OPINION: Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City)

JESUS SAID to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Quite a very difficult teaching to follow in life. In my world today of politics and the elections coming, it is quite common for political rivals with their troll farms to tarnish the name of each other with negative campaigns and false fabrication. Fr. Karrel San Juan, S.J., mentions the “FRENEMIES” in his homily. People once friends-turned- enemies. Broken relations exist and God’s grace and teaching alone will provide healing and reconciliation. 

I was struck by the First Reading, wherein David respected God’s anointed Saul. David and his men had the opportunity to harm Saul but David refused. He got Saul’s spear.

But David said to Abishai, “Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the LORD’s anointed and remain unpunished?” He and his men went the opposite direction and on top of the hill David shouted: “Here is the king’s spear. Let an attendant come over to get it.” The LORD will reward each man for his justice and faithfulness. Today, though the LORD delivered you into my grasp, I would not harm the LORD’s anointed.” 

I often wondered and cried, why my “frenemie,” someone I deeply respected, has turned out to viciously attack me. Cosa ba gayot mio culpa? In my own thinking, I have been led by God to serve Zamboanga City and am anointed to take on this mission. Si ya puede era le mira la mano de Dios una vida, embes de pelea, y hace malo pati todo con quien el ta infecta na rabyo di suyo bien negativo ta queda. If only there is acceptance of reality and the opportunity to give others their time and surrendering God’s providential love and hope that God will indeed provide. 

I have tried to reach out in prayers and tears even if my innocent loved ones have all been disrespected. I do not want to harbour bitterness in me because life is too short and who needs this extra burden that will only lead us to misery. Bien venenoso el rabyo de sentimiento que ta destroza el paz y ta afecta la salud. No quiere yo este y ta roga, que ay dale paz con aquellos tiene rabyo con migo. 

“But rather, love your enemies and do good to them and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” I was reflecting on my life and saw a pattern of “Ayuda” consistemente na otros. Ya realiza yo ya ofrece yo ayuda y supporta con aquellos que ahora ya devolve mi buena obra na actos de destrozo y mentira. 

Ya pregunta yo mi cuerpo, cosa gaha mio culpa canila? Porque devolve la ayuda na insulto? I have stopped asking this question, because the human nature of being ungrateful exists. Here in this reading, we are called to GIVE without expecting anything, and God will show kindness even to the ungrateful. I know I have fallen short of being thankful to God and that is why there is a need to always pray to follow Jesus. 

Finally, we end the Gospel with a famous TV Game Portion “BAWAL ANG JUDGEMENTAL!” Earlier, the movie Fantasy Island was shown, wherein one victim of bullying had her fantasy to retaliate and get back at those who bullied her. Initially, she was in a control room that had buttons to torture the bully. Later, she helped them escape and flee the torturer. 

We pray for God’s grace of FORGIVENESS toward God, others and self and pray they too forgive us. Only God’s grace can make this happen. “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” (MBC)