DAY OF EXPLODED MYTHS

by Fr. Gary Thurman

We can say many things about the greatness of what transpired on Sunday, November 20.  We can focus on the grandeur, the pageantry, or the anointing.  But I think I will view this day, the titular Feast of the Cathedral of the King as well as the day known throughout the Church world as Christ the King Sunday, as a day of exploding myths. 

It began with the Archbishop’s opening proclamation in the morning service.  As he said, we do not gather to celebrate the fact that Christ will be King someday.  We celebrate a Kingdom that was prepared, completed, long ago, from the foundation of the world, with God as its only potentate.  As St. Paul, quoting the eighth psalm, said in the Proclamation from 1 Corinthians, “He (the Father) has put all things in subjection under His (Jesus’) feet. That sounds like past tense to me.  Wow, myth number one exploded before 9: 30 am! 

Next, we shattered the myth that the Kingdom of God is on the wane, shrinking.  In addition to the obvious scriptural rebuttals such as Isaiah 9: 7, consider this: if this myth is true, then why does the feast that celebrates the Kingdom’s existence keep getting bigger and better every year?  There can be no debate on this issue.  Everything, from the program, to the people’s costumes, to the food, increases in its excellence from year to year.  That sound you hear is the exploding of another myth! 

Also exploded was the myth that Filipinos do not work well together, that crab mentality will always rear its ugly head to bring down any great endeavor.  Sunday’s occasion begs to differ.  The entire event was handled by the Parish Council.  The Primate expressed what he wanted, gave some feedback on last year, then stepped back and let them go to work.  And work they did – together – for the glory of God, and the good of the Church.  How well did they do?  You who were in attendance, you tell me!  Pop goes another myth! 

Another myth to go by the wayside was the popular conception that the Filipino is not health conscious, that his diet is unhealthy.  Then why, among all the bread, meats, and other delicacies available to the people, was the most popular and first-consumed item the fruit?  Apples, grapes, pears, and ponkan stood little chance against the ravaging hordes.  Other food groups had their leftovers, but not the fruit!  How healthy! 

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, was the demise of the myth that the Filipino is poor.  With all the excellent meats, including fowl, pork, and even goat on hand (that’s what happens to those on Christ’s left hand, joked one knight) as well as all the fruit, (Been to the grocery lately?  This was a fortune in victuals!) poverty had definitely taken an official leave of absence.  Then factor in all the money spent on costumes.  Next, consider the fireworks.  Pyrotechnics are expensive, and this was no simple exhibition of a firecracker or two.  Even though we had to wait a while for it, (more than one comedian in the crowd was heard to ask, “Has anyone got a match?”) this just built the crowd’s anticipation.  And it was worth the wait. 

This was a display of scope, drama, variety, and color that need take a back seat to no one, not even the property moguls promoting a new condo, or the wealthy Chinese firms exorcising the demons away from the opening of yet another new venture. I can say this, because I spent ten years watching the frequent fireworks displays of Hong Kong, the inventors of the art, that were supported by extensive city coffers and megarich sponsors.  The only difference was, theirs was done against the backdrop of Victoria Harbor, and ours had the backdrop of one of MVP’s construction sites.  But the point is, it was done with excellence, the kind of excellence that costs money, and we are not a church of millionaires.  Yet, how can anyone still say that we are poor?  Lose that line!

There are those who oppose fireworks, on the grounds that they were originally meant to scare away evil spirits.  To them I would say, “That’s not their purpose for us at all.  That noise you hear up in the sky is just another myth being exploded!”