Third Sunday of Advent

December 16, 2018

Luke 3:10-18

The second question that Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan asked us during our ordination was, “Are you broken enough?” Once again his question raised eyebrows and was, indeed, counter-intuitive. We want to be flawless, whole and perfect. We desire to achieve more in life, to be wealthy, healthy and pretty. We wish to be socially accepted, respected and gain certain prominence. We want to become somebody, and not nobody. We like others to call us as the famous doctors, the creative entrepreneurs, or successful lawyers. Or for us, people in the Church, we like people to consider us well-sought preachers, generous and builder-priests, or skillful and well-educated sisters.

However, we often forget that the people we serve are broken people. They are broken in many aspects of life. Some are broken financially, some are struggling with health problems, and many are crushed by traumatic experiences in the families. Some are dealing with anger and emotional instability, and some are confronting depression and despair. Some are hurt, and some other are forced to hurt. Many fall victims to injustice and violations of human rights. And all of us are broken by sin. We are serving broken people, and unless we are broken enough like them, our ministry is nothing but superficial and even hypocritical.

Therefore, as the ministers of the Church, we ask ourselves: are we disciplined enough in our study and allow the demands of academic life to push us hard to kiss the ground and continually beg the Truth to enlighten us? Are we patient enough in our life in the community and allow different personalities and conflicts in the seminary, convent or community to shape us up, to make us realize that life is much bigger than ourselves, and to enrich us? Are we resilient enough in our ministry and allow different people in our ministries to challenge our small world, to confront us with failures, and to face a reality that it is not them being served, but us? Are we humble enough in our prayer and allow God to take control of our lives?

In the center of our Eucharistic liturgy are the Word and the Body being broken. The Word of God in the scriptures is read, and the preacher ‘stretches’ and ‘breaks’ it into more relevant and meaningful words for the people of God. The Body of Christ in the consecrated hosts is literally broken, and so this may be enough for everyone. These Word and Body of Christ are broken for the broken people of God. Jesus saves and makes us holy by being one with us, by being broken for us. He is a broken Lord for His broken brothers and sisters.

We the ministers of God are like Jesus Christ, and thus, the questions are: Are we willing to recognize and accept our own imperfections? Are we strong enough to admit that we are weak? Are broken enough that we may share our total selves to our brothers and sisters? Are we like Christ who is broken for others to live?

Deacon Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP