BRO. RAY JOHN L.

CACATIAN

Activities for the month of August:

1. The usual office works

2. Attended the Signing of MOA between IFI and MISFI in Kidapawan City
3. Accompanied Teachers of CLANS in filing a complaint agaisnt AFP personels who
threatened their safety at Malapatan Sarangani Province.
4. Attended the forum/dialogue of the Lumads with US Diplomats from San Francisco
City County Board of Supervisors
5. Accompanied “People” in their rally during the Court Hearing to suspend the
Environmental Code of South Cotabato
6. Celebrated the Liturgy of the Word in the Parish of Lambayong

Reflection

The church has long been criticized by many because of her boldness in criticizing
the social issues of the society. Many believed that the church and “church people” should
stay within the four corners of the church building and do what it does best – preaching the
word of God, sacraments, and other “church things.” Of course, we all know the mandate of
the church is not only limited to that.
This boldness in criticizing societal issues is what we called Prophetic Ministry. This
type of ministry is associated with the church’s mission outside its walls. The basic word for
that is Diakonia or “mission.” This word has various definitions and a “pluriverse” of models,
understanding, and patterns but is, at its most basic, focused on the people and life outside
of the congregation of the church. This focus is on the whole human condition - spiritual,
emotional, and physical - and has a strong connection with “justice.” In theological circles,
the mission of the church in regard to social justice remains a subject of debate because
some would think that the church should focused within the congregation of the church and
not elsewhere. So therefore, in practice, this kind of mission has become neglected and
many of the churches are increasingly absent from the public sphere because the church has
developed an ecclesiology that is inward-focused thus continues to embrace poorly
contextualized and narrow approaches to mission. It has come to feel pessimistic and
powerless in the face of society’s problems and it now expects government to address more
of the non-spiritual needs of society.
 In the country, one of the most active in this kind of ministry is the IFI church.
According to her Statement on Missions the IFI is “missionary in character” by virtue of her
“calling” and “sending” because she is being called by God to be His people and is also sent.
Therefore, the IFI’s mission is primarily incarnational or to be with the people. With that
being said, I, as a member of the church and hopefully a future minister of the church,
should also bear this characteristic.
I should always bear in mind that my work in the church is not only limited in
performing the sacraments. My work should not only be limited within the church but also
outside. Part of my responsibility is to denounce injustices in the society and to be with
people in the face of hardships and oppressions.
The people in the fullest sense are my ministry. They are what God has called me to
do in service in his Kingdom. They are how I serve God. I will use all the strength God gives
me to help them in any ways I can.
Though honestly speaking, I don't know if I can do all these things very adequately as
a minister or as a priest. But these are my ideals. And my prayer is that as I serve God He will
enable me by His strength and lead me by His wisdom to nurture the call of His people for
justice, freedom, and equality, that also in some small way I may, by God’s grace, help fan
into flame that spark that God has planted in them in calling them also into His service.