'He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives' Sunday Reflections, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

 

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,)

Readings (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Gospel Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 (English Standard Version, Anglicised)

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

At that time: Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll, and found the place where it was written,

          ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

And he rolled up the scroll, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

Léachtaí i nGaeilge

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, St Luke tells us. Forty-two years ago in the Diocese of Bacolod on the island of Negros, where I spent my last 15 years in the Philippines, the Spirit led nine men to jail, three priests and six laymen, all falsely charged with multiple murder. Fourteen months were to pass before the nine were released.

Two of the priests were Columbans, Fr Brian Gore from Australia and the late Fr Niall O'Brien from Ireland. The third was a diocesan priest, Fr Vicente Dangan, now deceased.

The six laymen, all working for the Church during the very difficult Martial Law years in the Philippines, were Jesus S. Arzaga, Peter Cuales, Lydio J. Mangao, Conrado Muhal (RIP), Geronimo T. Perez (RIP) and Ernesto Tajones. They became known as The Negros Nine. 

While the Negros Nine were in jail in Bacolod City the late Bishop Antonio Y. Fortich appointed the three priests as chaplains there. The vast majority of prisoners were from poor backgrounds and their cases were being constantly put back. The three priests, as well as ministering to the spiritual needs of the prisoners, were able to get lawyer-friends to follow up on the cases of many of those languishing, wondering if they would ever get out.

As a result of this, many of them did. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives . . . to set at liberty those who are oppressed . . .

    

The Negros Nine in prison, 1983-84

L to R: Lydio Mangao,  Peter Cuales, Jesus Arzaga, Fr Vicente Dangan(+), Geronimo Perez(+), Fr Brian Gore, Conrado Muhal(+), Fr Niall O'Brien(+), Ernesto Tajones

Postscript

Not long after his release from jail Lydio 'Boy' Mangao entered the Columban formation programme in Ceby City in 1985. However, after some years he saw that God wasn't calling him to be a Columban priest. But he continued to work with the Columbans in his native Negros Occidental and married. His son, Lydio Mangao Jr, has been a Columban seminarian for some years now and is currently on First Mission Assignment in Chile as part of his formation.

Lydio Mangao Jr, September 2024

[Photo from Lydio's FB account]

Traditional Latin Mass

Third Sunday After the Epiphany

The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 01-26-2025 if necessary).

Epistle: Romans 12:16-21.  Gospel: Matthew 8:1-13.

Jesus Healing a Leper

Italian Mosaic Artist, Monreale Cathedral, Palermo, Sicily

[Wikipedia; photo] Matthew 8:1-4

Behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.' And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately his leprosy was cleansed (Matthew 8:2-3; Gospel).

 

Interior of Monreale Cathedral

[Wikipedia; photo]