emmanuel

malaking pagkakamali

2012-02-08T03:46:00.000-08:00

>Noong akoy nagaaral pa akala ko pagkatapos ng theology magkakaroon ako ng mas maraming oras upang patuloy kong magawa ang blog na ito. Sa dalawang taon ng aking pagkapari pagkatapos ng pagaaral ng aking napatunayan sa aking sarili na isang napakalaking pagkakamali na isipin na hadlang ang akong pagaaral upang magawa ko ang aking ninanais.Dalawang taon ang lumipas ang ngayon ko palang muling nagawang buksan ang blog na ito. ano bang naging dahilan ng pangyayaring ito? Oras ba ang dahilan? Ang katunayan hindi oras ang problema ngunit ang disiplinang gawin ang mga bagay bagay na nais kong gawin ang naging handalang upang hindi ko matugunan ang maraming kong ninanais na gawin. Naway sa aking kamulatan sa pangyayaring ito ay akin ng matutunang disiplinahin ang sari upang makamtan ang mga bagay bagay na aking minimithi. Emmanuel naway ito ang maging ispirasyon ko upang mapamahagi ko ang akong pananampalataya... ang aking pagkapari.

love your enemies

2009-12-10T17:08:00.000-08:00

I was sharing my realization to a friend last week. I realized that I am full of anger at that moment. I’m angry with the chaotic situation of the youth in my apostolate, I’m angry to the unprofessional system of our school, I’m angry with arrogant and insecure professors, I’m angry with people who are self-righteous who think they never commit mistakes or does not possessing any imperfection in their being, I’m angry with insensitive, judgmental, indifferent, and backstabber who smile at you but talk about so many negative things when you are not around and I just want to get a grenade and throw it to them to eliminate my anger.
But I was put back and moved to question when I read the Gospel of today. Jesus is not just telling but commanding me “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU.” This moved me to have a discussion with my God for I feel that what Jesus is asking is too much or to hard for me to fulfill. I keep on reading the text again and again hoping that some words will change but even a single word was not moved or eliminated the command of Jesus is very clear.
No words might have change but what happened is my prospective about the Gospel change. “LOVE YOUR ENIMIES, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU.” Does not mean that you will not do anything but to pray for them, instead Jesus is challenging me to go beyond the words of loving. If you really love someone you have to do something to them to help them to change and be a better person. Share your blessing to those who curse you by correcting them and pray for them that they might find strength to amend their ways and Jesus is reminding me to do it out of my love for them.
The Gospel for the past days has one theme and that is going beyond what is ordinary. Jesus is challenging us to do more, to go deeper, and to transcend to what is ordinary. Loving those who are lovable does not stretch our capacity of loving. If we are able to love those who are not lovable we gain credits for we gain growth and deepening to our personhood and of being a Christian.
But the second realization of mine in our Gospel for today is the concept of being merciful. God is asking me to “LOVE YOUR ENIMIES, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, PRAY FOR THOSE WHO MISTREAT YOU” in the name of mercy. Jesus asked me to stop judging others for in reality the things or the people I hate and judge is a reflection of who I am. I’m angry with me for being in chaotic situation to the youth in my apostolate, I’m angry to my unprofessional ways of dealing with others, I’m angry with myself for being so arrogant and insecure, I’m angry with myself for being self-righteous who think I never commit mistakes or does not possessing any imperfection in my being, I’m angry with my insensitive, judgmental, indifferent, and backstabber attitude. I must be merciful and understanding to others for God himself is very merciful and understanding in my short coming. Jesus is just teaching us of what Christy is all about.
Our Gospel for today in challenging each and every one of us to take the challenge of being a Christians by loving unconditionally even our own enemies or those who are unlovable. This is what we should pray to Christ as we continue our Eucharistic celebration let us pray and beg that he may grant us the strength to take the challenges of going beyond our self.

you and your dignity

2009-12-01T17:16:00.000-08:00

Destroy this Temple

Preparing for the Gospel for today that speak about Jesus getting angry to the people selling things outside the temple. I was excited to preach about who the church is. All of us understand in our basic catechism that we are the church the temple of the spirit who gives life. In the Gospel today, Jesus is clearly begging us to stop desecrating the temple. If we will take these words personally we will understand that Jesus is begging us to stop desecrating our self. He is asking us to stop committing sins that destroy his temple… our being.

But I don’t know something in me tells that there is something more in this gospel. I tried to listen more in the inspiration of the spirit and let him be the one to speak. That is way I will beg you if this homily will be too personal. I will not force you to agree but I just want to share the message of the Gospel to me.

Allow me to share to you some of my personal straggles in my formation years. When I was a spirant I was told that I am not fitting to become a postulant for I am effeminate. When I was a postulant I was told that I am not fitting to become a novice for I am entrust worthy for I was accused of stealing something. When I was a novice I was told that I am not fitting to become a Salesian for I am sickly and I don’t know any sports I will not offer something to the young. When I was a student of philosophy I was told that I could not become a practical trainee for I am not intelligent and did not pass my de universa. When I was a practical trainee I was told I’m not fitting to enter theology for I never read the newspaper. Now that I am a student of theology I am told that I am not being a good example of religious life for often you see me not wearing my clerical and I have problem when it comes to relating to others.

With all of these comments I will be honest to say that they put me to crisis. These comments shook my temple. I was angry with so many people to the point of cursing them in giving such comments. These comments were hurtful for some of them are not true and some of it is true and most of the times truth hurts. I tried to reason-out defending my self with all of these things. But I realized the more I defend my self the more I create confusions and more stress in my part. Many times I am force to let go of what I believe to have a peaceful co-existence. But I saw that in the process I’m starting to lose myself. In the processes I realized that I committed the greatest mistakes I ever did and this is losing my identity. So I stop, I stop defending myself, I stop pleasing people stop giving reasons. Instead I just used all of these comments for my personal reflection. They become the source of my self evaluation. I let all of these things help me to see more my motives and my maturity. Though them I get to know myself more I tried not to allow these things desecrate my temple my being.

