On The Feast of Alphonsus

Friday – August 1

                Selamat Pesta Santo Alfonsus, Pendiri Kongregasi Redemtoris!

                Salam dari Kota Waingapu!

Photo taken from the CSsR Community overlooking the sea.
@ Pendedita, Waingapu, Sumba Timur

                Today, every Redemptorist celebrates the feast of the founder St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. It was through him and through his inspiration that this big family today was founded and continues to proclaim the Gospel to the poor and the most abandoned in 78 countries. The spirit of St. Alphonsus is being upheld by the congregation that the members will become true witnesses and ministers of God’s plentiful redemption.

                Truly, Jesus, the Most Holy Redeemer who is the very inspiration of Alphonsus has gracefully inspired the Redemptorists throughout the world. Indeed, it is the very mission of the whole congregation to be able to bring Jesus’ plentiful redemption to every woman and man, to every culture and race.

                As a young Redemptorist it is a call and a great challenge as well to imbibe this character. Nevertheless, it is not possible by my own effort and initiative alone. God’s grace is an important element in imbibing this character of being a witness and minister of God’s plentiful redemption. It is by being flexible and open to the workings of the Holy Spirit. The inspiration from the Spirit is the kernel of every vocation, hence, a prayerful and discerning heart must also be developed through constant prayer - as it is the tradition of the congregation. Moreover, the Spirit would always lead a Redemptorist to be in constant contact with the people particularly the poor and the most abandoned. It is through these people and with these people that a Redemptorist will be able to experience as well God’s love, generosity, mercy and compassion to His people.

                And it would be very noble to remember that it was through the experience and constant relationship of Alphonsus with the poor and the abandoned that he was able to see himself before God and thus made his heart available for the Lord and His people. It was through Alphonsus’ experience with the abandoned people of Naples and Scala that he was able to hear God’s voice in the deepest of his heart. And Alphonsus’ experience of God among the people was very much evident particularly in his writings as he was able to write 111 books. These books include his treatises on moral theology, the Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ, The Glories of Mary, and Preparation for Death, and various novena to the Incarnation, Holy Spirit, Paschal Mystery and many others. As well as his passion in preaching that even the simple people could comprehend the message without any difficulty. Also was Alphonsus’ compassionate approach in the confessional that drove multitude of people to seek God’s forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

                And now as I live among my confreres in Indonesia and among the people of Sumba, I see it as an opportunity for me to have a greater experience of God through the Sumbanese experience of God in the context of their own story and culture. This is an opportunity, indeed, to allow myself to be open with the Sumbanese’s experience of God as Alphonsus was led by the poor and abandoned in Naples and Scala to recognize God’s compassion and mercy for all.

                Consequently, to be open with the people’s stories, culture, belief and situation means to lay down any baggage that I have that may hinder me from being open and non-assuming. This also includes my own cultural baggage, the tendency to compare my own culture with the local culture. As well as my tendency to seek comforts rather than taking what is most demanding. Certainly, these few examples can be a hindrance to fully immerse myself with the people and a true dialogue with their own story, culture and experience of God would be demeaned.

                Yet, with hopefulness on this feast day of St. Alphonsus, I ask his intercession that this opportunity of mine would be meaningful and wonderful as well as reflective and discerning in the hope that I may truly discover and recognize the face of God experienced by the Sumbanese people. And also that the passion of Alphonsus for the people may always be imprinted in my identity as a person and as young Redemptorist through this opportunity of being among the people of Sumba.