEN TO THOSE WHO HATE US… TO PRAY EVEN TO THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US
… AND EVEN TO BE CONSISTENTLY LOVING EVEN WHEN WE ARE REJECTED….. TO LOVE EVEN TO THOSE
UNLOVABLE – EVEN THOSE DIFFICULT TO LOVE……

THE OPPOSITE OF BEING REDEPMTIVE ID BEING VINDICTIVE … WHO ARE THE VINDICTIVE PEOPLE IN
THIS WORLD ? THOSE WHO DESIRE REVENGE ……. YOU HURT ME…. I HURT YOU … AN EYE FOR AN EYE
…..A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH … I LOVE YOU IF YOU LOVE ME ….. BUT IF YOU HURT ME .,… I WILL HURT
YOU TOO..!!!!

WE ARE NOT CALLED TO BE VINDICTIVE BECAUSE WE ARE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF A SAVING GOD..

AND THE SAVING GOD WANTS TO SAVE NOT JUST THE GOOD , BUT WANTS TO SAVE EVEN THE
WAYWARD…. TO SAVE EVEN THOSE GOING ASTRAY HE HAS TO BE READY TO SUFFER AND DIE FOR
THEM… THAT IS WHAT BEING REDEMPTIVE IS ABOUT… HE HATES THE SIN BUT LOVE THE SINNER.

THIRDLY --- WE ARE CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ---- THE SUSTAINIG SPIRIT OF GOD…

THE OPPOSITE OF BEING SUSTAINING IS BEING ABUSIVE.. WE CANNOT SUSTAIN THE RESOURCES IN
CREATION – OUR INVIRONMENT IF WE EXPLOIT THEM ONLY FOR OUR GENERATION….. YOU KNOW
POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS ABOUT AN INTER GENERATIONAL JUSTICE… SOMETIMES WE OVER EXPLOIT
CREATION- OUR NATURE … OUR INVIRONMENT … FOR OUR OWN GOOD FOR THIS PARTICULAR
GENERATION … NOT REALOZING THAT SOMETIMES WE ARE SQUANDERING WHAT SHOULD BELONG TO
THE NEXT GENERATION…. WOULD YOU LOKE THE NEXT GENERATION TO THINK OF US … AS VERY
SELFISH …. YOU KNOW THOSE PREVIOUS GENERATION THEY THOUGHT OF NOTHING BUT
THEMSELVES….. THEY DID NOT EVEN THINK THAT THERE WOULD BE OTHER GENERATIONS WHO WILL
HAVE TO BENEFIT ALSO ON THE SAME INVIRONMENT….

SO THAT ENDS THE FIRST PART THE FIRST PART IS ABOUT LOVE … ( AND IRONICALLY IS NOT
SOMETHING WE STRIVE FOR BECAUSE THAT IS A GIFT OF GOD AND A GIFT THAT YOU RECEIVE WHEN
YOU WELCOME THE HOLY SPIRIT IN YOU LIFE.

NOW WE MOVE TO THE SECOND PART : LOVE ( PUT ON LOVE )

WE HAVE FIVE POINTS ALSO FOR REFLECTION:

AS YOU CAN SEE ( REFER TO TEMPLATE )

POINT 1 HOLINESS AND LOVE ARE INSEPARABLE …. HOW DO WE REFLECT THE HOLINESS OF
GOD? HOW DO WE REFLECT THE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF GOD?... NOT BY TRYING TO BE ALMIGHTY
LIKE GOD…. YOU KNOW THAT IS THE NARRATIVE OF THE EVIL ONE.

YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE TEMPTATION??? HOW SATAN KEEP REPEATING TO JESUS

IF YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD!!!!! COMMAND THIS STONE INTO BREAD!!!! IT IS LIKE SAYING YOU HAVE
PREROGATIVES … YOU EXERCISE YOUR PREROGATIVES…. WHAT ARE YOU EMPOWER FOR … YOU ARE
GOD ALMIGHTY …… THE ASPIRATION FOR POWER AND THE ASSERTION OF ONES PREROGATIVE AND
AUTHORITY…… THAT IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF GOD….

SO HOW DO WE REFLECT THE HOLINESS OF GOD ??? SIMPLE BY LEARNING TO LOVE…..