In our gospel for today Jesus was very angry to see that the temple was desecrated. Jesus did things that many of the people get angry and start questioning him. He became the center of their discussion and sessions. They tried to question him of what authority he is doing all of this things? Jesus firmly answered them by letting them know who he is. I am the “Temple” the temple that carries the covenantal Mercy and love of God. No one will ever stop me in proclaiming him even death. You might destroy me with all your judgmental attitude but in the end truth will always prevail. God my Father will be there to raise me up again.

I am moved of how Jesus knows himself very well. Jesus knows who he is and what he must do. Because of his clear understanding of who he is and his mission he was not afraid to do things he must do.

I think this is the message of the Gospel for today. Jesus is teaching us one basic thing as future pastors. Never, never ever forget who we are and what we are for the moment we forget who we are, we will start desecrating our self the temple God.

Jesus is not totally angry with the things being sold outside the temple. It was very clear that what they are doing is what they believe was the right thing to do. They just want to offer to God what is unblemished. But what makes Jesus angry was that the people are missing the essential the core of everything that they are doing. God doesn’t need rams and bullocks to be offer to Him. What God really want is “us.” For the pass days we been hearing in our readings individuals ready to die, ready to offer one self to God. They understood that everything is owned by God for everything comes from Him. God want us to offer our true self to him and nothing more. That is why Jesus shouted to stop making the house of God a house of thieves. Remember that everything that we have, everything we are is from God. Jesus is stopping us in steeling what is God. Our self belong to God.

My dear brothers do not offer to God what is not true he has made us stop pretending and offering what is not true. Many will criticize you, judge you, question you, joke you or even condemn you about the things you are doing and say that you are not worthy to be offered for you are blemished. But as long as you know yourself, as long as you know what you are doing is not evil or such, let it be that way. As what Jesus said in our Gospel “hang on it. ”Let no one desecrate you sacred Temple …your personhood your dignity. For God has entrusted you to take care of his greatest creation.

love your brothers

2009-08-14T02:38:00.000-07:00

Mt 18:15-20 “Brother who Sin”

Looking at the reality that is happening in our society: poverty, crime, injustice, sickness and immorality, one can feel easily that this generation is hopeless. I personally reach the point of rock bottom wherein I already loose hope for this nation. But I know God indeed works in mysterious ways. Amidst this hopelessness he does something to bring back that hope that is about to whither. The death of former president Cory Aquino brought back that hope that gives a spark to inflame the faith of our nation. She was the lamb that was sacrificed to bring us back in our dignity as a nation.

I saw myself among thousands of people lining up to pay my last respect to the woman who brought back democracy in our country. She made me reflect and transcend my views about what’s happening around me. For five short days we were a nation again united to do one thing and that is to “show gratitude and respect,” to a woman who sacrificed so much for our good. I saw that in every individual Filipino people there is still a heart that knows and ready to show respect, appreciation, love and care both to God and to others. These are the characteristics that made us known to the whole world as Filipino. Cory is indeed an icon of faith for she gave us hope, hope that we can change if we just work as one people.

But I asked myself, what did Cory taught me personally that will make me remember her? In my reflections I realize that Cory did not just reminded me that I am a Filipino but she reminded me that I am a Christian, she taught me how to live my Christian faith. Cory reminded me of the core of Christianity and that is Charity. She lives what she believes. She tried her best not to accept compromises as much as possible. What’s wrong is wrong, what is injustice is injustice and it should be corrected for the love and respect to others. She displayed great love to the nation by correcting what was wrong and not closing her eyes about it.

I think this is what our gospel for today is trying to teach us. Jesus said if your brother sins go and tell his fault. Yes, Jesus is teaching us how to correct our neighbors but in the deeper view Jesus in our Gospel today is reminding us that we are responsible for each other. We must not let our brothers be blinded of his sinfulness but we as his brothers are responsible in correcting those who are in sin. We are not to close our eyes and act as if nothing is happening. In our Salesian tradition we have this “fraternal correction” a way of correcting our brothers with the intentions of helping not hurting. Fraternal correction prevents “grumbling” which for Don Bosco will be the distraction of the community and of the society. By acting or closing our eyes in the wrong doings of our brothers we commit the sin of omission, a sin that every Christian should never commit. I believe that among us no one could possibly say that he is perfect and does not need to be corrected. All of us are journeying towards perfection and as community let us help each other in attaining this goal. I personally wish to thank those brothers who readily corrected me before… I might not be here anymore without them reminding me of my duties and responsibilities to the community. Cory tried her best to correct the injustice in our nation. Jesus himself became man to correct us from our wrong doings and he continually fulfills this.

As we continue our Eucharistic celebration let us pray to God that he might grant us courage, strength, compassion in correcting our neighbor as a sign of our love and concern to them. But let us also ask God that he might grant us an open heart to receive compassionately the correction of others to us.

2009-06-25T07:07:00.001-07:00

Hope

Mt. 8:1-4

I can say to myself that last year was the year when I reached the rock bottom of my faith journey for the past 28 years of my life. Last year I experienced what it was and what is the meaning of being lost.

It all stated before my perpetual profession My mother resigned from her job, then we lost our house, my mother got sick, my brother lost his Catholic faith, one of my sisters had to undergo operation. Then her newly born baby developed heart problem and needed to be hospitalized. My other sister had to be hospitalized with the sickness that we don’t know and not knowing where to get all the money to answer all these needs the family is falling apart. As I was devastated and over-whelmed of what’s happening with my family I lost my edge. Relationships, community life, prayer life and studies all were in a mess. People could not understand me for I myself could not understand my very own self anymore. I felt that I was carrying the whole world in my shoulder. During those times I pray and really prayed, begging God to stop all of these things, but after sleepless nights of praying nothing happened. God seems not to listen to me. Until one day I reached the rock-bottom of my faith… I thought of leaving the seminary and just face the miserable reality of my life. At that moment when I stopped believing… I think I lost my so called faith.

The day before I talked to Fr. Rector to express my intention I locked myself in my room for the whole day not to think over about my decision for I’m already decided but I stayed in my room to savor the last moments of my religious life or for my worst My last moment as a believer. As I was fixing my things I get hold of my sotana tears stated to flow from my eyes. There I fell down on my knees and shouted, cursed and blamed God and ask why, why all this. There while I was lying flat on the floor I felt something extra-ordinary, I felt God was at my side, just at my side whispering words, words that I will never forget. He kept on saying “have faith… have faith and it will move mountain.” In my anger, I said have faith, to whom, to you God? No God I’m over you I’m tired. But he gave me an answer “no not to me john but have faith in yourself don’t lose hope in you!”

