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Author: Romo Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno OP

The Law, Traditions dan Heart

The Law, Traditions dan Heart

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time [B]
August 29, 2021
Mark 7:1-23

The Pharisees came to scrutinize Jesus, and these were not just ordinary Galilean Pharisees who often debated with Jesus. They were the leading Jewish authority, and they came to pass judgment on Jesus: whether Jesus is an orthodox Jew or a false prophet. Yet, we may ask, who are these Pharisees who often collided with Jesus and His disciples? The pharisaic movement was one of the Jewish religious movements in first-century Palestine. Though not always in a good relationship, they were contemporaries with other groups like the Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes. However, Pharisees were the most popular because many of their members were Jewish laypeople compared to other groups.

What is unique to the Pharisees? We need to understand first about the ceremonial purity in the Old Testament. The Law of Moses commanded those men and women who were entering the sacred place like the Temple to be ceremonially clean. If they were in contact with dead bodies, they became unclean and could not enter the holy ground. Thus, they were required to do ceremonial washing to clean this impurity. The purpose of this ceremonial purity is not about morality [what is right or wrong] but to train the Israelites to see and honor the sacred places as God’s dwellings.

The Pharisees were zealous for the Law, and they were responsible for bringing this ceremonial purity to the context of the Israelite household. They wanted to be ceremonially clean, not only in the Temple but also when they entered their houses, when they ate and drank, and even when they went to bed. The thing was that Moses never gave laws about this pharisaic thing. Thus, as a solution, the teachers or the rabbi came up with their set of rules and regulations. Eventually, these became the (pharisaic) traditions of the elders.

Going back to Jesus, we note that what the Pharisees from Jerusalem discovered was Jesus did not observe those traditions. They did not find any shred of evidence that Jesus violated the Law of Moses. Indeed, Jesus was fulfilling the Law. Jesus then criticized the Pharisees for being over-zealous on traditions to the expense of the Word of God. Jesus reminded the true essence of the Law, which is the formation of the heart. The laws and the traditions are good if they bring us closer to God. They become twisted when they chain us and keep us far from God. It would be useless if we are ceremonially clean, but our hearts are impure and sinful.

Jesus’ reminder to the Pharisees is always timely and proper to us. Do we keep our religion as mere collections of traditions, rituals, and customs that keep us from the Lord? Do we read the Word of God to help us understanding and loving the Lord better or simply to put up a show? Do we gather images, statues, and other religious articles just for collections, or do these help us honor God who perfects His creatures? Do we get involved in various services and ministries to feel good about it or serve our brothers and sisters in need?

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Hukum Allah, Tradisi, dan Hati

Hukum Allah, Tradisi, dan Hati

Minggu Biasa ke-22 [B]
29 Agustus 2021
Markus 7:1-23

Orang-orang Farisi datang untuk menyelidiki Yesus, dan ini bukan hanya orang-orang Farisi dari Galilea yang sering berdebat dengan Yesus. Mereka adalah otoritas Yahudi terkemuka di Yerusalem, dan mereka datang untuk menghakimi Yesus: apakah Yesus adalah seorang Yahudi yang ortodoks atau seorang nabi palsu. Namun, kita mungkin bertanya-tanya siapakah orang-orang Farisi yang sering berdebat dengan Yesus dan murid-murid-Nya? Gerakan Farisi adalah salah satu gerakan dan kelompok keagamaan Yahudi di Palestina abad pertama. Mereka sezaman, meskipun tidak selalu dalam hubungan yang baik, dengan kelompok lain seperti Saduki, Zelot, dan Eseni. Namun, dibandingkan dengan kelompok lain, orang Farisi adalah yang paling populer dan banyak anggotanya adalah orang awam Yahudi.

