Categories
Reflections

“WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” Sunday Gospel Reflection, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time A, by Fr. Jesús Galindo, OFM

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Jesus did not suffer from identity crisis, nor was he “image conscious,” as many of our politicians and movie stars are. When he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” he was not conducting a survey or a popularity poll. He knew well enough what people thought of him. It was his way of striking a conversation with his disciples. His real interest was in their answer to his second question, “Who do you say that I am?” Today’s gospel passage is part of the private instruction, which Jesus imparted to his disciples in order to reveal himself to them–and to them alone. Hence the injunction to strictly tell no one that he was the Christ.

What people were saying about Jesus was not bad at all; in fact it was very good. He was mistaken for great and holy people: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. (Of course, the apostles did not tell Jesus the negative things some people were saying about or against him; for instance, that he was out of his mind; that he was a glutton, a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and sinners; that he was possessed by Beelzebul, etc.). The people’s regard for Jesus, as told by the apostles, high as it was, ran short from reality: Jesus is much, much more than John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or any of the prophets.

Jesus then asked his apostles the same question: “Who do you say that I am?” Now it was Peter, inspired by the Spirit, who gave the right answer: “YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.” Notice how, to the first question, all the apostles answered; but to the second, more personal question, only one did. It is always easier to talk about what others say and do than to talk about oneself.

Peter was richly rewarded for his right answer. This was definitely Peter’s finest moment: 1) He was praised and blessed by Jesus. 2) He was given a new name, signifying a new role or mission; before he was Simon, now he is Peter, meaning Rock—upon which Jesus will build his Church. 3) He was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven, that is, the power to govern the Church and the authority to bind and to loose, namely, to declare what is right and what is wrong, what is allowed and what is forbidden. This is called the Magisterium of the Church, now exercised by the successor of Peter, in the spirit of service to the flock. Awesome powers given to a man—a simple fisherman at that! But then, the vigor of the Church comes, not from the strength or talent of Peter and his successors, but from Jesus’ firm promise: “The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.”

Today, Jesus’ question is addressed to each one of us: “Who do you say that I am?” Who indeed is Jesus for me? What role does he play in my life, in my plans, in my decisions? What kind of relationship do I have with him? Do I relate to him as my Big Boss, my Lord, my King? Or do I rather relate with him as my Brother, my Friend, my Confidant?

The kind of answer we give to these questions is important; it may even determine the kind of spiritual life we live. If Jesus is for us an authority figure, then chances are that our Christian and spiritual life will be marked by respect, submission and fear. (One of the saddest things is to see very old people, who have been attending Mass and receiving the sacraments regularly for decades, being now tormented by the fear of hell.) However, if Jesus is my Brother, my Friend and my Confidant, then my spiritual life will be marked by joyful love. I will go to Mass, Sunday or no Sunday; obligation or no obligation. I will go even daily, if possible, because I enjoy being with my Brother and my Friend, talking and listening to him.

About Fr. Jesus and his reflections.

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Articles

Suicide Notes By Letty Jacinto-Lopez Originally published by Philippine Star

Robin Williams, who played the role of Genie in Aladdin,
died by suicide on August 11, 2014

The story of Anastasia: The daily news bared all the painful details of her death. She drank turpentine. It didn’t work. She slashed her wrist but the blade was not sharp enough to completely sever the veins. She made a lasso and tied the rope on the lone chandelier. With the aid of a chair, she stood right under the chandelier, wrapped the knot around her neck and made a quick leaping motion to destabilize the chair. She died after ten minutes. It was her third attempt. No one in her family suspected the torment she was going through. In the end, her only means of coping was to take her life.

The story of Dante: He was suffering from schizophrenia. His family tried everything to make him well. Hypnotism, group therapy, drugs, and the controversial and the cruelest of clinical procedures, the electric shock treatment.

He would come out of the treatment dazed, glassy-eyed and thirsty but calm and placid. This would be followed by good days when his mind seemed to bounce back to his creative, productive self. He could work. He was lucid. He could laugh, interact and be gentle with his wife and his son. He was again the man of the house. But as quick as it came, it would disappear and he would revert to a state of limbo where he could not form any opinion much less decipher one. That’s when sleep eluded him. He would throw the sleeping pills in frustration. The voices would come back and dominate him. They taunted, tormented and despised him. In the end, they became too much for him to bear. He put a gun in his mouth and shot himself. He suffered for 23 years.

