Sacraments as Prophetic Symbols of God’s Reign: A Digital Magazine

Sacraments as Prophetic Symbols of God's Reign

a Digital Magazine

by ADT 11-A

Table of Contents Article 1: Recon ciliation News & Amidst Disinfo Fake rmation Article 2: Conf irming Confirm History ation a : nd Hist Revisio orical nism Article 3: Fina ncial In to Miss securit ion of t y: The C he Holy all Euchar ist Article 4: Holy Orders the Chu : Corru rch ption in

Article 5: Matr imony Discrim & Gend ination er

Article 6: Ano inting o Courag f the Si e, and ck: Fait H ealing i h, Pandem n the T ic ime of

Article 7: Lone liness, and An Mental ointing Health, of the S ick

Reconciliation Amidst Fake News & Disinformation Masid-Danas In the present digital age, the internet provides various opportunities to collect data about everything.

Information is easily accessible and publishing can be done effortlessly with a few clicks. While all this is beneficial, it, unfortunately, comes at a cost. With how much freedom we have on the internet, it is also quick for fake news and disinformation to spread.

False information, in general, is referred to news reports that are false and released with no reliable facts and sources. However, the world of false information isn’t simply defined by fabricated news articles; it goes far beyond three different yet similar classifications. Misinformation is spread without the purpose to mislead, while disinformation refers to intentionally disseminating false narratives or facts.

Fake news, on the other hand, is purposefully crafted disinformation that mimics the form of mainstream news.

The recent 2022 national elections showcased the effectiveness of having a strong social media presence, whether built on false claims or not.

Between October 2018 and May 2019, Rappler reviewed 135 claims, 73 of which were rated as false, 40 as hoaxes, and 19 as misleading claims. These had accumulated a total of 4.36 million interactions, from which Rappler found that as many as 1.45 million people may have been exposed to fake news. From this alone, it is apparent that anyone can be affected by fake news, as long as they are engaging in social media platforms.

Suri-Nilay Experts believe that fake news could persuade individuals to change their beliefs, attitudes, perceptions, and even their behavior. This can be a major source of personal security risk.

Experts also believe that it is a serious threat because fake news makes it difficult to determine the truth when it comes to information. Thus, cause problems when it comes to finding a solution to certain problems. An example of this would be the situation of the pandemic where some people believe that Covid-19 is a hoax, this creates a difficulty for the society when it comes to minimizing the spread of the virus. Political polarization, post-truth politics, motivated reasoning, confirmation bias, and social media algorithms have all been linked to the root cause of fake news.

Theological Analysis The sacrament of reconciliation is traditionally known as confession. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging one's sins.

Eventually, we confess those sins asking for forgiveness, however, the sacrament is not only limited to God. It also tells us that we must forgive our neighbors, friends, family, and even ourselves. The sacrament of reconciliation is the act of forgiving others, identifying our sins as we ask forgiveness ourselves. In this sacrament, God wants us to know that He is there to listen, guide, grant adequate penance, and utter the words of absolution. He is basically showing that he is here for us and ready to forgive us as long as we are actually sorry and we acknowledge our faults.

The spread of fake news is due to disinformation and misinformation. The sacrament can help this issue by remembering the concept of confession. If someone does spread false information, one must realize that it was not for the greater good, just like how we would identify our sins. Then, they must admit to their mistake like how we confess our sins. Finally, one must ask for forgiveness for their wrongdoings. With this concept in mind, more and more people can learn from their mistakes so that they can do better. The sacrament is not an immediate solution to the social issue of fake news. However, it is something that can gradually improve the problem. The act of forgiveness and confession can help improve oneself and even help more and more people realize that spreading disinformation is not good.

There are parallels with reconciliation and social issues.

The first would be the purple stole. The stole itself may signify power whilst the color signifies the person in power. This may be compared since the color changes meaning and the way power is wielded vary based on who has power. Next would be the raised hand. This could be the people who work under the judicial system since they deem what’s right and wrong and simultaneously, could clear a bad person’s identity. Lastly, the scourging whip.

This could also symbolize people in authority, whilst Jesus represents the oppressed. People with so much power have oppressed people, and the people they oppressed take responsibility for what their oppressors do in the first place. Similarly, Jesus died for his people's sins and only he suffers from sins he did not commit.

