“BECs in Synodality with Basic Human Communities”
I welcome you all with joy and affection to this gathering of BEC ministers, facilitators, and organizers. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrate today, is the most fitting image for this occasion. The exposed, flaming Heart of Jesus is the visible manifestation of the Trinitarian love. Indeed, God loves humanity so much that He gave us His only Son to reveal to us the God who is love.God does not live in solitude. He is a community of persons, eternally giving and receiving. The Sacred Heart of a Jesus is a powerful reminder to us that God does not just have a heart. He is the Heart of all hearts. According to Pope Benedict XVI, “God is wholly and only love, the purest, infinite and eternal love.”
Our Basic Ecclesial Communities are living reflections and mirrors of the Love in the Trinity. You may very well know that this is the reason why the CBCP declared that in the Philippines, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity is also Basic Ecclesial Community Sunday. Dear friends in the BEC ministry, we are counting on you to always embody the love of God in your families and neighborhoods. You are the frontliners of Divine Love. This must always be seen in the way you relate with one another and with others who may not share the same faith tradition as ours.
Your theme, “BECs in Synodality with Basic Human Communities”, is a good starting point for this “missio Dei”, the mission of the Trinity to infuse and transform everything human with His faithful and merciful love. Ang pagsasabuhay natin ng pag-ibig ng Diyos ang pinakamahalagang hakbang para sa pagbubuo ng isang pamilya o pamayanan. Ang ating “ecclesial community” ay kailangang nakaugat at nakalapat sa “human community”. Ang isang pamayanang Kristiyano ay magiging totoo lamang sa kaniyang kasinuhan at misyon kung ito’y makatao at marunong makipagkapwa-tao. Kailangang Makita muna sa ating mga BEC ang katangian ng isang buo at tunay na pamayanan ng tao, kung gusto nating maipakita sa lahat ang kagandahan ng buhay Kristiyano. Ang “basic” sa Basic Ecclesial Community ay hindi lamang sa dahil ito ay maliit o munti. Ang “basic” sa Basic Ecclesial Community ay tungkol din sa mga basehang pagpapahalaga na nagbubuklod sa ating mga tao. Nakita natin ito sa sinulat ni Pope Francis na “Fratelli Tutti”. Ito’y tungkol sa “fraternity” at “social friendship”. Ano ba ang “fraternity”? Ano ba ang “social friendship”? Ito’y mga salita at konseptong nagsasabi sa ating simulan nating lagi ang ating BEC sa pag kilala sa kapwa at pakikipagkapwa. Kapag wala ang kapwa-tao at pakikipag kapwa-tao sa ating mga BEC, hindi na ito magiging “basic” at mas lalong hindi na ito “ecclesial community”.
Salamat sa inyong pagdating sa pagtitipong ito. Salamat din sa mga nag-organisa at nagplano upang maisakatuparan ito. Kay Fr. Benjie Ledesma at sa kaniyang mga kasamang lingkod. Ako’y kaisa ninyo sa paghahangad na mapagningas pa natin ang apoy ng pagmamahalan at pagdadamayan sa ating mga munting pamayanang Kristiyano. (Screenshot from BEC Assembly Livestreaming)