I Need a Title (Help! Anyone?)

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New Year (2012) is two days away and rightfully everyone who craves for:

1. a new start,
2. a high jump or a strong kick,
3. a drastic change,
4. an improvement of this or that sort,
5. deleting old rugged attitude and adding new positivism,
6. or in other words, setting a GOAL,

this celebration is a ‘can’t wait to happen’ event. No matter where you are or what language you speak, or religion you are affiliated to, culture or family you were born into, we all experienced, set and tried to reach a goal – all for the sake of a better living, personal or communal. Goal (s) is that driving force; a motivation; a work in progress which gives someone a chance to draw out one’s potentialities and discover that there is more to life. Goal can be an answer to boredom and monotonous lifestyle.

I am into it. I am setting goals for myself. Not that my life had been boring or unproductive. It’s because I wanted to be more productive along with some personal issues I need to deal with. It is with this deep conviction and inspired spirit that I would like to set and work on a specific goal, i.e.

Using my “Every Page Counts” blog, I will keep an everyday journal, starting on January 1^st 2012 until December 31of the same year, about different people whom I will meet in the streets of Rome or any place I will be at. I will have a chat or dialogue with whoever he/she is about any or specific concern he/she has in life. My GOAL for such encounter is to extract some values which can help me in my everyday life to become better, as a person, a Filipino, a Roman Catholic, a Dominican religious priest, a student.

However there are some limitations and disclaimers about this goal:

1. This is not a scientific research or study. This is a personal blog.
2. Should an instance arise with respect to the person’s confidentiality, I will not state his/her real name, post a photo and personal data (s). I will however use general name(s) to describe about the encounter.
3. Language barrier.
4. The opinion (s) of the writer and the other person may not necessarily represent or constitute the view(s) of a group people or of the general public.
5. Should anyone wish to copy, print or use the content(s) of the blog, an email to the writer or a request placed in the comment space will suffice. However, the writer will not be responsible on the manner it will be used.
6. I reserve the right to change the contents of this blog or to discontinue it at any time, as well as the right to deny access to the blog to any person whom I have reasonable grounds to believe may be using the blog, photos and information for an unlawful or unauthorized purpose or in a manner that may harm the writer and the person(s) involve in the encounter.

Finally, to quote the Dalai Lama, “I truly believe that individuals can make a difference in society. Since periods of change such as the present one come so rarely in human history, it is up to each of us to make the best use of our time to help create a happier world.”

     

We are Responsible

Mt 2.13-18

As we remember the solemn martyrdom of the Holy Innocents today, my prayers go to the innocent victims of tragedies all over the world, either caused by nature or humans. Recently the southern part of the Philippines suffered a great loss of hundreds of innocent lives. Worse of the scenario, it happened several days before Christmas. I can imagine a similar “Rachel wails for her children, for they are no” situation among the victims’ loved ones. Any tragedy has a devastating effect in one’s life, oftentimes shaking one’s faith in God. Perhaps you would agree with me in asking ‘can the Church’s celebration of the feast of the Holy innocents be a consoling hope to the people of the said tragedy?’ Or ‘can there be an appropriate word or gesture to comfort them?’ It takes a leap of faith, courage and similar experience to tell them that everything will be alright.

To understand the wisdom behind God’s plan of salvation is to look deeply in the ‘order’ of things and how our negligent participation breaks its harmony. Chaos is never to be denied because Scriptures (Gen 1.2) made clear of its existence as part of creation account. However, we should distinguish that creation is about order, chaos is a disorder. Thus, disorder cannot be attributed to God (Creator), although God permits it to exist. St Augustine speaks that the power of God is so great that He can extract good out of ‘chaos’. But the question becomes more serious now, is it just to sacrifice many lives so that good can come out of it? Justice now speaks of our liberty and capacity to either avoid or cause chaos.

In the Gospel today, Matthew did not concern himself on the question in connection with the suffering of the innocent lives of children (and their ‘mothers’). It does not bother him that ‘God saves his Son at the expense of innocent people’. St John Chrysostom has another and rather quite bizarre position when he said “nothing good would have come from them anyway, since there can be no innocent human suffering.” While other interpretations claim that the children were ‘permitted’ to die for Christ because it is better than living in sin. Indeed, this explanation is easy to understand for a man (woman) of faith; Martyrdom after all is an act of faith.

