An Easter Reflection on the Seven Last Words - 2 Hope

"Today you will be with me in Paradise!"

Christians are also a people of hope. Hope is one of the three theological virtues which includes faith and charity. Hope gives a person the courage to face the challenges of life knowing fully well that "beyond the trials in the wilderness lies the promised land". That after the troubles in these earthly lives we shall be with God in Heaven!

Unloike the other thief who was hanging upon the cross together with him and the Lord, Desmas turns to Christ and full of faith entrusts his life to someone who was also suffering and dying. While the other thief swears and challenges the Lord to show His power and divinity, Desmas relies on the forgiveness and love of the Savior who has been crucified with them. In times of troubles and trials, this attitude of Desmas shows what Christians ought to manifest. We are not supposed to be angry with God or to challenge Him to show His power by alleviating our pains and our problems. Instead we ought to be steadfast in our faith and with great hope assure ourselves that amidst all the storms of life He will guide us to safety even when we're not aware of it.

Because we are a people of hope. We can overcome all troubles. We shouldn't be afraid for God is with us all the way even when He seems so absent. Remember the "footprints in the sand". While we thought He was gone bacause there was only one set of footprints, He was carrying us all along to keep from from falling!

An Easter Reflection on the Seven Last Words - 1 Forgiveness

"Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do."

The first thing that we ought to thank God for is that He has sent His only begotten Son - the Lord Jesus Christ - so that we'll be saved. And being saved means being forgiven. Forgiveness is one thing that we have to thank God for and forgiveness is one thing that we ought to practice in this life if we want God to be proud of us and make us full sharers of His divine life.

It is not enough to ask forgiveness for the sins that we commit. It is quite important to be forgiving also - for the sins and mistakes that others commit against us - for this truly reflect and manifest the fullness of our being forgiven by the Father.

The late great Pope John Paul II said that we are an Easter people. It is also true then that we are a Forgiven people. If we are a forgiven people, we ought to be a Forgiving people also. We cannot enjoy God's forgiveness without us giving the same grace to others. We cannot fully enjoy the divine life - grace - if we only aspire to be forgiven but never forgive in return.

We are an Easter people but we can only be truly an Easter people if we act like Forgiven people by becoming Forgiving people!

Season of Grace

Bishop Crispin Varquez of the Diocese of Borongan expressed the same observation which many before him have already made - that many Catholics seldom experience the fullness of the Paschal mystery because they only attend the Good Friday commemoration and never the Easter Sunday celebration.

The great Pope John Paul II said that we Christians are an an Easter people and alluluia is our song. We are not supposed to live our lives in the spirit of Good Friday but of Easter Sunday. It is true that God the Son redeemed us from sin on this eventful day. However, the greater celebration takes place during Easter Sunday when He rose from the dead and conquered death thereby releasing us from the bondage to sin, death and eternal damnation.

Easter is a season of grace and it is so because of the resurrection of Jesus. St. Paul said that if Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, Christians would be the worst people on earth because we won't have hope of a future life in heaven. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then Good Friday won't have meaning after all we will remain bonded to death.

But Jesus Christ rose from the dead. He manifested His divinity by doing so and made available to everyone who beleives in Him the fullness of grace which we were not capable of having when we were yet sinners. Through His death and resurrection Christ saved us and made us capable of acquiring grace - that divine life which dwells in everyone who believes and accepts Him as Savior.

Easter is truly a season of grace and we ought to take advantage of this season to be closer to God to bring others closer to God. Let us maximize the blessings that God is showering upon us who believe during this time so that we could bring forth fruits that would last in accordance with the Lord's promises.

If we manifest to others the truth that we are an Easter people - a people of grace - and sing through our good - and holy - works the anthem of Christians which is the Alleluia! then we shall make a true difference in the world and possibly bring out miracles in the lives of others!

Happy Easter and God bless us always! Alleluia!

Testimony of a Friend

The following is the testimony of a new Facebook friend (see her profile here).

I had heard about the Conversion Experience Retreat and was encouraged to participate but I never expressed any interest, no matter how good the comments were. After attending the 12th Conversion Experience Retreat, I now know why it came so highly recommended.

The highpoints of my retreat would definitely be the carrying of the cross and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Carrying of the Cross

As I looked at my brothers and sisters crawling on their knees with the cross on their shoulders, to be honest, I thought it was silly - I was thinking if only I could humble myself down, let go of my pride and have the courage to do it, I would be able to make a true confession of my sins which I never have the guts to confess.