AND SO I WOULD PROPOSE THAT GODLESS PEOPLE .,… SOMETIMES WE USED TO REFER GODLESS
PEOPLE TO ATHEIST ….. PEOPLE WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN GOD…. OR PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE A
RELIGION… BUT WE ARE TERRIBLY MISTAKEN!!!!!! BECAUSE THE MOST GODLESS PEOPLE IN THIS
WORLD ARE NOT THOSE WITHOUT RELIGION….. BUT RATHER THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT LOVE !!!!!

WHOEVER IS WITHOUT LOVE DOESNOT KNOW GOD ….. BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE … AND I AM
REFERRING THIS FROM THE FIRST LETTER OF JOHN 4:8 ( 1 JN 4:8 ) LET ME REPEAT THAT …….WHO EVER
IS WITHOUT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD …..BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE.

SO WHEN YOU ENTER INTO A NEW CULTURE ….. A NEW COMMUNITY …. EVEN IF THA COMMUNITY
MIGHT NOT BE A FELLOW CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AS LONG AS THEY ARE CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE –
YOU CAN ALSO EXPECT THIS…… THEY ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF LOVE.. AND SO EVEN YOUR FELLOW
HUMAN BEINGS WHO MIGHT BELONG TO ANOTHER RACE, CREED , SOCIAL CLASS… THEY ARE ALSO
CAPABLE OF LOVE … BECAUSE THEY ARE HUMAN… AND WHERE EVER PEOPLE ARE CAPABLE OF LOVE..
WHERE EVER THERE IS LOVE…. THERE IS GOD… AS ST. AUGUSTINE SAYS -- UBE CARITAS ET AMOR…..
DEUS IBI EST…

WHEN YOU MEET A COMMUNITY THAT LOVES EACH OTHER ….. YOU HAVE TO REMOVE THE SANDALS
OF YOUR FEET …. BECAUSE YOU ARE STANDING ON THE HOLY GROUND……BECAUSE IT IS LOVE THAT
MAKES IT HOLY… IT IS LOVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE GOD IN THEM…….

POINT 2 LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW …THAT IS THE QUOTATION FRO THE ROMANS 13 : 8-10

SAINT PAUL SAYS : “ OWE NOTHING TO ONE ANOTHER EXCEPT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, ( WHY ?
BECAUSE ) LOVE IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW… LET ME REPEAT THAT …. LOVE IS THE FULFILMENT
OF THE LAW. AND BY LAW HE IS TALKING ABOUT… THE TORAH…. THE LAW OF MOSES… THE TEN
COMMANDMENTS…….. DO YOU REMEMBER JESUS WAS ASKED ABOUT THE COMMANDMENTS ….. HE
WAS ASKED FOR HIS SUMMARY OF THE COMMANDMENTS…

YOU KNOW THERE WAS A STORY OF BISHOP AMBO …. ABOUT AN OLD LADY WHO WAS ASKING FOR
CONSULTATION … ABOUT HER DIFFICULTY TO FINISH THE ROSARY BECAUSE OF FORGETFULLNESS .

AND BISHOP AMBO SAYS …. DON’T WORRY… THERE IS A SUMMARY … WHAT DO YOU MEAN
SUMMARY?? SAYS THE OLD WOMAN ….. IF YOU CANNOT REMEMBER THE WHOLE CREEDO BECAUSE IT
IS QUIET LONG … THERE IS A SUMMARY …. AND THE SUMMARY IS … I BELIEVE IN GOD.. THE FATHER ..
THE SON… AND THE HOLY SPIRIT….. AMEN … THAT ENDS THE WHOLE THING …. THAT IS THE SUMMARY
OF OUR CREED … ITS BASICALLY A PROFESSION OF FAITH IN A TRINITARIAN GOD…….

BUT SHE SAID ….. I ALSO FORGOTTEN THE TEN COMMANDMENTS…. BISHOP ALSO SAID … DON’T
WORRY….. THERE IS ALSO A SUMMARY…. AND THIS SUMMARY IS WHAT WE ARE GETTING NOW FROM

MARK 12: 28-34 .. WE CALL THEM THE TWO LOVES ..

