We Remember, We Celebrate, We Believe!

Remembering entails recollection and identification. We recollect the happenings that occurred in the past and identify ourselves with them. We recall how on that day, at that particular place and with the familiar faces we had experienced a new dimension of life. Normally, we prefer to only remember the great happenings in life which brought us joy and fulfillment. Our selective memory almost immediately abrogates the bad happenings and experiences which brought us pain, sorrow and disappointment. And how is that impossible to do when obviously there is nothing to celebrate about?

c/o fr Felix Hernandez Mariano, OP

Ash Wednesday is the start of the season of Lent for Roman Catholics. Lent in the Christian tradition, is the preparation of the faithful — through prayer, penitence, alms giving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. It calls us to repentance and it could be done in many forms like placing ashes on the foreheads of the adherents. Ashes were used in ancient times to express grief or sorrow, and dusting oneself with it signifies repentance – an expression of grief for sins and faults. There are many verses in the Bible which attest to its practice. (Job 42: 3-6; Jr 6:26; Dn 9:3, 1Mc 3:47; 4:39, Jonah 3:6, Mt 11:21, Lk 10:13, Hb 9:13)

Our celebration is always accompanied by past events and by remembering them we then put meaning to the celebration: remembering is one of the important reasons why we hold celebrations like celebrating Independence Day, Birthday, Wedding Anniversary, and School Foundation Day. In the Catholic tradition, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is the “source and summit of the Christian life…for in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch” (CCC 1324). We remember and by remembering, we come into the knowledge and realization of God’s love.

c/o fr Felix Hernandez Mariano, OP

And today is the celebration of God’s love. We celebrate by remembering who we are: how our humanity is tainted by sin and corruption, our need of God, and our dependence on God for our salvation. We are like the prodigal son in the Gospel of Luke, who came into his senses by remembering the love of his father, and how his wickedness led him to that difficult state. He decided to reform his life through repentance, admission and surrender. What followed next was a great jubilation, a celebration of victory and life. As we remember our defeat and victory, our death and resurrection, our humanity and the Divine love we receive, we should also celebrate. Our celebration brings hope for a new beginning, brings praise and gratitude, and brings joy and excitement. 

It is the same reason why the celebration of the Ash Wednesday, Via Crucis, fasting and abstinence, self purification and alms giving still make sense today. There is no celebration without remembering, and there is no remembering when there is no personal participation. The story of the two disciples of Jesus going to Emmaus is a classical example of recollection, identification and celebration; how they were able to recognize the risen Lord in the breaking of the bread. I believe that today’s celebration and that of the whole season of Lent is not so much a matter of obligation but of personal conviction – that we “remember that thou art dust, and to dust thou shall return”. (Gen 3:19).

Curiosity Strikes!

Gian Adrian Crisostomo

For a curious mind there is no word but why. And who has this type? They are the scientists, philosophers, theologians and artists. But I say a child growing up. As grown ups we may find ourselves in one or all or not even among the disciplines I mentioned but we have one commonality: we were once children and we had that thirst for knowing. The environment we were exposed to plays a major and essential factor to the development of our inquisitive mind. Either we progress or digress. One thing is important to consider though, there is always limit to what we can know.

Mark, in today’s Gospel presented and greatly emphasized the disciples’ limitation in knowing and understanding. Jesus spoke the words, ‘do you not understand?’ twice. Interestingly, Mark put the words understanding, heart and remembering as key points for a genuine and comprehensive understanding. How the disciples did not understand, still with a hardened hearts, and failed to remember only accentuate their limitedness. Jesus seemingly sounded already fed up.

But here’s the wisdom behind. Mark’s emphasis of the disciples’ limited knowledge and understanding: "Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember?..."Do you not yet understand?" (Mk 8: 14-21), greatly emphasized how patient and loving Teacher and Master Jesus is.

c/o obitpatrol.blogspot.com

When a child asks too many whys and we ran out of answers and explanations, we just stopped, maybe a bit annoyed but never holding a grudge. But when a grown up someone keeps on asking whys, even after your hundred times explanations it could only have two reasons: 1. the person’s ability to understand already reached its limit 2. the person is ABnormal (A for angry, B for bitter or in layman’s term A-hole and B****. excuse me for the words). I see you smiling because you know its true and are surrounded by many.

