The Most Rev. Broderick Pabillo, D.D., the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Manila, spoke to the Association of Major Religious Superiors of Men in the Philippines (AMRSMP) during the second day of its 2018 Convention on July 27-31 regarding the topic on Servant Leadership in the Scriptures. Part of his talk was about the Biblical Images of Leadership. Among the several images, he spoke of three – Servant, Steward and Shepherd.
The beginning letter S in each biblical image of leadership readily catches my attention. Aside from the three Ss being attached after the names of the Sacramentinos, which means Societas Sanctissimi Sacramenti, I am also fond of looking for useful words for the acronym SSS to inspire the religious of the Province to deepen their commitment to our vowed life as sons of Fr. Eymard.
For the past four years or thereabouts, the more frequent words that I associate with SSS are Surrender, Sacrifice and Service. I thought of these from my reflection of Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians 2:5-8: Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.
Going back to Bishop Pabillo’s presentation, he gave scriptural passages for the three biblical images of leadership that starts with the letter S. He began with the image of Servant. This word connotes service, support and empowerment (Lk. 22:24-27 and Mt. 20:20-28). It also speaks about the “no self-importance of a servant” (Lk. 17:9-10). From the Old Testament there was the example of the prophet Nehemiah who did not get his allowance as governor so as not to be a burden to the people. At his own expense he provided for the needs of his officials (Neh. 5:18).
The second image is Steward. It implies trustworthiness, being responsible and being accountable. For anyone who is in charge he has this to say: Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives (Lk. 12:42-43). From the Old Testament, there was Abraham who manifested good stewardship by giving a tenth of all he got from defeating the four kings of Canaan. He gave it to Melchizedek because he is recognized as a priest of God Most High (Gen 14, 18-20). Abraham did not take anything from the ransom and gave back all to the king of Sodom except what is due to his men. (Gen 14, 21-24). Another Old Testament figure was Joseph, the Prince of Egypt, who managed well the supplies of Egypt so that all survived the famine. Joseph said to his brothers at the death of Jacob: Do not be afraid; is it for me to put myself in God’s place? The evil you planned to do me has by God’s design been turned to good, to bring about the present result: the survival of numerous people. So, no need to be afraid; I shall provide for you and your dependants (Gen. 50, 19-20). On the other hand, Saul persecuted David because he saw David as a rival in the kingship. He wants the kingship to his own family (1 Sam 20, 24-34). He even conjured the soul of Samuel because he was not able to accept that God has rejected him as king (1 Sam 18, 15-19). Moreover, in the New Testament, the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Mt. 21:33-43) is a good example of the challenge posed by stewardship. They are wicked tenants because they did not want to give the owner his portion of the harvest. Also, because they want to own what is not theirs by killing the son.
The third image is Shepherd, which indicates caring, being courageous and guiding. Very familiar texts are Psalms 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd, and Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10:11 – The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Another on this is when Jesus commissions Peter to feed the flock in John 21:15-17: When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, Simon son of John, do you love me? Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him,” Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” In the first letter of Peter, he exhorts: Be shepherds … tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it — not for sordid gain but eagerly. Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock (1 Peter 5:2). Paul has also this to say: To the weak, I made myself weak, to win the weak. I accommodated myself to people in all kinds of different situations, so that by all possible means I might bring some to salvation” (1 Cor 9, 22-23). Moreover, the story of Esther from the Old Testament is another good example. Esther was ready to suffer the ire of the king and even be killed by going to the king without being summoned. She risked this for the sake of her own people. She expressed this in her prayer (Esther 4, 17).
Three years before his death, St. Peter Julian Eymard meditated on the Love of God for fallen man, and on the Gift of Incarnation.