REMEMBER THE QUESTION WAS POST TO JESUS ……. TEACHER WHICH IS THE GREATEST OF THE
COMMANDMENTS?????? AND THE ANSWER OF JESUS IS THIS…. HE SAYS .. HEAR OH ISRAEL .. THE
LORD IS YOUR GOD .. THE LORD OF YOU… SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART,
WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH…. AND THE SECOND IS LIKE THIS …. MEANING
THERE IS A SECOND…. BUT THE SECOND IS LIKE THE FIRST …. MEANING IT IS TO BE ATTACHED TO THE
FIRST…. AND THAT IS …. YOU SHOULD LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR…. AS YOURSELF…. WE CALL THEM ……
THE TWO LOVES…..

JESUS IS DRAWING THEM BOTH FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT … THE FIRST ONE …..

YOU SHOULD LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART … WITH ALL YOUR MIND.. AND WITH
ALL YOUR STRENGTH … THAT IS FROM DEUTERONOMY 6: 4-5 …

AND THE SECOND….. YOU SHOULD LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF…. THAT IS FROM LEVITICUS
9:18…. WE CALL THEM THE 2 LOVES….. BUT BEFORE THE TWO LOVES … IT IS CALLED THE TWO
TABLETS……… THEY SUMMARIZED THE TEN COMMANDMENTS….

THE TWO STONE TABLETS….. REMEMBER … WHEN GOD GAVE THE TWO STONES TO MOSES… HE HAD
THEM WRITTEN DOWN… ON TWO STONE TABLETS….. THE 10 COMMANDMENTS …. THEY ARE ACTUALLY
DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS… AND THE FIRST 3 COMMANDMENTS … THEY ARE ALL ABOUT OUR
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. IT SAYS

COMMANDMENT NO 1 … I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD .. YOU SHALL HAVE NO STRANGE GOD BEFORE
ME..

COMMANDMENT NO2 … YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN.

COMMANDMENT NO 3… THOU SAHLL KEEP HOLY THE DAY OF THE LORD, OR THE SABBATH DAY..

1,2 AND 3.. THEY ARE ALL ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD… AND THEN 4 TO 10 … THEY ARE ALL
ABOUT THE LOVE OF NEIGHBOR.

WE BEGIN WITH NO 4… WHICH IS HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER..NO.5 THOU SHALL NOT KILL..
NO 6.. THOU SHALL NOT COVET ADULTERY …. NO7.. THOU SHALL NOT STEAL, NOT 8 THOU SHALL NOT
BEAR FALLS WITNESS AGAINST THY NEIGHBOR,.. NO.9 .. THOU SHALL NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR’S
WIFE..AND NO.10.. THOU SHALL NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR’S GOODS……. ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP
WITH OUR NEIGHBOR….

THAT IS WHY WE CALL THEM… THE TWO LINE OF THE CROSS… THE VERTICAL AND THE HORIZONTAL…
THE VERTICAL IS ABOUT WHOLE HEARTED LOVE OF GOD… WE MUST LOVE THE LORD
WHOLEHEARTEDLY….THE OPPOSITE OF THAT IS BEING HALF HEARTEDLY.. WHY MUST WE LOVE GOD
WHOLEHEARTEDLY ??? WELL BECAUSE GOD LOVES US WHOLEHEARTEDLY… AND WE MUST LOVE OUR
NEIGHBORS AS OURSELVES …. MEANING WE MUST LOVE THEM AS YOUR OWN… THEY ARE TWO LINES
OF THE CROSS…. THEY ARE TWO BUT THEY HAVE TO INTERSECT WITH EACH OTHER…. THEY ARE NOT TO
BE SEPARATED FROM EACH OTHER… REMEMBER ST JOHN SAID…. IT IS NOT TRUE THAT WE LOVE GOD …
IF WE DON’T LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR…..

THE QUESTION IS CHANGED IN THE GOSPEL OF ST. LUKE CHAPTER 10.…. EARLIER THE QUESTION IS
WHICH IS THE GREATEST OF THE COMMANDMENT, ?????…SUDDENLY IT IS REFORMULATED IN
CHAPTER 10:25 – 28….

