A: 12th Sun of OrdTime (25 June 2017) - TWO WORLDS: HEAVEN AND EARTH - Mt 10:26-33

The great Greek philosopher Plato argues that there are two worlds that are existing simultaneously with each other: the World of Ideas and the World of Senses. The former refers to the perfect intelligible world somewhere beyond us, but its reflection is perceived in the latter where man dwells. Early Fathers of the Church interpret these two worlds allegorically and theologically to refer to heaven and earth, where heaven is the world of perfection while earth as a mere imaginary world of transition.

In our gospel today when inaugurating his newly formed disciples into the ministry, Jesus is presenting these two worlds in a subtle way. When he encourages them to proclaim the gospels in the open amidst probable persecution, he was insinuating the idea of a parallel event that is to happen in heaven: “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven (Mt 10:32-33).” Very clear herein is the idea that all our actions here on earth will be repeated in heaven: if we are proud of God, He will do likewise to us in heaven; but if we are ashamed of Him, He will banish us too from His glorious dwelling. The only difference is that the things that are to happen on earth are transitional, while those in heaven are permanent and everlasting. Obviously, it is heaven that we envision since it is the one that will define our lasting fate.

The main obstacle to this is that we are swayed to believe that it is the material world that only exists and is the one important thing. We go where the tide flows: fashion trends, consumerist lifestyle, skyrocketing career and social status, and even populist political choice. Our basic principle has become: what the public decides to be true and important is true and important. We then lose sight of the true abode, whose values we are supposed to mirror on earth.

Populism has been the face of Philippine Politics for decades since after EDSA. Popularity rates matter; surveys quintessential. The more famous candidate usually gets the votes and all elected presidents have enjoyed high satisfaction rates from the public’s view for the first 2 ½ years. I think that it is more of a testament to the general Filipino attribute of “positive spirit” and “optimism to a new start” than a tribute to the leaders’ greatness. Such trait is laudable but do we merely stay on this populist discourse to the point of univocally sacralizing the axiom: "vox populi, vox Dei" (“voice of people [is] voice of God”)?

Jesus in our Gospel now directs our eyes to the perfect world beyond this transitional world. Twice herein Jesus used the expression “Father in heaven.” This idea is found 22x in Matthew while appearing only 13x in the other gospels combined. Further, the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is solely Matthew’s, occurring 32x therein. As we read then today’s Gospel from Matthew, we are reminded to put value on the Father’s kingdom in heaven more than anything else. It is because the true eternal "vox Dei" is to be found "non in terra sed in caelo est" (“is not on earth but in heaven").

- Rex F. Fortes, CM

I see this article as fitting here: http://opinion.inquirer.net/105035/change-came-2010-16