To deal with it (or them) is to draw out the lesson Jesus taught his disciples, and the lesson Jesus is educating us today: the virtue of Patience. The Greek word μακροθυμία or long suffering entails: a description of a spirit which never gives in and endures in the end, and a spirit which stomachs injury and insult but refuses to take revenge or retaliate. If we can challenge ourselves to possess such ability, then even when we’re at the brink of “Do you not yet understand?", we can still accept, love and stay with that someone. After all, God has been patient and loving with you and me a long time ago, and He still continues to do so.

You ask me why?...Oh, you’re cute and I just love you!!

Heartless

Valentine’s Day is always about love, and always accompanied with chocolates, flowers, dates and gifts. Flower shops, chocolate stores and restaurants must be the luckiest businesses around, maybe even grossing sales higher than movies and music, and winning big time than those on stock marketing. This is not to exaggerate the celebration because it is really a big thing – for ‘lovers’.

But if Valentine’s Day is all about love then today must be the best day to live life. If love is what makes this day a celebration fantastic to the maximum level, then everything contrary must be absent. You know today is crime free, forgive and forget, no induced abortion, divorce and suicide cases day. Newspapers and news telecast must talk nothing but good, true and happy stories. You may think it’s too superlative but it is supposed to be like that, ideal but possible.

But we know it is not the case. From dragging one self to get up, to coming late to work, to getting too inquisitive about other people’s business, then saddened by crimes and injustices reported on news, increasingly being diluted by the economic and political pressures, battling with confused and addictive behaviors, the many sour and bitter relationships around, we know they continue to exist and happening still, even today. How come on Valentine’s or hearts’ day, the ‘all about love’ day, could we still face and accommodate bad (evil) happenings? Something is missing here.

Is it about the definition of love or understanding love? Or maybe it’s all the time about us? The ancient Greeks adeptly scrutinized and classified love. For them there are four words for love. “There is erōs, which is love between a man and a woman, and which definitely involves sexual passion. There is philia which is the warm affection exists between those who are very near and very dear to each other. There is storgē which is characteristically the word for family affection. And there is this word agapē which is translated either love or charity. The real meaning of agapē is unconquerable benevolence. If we regard a person with agapē, it means nothing that that person can or will ever do will make us seek anything but that person’s highest good.” (William Barclay)

And the answer is loud and clear.

Happy V Day everyone!

A 'Boxed' Decision

for the sake of artistry I used a rather different box

Two nights ago I watched The Box with Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella as lead actors.  The story is a suspense thriller depicted in 1976 America. I should be enjoying watching movies, like this one, but with these reflections, realizations and questions lingering in my mind I can help but to write and involve you.

1. The Choice

They were offered one million dollars tax free, over a death of someone unknown to them, somewhere. All they have to do is to press the button in a little box. Are the Lewises in dire need of money? The story presented us with factors which predisposed the couple to choose for the prize: Arthur’s application to become astronaut was rejected, while Norma’s tuition benefit was cancelled. The couple was left with one question: Do we need that one million dollar?

Norma had found out of her husband’s rejected application and it only augmented the complexity of their trouble. Arthur is positive about getting through the financial burden they have to face but since Norma did not mention to Arthur her difficulty, she was left with the ‘only choice’.

 

2. The Fall

Pushing the button is very similar to eating the forbidden fruit. In the Bible’s creation story, the woman has to endure the multiple pains of giving birth, and of being a wife. Again, the woman is depicted as the ‘culprit’. The man consented but it was she who pushed the button. In the end the woman has to die to save their son’s impairment. To amplify the claim, it was the wives who pushed the button before the box reached and after it was taken from the Lewises.

Is this to present the woman is always at fault? That she deserved to endure multiple pains? Is this to justify enmity and cruelty to women?

3. Redemption 

The wife could not bear to stay alive and see their son in miserable condition. The man was left with a dilemma: to be a father or to be a husband. He chose the former only to realize and end up losing both. He could have convinced his wife to look at the positive side but emotions overshadowed him.

Would this mean the woman’s decision always influences if not completes man’s decision? That man’s EQ is dependent on women? That being emotional hinders rationalization?

To answer these questions would require a lot of arguments and counter arguments, prayerful reflections, philosophical and theological discussions. I guess I will just content and submit myself to such requirements, that answers are processes enclosed in time. 

