“CAN you by worrying about yourself, change the person you really are? Does your anxious thought help to pay bills, does it make your work succeed, does it reap the harvest or fill the barn? You are a spiritual being, and your life is lived from within out. Relax and let go, and let life fulfill itself in you and as you.” — Eric Butterworth, “Discover the Power Within You: A Guide to the Unexplored Depths Within”, 1989.
Have you seen folks flock to greet their former pastor? Well, I did! Fr. Rodel was described by one of his former parishioners, Noel, as a magnet, a glue of some sorts, who unified the parishioners of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in East Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
For me, Fr. Rodel is a visionary pastor, whose holiness is reflected in moral alignment: his faith-based demeanor fueled by positive enthusiasm, openness to cultures, joy and a deep sense of empathy and love for all peoples. He empathizes with Latinos, speaks their language and immerses in their cultures. He does the same with Filipinos and Jews.
On night two of Simbang Gabi, he was invited to be the principal celebrant, and he concelebrated it with Fr. Alex Aclan and Fr. Paolo del Carmen, while Brother Josh Diener helped out.
Fr. Rodel’s homily was both in English and Tagalog, showing his desire to address the English-speakers in the parish, as well as those who spoke Tagalog.
He started a conversation with a grandma, a lola, in Tagalog. He asked her where she is from to which she said, Davao. He answered, “Ah, Duterte’s province.” Then, she asked him the same question, and he answered, “Pampanga.” “Ah, so related to Gloria Macapagal.” Then, she asked “what is your surname?” Fr. Rodel answered, “Balagtas.” “Do you know the pastor Balagtas who was always fundraising to the point that he was labeled — ‘mukhang-pera?” Then, she said, “Ang ganda-ganda po ng simbahan.” (The church is really a beautiful structure). Now, Fr. Rodel fessed up – “Ako po iyon.” She is surprised, “How come you are now bald?” He says, “Di bale po, gwapo pa rin.” (Still handsome). The parishioners all laughed.
That was enough to wake us all up, some half-sleep. This was 5 a.m. mass in East Hollywood and the parking lots were full with no spaces to spare, even for the former pastor. (In the past, visiting priests had reserved parking spots). Heavy rain and cold wind were not enough to deter any of these parishioners from coming.
“We read about Jesus’s genealogy, the bloodline of his ancestors. Why did we read about this,” he asked?
It was written to prove to folks then that Jesus is the Messiah, the true one who came from the lineage of David and Abraham, a necessary, vital family line, during Jesus’ time.
“What else could be the reason,” he asked? He is preaching to a rapt audience who wants to hang onto every word he uttered.
“What are the motives?” He helps us out, “to discover that Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life. We need to display the flag of being a Christian nowadays. There are many problems in the world today, but we are, after all, siblings and family members of Jesus Christ, by virtue of water of baptism and the Holy Spirit,” he said.
Then, he asked, “who is watching GMA’s AlDub?” This is the teleserye that has caught the national imagination of Filipinos in the Philippines, whose one episode attracted over 10,000 in one venue. You remember that one said, “Tamang Panahon, “ he asked. Just like that “tamang panahon (appropriate time),” we too need to share and to express to others we are Christians.”
“That story of Jesus is our story, our stories are stories of God,” he had us call to mind what Fr. Randy Odchigue once said in his homily, and Fr. Rodel continues, “We need to discover we are siblings, relatives of Jesus Christ, whether we have sharp or flat noses.”
Now, in a collective call for critiques – he asked, “Is this happening? Is this what we are, true Christians? Do we know how to love, do we know how to forgive, do we know how to unite? This is the challenge of every parish, of every community, of every nation. For 12 years, we are together. To me, this parish is special. Kahit magmukha akong pera (even if I am accused as concerned about funds), I hope we became one true family in discovering our faith, the genealogy of Jesus, that we are one in Baptism, we are a family, cultivating this unity amongst all of us.”
He was on a roll and the audience was wrapped up in all his words: “Are we discovering the mercy of God — that in our brokenness, in our human imperfections, Jesus became part of us. Tamar – was a prostitute, a deceiver, a liar, she dressed up as a harlot, she wanted to have a child of Judah and she bore twin sons, Perez and Zerah, and she did that as a result of deception. Rahab, the mother of Boaz by Salmon was another harlot in Jericho. King David was a wife-stealer. He had Uriah, the Hittite, killed to take Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba for himself.”
He continued, “Jesus did not come to a perfect family, he was born into a lineage of thieves, prostitutes, liars. This is the year of mercy, we are called to “Be Merciful as your Father is,” there’s so much hatred in the world, people destroying each other — it is the year to be merciful as the Father is. The second discovery is truth, the person of Jesus Christ – Raise the flag of Christianity. Misericordes sicut pater! It is the right time and the right moment to show that we deserve a good pastor, that we behave as children of God, a family, that God’s mercy is on us and we need to be merciful towards one another. Simbang Gabi is about Emmanuel, God is here.”
Then, he closes with:
Simbang Gabi/hindi simbang tabi/hindi simbang landi/hindi simbang tulog/hindi porma porma lang sa tabi. (Simbang Gabi is not to be on the margins, it is not to flirt, it is not to sleep, it is not to simply put on the veneer).
With that, the congregation erupted in spontaneous applause. This is a very perceptive and sensitive congregation, they show their appreciation quite spontaneously!
With that, the choir gave us their most beautiful singing, as the day before! It was a special day of worship on the second day of the nine-day novena masses, culminating on Dec. 24 at 5 a.m.
P.S. I stumbled onto this Church about seven years ago. Fr. Rodel welcomed me, as he did, my friends. At one time, Simbang Gabi was a magnet for local press media, consular officials, small business owners, and even Lutherans. Fr. Rodel welcomed all and brought some of his priests/friends from parts of the U.S. and some from the Philippines to give homilies to us during Simbang Gabi. Those were special moments of multicultural faith-based solidarity! We all became spiritual members of one family, the family of Jesus Christ!
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Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz, J.D. writes a weekly column for Asian Journal, called “Rhizomes.” She has been writing for AJ Press for 9 years now. She contributes to Balikbayan Magazine. Her training and experiences are in science, food technology, law and community volunteerism for 4 decades. She holds a B.S. degree from the University of the Philippines, a law degree from Whittier College School of Law in California and a certificate on 21st Century Leadership from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. She has been a participant in NVM Writing Workshops taught by Prof. Peter Bacho for 4 years and Prof. Russell Leong. She has travelled to France, Holland, Belgium, Japan, Mexico and 22 national parks in the US, in pursuit of her love for arts.