The story of Adolfo: He was packing up to migrate. He saw an old, unlicensed gun in one of the top drawers and was surprised to see that it was hidden there all these years. He made up his mind to sell it but first he thought of giving it a good buff. Pulling out a polishing cloth, he rubbed it vigorously when suddenly the gun went off. It sounded like a thunderclap. He trembled uncontrollably at the thought that the gun was loaded. Whirling from the shock, he turned to his wife, Teresa, who was sleeping in their bed. Horror gripped him when he saw blood oozing from her head. His mind went blank. Another shot was heard and he fell lifeless on the floor.

Anastasia, Dante and Adolfo committed suicide. They were people we knew and in each tragedy, we saw the anguish etched in the faces of those they left behind.

How does one handle pain of this magnitude?

Anastasia’s mother was a mirror of sorrow. Being a pious and devoted Catholic, she only asked one question, “Would God take pity on my daughter and give her rest; will she see heaven?”

Dante’s family lived with the fear that he would someday take his own life. It was an ordeal his wife and son faced every day and when it finally happened, their spirits were so broken that there was nothing left to feel.

At the wake of Adolfo and his wife, Teresa, they were dressed in the same barong tagalog and piña gown they wore at their wedding. Even in death they were inseparable.

There was a time when suicide in the family was handled under a veil of darkness. We were not equipped to deal with death this way because we were more comfortable to follow a de kahon, well laid out and predictable life line: marriage, birth, milestones, sickness and lastly, death. A pat phrase like “she lived a good, long life” was easier to understand and accept.

In suicide, the family suffers double grief: Losing a loved one and coping with the cruel and baseless talks on the circumstances surrounding the death. Where will they find comfort? Who could throw some light into this dark abyss of grief?

At a recent memorial service, the priest seemed to shed some light on this mystery. He said, “We should not burden ourselves with the circumstances of how our beloved departed left their mortal bodies. It wouldn’t matter to God. What is important is He promised us the forgiveness of our sins and that someday, He will lift us up to our permanent home where there is no pain, no sorrow, only joy and clemency.” He went on to say that man has no control over the manner of his death. It could happen by accident, by a sudden and fatal heart attack, a prolonged suffering, even by violent death or suicide. While there will be those who would peacefully and easily give up the ghost, there will be those who would suffer until their last breath. The important thing is God’s promise that He will not abandon us. He closed his homily by urging the mourners to leave their dearly beloved in the hands of God. “There, he will be safe.”

I was clearly surprised and appeased by what the priest said. If we view death in this manner, it could ease the tension and remove the stigma associated with it. Painful questions could be laid to rest and more importantly, those left behind could find the road to forgiveness, healing and acceptance.

The next time you pray The Apostle’s Creed, pray slowly and reflect on each line. When you reach that part that says, “I believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.” Take it to heart and believe.

Postscript to Anastasia’s story: Palo Alto, California. Sixteen years had passed and one day, Anastasia’s mother ran excitedly to her husband, “Anastasia is in heaven!” “How do you know that?” asked her husband. She replied, “You know how I’ve never stopped praying to Mama Mary? This morning, I prayed again and I asked her to heal the pain that is in my heart. If Anastasia has been forgiven and is now with God, I asked Mama Mary to send me a sign: white roses and a dozen of them.”

That day, Anastasia’s mother went about her daily chores. While busy in the kitchen, the doorbell rang. “Can someone please get the door?” she yelled. No one responded so she rushed to open it with her mind still preoccupied with the boiling pot in the kitchen.

Before her stood an awkward, harassed young man scratching his head and stammering, “Madam, ah, I’m sorry to bother you. You will find this hard to believe but I am the delivery boy of the florist shop next to the town plaza. I found an extra order of long-stemmed roses in my van but I could not find the delivery receipt. This has been a particularly tiring, long and hot day; the roses will simply wilt if I returned them back to the shop. Can I give them to you for free?”

Anastasia’s mother was clearly in doubt. She asked, “Why did you ring my doorbell and not the other ones in the complex?” The boy answered, “Again, you won’t believe this but your door was the first one I saw and I thought, “Hey, who wouldn’t want to be surprised with flowers?’”

