Christology vs.

Akology (Matthew 17:1-9)

Theme: The Glory of God Made Manifest
The Transfiguration (Mark 9.2-13; Luke 9.28-36)
v1Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and the brothers James and John
and led them up a high mountain where they were alone.
v2As they looked on, a change came over Jesus:
his face was shining like the sun, and his clothes were dazzling white.
v3Then the three disciples saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus.
v4So Peter spoke up and said to Jesus, "Lord, how good it is that we are here!
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
v5While he was talking, a shining cloud came over them,
and a voice from the cloud said,
"This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased---listen to him!"
v6When the disciples heard the voice,
they were so terrified that they threw themselves face downward on the ground.
v7Jesus came to them and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid!"
v8So they looked up and saw no one there but Jesus.
v9As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them,
"Don't tell anyone about this vision you have seen
until the Son of Man has been raised from death."
Nagbagong-anyo si Jesus (Mc. 9:2-13; Lu. 9:28-36)
v1Pagkaraan ng anim na araw, isinama ni Jesus si Pedro,
at ang magkapatid na Santiago at Juan,
at sila'y umakyat sa isang mataas na bundok.
v2Samantalang sila'y naroon, nakita nilang nagbagong-anyo si Jesus:
nagliwanag na parang araw ang kanyang mukha,
at pumuting parang busilak ang kanyang damit.
v3Nakita na lamang at sukat ng tatlong alagad
sina Moises at Elias na nakikipag-usap kay Jesus.
v4Kaya't sinabi ni Pedro kay Jesus, "Panginoon, mabuti pa'y dumito na tayo.
Kung ibig ninyo, gagawa ako ng tatlong kubol: isa sa inyo, isa kay Moises at isa kay
Elias." v5Nagsasalita pa siya nang liliman sila ng isang maningning na ulap.
At mula rito'y may tinig na nagsabi,
"Ito ang minamahal kong Anak na lubos kong kinalulugdan.
Pakinggan ninyo siya!"
v6Ang mga alagad ay natakot nang gayon na lamang
nang marinig nila ang tinig, at sila'y napasubasob.
v7Ngunit nilapitan sila ni Jesus at hinipo.
"Tumindig kayo," sabi niya, "huwag kayong matakot!"
v8At nang tumingin sila ay wala silang nakita kundi si Jesus.
v9At habang bumababa sila sa bundok, iniutos ni Jesus sa kanila,
"Huwag ninyong sasabihin kaninuman ang pangitain
hangga't hindi muling nabubuhay ang Anak ng Tao."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ang ating meditation ngayon ay mabubuod sa dalawang bahagi.

Una ay ang pagiging Christ Centered at
ikalawa ay ang pagiging Self-Centered.
Dalawang salita lang, Christology at Akology.
Ang dalawang bahaging itoy halaw sa teksto sa Mateo 17:1-9.
Sa unang talata ng ating teksto, ang pag-akyat sa bundok ng PHK
kasama ang kanyang mga alagad ay simbolo ng pag-alis sa lugar
na kinaroroonan upang lumapit sa Diyos. Sa ating panahon ang
tawag natin diyan ay pagsamba. Samakatuwid ang pagakyat ng
PHK at kanyang mga alagad sa bundok ay upang sila ay
sumamba sa Diyos. Tamang-tama ang ating teksto sa ating
kasalukuyang konteksto, tayo ay umaakyat diyan sa hagdan
nitong ating lumang sangtuaryo (old sanctuary) upang samasamang dumulog sa Diyos ay sa kanya ay manambahan.
(We congregate together here in this Old Sanctuary to worship.)
Ngayon bakit ba tayo nananambahan?
Why do we gather here in this Old Sactuary to worhisp?
Dito natin makikita iyong aking sinasabing Kristology at Akology.
Bakit ba tayo nagsasama-sama at nananambahan?
Iyong iba, nananambahan upang sila ay pagpalain,
upang tumanggap ng pagpapala sa Diyos, upang silay ma-bless.
Nabebless sila kapag, halimbawa miyembro sila ng choir,
Nabebless sila kapag pinalakpakan iyong kanta nila.
O kaya nabebless sila kapag nakamayan sila ng pastor, o
nakumusta sila ng pastor, o naipagpray sila ng pastor.
O kaya nabebless sila kapag maganda ang sermon ni pastor.
Kapag hindi nangyari ang isa o lahat ng mga ito,
feeling nila at sa isip nila ay hindi sila nabless sa kanilang
pagworship nung Sunday na yon.
Ang tawag sa mga taong ito, Akologist.
Pero merong mga nananambahan na ang layuniy i-bless si God.
Now, can we bless God? Yes, of course! Kaya nga may kantang,
bless the Lord oh my soul, and all that is within me bless his
holy name!

How can we bless the Lord?

