Jesus Is The One Who Makes It Happen

St. Paul, on one occasion noticed that the Christians in Corinth had become boastful and full of pride for their achievements. They recognized their leaders as fully responsible for all of these. It resulted to factions and divisions. Paul reminded them that their leaders were mere instruments of the true leader who is Jesus. Nobody can really make things happen without the assistance of God. No matter how intelligent, powerful, and famous we are, we are still dependent on God.

This is also our belief in our departed, the Saints, angels, and Mary. They are intercessors. They are not the source of grace nor they obtain the graces for us. Our intercessors give us an example of how they themselves had obtained the graces that made them who they are. They are our models. We see their lives as examples of how we, ourselves, can benefit well from God's love. God is the Creator. God is the sustainer of life. God is the Savior!

Love Prevails!

Love is the essence of marriage. As I had said in one of my previous blogs, Catholic marriages are testimonies for the love between Jesus and His Church. Love can transcend everything; differences in attitudes, family background, status, and even religion. Yes, even religion! The very vow the couple makes, "To love and to cherish, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, for better for worse, till death do them part.", means that whatever happens after their marriage celebration, they will be together. Their love for each other will see them through.

Husbands and wives go through a lot of challenges and problems during their married life. They range from financial issues to extra-marital relations. But their love for each other is what would see them through those tests. Forgiveness can only be possible because of love.

That is why the decision to love can not be confused with "feeling in love". Feelings change. They are not permanent. They are reactions to experiences. The decision to love is absolute. No matter what happens, that love stands. Actually, there is nothing in marriage that can not be touched and healed by love. Because of love, the husband and the wife can go through anything successfully. That is how powerful the decision to love is. It is this kind of love that the couple expresses to each other during their marriage rite and it is that decision that they will carry out during their life of marriage.

That is why preparation before marriage is very important. It has to be clear that they are deciding to love each other. As the song says, "Kahit maputi na ang buhok ko.." (even if my hair had turned gray...). It means that love does not change with change. It persists and even grows as they live longer together. Just like wine, love is sweeter and better as they grow older.

God so love the world....

Love prevailed. Love prevails. Love will prevail.

Marriage is forever. God made it so. Jesus loved the Church unto death and even beyond death.

Who Is Behind This....?

It is the first day of September and in most shows on television and radio, we can here greetings for and references to Christmas. The Christmas Season, which is yet to happen and be celebrated four moths from now, is now being anticipated. It seems to even disregard and render the Advent Season irrelevant.

I know that many will react to this and may even accuse me of over-reacting or making a mountain out of a hill. But I simply can not just take all of these sitting down and watch the spirit of the season be eaten alive or lose by default. Things are happening as if the truth of Christmas is not known. Or, the accepted celebration is already obsolete? 

Christmas is a Jesus-event. It is the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the information of many. If we look at the birth of the Lord, it has a distinct message. In fact, when He was born, it was a silent night, a holy night. He was born in a manger. There were no fun fares. Quietly He was born not in a palace or glamorous place but in a manger, a home for animals. That was the first Christmas and it was God's way of fulfilling His promise that He will be with us. That is why Jesus was named "Emmanuel", meaning "God with us!". God became one like us to extend His peace. Peace here means reconciliation. At that time when Jesus was born, the world was in dire need of conversion. God's plan was to give His only Son to die for us after bringing the Good News of salvation. It is in this context that the Advent Season, a time of repentance and reflective anticipation of the birth and the second coming of the Lord Jesus, is first celebrated so as to fully and truly receive the grace of the birth of Jesus which is called "Christmas". Unless there is another Christmas, then I believe we stick to how it must be celebrated or change its name so as not to mistake it with those who want to celebrate Christmas in their own different way. In that way, confusion will be avoided!

Commercialism maybe behind all these. The earlier they can introduce the Christmas spirit, the longer will be the spending season. Hedonism may also be operating. People just try every opportunity to shun from sacrifices and sufferings. Every chance of enjoying is being grabbed and experienced. Ignorance is also a factor. The lack of knowledge of the true meaning of Christmas easily sways and influences many. There maybe other reasons but all the same, they affect and contribute to the dilution, and worst, secularization of a core-Jesus-event in the life of the Christian faithful.

The challenge to the Catholic Church grows harder and harder each year this practice is being done. She must find a way to cope with it. Is a compromise solution acceptable? Is it possible to allow it and just remind people about the essence of Christmas? The Church does not reject changes to things that maybe changed as long as the core message is retained. This would need a thorough and deep discernment of the signs of the times. In the meantime, let us strive not just to be easily swayed by all the forces around us, but seek sincerely what is being offered by the season. In the end, what is at stake is not just the happy and meaningful celebration of every Christmas but the grace it gives that we must be able to receive.

