Living By Grace

How do we live by grace in a world that still struggles with cruelty, hatred, and greed? Paano tayo magpapatuloy na mabubuhay at maglalakbay bilang mga progresibo Kristiano sa mundong patuloy na meron kalupitan at pagsasamantala? Anong magagawa natin bilang indibidwal at bilang isang maliit na simbahan? Parang powerless tayo or that what we do has little impact? And maybe that is partly true, however, let us not underestimate a small group of people 2000 years ago who lived by the grace of Jesus of Nazareth, a peasant Jew they proclaimed as Lord and Savior. Let us not underestimate the impact we can have in how we live and serve today in this community AND serve AS community. 

Living by grace in our world today is like using water in our daily lives 

We use water for hydration and nourishment. We also use water for cleansing and washing, and in many ways cleansing is a form of healing. Lastly, we use water for recreation and play. Ang tubig ginagamit para maglaro at magsaya. Let us learn how to live by grace by these 3 uses of water in our lives.

Pero bago yun let us remember that Jesus is our fountain of grace – the source of our spiritual water as Christians. A reading from the gospel of John: 

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart* shall flow rivers of living water.’ 

Si Jesus pa rin talaga. As we talk about grace in the metaphor of water the gospel of John describes Jesus as living water. we keep in mind as we go through our discussion today, that Jesus is our living water, the source of God’s grace. 

Let us begin. Our first point of learning today. 

Living by grace is first like drinking water and being nourished by it. 

We all need water to drink. It has been said, and it is scientifically proven that you can survive only with water without food between 2 to 3 weeks or up to 40 to 50 days depending on your body composition, health, and training.

Life is a journey as they say, and in the marathon of life, we need to regularly slow down or stop for a while to drink water – God’s grace – to rehydrate us and to strengthen us. Ang buhay ay parang isang marathon. Hindi sya minamadali at ito ay matagal at mahabang lakbayin. Tulad nang isang marathon where we need to pace ourselves – kalingan din natin bumagal o tumigil sandali para mag-replenish nang tubig – nang grasya ng Diyos. Kasi nakakapagod ang paglalakbay sa buhay na ito lalo na sa mundong ito na maraming paliko-liko at sira-sirang daan, may mga obstruction or obstacles. The road of life like literal roads in the Philippines are not pedestrian and PWD friendly. Our walk, run, or marathon in our country or the world are rarely ever smooth. This takes a toll on our bodies, hearts, and souls. We lose grace like losing water as we journey. We lose patience and hope. We get tired and sometimes we want to give up. Hence, just like in a marathon or any other journey, we need to replenish water from the source, Jesus, so we can continue on living, loving, and serving. How do we this? Where do we get this living water of grace? 

As Christians struggling to live, love, and serve today, the way we replenish the living waters of grace is of course with prayer and rest. Progressive Christians sometimes have a difficulty with prayer and sometimes even with rest. What’s the point of prayer anyway? Does it really it work? How can I rest with all the problems of the world? Prayer is not only wishing good things to come and expecting it all to happen. Prayer is a way to internally nourish ourselves with the grace of God. Prayer is more of listening and receiving grace through silence and rest rather than ranting to God. Of course, you can rant to God from time to time but for today as we learn about grace, let us look at prayer as one of those main faucets where we get clean water to drink. It helps if we use prayer practices or rituals that aid our prayer life. There are a million ways to pray. Find one that feels right to you. Light a scented candle and incense when you pray. Hike a mountain with a mountaineering group and as you hike focus towards prayer. When I go to the gym during leg day, I pray the Jesus prayer. Every painful step is a prayer. Sunday worship is a community ritual, a source of weekly grace. Prayer and Ritual both as an individual and with a group must be intentional the same way we intentionally get a glass of water to drink. You must rest both in body and in spirit when you are tired from the many journeys and struggles of this life.

We can also drink the living waters of God’s grace in and through our relationships and communities; Not perfect but good relationships and communities. Grace is never in isolation. Grace is received and experienced through the relationships we have and communities we belong to. Yes, church community is a source of God’s grace, but it is not only in here. Yes, grace is also with our Christian friends and family, but not only with them. Open Table has always encouraged everyone to encounter and experience God in so many other places, peoples, and other activities other than church or religious activities. We need to drink God’s living grace from different relationships and communities. We need to share God’s grace with other peoples and places. Go out and spend time with your friends and family. Volunteer here in Open Table MCC or kung di nyo bet dito, pwede naman sa ibang organizations because God is equally present there. Engage other sectoral groups to learn more and make friends with the other oppressed. God’s living grace is also with cosplay groups. Drink God’s grace by cosplaying. Grace is something we receive and experience in and only through our connections – the relationships we have and communities we are a part of. 

Drinking water is essential to live and to continue journeying while at the same time, it has been said by many doctors that a lot of bodily issues can be addressed when we drink enough clean water daily. Ang problema kasi ang marami sa atin, mas sanay tayo sa soft drinks or other drinks na mataas sa asukal or kemikal. A lot of us do not drink enough plain clean water hence issues with our organs at a young age. In the same way, sufficient amounts of grace through prayer and rest, good relationships, and good communities are needed for our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. 