The Scripture passage from the Bible that can support the claims of the sacrament would be Matthew 16:19; “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you lose on earth shall be lost in heaven.” This is basically teaching us that Heaven and Earth are connected and inseparable; whatever you lose on Earth will also be lost in heaven and vice versa. This is related to reconciliation in ways of how confessing your sins erases your sins on earth, it metaphorically negates your record of sins when you enter in Heaven.

Taya-Kilos In consideration to others, it is part of basic decency as human beings not to be the bearer of false information. Whether this is intentional or not, one must be held accountable for the damage they would be inducing for their actions. The consequences to be expected would be nothing but detrimental to the receiver’s prior knowledge on the subject, plausibly morphing it for the newly absorbed data. Hence, it is the duty of the sender to give out their apologies sincerely to relay their feelings of regret. At this point, the news may have already spread like wildfire, reinforcing the idea that many have been fooled by then. However, the conveyer of the message must still hold the responsibility of cleaning up the mess they created by either revising it or completely scratching it off the platform it has been circulating in. With focus onto the speaker then, they are morally obliged to educate themselves on the matter to further prevent similar cases from reoccurring.

Although these are seemingly simple and uncomplicated resolutions for the conflict, the concept is not really one that many can grasp. A large mass of humanity is built on their pride, hindering them from pursuing the act of apologizing or acknowledging their own faults. On the subject of spreading false information, this may be rooted from a variety of factors, beginning with the question as to their intent. If unconsciously done, it may have been a genuine mistake by the messenger; thus, correcting them would take less effort. On the other hand, those who purposely deceive others may be less likely to lend their ears to people enlightening them on their wrongdoings. Moving onto the more positive aspect, individuals who are knowledgeable or have an expertise on the subject may take the initiative of informing. Finally, sincere neighbors could be a helping hand in making their friends aware of their morals and values.

Confirming History Confirmation & Historical Revisionism

MASID-DANAS In general terms, historical revisionism is reinterpreting historical facts and events to suit whatever alternative truths an individual wants to convey. It can serve as a propaganda tool to promote false narratives. As these false narratives continue to spread around through multiple platforms such as social media, newspapers, etc., many will fall victim to such information. The era when the Philippines was ruled under Martial Law is one of the most tragic events that underwent historical revisionism despite the multiple evidence and facts surrounding it. According to some textbooks, Martial Law was described as “the golden age” of our country while leaving out the horrible events that took place at the time. More than thousands of Filipinos lived in fear during this era due to the torture methods used if one were to defy the rule of the Marcoses. In spite of all the proof stacked against them, the Marcoses still deny all the atrocities that took place then. Ultimately, it’s a shameful attempt to rewrite history in favor of one’s family that refuses to hold accountability for their actions.

The three sacraments of initiation are given to newborns in the Eastern Catholic (and Eastern Orthodox) Churches at the same time. Baptism, confirmation (or "chrismation"), and Holy Communion (in the form of the sacred blood, the consecrated wine) are all done in the same ceremony, and in that sequence. However, in the West, the sacrament of confirmation may be done separately from the sacrament of baptism. This allowed newborns to be baptized and then take their confirmation years later. The purpose of the sacrament of confirmation is to strengthen our relationship with Christ, to increase the gifts of the Holy Spirit within us, and to give us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to boldly confess the name of Christ, and to never be ashamed of the cross.

SURI-NILAY Five years ago, Ferdinand Marcos was allowed to be buried like a hero in the Libingan ng Mga Bayani despite the countless human rights violations, thefts, and crimes that occurred under his regime. For us Filipinos, we must continue the fight against the historical revisionism promoted by his allies and family.

The truth must never be forgotten and buried.

Certain political clans have exploited historical revisionism to achieve their own personal gains. Thus, we must standardize proper education material and control the spread of fake news. Wrong information taught in schools can contribute to historical revisionism when facts are withheld from history books or if it is told in a biased manner. Unfact-checked fake news, especially those found online, also greatly contributes to historical revisionism because of its wide reach to people who are unlikely to check if this information is true or unbiased.

By correcting educational curriculums and controlling, if not eradicating, the spread of fake news, we can successfully counteract the largely harmful effects of historical revisionism.

TAYA-KILOS Just as we confirm the place of the Holy Spirit in our lives with the Sacrament of Confirmation as a means of obtaining the values of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and piety, we must also confirm the facts of history with the critical qualities of objectivity, intelligence, and analysis.

