“Ganito Noon; Paano Ngayon?”

The Dignity and Mission of the Laity

Part 1

Preliminary Remarks

In their Pastoral Exhortation for the 2014 Year of the Laity, our bishops wrote: In preparation for the celebration of this providential event of the first arrival of Christianity in our shores, the Church in the Philippines has planned nine years of intensive evangelization, with a theme for every year. For the year 2013, we celebrated the Year of Faith provided by then Pope Benedict XVI. The Year 2014 will be the YEAR OF THE LAITY.

Echoing the challenge of Pope Francis, Philippine bishops challenge the laity in these words: We want to challenge “the baptized whose lives do not reflect the demands of Baptism”, who lack a meaningful relationship to the Church and no longer experience the consolation born of faith. The Church, in her maternal concern, tries to help them experience a conversion which will restore the joy of faith to their hearts and inspire a commitment to the Gospel. (Evangelii Gaudium, 15)

Our bishops want the Filipino laity to realize: “the first and important truth” themselves: “the greatness of their dignity” and their being “sharers of the … mission of Christ.”

To value better what our shepherds’ challenge for and appreciatioin of the laity, let us consider from the historical point of view the understanding of the dignity and the mission of the laity: Noon at Ngayon!

“Ganito Noon!”

In the Bible. The term “laity” is the English translation of the Greek word laikos. Although one cannot find it in the Bible, there is the word laos (tou Theou) om the Bible to mean “People (of God)”.

The Old Testament spoke the People of God as consecrated, the elect of God, and given a mission. This refers to those who, by birth, belong to Israel. The New Testament writers also spoke of the People of God, the spiritual Israel – the Church, chosen and consecrated too. (cf. 1 Pet. 2:10). The Laos tou Theou receive from the Spirit his many gifts and concomitant functions all for the purpose of strengthening and building the community of God and for the salvation of all. (To be continued in next issue)