Candle in the Wind in True Community

Walking home this morning from tai chi class, I was blessing all the children and babes in the mother's arms along the way.

But I was thinking of and praying for my new granddaughter, Zara, and my new great great grandson, Aiden, way off in Michigan.

They had just sung Happy Birthday to me at tai chi. Yesterday they sung Happy Birthday to me at two worship services -- where I worshipped with more than 50 beautiful Christians in the MCC venue in Makati.

I was thanking God for what God has done since we gathered for that first MCC service in the Philippines in September 1991.

I was thanking God that a candle in the wind was bringing a little light of true Christian Community, a candle here, a candle there, and the light was getting brighter.

As always, my colleague, Fr. John Chuchman captures the picture in one of his inimitable poems (added below). Sadly in today's email, one of my seminary friends was reported to be in bad shape with cancer, and even worse shape worrying that he will go to hell because he remarried after his first wife was declared mentally ill and incurable. Imagine a church which puts a good person in such dread.

That's the kind of moral slavery our LGBT friends are victims of every day, everywhere.

Before I came to the Philippines with the MCC message of our beloved founder, Rev. Troy Perry, there was no one telling even a fraction of the 10 million LGBT people here that God loves them unconditionally and passionately -- and that no homophobic church can take that away from them.

On Sunday when it came to testimony time, a handsome young man was speaking passionately in tears in Filipino. I asked Oliver, sitting next to me, why that young man was crying as he gave his testimony.

Then I was brought to tears when Oliver told me that the young man was testifying about how Fr. Richard Mickley had been an inspiration to him and helped him change his life to a happy life, knowing God's love. He even shared my childhood story from my blog about down on the farm in Ohio, milking the family milk cow every morning before school and every night before the evening meal when I was 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 -- and when I was 11-13 (before entering seminary at 13) after milking the cow I rushed to church to serve the parish Mass before school.

Well, yes, I was in tears as I poured out my heart in my testimony -- for what God has done in the Philippines over the last 21 years. From one struggling MCC -- before computers, before email, before Facebook, before cell phones and iPhones and Blackberries and iPads -- to a tithing church in Makati, a resolute chuch in Quezon City, a growing ministry in Marikina under the leadership of my long time co-worker, Jason Masaganda, to MCC Olongapo shepherded by John Linsangan, another long time co-worker, to MCC Baguio where another long time friend and co-worker, Fr. Myke Sotero, brings the message of true community.

And lo and behold, the Sunday worship service on this particular Sunday at MCC  Makati was led by Fr. Regen Luna, former MCC Makati pastor with his dynamic and authentic preaching of the Word. It is interesting because Fr. Regen is now a Catholic Priest of the Catholic Diocese of One Spirit. Surely this is concrete evidence of the authentic Christian witness that we are all God's children, one God, One Lord, One Spirit, One Savior and Friend in-dwelling in us all, Jesus.

We have been called by Jesus to pray, pray always, so that has become a special joyful ministry of Argel Tuason and I as we sponsor prayer partners for the wonders of prayer, care, and sharing "where two or three gather" with Jesus in our midst.

So, in 21 years God has come to be known as the loving God our God is in many communities in Luzon -- and, praise God, in many individuals throughout the archipelago who read my blogs and intereact with me by email.

At tai chi they sang to me; at MCC they sang to me and prayed over me. At home I feel the warmth of the hearth and heart-felt warmth that has kept my heart warm for 14 years. I miss my children and grandchildren (who lost their unequalled awesome mother this year) and can now only be in prayer for them throughout the day.

So, today 84 years after November 12, 1928; 21 years after September 7, 1991; I have much to be thankful and joyful for. Work is not work if it is a labor of love, and I am thankful for every labor of love I am given the opportuinity to do for people with the Lord with us.

The following poem is how my fellow CDOS priest, Fr. John Chuchman, puts this into a worldwide perspective.

True Community

 

I strive for a table
where people are together
at the table of the Divine
working to contribute healing and growth
to each other's lives.

 

I abhor a table of clashing cymbals
competing for attention

each claiming to know
the "right" way.

 

Christianity seems to have lost
unity amongst diversity
because it has lost
the Way
of the Director, Jesus.

That which Jesus taught
has been replaced with creed, dogma and hollow ritual.

 

Christians these days
are not known
By Their Love.

 

Instead of healing wounds,
church rules/structures/walls
offend, exclude, abuse people.

 

Instead of nurturing people
to a higher consciousness and Spirituality,
hierarchy expend effort
in defense of dogma.

 

Instead of helping with people with rebirth in the Spirit
through encouragement, humility, and support,
church seems focused on
legalities, money, and politics.

 

It is now the time,
for the feminine and masculine Spiritual warriors
to rise up
and take responsibility
for building true community
where we can all be healed
and grow.

 

Imagine what our world would be like today
had we Spiritual Warriors
risen up 1700 years ago
to combat Constantine
and
a Roman Church.

This is not my first time here.
This is not my beginning.

 

I will no longer
sit in church singing outdated hymns,
worshiping Jesus as he never requested.
I will no longer
sit in church with people not really interested in helping each other.

 

I seek something more:
a Community of fellow Pilgrims
walking together,
working, crying, laughing, listening, learning, singing, praying,
lovingly supporting each other,

growing and sharing
our human experience.

 

Let's together explore
the Great Mystery.

 

It really is,
not up to the hierarchs
committed to protecting the institution
and their jobs in it;
It really is,
as Jesus taught,
up to each of us.

 

Love, John