Follow Jesus as Mary...

First Profession of 7 Marist Brothers - May 22, 2017

 Brothers, you have chosen well the three readings – first from the Book of Jeremiah to remind you and all of us here that our call is from our God. We do NOT merit to be chosen and be sent… Like Jeremiah, believe that you have been chosen, formed you from our mothers’ wombs. The gift of the ministry of teaching is akin to the gift of prophecy – you are set over nations and kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant…

There are marks that the readings tell that should describe your ministry of teaching.. First is LOVE! John emphatically tells us that everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.  And if we love one another God is in us.

In a similar vein, the gospel (John 15) gives us the parable of the vine and the branches.  Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.  So long as we remain attach to the Vine… we live, grow and bear fruit in plenty – because God remain in us.  For detach from the vine, the branches wither and die!

You are NOT slaves… but Jesus calls you friends; he has chosen you; and appointed you to teach in his name! Here I borrow the three formula used for the Office of the Lector which are also very appropriate for the ministry of teaching –

·      BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU TEACH;

·      TEACH WHAT YOU BELIEVE; AND

·      DO WHAT YOU TEACH.

Last Friday, at the despedida dinner for Bro. Wency and for the 7 of you, I noticed a slogan at your Bulletin Board which I find very appropriate in the discharge of your call as MINISTERS of teaching – “Follow Jesus as Mary…”

Yes, we follow Jesus as Mary did…

·      At the annunciation of the birth of the Lord, Mary trusted God and she said yes albeit all her fears;

·      At his birth, Mary wrapped her child I swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger and without understanding she stored and treasured all in her heart;

·      Similarly at the Presentation of Jesus in the temple, when Jesus was lost and found and told her about the hour and his Father’s business – she, trusting in God, treasured all these things in her heart;

·      At the beginning of her son’s ministry at Cana, she instructed the stewards to do what her son would tell them;

·      At Jesus’s public ministry, Mary was there following Jesus, silently and at a distance;

·      At the station of the Cross she followed him – all the way and she stood there at the foot of the cross;

·      Then at Jesus’ death, she was there and they laid him once again in her arm!

Brothers, YES, follow Jesus as Mary, our Blessed Mother, DID…! 

(Jun Mercado, OMI)

The 7 New Marist Brothers

Br. Gerry Daulog, FMS

Br. Jayjay Escuadro, FMS

Br. Abraham Kang Min-woo, FMS

Br. Kevin Anthony Legara, FMS

Br. Denxel Regi Natartez, FMS

Br. Roxan Paje, FMS

Br. Romar Rano, FMS