The Sacrament of Confirmation reflects Baptism—the only difference is that we ourselves strengthen the connection between us and the Holy Spirit. Knowing the gravity of Historical Revisionism and learning how to spot and prevent it echoes the efforts of our ancestors to fight for what is right and cements the facts onto history. Though these topics may seem disconnected, they both teach us the value of validation. The way we validate the happenings of history is not too far removed from the way we validate the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must learn why we do it, what its significance is, and why we must uphold it. It is in this way that we as Filipinos remain true to our culture and history.

FINANCIAL INSECURITY: The Call to Mission of the Holy Eucharist Holy Eucharist & Poverty Masid-Danas In April of 2020, Jek-Jek's job stopped due to the declaration of a COVID-19 lockdown that ceased the operation of the construction site he was working on. At that time, his wife Bernadeth was carrying her then-three-year-old daughter and the 400 Philippine pesos she had in her pocket. Even though she has kept some leftover money, the amount is still not enough to buy food for the family and milk for the toddler. Desperate to survive, Jek-Jek decided to go outside so that he could ask his employee for his leftover salary.

On a seemingly normal and sunny Thursday, JekJek braved the day with all his remaining courage and hope. With only a few cash in his pockets, he decided to walk to their headquarters. It would be a mindless move in hindsight, for the walk is at least 30 minutes long and the Philippine weather didn’t help. We follow Jek-Jek on his walk, only, he starts moving slower and slower. His leg is shaking. A stranger passes by and looks at Jek-Jek’s unusual movements. We suspect that perhaps Jek-Jek had not eaten yet. Perhaps he gave up his breakfast to his three-year-old daughter.

Like what good fathers do. Jek-Jek spots a street vendor and asks for water. As he was about to pay, however unwillingly, the vendor notices his frailty and charges him a few pesos more. Jek-Jek, more displeased than hurt, reacts and says: Eh, wala na nga kaming pera.

Suri_Nilay Social Analysis Bernadeth and Jek-Jek Caboboy’s story is just one of the many that countless Filipinos are unfortunately familiar with today. Parents struggling to make ends meet, kids roaming the streets, and a lack of the most basic human needs–these sights are not uncommon in the Philippines and have been a rampant and constant problem for the past few decades. With the multiple lockdowns and restrictions brought on by COVID-19, the entire world has suffered unprecedented consequences, but the pandemic became especially hard for those already suffering from poverty.

Poverty can be defined as having inadequate access to basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter, stemming from small amounts of income.

Poverty-stricken people in the Philippines constitute more than 16% of the population, and as Filipinos become more reliant on agriculture to gain salary while wealth isn’t properly allocated, about 17.6 million Filipinos struggle to afford basic human needs (The Borgen Project, 2015). However, its rootcauses preface this prevalent issue that continues to heighten at the time of the COVID pandemic.

Problems such as food insecurities via high prices while less food is being supplied to the market, as well as the lack of education that helps lead to quality job opportunities, both contribute to the root causes of poverty that leave these people unfavored.

Theological Analysis The increasing population growth only exacerbates these problems, along with external factors such as natural disasters and global crises that affect agriculture and the economy, further alienating less fortunate Filipinos (Asian Development Bank, 2009). Poverty has been and continues to be one of the most persistent problems in the Philippines, with the recent pandemic increasing poverty rates, pushing 3.9 million more Filipinos into poverty in the last year (National Economic and Development Authority, 2021). According to the Philippines Statistics Authority (2020), the people most affected by poverty include farmers, children, and people with disabilities. The existence of poverty is an injustice to underpaid, hardworking laborers, and vulnerable people who deserve a chance for a better life.

Holy Eucharist, also known as Holy Communion or Lord's Supper, is a rite done by Christians and Catholics that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ together with his disciples. To the understanding of the Roman Catholics, it is a sacrament where the "body and blood" of Christ is being received through bread and wine. When the Catholics receive the body and blood of Christ, this allows them to be connected with Jesus, together with the Holy Spirit. In this way, the bond between the Christians and Catholics strengthens the relationship with him with the community. In practice, the Holy Eucharist takes place in a Mass that usually happens every Sunday. The Catholics are then gathered around the altar, which represents God's table. In the Gospels, Matthew 26:26-28: Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:17–20; and I Corinthians 11:23–25, Jesus practice the Holy Eucharist together with his disciples before his Crucifixion through the Last Supper, a traditional Passover.