As I was contemplating whether to do or not to do, then Jesus asked, “Would you carry it for Me?” I replied, “Ok, I would do it for You but you know my knees are weak, would You be with me?” There was no answer from Him. When I was in the queue, just when I was thinking of backing out, then The Father ask, “Would you carry the Cross that My Son has carried for you?” I cried, how can I say No to The Father?

When I saw a small cross coming my way, I was very happy as I ready myself to get in position instead I was directed to another line. When I saw the cross I was supposed to carry, my first reaction was, “Huh?? A big cross!!” Anyway, I knelt down and positioned the cross on my shoulder and started to crawl forward.

First Fall

I had only begun to crawl a few crawls before I stumbled and fell, I broke down and cried, I wanted to stop the tears because of my pride, I didn’t want to be seen crying in front of so many people, but I couldn’t stop the tears; it gushed down like a waterfall.

Image of Jesus Alone and Weary and Abandoned

After the crying stopped, I continued my crawl till I reached a point where I couldn’t crawl forward anymore no matter how much strength I gathered and no matter how hard I tried, I simply couldn’t move forward. With all of my strength I dragged my knees forward again but could only managed a tiny crawl, till I stumbled and fell again, I stopped and cried because I saw Jesus alone, abandon and weary, I was not there to help Him carried His Cross, but when I alone and weary and felt abandoned, He is always there helping me to carry my cross.

Blessed Sacrament

As I near the Blessed Sacrament, I simply crumbled inside, crying out to Jesus, I was pouring out everything in my heart to Him. As I continued my way, both my knees were in great pain, I couldn’t kneel in an “upright” position instead I had to bend down and used my left hand for support in an attempt to crawl forward with my right hand holding onto the cross.

The Floor

When I did move, I felt that the floor wasn’t smooth anymore, it felt coarse, it felt sharp, I tired to kneel “upright” and crawl forward but an excruciating pain shot through both my knees and up towards my body. In bended position, I continue crawling very slowly; the pain on my knees were so painful, it was so unbearable that I felt I couldn’t go on anymore and wanted to give up.

For You Jesus

But each time I wanted to give up because of the pain, I held onto the cross tightly and said to Jesus “For you Jesus, I would do it for you, just for you.” When I reached the end, I broke down and cried because I realized I had just experience what Jesus had gone through on His way to Calvary. This is how much He loves me that He would go through all what He had gone through for the love of me.

Confession

For the first time, I looked forward to Confession; when my turn came, I sat in front of the priest! Loudly, boldly and slowly I confessed my hidden sins as if I was afraid that the priest couldn’t hear me! When I walked out of the room, I felt LIBERATED! I told the enemy, I am NO LONGER in your control anymore, you have no control over me now! Jesus is now the MASTER of my life.

On reflection, I realized that the tags that I fished out from the basket daily were God’s words of comfort and consolation when I carried the cross.

John 15 :4 – 6 …apart from me you can do nothing

John 15 : 9 – 11 Remain in my love….An eternal love that will give you comfort and shelter when you are in pain and hurt.

Psalms 18:32-34 This God who grids me with strength, who makes my way free from blame.

Brothers and sisters, I stand here to share with you this Good News of God’s love for each one of us because God’s word speaks to my heart and says Simply proclaim the Lord Christ holy in your hearts, and always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope you have 1 Peter 3 : 15 – 16.

Andrew (one of the facilitator) called me up on Wednesday 18/03/09 and asked me to share my testimony on Saturday. Though I gave my consent, I was afraid, later, that night at Adoration Room, I took out the Bible and looking Jesus I said, “Lord, I am here, Speak to me, I want to hear your voice.” I flipped through the pages till I stopped at Acts 23 : 11, Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.

In conclusion, I have just 2 words to say about this retreat – SIMPLY AWESOME!!

Feast of the Black Nazarene

It's January 9 and it's the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

It's the fiesta of the Seminario de Jesus Nazareno at Barangay Campesao, City of Borongan.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales is exhorting us to make the Nazarene as our model of simplicity and selflessness.

People mgiht say that Jesus lived in a time that was very much less complex than our own. His was a time when there were no computers, no cellular phones, no IRA, no global village, etc. But perhaps one doesn't have to go back in time in order to discover that they have their own complexities then. History will tell us so much about how complex the time of Jesus was: Israel being under the Roman Empire, their religion which was the center of their very lives being regulated by the conquerors, etc.