Still worrying about her pot of boiling stew, she smiled and opened her arms to accept the roses. Placing them down near the foyer, she rushed back to the kitchen to switch the flame to low. With her face all steamed up from the cooking pot, it suddenly occurred to her, “Wait a minute, did I just receive roses? Could this be a sign?”

She hesitated and thought, “Oh, but that’s impossible. I asked for white roses and they are definitely not in bloom this time of the year.”

Being convinced that she was probably getting excited over nothing, she began to ascend the stairs. She felt her heart skip a beat before it began to thump faster and faster. She turned on her heels and ran down to the foyer.

The bundle of flowers was there, still tied up with ruffia, in white cellophane with butterfly prints. Trembling now, she slowly unwrapped the package…the roses were white, all 12 pieces of them.

A Prayer When A Loved One Dies By Suicide
By Naomi Levy
(From her book entitled Talking to God, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2002)

Help me God. Give me strength to carry on. Heal my anger and shame. Ease the burden in my heart. Teach me to believe that I am not to blame. Lead me back to life and hope and joy. I know the pain became too much for him. Death was his only hope for release from his suffering. Life offered him no such promise, no relief.

Let him rest now, God. Free from all that haunted him. Peace, at last. Watch over him. Be his comfort. Grant him the serenity that he so longed for in life. Let his death be his healing. Amen.

Categories
The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine by Lianne Tiu

Do you see Jesus in your housemaids and drivers?

Maids and drivers come in all shapes and sizes. They help us lighten our work; but at times, they can be a burden. As Christians, how should we treat them? Here are some suggestions:
-Give them a fair salary. Amounts can be based on the rates (more or less) offered by recruitment agencies. They can vary depending on each situation, such as if they have dependent spouses and children. Release their salaries on time, as agreed.

-Check on their basic needs. Are their sleeping quarters comfortable and well ventilated? Is there separation for the male and female quarters? Do they have enough and nutritious food? Do they eat and sleep at the right time?

-Be courteous to them. Use words like “Salamat,” “Good Morning,” “Paki—“ (Please). Call them by their names, not “Hoy!” or “Psst!”

– Control your temper when they make mistakes. Do not shout at them. Correct them in private and not in front of others. Explain to them why they are wrong. Be patient with their mistakes and defects. They wouldn’t be working for you with their low salaries if they had better opportunities. Stop criticizing, scolding, and belittling them. Compliment them for a job well done.

-Educate them. Allow them to attend classes on values, home-training skills or catechism. Enroll them in a part-time school if you can afford. Your motive should be to help and not for selfish reason of detaining them. Teach them to dress modestly, to choose wholesome radio/TV programs and magazines, to avoid familiarity with married people, and to have a marriage sanctioned by the church. Teach them proper hygiene.

-Get to know them. Talk with them about their families, interests and problems. Give them advice on their problems.

-Make them a part of your family. Remember their birthdays (give them gifts or prepare a small celebration), help them find good spouses, ask them to pray for your intentions (a small favor which they enjoy doing) – believe me, their prayers are powerful!

-Put yourselves in their shoes. Treat them the way you want to be treated. Are they allowed day-offs or a little self-indulgence like nail polish and make-up (for the maids)?

-Pray for them. Thank God for giving them to you. Allow them to attend Sunday Masses.

-Do not be too sensitive when your kindness is not acknowledged or repaid with gratitude. Rather, dwell on the fact that God is pleased with your good deeds. When they abuse your kindness or go overboard, let them know that they might get dismissed.

-Remember that they deserve equal rights and dignity. They are there to help you, not to be your slaves. Their humble work is not to be looked down. Their work, as long as it does not oppose God’s law, is good and noble, just like any “big time” job.

-Love them, with their flaws. See Jesus in them. By loving them, you are loving Him.

(Reference: St. Josemaria Escriva’s teachings on the value of work)

Categories
Health Care Ministry

WHEELCHAIR DONATION

Wheelchair Donation to RMC 004

A wheelchair donation was made on August 14 by the AGFO Ladies to the Rizal Medical Center Out-Patient Department, through the Health Care Ministry of SSAP. The wheelchair was actually the second donation by the AGFO Ladies to the same hospital. The wheelchair is imported from the USA and noted to have excellent maneuver ability. It can also be used by patients while bathing because its parts are all rubber and plastic. The turnover of the wheelchair to the Social Service Department was done by Barbie Young, Mercy Dauz, Chuchi Quevedo and Gina Trinidad.