TEACHER WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE???? AND THE ANSWER IS THE SAME……
REMEMBER JESUS RETRURNED THE QUESTION TO THE LAWYER WHO WAS ASKING IT…. HE SAYS…. YOU
KNOW YOUR COMMANDMENTS … HOW DO YOU READ THEM? AND THE LAWYER HIMSELF ANSWERED
HIS OWN QUESTION .. AH OKEY .. I MUST LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL AND I MUST LOVE MY NEIGHBOR AS
MYSELF….AND JESUS SAID CORRECT…. CORRECT.. YOU KNOW IT… THEN.. DO IT!!!!! BECAUSE IT IS NOT
ENOUGH TO KNOW IT….. DO IT!!!! IF YOU WANT ETERNAL LIFE……

BUT THE MAN ….. REALLY WAS TRYING TO PROVE HIMSELF…. HE WAS JUST TRYING TO TEST JESUS…….
HE GAVE A FOLLOW UP QUESTION … HE SAID…. LOVE MY NEIGHBOR AS MYSELF …. AHHH.. WHO IS MY
NEIGHBOR? HE WAS TRYING TO OPEN A DABATE OR AN ARGUMENT….

AND IN ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION …. JESUS TOLD A STORY … THE PARABLE OF THE SAMARITAN… LUKE
10:29-37… AND IN THIS PARABLE JESUS WILL TWIST THE QUESTION IN THE END….. REMEMBER THE
QUESTION IS WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR ….BUT AT THE END OF THE PARABLE …JESUS WOULD TWIST IT….
BECAUSE HE WILL TELL THE STORY OF THE THREE CHARACTERS…

THE CHARACTER .. THE PRIEST WHO SAW THE VICTIM AMD WENT ON HIS WAY …
THE LEVITE WHO SAW THE VICTIM AND WENT ON HIS WAY… AND THE SAMERITAN .. WHO SAW THE
VICTIM AND ATTENDED TO THE VICTIM AND HELPED HIM…. AND SO HE SAYS …. WHO OF THE THREE
WAS NEIGHBOR TO THE VICTIM….????... AND THE LAWYER COULD NOT EVEN PRONOUNCE THE NAME
SAMARITAN….BECAUSE SAMARITAN FOR THEM WERE LOOKED DOWN UPON….. THEY WERE REGARDED
AS ENEMIES… THEY WERE NOT EVEN TREATED AS FELLOW JEWS….. BUT THE LORD IN THIS STORY MADE
THE SAMARITAN THE PROTAGONIST… THE BIDA… AND SO THE MAN SAYS… THE MAN WHO TREATED
HIM WITH COMPASSION…… AND JESUS SIMPLY SAYS …. GO AND DO LIKEWISE…. GO AND DO AS HE
DID….. THE DOING IS IMPORTANT… ITS NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW…. IF YOU WANT TO BE HOLY …. YOU
HAVE TO DO IT…….

POINT 3 JESUS IS THE STANDARD FOR LOVING

GOD IS NOT IMPOSING HIS LAW ON US… HE IS INVITING….. HE IS PROPOSING…. HE IS WAITING FOR A
FREE RESPONSE… GOD IS MAKING AN OFFER OF LOVE…AND HE IS WAITING FOR A FREE RESPONSE ..
THAT IS OUR OWN LOVE… NOW WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BEING
SUMMARIZED TO 2.. LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF… AND IF YOU
STILL FORGET ABOUT THE TWO COMMANDMENTS THERE IS ISTILL SUMMARY … ONE COMMANDMENT
ONLY… JESUS SAYS IT….. I GIVE YOU A NEW COMMANDMENT

JOHN 13;34 AND 15:12,17. MY COMMANDMENT TO YOU IS THIS … LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE
LOVED YOU… WE MUST LOVE IN THE WAY JESUS LOVED US…. OUR STANDARD AND MODEL OF LOVING
IS THE SON OF GOD. HIS LOVE IS OUR CRITERION….

THEN HOW HAS JESUS LOVED US? AND THE ANSWER IS SIMPLE … “UNCONDITIONALLY”

ROMANS 5:8 GOD PROVES HIS LOVE FOR US IN THIS ….WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS… CHRIST DIED
FOR US… IT MEANS THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS NOT JUST FOR THE GOOD… IT IS ALSO FOR SINNERS… HE IS
NOT A PUNISHING GOD… THE GOD REVEALED TO US BY JESUS CHRIST DID NOT DIE ONLY FOR THE
GOOD… HE DIED FOR US…ALL. THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS. SALVATION IS NOT ONLY FOR THE RIGHT AND
THE DESERVING..