Or perhaps people might say that it was easy for him to make a choice because after all He is the Son of God and he already know everything that will happen.

That's the point. God knows everything and He actually has destined us all to be with Him in His kingdom in Heaven. But of course the final destination of each of us depends on how we respond to His invitation of friendship with Him, that is, of knowing His will and following it.

In a world and at a time when complexity seems to invade every facet of life, we are called to be simple and selfless. It is hard to be, really. But it is only in simplicity that we can really overcome the many troubles of life. It is only by being selfless that we can overcome the temptations that abound wherever we go and look.

It is not that easy but it isn't that hard too. God has provided as the answer already, just being faithful to Him. The Nazarene Himself said that with God nothing is impossible. Let us trust in Him and offer Him the year 2009 and beyond and we shall see how He works wonders in our lives.

A Baptism in Kandalakit

It was the fiesta of Barangay Kandalakit, the most far-flung barangay of Sulat, Eastern Samar, about eleven kilometers away from the interior Barangay of Sto. Tomas. In going to Kandalakit you have to pass through ricefields, walk along a creek and even cross it on foot, hike a medium sized mountain that is muddy on one side and a slippery gray limestone on the other, and then walk through coconut fields before reaching the community.

We left the parish convent at midday and reached Kandalakit just before sunset. We took a dip in the cool waters of the shallow river just at the back of the house of the kapitana, the village chief, in preparation for the vesper mass. After the mass we had our supper and were invited to the vesper night dance. We didn't stay long because we had to wake up early to prepare for the feast day mass.

The following morning we had a nice feast day mass. It was to be followed by baptism. As we were calling and waiting for parents and godparents to register their babies for baptism, an middle-aged mother came forward holding on her arms her baby.

Babies to be baptized are supposed to be brought by the parents themselves with the godparents. But she was alone with the baby. When we asked her to call her husband and the godparents she told us it was impossible because they lived in Sto. Tomas and it was her alone who came for the baptism of her child. We asked her why she did it and she told us that it was because of a vow.

Our parish priest gave her some lessons on making vows. He told her that it is not good to put a child in danger - physically and spiritually - in making vows. Furthermore, she was told that it was not proper to baptize the child without at least one godparent as witness and as a spiritual guide in times the parents fail to lead the child as a Christian.

Since she wasn't able to provide a godparent for the child as she didn't know anyone from the place, we told her that her child may not be baptized. But then in order not to imperil the spiritual welfare of the child, we volunteered to stand as godparents for him.

The mother shed tears and though she was speechless, we know that she was very thankful for what we did.

Granting a Child's Wish to Enjoy

Last Saturday we were invited to a christening party at the new Mabaroca beach resort in Barangay Cabong, City of Borongan. Initially we were apprehensive in attending the party because our three-year old son, Lance Raphael, had a fever the previous day and he was still a bit feverish the morning of that celebration - add to it the fact that it was a rainy morning!

But we had to attend the celebration as my wife, Cherry, was the one in charge with the preparation of the food.

One of the reasons why the venue was chosen is the availability of a swimming pool and such amenity was intended for the children to enjoy. Since our son was sick, we didn't allow him to join the kids who were enjoying their swimming. But he was so interested in enjoying with the kids that we were not able to restrain him from going out of the cottage and stand along the side of the pool - protecting himself from the rain with an umbrella.

A little later, we called him. Cherry has brought Lance's paracetamol and as eager as he is to be able to enjoy the pool, we didn't have difficulty in making him drink the medicine. But still we didn't allow him to enjoy the water. Then after a few minutes we saw him running from one side of the pool to the other crossing the short bridge that separates the pool into two areas. He was no longer using the umbrella though droplets of rain still fall. I uttered a short prayer that God may grant him healing that very moment so that he would be able to enjoy with the other children.

Of course there were no dramatic sound effects that followed not even a rainbow of colors that appeared. But a few moments later, Lance was already enjoying the pool with his cousins as if he had no high temperature just a few hours ago. It was a little miracle - I believe - which God has granted to him because God love's children very much He doesn't want them to be left behind during times of fun and enjoyment.

God granted our son his wish to enjoy! It was truly an early Christmas gift which He bestowed upon our son!