The Image of the Church as a Jeepney
Autor: Isva | Publicado: 2010-02-24T13:44:00-08:00




<!--[if gte mso 9]>     Normal   0         21         false   false   false      PT-BR   X-NONE   X-NONE                                                     MicrosoftInternetExplorer4                                                   <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]>  st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }st2\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }  <![endif]--> <!--  /* Font Definitions */  @font-face  {font-family:"Cambria Math";  panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;  mso-font-charset:1;  mso-generic-font-family:roman;  mso-font-format:other;  mso-font-pitch:variable;  mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;}  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal  {mso-style-unhide:no;  mso-style-qformat:yes;  mso-style-parent:"";  margin:0in;  margin-bottom:.0001pt;  mso-pagination:widow-orphan;  font-size:12.0pt;  font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";  mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";  mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;  mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} .MsoChpDefault  {mso-style-type:export-only;  mso-default-props:yes;  font-size:10.0pt;  mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;  mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt;} @page Section1  {size:8.5in 11.0in;  margin:70.85pt 85.05pt 70.85pt 85.05pt;  mso-header-margin:.5in;  mso-footer-margin:.5in;  mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1  {page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]>   /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable  {mso-style-name:"Tabela normal";  mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;  mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;  mso-style-noshow:yes;  mso-style-priority:99;  mso-style-qformat:yes;  mso-style-parent:"";  mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;  mso-para-margin:0in;  mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;  mso-pagination:widow-orphan;  font-size:11.0pt;  font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";  mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;  mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;  mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";  mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;  mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;  mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;  mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";  mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}  <![endif]-->  The image of the Church as a Jeepney: a Modern and inculturated paradigm in the understanding of the Church for common Filipino people, from a foreigner’s perspective.by Vanilson R. Nunes
  When riding a Jeepney anywhere in the Philippines, one will be struck by this so simple, and yet so efficient public transportation vehicle. Common people ride Jeepneys in order to move around cities such as Manila. I think that the success of such a simple vehicle in a complex traffic such as Manila’s is due to the fact that they are very versatile, and the drivers normally know very well how to get around and find their way even during the most complicated moments of the day. But, how does the Jeepney serve as an image or a metaphor to understand the Church today and why is it important to use such a common image in order to talk about the Church for common Filipino people?  First of all this public transportation is very popular in the Philippines. Thus it seemingly serves as a good metaphor to symbolize the Church in a Filipino urban setting. The Church is also very popular among Filipino people. One can understand such image by looking at the physical characteristics of a Jeepney. Jeeps are often old but versatile vehicles with old but very strong engines. Well, the Church is already, as far as Christianity is concerned, two thousand years old. The engine is very simple but very strong: the Gospel proclamation and witnessing. The engine of a Jeepney is very durable and easy to repair though it requires patience. In like manner, the Gospel message of Jesus Christ preached by the Church during these two thousand years has been adjusted and preached to very different realities and places. One just needs a bit of patience and faith to understand what it is all about. Jeepneys have open windows and doors, which make them available to anybody who wishes to get in. likewise, the Church is always open to different peoples and cultures. The Church realized that, like the Jeepney, it needs good ventilation for passengers to breathe anew. The difference between a Jeepney that serves as public transportation and one that is for private use only is that the latter is, very often, closed and only selected people are allowed to get in. The one used for public transportation is open to everybody. The Church began as a community, where every member shared life in common. Privacy in the sense of individualism was not known in the Church’s primeval times.  Regarding leadership, there is only one driver in a Jeepney. The driver very often does all the job of driving, taking the fare, returning the change, talking with the passengers when needed, and checking on all those who get in or get off the jeep through a mirror in front of him. Thanks to the driver’s good knowledge of the urban setting of avenues, streets, and driveways, and his perspicacity, the Jeepney always finds its best way to get to its destination, even during the worst traffic jam of Manila. Here lies a somehow controversial point in this analogy. Despite the fact that many might understand immediately the “driver” as the Pope, I for my part, understand the driver as being the Holy Spirit. For those who prefer to see the driver as the Pope, the strength of this image is that the Pope being the driver, he is also a passenger, with more responsibility to serve the other passengers. Consequently, if we understand the driver as the Holy Spirit, then the whole of the community – including its leadership – is placed under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the guiding force of the Church through moments of glory as well as moments of difficulties. The Holy Spirit guides, inspires, opens up new doors and windows, and provides the Church with the best way to arrive at its final destination no matter how difficult the “traffic” might be. Jesus Christ can be analogously understood as the itinerary, the way, which the “Jeepney” (the Church) follows in order to reach its final destination.  The passengers have a very crucial role during the ride. Solidarity is stressed whenever somebody gives the fare, which passes from hand to hand until it reaches the driver; and the change follows the same way from the driver to the person. There is a great trust in one another, between passengers and between the driver and the passengers. The driver, especially, shows such a tremendous trust towards the passengers. Solidarity, faith and trust have been landmarks of Christian living throughout the centuries. It is up to the passengers to welcome newcomers, opening them a new space. Even if the jeep seems to be already packed-up, it is thanks to the broad perspective of the driver and sense of solidarity of the passengers that newcomers are welcomed in. There is always a space for a new passenger. In some provinces, for instance, when the inside is already full, there are always extensions, or people hang on the sides, or climb to the top. Here, the same image can be applied to Church members who are, in actual fact, those who create space of welcoming to new members. The leaders, in this case, can only suggest that a new space be created. Because of the position of the seats of the Jeepney, the passengers have to sit facing each other. Therefore, everybody shares each other’s history, each other’s life, during the journey. Being Christian, being in the journey with Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit towards the final meeting with the Father, requires from us unity, communion, and love with the others who journey with us.