One, by Adoring his name, giving him all the glory and honor and
praise for the love, compassion, mercy and grace he has shown
to us thru his Son Jesus Christ.
Two, by Confessing our sins before him and asking him for
forgiveness, by allowing him to clean us from all the stains of
wickedness and unrighteousness in the name of Jesus Christ who
has taken all the penalties for our sins.
Three, by Thanking him for all his provisions, for his protection,
for his guidance and for every good and perfect gift he has given
to us to honor his Son Jesus Christ who became faithful to him
even unto death.
Four, by Sharing to others all the blessing we receive from the
Lord our God by and thru His Holy Spirit in order to lift up the
name of Jesus Christ that His glory may be made manifest in and
thru us and that others may also glorify and bless his name.
When we acknowledges God as the source of his/her strength,
achievements, etc... Instead of insinuating that all of which were
done by himself/herself, he/she gives glory to God for He is the
giver of all things because of Jesus Christ. That is Christology.
In a capsule,
When we worship seeking to bless God
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior,
we call that Christology.
When we worship seeking to be blessed,
we call that Akology.
There was this story about a millionaire who attended a
gathering. He sat next to some people who were discussing the
subject of prayer. He joined the conversation by declaring "Prayer
maybe alright for you but I don't need it. I worked for everything
I have. I did not bother God to provide me anything!" One of the
person there remarked "Sir, there's one thing you don't have that
you might pray for." "And what that might be?" asked the
millionaire. You Sir, could pray for humility.

There are really times in our lives that we became so prone to a

certain amount of pride, especially in the midst of achievements,
a good harvest, a house full of riches or a recognition of being a
star. We are tempted to get all the glory from all of these and so
eager to pronounce our self-sufficiency to the world. "Look at me.
I'm very special. My story is more interesting and I'm more
important. Just focus on me. Ako yan! Ako lang! Ako Na!
To varying degrees, many of us engage in this habit much to our
own detriment. It takes an enormous amount of energy to be
continually bragging about your accomplishments or trying to
convince others of your worth as a human being.
Bragging actually dilutes the positive feelings between you and
others. The more you try to loudly prove yourself, the more
people want to avoid you, talk behind your back and perhaps
even resent you.
Although it's a difficult habit to break, it's not only enjoyable but
actually peaceful to have the quiet confidence to be able to
surrender your need for attention and instead share the joy of
listening to others' glory.(R. Carlson)
Far better, we can acknowledge the Higher Being that give and
allow all things for a greater reason than ourselves. Huwag laging
Ako at Ako lang, lest you bacame an "Akologists"
AKO-logy, means "it is I, whom you should be taking about, coz'
it's all about me, and it should be me..." (well, i may have
exxagerated it... hehehe) but you get my point right?
We all have the mentality of using "Ako-logy", or being selfcentered... Like when you talked about yourself bigtime!
As in you're insinuating that you are good in this field, you have
achieve more than what they have expected, and boasting on
your achievements. The worst thing that can happen is when no
one cares to listen but still you kept on talking about yourself.
Another example is when you either exalt yourself to the level of
what the other party have achieved or even more. Through this
kind of attitude, pride is just there waiting for you... pulling you
back... and not moving forward.

Tignan natin kung papaanong sumamba ang mga alagad na

kasama ng PHK sa bundok,
anong sabi nila sa PHK sa talatang 4?
"Panginoon, mabuti pa'y dumito na tayo.
Kung ibig ninyo, gagawa ako ng tatlong kubol: isa sa inyo, isa kay
Moises at isa kay Elias."
One, The Apostles did not Adore God but themselves.
What they have is Selfish interest. Dito na lang tayo wika ni
Pedro.
Two, The Apostles did not show any Confessionary or repentant
heart but a Covetous heat. Ibig nilang solohin ang PHK kasama
sina Moises at Elias. Tatayuan ko kayo ng kubol wika nila.
Three, The Apostles failed to be Thankful to God for the wonders
God has revealed to them regarding Jesus transfiguration.
Instead, they Thought of themselves and their position before the
Lord as if they are in the level equal with God. Marami sa ating
ganyan. Gustong ipantay ang sarili sa Dios, gustong sila rin ay
bigyan ng importansiya, iluklok sa tugatog, parangalan.
Four, The Apostles did not have any intention of Sharing the
blessing of Gods revelation to others. They want to Store and
Shelve Gods blessing for themselves. (Dito na lang tayo,
magtayo na tayo ng lulugaran dito.)
Ganyan ang mga Akologist.
To wrap it up, we should always remember, not only during our
Akology moments, that,
Worship it's not about us,
but it's all about honoring God with our lives
that His Glory be made manifest in and thru us.
Jeremiah 9:24 says, But let him who boast, boast about this:
that he understand and knows Me, that I AM the Lord who
exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in
these I delight,"
Glory to God always!... Let us pray