WE CALL THAT A REDEEMING LOVE…IF HE HAS TO DIE FOR US , HE WILL DO IT. SALVATION IS NO
LONGER ONLY FOR THE RIGHTEOUS AND DESERVING……….HE DIED ALSO FOR SINNERS… THE
UNDESERVING. GOD NEVER CLOSES HIS DOORS TO SINNERS.

WE ALSO CALL IT “ GREATER LOVE … JOHN:15:13 ….GREATER LOVE NO ONE HAS , THAN TO LAY DOWN
ONE’S LIFE FOR ONE’S FRIENDS.

POINT 4 LOVE IS THE GREATEST GIFT OF THE SPIRIT ….WE ARE A RENEWAL MOVEMENT AND
PART OF OUR FORMATION AS A RENEWAL MOVEMENT IS AN ORIENTATION ABOUT CHARISMS……..1
CORINTHIANS 12 IS THE SOURCE TEXT FOR CHARISMS… THE MANIFOLD GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT….
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GENEROUS IN POURING OUT HIS GIFTS TO ALL OF US.,,, AND WE READ ABOUT THIS
MANY GIFTS IN CHAPTER 12…. BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT ST. PAUL IS MAKING A DISTINCTION
BETWEEN THE CHARISMS … THE ORDINARY GIFTS AND THE GREATER GIFTS… AND IF THERE IA AN
ORDINARY GIFTS AND A GREATER GIFTS … THEN THERE WOULD EVEN BE A GRERATEST GIFT. HE TALK
ABOUT THIS IN

1 CORINTIANS 12 :31… LET ME READ STRIVE EAGERLY FOR THE GREATER GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT : I SHALL
“SHOW YOU A MORE EXCELLENT WAY.” WHAT ARE THIS GREATER GIFTS? …. HE WILL IDENTIFY THEM…
AT THE END OF 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 13:13… SO THESE 3 REMAIN : FAITH.. HOPE AND LOVE….BUT
THE GREATEST IS LOVE…. IT IS NOT FAITH.. IT IS NOT EVEN HOPE…. IT IS LOVE…. WHY? BECAUSE FAITH
AND HOPE ARE FOUNDED ON LOVE……. FAITH AND HOPE… WITHOUT LOVE ARE NOTHING….. IF YOU
HAVE FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAIN ST. PAUL SAYS…. BUT I HAVE NO LOVE…. I AM NOTHING…..
THE FOUNDATION OF IT ALL IS LOVE…….. REMOVE LOVE THEN THE FAITH AND THE HOPE IS FAKE….

LOVE…. AND THE TERM THAT ST. PAUL IS USING IS “AGAPE”….. IN GREEK … WHEN TRANSLATED INTO
LATIN IT IS “ CARITAS” AND WHEN TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH WORD… IT IS CHARITY…. AND CHARITY
HAS BECOME LIKE A TOKEN ARM FOR THE POOR ( DONATION—AYUDA )…NO… CHARITY IS OUR
UNDERSTANDING FOR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE……. IN GENERAL OUR LOVE TENDS TO BE RECIPROCAL— I
LOVE YOU IF YOU LOVE ME….OF COURSE IT IS GOOD TO BE RECIPROCATED BUT…. SOMETIMES EVEN IF
YOU ARE NOT RECIPROCATED…. YOU LOVE ANYWAY… WHEN WE BEGUN TO LEARN UNCONDITIONAL
LOVE… THEN WE BECOME CLOSER TO DIVINE LOVE…… THERE ARE MANY WORDS USED IN THE BIBLE
FOR LOVE .. THE OTHER WORDS ARE EROS… AND PHILIA…… PHILIA AS LOVE IS A RECIPROCAL LOVE…
FRIENDSHIP YOU KNOW….. WHEN JESUS … ASKED PETER…. DO YOU LOVE ME ???? THE WORD THAT
HE USED WAS “ AGAPAS ME?”… HE WAS USING “ AGAPE “ AND PETER DID NOT GET IT…. HE DID NOT
UNDERSTAND… HE REPLIED “ YES LORD I LOVE YOU” AND THE WORD THAT HE USED WAS “PHILIE”
“PHIL- O - SE” SABI NYA… SO JESUS HAD TO ASKED THE SAME QUESTION 3 TIMES … HE IS INVITING HIM
TO LEARN NOT JUST FRIENDLY LOVE….. NOT JUST RECIPROCAL LOVE… BUT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE…
REDEEMING LOVE… THE GRATER LOVE THAT HE IS TEACHING US … AND ON EVERY DISCIPLE…. THE
GREATER LOVE OF A PERSON … WHO IS WILLING TO LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR THE ONE HE LOVES…