Categories
Reflections

Faith Sharing of the Virtues of St. Anthony of Padua For Fiesta Novena Mass Day 9

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Comforting and Respecting the Elderly
by J’net B. Zulueta

A humble good evening to the Franciscan community, my fellow Parishioners and to St. Anthony. By sharing this recent journal entry I attempt to cover the three topics of– respect for elders, the Ministry of Catholic Women’s League and a personal encounter with Christ. Let me then tell you this story. It is the last hour of Saturday June 7th 2014, the end of a hot summer day. In the parish grounds, as early as 5AM, so many elderly, to the very young, from near and far, mostly arriving by foot, waited patiently for the start of the 8:30AM medical mission.

Over 850 patients were attended to by 120 volunteer doctors. We in the circle of CWL sisters were so busy assisting in the surgery, medical, dental, optha, x ray, ultrasound, pharmacy and food area. In celebrating fiesta week we saw the completion of the group baptism, confirmation and wedding. For four Saturdays prior to the conferment of these sacraments, we taught the candidates basic catechism, instilling in them your loving presence in their lives, Lord.

In the yearlong scholarship and medical clinic programs of our league we recognize your presence in each person we reach out to. You are our Creator, You are our strength, our eternal healer. I remember how you were my healer too, Lord, in October a few years back. With no notice I suffered a seizure due to a brain tumor. There I was lying unconscious floating with your wind and moving towards your peaceful voice. Then I caught a glimpse of my family who were hopelessly crying. I begged to return. With no hesitation you sent me back even with the possibility of being handicapped. The journey back home was very dark. But you provided me the confidence because I knew for sure you were by my side I would like to share how it felt during that time of temporary after life.

There is not even a split second shift between our existence now and the eternal life. Our lives are at the same time, physical and divin. As your beloved children, dear God, you have endowed us with this extraordinary gift. I believe that in the stillness of our lives, in our soul dwells the kingdom of the Lord. How could we even think that you are sometimes remote when you truly live in the temples of our soul?

A story goes that St. Anthony when he preached could gather a crowd of thousands. It was St Francis who recognized this gift of eloquence. One day St Anthony’s talk was on the topic of caring for the elderly. A man in the crowd, Leonard, was so upset with his mother, whom he actually kicked. Arriving home Leonard cut off his foot because St Anthony preached earlier that everything from jealousy, bad temper and rebellion against one’s parents should be discarded. But then our gentle saint heard the story and rushed to Leonard. Upon seeing the amputee St Anthony miraculously joined back the foot.

In the spirit of respect for elders, we are so familiar with two bible stories. The first is about the elderly saints Ann and Joachim whom God chose as parents of Mama Mary. Therefore, Jesus had a lolo and lola who were not too young. The second is about Mama Mary, when already carrying Jesus in her womb, visited and cared for her elderly cousin Elizabeth. In our parish on Palm Sundays we remember seeing the CWL ladies selling palms to raise funds for the Franciscan seminarians. This activity is really a humble way of expressing help and appreciation to the Franciscan community.

In ending, and most importantly as we respect the elders in our homes and in our community, we wish to extend our respect especially for the priests in this parish. Though younger in age than some of us, we profoundly and respectfully regard our priests as our elders in faith.

This evening we greet you dear pastors with sincere gratitude as we say “Maraming Salamat Po!” for all your generosity. Dear Lord as I end this journal entry my prayer is that we your living stones continue the Church of Christ in the way of St. Anthony’s humility and with gratitude to You forever. We offer our gratitude for all that we are, with Your many blessings. We are grateful for You have opened our eyes to the precious gifts of serving and humbly giving back, to You, O Lord. A happy Fiesta to all.

This concludes our series of faith sharings – essays for the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Next week, we will resume our regular Sunday Gospel Reflections.