Oh! If man only knew what is the Incarna-tion and how much God loves him! What God does for him: The Father who gives him His Word; the Word who gives Himself to him, unto Calvary and the Eucharist; the Holy Spirit who makes the Word incarnate in Mary, present on the altar through the priest, and makes Him live in every man! But who thinks of all these marvels of God’s love for man? Who meditates on them? Who adores them? Who glorifies them? Who loves the Word Incarnate? Alas! Our Lord is not known, is not preached, even by priests! He is not loved even by His own! Love is not an act of zeal, an isolated act of virtue; love is a life – just as it was the human and divine life of Jesus Christ. But should we not have both contemplatives and apostles in the Society, both adorers and firebrands since our Lord wants this eucharistic fire to set the world ablaze? Who better than religious of the Most Blessed Sacrament can and should spread it everywhere and make our Lord known, loved and adored everywhere? We are not doing enough for Him. Who knows but that our Lord might want these two arms, these two flames, one to rise like fire towards the divine Host and the other to rise and spread out like the rays of the sun! (March 25, 1865 – Great Retreat of Rome)
Such is the mind and the heart of Fr. Eymard, who followed the inspiration towards the Eucharistic path. He succeeded in reaching that pinnacle of his heart’s desire to have known the love of God in Jesus-Hostia, a lover and adorer of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and a zealous promoter of the Eucharist. He died 150 years ago (August 1, 1868), fully consumed by the Eucharist. May Fr. Eymard intercede for us to reach that same end, as adorer and firebrand of Jesus Christ.
Fr. Rey Capili, sss
“Wait- A Holy Calling”
Rev. Noman Anwar E. Nasser, SSS
Yes, indeed, for me this waiting is a Holy Calling. A Summon from Him. For the past 15 years of seminary formation this is one of the many invitations from God. Starting from an early formation with the SVDs, I was formed to have that missionary spirit, to be always ready to be in the mission. If I may borrow the words of Pope Francis: “to go down to the peripheries.” This “waiting” is a mission that God has entrusted to me. During the four years of being in a diocesan setting, the Diocese Bangued, Abra, the call to wait brought me to a deeper realization that living simple is an essential element to one’s vocation, to one’s formation – that one could not even persevere truly if one does not even have a heart for our mother earth. To wait is to be connected to the environment like what the document Laudato Si is reminding us.
From 2011-2018 this Holy Calling of Waiting have brought me to a bigger scenario that indeed Formation is a lifelong process. Formation does not end, not even after Perpetual Profession nor Ordination at all. But rather a good start to live out the many years of formation, studies, exposures, to be an integrated religious, priest, missionary, and as a person. To be an Authentic Witnesses of God’s Eucharistic Love to all. Mga ‘Mabubuting Pastol’ na may Totoong Malasakit sa mga Tupa.
Grace – All by God’s Grace. That’s the best ingredient in order to be able to hold on to that “Holy Call of Waiting.” It’s not about how long already or not even how short the formation is. It is not even how pious one is or how one follows the formation rules. It’s not even on how much one has contributed or donated; not even on the academic performance or looks. But it is all based on the qualification of God. It is based on His Divine Will. It is God’s initiative, His desire that that particular religious, seminarian be admitted to perpetual profession or be ordained. The words of the Ordaining Prelate remind us, “…we rely on the help of the Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ… .”
Yes, one has to follow, to obey formation aspects such as Academics, Apostolate, Community, Spiritual and other essential elements for one to be formed. But everything is nothing if one does not recognize that all is by God’s Grace and Love. We are summoned; we are called to respond to His Call. To be a religious is to have that humbling attitude daily to God, to the Community, to the Church, recognizing that we are nothing without them. Humility is the Road to Holiness! That is our first calling: “Be Holy as your Father is Holy.”
Installation to Lectorate
In the seminary we have different stages that a seminarian should undergo. When a seminarian starts his theology, he is to be accepted as candidate to priesthood. This is a stage or step that a seminarian receives as to show that now he is getting closer to priesthood or of becoming a priest. During the later stages of his formation he will also be installed in different ministries. Here at the Eymard Formation Center, when a seminarian reaches his second year of theology studies he is installed in these different ministries to prepare him for his pastoral internship that takes place before taking up his third year of theology studies. Those different ministries are lector and acolyte
Last July 29, 2018, three students were installed in the ministry of Lectors. They are: Br. Renier, a Diocesan Seminarian; Br. Jay and Br. Jessie, both Sacramentino Seminarians. The installation took place at the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, Eymard Formation Center by the Provincial Vicar/Director of Scholastics Fr. Reynaldo R. Capili, SSS. It was a grace-filled event where vocation to serve in the Altar is highlighted, knowing that one has achieved a certain step towards the life of priesthood. A lector is someone who is made an official proclaimer of God’s word. The church entrusts to them to proclaim the word of God with love, sincerity, and devotion.
Fr. Alde, sss