Apa yang membuat orang-orang Farisi unik? Kita perlu memahami terlebih dahulu tentang hukum nahir dan najis dalam Perjanjian Lama. Hukum Musa memerintahkan para pria dan wanita yang memasuki tempat suci seperti Bait Allah untuk bersih atau tahir. Sebagai contoh, jika mereka bersentuhan dengan tubuh yang mati, mereka menjadi najis dan tidak diizinkan memasuki tempat suci. Oleh karena itu, mereka diharuskan melakukan ritual pembasuhan dengan air untuk membersihkan kenajisan mereka. Tujuan dari hukum tahir-najis ini bukan tentang moralitas [apa yang benar atau salah], tetapi untuk melatih bangsa Israel untuk menghormati tempat-tempat suci sebagai tempat tinggal Tuhan.

Kontribusi orang-orang Farisi ini adalah mereka bertanggung jawab untuk membawa hukum tahir-najis ini ke dalam konteks rumah tangga dan kehidupan sehari-hari orang Israel. Mereka ingin tahir, tidak hanya di Bait Allah, tetapi juga ketika mereka memasuki rumah mereka, ketika mereka makan dan minum, dan bahkan ketika mereka pergi tidur. Masalahnya adalah Musa tidak pernah memberikan hukum tentang hal-hal ini. Jadi, sebagai solusi, para guru atau rabi mengajarkan dan membuat aturan tentang hal-hal yang tidak ada di Kitab Suci untuk mendukung hidup tahir ini. Akhirnya, aturan-aturan inilah yang disebut sebagai tradisi para penatua.

Kembali kepada Yesus, kita perhatikan bahwa apa yang ditemukan oleh orang-orang Farisi dari Yerusalem adalah Yesus tidak menjalankan tradisi itu. Mereka justru tidak menemukan sedikit pun bukti bahwa Yesus melanggar Hukum Musa. Sungguh, Yesus menggenapi Hukum dengan setia. Yesus kemudian mengkritik orang-orang Farisi karena terlalu fokus pada tradisi dengan mengorbankan Firman Tuhan. Yesus mengingatkan hakekat Taurat yang sebenarnya, yaitu pembentukan hati. Hukum dan tradisi akan menjadi baik jika membawa kita lebih dekat kepada Tuhan. Mereka menjadi batu sandungan ketika mereka merantai kita dan menjauhkan kita dari Tuhan. Tidak ada gunanya jika kita secara seremonial bersih, tetapi hati kita tidak murni dan kotor penuh dosa.

Peringatan Yesus kepada orang Farisi selalu tepat dan relevan bagi kita. Apakah kita menjalankan agama kita hanya sebagai kumpulan tradisi, ritual, dan adat istiadat yang menjauhkan kita dari Tuhan? Apakah kita membaca Firman Tuhan untuk membantu kita memahami dan mengasihi Tuhan lebih baik atau hanya untuk pamer? Apakah kita mengumpulkan gambar, patung dan benda-benda keagamaan lainnya hanya untuk tujuan koleksi, ataukah ini membantu kita untuk memuliakan Tuhan yang telah menyempurnakan ciptaan-Nya? Apakah kita terlibat dalam berbagai pelayanan hanya untuk merasa senang dan dipuji, atau benar-benar melayani saudara-saudari kita yang membutuhkan? Apakah hati kita sungguh untuk Tuhan atau masih terus dipenuhi dengan hal-hal buruk?

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Amazing Faith

Amazing Faith

21st Sunday in the Ordinary Time [B]
August 22, 2021
John 6:60-69

For the past five Sundays, we have listened to John chapter 6. Jesus introduced Himself as the bread of life, and His flesh and blood are authentic food for eternal life. Today’s Gospel serves as the summit of our journey through John 6, and the Gospel begins with the response of Jesus’ listeners, “It is a hard saying.”

Jesus’ teaching this time is hard saying because it runs contrary to the essential Jewish tenets. It shocked their Jewish faith. To offer His flesh as food, is as appalling as cannibalism. Presenting His blood as a real drink is even blasphemous because it directly hits God’s commandment against eating blood [Lev 17:10]. Yet, Jesus did not waver.