Hearing those words made me stop and made me realize that these things are happening to me for I lost one of the most important things in my life and that is hope. I misunderstood what is faith. I was praying, praying to God about the things that I want to happen and not asking him what he wants. I lost my faith for I lost my hope.

There and then I mentioned the most powerful words that I ever found in the Scriptures, “Lord they will be done.” These words are like saying Lord I don’t know what to do anymore please help me. At that moment I felt that God stretched his hand to me and there I received a wonderful gift and that is the gift of hope. A gift that gave me strength to move a little bit of where I was standing and see the mountain in another angle. The moment I received hope I gained once more my faith. Faith is not asking mountain to move but faith asks us to be strong and make a difference in our life and we could only do this if we have hope and that hope is God. I did not lose my faith that day, I did not leave my vocation even though my family is still experiencing the same problems. My mother is still sick, my brother still questions his faith and money still a big problem. I am surviving all of these because I was able to move mountains for I gave God a space to move me even a little bit and see the mountain in a different point of view.

This experience of mine made me connect with the leper in our Gospel of today. He wanted to be free from the sickness, form the suffering that he is experiencing but he never demanded from God he just let God do his will in him. He just hoped that God will save him from his miserable situation. He just said “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” This is if you only wish.

My dear brothers the Gospel today reminds us of how we let God move in our life. Is he the God who follows all your commands or a God to whom you put all your hopes and dreams and you just follow whatever he wills? Do we give the steering wheel to him or we keep on driving wherever we want to go?

2009-06-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

Feast of Immaculate Heart of Mary

Mt 6:24-34 “You cannot serve both God and mammon”

What I really love about our Church is that the Church is full of symbolisms and rituals. The point that proves this is what we are celebrating today. Right after the celebration of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus the church celebrates the feast of the immaculate heart of Mary. I believe that when the church does something it is significant and meaningful. Everything has a purpose symbolically. The Church did not just put the celebration of the immaculate heart today with no reason at all but to bring home a message.

Many might ask why it is called the “Immaculate Heart of Mary?” We could answer this question basing in our Theological studies that it is called “Immaculate heart” for Mary is indeed the Immaculate Virgin as it is defined in our doctrine of faith and no one dared to question it lest if you do, anathema sit! But remember that our faith is a faith seeking for understanding, credo ut intelligam. Saying the dogmatic explanation of this “as a mystery” will not convince many, but if we put a little flesh on it people might buy our answer. So allow me to share my simple reflection about the “immaculate heart”

We Christians particularly Salesians, believe that we are called to pattern our hearts to the sacred heart of Jesus who is meek and humble of heart. We are called to relate with others with meekness and humility especially to the young. And this is where Mary entered the picture. Mary is the first believer, the first disciple of Christ. From the very beginning Mary believed in the holy plan of God when she said “be it done to me according to your word.” She believed that the one she will gave birth is the Son of God, Emmanuel. She put all her heart to the Word of God. This is for me why she is called the “immaculate heart” for her heart is only dedicated in doing the will of God and only the will of God. She put all her trust to his “Son” that he will save the world from sin. Mary did not put any question, anxiety, worries and fear in her heart and she maintained her heart pure… only for God. Mary sings in her heart the Psalm for today “I will bless the LORD at all times; praise shall be always in my lips.”

She is the best example of how we could follow Christ. Mary understood clearly what our Gospel of today said “we could not serve both God and mammon” Mary chose to believe and serve God and God alone.

My dear brothers the reality is that we are not just ordinary Christians we are professed Salesians. We are individuals who promise to live always in the image and likeness of Christ. We wish to follow Christ radically. I think this reality asks as all the more to be like the immaculate heart. We have a sufficient grace to be like Christ. Don Bosco in his dream tells us that Jesus himself gave Mary to us to be our teacher of how to be servants for the young. We need not worry on how we will do our mission as Christians or as Salesians for through Mary we will learn what is the meaning and how to be meek and humble of heart like that of Jesus her Son.

The feast of immaculate heart is a reminder for all of us of our mission as Christians who should have a heart patterned in the heart of Christ. Brothers, this is my personal understanding of the “immaculate heart” a heart that is for God and only for God. A heart totally patterned in the heart of Jesus. As the slogan say “Jesus through Mary.” How about you my dear brothers what is the personal meaning of this feast for you?

2009-06-11T22:20:00.000-07:00

Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus

Mk: 14:12-14 “the Lord Supper”

After the great celebration of Easter the church celebrates series of solemnities, the ascension of Jesus in to heaven, second Pentecost when the church was born, last week we celebrated the Holy Trinity, then today we are celebrating the solemnity of the Body and blood of Jesus also known as Corpus Christi. All of these celebrations speak something about our Christian faith.

The Church celebrates the feast of the Body of Christ for this particular feast reminds us of our Vocation as Christians. We call ourselves Christians which means believers and followers of Christ Jesus. And because we wish to follow Christ we share his mission and that mission is to bring unity, to bring communion. Jesus became man, died and rose again to bring God and man together who separated because of sin. When he rose again Jesus said “peace be with you, peace is what I give to you. And right before he ascended he commanded his apostles to forgive sins. The Pascal mystery, the gift of peace and the forgiveness of sins speak about one thing and this is unity among the believers. To bring communion is the mission of Jesus.

Now what is the connection of communion with today’s solemnity? Allow me to use this analogy. When you eat something it is digested by your body. The digested food flow in your body and it becomes one with you. This is what happens when ever we partake in the Eucharist. When we eat the body of Christ we become one with Christ. But let us not forget that we are partaking in the one body of Christ. This means that all of us who partake in this communion become one. At that very moment we become one body. Jesus, you and me are one. This reality reminds all Christians about our common mission to bring unity, communion in the church and in the whole world.

The first reading presented the “covenant” made in the Old Testament as something which made them people united in God. Now Jesus in our Gospel is the new covenant who offers himself for us to partake in his body and blood: An invitation to unite ourselves with him and God. In partaking in the body and blood of Christ we build the Church, we build the kingdom.

