The World Cup fever is on! Perhaps
not so much in the Philippines being a “basketball country.” Yet the world’s most popular sport is
football. It is played by 250 million players in 200 countries with about 3
billion fans worldwide. And as this “greatest show on earth” takes place in
Brazil, the world’s attention stops to watch its outcome of triumph or defeat.
Though hosting an international event this big is a nightmare, its returns are
just beyond the purse. In this global stage, the event has such a lasting
impact to both players and spectators that bring out lessons of team spirit,
collective dream and community experience.
When
the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines formally announced last
week the 51st International Eucharistic Congress which will happen
in Cebu from January 24-31, 2016, I had the World Cup as my backdrop. The 51st
IEC though, pales in magnitude yet its distinctive aim is for community
experience. Thus despite the rains, all four of our Filipino Cardinals (Luis Antonio
Tagle, Gaudencio Rosales, Ricardo Vidal and newly ordained Orlando Quevedo)
including Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines His Excellency Most Rev. Guiseppe
Pinto, D.D joined the Congress Chairman, Archbishop Jose Palma at the Arzobispado de
Manila in Intramuros for the launching. The “all-star” cast is a clear
indicator how big and important this event is for the Catholic Church in the
Philippines.
Luis Cardinal Tagle shares a beautiful
insight during the pres con on the importance of this affair: “If people are
looking forward to the many international events, like the FIFA World Cup and
the ASEAN Summit, this time, the IEC 2016 is universal. And if Iglesia means “a people gathered by GOD”, who is trinity and
communion, there’s no better way to gather the world by responding to God’s
call.”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at
the conclusion of the previous Eucharistic Congress held in Dublin, Ireland in
June 2012 announced the choice of Cebu as the next venue. In a video message,
he said: “I would like to invite you to join me in praying for God’s blessings
upon the next International Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in 2016
in the city of Cebu! To the people of the Philippines I send warm greetings and
an assurance of my closeness in prayer during the period of preparation for
this great ecclesial gathering. I am confident that it will bring lasting
spiritual renewal not only to them but to all the participants from across the
globe.”
The choice of Cebu is occasioned by
the 500th anniversary of the Christianization of the country in 2021.
The first Eucharistic Celebration in the Philippines was on Easter Sunday of
March 31, 1521 in an island named Mazaua by eyewitness Antonio Pigafetta, which
is believed to be Limasawa. Few days later, they embarked towards Sugbu where
Ferdinand Magellan planted the first cross and convinced Cebuano natives to
embrace the faith. Rajah Humabon and Hara Humamai were baptized by Fr. Pedro de
Valderama who took the names “Carlos” and “Juana” along with 800 of their
subjects. Each year, at the Sinulog celebration, the reenactment of the first
mass and baptism is made as a renewal of the Christian promise to follow
Christ. Hopefully it is not just for a show but a continual challenge to change
for the better.
The
Solemnity of Corpus Christi or the Body and Blood of Christ invites us to
reflect on the sacrament of the Eucharist. In John’s Gospel Jesus said to the
Jewish crowds: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats
this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:51). St. Cyril, bishop of Jerusalem in the
4th century, clarifies this for us in his Jerusalem Catecheses: “it
is with complete assurance that we receive the bread and wine as the body and
blood of Christ. His body is given to us under the symbol of bread, and his
blood is given to us under the symbol of wine, in order to make us by receiving
them one body and blood with him. Having his body and blood in our members, we
become bearers of Christ and sharers in the divine nature.” This communion with
Christ, therefore, is a call towards self and social transformation. It is not
enough to receive Jesus. We are to become Jesus! Such is the Eucharistic
challenge.
One
of the poignant picture I saw among Pope Francis’ visit to Israel was his
unofficial stop at the graffiti-covered separation wall in Bethlehem. With head
bowed, he prayed silently. I’m sure he prayed for reconciliation and communion
among peoples; when walls will no longer be needed for lasting peace. I realize
that in the altars of the world, Jesus unceasingly prays for such reconciliation
to happen. His greatest mission is for humanity to be one with God. In the
Eucharist, He comes in person. This miracle of his real presence shows us the
depth of his love. When we received him we become one Body in Christ. He leads
us to a deeper communion with each other. This makes the Eucharist God’s
greatest show on earth!
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