B: 5th Sun of Lent (18 Mar 2018) - PHILIPPINES - Jn 12:20-30

Our gospel begins with a description that there are some Greeks who came to Philip seeking for an audience with Jesus. The Greek word used for this people is "Hellenes". But since its only other appearance in the gospels is in Jn 7:35 where it is a reference to those in the Diaspora, scholars are divided on its meaning in Jn 12:20: Are they full-blooded Greeks, Greek-speaking Jews, or a catchword for the Gentiles?

Despite the impasse of its rightful meaning, all seem one in saying that they are outsiders of the Jewish society in Jerusalem, who initially came to the temple to worship at the festival. However, it is not remote that they might have also heard of the latest news in town that Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the dead (11:44) which created a huge buzz among the crowds (12:9, 17), and that he was triumphantly welcomed to Jerusalem being acclaimed as "the one who comes in the name of the Lord-the King of Israel!" (12:13). The Greeks might have sought Jesus' audience (v. 21) to validate the news, or possibly, to give him reverence since the verses thereafter deal on Jesus' glorification (v. 23) and on rendering him service (v. 26). If this explanation proves to be successful, this becomes an insightful progress in the Gospel of John: whereas the outsiders would discover the truth in Jesus and believe in him, the insiders (his compatriots) would not; rather, they are the ones who would demand Pilate for his crucifixion (cf. Jn 19:6, 15).

The international community was instantly alarmed over the War on Drugs of the Duterte Administration when unaccounted killings had grown in number on a day-to-day basis. With a concern for the protection of the sanctity of human life and the rights of everyone for the due process of law, international figures and human rights advocates came into the country to raise this pressing concern and to validate the allegations. Instead of cooperating, the president just declared the immediate withdrawal of the Philippines from its membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC); his main reason being: he was already prejudged as guilty of crimes against humanity even before formal investigations. With this action, our president cries "foul".

This is a funny sequence since this is the very same cry the families of those killed in the War on Drugs repeatedly uttered but ending only to deaf ears: "foul play!" Accordingly, it is good to refresh our memories: isn't this the same prejudgment that the president impressed on the police… that all suspected drug dealers and addicts would be apprehended even if their drug-involvement is based on unqualified hearsays or from a master list made by an all-knowing-barangay-captain? Recently, to iron out this questionable gag order, he mockingly twisted the law by giving the police the power to issue subpoena; now, it is the police who will be all-knowing!

What just transpired these past two weeks is a slap to the face of the Filipinos, inferring that their basic rights could easily be surrendered. The irony is that it took several outsiders, those living outside of the Philippines, to recognize that the human life, legal rights, and moral integrity of its citizens are sacred. Meanwhile, we Filipinos are not bothered at all. Instead, we shrugged with a unison rebuttal: let the president decide, entrust him with the car keys… even if we know that it is running towards the opposite direction of perdition!

Later in the narrative, Jesus introduced himself: "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (Jn 14:6). Here, he is showing his disciples how to avoid perdition. But, Philip, an insider in Jesus' circle, was still clueless, so he asked Jesus to show them the Father (cf. Jn 14:8). Earlier, we encountered the same apostle as not knowing what to answer to the Greeks who approached him; he washed out his involvement by calling on Andrew and later asking Jesus (cf. Jn 12:20-22). Overall, Jesus reprimands him, saying, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?" (Jn 14:9).

We have already been reminded for the past two years to raise our objections against the War on Drugs. Yet, we remain mum, numb, incredulous and indifferent… very much like Philip despite the many external voices.

I think this may be the best explanation why our country is named "PHILIP pines!" [N. B. "to pine" = "to suffer a physical and mental decline"]

- Rex Fortes, CM