Taya-Kilos The fundamental purpose of the Eucharist sacrament and the reason Our Lord Jesus Christ instituted its celebration, is for people to embrace Him: "Lord, I am not worthy for you to enter my home" (Matt 8:8 par. Luke 7:6). Embracing Him as the esteemed guest transitions these individuals' existences into His. In turn, they partake in His resurrected life. Like Him who truly cherished the people to the Crucifix, they are made capable of sharing themselves wholeheartedly with others: "Having received the Eucharist means joining into sacrament with Him. It represents the advancing into the open by Jesus Christ, who alone could vanquish the barriers, and is worthy of an individual's rebirth with Him and on the premise of His presence."

Furthermore, Pope Francis remarked that the Eucharist is a missionary sacrament that encourages individuals to offer themselves completely to God, seek his blessing, and then spread the love of God to the rest of the world via their own personal witness.

Many Christians believe that helping the poor is a part of their religious duties, as they follow Jesus’ works as a primary example (BBC, n.d.). Proverbs 22:9 (NIV) states, “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor”. Being involved members volunteering in their local communities allows them to bring service towards these marginalized sectors. Aside from the well-known government-focused support, Christian-based organizations such as Christian Aid and Salvation Army work as charity to help practically reduce poverty rates and work with disadvantaged people in these communities, respectively.

The exposure brought by these organizations challenge the unchanging structures and systems that favor the rich and powerful over the poor and marginalized—a recurring theme in society that continues to remain relevant.

Efforts toward alleviating poverty are hindered by Filipino mindsets and virtues. These include resiliency, a Filipino’s attitude towards misfortunes in which they are envisioned to be ‘flexible’ enough to cope with them. Another is the mindset that poverty is a cause of laziness. Both of these allegations lack a wider social perspective to be considered valid. To genuinely support the cause against poverty, it is crucial to understand that it is a systemic issue. Poor government and job scarcity are a few of the factors behind it.

The actions toward poverty indicate that those who are initiating it are wary of their privilege to make such efforts and utilize it for the less fortunate communities. Through their practices, they inspire others to make the same sustainable projects.

HOLY ORDERS ‡

Corruption in the Church

MASID-DANAS Power– something I’m sure most has dreamt of having. Have you ever heard of the saying, “With great power comes great responsibility?” The quote means that if one has the power to do something, they should do it for the good of all. However, the sad reality is that not all people in power have good intentions. While some choose to use the power bestowed upon them for good, others decide to use theirs for evil. Corruption– dishonest or fraudulent activity committed by those in power. Abuse of power can be observed in various fields and scenarios. What’s worse is that many abuse victims get threatened to remain silent by their abuser in fear of the consequences. In the case of corruption, the abusers have power over the victims that they could use against them if they were to expose the ones in power.

One example of corruption is a recent story of an Indiana pastor who admitted to committing adultery. Then, a woman tells the church that he took her virginity at 16. In May of that year, an Indiana pastor stood before his congregation Sunday with a “confession,“ telling those assembled at New Life Christian Church, and World Outreach in Warsaw, that he had committed “adultery” nearly 20 years ago. But moments later, a woman and her husband replaced the pastor on stage to tell a different story: She said that she was 16 years old when the pastor took her virginity on his office floor and she was unaware that what was happening to her was a crime. She said she had lied all that time to protect the pastor and his family, struggling with suicidal thoughts and "not realizing what had been truly done to me." She said she tried to talk to someone at the time, but those around the pastor covered it up and that no one ever offered to counsel her.

SURI - NILAY Social Analysis It is a popular belief that humans are sinful by nature that is why something as innocent as a Church mission can be tainted by the greed of mankind and other outside forces, as it is easy to manipulate and be taken advantage of due to its harmless nature.

As a society, corruption especially in high places is a way of staying entrenched in sin. We are taught even as children that when we know someone is doing something wrong, we should call them out and try to correct them. People have always chalked it up to ‘just a few bad apples but the whole saying is that even a few bad apples can spoil the whole batch. Meaning that even if one person is doing wrong and doesn’t get caught, some will assume that it is alright to do the same because their reasoning might be: “Other people are doing it so it isn’t that bad!” But in reality, it just shows that one who is corrupt, lacks integrity, and the moral discipline to separate one’s interests from serving others. And in some cases, it is the minority that becomes the voice of the denomination.

