A Story of Generosity

17^th Sunday in the Ordinary Time

July 26, 2015

John 6:1-15

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many? (John 6:9)”

The story of the multiplication of the bread is in essence, a heartwarming story of utter generosity. It is not a kind of generosity that is coming from our excess belonging, but that is flowing from our deepest self. There is a huge difference between a millionaire father who gladly bought a latest iPhone series for his young son, and a poor father who happily shares his plate of rice with his little kid. The former gives from excessive abundance, and the later shares his very nourishment and life.

When Jesus posted a tough question on how to feed the multitude, Philip immediately reduced the problem into a financial matter. “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for them.” Yet, Jesus knew well that this is not only about money. Then, when a little boy came with everything he had, two fish and five loaves of bread, it seems that the lad’s effort was going to be futile. However, what Jesus was looking for is not what or how much we give, but ‘who’ we share. The little kid is sharing his very himself and allowed God to take care of the rest. This is the beginning of utter generosity that practically solve the impossible and gives life to others.

Our world today is so filled with poor people and widening gap between the wealthy and the ordinary. Even this inequality is affecting the most progressive countries in the world. Robert Reich, a former Secretary of Labor in Bill Clinton’s administration, mentions in his documentary ‘Inequality for All’ that the cost of living is soaring while the amount of income remain stagnant in past few years. This forces Americans to work harder and harder, having two jobs or even more. Some become unemployed and others go into debt problem. The real issues, however, is not only about wrong economic systems or policies, but goes deeper into the core of human beings. As both Pope Benedict XVI and Francis keep reiterating, the main culprit is greed.

Greed is a sin and just like any sin, it affects anybody, both the rich and the poor. Wealthy yet greedy people can easily exploit the poor through corruption or fraud, and always find a way to manipulate their fellow wealthy men. Greedy poor workers can also oppress their employers by their unjust demands and sometimes violence, and trick their fellow workers through deceit. Greed causes this downward mobility of economy as well as perennial poverty. Jesus is now offering us the remedy: the utter generosity.

It is a kind of generosity that cannot be measured by sum of money, because the gift of self is indeed priceless. In fact, human community is built upon this utter generosity. Marriage is formed when both husband and wife are totally giving themselves to each other. Family is founded when parents share their life for their offspring, and in turn, the kids respect and love their parents. Society is established when each individual lavishly offers their time, effort and resources, in order that everyone may arrive at the common good.

When I just began my journey in the Order of Preachers, the Indonesian Dominicans had no house, no vehicle, no properties, practically nothing. We, in fact, were staying at the diocesan seminary in Borneo, occupying an empty quarter there. Even when things seemed rather bleak and financially challenged, my brother and mentor, Fr. Adrian Adiredjo, OP, told me that ‘money must always be our least concern.’ We must not be tempted to think like Philip, to reduce things into financial problems. I am not perfect and also commit mistakes, but because of generosity of many people, I was able to reach this point. Truly, as I am continually offering myself, my two fish and five bread, to this life and ministry, God provides the rest. There is nothing impossible for our generous God.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP 

Arti Sebuah Kemurahan Hati

Minggu Biasa Ke-17

26 Juli 2015

Yohanes 6: 1-15

“Di sini ada seorang anak, yang mempunyai lima roti jelai dan dua ikan; tetapi apakah artinya itu untuk orang sebanyak ini? (Yohanes 6:9).”

Kisah pelipatgandaan roti dan ikan pada dasarnya adalah kisah sebuah kemurahan hati. Namun, kedermawanan hati ini bukan yang berasal dari kelebihan yang kita milik, tapi yang mengalir dari diri kita yang terdalam. Ada perbedaan besar antara seorang ayah jutawan yang dengan senang hati membeli iPhone model terbaru untuk anaknya, dan seorang ayah miskin yang dengan senang hati berbagi sepiring nasinya dengan anaknya yang masih kecil. Ayah pertama memberikan dari kelimpahan, tetapi ayah kedua membagikan hidupnya.

Ketika Yesus menyodorkan sebuah pertanyaan yang sulit tentang bagaimana memberi makan orang banyak, Filipus dengan segera mereduksi pertanyaan tersebuat menjadi sekedar masalah keuangan. “Roti seharga dua ratus dinar tidak akan cukup untuk mereka ini.” Namun, Yesus tahu benar bahwa ini bukan hanya tentang uang. Kemudian, ketika seorang anak kecil datang dengan segala yang ia miliki, dua ikan dan lima roti, tampaknya upaya sang anak itu akan sia-sia. Namun, apa yang Yesus cari adalah bukan apa atau berapa banyak yang kita berikan, tapi ‘siapa’ kita bagikan. Anak kecil ini memberikan dirinya bagi Allah, dan Iapun mengambil alih yang lainnya. Ini adalah awal dari kemurahan hati yang luar biasa, yang memungkinkan sesuatu yang mustahil dan memberi hidup kepada orang lain.

Dunia kita saat ini begitu penuh dengan orang-orang miskin dan melebarnya kesenjangan antara orang kaya dan yang sederhana. Bahkan ketimpangan ini mempengaruhi negara-negara maju di dunia. Robert Reich, mantan Menteri Tenaga Kerja di pemerintahan Bill Clinton, menyebutkan dalam dokumenternya ‘Inequality for All’ bahwa biaya hidup terus melonjak sedangkan jumlah penghasilan tetap stagnan di beberapa tahun terakhir. Hal ini akan memaksa orang-orang Amerika untuk bekerja lebih keras, memiliki dua pekerjaan atau bahkan lebih. Beberapa menjadi pengangguran dan yang lain terjebak permasalah utang. Permasalahan sebenarnya tidak hanya tentang sistem atau kebijakan ekonomi yang salah, tapi masuk lebih dalam ke hati manusia. Paus Benediktus XVI dan Fransiskus terus menyerukan bahwa penyebab utama adalah adalah keserakahan.