However, it might help to know three factors which have substantial effect in our lives: 1. how a ‘succulent’ offer can change lives. 2. how with a ‘push of a button’ can one’s life be judged and ended. 3. how sacrifice is always indispensable for salvation.

Glued!

(Mk 6:30-34)

Change is inevitable. Actually, as many philosophers would argue change is the only permanent thing in this world. But for someone to be able to adapt to change, the person needs to make a decision. Whatever choice there is available, one has to choose. People cannot have everything so they say but actually one can have everything by his/her choice. That’s the beauty in exercising our freedom to choose. It is liberating. It should be liberating.

But why many people unhappy and seemingly unfulfilled? Is it the product of a wrong decision or is it because of the fact a person cannot have everything and is limited with his/her choice? Again, one can get everything with one’s free and willing decision. I believe the greatest challenge lies not on how to possess every opportunity life presents but it is when the time the person stretches his/her limit to stick to his/her choice.

(from a 2011 calendar)

Jesus has a choice. He could have said no to everyone, “Sorry, we’re closed! Come back tomorrow.” But his choice was pushed to its edge by ‘and when He saw the crowd, he took pity on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd.’ His choice was challenged by a more noble purpose. This is one among the many instances that invites Jesus’ followers to exercise the power to choose and fueled by that dignified cause, glued to make it happen no matter what.

This leaves us two truths about life, or in particular about making a choice:

1. Choice is the very foundation of our destiny.
2. Life is a series of choices. Nobility bridges the gap.

Finally, as St Agatha, virgin and martyr, and whose memorial we celebrate today aptly and beautifully uttered: "My courage and my thought be so firmly founded upon the firm stone of Jesus Christ, that for no pain it may not be changed; your words be but wind, your promises be but rain, and your menaces be as rivers that pass, and how well that all these things hurtle at the foundement of my courage, yet for that it shall not move."

Men of Incongruity (Mk 3: 13-19)

I sometimes ask other people on the opinion why are we so diverse in culture, race and religion? Some would say God made it that way so that life would not be boring. Others would insist diversity is an appreciation of God’s greatness and beauty. However, in my opinion diversity creates in us a dawning realization that we are born to be men and women of incongruity, that being such matters most to God. When God took the human form and dwelt among us He clothed himself with incongruity, an inconceivable wisdom and choice. This proves to show that ‘inappropriateness’ is a good thing, and actually is an advantage.

 Today Jesus chose the twelve not because of their suitability but because of their incongruity; not because of their fullness, but out of their emptiness they were selected and made to become ‘men for others’. Human standards aim to create the perfect choice, which is not bad at all. The problem lies on human’s denial of the need for God, and to make the matter worst it is God who needs men. The choosing of the twelve and Mark’s account of describing some of them bring forth the conclusion, and I quote from Casting Crown’s ‘Who am I’ song: “not because of who I am, but because of what You've done; not because of what I've done, but because of who You are”.

Formosa, Filipinos, Faith

Two Kinds of Baptism

There are two baptisms mentioned in the New Testament: the baptism of John and that of Jesus. John is the baptism of repentance; Jesus’ baptism is of water and Spirit. In today’s Gospel Jesus started to baptize by preaching the Good News and calling His first four disciples.

Jesus’ baptism is an invitation, responsibility and commitment all together.

It is an invitation that we change our old ways and make ourselves new. To come to repentance is to desire for transformation.

It is a responsibility because we are to keep the promise alive, maintaining the changed self, and consciously growing in solidarity with God.

It is a commitment because following Jesus entails an endless journey; an on-going process of dying to oneself and reborn to a new life.

c/o drob737.blogspot.com

It is no wonder why we are always encouraged to renew our vows to God each day, because like our baptism, we are in need to be always re awakened. 