People in the church like the Pope and other related authorities acknowledge that there is rampant corruption in the church and they encourage people to speak out about it. “We commend, bless, and encourage the full investigation, by those in authority, of any whiff of corruption; as we also reproach, rebuke, and censure those who obstruct the legal process to arrive at truth and justice," (CBCP News et al., 2021).

The purpose of Holy Orders is to commission or appoint members of the Church to become a spiritual leader of the community to guide, teach, and spread God's Word. The purpose of the sacrament of Holy Orders can be analogized to when Jesus rose from the dead and sent his disciples to preach the gospel to the world, which is stated in Mark 16:15, "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation."

However, this duty of spreading the gospel and guiding people to God has been neglected or forgotten by the corrupt spiritual leaders inside the community of the Church because of greediness and temptation.

Spiritual leaders should constantly be reminded of their original duty and purpose, which is to guide people and preach the teachings of God. Moreover, the Church has become corrupt over the years due to the power and authority that the spiritual leaders have over the people making it easy to manipulate or deceive the community with false teachings.

SURI - NILAY Theological Analysis

The sacrament of Holy Orders, also known as ordination, is the sacrament in which a member of the Church is ordained as a priest or other religious authority. In this sacrament, the person who is being ordained vows or pledges to guide the Catholic community and teach them the Word of God. They also receive the duty of conducting other sacraments, such as the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, Baptism, Eucharist, and others for the Catholic community.

With this, the Church should make ordination stricter by only ordaining those who will genuinely follow and do their duties as leaders and guides of the community. "Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness" (Mt 10:1). This verse shows the true meaning of the sacrament of Holy Orders. God didn't give us authority to serve ourselves but rather to help and guide those in need and who are lost.

Thus, we need to reappropriate and be reminded of this to stop the corruption happening inside the Church for the betterment of our community.

TAYA - KILOS As Catholics and citizens, we are all cognizant that corruption is a heinous felony that has a detrimental influence on society. "Do not accept a bribe," Moses says in the book of Exodus, "because a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the righteous" (Ex 23:8). In some corrupted churches, The most profitable and controversial of the corrupt methods employed to raise money was the sale of indulgences. With this in mind, as church members, we must mitigate this issue by choosing the optimum ordained leader who will undertake the obligations of a spiritual leader in the church. Obtaining knowledge about the Sacraments of Holy Order will elicit views and opinions on the ideal churches to worship. The Catholic Church has courted controversy for a variety of beliefs and practices throughout its long history. It was also criticized for abusing how to earn money for the church and many church leaders behaved like royalty instead of humble servants of God. The corruption of the church should concern society because it inordinately affects the poor as well as the most defenseless, resulting in reduced access to public services, education, and justice.

Matrimony & Gender Discrimination

Masid-Danas “Babae ka kasi.” Although it seems this comment has neither a negative nor positive connotation, it is defiantly not meant to be taken in a neutral way. Beyond this remarks holds an undeniable truth that we have become accustomed to crude classifications of roles and strengths based solely on gender. Gender stereotypes and double standards persist in this day and age, despite the fact that technology is at the heart of progress.

According to liberal thinking principles, women's emancipation from gender discrimination is a good indicator of modernity. Despite progress toward greater digitalization, gender bias persists today. And we should be held accountable in some way.

In patriarchal civilizations, the duties of husband and wife have traditionally been defined as household head and domestic manager, respectively. Although the Philippine household is not entirely patriarchal in nature, the husband is the officially recognised head of household and is expected to pay for the family's financial needs.

The wife, on the other hand, is praised for her abilities to bear children, care for them and her husband, and handle the household expenses.

However, the number of married women entering the work market has increased in recent years.

Despite this, the wife's economic contribution has always been considered as secondary to her domestic role, and even when she obviously earns more money than her husband, the husband is still considered the domestic breadwinner.

Suri-Nilay Social Analysis Marriage was a celebration of two people of opposing genders coming together to start a family back in the day.

But it was typical back then for males to be much older than women since what they look for in a lady are fertility and liveliness. But in today's era, you could see that women would marry men younger than them, which would spark a lot of controversies.

The main reason for this problem is that we as a culture have instilled the notion that women should be dating and dependent on their spouses' financial security. It is a social contract that has existed since the dawn of time. As a result, most people would be perplexed if they saw a lady dating someone younger than them, causing uncertainty and so it starts with the discrimination.