FINALLY THE LAST POINT 5 THE CHRISTIAN AGENDA IS TO BUILD A CIVILIZATION

OF LOVE.. IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC … A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASPIRING TO “
RETURN TO NORMAL” AND THEY KEEP ASKING….. WHEN CAN WE GO BACK TO NORMAL?... ALWAYS
DREAMING OF A NEW NORMAL AFTER COVID 19 PANDEMIC…. I AM SURE HEARD ABOUT POPE FRANCIS
RELEASED A NEW ENCYCLICAL ENTITLED “ FATELLI TUTTI “…. AND HE IS ADVOCATING NOT A RETURN
TO NORMAL…. BUT A CHALLENGE FOR THE RENEWAL OF A NEW HUMANITY….. THIS IS PART OF
HOLINESS … THBIS IS PART OF LOVE…

FRATELLI TUTTI IS ADVOCATING FOR THE RENEWAL OF HUMAN SOCIETIES… TOWARDS

GREATER FRATERNITY –NOT ONLY AMONG FELLOW CATHOLICS … NOT ONLY WITH FELLOW XTIANS …
BUT IN EVERY FELLOW…” HUMAN BEING “…… TO WORK FOR GREATER SOLIDARITY …. TO WORK FOR
BETTER SOCIAL FRIENDSHIP….. TO BE ABLE TO TRANSCEND THE WALL AND THE BOUNDARIES… THAT
SEPARATE US FROM ONE ANOTHER….

YOU KNOW WE LOVE TO CALL OUR RACE THE “ HOMO SAPIENS”….. THERE WAS A BOOK BY YUBAL
HARARI ENTITLED “ HOMO SAPIENS .. AND IT WAS SURPRISING THAT HE HAD A VERY NEGATIVE…
PERSPECTIVE OR POINT OF VIEW ABOUT HOMO SAPIENS….AS HE SAYS..” YOU KNOW THERE HAS NEVER
BEEN A SPICIES OR CREATURE AS DANGEROUS AS HOMO SAPIENS “ … WHY????? BECAUSE HE KNOWS
HOW TO USE HIS INTELLECT… HIS REASON… HIS THINKING…. IN ORDER TO DISTROY … FELLOW HUMAN
BEING…. WOOOOWWW… IN A WAY HE IS CORRECT… WE CAN BE DANGEROUS.. IF WE EQUATE OUR
HUMANITY … WITH OUR THINKING… WITH OUR INTELLECT…. WITH HOMO SAPIENS…

BUT I PROPOSE… THAT HUMANITY BE DEFINED…. NOT BY INTELLECT… BUT BY LOVING… FROM HOMO
SAPIENS… TO HOMO AMANS…MEANING FROM A THIKING HUMAN KIND… TO A LOVING HUMAN KIND…
YES WE DON’T SURRENDER OUR CAPACITY TO THINK… BECAUSE THAT’S A GIFT OF GOD…BUT IF YOU
REMOVE LOVE… FROM THE CAPACITY TO THINK…. IT CAN BE DISTRUCTIVE INDEED….