My dear brothers and sisters the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus reminds us of our identity as Christians as bearers of Christ who is the King of Peace. Let us ask ourselves, are we a sign of unity in our own family, among our relatives, our community and in our country and in the world. This is the challenge that our faith confronts us with. We are not just to be a sign of peace but giver of peace. Jesus said peace is what I give to you.

True Friendship

2009-04-17T01:32:00.000-07:00

“Becoming Friends by: Paul Wandell”

In the midst of this confused world Paul Wandell the writer of the book “Becoming Friends” were able to present a clear idea of the significance of Christ in the lives of every individual. Wandell presented how the church brings us closer to our self and to God. He merges the wisdom of Christ in relating to man and the way man relate with others. He made the human relationship called friendship as his basis of what Christianity really means.

Friendship is one of the greatest gift of God to man. For friendship is a relationship were in a human being becomes a “person” who is capable of knowing what he wants or what he needs. Friendship is a longing to be in communion with others a natural need of man for he is a social being. In friendship man become self-conciseness because in this relationship man chose to become part of the life of somebody and he take full responsibility with this choice as a product of his reflection. True friendship brings the individual to his fullness as man, for it brings out all the best possible things hidden in his being.

For me Wandell were right in developing the idea that Christianity is indeed a friendship simply because the two have the same goal and end for man. Christianity and friendship are longing to be connected to others and in the end attain happiness. Attaining happiness is to be honesty, be good, and learn to be equal for these elements give justice. Christ lived his earthly life with these three elements and we all accepted that we could only attain true happiness through and with Christ. Friendship and Christianity is a transcendental relationship both aim that man be able to transcend, to go beyond himself and grow and to attain his fullness according to the design of God. Friendship makes us connected to other person. Christianity faith brings us connected to Christ.

Pope Benedict XVI said that “our Christian faith is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event,”[1] As man we could not go immediately explaining the Divine but we do it by our own human experience and there we see God in that event a new way of understanding our life.

I think if we just learn how to be true friends by living out its responsibility will be a big help on how we live our Christian community. Let God really be part of our daily life let us see Him with our human activities like friendship.

Friendship is a sign of desire to be with others hopefully it leads us to desire to be with God that is why we have Church today to answer this natural need of man.

[1] Pope Benedict XVI. Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est. 2005.

2009-04-17T01:15:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I learned in my theological study about the ministry of the deacon in the church is that deacons are helper of the priest in administering graces in the form of sacraments to the people of God, in particular in the ministry of proclaiming the Gospel. At this moment I wish to ask my nine companions to stand-up and face the people, and may I ask the people to look at these ten young men very carefully as they stood in front of you. People of God these are your deacons who are sinful, imperfect, and unworthy to be called ministers of God. These ten men are the gifts of God for the whole Church.

24 hours a day and 7 days a week of being together, I could honestly say that we are sinful in many ways. We are imperfect compared to the others and unworthy to be in the altar of God. With all of these negative qualities we have, you might ask what make us stand-up here and ask for the gift of Ordination? Brothers and sisters it was our hope in the love of Christ that moved us to do this act of faith. We experienced his love and we keep on longing for it.

It was the love of Christ that impelled us to have the strength to say yes even with our imperfections for in our imperfection we relay all the more in the perfect love of God making us to realize that without him we could do nothing for we are nothing without his love. Our experience made us to believe that with the love of Christ, something will come out good from these imperfect, unworthy individuals. All we have to do is to believe and put all our hopes in the power and mercy of the love of Christ.

This is the first thing that we want to teach to you as deacons, “to preach what you believe and live what you preach.” We believed that Christ is the one who called us for this vocation. He was the one who first believed that we can do something for the Church and we just live this belief by submitting everything to his love.

2008-06-19T16:54:00.000-07:00

perpetual profession is the moment were one give his whole life for the Lord. May 1, 2008 was the day that I and my co-brothers done this act of faith. May God grant as all the graces we need to be faithful to the promise we have made till the end.

Retreat

2008-04-23T19:05:00.000-07:00

It was 6 of April when 17 brothers of the Seminaryo went up to Bagiuo City at the Mirador retreat house to find silence and peace for 8 days as they prepare for their perpetual profession on the 1 of May. You can really feel the presence of the Spirit blowing his will in the hearts and mind of the brothers. At the end the brothers gain the strength to follow what inspired between them and God.

Before going down the bothers were given time to see bagiuo even for a short time. everybody was very thankful of all that transpired from that 10 days in bagiuo City.

2008-03-16T02:44:00.000-07:00

2nd years having fun in one of the condominium in Makati but the best experience is the rooftop experience God its so beautiful to be there to see Makati on top.

Christian?

2008-02-29T01:48:00.000-08:00

Christian … Catholic?

The Christian Catholic Church

“They say that the Filipino youth are among the most religious in the world. True!

In spite of the many contrary influence in today’s society, the Filipino youth remain basically open to God. For them, God is not someone absent, hidden, or distant.

Rather, He is someone alive, present and very much a part of their lives”[1]

In my two years of exposure in the world of youth during my practical training there is one thing I realized in the religious life of the youth of today. I realized that they are naturally a “faith persons.” I don’t know but I think by nature Filipino youth are God fearing and loving individuals. Maybe because of the Filipino culture that influences their inner being. As we all know that our country was under the bells of the Spaniards that spread the Catholic Christian faith in our motherland for three hundred years. But this particular culture that planted the seed of Catholic faith also becomes the reason why the youth of today find a hard time in living out their so-called faith.

