B: 14th Sun of OrdTime (8 July 2018) - A BROTHERHOOD CALLED "KAMPIHAN" - Mk 6:1-6

Jesus states in our gospel, “A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house” (Mk 6:4). Jesus appears to be recalling here a popular saying that may be a reference to the persecution of the prophets in the Old Testament (e.g., Elijah in 1 Kg 19:12, Elisha 2 Kg 6:32, Jeremiah in Jer 38:4, etc.). Furthermore, Jesus may still have the fresh memories of the execution of John the Baptist since a few verses later (vv. 14-16) the people who heard about the deeds of Jesus will identify him as the resurrected Baptizer whom Herod had beheaded earlier.

Conclusively, Jesus is right to say that a prophet is not accepted among his countrymen for the main reason that his/her prophetic ministry counters their group-centered mentality (see also Mt 23:31,37). The latter would probably be arguing: “If a prophet is really a native, he/she should not speak against the current ways of his/her own land”. Accordingly, if Jesus is a true Galilean, he should not be lambasting his fellow Galileans in his speeches, instead, he should be protecting and defending them… even if they are on the wrong side!

However, this expectation is never the case in Jesus’ personality and actions. He continues to be counter-cultural. His principles and teachings are not altered even in front of his acquaintance, disciples, and even relatives. On matters that concern the Kingdom of God, he always speaks the hard truth, with no respect of the feelings and sentiments that will be hurt. His words are always a double-edged sword, wounding the wicked fatally yet piercing incisively their very hearts toward repentance. And his listeners should not be too sensitive to equate his approach as an attack to the unity of their group, rather it should be taken as a genuine concern for their salvific welfare.

This reaction of Jesus’ compatriots is never far from our present reality. The basic tendency of ethnic/national groups nowadays is to protect their own members at all cost, even if they are morally offensive. We admire this sense of brotherhood, but we need condemn this very principle especially when evil deeds are justified and condoned in the process. A true Christian will stand against the wrong regardless if this is done by a kin or by a stranger.

The recent “basketbrawl” in the FIBA Asia Qualifier is one indication of this “kampihan” (group-centered) dynamics perpetuating the rhetoric: “When my brother is aggravated, I have to protect him at all cost even it would mean losing my cool too”. Indeed, the brotherhood aspect to this is laudable, but it does not give us license to hurt the other nor to abandon our class. The few personalities who point out the Smart Gilas players’ lack of tact are bashed in social media, accusing them of not caring for the Filipinos and for not bannering our national pride against bullying whites. They are simply acting as prophets, yet they are disowned by their compatriots.

Truly, a prophet can never be accepted by his own townmates especially when they witness to the bitter truth. The “basketbrawl” is just a symptom of an even greater disease the Filipino nation suffers at the moment, i.e., blind supporting. The same dynamics is seen in politics when Mr. Duterte continues to enjoy huge public support since most of them would reason out: “Because I voted for him, I should defend him at all cost… even if he falters”. How many times do we see his administration falters? How many killings are occurring on a daily basis (two town mayors were gunned down in a span of 48 hours this week) and not one of them is even resolved? Sadly, all those who speak against him are tagged us unsupportive of change, numb to the reality of progress, and insensitive to the sentiments of the Filipino public.

Still, the “Kampihan” brotherhood is at work. Anyone outside the bandwagon is an enemy. So let it be… as long as the bold few are true to the missionary call of being prophets. They just find comfort in the words of St. Paul in our Second Reading: “I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong” (2 Cor 12:10).

May the few prophets among us remain strong…

- Rex Fortes, CM