The Death of a Priest
(for +Fr. Mark Anthony Ventura)
Sixth Sunday of Easter
May 6, 2018
John 15:9-17
We are living in the part of the world that violence and death have become our daily consumption. Every day, people’s lives are forcibly snatched away for unbelievably trivial reasons. Parents kill their babies. Brothers murder their brothers. Friends manipulate and sell their friends. Some of us used to go down on the street and cry for justice. Yet, many of us are just busy with daily pressing concerns like works, study and chores. We become numb or blind to the soil that has been painted red by the blood of our brothers and sisters. The life, precious in the eyes of God, turns out to be cheap at the hands of men.
However, few days ago, I was deeply troubled by the news of a young priest brutally murdered. His name is Fr. Mark Ventura, and he was just 37 years old when he was merciless gunned down. His life was taken moments after he celebrated his morning mass in Cagayan, Philippines. He was still inside the small chapel, had given his blessing to children and suddenly, an unidentified man shot him. His advocacy for justice and peace in his place may be the reason why he lived so short.
His death is less dramatic than of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador. The holy bishop was killed right after consecration of the body and blood of Christ, and he fell to the ground, his blood was mingled with the blood of Christ. Another bishop, a Dominican Bishop Pierre Claverie, OP of Oran, Algeria suffered the same fate. The terrorists planted a bomb in his car, and its explosion did not only kill Bishop Pierre, but also his young Muslim friend and driver. In a bloody scene, his flesh was mixed with the flesh of his Muslim friend. Yet, that is beside the point. Witnessing Fr. Mark’s body laying soulless on the ground and soaked with blood, is not only deeply disturbing, but is also deeply hurtful. It is enormously disturbing because it gives us the chilling effect that if these evil men could mercilessly kill a priest, the herald of forgiveness and mercy, now they may kill anyone who stands on their way. Yet, his death is also painful because his death is also our death as the People of God. His white soutane soiled and colored by blood, is our white garment we wore during our baptism. His lifeless hands used to bless the people and consecrate the holy hosts and wine, are also our hands that raise our children and build our society. His silenced mouth used to proclaim the Good News, to forgive sins, and to denounce evil, are also our mouth that receive the Holy Communion and teach wisdom to our children. The murder of Fr. Mark is a murder of a priest, and symbolically it is the killing of all of us, Christians.
The way of the priesthood is what some of us choose, the way that often provides us with earthly comforts, and unexpected bonuses; the way that catapults us from a rug to a rich kid; and the way that showers us with fame, success, and glory. Yet, it is the same way that confronts us with the face of evil; the way that challenges us to be at the side of the victims and to denounce injustice; and the way that gets us persecuted, mocked and killed. The choice is ours. To end my humble reflection, let me quote Archbishop Oscar Romero, “A church that doesn’t provoke any crises, a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed — what gospel is that?”
Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP
If Jesus is a carpenter, why does He speak about the vine in today’s Gospel? Does He have the competency to draw wisdom from a field that is not His expertise? We recall that Jesus grows and lives in Galilee, and in this northern region of Israel, the land is relatively fertile and agricultural industry is thriving. Some archeological findings suggest that in Nazareth, despite being a small village, the community members are engaged in small time farming, grapes press, and winemaking. A young Jesus must have been involved with this farming activities and perhaps even helped in a nearby vineyard. Thus, Jesus does not hesitate to teach wisdom using the imageries coming from the agricultural settings, like parables related to the vineyard (Mat 20:1-16), planting seeds (Mat 13:1-9), wheat and weed (Mat 13:24-30), and harvest (Mat 9:35).
As early as chapter 3 of the Gospel of John, Jesus is aware that he is going to suffer and die on the cross. The crucifixion is the worst kind of punishment in the ancient time. It is reserved for the rebels and foulest criminals. For the Jews, death on the tree is considered accursed by God Himself (Deu 21:22-23). By dying on the cross, Jesus may be seen by Jewish contemporaries as an evil criminal, a great dishonor to the family and the nation, and an accursed by God.