Categories
Prison

Jail Time by Marco Joson Merencillo

It was gloomy today as I got near the huge gray gates surrounded by equally tall walls. This barrier was well built to contain the people inside. Then as the steel doors opened, guards clad in black clothes stopped me for inspection. Upon getting clearance to move on, I walked a little further and I saw them… the people in yellow shirts… the prisoners.

I was within the premises of the Makati City Jail… and it was my first time inside a prison.

Why did I end up here? No, I did not commit any crime. Rather, I volunteered to serve the criminals here with my SYA friends from Santuario San Antonio Parish and the Prison Ministry.

Upon my first glimpse of the inmates, they were not locked up in their cells. Instead, they were inside a chapel attending a catholic mass during a Saturday afternoon. As I heard the word of God was being read, I entered and took a seat beside these dangerous people.

I have to admit that I didn’t feel at ease being around these lawbreakers… after all, they did something evil to be put behind bars. Did they rob an employee in a crowded mall? Did they rape a girl walking in a dark alley? Did they kill someone in broad daylight? Questions such as these filled my mind.

However as my eyes roamed around, I noticed that the physical features of these people varied greatly. Some were scrawny while others were brawny. There were males, females, gays and lesbians. A lot were Filipinos but some were foreigners. Most of them looked clean and did not stink.

What’s my point? At first glance, you wouldn’t know that they were criminals unless you see them inside this prison.

During the Holy Eucharist, I observed that the detainees were also the readers of the bible passages and some were members of the choir. All throughout the mass, they were well behaved as they listened carefully to the priest. Their actions showed their devotion to Jesus by solemnly praying and gleefully singing to honor Him.

After the concluding rites, an officer-in-charge ordered the male convicts to go outside the chapel. They moved out to gather as a group while the warden made a headcount.In contrast, a female officer tallied the women who were left behind. The detainee near me said that counting usually occurs every three hours. According to her, so far there have not been any attempts to escape among the regular attendees of the mass.

As the prisoners returned to their seats, my SYA friends and I gave them some popcorn and juice.We held a film showing entitled “Ekstra” starring Vilma Santos.

The movie revolves around the life of a bit player (ekstra) named Loida Malabanan who is a single mom that wants to provide a better future for her daughter. She is a professional bit player whose role is to be part of a crowd in most Filipino soap operas. The movie shows the numerous hardships that bit players undergo to earn a small amount of money.There are no changing rooms, no toilets and no sleeping beds that are provided for an “ekstra.”But as a whole, everyone involved in producing a telenovela has some sort of adversity to overcome even if he is a director or a staff.

When the film ended, one of the prisoners volunteered to share his insights on the film. He said that: “Katulad sa pelikula, lahat sa atin dito ay may iba’t ibang antas sa buhay. Merong mayaman, mahirap at yung iba ay taga ibang bansa pa. Pero tayo ay lahat nandidito sa loob ng kulungan kaya dapat mahalin at irespeto natin ang bawat isa.”

The audience applauded and afterwards, my SYA friends started to distribute some soap to the detainees as they fell in line to return to their cells.

Since this was my first MCJ experience, I was astounded that the prisoners were calm all through out. There were no signs of greediness or rowdiness. I did not expect this orderliness from them. I always thought that the people inside this institution were war freaks. I was wrong.

So I asked the guy in yellow beside me, “Bakit hindi kayo magulo dito?” He smiled a bit and answered, “Hindi kami basta mga preso, kami ay pamilya.”

Thank you Father God for the opportunity to serve today. I was really glad to have spent my time with the prisoners. I am blessed to be part of the SYA Family.

Categories
Hospital Ministry

PGH TOY GIVING by Sabrina Soriano

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The Hospital Ministry visits the various hospitals it supports on a weekly basis to give medicines to the patients. This past week though, we were blessed by a kind family that donated toys that were gifts for their child’s birthday. They also added toys that their daughter didn’t use anymore so that other kids could use and enjoy them. Though the medicines are much needed to ensure their recovery from their illnesses/infections, you could really see the kids’ faces light up when they received a toy. One of those kids (the cute little boy sitting on the wooden cart) was actually abandoned by his parents after bringing him to the hospital for treatment. Despite his situation, receiving a toy made him break out into a huge smile!

So nice to be able to help them, not just with their medical needs, but also to bring smiles to their faces. Thanks so much Pia Lacerna and family for this!

If you have old toys, books, school bags and supplies that you can spare, to give and to share, I hope you can consider donating them to our Hospital Ministry (you can look for Nimfa Dumago at the parish office). Such a small gesture means a lot to these charity patients. Their big smiles are proof this.

Please also support our upcoming Francisfest fundraising this first week of October. We have a slew of activities lined up for all of you.

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Fr. Robert Manansala Reflections

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, A Reflection by Fr. Robert Manansala, OFM

The gospel passage this Sunday, which contains a teaching on treasures in heaven and three parables on vigilance and faithfulness, can be summarized by the following line that we read in the text: “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” The Jesuit biblical scholar Joseph A. Fitzmeyer says “this maxim has parallels in secular Greek literature, but none of them is so succinctly put as this.”

Gerald Cowen, in his beautiful elaboration of the significance of the heart in the Bible, speaks of the heart as “the center of the physical, emotional, mental, moral and spiritual life of humans.” According to him, “the conscience, for instance, is associated with the heart.” On the negative side, depravity is said to issue from the heart. In Matthew 15:19, Jesus speaks that out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. “In other words, defilement comes from within rather than from without.”

Cowen further notes that “because the heart is at the root of the problem, this is the place where God does His work in the individual.” For example in Romans 2:15, St. Paul speaks of the work of the law as “written in their hearts,” and conscience is the proof of this. In some gospel parables, “the heart is the field where seed or the Word of God is sown. Finally, the heart is the dwelling place of God. God resides in the heart of the believer.

Jesus does not say in the Gospel, “Where your heart is, there will be your treasure also.” He says, “Where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” Jesus knows that if we want to know what is in people’s hearts, we first find out what is in their treasure boxes or what they consider as their treasures.” Considered as the seat of human yearning or longing, the heart is attracted and directed towards that which it considers its treasures.

Etymologically, treasure comes from the English term “thesaurus,” a word that refers to a “storehouse.” Literally, it means “a receptacle of valuables.” What one keeps, maintains, safeguards, protects and accumulates as his valuables are his treasures. Indeed, what we store is our treasure. Denis McBride is right in saying that if we want to know the condition of one’s heart, find out what one stores in his treasure box. Tell me what you consider as your greatest treasures and I will tell you about the condition of your heart.

Last Sunday, Jesus warned against storing treasures up that do not last. More concretely, he warned against greed and strongly reminded that one’s life does not consist of possessions. What is important is to be rich in what matters to God.

Biblical revelation, Christian spirituality and theology tell us that the heart’s proper and prime attraction must be God. The New Catechism of the Catholic Church starts by declaring that the longing for God is planted in the heart of every person. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us “to seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” In the gospel today, Jesus says that the Father is giving us this treasure of the Kingdom of God, “the inexhaustible treasure in heaven than no thief can reach nor moth destroy.”

If we anchor the rest of the Gospel on this fundamental challenge of receiving and making the God and Kingdom of God as the greatest treasure of our hearts, we then find at least three important lessons on the basis of our gospel passage.

First, everything, including material possessions and even basic needs that we have, becomes relative to the absoluteness of God’s Kingdom. We seek God and His Kingdom first and above all else. If we truly believe that God’s Kingdom has already started with the coming of Jesus, and the present is oriented towards the completion of this Kingdom in Jesus’ return or second coming, we strive to cooperate with God’s grace to really make God the center of our lives. One of the results of this is that we become more trusting in the providence of God and we acquire a more non-clinging and non-accumulative attitude towards everything, including possessions.

The gospel passage last Sunday made it very clear, “One’s life does not consist of possessions” and thus, we must avoid greed in any forms. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi and many other saints, everything is a gift from God and everything ultimately belongs to God. Obsessive and greedy appropriation and accumulation of goods are not traits of people who trust in God as their loving and benevolent Father. If God takes care of the sparrows, how much more he will take care of us.

Second, knowing that one’s greatest treasure is God’s Kingdom leads one to share what one has and possesses with others, especially with the poor. The relative and fleeting character of possessions makes one share with others and impels him to work for transformation of the world so that what truly reign in the world are the Kingdom values of love, peace, justice and equality. God the Father of all humans and of all creation has given the resources of the world to be shared by all. This experience of the Fatherhood of God and the absoluteness of his Kingdom makes us work for a new world order where no one is neglected, oppressed, abused and dehumanized.

Finally, because God and His Kingdom are our greatest treasure, the proper disposition in this world is that of a faithful and prudent servant and steward who is always ready to make an accounting to the Lord for the life and resources that He has given us and for the quality of lives that we have lived and the quality of persons that we have become. The gospel passage has a strong reminder on this: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” At the hour of our death and at the eschatological coming of Jesus at the end of time, an accounting has to be made. Blessed is the servant and steward who is faithful, prudent and wise for living well and for relating well with others, especially the poor and the weak, according to the Kingdom values of love, peace, justice and equality.

A faithful and prudent servant and steward is vigilant. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom reminds us of the need for preparedness for the ultimate coming of the Lord as the Israelite people waited and prepared for their liberation from the slavery of Egypt.

A faithful and prudent servant and steward also possesses faith. The person who knows that his real treasure is God and His Kingdom will possess the faith exemplified by Abraham as recounted in the Letter to the Hebrews. Maryanne Williamson says that “the greatest treasures are those invisible to the eye but felt by the heart.” One can only apprehend these treasures by faith for “faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.”

We find in St. Augustine of Hippo, the sinner turned saint, an embodiment of the heart’s search for what can truly satisfy it. In his life story, we find a succession of desperate searches for fulfillment: excessive pleasures, false religions, philosophy, dissipation and distractions—futilities that left him so weary of himself he could only cry out, “How long, O Lord, how long?” In the midst of this cry for divine help, the Scriptures showed him that he could be freed from sin and that he could start living a godly life. The transformation of St. Augustine began when he finally believed in and surrendered himself to God.

In his beautiful work entitled Confessions, considered one of the greatest autobiographical testimonies of God’s interaction with a soul that has found rest in its Creator, with a heart bursting with the reality of God, St. Augustine directly addresses the Lord. He declares: “Great are you, O Lord, and greatly to be praised, great is your power, and your wisdom is infinite.

In contrast to God, he asks, “What is man?” Yes, he finds the connection between God and man. In spite of sin, each person feels the longing to reach out to his Creator. Whys is this so? St. Augustine realizes that this itself is God’s doing: “You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they find rest in you.”

Blaise Pascal, the 17th century mathematician, philosopher and author declared: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every person which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator made known through Jesus.”

Our hearts know that nobody and nothing in this world can completely satisfy us. St. Poemen knew this very well when he said, “Give not your heart to that which does not satisfy your heart.” If we give our hearts to God, we give God everything and God becomes our All.

Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,y
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

About Fr. Robert and his reflections

Categories
The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine

The ABC’s of Catholic Doctrine by Lianne Tiu

Marriage, like diamond, is forever.

Most videographers capture the most important part of the wedding rite when the bride and groom express their consent in church, “…for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.”

As years go by, the “happily ever after” seems to exist only in fairy tales, but not in real life. We realize that loving someone for one’s entire life can actually be difficult. These difficulties, which come in all shapes and sizes, may be an aspect of the other’s personality that gradually emerged when the knot is tied, differences in beliefs, priorities, and value systems, different ways of dealing with conflict, changes in mind and body as we age, etc.

Today, there is prevalence of marital infidelity and extra-marital affairs, of marriages ending in separation or divorce (especially in the Western world). The blame is not entirely with the couple, however, but with the narcissistic society that promotes the violation of marital vows, which is no longer pleasurable or easy to fulfill. The media and a “Me” generation contribute to a kind of mind-set, which seeks a life that is free from pain, discomfort, boredom, or unhappiness. Short-term affairs or extra-marital affairs become normal; while divorce becomes acceptable, and even commendable.

It’s about time we lovingly remind people of the word “commitment” – that we honor a marriage vow for life. In the present age, people are getting used to trendier terms, like “freedom,” ”choice,” and “having it our way.” Commitment, however, is to stay married because we vowed we would. It requires self-giving to continue when we don’t always “feel like it.” It entails patience to bear with each other’s faults until death. It needs loyalty to be faithful as long as we live. It requires humility and forgiveness to continue when there are hurt and anger. And most of all, commitment needs help from God, the author of marriage, to continue being one in flesh through prayers and the sacraments.