Jesus’ followers were facing a tough decision. They had seen Jesus performing miracles, healing the sick and feeding thousands. Many of them were expecting that Jesus would be the Messiah like King David. However, things did not go smoothly according to their plans. If they accepted Jesus as the Messiah, they had to take Jesus’ words and indeed eat His body and blood. Eventually, many could not accept Jesus’ tough teaching, and perhaps, they considered Him another lunatic or even possessed man.

Fortunately, not everyone deserted Jesus. Peter, representing the twelve disciples, said that they believed in Jesus’ words. Peter might not be different from the rest of the crowd who failed the grasp Jesus’ hard teachings. Yet, Peter accepted Jesus’ hard teachings because he accepted who Jesus is, the Holy One of God. It is impossible for Jesus, the Holy One of God, to tell a lie. What the divine Son of God said must be real and true, however mysterious it may be. This is Peter’s faith, and this should be our faith.

Many aspects of our life and faith remain big question marks for us. We may not be able to understand the reality of the Trinity. We may still scratch our heads every time a priest speaks about the two natures of Christ. We may still feel dizzy every time a preacher explains about the transubstantiation. Yet, despite these hard sayings, we believe.

If we can have faith in Jesus despite the hard saying, we can have the same faith also despite hard lives. If we can say Yes to Jesus in the Eucharist, we shall be able to say Yes to Jesus in our lives, however, broken and disfigured it may be. This time of Pandemic, we often ask why God allows this terrible time and suffering. If we do not have the Eucharistic faith, we can easily fall into despair. Yet, we trust that God is in control with true faith, and He has a great plan for us. We might not understand the meaning of the suffering we endure, but we know it will make sense someday.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Iman yang Mengagumkan

Iman yang Mengagumkan

Minggu ke-21 Waktu Biasa [B]
22 Agustus 2021
Yohanes 6:60-69

Selama lima hari Minggu terakhir, kita telah mendengarkan Yohanes bab 6. Yesus memperkenalkan diri-Nya sebagai roti kehidupan, dan tubuh dan darah-Nya adalah makanan sejati untuk hidup yang kekal. Injil hari ini hadir sebagai puncak dari perjalanan kita melalui Yohanes 6, dan Injil dimulai dengan tanggapan dari pendengar Yesus, “Itu adalah perkataan yang keras. Siapa yang sanggup mendengarkannya.”

Ajaran Yesus kali ini sulit diterima karena bertentangan dengan prinsip dasar agama Yahudi. Bahkan hal ini benar-benar mengejutkan iman Yahudi mereka. Mempersembahkan daging-Nya sendiri sebagai makanan sama menjijikkannya dengan kanibalisme. Memberikan darah-Nya sebagai minuman bahkan merupakan penghujatan karena secara frontal melanggar perintah Tuhan untuk tidak makan darah [Im 17:10]. Namun, Yesus bergeming.

Pengikut Yesus menghadapi dilema. Mereka telah melihat Yesus melakukan mukjizat, menyembuhkan orang sakit dan memberi makan ribuan orang. Banyak dari mereka mengharapkan bahwa Yesus akan menjadi Mesias seperti Raja Daud. Namun, hal-hal tidak berjalan lancar sesuai dengan rencana mereka. Jika mereka menerima Yesus sebagai Mesias, mereka harus menerima perkataan Yesus dan memang memakan tubuh dan darah-Nya. Pada akhirnya, banyak yang tidak dapat menerima ajaran Yesus yang keras dan mungkin, mereka menganggap Dia sebagai orang gila atau bahkan orang yang kerasukan.

Hal yang menarik adalah tidak semua orang meninggalkan Yesus. Petrus, mewakili kedua belas murid, mengatakan bahwa mereka percaya pada kata-kata Yesus. Petrus mungkin tidak berbeda dari orang banyak yang gagal memahami ajaran Yesus yang keras. Namun, Petrus dapat menerima ajaran Yesus yang keras karena ia menerima siapa Yesus, yakni Yang Kudus dari Allah. Mustahil bagi Yesus, Yang Kudus dari Allah untuk berbohong. Apa yang dikatakan Putra Allah yang Ilahi pastilah nyata dan benar, betapapun misteriusnya hal itu. Ini adalah iman Petrus, dan ini harus menjadi iman kita.