The contributing factors of the cause of marriage and gender discrimination are the following: social construct, highly opinionated people, conservatives, and many more.

Overall, society should not be concerned about this issue, but society should learn more about how people fall in love, not because of their age or status, but because they form a spark with one another.

Theological Analysis From a theological perspective, the understanding of the sacrament of marriage is simply an establishment of a monogamous commitment between a man and a woman. According to the Catholic faith, the goal of marriage is to lead a man and a woman to form a lifelong union and procreate. God’s authority establishes matrimony as a fruitful covenant relationship which is a key aspect in a man’s fate. The main concept surrounding marriage is that “two shall become one”, as seen in Genesis 2:4 stating “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh". God established the sacrament of matrimony for a sense of direction, stability, and God’s likeness in the married lives of people.

As time passed by and culture has evolved on from purely traditional perspectives, social issues have arise in relation to matrimony and gender discrimination. There is an identified imbalance between the connotations of men and connotations of women when it comes to involvement in matrimony. However, we must go back to scripture and take note that God created the husbandwife relationship as an equal partnership. This can be seen with Adam and Eve, which showcases the central essence of the sacrament. Today’s modern concept of marriage has continuously been clouded with gender stereotypes and roles. This can also be traced back to scripture which reinforces gender roles and can be often taken out of context, contributing to the issue. In the Bible, women were only tasked to manage their households and families while men took care of all other heavier obligations. There was definitely a disparity between the roles of men and women in ancient society, which is also subconsciously reflected in today’s concept of marriage. Other cultural factors today also influence our prejudiced and discriminatory views on gender and marriage, so all these intertwine to further reinforce in the issue. Going back to scripture, Galatians 3:26-28 states that “... for in Jesus Christ you are all children of God through faith, … There is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” We must remember that equality is one of the key concepts of the sacrament of marriage and our faith as a whole. We must re-appropriate our idea of marriage and refocus on its true essence of commitment and eternal happiness, especially because society has long moved past the need for gender.

Taya-Kilos As people of faith we have the responsibility to voice out and spread awareness about gender discrimination in a marriage. Many years have gone by, and yet the same social construct that the man is more superior than the woman in a marriage is evident. In this modern era, there have been many cases wherein the woman is working to feed the family and the man is raising the children. Many will talk about it and many will judge but it does not change the fact that this is the family’s way of living. Not everyone will accept it but if we spread awareness about this growing issue future generations will have a different mindset, that it is okay to not stick to the social norms.

People have to start changing their mindset about this issue because the world is now evolving to become a better place for everyone.

In recent years, there have been a few movements that have been done about this issue.

The most prominent one is the feminism movement. It is an advocacy to make the female and male equal. The feminism movement helped both the man and the woman in the relationship as it removes the belief, norms, and social construct that the man should be the breadwinner of the family while the wife takes care of the children.

Over the past few decades, it is prominent that gender is socially and culturally shaped, and reconstructing the gender norms and assumptions is not a fast-adapting process.

Despite evidence to the contrary, it is still apparent that women are assumed to take primary responsibility for the domestic roles in the household and that a woman's identity is often less associated with work than a man's. Ultimately, both the wife and husband should have an equal share of responsibilities in the family. Hence, both partners should ensure that there is harmony between their perspectives to avoid unequal distribution of familial roles. For instance, a couple can hold on to the idea of the traditional roles of marriage and both are mutually comfortable with it, while another couple can hold on to the egalitarian roles of marriage and adhere to dividing the tasks together. Changing the issue surrounding gender gaps and marriage puts emphasis on garnering equality in both roles.

Women's roles in society and views toward them vary dramatically between nations, even ones with similar institutions. In recent years, many countries have shifted their opinions and views on the issue surrounding gender roles in marriage. Governments in countries like Indonesia, Ukraine, Uganda, Jamaica have undertaken necessary commitments and actions that influence gender equality. These commitments include national constitutions and international instruments such as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the 1995 Platform for Action include the pledges (PFA).