Keserakahan adalah dosa dan seperti dosa yang lain, keserakahan itu mempengaruhi siapa saja, baik orang kaya maupun miskin. Orang yang kaya dan serakah dapat dengan mudah mengeksploitasi orang miskin melalui korupsi atau penipuan, dan selalu menemukan cara untuk memanipulasi rekan kerja mereka yang juga kaya. Pekerja sederhana namun serakah juga bisa menindas para pemilik usaha dengan tuntutan mereka yang tidak adil dan kadang-kadang dengan kekerasan, dan menipu sesama pekerja mereka melalui penipuan. Keserakahan menyebabkan mobilitas menurun ekonomi kita serta kemiskinan yang tidak berkesudahan. Yesus kini menawarkan kita solusinya: kemurahan hati yang total.

Ini adalah kemurahan hati yang tidak dapat diukur dengan uang, karena karunia diri memang tak ternilai harganya. Komunitas manusia dibangun di atas kemurahan hati ini. Pernikahan terbentuk ketika suami dan istri secara total memberikan diri bagi satu sama lain. Keluarga didirikan ketika orang tua berbagi seluruh hidup mereka untuk anak-anak mereka, dan pada gilirannya, anak-anak menghormati dan mencintai orang tua mereka. Masyarakat yang kuat terbangun jika setiap individu tanpa ragu mempersembahkan waktu, tenaga dan sumber daya, agar semua orang dapat tiba pada kebaikan bersama.

Ketika saya baru saja memulai perjalanan saya di Ordo Pengkhotbah, kita tidak punya rumah, tidak ada kendaraan, praktis tidak punya apa-apa. Kami, pada kenyataannya, tinggal di seminari milik keuskupan-keuskupan di Kalimantan, menempati unit kosong di sana. Bahkan ketika kondisi ekonomi tampak suram, saudara dan mentor saya, Romo Adrian Adiredjo, OP, selalu mengingatkan saya bahwa ‘uang harus selalu menjadi hal terakhir yang menguras perhatian kita.’ Kita tidak boleh tergoda untuk berpikir seperti Filipus, untuk mereduksi banyak hal sebagai masalah keuangan. Saya tidak sempurna dan juga melakukan kesalahan, tetapi melalui kemurahan hati banyak orang, saya bisa mencapai titik ini. Sesungguh, saat saya terus mempersembahkan diri saya, dua ikan dan lima roti yang saya miliki, untuk Tuhan dan pelayanan, Allah akan mengambil alih yang lainya. Tidak ada yang mustahil bagi Tuhan kita yang murah hati.

Frater Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP

Made for God

16^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 19, 2015

Mark 6:30-34

 “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while (Mark 6:31).”

Are you happy? Are you fulfilled in this life? Let us pause for a moment and reflect. Some of us may possess a stable job and moving-up career. Some may have a perfect family with beautiful kids. Some may enjoy success in our ministries or service in the Church. Do we truly experience a deep and profound joy in our hearts? If our answer is ‘no’ or ‘yes’ with a bit hesitation, then today’s Gospel may shed a little light because Jesus is inviting us to go to the deserted place and rest.

  Quest for happiness is inborn in our human nature. In fact, this is the very reason for our existence and actions. We study, work, get married, build family and serve because unconsciously we want to be happy. Unfortunately, we often miss the point and lose sight of the true purpose of our lives. Why? Paul Murray, an Irish Dominican priest, once wrote, “one reason, perhaps, why so many in society today feel unfulfilled and are not ‘happy’ is because the vision of life which we are offered, or which – sad to say – we allow to be imposed on us, is one that is restricted to a pragmatic, one-dimensional view of the world.”  This means we see happiness as something can be achieved in through material gains and worldly success. If we look our education system, not few schools are aiming to train their students to be skillful force labors, successful workers, and unconsciously form them to adore and exalt the pragmatic values of earning money and achieving highest post. The more the merrier!

Few days ago, I was attending a retreat and seminar-workshop in Baguio City, Philippines. Here, I re-visit the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. The hierarchy begins with physiological needs like food, shelter and clothing and reaches its summit in self-actualization. But, I learned that Abraham Maslow added one more thing above self-actualization. It is the transcendence. This step speaks of our deepest desire to reconnect to the very source of our life. Deep inside, our souls are aware that we are made for something much greater than simply accumulating material success, bodily pleasure or earthly glory. We long for God. In the words of St. Augustine, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in You.”

Jesus made seemingly ordinary move when He invited His disciples to rest. However, this context created a lot of difference. Disciples just went back from their successful preaching and had a lot of things to be proud of, but Jesus’ first decision is not to praise them, but to bring them into solitude. Jesus led them into the higher purpose of their mission and lives, because only in silence and rest, the disciples would be able to get reconnect with what truly essential – Jesus Himself.

Some people would attack religion as irrelevant and just another human creation to induce fear and control. This view seems to be justified as some radical group justify their violence in the name of religion. However, the authentic religions have nothing to do with violence, but the real purpose of any religion is to become a meeting place between human and the Divine. Jesus established His Church to enable His people to encounter Him and to find true respite and joy. We go to the Church, not because it is a family tradition that imposes on us, or a status symbol, or our parents will get angry if we do not go. Sunday is a holy day because this day is when we break free from the limiting view of life, from constant work for material gain, and to enter into the Transcendence. Then, only when we are able to open our hearts to God’s invitation to rest in Him and to recognize that we are made for Him, we will find the true happiness that we always long for.  

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP