The issue about Amadeus Fernando Pagente, popularly known as Pura Luka Vega, is first, an abuse and misuse of religious freedom; second, art was depicted in the wrong way; third, a wrong way to promote and affirm a right; fourth, a disrespect to religion, especially Christianity; fifth, a disrespect to God; a public scandal; and is morally wrong.
For whatever reason, Pagente must realize that he continues to mock Jesus like what the crowd had been shouting during his suffering, “Crucify him!”
Pagente committed blasphemy and scandal. It is a modern mockery and crucifixion of Jesus. Unless he does not know the meaning of scandal. His drama is a public scandal.
The “Our Father” is the best prayer because it was Jesus who taught it when His apostles said, “Lord, teach us how to pray.” (Luke 11:1)
The “Our Father”, be it in any language, is a seven-fold petition that affirms the reality that we have one Father in heaven and we are his children.
The first three petitions are addressed to God for God and the second set of petitions is addressed to the Father for humanity. The Our Father is a perfect prayer.
When we don’t have the spirit of God but only sheer carnal desires, pleasure and fame, it will be very easy to mock the sacred and its elements.
Pagente claims his gestures as art but it is irresponsible and sacrilegious. More than that, it is a misuse and abuse of freedom and art.
God gave talents such as arts and music. We use them to glorify God, not to defame God. We must use arts and talents to affirm that God is the source of every gift, blessing, and talent, not to desecrate the holy.
People reacted against Pagente to signify that what he did was an immoral act; that we should not be silent against any form of blasphemy; that as Christians, we must manifest and incarnate respect to the holy, and dressing like Jesus Christ and dancing to a remix of the Lord’s prayer is morally and spiritually wrong.
Exodus 20:7 says, “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.”
Pagente is liable for his transgression. He must confront the spiritual and legal consequences of his acts. He transgressed and insulted God. He wounded the Christian’s faith. He must undergo repentance and conversion.
Little Dawing Gumabay of Divine Mercy Basic Ecclesial Community of Baang, Sagada, Mountain Province tells us that we need to be founded well in our spiritual life as not to desecrate the holy.
Little Dawing was still in elementary when I met him in 2018 at the Divine Mercy Chapel.
Dawing will teach us how to pray to Jesus and to the Father. He will close his eyes, lift his hands, and say, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
St. Paul write to the Romans, “Brothers and sisters: In the same way, the spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groaning. And the one who searches hearts know what the intention of the spirit is because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will.” (Romans 8:26-27)
I pray that one day Pagente will seek the Holy Spirit and be enlightened. He will meet little Dawing to experience values from the kid.
Let authentic art become the venue to express oneself and not offend God and his people.
Who is man to make fun of prayers and mock the Lord’s prayer? The mistake will never be justified as LGBTQ+ right because it will never be. The right is wrong.
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May 8, 2024
