Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,"John has been raised from the dead": others were saying, Elijah has appeared": still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.
The Word in other words
When I opted to be a volunteer missionary in Liberia, West Africa, I needed to undergo a lot of preparation besides the mandatory vaccination against yellow fever. First is emotional preparation because I would be working for the refugees and internally displaced people; second, physical preparation because I would be helping rebuild a community and that would require travelling even into the heart of the jungle; and third, spiritual preparation because I would be dealing with wounded people and victims of war.
Reaching my designated area of arrival, I was surprised to see the ravages brought about by the war. There was no electricity, there was scarcity of food in the market, no drinking water was available, no infrastructure was standing and, on a positive note, the presence of different non-governmental organizations doing their respective social services was visible. As a JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service) volunteer, I brought with me the vision-mission of the group.
In the first reading, the Lord reminded his people through he prophet Haggai about their responsibility. The forgot the graces they received from the Lord. They became complacent about their relationship with God because they had whatever they needed. Despite all the abundance that life could offer, they were not contented at all. There was still a vacuum: though they had their fill, they were not satisfied; though they worked hard, nothing was enough for them because they took the essentials for granted.
The people of Voinjama, Liberia may have been victims of war and conflict, but they have shown their inner strength to face the challenges ahead of them as they started to rebuild their own lives and the community that was once full of life. Yes, they have little to go by materially but they have what they needed in order to survive, and that is their strong faith in a loving and merciful God.
- Fr. Jun Perez, SVD (Ansan, South Korea)