Our family, which we claim we truly love, is worth the struggle in spite of the obstacles and differences. Our children and grandchildren may gather some fortune and fame from us, but they will definitely inherit an immeasurable trust through our examples of faithfulness and commitment.

Pop star Rihanna sings about shining bright like a diamond. Marriage is like this precious diamond, which comes the Greek word adámas meaning “unbreakable”. It is a beautiful partnership; it is a lifetime commitment.

(Reference: “Raising Catholic Children” by Mary Ann Kuharski; “Marriage is Love Forever” by James Socias; Catechism of the Catholic Church; Wikipedia)

Categories
Luke 18

63rd Luke 18 Weekend by Alexa Tordesillas and Henry Tordesillas Harrison

An event very special in the hearts of the members of our Faith Family happened last August 1-3. It was the 63rd Luke 18 Weekend.The Luke weekend is a retreat for 11-15 year olds who want to meet new friends and find a new home in the church. We, the Lukers, have one important goal in mind and that is to spread God’s love.

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Alexa Tordesillas – Last May, I remember receiving a message from Tita Yenyen Chan asking me to team for the 63rd Luke 18 Weekend in August. At first, I wasn’t so sure because I still had school to manage. But looking back at it today, I am glad to say that I took that chance because teaming for the weekend proved to be one of the best experiences of my life. Although it was my second time to team (the last time being the 59th weekend) and I already knew how the process and preparations went, it was still much different because this time, I was a team leader along with Franco Celiz. All of us 14 teamers seemed very different from each other at first but as the months went by, we were able to develop a special bond that helped us manage the weekend and make it a great and worthwhile experience for the candidates. After 2 months of learning how to sing in the right tune, memorizing lyrics and writing talks, the weekend we were all waiting for finally came.

Before we welcomed candidates into the room, we, including the Adult Leaders and Bridge Builders said prayers to guide us throughout the whole weekend. Those 3 days had gone by so fast. Before I knew it, we were standing up after the mass and jamming to all the songs we knew by heart, and are now stuck in the heads of the new Lukers. All the new people that I met have changed my life in one way or another. Seeing everyone there just made me so happy. One thing’s for sure, I’ll be at the meeting this week, bonding with everyone and spreading God’s love.

Henry Tordesillas Harrison – During this past weekend, I had the time of my life. Even though it only lasts 3 days, team had to meet every Friday and Saturday for two months to prepare for the weekend. Our preparations included: work-shopping talks, practicing for share-groups, singing the Luke songs (over and over again)and, most importantly,praying. Getting to know the 13 other people on team during the meetings was some of the best time spent in my life. After the first meeting, it was like I had already made 13 new friends who I could talk to whenever I wanted without thinking about whether they thought I was weird or too quiet. Everyone on team was so accepting of each other and we all grew to love one another as if we were all brothers and sisters.

When the weekend finally came, I was equally excited as I was nervous. I was nervous about singing, nervous about meeting the candidates. “Will the candidates like me?” “Will they listen to my talk?” questions like these were running through my head on Friday night, while waiting for everyone to arrive. When everything was finally underway and all the lessons we learned in Team meetings started to make sense, I realized that everything was alright and that my previous worries were useless. The candidates were all so nice. They shared their experiences with us, laughed with us, cried with us and, for the most part, sang with us. The 25 candidates I met and talked with over the weekend are some of the most warm-hearted, loving and wise people I have met since joining Luke. Although I didn’t have much time to talk with all of them, I will hopefully be getting to know each and every one of them in the upcoming meetings.

After everything was done and we had all returned to our normal lives, I couldn’t help but miss the weekend. I missed the candidates, I missed the SS and I missed my fellow teamers. Not seeing them every Friday and Saturday is going to take some getting used to, but I pray that we will all stay as close as we were before and during the weekend. This weekend and the time spent preparing for it helped develop me not only as a Catholic but as an individual. I learned so many things that I previously didn’t know about myself. I came out of my shell and started to interact with everyone more than ever before. Without the 63rd weekend and all the people involved, I don’t think I would be the person I am today.

For those interested to join the next Luke 18 weekend, pls. contact Rocky Chan (rocky.wangchan@gmail.com). There will be one, tentatively, set for November this year. Applications will be available closer to the event.

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