psalm 34: carabao lang ako sang Ginoo - 32nd week Tuesday 2017 2

Today we reflect on Psalm 34. In the first stanza we hear the exhortation of the psalmist which says, “Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.”  In other versions of the bible this line is translated as, "My soul shall make its boast in the Lord." 

St. Augustine in explaining the text uses a beautiful metaphor.  He says, “Gentle cattle would the Lord have; be thou the Lord’s jumentum (be thou the Lord’s beast of burden); that is, be thou humble. He sits upon you, He rules you: fear not lest you stumble, and fall headlong: that indeed is your infirmity; but consider Who sits upon you.” 

In the Philippine context to become the Lord's jumentum means to become the Lord’s carabao.  After the field has been plowed well and thoroughly, does the carabao shove the farmer aside so that it can receive all the praises and adulation for a job well done?  Does the carabao insist on its right to be rewarded and praised and recognized for his work?  No. If there is boasting on the part of the carabao the boasting is in the Lord.  If there is glory to be had by the carabao, it is glorying in the Master.

St. Augustine recalls the humble colt of an ass on which the Lord rode while entering triumphantly in Jerusalem – people were shouting hosanna, waving branches and putting garments on the road on which Jesus passed.  Did the colt of an ass ever thought that the admiration and the welcome was for him?  Did it even for one instance claim that the praises, and the branches and the carpets and the singing was for him?  St. Augustine reminds us, “Consider who sits upon you!”  It is a reminder that we should not boast.  At the same time it reminds us not to be afraid or to hesitate -for he who sits upon us is the Lord.

And so say to yourself, carabao lang ako sang Ginoo – sa panimalay ko, sa akon trabaho, sa akon responsabilidad – if there is boasting I can only boast in the Lord.

P.S. This is also a reminder not to be so overly attached to something, or to a particular position, or to a particular relationship.  Any attachment compromises the salvation of our own souls. 

Many years ago, sang gin-anounce nga saylohon na ako sa iban nga parokya may isa ka parokyana nga abyan ko gid nga nagpalapit sa akon nga may dala.   Ano ang iya dala?  Daku-daku nga maleta nga may rueda.  Siling niya, "to make the going easy and swift." Now that is a true friend of a priest!

Ang mga hawid-hawid nga ina puts one's soul in grave danger – why?  because of pride.  There is a kind of "loving" that leads to attachments which paves the way to hell. 

Say to yourself then, carabao lang ako sang Ginoo, ang naga-uyat sang renda, ang naga-uyat sang higot – Sia ang masunod kag sa Iya ang kadungganan.