After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many ill, blind, lame, and paralyzed people. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The ill man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am making my way someone else steps down ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.
Now that day was a Sabbath.
John 5:1-9 NRSVUE
So very progressive ng eksena dito ni Jesus noh at talaga namang nagpapakita ng radikal na pagmamahal, so pag tinuloy pa natin yun kwento ay marami pang mga eksena ng balitaktakan si Jesus with the jews sa chapter na ito, at very consistent sya dun sa pagtawag sa panginoon as his Father, Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes sabi sa verse 21, na tila tungkol sa kwento ni Lazarus na bumangon sa pagkaka himlay. that story among many others ay parang hindi pa talaga enough for them to believe, pero hindi napagod si Jesus sa pag explain, sa pag papaalala at sa pag sesermon, gaya ng isang magulang sa kanyang mga anak.
So as I reflect on this story from over 2,000 years ago, napaisip ako kung meron bang mga similar stories sa panahon natin ngayon na very much like in the spirit of Jesus’ sabbath healing: breaking the “rules” to restore life.
Isa sa mga stories na nahanap ko is about Dr. Paul Brand, na isang missionary doctor na kilala sa kanyang ground breaking work para sa mga leprosy patients in india.
Alam naman natin yung stigma about sa sakit na leprosy or ketong and it goes back to the biblical times, so in the mid 20th century, ganun parin yung dinaranas na malalang stigma ng mga leprosy patients in many parts of india, kung saan ang mga may sakit nito ay tinuturing na “untouchables” and often left to die in Isolation, and of course maraming medical professionals such us doctors would refuse to care for them.
Hindi rin iba sa ating mga pilipino ang kwento tungkol sa pag iisolate sa mga may sakit na ketong, we had an entire island dedicated for them. remember Culion island in palawan na ginawang leprosarium nung panahon ng american colonial regime nung commonwealth era, although na sugpo na ang leprosy sa isla noon pang 1980’s, the island was only declared a leprosy free area by the WHO noon lamang 2006.
despite social taboos and institutional resistance, Dr. Brand developed surgical techniques to restore the use of patients’ hands and feet, proving that much of leprosy’s damage was due to nerve loss and hindi yung disease itself. he woud work on “Sundays” and Holidays when necessary, emphasizing that compassionate care transcends human regulations. Just like our version of doctors and teachers to the barrio, na piniling iwan ang kanilang mga komportableng buhay para maglingkod sa kapwa.
The story of Dr. Paul Brand was told in the book “The Gift of Pain” (co-authored with Philip Yancey), which blends medical insight with deep spiritual reflection. Si Philip Yancey naman ay isang American Author who writes primarily about spiritual issues na relate din sa mga experiences nya growing up sa isang strict na fundamentalist church, at iniistruggle ko pa yan si Phillip Yancey at marami pa syang mga books na pinag ninilayan ko pa at need basahin if kering gawing reference.
So last week nga noh, we commemorate the lives lost through AIDS sa International Candlelight Memorial, ang HIV/AIDS na ata ang maituturing na modern day leprosy, or at least nung panahon ng AIDS crisis at talagang grabe ang stigma about sa sakit na ito.
At isa sa mga prominent figures na somehow nakapagpabago sa pag tingin ng mga tao sa sakit na ito ay si Princess Diana. nakasulat sa isang article mula sa UPI or United Press International Archives, eto ang kwento “In April 1987, Princess Diana opened the UK’s first dedicated HIV/AIDS ward at London’s Middlesex Hospital. During this visit, she made headlines by shaking hands with AIDS patients without wearing gloves—a powerful gesture at a time when fear and misinformation about HIV transmission were rampant. This act challenged the prevailing stigma and demonstrated that HIV could not be spread through casual contact. Diana’s compassion played a significant role in changing public perceptions about the disease.”
So yung pag visit nya hindi lang ito symbolic noh, or mema lang na parang yung mga pulitiko na dadalaw sa hospital kakamayan yung mga patients, tas picture then exit na, alcohol, change outfit, ganun. Princess Diana spent time talking to the patients, listening to their stories and showing genuine care, treating them as her fellow human being simple lang naman sanang gawin pero tila napakahirap para sa ibang tao, nang mga panahong ito. Diana used her global fame to bring attention to the AIDS crisis and humanize those affected by it.
Isa pang prominent figure, sa hanay naman ng pananampalataya ay si Pope Francis, personally, talagang kakaiba yung epekto ni Pope Francis saakin, dahil talagang binago nya yung pagtingin ko sa pagiging isang lider ng simbahan.
Pope Francis is renowned sa kanyang profound gestures of humility and service, particularly yung practice of washing and kissing the feet of individuals mula sa diverse backgrounds. So apparently, this tradition ay rooted in the Christian rite of foot-washing on Maundy Thursday, symbolizes Christ’s act of humility and service to his disciples.
So after nyang ma elect noong 2013. Pope Francis began performing this ritual in unconventional settings, gaya ng sa prison, mga participants from various faiths and walks of life, at isa sa mga recent gestures nito is last year lang, when he washed and kissed the feet of 12 female inmates at Rome’s Rebibbia prison, emphasizing inclusivity and compassion.
Isa pang particularly poignant moment happened on April 11, 2019 during a spiritual retreat at the Vatican para sa mga leaders of South Sudan, In an unprecedented act, Pope Francis knelt and kissed the feet of President Salva Kiir and opposition leaders, including Riek Machar and Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior, imploring them to maintain peace in their war-torn nation . This gesture was a powerful appeal for reconciliation and unity, reflecting the Pope’s deep commitment to peace and humility.
Sa mga ganitong gestures, Pope Francis has consistently demonstrated a commitment to breaking traditional boundaries, promoting inclusivity, and embodying the principles of humility and service that is the very center of his faith.
The stories of Dr. Paul Brand, Princess Diana and Pope Francis are like the story in our text. Where someone helps or heals another person despite cultural, legal or religious restrictions, after all, love is the fulfilment of the law, tama, mali?
So habang pinagninilayan ko ang text na ito at kung anong magandang title, na alala ko yung isang chapter sa book ni Ryan Holiday na “Ego is the Enemy, entitled “To be or To Do” na sobrang life chaging din para saakin, kasi before joke time lang sakin yang punch line na to be or to do, tobedobedoo.
Pero mas malalim at personal yung atake nya for me, this chapter explores the internal conflict between pursuing recognition or yung (to be) versus pursuing purpose and impact (to do).
Simply put, it’s asking us “Do you want to be someone – or do something? To be someone means chasing titles, prestige, and status na often driven by ego. Or you want to do something and focus on meaningful work, contriuting value and making a real impact – often quetly without fanfare.
Ang cheka ni Holiday dito is that Ego pushes us to be or to seek approval, rewards, and validation, which can distract us from or true goals. those who choose to do priorities substance over image and are more likely to create lasting change.
Sa ating buhay, we must decide whether our actions are guided by the desire to look important or the desire to do important things, the path to humility and purpose is ultimately more fulfilling and impactful.
Sa totoo lang mas madaling chumeka nalang about the things we want than to actually work on it, para sumakses.
As I close on this preaching, naisip ko lang na as human beings we can only do so much, pero bilang mga followers ni Jesus, we are reminded to focus on the “work itself” sa pag kilos, sa pag gampan, sa pag tulong sa kapwa.
Kaya walang silbi yung pagkuda kuda at pag pepreach na yan kung hindi naman nakikita or wala namang pag kilos, walang pagbabago.
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