新約裡面提到兩個洗禮：若翰的洗禮和耶穌的。若翰是悔改的洗禮，耶穌的洗禮是用水和火。在今天的福音耶穌開始施洗由傳福音，並要求他的第一個四位門徒跟隨祂。

耶穌的洗禮是一個邀請，責任和承諾都在一起。 

它是一個邀請我們改變舊的方式，使自己成為'全新的我'。若要悔改，必須有轉變的渴望。 

它是一種責任，因為我們要信守承諾活著，保持改變自我，自己與天主日益團結。

它是一個承諾，因為跟隨耶穌需要一種無盡的旅程，對自己的死亡與再新的生活是 一個持續的過程。

這也難怪為什麼我們總是鼓勵我們的誓言每一天向天主更新，是因為像我們的洗禮，我們需要總是重新喚醒。

Newness with an Attitude

What is it in New Year that we welcome its coming by firework displays and a loud bang? Is it the coming of the New Year that we are celebrating about or the newness of the year brings? It could be both but I think the bottom line is we see in New Year a new chance, beginning and hope. But if it is all about new chance, new beginning and new hope that we anticipate in the celebration of the New Year, why don’t we celebrate instead the New Day? In this case we don’t have to wait for a whole year to anticipate a new beginning? The truth is each day can be a celebration of hope, chance and beginning because ‘change starts with a decision’.

For some people a new beginning starts when a child is born, or during a marriage proposal. For others it starts after a full recovery from sickness. Still for many of us it starts after completing a degree or landing an ideal job. This only proves that we are always aiming for a better and fulfilled life. And what better way to celebrate life than to do it at the beginning of the year. We lit fireworks or blow the paper made trumpet or play a loud music hoping that they could ward off the jinx of the past year.  We set and make a list of New Year resolutions in order to become a better person. In other words, we want to achieve the fullness of life.

But the celebration of New Year is not all about the list of things to do or goals to achieve but also an opportunity to show gratitude; to be thankful for all that had happened in the whole year both the good and the bad. Whether they are achievements or failures, merits or misfortunes we should be thankful that it happened because they helped us build our dreams, encouraged us to aim higher, allowed us to appreciate and understand that life is worth living for. Whether in sorrow or pain we should give thanks to the Lord for his love endures forever.

But who would know for sure that this New Year will be a better year than last year for you and me? How can we be sure that we will have the opportunities we long to have? Is it not that everything is hanging on the idea that things would work out smooth and on our favor? In this case we should approach the New Year with faith, trust and confidence in God. We should completely allow Him to manifest Himself to us and submit our dependence on Him.

And I believe this is the wisdom behind why the Catholic Church aptly made January 1^st the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Mary is the perfect example of a person who anticipates with complete confidence and trust in God. St Luke mentioned that Mary, kept everything in her heart for the Son born to her, infant as He is, already surrounds Him with marvelous things. From the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel announced that she found favor with God, to her visit to her cousin Elizabeth who greeted her ‘blessed are you among women’, to the birth of her Son, to the time of Jesus’ circumcision where Simeon announced to her that ‘a blade will pierce’ her heart, to the finding of Jesus in the temple, to the wedding at Cana, and at last at the foot of the Cross, Mary finally understood the things she kept in her heart. It took thirty-three (33) years for Mary to understand her ‘Fiat’ to God.

And so as we approach the New Year, let us be reminded of the attitude our Blessed Mother exhibited as she confronts the uncertainties of life. Like Mary we should be observant, silent, uncomplaining. We should be Observant not on other people’s business but on the needs of other people; observant not to the point of meddling or trespassing but understanding the wisdom why things happened that way.  We should maintain a Silent approach to life because God speaks to us in silence. The world already has an unbearable noise brought about by people who do not know how to shut up their big mouths. We should exercise Appreciation rather than complaining because he/she complains will never finish the race. And even if one finished the race it will be a bitter and sour victory because he/she did not enjoy the race, because one is busy ranting and complaining.

Instead may we heed the commandments of God, as in the first reading, to approach the New Year with a blessing, gratitude and prayer: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace. The Lord makes His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you.” With such attitude we are sure we are in good hands, and that there’s nothing we can’t accomplish with God.

Happy and a grace-filled Year 2011 and beyond!

Living La Dolce Vita

I have many things to thank God for as we end the year 2010, and have a lengthy list of things to improve, accomplish, and to look forward too. It means, I would be forever expressing my gratitude to God, and to all the beautiful and challenging people through whom He made His Presence and Being felt.

January: South Bishop's right hand

February: My heart rejoiced ‘exuberantly’

March: Home Sweet Home

April: A Mêlée Won

May: Assorted Moments

June: Embraced Servanthood

July: Packing and Unpacking

August: Full of Firsts’

September: Yes Man

October: Never Ending Celebrations

November: Health Awareness

December: Welcoming

Thank you God, for everything!