The Mission





 There are many ways to understand the essence and the richness of life; nevertheless it is not enough to accommodate them all. We can only penetrate and understand it, if we know how to enter into its meaning in our daily existence. In the movie the mission there are many good points that I can reflect into my very own existence, especially that I am aiming to become not just good but holy priest someday. The striking part that touches me so much is when the Jesuit priest was being asked to make an apology to the leader of the state for the misconduct that he has done. Even if it is painful in the part of missionary priest still he was able to say it out of the obedience to his legitimate superior the bishop. As I try reflecting into this particular scenario I was able to say to myself that as a missionary it is very important that we should know how to obey our legitimate superior, even if it is very painful to follow the desire of our superior, for in obeying it there is wisdom behind of it. In my part being a seminarian aspiring to be a diocesan priest in a future the virtue of obedience is very relevant in my existence for this vow was given an emphases in the diocesan way of life, that is in this early stage of my formation I must cultivate this said virtue so that I can become an effective diocesan priest in the my dioceses and to my bishop. And I would able to adapt the life style of pope francis the life of simplicity and humility. The Papal visit of Pope francis is one of the great manifestation of the mission of Christ, for he was able uplift the spiritual aspect of the dying believers.

francis the super pope

“Francis the Super Pope”

                As one of the famous dictum of a philosopher In the name of Socrates would tell us that unexamined life is not worth living, with this dictum it will always reminds me of the great responsibility of being a philosopher and theologian.

     In line with film of Pope Francis, I would say that Pope Francis was indeed a great philosopher and theologian, for it is clearly manifested in his works, especially in the area of his Papacy that he had done alote of legacy and the change in the area of uplifting the dignity of the mother church, despite of all the scandal of the church.

     Pope Francis was considered as the Super Pope, for in the early of his Papacy he was able to travel and was able to gain alote of followers in his Facebook and twitter account. This was the great contribution that I could affirm that indeed he is to be considered as one of the great Pope like Pope John Paul and Pope John the 23^rd

     In this new era, the Papacy of Pope Francis was not a co incident but a will from above. I firmly believed on this, because since from the start of his Papacy people from different walks of life will always find him as something spectacular, for there is a great image in him which is very different from the other Papacy.

     Finally I could say that in order for us to become effective servant we need to become a servant leader. Like Pope Francis that he was given the name as the Super Pope, no doubt for his works can testify on his behalf.

The Reckoning of my Understanding in relation to Pastoral Theology

Pope Francis once was said, the shepherd must smell like his sheep, this famous dictum of  Pope Francis was given me an avenue to re-examined myself with regards to my decision and intention in embracing diocesan way of life. As   religious before my mind was bounded only in community way of life, that religious community is the top priority, as I look outside the pedestal of the community I observe that there is something emptiness within me, for I was deeply touched with the words of our beloved Pope Francis when he said that the church must be the church for the poor. Meaning to say that we must eradicate the idea of discrimination towards our poor brothers and sisters for whether we are rich or poor we belong to this church of Christ.

In relation to this dissertation of Pope Francis with regards to the authenticity of leading the people of God, I could say that Pope Francis had a big contribution to the realization of this what we called in Latin Servus Servurum die. Servants of the Servants of God. As Pope Francis continue in his homily address to the Brazilian Bishops dated, July 27, 2013. Unless we train ministers capable of warming people’s hearts, of walking with them in the night, of dialoguing with their hopes and disappointments, of mending their brokenness, what hope can we have for our present and future journey?

As I try to reflect on the kind of leadership of Pope Francis was trying to explicate, I could say that this a big challenge for all of the leaders of the Catholic church, for it is undeniable fact that some of our church leaders are being smash with this message for most of our church leaders are in great luxury in there way of life, and they want always to be followed for the reason that they are a priest bishop and etc.

This kind of mentality was being corrected by our present Pope, for as Richard Gula said in his book Just ministry with regards to dynamic of power that even if we consider ourselves competence with the given power to role over the flock of God, for that is also what they expect from us, even though we are not worthy to the said title, for we are more less powerful in relation to those we serve, depending on our resources of influence relative to theirs.
 

Meaning to say that as leader we must inculcate in our mind and heart that like Christ who came not to be served but to serve, we too must possess this kind of heart, in other words in leading the flock we must have the passion in leading them towards liberation rather than deliberation.

Liberation in the sense that as a leader we must know how to disseminate their different  responsibilities in that way we are able to give them the chance to exercise their capabilities to render serve for the good of the mother church, not by saying that akoy magbuot kay akoy pari dire.

Lastly I could say, now that I am already a diocesan seminarian, I’m very proud to say that what I have not experience in the religious life like pastoral exposure I have experience it in the diocesan way of life, and I’m very grateful to God for giving me the gift of discernment.