Lastly on the matter of drinking grace similar to drinking water, we have to choose carefully where we get our grace the same way we get our water. If we drink contaminated water, we get sick. We must be careful with the relationships and communities where we think we can get grace. We have to also question previous religious practices that we thought to be clean water but actually like soft drinks taken for too long damages our organs. Careful of relationship that are parasitic. Careful of toxic churches claiming to be welcoming. Careful of jowas who will not only drain your energy and patience but also your bank account. 2025 na mga accla. Wag delulu at hopiang panis. Careful also that you drink too much social media and doom scrolling, it is like drinking too much alcohol too often – like alcohol, social media can be addictive but depressive. Too much social media causes you to feel detached and depressive with all the terrible things happening in the world, and it can cause you other mental health issues. Everything you drink into your system impacts your body, mind, and spirit. Choose carefully the different kinds of water you put into your being. Are this living waters of grace or are these toxins that damage you? 

Our second lesson for today: Grace is also about cleansing and washing. Hindi maganda ang pakiramdam pag hindi ka naligo lalo na kung ilang araw na. Sa ating mga paglalakbay importanteng naliligo tayo. Importante ang naglilinis diba bottoms? Amen ba? In the continuing journey of life and in the many things we do, we need to wash ourselves from dirt, oil, sweat, grime, and bad smell. Similarly, in the same journey of life we need to cleanse ourselves with all the spiritual, emotional, mental, and social dirt we have accumulated. We wash with the waters of Jesus Christ. In Matthew we read…

And there was a man with a skin disease who came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be made clean!” Immediately his skin disease was cleansed. 

A person with a skin disease came to Jesus and asked, if you are willing, you can make me clean. Of course, Jesus wants to make us clean similar to the man. Jesus tells us, I am willing. But notice, the man made an effort to come to Jesus cleansing and healing. To be washed, we must want it for ourselves. Dapat gustuhin nating maghugas. We must also seek out cleansing. A lot of Jesus’s healing in the gospels are people coming to Jesus to be healed AND MADE CLEAN. 

Kailangan magpagpag at maglinis spiritually. You must intentionally choose to remove theologies, perspectives, practices, emotional baggages, bitterness, and resentments, regrets, and unnecessary thoughts that keeps looping in mind. If you need to seek professional help, do so if you are able. If you need medication, by all means. If you need to break-up with any friendship, connection, or jowa who only contaminates your well-being do so after doing much soul searching. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not one who will tell you to disconnect and cut off ties too easily and too soon. Diba ba nga relationships are sources of grace. But what I’m saying, if your relationship IS NOT a source of grace but the opposite, then you must let it go. But like careful and thorough washing of the body, you must be thorough in thinking carefully if you need to cut off someone from your life. When the red flags are slapping you in the face left and right, up and down, when good people around you are already saying the same things, then perhaps it is time to remove this person or persons in your life and block them in social media. I only hope you will do so with grace and kindness not only for yourself but also for those you are removing from your life. Let go and cut off in a gracious and matured way. Doing so is the Jesus way. The gracious way.

Come to think of it, healing is all about cleansing and this includes dysfunctional family relationships we have. We also have to drop what conservative churches told us na “TIISIN Na lang”. or Magulang mo kasi sya kahit na one of those family members or parents are one walking embodiment of red flag and abuse. We have to wash ourselves with those people, situations, and practices even if they are by blood or traditions of our families that are actually nothing more than dirt in our lives. But again, do not do so easily but with the grace of Christ wash yourself of these things or those people in the same way you will carefully wash your body. 

Or minsan hindi mo naman totally kailangan icut ang buhay mo sa kanila, but you just need to distance yourself. In other cases naman, perhaps what you need to remove is not persons but the beliefs and practices of our families. Wag mo na iaaply sa buhay mo at personal mong mga relationship. Keep the relationship but break the cycle of trauma and abuse. 

Kasi if you remain unclean with all the generational and familial toxicity; if you remain unclean with parasitic jowas; If you remain in a toxic work; if you keep theological teachings and practices na toxic… so ano mangyayari sayo? What will happen to you if you remain dirty? You will get sick. You will not feel good about yourself. You might contract skin disease. You will be spiritually, mentally, and emotionally sick and may contract spiritual skin diseases that will fester – magnanana sa iyong kaluluwa.

While we ask God to wash us and clean us with everything that is toxic, parasitic, or dirty in our lives, it is not a one-time cleansing. We are not perfect; we do not have perfect relationships and communities despite those relationships being good ones; We are living in an imperfect and still cruel world, and in many ways indirectly participate in many social evils like by buying starbucks or eating in Jollibee. Char. Not Char. 

And so we remind ourselves that throughout out our lives, we need to wash regularly by the living waters of God through Jesus. Like how we wash our body so must we regularly wash our hearts, minds, and souls from all the evils and cruelties of this world and our own. Habang nabubuhay tayo kailangan natin patuloy na maligo sa grasya ng Diyos hanggang mamatay tayo. Until we die, we will need washing. Diba nga yung patay hinuhugasan pa yan at nililinis? Cleansing is a lifelong process and activity we must be willing to undertake as many times over as we need. 