Even as students, we can help eliminate this issue by avoiding the comparison of our parents. Though there are situations wherein our mother earns more money or is the breadwinner of the family, we as sons and daughters should not compare the two. There are also instances wherein the father and mother have different parenting approaches and in turn, it raises different emotional levels. Instead, we should praise and appreciate both our parents for doing their best for the family. Some fathers are better as parents, while some mothers are better working at a corporate job, not everything people say is for everyone. Here we can see that children too do have roles in eliminating the social stigma about gender roles in marriages.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK:

Faith, Courage, and Healing in the Time of Pandemic

COVID-19

emerged

in

early

December of 2019. According to the World Health Organization (2020), COVID-19 is an infectious disease that can cause mild to severe illnesses. This virus rapidly infected

almost

every

single

country in the world and has changed the lives of everyone.

Due to its quick spreading and lethal characteristics, lockdowns were declared around the world.

MASID-DANAS

The Coronavirus Disease 19 or

As a result of the unexpected circumstances, it took a while for certain matters to adjust such as the education sector. During the COVID-19 pandemic, each person has their own set of experiences, but specifically, from the perspective of students, we experienced sudden changes that they can hardly keep up with. For instance, from the face-to-face setup to online distance learning. This was one of the biggest factors that truly challenged the students to adapt to the “new normal.” Listening to lectures and completing requirements on a screen that could go on for hours is something that not every student could do. Along with the aforementioned difficulties, the lack of social interaction hindered some students from properly adjusting to the current situation since building relationships with others is part of our human nature. Lastly, the pandemic affected the mental health of everyone. The virus itself can cause mental and neurological complications. (WHO, 2020).

Suri-Nilay Social Analysis

According to the World Health Organization (2022), the pandemic still has not come to an end, and all countries must continue to monitor various services related to the coronavirus disease. Thus, everyone should also maintain the practice of wearing masks and physical distancing and conducting tests to minimize the spread of the disease. Some experts worry that the frequency of reporting data related to the cases has decreased, hindering the efforts to fight the virus and detect trends (McPhillips, 2022). The root cause of the issue is the contagious aspect of the virus that spreads from one person to another. Infected people who have no symptoms or have not acquired indications yet can infect others through the primary carriers of the disease, which are the viral particles in the air or fluids containing viruses.

There are social, environmental, and economic factors that contribute to the cause of the issue.

To name a few, these include personal activities on a daily basis, the socioeconomic structure of society, government, and health and medical facilities.

The

novel

coronavirus

pandemic

raises widespread concerns due to its spread and collateral effects. Hence, society should be concerned regarding this issue because it is taking a toll on our health, safety, livelihood, working and living conditions, and other aspects of life. It is vital to immediately respond to the challenges brought by the pandemic while also ensuring that humanitarian and recovery aid reaches the most vulnerable in our societies.

Suri-Nilay Theological Analysis

Traditionally,

the

sacrament

is

often

understood as a process that brings a person who is ill more spiritual and physical strength. It is often done to people who are near death, and gives them the hope to prepare for it. It provides that person healing according to God’s will, and is performed in order to give special grace through the Holy Spirit. The sacrament provides the ill person the chance for the forgiveness of their sins, since they are too sick to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation.

In James 5:14-15, it is said that the sick shall be saved by the prayer of faith and the Lord will raise him up, and his sins will be forgiven, done with priests of the church praying over the sick. The default method of healing is usually performed through a priest, but healing can still be administered just from prayer and faith to God. This means that spiritual healing can be given safely without risk of contraction. The sacrament in itself, may not be the most beneficial to the situation of the pandemic, scientifically, but it can act as a source of hope and affirmation to many believers.

In these times of uncertainty, having something to depend on is good for maintaining not just our physical, but mental health as well.

The anointing of the sick is able to combat negative thoughts such as anxiety,

discouragement

temptation.

and

Taya-Kilos

As believers, our role in the COVID-19 issue is to believe that it will be resolved and that the world will soon return to normal. Another example of the responsibilities we have as people of faith is raising awareness and minimizing the virus’s impact on our families and communities. As we watch the coronavirus pandemic spread on a worldwide scale, it is tempting to feel helpless. You can, however, create a change regardless of who you are or what position you hold. Even if you are restricted at home, there are many ways to contribute and give back, such as donating money or items, assisting online, and checking in on individuals who may want help. We must change our bad habits and try to adapt to the situation, because COVID-19 will not adjust for us. People should also begin to put their faith in God’s grace through the Holy Spirit, because it is through God that we will be able to overcome this situation.