Success, Maybe A Blessing Or A Curse

So many times have I heard of somebody who, because of success, had a change in way of life. Unfortunately, the change was not always for the good but at times was for the bad.

No, I do not mean that it is bad to be successful. I mean, success does not always lead to happiness, or goodness, or contentment. If not handled well, it can make one very proud, alone, and lonely. It can destroy relationships like marriages, families, friendship, and even faith!

There is always the tendency to work and work and strive so hard to produce and be successful. We always have that drive to excel. We always want more. "Strike while the iron is hot!" "Make hay while the sun shines." "Seize every opportunity. It may never come again." Unfortunately, it is not that simple. Hand in hand with success are temptations. Many opportunities are opened with new successes. Some of these opportunities are like "land mines" that may blow anyone who step on them. Success, when not handled and managed well maybe a curse and not a blessing.

I know of one doctor who lived a simple life before. He has a very happy family. He always had time with his wife and children. All of these changed when he became more successful in his profession. He became very capable financially, met a lot of new acquaintances, and got involved with some vices. Worst, he got a mistress. Since then, his whole life became complicated and miserable. He lost his wife, alienated his children, clients became rare, and he was remiss in his profession. The success that should have made him contented and happy made him deserted and sad.

This should remind us that temptations are always present all the time. Just like the devil who tempted the Lord Jesus on the mountain; after trying so many times, it stopped for a while and waited for the proper time. The proper time is when Jesus was weak. The proper time was when Jesus was in need to obey His Father. That is why it reappeared in the Jesus' agony in the garden. Jesus was making the decision to go through His death and suffering. The devil was trying to seduce Jesus not to go through it, i.e. disobey His Father's Will. Recognizing the situation, which was symbolized by the offer of the cup of wine, Jesus drank it in agreement to the plan for Him to suffer and die on the cross.

Each of us will always have that situation. We must imitate Jesus in not being seduced by the devil's offer but embracing God's  saving Will. In that way, everything in our life, specially successes, would be a blessing and not a curse.

Perspectives...

A certain event witnessed by many people would be seen from different angles. Even news reporters, making an account of an event would have some differences in their stories. The Gospel writers were witnesses to the same Jesus-event, and yet, they had some differences in the details of their accounts. Even in the book of the Acts of the Apostles, the same writer making an account of the same event of the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus (three accounts), gave different details. The substantial facts were however present. This is because each would see the event from their own perspectives. The vantage point and the condition of the reporter matter a lot in the construction of the story.

There is the story of three masons working in the construction of a church. The three were asked how they see their work? The first said that he was earning for his family. The second said that he was mixing cement. The third said that he was building a church. The first sees his work as money for his daily needs. The second sees it as work in which he is using his skill and strength. The third sees it as mission. Three people having the same work but seeing their work differently.

I remember when we were having our fund raising for our new church. There were a lot of donors. It would be good to know how they see their donations in relation to the church. What as their purpose n donating. One time, in our donation room, I chanced upon two ladies giving their donations. I saw that they were simple people. I learned that they were working as house helps in  one of the houses in the village. Interviewing them, I learned that they were donating a relatively big amount (500 pesos) per month! I asked them why they were doing it? I said that the amount is very substantial compared to how much they earn. They said that the amount is really very small compared to what it would accomplish They saw their donation not a loss ('kawalan") but as an opportunity to be part of the church's apostolate and salvific work "Father, I am consoled and excited by the fact that my small contribution would be a part in the construction of the church and therefore will make me a part of every Baptism, Marriage, Confirmation, Eucharist, reconciliation and other activities which would lead to the salvation of many. Just the thought of being a part of every ministry of this church is enough to make me make this sacrifice!" I was in awe hearing their answer. What a perspective! With due respect to others who donated with other noble purposes, this tops them all! Needless to say, I was moved by their perspective. I just hoped all who donated in the construction of our church would own or graduate to this excellent and correct perspective.

Our vantage point limits our capacity to see the whole event. This should make us humble. We must always be reminded that we only see part of the whole reality But it should not limit us to see things always in the right perspective. Seeing things with the right perspective inspires us to keep on going. It makes us feel at peace with what we are doing no matter how difficult and challenging they maybe. It It also assures us that we are being relevant, fruitful and meaningful.

Life is not about what you have but what you do with what you have. It is not just about accomplishing things but accomplishing them with the right purpose and the right way. It is not about feeling for what you are losing in giving but what you are gaining in the process of giving.

Perspectives...perspectives...perspectives...There are actually many. But only God's is the true one!