Celia Rodriquez (no less, four-time FAMAS best actress and best supporting actress) was there to worship with us. Her daughter Camille, from MCC Los Angeles, gave us an inspiring, authentic Gospel message.Nearly 5o of God’s beloved people, some with HIV, some with diabetes, some with arthritis, some with alcoholism, some with wholistic well-being praised God in song and heart-felt worship.
Yes, that is a quick glimpse at the MCC Philippines year-end worship service in Makati on December 30, 2012.
And why was my heart leaping with love and joy? In 1991, in our first Christmas we had 5 MCC people worshipping (the other 10 had gone home to the province). Today we have 5 MCC communities.
I wonder what wonder and love was in the heart of Rev. Stedney Philips as she attended by Skype from LA. Special to us this day was this attendance of our supervisor, advisor, and friend, well-loved by all much-appreciated for her constant concern and attention.
This authentic Christian community in the heart of Makati is the fruit of the untiring and loving labors of Pastor Egay Constantino. He constantly reminds his growing flock that the growth of this family of friends is happening because they are sincere friends of Jesus, making sincere friends in their daily environment, and introducing their friends by word and example to their Friend Jesus in the family of friends. His witness is an amazing evidence of the power of Jesus to work through the loving and sincere ministry of a caring pastor.
So, of course, I give thanks to God on this last Sunday of 2012 as we look forward to what God has in store for us in 2013.
Something very important to me, I am thankful that the faithful members of the five MCC Christian communities in the Philippines have a deep love and appreciation for our beloved founder, The Rev. Troy Perry and for the world-wide MCC authentic Christian community he brought into being, with the power of the Holy Spirit, for our good and God’s glory in 1968. Since his retirement our love for MCC continues under the inspired guidance of Rev. Dr. Elder Nancy Wilson who in a way we can be proud of carries the banner of MCC, not only to us, but to the United Nations, the White House, and around the globe.
And most of all, we love and appreciate and are thankful for MCC itself, an awesome world-wide model of authentic Christian community.
If my ministry were to end with 2012 I can give thanks to God that MCC Philippine, in 5 communities continues the authentic Christian community that this world needs and God’s beloved LGBT people are thankful for. I received a text today from one Bible-loving person who was present today, “MCC has done so much for me. It tamed my roaring soul into a joyful lamb.”
All this happened today on Rizal Day, the anniversary of the martyrdom of our national here. In a Rizal Day column in the Bulletin today, President Ramos declares that Rizal living among us today would indeed be pleased by the passage of the Reproductive Health Law.
Likewise I think our national hero would also be proud of MCC Philippines. He vehemently disliked phony religion. He repeatedly denounced hypocritical, un-Jesus-like behavior of religious leaders he could not respect. He said, “Humanity cannot be redeemed so long as there are oppressed people.” He called for liberty and equality. He cherished virtue and in the 35th and last year of his life taught in his school in Dapitan not only English and Spanish and Math, but honesty and integrity as well.
He blamed the woes of the Filipino people on “false prophets.” But he admired religion that was authentic, as taught and practiced by many of his Jesuit friends (including those with whom he worshipped every Sunday for his final four years in Dapitan and who walked with him to his execution).
Why is this important? Why is this the main thought of my discussion today? The world has seen too many false prophets who lead unsuspecting followers away from the Way, the Truth, and the Life offered by Jesus, sometimes to physical and/or spiritual death.
In MCC we are certain of authentic Christian community through the guidance of Rev. Perry, Rev. Nancy Wilson, Rev. Ken Martin, Rev. Stedney Philips, and dozens of Elders and sincere pastors over the 44 years since 1968. That includes pastor Regen Luna now in far away Dasmarinas in the Catholic Diocese of One Spirit and the 5 wonderful MCC pastors in the Philippines: Pastor Egay (Makati), Pastors Joseph and Kakay (Quezon City), Pastor Myke (Baguio), Pastor Jason (Marikina), and Pastor John (Olongapo).
So while modern technology goes on with more and more iPods, iPads, iPhones, ithis, and ithat, what really builds a better world is
“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME
TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM
RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED…
— Luke 4, The New American Standard Bible (©1995)
My prediction for 2013 is a year that sees the above-mentioned authentic Christian communities doing THAT.
They will dry the tears,
Erase the fears,
bring healing and joy.
They will support wholistic well-being for those with HIV and AIDS.
They will make friends and introduce their friends to their Friend, Jesus.
They will show by their life and example that Jesus is the way out of problems (addiction, trauma from homophobia, devastating sex-negative theology).
They will bring about a healing of spirituality and sexuality, with the Good News and experience of the personal Presence and Friendship Jesus offers 24/7.
No comments:
Post a Comment