EW ARE RATIONAL HUMAN BEINGS.. WE ARE INTELLIGENT… WE KNOW HOW TO USE OUR RATIONAL
FACULTIES FOR VERY IRRATIONAL GOALS AND OBJECTIVE…AND INTENTIONS…. WHY???? BECAUSE
SOMETIMES… WE JUST FOLLOW OUR BASIC ANIMAL INSTINC… COME TO THINK OF IT … YES WE ARE
HUMAN BEINGS ….. BUT WE ARE ALSO PART OF THE ANIMAL SPECIES… EVEN IF THAT SOUNDS
INSULTING BUT THERE IS BASICALLY ANIMAL IN US … BECAUSE THE NEEDS OF ANIMALS ARE ALSO OUR
NEEDS…… AND IF WE FOLLOW THE ANIMAL INSTINC…… THE INSTICT IS “SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.”
EVEN IF WE ARE INTELLIGENT CREATURES SOMETIMES…. WE USE OUR INTELLIGENCE.. FOLLOWING
ANIMAL INSTINCT… THAT IS WHY WE CAN BE VERY DISTRUCTIVE OF EACH OTHER….

OUR SUPERIORITY LIES NOT IN OUR INTELLIGENCE… BUT IN OUR CAPACITY TO… LOVE.. WE SURVIVE ALL
THE ODDS, WE ARE NOT STRONGER WITH THE DINASOUR BECAUSE WE HAVE BIGGER BRAINS …BUT I
BELIEVE WE SURVIVE BECAUSE WE HAVE BIGGER HEART, WHAT MAKES HUMAN KIND SUPERIOR IS THE
FACT THAT WE HAVE THE CAPACITY TO LOVE… TO BE COMPASSIONATE… TO CARE FOR EACH OTHER…
TO BUILD FAMILY… TO BUILD COMMUNITY…… TO BUILD A HUMANE SOCIETY… THE HUMAN INSTICT IS
NOT SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST BUT CARE FOR THE WEAKEST…

TO BE HUMAN IS TO BE HUMANE… THIS IS OUR GIFT … BECAUSE WE ARE IMAGE AND LIKENESS OF
GOD… AND TO BECOME TRULY HUMAN WE, MUST DISCOVER OUR TRUE HOLINESS… OUR TRUE
DIGNITY… IN OUR CAPACITY OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE…

LET ME END NOW WITH THIS THOUGHT……..WHEN BISHOP AMBO WAS A SEMINARIAN HE WAS
READING A BOOK OF THE JESUIT ANTHROPOLOGIST AND PHILOSOPHER “ PIER TEILHARD DE CHARDIN”
AND ACCORDING TO THIS PHILOSOPHER….. THERE IS A HIGHER LEVEL OF EVOLUTION… THAT ALLOWS
THE EMERGENCE OF A “NEW HUMANITY “ ISANG BAGONG SANGKATAUHAN…. AND YOU KNOW WHAT
HE CALL IT…???

HE CALLS IT A “CHRISTO GENESIS “ THE EMERGENCE OF WHAT HE CALLS THE “ COSMIC CHRIST” THE
EMERGENCE OF A HUMANITY THAT BECOMES TRULY A REFLECTION OF DIVINITY… THE EMERGENCE OF
HUMANITY WHAT WE CALL THE HOMO AMANS… INTO A “HOME DEUS”… THE DIVINE HUMANITY…
BECAUSE WE ARE CALLED TO DIVINITY…. THAT IS WHY WE ARE PRE OCCUPIED…. WITH STRIVING FOR
HOLINESS AND PUTTING ON LOVE….. BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT MAKES US MORE REFLECTIVE OF THE
IMAGE OF GOD AND THE LIKENESS OF GOD.. AMEN….

POINTS FOR REFLECTIONS…

CHECKLIST FOR SELF EVALUATION : ARE WE GROWING IN LOVE?

1 COR:13

THE LOVER IS.. PATIENT

KIND, NOT JEALOUS, NOT PROUD, NOT ARROGANT, NOT RUDE, NOT SEEKING OWN INTEREST,

NOT QUICK TEMPERED, NOT RESENTFUL. NOT GLOATING, CAPABLE OF SACRIFICE, TRUSTING,

HOPEFULL, ENDURING.

WHAT ARE SOME YOUR PERSONAL DISPUTES.. STRUGGLE.. ISSUES THAT MAY HINDER YOU
TO STRIVE FOR HOLINESS ..? HOW DO YOU PERSONALLY DIFINE HOLINESS AFTER THIS
REFLECTION?
DO YOU PUT MORE EFFORT TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR FOLLOWING THE STANDARD OF
JESUS?