Our 3rd point to live by grace is to joyfully play. Maglaro. 

Rev. Elder Darlene Garner, in her very-wise-old-African-motherly vibe once asked us back in 2015 when we were still MCCQC – “As a church what are you doing for play?”

And we could not answer. It’s no wonder why you are burned out and if you are not yet burned out, you will be sooner than later. PLAY is important. PLAY is a source of grace 

Jesus in John commands us to love and he says that I have said this to you so that your joy maybe complete. Paul also says that one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit is Joy. Loving and serving doesn’t have to be romanticized as a dramatic, tragic, or always sacrificing. Love is joyful and playful as much as it is sacrificing. 

Having fun is important in your personal life and relationships; It is important in our communities or organizations, and definitely joyful play is necessary for our spiritual well-being. Not everything is about work or serious stuff. Not everything should be about ministry, theology, and advocacy. If your life, relationships, work, and your community is not JOYFUL and does not have moments of play, then it will wither. Too much seriousness will wither your body and soul. 

Paul tells the Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

The early Christians were under the Roman empire. Many of their members were also slaves, widows, and peasant laborers, and yet Paul encourages them in all his letters but most especially in his letter to the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord and to practice joyfulness.

Their lives are already difficult and tragic as it is, bilang komunidad kailangan nilang ugatin ang kanilang Ligaya sa Panginoon at maging intensyonal na maging masaya sa harap ng mga kalupitan na nakapalibot sa kanila. As church, that’s the reason why we have our once-a-year community swimming. That’s why we have celebrations during Easter, Christmas, and our anniversaries and we play queer lotto, and talk about drag. 

In the midst of all the evils and cruelties happening around us, never fail to still laugh, play, and find joy from time to time. Kahit papaano dapat merong kagalakan sa ating pakikibaka. Maski mga aktibista ay paminsan-minsan tumatawa at nagsasaya a hindi puro ra-ra-ra-sisbumba! 

To live by grace is to joyfully play from time to time to wash away the stresses and sorrows within us and around us. Joyfulness through play helps us to endure the journey ahead and the many struggles we will face. God is also with us when we play. 

In summary – to Live by Grace is:

  1. Drinking Grace from Jesus Christ through prayer, relationships, and community, and choosing carefully where to access or tap on God’s grace. 
  2. Washing and Cleansing by God’s grace 
  3. Grace through joy and play

Pero akala nyo tapos na? But wait… may isang pahabol pa as a closing of this preaching. 

Like water, grace must be shared and given to others. You cannot keep it to yourself. You must share and channel God’s grace through kindness, generosity, and forgiveness. Letter to Ephesians tells us to be kind and tenderhearted to one another, and to forgive. Stagnant water also rots. Ang tubig na nakaimbak at hindi nagagamit ng matagal na panahon ay nabubulok din. We have to give away grace in the form of kindness and generosity, and ultimately as FORGIVENESS. Forgiveness is one of the greatest manifestations of grace. But of course, forgiveness does not mean to say not holding abusers accountable. We can forgive even as we hold someone accountable, and accountability is also a form of grace. But you cannot call yourself a Christian if you are not able to forgive because the one you follow forgave those who nailed him to the cross. 

So do not keep grace just to yourself. Share it. Give it away. Be generous. Forgive. 

And as Christians, it is not just kindness. As followers of Jesus who denounced injustices and religious oppression, grace is to work for justice and equality wherever we are. God through the prophet Amos says to let justice roll down and flow like water.

GRACE in a cruel and unjust world is also through advocacy and activism. We believe that you cannot be a Christian and preach grace without wanting grace for all people in the form of justice that upholds human life, rights, and dignity. 

Hindi tayo puro play and joy lang. Yes need natin yan. Hindi tayo puro drink of grace by pray pray. Hindi ito puro personal self-help wokeness of cutting ties with the toxic boomer generation. Grace means ministry and justice work, and it also means passing to the next generation the grace we have received from our queer ancestors who paved the way. 

Ang daming nangyayaring masama sa ating paligid. There is so much fear among LGBTQIA+ people, immigrants, and other minorities in the US. Our own MCC churches in the US will directly experience the negative impact of their current situation in their country. Life is not getting better here in the Philippines and this coming midterm elections, mukhang mananalo pa rin ang mga kurap. Hindi tayo sure sa ceasefire sa Palestine. Injustice, cruelty, and greed abounds the same way that the Roman Empire 2000 years ago continued to oppress and kill many peoples including the persecution of Christians. But small and powerless as they are, Christian communities continued to live by grace through prayer, generosity, forgiveness, joy, works of compassion and common good, and their shared life together as a community. May we follow their example and live by grace in our time and lived reality today. In Jesus name, may it be so. 

Through this preaching may we receive God’s blessing. 

R: Thanks be to God! Amen! 


Open Table MCC is a church for all, including LGBT+ people. All are welcome! Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest news and events from our church community.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *