councilor.org
| Source | Ken Hanly |
| Date | 06/04/18/21:27 |
| 04/11/2006
Jesus Christ was not only a dangerous destabilizer but also an economic saboteur who posed a danger to the religious leaders of his time, and Palm Sunday along with Good Friday, two events observed by Christians, were also expressions of people power in Christ’s time. These are the thoughts the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), through its president, Jaro Archbishop Angel Lagdameo offers the Catholic faithful during the Lenten Season. In explaining the occurrence of large crowds, both during Palm Sunday, when Jesus, said to have been astride a donkey, passing through Jericho and into Jerusalem, was greeted by some 50,000 Jews, gathered there carrying palm or olive branches to welcome Jesus, the Rabbi or teacher from Galilee, the CBCP head pointed to this occurrence being a show of people power. On Good Friday, the day Christians believe Christ died on the cross, a large crowd also followed him, as the biblical accounts say. “It was a kind of ‘people power’, drawing into some kind of climax the secret or silent aspiration of the Jewish people for a new leader from their ranks. The scene was a very spontaneous show of support for a new leader. The singing of an ancient victory song was also spontaneous “Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!,” Lagdameo stressed while speaking on what he said were two important symbols of Holy Week. Still on the same theme, Lagdameo emphasized that the religious leaders of that era also considered Jesus Christ as a dangerous man and a “destabilizer”. “There was a political reason Jesus was considered dangerous. His preaching and actions were destabilizing the precarious balance of authority (who feared) he might lead an uprising against the status quo. A religious reason made Jesus a dangerous item too,” the CBCP president added. Moreover, Lagdameo explained that Jesus was regarded as the “Son of God” by the many poor Jews, whom the Galilean, as Jesus Christ is also known, helped with the miracles of providing food, healing, attention and new teachings from his “Father” in Heaven. He was said to have become a threat to the established order, and the religious leaders saw him as an enemy. Lagdameo noted that apart from being regarded as a destabilizer, the hierarchy of the Romans also considered Jesus an economic saboteur when he drove away the dealers and animals from the temple. “Economic motives were also included in opposing Jesus: by driving the dealers and animals, Jesus was destabilizing the economic agenda of the authorities of the temple. These made the leadership of Jesus dangerous,” the CBCP president noted. It was unclear why Lagdameo chose to set up the Philippine Lenten season and the trial of the Christ in the context of “people power,” “destabilization and “economic sabotage” but there is no question that Malacanang and its occupants have been harping on the destabilization angle and economic sabotage, while pointing their fingers at President Arroyo’s political foes. Observers also found it strange for Lagdameo to be speaking of people power and the rise of a new leader in Jesus when the CBCP, close to a year ago, in its pastoral statement, rejected calls for the Church to resolve the issue of presidential resignation. The bishops had in fact, rejected people power—an extra-constitutional means, to bring down Mrs. Arroyo. Lagdameo also said that while the crucifixion of Jesus Christ might have brought victory to the Scribes and Pharisees, the Sanhedrin and the Roman governor, he noted that for the people who believe in Jesus as the Messiah, “the Cross is the symbol of suffering turned into sacrifice; of despair transformed into hope; of death converted into life” and the “hateful becomes lovable, defeat becomes victory.” He added that “the Son of God saved mankind not through any show of power-play but by sharing our human suffering, making our crosses, together with his Cross, the door of our redemption”, therefore, we (must) bring the symbols of the palms and the cross to our life experience.” The CBCP president also yesterday reminded the faithful to observe the Holy week in repentance, remorse and contrition. “Whoever you are: Crucified or crucifier, Christ died for you. Lifted up from the earth, he draws us all to himself, in order that in his embrace we may break all hostilities, enmities, brutalities and animosities, and give witness to the power of love,” Lagdameo said in his Lenten message. Marie A. Surbano |
Copyright (c) 1998, Joongpil Cho