God's Greatest Show on Earth

        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 51^st International Eucharistic Congress which will happen in Cebu from January 24-31, 2016, I had the World Cup as my backdrop. The 51^st 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 500^th 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 4^th 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!

Sharing the Dream

        The canonization of our newest saints in the Church, John XXIII and John Paul II, gives me great joy. Both popes inspire me. Moreover, it fills me with encouragement knowing that I have been in contact with one who is now a saint!

I was in Paris for the World Youth Day 1997. It was my first to see Pope John Paul II at close range from his papal mobile as he was leaving the Longchamp Racecourse where the concluding mass was held. But a more exhilarating experience was granted to me during the World Youth Day 2000 in Rome. At the final mass at Tor Vergata, I was able to concelebrate with him, along with bishops and hundreds of priest-participants coming from all over the world. Then the extraordinary happened. He passed by right in front of me as he was coming down from the stage toward his papal mobile. I touched his hand while he was waving to us! It was a moment of delight; a dream-come-true!

Saint John XXIII, however, is unfamiliar to me because he died more than fifty years ago. But reading through his life, I realized he continues to have a strong appeal because of his big heart, his great wisdom and his big dream for the Church and humanity. He himself was surprised when the conclave elected him Pope. He had common gifts like everyone else. Though he did well in school, he was no star. He came from a poor family of farmers. He did not have a stunning physique nor was he a great musician or theologian in his day. But throughout all his life, “he let himself be guided by the Lord.”

Going by the books, he should have waited longer to be canonized. But Pope Francis granted him an exception. His influence on the Church today is sufficient miracle! Thanks to him we have thousands of lay ministers the world over; the faithful praying the Mass rather than hearing it; work for social justice making progress; human dignity at the center of the church’s witness; a continuing renewal happening in the Church.

John XXIII, despite his short-lived papacy, will be remembered as one of the greatest popes in history. Those who knew him were touched by his exuberance and warmth. He constantly radiated a true Christian joy to all around him because he was personally convinced that he had to tell the world about the “good news” of Jesus. He wanted to dialogue with the world rather than condemn it. He was filled with a strong sense of optimism believing that there is so much good happening in the world. He lived in a time when amazing things and technology were bringing progress. But prudent decision by good leaders was also needed to put those good things at the service of humanity.

He carried the office of Pope with great distinction. But he never forgot that he was human first and foremost. He was aware that times have changed and it was time for the Pope to stop acting like royalty. His poor background helped him to become down-to-earth. He saw himself as a fellow human being in a journey of faith like the rest. He refused to take advantage of his position either for himself or for his family. In his last will and testament, Pope John XXIII wrote: "Born poor, but of humble and respected folk, I am particularly happy to die poor. His death in 1963 had a strong impact on people everywhere, believers and non-believers alike. Throughout the world, everyone mourned. Even the prisoners at Rome’s Regina Coeli prison, where he had visited on his first Christmas in the Vatican, sent this message: “With an immense love, we are close to you.”

Endowed with a big heart, he also had a great vision and unlimited hope. He dreamt of a church that could spread the good news of Jesus' love in a way that made sense to people of the new century. When America and Russia in October 1962 were on the brink of a nuclear war, he made a broadcast message on Vatican Radio calling for President John F. Kennedy and Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev to exercise restraint. The Pope pleaded for peace!

When through a “flash of heavenly light” he called for the Second Vatican Council, he felt God was nudging him to lead the Church to become a “universal sacrament of salvation.” Among other things, this Ecumenical Council would renew the liturgy; would place greater emphasis on Scripture; encourage collegiality in the Church and accept what is essentially good in the world.

He is given to us today as an example not to bewail our times. Instead he inspires us to be courageous and hopeful that faith and love can change hearts. Miracles still happen. We can still share the dream of a better world.