As we Filipino in general is suffering from identity crisis because we were colonized by so many cultures. The youth of today are as I observed also are suffering from identity crisis in their Christian Catholic faith. For my two years of teaching religion to the youth of Don Bosco College Canlubang I discovered that naturally the youth could not define what it means to be a Christian much more of becoming a Catholic. The cost? “The lack of basic catechism about our Christian catholic faith.” The youth of today (may be not only the youth but majority of the Catholics) are Christians by heart but never a Catholic. A great percentage or even all believes that Christ is Lord and Savior that is why they pray and ask for guidance from him in times of trials and needs as what our Christians Born Again brothers do. They have a personal relationship with God. They relate with God in a very personal level. I could see that they have this willingness to be part of the religious activities like novenas and vigils. They themselves carry religious articles in their bodies. I see many of the youth visit the Blessed Sacrament every moment of the day it is just part of their daily activities that they do willingly and religiously. They do pray and I could say really pray. I see that they have a deep sense of religiousness in them. But the problem I see is that the youth is not aware that there is something about being a Catholics that make us different from other Christians and these are the elements of “Commitment and Responsibilities.” We have the Sacraments! As Catholics we are sacramental individuals. We don’t relate with God according to our own feelings but we relate with God first and foremost by doing what God wants us to do. In other words God is not the one who will follow but we are the one who will follow according to his Divine Will. I fell that we are slowly becoming a Christian Fundamentalist in living out our Catholic faith. I think we have to go back to our roots. We have to talk again and tell stories with the youth about Christianity and Catholicism.

[1] The Changing Faces of the Filipino. p. 237

one night...

2007-12-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

December 6 2007 the Filipino SDB’s spent the night together just to experience the presence of everybody which everybody really miss so much because of the schedule of the seminary.

There we just shred stories of all the things happened in classroom, chapel, football field, basketball field that made everybody laugh. With this encounter one realize how bless we are to have such companions to be with.

my the community give us strength to continue the offering that we have made before God.

with God there is no room for sin

2007-12-03T02:42:00.000-08:00

Immaculate Conception

I could say that in these years of my study of theology I experience one of the greatest crises of my faith. During this year of theologizing I question so many things concerning our Christian Catholic faith and the greatest burden I have is that some of the people to whom I expect to answer my wondering could only give the safest answer that they can think of …. “Everything is a mystery” and at the end it end up with faith. I could not really accept this answer believing that the faith we have is a faith seeking for understanding as human beings we are gifted with all the graces we need to attain answers to our questions. We as man have power to give meaning of the things around us thou limited as we are.

Just to let you know that I undergo a crisis once again as I prepare this sharing of mine. I was at a lost of what to talk about this feast of the “immaculate conception” a dogma which as Christians we are all to accept. Sorry if I could not talk about the dogmatic exposition of this feast for I myself just deposit it in my deposit of faith. What I will share to you is just a product of my reflection a personal understanding of what the whole reason of the church why she decided to celebrate this feast.

I believe that when the Church does something it is for something, everything has its purpose. Now celebrating the Immaculate Conception is for a reason.

We venerate Saints for we wish to imitate them in the way they live out their Christian faith they serve as the examples an idol of what Christianity is all about. Now we consider Mary as the greatest among all the Saints this makes her as the beast model of what and how to be a Christian what makes Mary special?

God from the beginning prepared Mary to be the bearer of Christ. God could not accept that the woman that will bear Christ will not be pure, pure as the one that she will be bearing. God take all the precautions to make sure that there is no little stain of sin to the womb were Christ will be born. As the angel Gabriel pronounced “Hail Mary Full of grace” God filled Mary with all the grace that she needs that there will be no room for sin but only grace.

No room for sin but only grace!!! I think this is what this feast is all about. We as Christians are being reminded that we accepted Christ as the core of our life during our baptism and reforce during our confirmation. An act were in we wish to be always in the presence of Christ. But if we wish Christ to remain in us we have to be clean we, have to be pure and full of grace to be worthy to accept Christ in our being. We have to do everything to keep our self in the state of grace like of Mary the first vessel of Christ. With her freedom she decided to be always in state of grace.

My dear brothers the reality is that we are not just an ordinary Christians we are a professed religious. We are individuals who promise to live always in and with the presence of Christ we want to be radical in fallowing the examples of Christ we want to be Christ for others. I think this reality asks as all the more to be like Mary. This is a reality that demands that in our life there should not be room for any sins but only rooms for grace. Grace should always fill us so that we can be worthy to bear Christ and be able to live the fundamental calling of the Salesian to be bearer of Gods love especially to the young people. I believe that this is a challenge that we could not fulfill with our own ability that is why from the very beginning of our congregation Mary was present to teach us, to help us, she was given to us as out teacher towards perfection, she is our way to fulfill our mission as salesians.

The feast of the “immaculate conception” is all about the calling for all Christians a call of renewing our baptismal promises: to turn away from all the works of Satan and be children of our heavenly Father. For us Salesians it’s a feast that reminds us of our vocation to be “bearers of Gods love to young.”

Again this is not a theological exposition of the Immaculate Conception instead this is my personal reflection of what this feast is all about. As one of our brother said; we are not to give answer but we are to give meaning not to understand but to believe.

I wish to challenge everybody to find your own meaning of this great feast so that when you were asks you will not only say the safest answer that you can give as of “everything is a mystery.” You have a power to give meaning of all the things you hold on this will make this feast something very significant for you and for others.

2007-12-01T04:54:00.000-08:00

Almost all the Salesians gathered to celebrate the provincial day of the north province in Don Bosco Technical Institute Makati. The whole day was jam-packed with so many things. The celebrations began with the holy mass as thanksgiving to God for all the blessings He freely shared to this province. After the spiritual nourishment that the Eucharist bestowed everybody decided to answer their bodily needs…food!!!!! then fallowed by the program the moment were in you cannot identify who are old and who the young for everybody was enjoying to the full. In the afternoon its time to burn some of the fats that everybody developed after eating lunch. Basketball, football, badminton was the means of camaraderie.

Like what I said the whole day was a day of fun. A day were in we remember how fun to be a family. This is the day that we realized or remembered one of the greatest blessings that we have received form the day of our first profession and this is the presence of our brothers in Christ.

Today I can say to my self “how happy I am that I am a Salesian and how I wish to share it to others. We might be far for perfection as what others might see but what makes us happy and hopeful is that we know that in our search and journey towards perfection we are never alone we have brothers who are there to be our companion towards the road of perfection.

Christian?

2007-11-03T03:46:00.000-07:00

“They say that the Filipino youth are among the most religious in the world. True!

In spite of the many contrary influence in today’s society, the Filipino youth remain basically open to God. For them, God is not someone absent, hidden, or distant.