Ada banyak aspek kehidupan dan iman kita yang masih menjadi tanda tanya besar bagi kita. Kita mungkin tidak dapat memahami realitas Trinitas. Kita mungkin masih menggaruk-garuk kepala setiap kali seorang imam berbicara tentang dua kodrat Kristus. Kita mungkin masih merasa pusing setiap kali seorang pengkhotbah menjelaskan tentang transubstansiasi. Namun, terlepas dari perkataan keras ini, kita percaya.

Jika kita dapat memiliki iman kepada Yesus terlepas dari perkataan yang sulit, kita dapat memiliki iman yang sama juga meskipun kehidupan yang sulit. Jika kita dapat mengatakan YA kepada Yesus dalam Ekaristi, kita akan dapat mengatakan YA kepada Yesus dalam hidup kita, betapa pun sulitnya hidup ini. Di masa Pandemi ini, kita sering bertanya-tanya mengapa Tuhan mengizinkan masa dan penderitaan yang mengerikan ini. Jika kita tidak memiliki iman Ekaristi, kita dapat dengan mudah jatuh ke dalam keputusasaan. Namun, dengan iman seperti Petrus, kita percaya bahwa Tuhan memegang kendali, dan Dia memiliki rencana yang besar bagi kita. Kita mungkin tidak mengerti arti dari penderitaan yang kita alami, tetapi kita tahu bahwa itu akan masuk akal suatu hari nanti.

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Our Mother in Heaven

Our Mother in Heaven

The Solemnity of the Assumption [B]
August 15, 2021
Luke 1:39-56

Together with my mother, Blessed Virgin Mary are the women in my life. I knew her very early in my life, and my devotion has continued to grow since then. When I moved to the Philippines for my Dominican formation, I witnessed the lively and vibrant devotion of the Filipinos toward our Lady. Yet, at the same time, I experienced the ferocious assault against her. How come people who call themselves followers of Jesus dare to attack His mother? For me, it was unthinkable! Usually, the usual accusations are, “Why pray to Mary? Why honor her so much as if she is a god?” It is clear for us Catholics that Mary deserves incredible honor because of her role in the mystery of salvation, but it is also clear that she is a human.


In the beginning, I was more than eager to defend her, yet as I brought this in prayer, I ask our Lady, what would she do to those who attack and mock her? She answered, “I continue to pray and love them. They are also my children.” Her answer was an eye-opener, and I began to enter their shoes to seek the reason behind their hatred toward Mary. One of the reasons I discovered is that for them, faith is basically “about Jesus and I.” Jesus is my personal savior and Lord, and He alone is enough. Mary and other saints are obstacles, the Church and the sacraments are not needed, and the traditions are unnecessary burdens. It is faith alone at its purest.
I do agree that faith needs to be pure but not simplistic and individualistic. I believe in Jesus as my personal savior, but He also calls us into a communion of saints. If we survey the Bible, God calls people in the context of a family: Adam and Eve, Noah and his family, Abraham and Sarah, Israel and his children, Moses together with Aaron and Mariam, and David with his family. The keyword ‘testament’ or ‘covenant’ that unites the entire Bible means a solemn oath to build a family. Jesus Himself called the twelve disciples to be the father figures in His kingdom, His family of God.


If God calls us into a family, we are not alone in this journey toward Jesus. We have our brothers and sisters in heaven who are cheering for us and helping us in ways we could never imagine. We also have brothers and sisters here on earth, and it is our responsibility to support and guide them in this journey. The dogma of the Assumption tells us that we are not just earthly realities but belong to a heavenly family, and what is more edifying is that we have a good mother in heaven.


As Mary anticipated the couple’s needs in Cana before they even noticed, Mary intercedes for us even before we realize. As Mary faithfully followed her Son on earth, Mary loyally accompanies us in our earthly journey. As Mary firmly stood before the cross of her Son, Mary also stands beside us in these trials of life.

Our Blessed Mother, pray for us!

Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

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