By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
and trafficking. ”
v18″ppoint judges and other officials in every town that the Lord your God gives you. These men are to judge the people impartially. v19They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions.
20Always be fair and just, so that you will occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you and so that you will continue to live there. Deuteronomy 16.18-20
In necessariis unitas, in dubiis libertas, in omnibus caritas
“In the essentials let there be unity, in non-essentials, let there be liberty, and in all things, let there be charity.” – St Augustine of Hippo
I am sure my fellow church leaders from the other denominations or from other faith confessions are familiar with this dictum. I am also convinced that the essence of this cliché has brought us together for the past days and now for this culminating service for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2019 edition. To the La Trinidad Ecumenical Council of Churches (LTECC) please accept my most sincere congratulations for the successful celebration and observance of this year’s WOPCU through the openness of the churches here in La Trinidad by hosting the daily worship gatherings.
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Indeed, I am honored as preacher for this culminating event hosted by the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Parish – and of course by the collective decision and cooperation of the La Trinidad Ecumenical Council of Churches. I’m sure you are also aware that 30 minutes earlier, the Baguio Benguet Ecumenical Group-sponsored WOPCU culminating event in the city of Baguio also started at the Cathedral of the Resurrection.
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Three years before I was called to the National Mission Center of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines in Quezon City in 2010, I had the same privilege of preaching at the closing day of WOPCU 2007 by being the Dean and Rector of the Cathedral of the Resurrection at that time.
To be preacher at the end of a weeklong ecumenical gathering and having heard excellent preachers has its own advantage and disadvantages. I can always do the convenient way of putting together the messages preached – summarize them and that would be a good way to cap the event. But then I will be boring you to death because I will be saying the same things you have heard for the past five days since I will not be saying new things if I do that. Or I can only focus on the assigned theme for the day. However, my colleagues in the LTECC asked me to summarize the themes for the past days. I will do both! Hence expect a long sermon but don’t worry, I believe our brothers and sisters here at the Church of the Epiphany prepared a sumptuous dinner after the service.
“Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue” from the book of Deuteronomy (16:18-20). This is theme for this year WOPCU, I am sure you are now very familiar and have heard exposition or messages relative to this theme. But let us refresh our minds of the past days’ theme:
· Let justice roll down like waters – Amos 5.24
· Let your word be “Yes, Yes’ or No, No” – Matthew 5.37
· The Lord is gracious and merciful to all – Psalm 145.8
· Be content with what you have – Hebrews 13.5
· To bring good news to the poor – Luke 4.18
· The Lord of hosts is his name – Jeremiah 10.16
· Woman, great is you faith! – Matthew 15.28
· The Lord is my light and my salvation – Psalm 27.1
Throughout the eight days of this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the daily reflections have considered many difficult situations facing the world today, including greed, violence, exclusion, exploitation, hunger and trafficking. Amidst these evils and social ills Christians across the world gather in prayer for growth in unity. We do this to unite us in prayers in a fractured world: this is powerful. However, as individual Christians and communities, we are often complicit with injustice, and yet we are called together to form a united witness for justice and to be a means of Christ’s healing grace for the brokenness of the world.
It is worth repeating here – if it has already been mentioned by previous speakers – or read in the materials for this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – that this year’s material has been prepared by Christians in Indonesia. This country is well known as having the largest Muslim population of any country. However, about 10% of Indonesians are Christians from various traditions. Just like any other Asian country, Indonesia has its own unique cultural values and traditions that aim to unite its 265 million population. The nation is founded on five principles called Pancasila, with the motto Bhineka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). This always fragile harmony is today threatened in new ways. Much of the economic growth that Indonesia has experienced in recent decades has been built on a system that has competition at its heart. This is a stark contrast to the collaboration and solidarity principles of Indonesia. Corruption is experienced in many forms. It infects politics and business, often with devastating consequences for the environment. In particular, corruption undermines justice and the implementation of law. Too often those who are supposed to promote justice and protect the weak do the opposite. As a consequence, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened; and so some country rich in resources has the scandal of many people living in poverty. As a traditional Indonesian saying goes, “A mouse dies of hunger in the barn full of rice.”