But “chaos’ is also our doing when we neglect our duty to become good stewards of earth; when we refused to take responsibility to be our brothers’ (sisters) keeper; when we removed ourselves to God’s order. It will drive anyone insane to acquire power, fame and wealth by and for himself (herself), like Herod’s struggle for power which caused the lives of innocent children of Bethlehem. In relation to this, many critics blamed the tragedy in Iligan and Cagayan De Oro cities to the ‘illegal, irresponsible and evil’ mining businesses in the areas owned and managed by wealthy families and government heads. We all know what these critics are pointing out. If such was the cause of the martyrdom of hundreds of innocent lives, such tragedy is not only unjust but morally wrong. If proven, they should be held responsible.

But we are responsible too. For as long as we allow such self-imposed policies, negligent and careless attitude towards our environment and welfare of others, we will be held responsible for every innocent life and our future loss will be more than the wailing that is being expressed in the Gospel, for our soul will forever be void. The martyrdom of the Holy Innocents expresses grief and loss, but it also convince us to hold on to our faith, that God is in control, and that we are in good hands.

May I take this opportunity to ask your generosity (material, humanitarian or spiritual) to help the victims of the recent tragedy in the southern part of the Philippines. May God bless us!

Martyrdom with the correct attitude

December 26, 2011

Basilica de S. Pudenziana

Feast of St Stephen, First Martyr

Mt 10.17-22

Acts 6.8-10 7.54-59

1.    Life is full of CONTRADICTIONS.

2.    Life is UNFAIR (our common understanding of being fair is “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.)

3.    GOD is always Fair (not equality but EQUITY).

4.    Are we aware of what we have? What do we do with what we have? Are we living the life we are supposed to live, or doing the task we are asked to fulfill?

5.    WE are full of CONTRADICTIONS, We are UNFAIR. (v21 speaks of man’s contradiction. The use of familial relationship made the contradiction graver).

c/o catholictradition.org

     6.BIRTH and DEATH are necessary course in life. Indeed a difficult process (especially if they are caused by man’s fault) but part of a greater purpose, a noble plan of a loving, caring, compassionate and merciful Creator God (v22 makes sense by highlighting the promise of a reward to them who will endure).

.    7.  Profession vs. Vocation – service for a fee vs. service for free (sacrifice).

      8.CHRISTIAN VOCATION – “Love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, and mind, and soul, and love your ‘brothers and sisters’ as you love yourself”. Love is our vocation and it involves sacrifice, even to the point of martyrdom.


   There are people who allow themselves to be 'martyred' for the wrong reason. Martyrdom is never an act of foolishness nor about fad but martyrdom is about true and noble act for the sake of the Beloved.

          9. St Stephen, pray for us. Amen.

The Road to HOME

As clock ticks faster to Christmas day people are doing a lot of different and exuberant preparations. Some people may frown on the idea of the hustles and bustles the Yuletide season brings, which after all being celebrated every year, so what’s the point? But still for many, this time of the year is one of the most anticipated celebrations. It brings everybody ‘together’ to a dwelling place where we feel safe and loved. This is the reason why we claim that Christmas makes all roads lead to home. But what is the true idea of home?  How familiar are we to our true ‘dwelling place’?

In the First Reading (2Sm 7.8b-12, 14a, 16), we heard of David ‘dreaming’ of building a house for the Lord (the Ark). His conscience dictates the ‘righteous’ thing to do. But the Lord through Nathan spoke of a promise instead – a sure and everlasting establishment of David’s house (for the people of Israel, and all generations). It must be a sweet and melodious music in David’s ears; a perfect Christmas gift in the use of our language today. Here we have a God assuring us of a dwelling place which nobody can afford, not even a great king like David.

Unfortunately, we are not convinced. We still entertain the idea of “promises are made to be broken”. We may foolishly ask how, after all the collapse, landslide and devastating attack in our lives, can we still hold on to the promise on whether ‘David’s house’ was really confirmed, blessed and established forever? Or can we not?   

