Jn 16:12–15
I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the whole truth. For he will not speak of his own authority, but will speak what he hears, and he will tell you about the things which are to come. He will take what is mine and make it known to you; in doing this, he will glorify me. All that the Father has is mine; for this reason, I told you that the Spirit will take what is mine, and make it known to you.
REFLECTION
In one of my visits to the Philippines, I could not find Christ’s statue with brown complexion, not with the “mestizo” or European face. This fascination with something foreign goes back to colonization when the value of what is local, such as goods, spirituality and personal looks, was not encouraged. Imported goods are more saleable, “white” complexion is beautiful than brown, and religiosity is mixed with superstitions. Literally, we are worshipping “an Unknown God.” Christology had no relevance with native culture. “It was largely colonization and evangelization in tandem that brought and propagated the western understanding of Jesus in Asia.” (Jose de Mesa) This “helicopter Christology” “makes such a lot of missiological noise … that people around it are prevented from hearing the voice and seeing the vision of the descending divinity.” (Stanley J. Samartha)
When we sincerely help both the “haves” into transforming their apathy to empathy and the “have-nots“ into emerging from poverty to prosperity, God’s face becomes visible. “If one accepts that our troubles fall within the providence of God, one is more likely to see them as potentially beneficial and not necessarily destructive.” (M. Casey) God’s face continuously appears when this love shines out.
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