Scrutatio for the
6th Sunday in ORDINARY TIME/KINGDOMTIDE/TIME OF THE CHURCH
Readings
from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer
I Kings 3:5-12 / Psalm 119:121-136 / Romans 8:26-34 / Matthew
13:31-33 and 44-49
Readings
for the Pauline/Vatican II Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
I Kings 3:5 and 7-12 / 119:57+72, 76-77, 127-128 and 129-130 /
Romans 8:28-30 / Matthew 13:44-52
Readings
for the Tridentine Rite of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
Introit: Psalm 28:8-9 and 1
Epistle: Romans
6:3-11
Gradual and Alleluia: Psalm 90:13 and 1 + 31:1-2
Gospel
Mark
8:1-9
Offertory:
Psalm
17:5-7
Communion Antiphon: Psalm 27:6
One of my “nanays” in the
Parish where I presently serve, whom I will not name and which ministry she is
mightily being used by our AWESOME GOD I opted not to divulge as well due to
the sensitivity of this, her life story, that I will now share for this day’s SCRUTATIO:
This dear “nanay” of mine
has been blessed with five (5) children.
She was working as a
laundry woman and a “kakanin” (Philippine rice cake) vendor to support her
husband who is a shoe-maker.
Her husband, who is muy
celoso (possessive, in the bad sense of the word) would usually use this
negative trait of his to force his wife to be “intimate” with him, though she’s
been complaining and trying to make him understand that she’s exhausted from her
all-day work of washing the clothes for her employers, selling “kakanin”, as
well as being a home-maker.
Eventually she became
pregnant…
And to make matters worst,
due to her fear of not being able to provide for another child, she opted to go
to a midwife for her have an abortion...
When she was describing
the pain that she went through due to the barbaric procedure of having her
hapless and helpless child be dismembered and shredded to bits and pieces, I
can see “nanay’s” tears welling up, her voice, as well as her body
shaking. She even told me that she had a high fever that lasted for days
because of this…
And she even admitted that
she has done this not only once, but twice.
Her second attempt was
during her pregnancy with her 5th child…
She opted to drink some
herbal abortifacients, yet, by God’s grace, the child survived; she eventually
became a very intelligent student, a meticulous, trust worthy employee
and now, she is happily married in Korea, with her husband (who converted to
the Faith of our Holy Mother the Church, due to “nanay's” tender, motherly and
kerygmatic explanations as well as her loving persuasions) and children…
When “nanay” and her
husband were invited to a “couples seminar” conducted by the Couples for
Christ, and after she has confessed this sin of hers in the Sacrament of
Confession, Penance and Reconciliation, this “wound” that she kept for so many
years and has tormented her ever since, she bore witness to me that this
God-given experience of hers has changed her into A NEW PERSON, GIVEN HER A NEW
LIFE AND MADE HER INTO A NEW CREATION.
She has been TRANSFORMED
AND TRANSUBTANTIATED into one of the VALIANT SERVANTS OF GOD in our Parish by
surrendering their very lives to HIM, just like the 7 loaves of bread in the
Gospel passage of today’s Extraordinary Form that has fed four thousand people.
Her life is a LIVING
TESTAMENT to you and I that we can be CHANGED BY OUR GREAT AND AWESOME GOD, HE
WHO IS THE FULLNESS OF LIFE, FROM GLORY TO GLORY INTO HIS NEW CREATION (I
CORINTHIANS 5:7 AND II CORINTHIANS 3:18).
May we be challenged to be
LESS OF OUR OWN, to be less of our ISOLATING TARES, and be CHANGED INTO GOD’S
WHEAT so that we may be, in union with HIM, BE THE LIVING BREAD FOR THE LIFE OF
THE WORLD!
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