Rather, He is someone alive, present, and very much a part of their lives”

In my two years of experience in the world of youth during my two years of being with the young of DB Canlubang I realized the religiosity of the youth of our generation. I realized that they by nature a “faith persons.” What I mean is that they are individuals who believe that there is a God. I don’t know but I think by nature Filipino youth are God fearing and loving individuals. Maybe because of the Filipino culture that influences their inner being that made them such. As we all know that our country was under the bells of the Spaniards that spread the Catholic Christian faith in our motherland for three hundred years. But this particular culture that planted the seed of Catholic faith in every hearts of the Filipino also becomes the reason why the youth of today find a hard time in living out their so-called Catholic faith.

As we Filipino in general is suffering from identity crisis (my personal point of view) because we were colonized by so many cultures. The youth of today are as I observed also suffer from identity crisis in their Christian Catholic faith. For two years of teaching religion to the young adults of Don Bosco College Canlubang I discovered that significantly the youth could not define what it means to be a Christian much more of becoming a Catholic. The cost? “Lack of Basic Catechism about our Christian Catholic faith.” The youth of today (may be not only the youth but majority of the Catholics in the Philippines) are “Christians by heart but never a Catholic.”

is it really for the dead or for the living?

2007-10-29T06:41:00.000-07:00

When I was still a young boy November 1 is full of mysteries. May be this is one of the reasons why I was so afraid to be alone during this day especially at night I’m afraid of the unknown.

They said that November 1 is the day of the dead. Old people would usually say to us that God allow the dead to go around in the earth during this day. They said that this was the reason why we are visiting them for if not they will be the one visiting our homes. (waaaaaa!) But now that I am not anymore a kid I realized that there is still a greater reason why we are celebrating this day of the dead.

Is this really for the dead or for us the living? What do I mean with this? Seeing how we celebrate this day seems that we are doing for us the living one. Try to see in the seminary family come together reunion during this day is being done. The cemeteries become the place for the living to see each other again. During this moment we enjoy the presence of our love one and spend time taking to them.

This is the mystery that November 1 unfolds every year. The dead remind us that all of us will die and will say good bye in this earthly life of ours that is why we have to spend it wisely. Spend it with people that you love…share your life with others start taking loving them now that we are alive. November 1 remind us the shortness of life. I remember what I read in one of my favorite book “Tuesday with Morrie” there Morrie said “everybody knows they’re going to die, but nobody believes it.” That is why lets do everything we can before its to late.

November 1 is for the living and the dead. For us who are living it remind us about life. The dead bring us together as one and they help us to remember the most important thing in life they stop us for a while and bring us together to pray and acknowledge God in our life.

anyway just to let everybody to remember that November 1 is "all saints day" a day we give honor to all the saints in heaven who lived a holy life. We are praying to them that we may be like them till death. November 2 is "all souls day" a day when we remember all our relatives, friends who already dead. we pray for them (so that if ever they still need our prayers). November 2 help us to remember that someday we will join them. but why do we visit the dead during November 1? as for me i think we remember them during the all saints day simply bec. we believe and hope that our dead relative are already in the presence of God... they are already saints (with a small letter "s").

and i found Him...

2007-10-24T07:17:00.000-07:00

After that warm vacation in Tamaraw Resort in Peurto, Mindoro now it is something more than a rest but an encounter with the one who give the real rest as what St. Augustine said “our hearts is restless until it rest in thee.”

October 15 to 20 I made my directed retreat in Don Bosco Batolao, Batangas. It was a great experience of silencing of oneself to encounter the God that is always with us but most of the time neglected because of our “busy” life. I just want to share to you my reflections during these days in a form of poem and I hope you also feel and realized the feeling of searching then finding what you are looking for.

Just seeking for understanding

By john emmanuel

Why am I here?

In this place of the unknown

Why am I living such life?

A life that is unclear

What is it there for me?

Is this what I should be?

Questions that need to be answered

A search for meaning

A faith seeking for understanding

Things that are to be fathom

Question of the heart

Question of the mind

Is this what I should be?

A journey of essence

A deepening of existence

Questions to be answered

Questions to be cleared

A faith seeking for understanding

A life seeking for its meaning

Existence looking for its essence

Question of the heart

Question of the mind

A question of a man

With faith just seeking for understanding

and i was there...

2007-10-24T06:54:00.001-07:00

Yes after this long suffering of fulfilling all my duties as a student of theology God rewarded me with all the rest that I need. Last October 8 to 11 I was in Tamaraw Resort in Puerto Galera Mindoro together with my whole community just to rest and have fun and relax. In deed the whole place was the perfect place to gain new energy after consuming it fulfilling once ordinary duties.

There we swim, eat and rest sometimes we go for “kayaking” and man it was fun experiencing playing with the waves pretending that you are overpowering the power of nature with all your strength and will acting as if you are powerful. Then another wonderful thing is that we decided to hike the nearby water falls to swim in fresh water and God it is good to be there.

With all the wonderful things that I experience in that for days of vacation I never forget to thank God for all of it. I know it was not my right to be there it was a privilege given to me by whom I don’t know (God, the church) but indeed everything was a grace to be thankful about. It was a manifestation of Gods love, care and concern to his beloved. I can say that I was there with my Emmanuel in the form of my community.

2007-10-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Search
by:john manalo

what is truth ?
what is true in this word that full of ambiguity.
time change even the meaning of yesterday.
I been searching, searching for the reality.
I been looking for something that will last for eternity.
What is meant for ever?
What is destined to believe?
What should I trust?
to whom I should put my being?
What is true in this world of ambiguity?
Change will always be.
Constant change is our nature.
Time change even the meaning of yesterdays.

Salesian of Don Bosco

2007-09-30T06:35:00.000-07:00

Sings and Bearers of Gods Love…..to the young

The General Chapter 24 of the Salesian Society presented and redefined who the young is in our mission. But reading and reflecting on the realization of the General Chapter 24 in their redefining the image of the young, they did not only become clear who the young is, but actually the congregation was stimulated the redefining WHO THE SALESIAN IS with the young.

