A MAN AND HIS MAT

Sunday's lection from John 5 reminds me of Linus Van Pelt and his security blanket. Linus's relationship with his blanket started on June 1, 1954! (Our clan has had a love affair with Charles Schulz's Peanuts Strip that now spans three generations.)

The man in the narrative has had a relationship with his mat almost four decades; 38 years to be exact! Note that the narrative begins with the man lying ill on his mat and ends with the man made well, standing up, and walking with his mat. (Structural exegetes will have a field day dealing with this pericope!)

I am pretty sure that many people asked Schulz to do a strip where Linus eventually lets go of his security blanket. I am also pretty sure that many people probably expected Jesus to tell the man to let go of his mat. In sickness and in heallth, even Jesus celebrated the man's special bond with his mat.

One person's junk is another one's treasure. We all have "mats" that we hold dear, that accompany us through the highs and lows of our lives, that make us feel safe, secure, at "home."

Dear Friends, I am pretty sure that many of us have been lying on our mats, feeling terribly ill, since the May 9th National Elections. Soon, we will hear a still small voice, whispering: "Stand up, take your mat, and walk!"

#IAmWithJesus
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#EndTheCultureOfImpunity
#JusticeForNewBataan5

*image from freebibleimages (Jesus and the Lame Man at the Pool of Bethesda). 

THE 25% REVOLUTION*

 

Most of us were taught the 50% plus one formula. We call this the "Majority Rule." These days, the popular term is "Silent Majority." History and research show us a totally different reality.

A committed minority, relentless and dedicated, needs to reach 25% of the population to reverse the majority viewpoint. This committed minority, relentless and dedicated, by modeling behavior--repeatly and consistently--eventually leads the rest to copy such behavior.

Dear Friends, do not forget this. Ever. The Jesus Movement began with Twelve. Sunday's lection reminds us of the behavior that eventually changed the world: love for others, especially the least, the lost, the last, and the left out.

Bonifacio had 30,000 Katipuneros. Each one of them ready and willing to die for our Motherland. Each one believing that love for country is the same as love for God.

The Pink Movement, committed to solidarity, volunteerism, and genuine transformation, has 15 million! That's already 25% of the voting population.

The 25% REVOLUTION has begun!

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*The 25% Revolution—How Big Does a Minority Have to Be to Reshape Society? [The Scientific American]

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

I am willing to bet that most of us know Psalm 23 by heart. We are not talking about one or two verses here. This is a whole chapter from the Bible that most of us know! This is one chapter that gave courage to so many when they were afraid. This is one chapter so many people held onto when they crossed over to the life beyond. Shepherd works as a metaphor for God in the psalm. The good shepherd will never abandon the sheep. The sheep will never, ever, be alone.

In Sunday's gospel lection, people gather around Jesus and ask, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." These people expected a male leader who will lead them to victory. These people expected a strongman who will destroy the Romans and restore the former glory of the monarchy. These people expected a leader who will make sure that the people who put him in power are rewarded handsomely.

Jesus responds by talking about sheep and shepherds. Sheep do know the voice of their shepherd. Sheep do follow their shepherd in and out of the sheepfold. Sheep do run away from those whose voice they do not know. Shepherd works as a metaphor for Jesus in Sunday's lection. The good shepherd wil never abandon the sheep. The sheep will never, ever, be alone.

Our country does not need a messiah nor a strongman. We need a shepherd.

Lest we forget, then and now, women make up more than half of the world's shepherds. Let's stop imagining that the good shepherd in the Bible has to be male. Rebekah, Rachel, Miriam, Zipporah and her sisters were shepherds. The shepherds who visited Jesus when he was born were probably all women. Most importantly, many faith communities celebrate Mary--the mother of the Lamb of God--as a shepherd!

Friends, the good shepherd is a woman.

On May 9, let's elect a shepherd!