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Aside from religion, the Philippines is very much in similar situation with these realities and anomalies happening in Indonesia. And all these boil down to the righteous or unrighteous treatment of every creatures of all creation. The Old Testament exhortation from Deuteronomy calls us back to what the great Creator’s plan and will for all of His creation.
“Justice, and justice only, you shall pursue..” Yahweh’s instruction to Moses is all about administration of justice. Let us read from The English Version of the Bible verses 18-20:
v18″Appoint judges and other officials in every town that the Lord your God gives you. These men are to judge the people impartially. v19They are not to be unjust or show partiality in their judgments; and they are not to accept bribes, for gifts blind the eyes even of wise and honest men, and cause them to give wrong decisions. v20Always be fair and just, so that you will occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you and so that you will continue to live there.
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In the prior verses, Yahweh kept on reminding the Israelites of what they were before: slaves in Egypt. Thus, for them to be a strong nation learn from their bitter experience so they should start it right – and what is right is the righteousness of God –that is justice as the foundation of strong leadership and a progressive nation.
In the context of Deuteronomy, before the people of God enter the land, God has promised them, they renewed their commitment to the Covenant God established with them. The periscope comes in a chapter whose central theme is the festivities to be celebrated by the Covenant people. Through Jesus Christ we are a Covenant people. We are assured that even when we were still sinners, Jesus died for us to save us and for us to claim his promise of life… not the life we know but ABUNDANT LIFE.
As people of the Covenant established in Jesus, we know that the delights of the heavenly banquet will be given to those who hunger and thirst and are persecuted for justice “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt.5.6,10).
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Christ’s Church is called to be a foretaste of this kingdom. However, in our disunity we fall short. We fail to be the sign of God’s love for his people. Just as injustice has widened the divisions of the Church. We must repent of the injustice that causes division, but as Christians we also believe in the power of Christ to forgive us and heal. And so, we find ourselves united under the cross of Christ, calling both for his grace to end injustice and for his mercy for the sins which have caused our division.
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The theme appointed for this concluding day of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity underscore the Christian spirit of hope, confidence, and optimism expressed in Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation”. David’s kingship had been confronted by unceasing onslaught of the enemy from within and outside – including his human weaknesses. Yet, his full and unwavering trust and confidence to God kept his leadership strong and righteous.
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In the gospel of John we heard Jesus’ proclamation and affirmation that he is the light of the world. If we follow him – the light of life we shall never walk in darkness.
Day by day and year by year during this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity we join in prayer, professing our common baptismal faith and covenant, listening to God’s voice in the Scriptures and praying together for unity in Christ’s body. In so doing, we recognize that the Holy Trinity is the source of all unity and that Jesus is the light of the world, who promises the light of life to those who follow him. The many injustices in the world frequently sadden or anger us. But we do not lose hope, we move to action. Because the Lord is our light and our salvation and the stronghold of our lives, we do not fear.
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“In the essentials let there be unity, in non-essentials, let there be liberty, and in all things, let there be charity.”
Justice is the essential in our time and situation – let us commit our unconditional unity to its pursuit. Let this moment be an opportunity to renew and strengthen our commitment to justice,,,, and justice alone we must pursue.
Please rise and pray with me this prayer, our unconditional commitment to justice and unity.
God our Sustainer,
We praise you for your loving kindness,
For upholding us in times of trial,
And showing us your light in times of darkness.
Transform our lives so that we may be a blessing for others.
Help us to live unity in diversity as a witness to your communion.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
(Homily during the Culminating Ecumenical Service of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2019 at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, Betag, La Trinidad, Benguet sponsored by the La Trinidad Ecumenical Council of Churches. 01.26.2019)**