The young people define who the Salesian for them as what they expressed before the Chapter 24. The comments of the young moved and made the Salesians stop and reflect about the identity of the Salesians today. The young asked the Salesians to be coherent witnesses of the Gospel, to be more present among them, to be available to listen to them, to accompany them, and to offer them a greater possibility of participation. Through these words coming from the young themselves, who is indeed the Salesian in the presence of the young?

Reflecting on this question I believe that the challenge of the General Chapter 25 “Da mihi animas” will give the full and clear answer to the image of the Salesian today. The Don Bosco events will redefine our identity as Salesian. The best icon that I can think of for this search is the dream at nine. The dream clearly shows to us that Salesians are called by Christ to be servants for the young, through the works of the Sprit, and in the presence of Mary Immaculate. This particular dream summarized who the Salesian should be, that is “signs and bearers of Gods Love for the young” as it is stated in the article # 2 of the Salesian Constitution.

Being a sign and bearer of God’s love is the fundamental task of a Salesian. If one is to be a bearer of something or someone, he must do everything to be familiar with what he is bearing or representing. Salesians must be familiar with and should foster deep relationship with Christ, the one that he is bearing toward the young. It is clearly stated in article # 34 “like Don Bosco, we are all called to be educators to the faith at every opportunity. Our highest knowledge therefore is to know Jesus Christ.” This knowledge of Christ is the one that a Salesian will live and share to the young. That is why as a Salesian he is called to a “deep union with God” as Don Bosco lived an experience of humble, trusting and apostolic prayer in which praying and living were spontaneously united (Article # 86). Union with God is where a Salesian draws energy and endurance in his work (Article #88) and this deep union with God is great assurance of joyous perseverance in one’s vocation (Article # 93). As it is clearly stated in the Salesian Constitution Article 95 prayer and union with God should be the characteristic of the sons of St. John Bosco. In short a Salesian most be a man of prayer.

To whom is the mission of the Salesians directed? For whom do we bear the love of God? Article 26 of the Salesian Constitution clearly stated that the Salesian must direct his mission to the young, especially to those who are poor, abandoned, and in danger, those who have greater need of love and evangelization.

How does the Salesian bring the love of God to the young? What is Don Bosco’s way of loving the young? Faithful to the intention of Don Bosco, the purpose of the Salesians is to form the young into becoming “upright citizens and good Christians (Article #31).” Salesians fulfill this mission of educational and pastoral service with the method handed over by Don Bosco which is the Preventive System (article # 38) and this system basically means “presence.” The preventive system calls the Salesians to be with the young as it is said in the Article 39 “here in your midst I feel completely at home, for me living, means being here with you.” The life of a Salesian is being with the young. They walk side by side with the young. The Salesians being with the young help them to discover, accept and develop the gift of a lay, consecrated or priestly vocation, for the benefit of the whole Church and the Salesian family (article # 28). Being with the young gives the Salesian a true understanding of the world of the young and unites the Salesian with them in all healthy aspects of their restless energy.

With the young the Salesian should be the center of cheerfulness. As Don Bosco used to say “let nothing upset you”….As heralds of the Gospel, Salesians must always be cheerful. They radiate this joy and are able to educate to a Christian and festive way of life: “let us serve the Lord in holy joy. (Article #17). In other words a Salesian is someone who has the “predilection for the young” as it is clearly mention in the constitution article 14 “for their welfare we give generously of our time, talents, and health: for you I study, for you I work, for you I live, for you I am ready even to give my life.”

But the Salesian should always remember that “to live and work together is a fundamental requirement and a sure way of fulfilling one’s vocation as a Salesian (Article #49). As bearers of God we are bearers of the image of the mystery of the Trinity by this we become signs and bearers of unity. We are called and been called to accomplish the mission as a community not as individuals (article #50). A Salesian is an open heart

As a community, the Salesians are bound because of their vows to live in obedience, poverty and chastity and a sincere practice of the vows strengths the bond of brotherly love and makes their apostolic work coherent (article #61). Living in a community is one of the fundamental signs that the Salesian can give to the young of what is to live in communion with full faith, trust, understanding, love and concern for every member as of the union of the Divine Trinity.

The call of the young people during the General Chapter 24 to be coherent witnesses of the Gospel, to be more present among them, to be available to listen to them, to accompany them, and to offer them a greater possibility of participation” was answered by defining that a Salesian is a man of prayer or a man of God so that he may be witness of the Gospel. Secondly, the Salesian has the predilection for the young. He is ready to give everything for the young in terms of religion, reason and love. The Salesian becomes more available, present, accompany them in life choices. Lastly, the Salesian is a collaborator, who works side by side with the community. With these attitudes, character and lifestyle one can say that he is indeed Salesian of Don Bosco for he lived a life according to the pattern of the founder…”sign and bearer of God’s love to the young.

2007-09-26T05:29:00.000-07:00

Deus Caritas Est simply means Emmanuel.

Each and every one of us has this personal experience or encounter that move us to be deeper in our Christian faith. Through the different divine experiences our faith gains life for through these experiences we find reasons to believe and truly live out our so-called faith.

For almost a year of theologizing I personally believe that God is not someone absent, hidden, and abstract or a product of human concepts rather, He is someone alive, present, and very much well connected as part of our daily ordinary life. He is with us. The concept of Emmanuel “God with us” I consider as the best name or attribute we can give to God. God as Emmanuel brings the Divine closer to us. It does not make God different from us that we could not really be with Him.

In my two years of practical training in Don Bosco College in Canlubang, was I really living with the world of the young. I discovered and was made to conclude that the idea of Emmanuel is well represented in the religious value of the young people. Popular religiosity is really “something” in terms of faith especially for the young. Just try to see how the youth relate with God; “the thought of God being present in their lives comes out almost naturally in their stories and casual conversations.”1 This reality in the Filipino youth shows how the young view who God really is. For them God is no other than the Emmanuel a God that is with them in their ordinary day to day experiences. This is not just true for the young people but also very true for the adults that God is the God we are experiencing. We relate to God more on the feelings. We don’t understand Him we feel Him.