Let us ‘examine’ the Gospel Reading today. (Lk 1.67- 80) We have heard of a ‘speaking’ and joyful Zechariah, blessing God for what He had done. Is it not true that we only value the importance of health after we recovered from illness, or we appreciate life after a loss of someone dear to us? or the need of God after going through a difficult journey? Poor Zechariah shared the same sentiments with us by posing the ‘wrong’ question at the ‘right’ time.  And after not being able to say a word for nine months, it is but natural for him to be grateful for having regained his speech. Obviously those ‘silent nine’ months humbled him and made him say the Benedictus.

Benedictus is one of the three great hymns (Magnificat, Nunc Dimittis) in the Gospel of Luke. This hymn in particular expresses three elements:

1.    The emphasis on the mercy of God. (as symbolized by having regained his speech)

2.    On the fulfillment of God’s promise. (as symbolized by the birth of his son, John)

3.    “God has been gracious”. (as symbolized by the realization of the ‘Messianic’ hopes of the  nation)

Just as God used the many exiles of his people as a moment of reawakening, so is the “sounding off and on” of Zechariah symbolizes the same message to us. God would not be so hard hearted as to give us a taste of new life only to abandon us to our weaknesses. God has been gracious to the point He ‘uses’ our stubbornness to show that a change of heart will bring about the fulfillment of His promise.

God speaks of what He will do for us more than what we may be able to do for Him. David dreams of building the Lord a house, a dwelling place he thought fitting for God. However, God promised David that He will build a ‘royal’ house for him and his descendants, where his people and everyone will dwell forever.

That promise was never and will never be in vain as Zechariah proclaimed his praise and thanksgiving, recognizing the fulfillment of the covenant God made to Abraham and his children.  This point erases our foolish questioning of God’s ability to keep his promises, rather convince us that there is none like our God. It does give us a picture on two things we should be confident about all the time: be grateful for everything, and never cease to hope, because after all, it is “not because of who I am, but because of what God has done; not because of what I’ve done but because of who God is”.

Though it is proper to say thank you for all the blessings we receive, however, it is important that we find the reason(s) for our thanksgiving. As we joyfully await the Birth of The Messiah, may we find the road that will bring us to our real abode. Amen.

Muted Messenger

Gospel: Lk 1. 57-66

First Reading: Mal 3. 1-4, 23-24

Both the Gospel and First Reading speak of the idea of a “Messenger”, whose duty is to go before and prepare the way of the Lord. In the strict sense, the messenger does not bring the Good News, because it is Christ who brings the Good News, and the Good News himself. What the messenger does is to:

1.  Remind – God cares. That even life is complicated, God cares; that even our decision and liberty sway, doing evil than doing what is pleasing to God, God cares; that even there are multitudes of suffering and evil things around us, God cares.

2.    Convince – God’s plan of salvation will happen and will succeed. It would seem that the plan of God is thwarted by the unfaithfulness of the ‘many’ but fortunately, there are ‘some few’ who remain faithful to Him, and through them we have hope that it will happen in due time.

There is Salvation because of two great truths:

1.    We have a loving, forgiving, merciful and good God in our midst. His faithfulness is to the extent that He will never give up on us, nor will abandon or leave us.

2.    We sinned and therefore in need of salvation. We need to be saved from our ‘forgetfulness’, from our ‘failures’, from our being 'complacent' and being 'arrogant'.

The first reading speaks of the promised Messenger after pointing out to the priests and the people of Israel how they turned their backs on the Lord. As I see it, “condemnation” is not the message of God’s salvation, but it is “mercy and compassion”.

God is actively working as we have already realized. Now, our cooperation is what is being asked from us. We have to do our part. We can never be passive in the work of God.

Faith is an important element in our participation and cooperation with God. Faith is but the complete submission of will to the highest Truth. It will be tested in the course of time which may prompt us to make a detour: doubt, give up, arrogantly challenge God. This is precisely what happened to Zechariah who posed the wrong question, “Really??” As a consequence he became ‘mute’ for a long period of nine months. Sometimes it takes us that long to realize and acknowledge the goodness of the Lord, to believe that He is God.

Faith motivated by love makes our hope stronger, clearer and more desirable.

Things happen for a reason. Things happen, whether good or not so good because it is motivated by love, by that Great Love, who is the reason why despite of everything we can still have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.