MOVING ON

Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67 and Matthew 9:9-13

My father passed away in 1998. Three days before he died, he requested for a father-and-son chat around the football field of the Ateneo de Manila University. He said that he had something to tell me. By the tone of his voice, it seemed that that “something” was serious and urgent. It was a Wednesday when he made the request. Feeling inadequate to face whatever revelation he wanted to make, I bargained with him and promised to be back the following Saturday for our chat. He passed away the following Friday. Seven years have already passed since his passing away, yet I continue to grieve over a promised made but not given a chance to fulfill. My mourning has yet to cease, though I know I must move on.

Our readings paint for us two pictures of moving on. The first is of Abraham who grieves over the death of Sarah, the woman he loved and married. He loved Sarah, his wife, more than anything. He was faithful to her. Remember when Sarah herself proposed that Abraham lie with Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, so that Hagar could give Abraham a son, an heir, because Sarah herself was barren? Abraham could not believe it was his wife who was making such an indecent proposal. But Sarah prevailed and Abraham a son through Hagar. Later on, however, God intervened and opened Sarah’s womb. Abraham and Sarah, in their old age, begot Isaac, the promised son.

The finality of Sarah’s absence brought about by her death must have been devastating for Abraham. They were not couples similar to spouses we see in the news today who would sacrifice being together and, therefore, keeping their family intact, for the sake of political agenda. Abraham and Sarah were inseparable. But death separated them without their consent.

Interestingly, though he was mourning, Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for his son, Isaac. He knew that he must move on or God’s promise to give him and his descendants the land in which they dwell will not come true.

In our gospel today, Levi had been considered dead by his own people, for he was a tax collector. Jesus, however, came to restore him to life. Jesus invited Levi to follow Him. Jesus wanted Levi to move on…not to move on with his old life but to move on with a new life in Christ.

But the scribes and the Pharisees did not want people like Levi to rise and move on. They had nothing to do with people who were long buried underneath their personal and social sins. What the scribes and the Pharisees fail to see in their hypocrisy and stubbornness of heart was that in mingling with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus also wanted them to move on with Him and the rests who accepted His invitation. In raising up those who are considered dead due to unrighteousness, Jesus also wished to release those who are buried underneath their self-righteousness. Jesus wanted sinners to move on with Him. Jesus wanted saints to move on with Him, too. He still does. Jesus wants us all to move one with Him together.

Moving on is not always easy. But it becomes less difficult if the people around you pave the way rather than block the path that towards a new and a better kind of life. If we are like Levi, let us hear Jesus calling us by name and take His hand that raises us up to our feet so as to move on. If we are like the scribes and the Pharisees, let us confess our hypocrisy and join those who are already moving on with Jesus. Let us move on and let us help others move on. Let us move on together with Jesus.

Moving on was important for Abraham and Levi. It is equally important for me, too. I am able to move on not because of the scribes and the Pharisees in my life, but because of the “Jesus-es” in my heart. Let us follow Jesus. Let us be another Jesus. Let us be Jesus to one another. Let us move on together.

Amen.