People who dislike being controlled and forbidden, as well as non-believers in God, are likely to oppose us and prevent COVID-19 from improving. Faith-based groups play a significant influence in delivering healthcare in a number of these locations, and they need assistance to continue providing those services and avert a repeat disaster. People of religion working on the front lines of health in underdeveloped nations have a critical role to play in preventing this disaster. People can find spiritual solace, forgiveness of sins, fortitude and bravery to face illness, and release from worry by participating in the sacrament of anointing of the sick. The sacrament provides for healing while also offering support, love, and direction to the person and their family as they prepare for death.

Loneliness, Mental Health, and Anointing of the Sick

Masid-Danas Experts say mental illnesses are prevalent, impacting one out of every four persons each year. Depression and anxiety are among them, as are schizophrenia and bipolar illness. TJ Manotoc is a depression survivor and this is his story. His narrative began when he was a child and he grew up without a father figure. He considered himself irresponsible and had barely finished first year high school, so his mother advised him to focus on his academics. He asserted in his second year of high school that he did nothing but school, he did not watch television or socialize with his peers. That built up pressure and stress in him, and then all of a sudden he couldn't sleep; it was his first true night of insomnia, and that's when it hit him. He was often bothered and scared in class, and when they found it out, they said it was early signs of major depressive disorder.

He then reached a point in his life when he couldn't go around with his bible and spray painted the cross around his room. His mother eventually became concerned and sought professional assistance.

Furthermore, to help balance his body, he and his mother attempted crystal healing, meditation, acupuncture, and even natural supplements. He also attended many seminars, which greatly aided him in thinking positively. He told himself that he would have a strong mindset, and it never happened again. His mother was a huge source of his strength; despite being alone, she managed to look after his son. Based on this story, anyone can be affected by this issue. This issue has arisen since the pandemic began whereas numerous individuals experienced isolations. The feeling of being alone was growing and contact with loved ones was limited.

Suri-Nilay SOCIAL ANALYSIS Loneliness is associated with various forms of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. It is a serious social issue that not everyone is aware of. Experts say that socially isolated people tend to feel lonely or depressed, which leads to the inability and unwillingness to share their feelings to others. Due to a lack of engagement and emotional support, they often become detached from their feelings, which has a negative impact on their mental health. Some contributing factors to this issue include physical isolation, loss of a loved one, and mental distress. Society should be concerned about this issue because it has a negative impact on the overall well being of a person. Failure to address mental health issues has consequences for societies as a whole. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices.

James 5:14-15 NKJV LET HIM CALL FOR THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH, AND LET THEM PRAY OVER HIM, ANOINTING HIM WITH OIL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD. AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH WILL SAVE THE SICK, AND THE LORD WILL RAISE HIM UP.

THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is a Catholic Church Sacrament that celebrates our faith in Christ's healing touch in our lives. It is meant to help the sick be spiritually strong in the face of temptation, despair, and anxiety. Which will be replaced by a sense of strength, peace, and fortitude. The sacrament can help us on the social issue, at hand, by providing the grace of the Holy Spirit and spiritual comfort when we are at our weakest and most vulnerable. The meaning of this Sacrament in the context of the social issue is that, as Christians, we are blessed to receive God’s grace at times of serious illness..

Taya-Kilos Not only do we need to care for ourselves as our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, but we also need to take care of others as we are all one body in Christ. In accordance with God’s teachings, we are to provide a sense of belonging to the lonely and excluded from society. We are to comfort, aid, and uplift others when they are dealing with mental troubles. For a long time in the past, mental health had been tackled in various incorrect and unhealthy ways that more often lead to further deterioration. But fortunately today, there is a new approach to that aspect of ourselves and it is an accepting, validating one. We are able to see this in today’s society, in things like the Mental Health Act, openness to therapy, individual advocacies, mental health activities and breaks conducted in schools, online campaigns and such.

Given that the direction of this approach is evidently a developmental one, there is not much to change about it. Rather, we would like to further encourage giving value to it and acknowledging the complex workings of our own mental health as well as that of others. Most likely, the Filipino culture, especially of the older generations, may oppose or suggest different views on this. But the younger generations and many of today’s institutions, companies, and organizations support this and encourage the same thing we do. Likely implications of our actions are a healthier bond with others and the community, a better knowledge of ourselves, and an overall healthier social environment.

LONELINESS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Article 1

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