I myself have some share to this reality. There was point in my life wherein I questioned, who planted in my human mind the idea of God? In search for an answer I could not help but go back to my childhood experiences and search for the first encounter with the being that I call God in this present time. What I remembered was the time when my mother would bring me to the church and ask me to pray to “God” for all the things I wanted. Young as I was during that time I just followed the words of my mother. There and then I first prayed to the God whom I did not really know. The sight of looking at my mother praying was nice and all the more I wanted to imitate her. It seems that she was talking to an ordinary person that I could not see. But the deep state of my mother while praying introduced me to my God. A God who is there even though I cannot see.

St. Edith Stein a phenomenologies could not believe in the existence of God for she could not comprehend everything that she could think about God. She could not accept the personal God that others especially the Christians believe in and proclaim. But her search began when with her own eyes witnessed how Christians live their faith. With all the destruction or persecutions happening around the world, Christians still could find serenity and peace. She could see that there was something moving and giving them hope. Witnessing someone at prayer kneeling with close eyes and bowed head was everything she needed to see for her to be able to say that there is indeed a Transcendental being that Christians and Jews call God or Yahweh. She discovered that not only in the mind that she could find God but also in her personal experiences that touched the inner core of the heart. Phenomenology for her was coming back to the object and faith was coming back to the Creator.

The encyclical letter of Pope Benedict XVI “Deus Caritas Est” is for all Christians to be read to and be reminded of who we are. The Pope wishes to bring us back to the core of our being, our faith.

Why Deus Caritas?

As what Pope Benedict XVI in his letter to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus pointed out that “…the love of God is manifested only when we consider more closely its attribution not only to the knowledge but also, and above all, the personal experience of His love…”2 shows that the church urge us to give importance also to our different experiences in knowing and loving God for through experience we are moved to act. Pope Benedict in his first Encyclical Letter, “Deus Caritas Est” says “Being a Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event….” 3 These events are the different experiences of man about God that moves them to long and to love God all the more. I believe that this is what Pope Benedict XVI wishes to tell to all Christians, all people, the whole Church. Let us go back to our human experiences and see how God really works in us. From the very beginning God communicates with His creation through “human ways.” From Eros to Philia to agape is the level of our love as person created in the image and likeness of God. Let our Love be like of our creator, let us be people who are loving and charitable to others. This is the challenge that the Pope aims, why he writes about the Love of God we are meant to be people of love as God is love.

I have been studying too much about God trying to know and understand His essence and existence. In the process of understanding and defining Him I was primed to give Him so many names just for me to define or may be to distinguish His greatness comparing form other existing beings. Secondly, I have to name Him to make Him more personal in my understanding of His greatness. But I tried not to forget the truth that I can never really fully find Him if I will remain in the power of my human mind. I deeply realized that I have to be like my mother, Edith Stein and the others Saints to recognize God in my own experiences. For God is not a matter of the intellect but of the heart. I have to be sensitive and observant in the acts of God in my life. In understanding God I was made to realize that I have to use my whole being. My experiences affirmed me that I am a person and that I am a human being with an intellectual capacity and transcending spirit. This capacity of transcending in attaining the “Truth” made me higher in dignity compared with other creatures. I think this is how philosophy and theology help me in understanding God. First it helps me to understand my humanity, my worth, my dignity, and my greatness as creation of God. My encounter or my experiences of God has changed me.

I understand that the memory of seeing my mother in her deep prayer was a significant event in my understanding God, for that very moment I just believe without much thinking. First, get to know God through experience not by doctrine. Doctrine just affirms on the experiences I have. My knowledge should help me to understand the movement of God in my life and by understanding and knowing it, moves me to change or better moves me to love Him all the more.

Now that I am doing my Theological studies I realized that studying God is actually just giving names on the reality that we see, touch, smell, hear and, feel in our daily experience. We give names to our experiences of God to understand Him all the more. All are just attributes of human realities.

These attributes does not just come from no where we also have basis for these attributes. Man indeed experienced God in persona through Christ the Emmanuel a reality that was recorded in the Scriptures one of the foundation of our Christian faith.

When the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit created the world they decided to create something in their image and likeness and they called this creature MAN. If man was created in the image and likeness of God we could not but say that if man is a relational being God by nature is also a relational being. If God is love as a reflection of him we are also meant to person of love. We could only be like him by loving others the way he loved us.

This is the message of Deus Caritas Est. we have to go to the basic of our faith that we are loved and that’s why we are meant to love.

1 The Changing Face of the Filipino. Religion. Mario Baclig. Sdb. 2002.p 238

2 Pope Benedict XVI. “A letter from the Holy Father”. The Messenger of Divine Love. July – September 2006. p 3-6.

3. Pope Benedict XVI. Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est. 2005.

My Great Triumph

2007-09-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

There is hope to change though Christ.

(my reflection on the feast of the Triumph of the Cross)

Almost all of us know that the cross before is a sign of disgrace, a sign of sinfulness simply because in the cross criminals … law offenders are hung to die without dignity. But this shameful image was totally changed when one man was nailed and died on it. The image of disgrace became a sign of glory, faith, hope, and true love. The man that change it all was Jesus the Christ, with him the cross from its lowliness was exalted, with the cross the whole humanity was glorified.

Sometimes I see my self as the shameful cross. I feel and see my self that I am a worthless being, a sinful man not worthy of any care or love. I am a person without hope, without a future. But whenever I gaze the crucifix I am made to see a light, a light that brings hope in the darkness of my mind and heart a hope that says “there is still room for change just let me be with you.”

Yes! I still remain as a cross, a cross that is full of pain and sorrow but I am a renewed cross everything is different now, I face and I bear the trials, the pains with a joyful heart, with a different attitude and faith. I believe that I am not suffering alone I am suffering with and for Jesus. My life, my being was exalted because of Jesus. With Jesus like the cross we can attain change we can reach our glory and with him we can be exalted.

Let me end this reflection of mine with my personal theology of how Jesus exalted me to be worthy to feel and experience the love of God.

“Jesus allowed himself to be nailed in me a sinful cross so that when the Father embrace him I may also share in the warmth of the Fathers love and mercy.”

O Jesus thank you for exalting me with you.

"Basted"

2007-09-10T02:17:00.001-07:00

this is not totally my work but i wish to share it to you for every bit of it really speak of what i want to say.

When people I meet find out I’m on a journey to the priesthood, these questions would usually follow.

Question no.1: “Gaano pa katagal bago ka maging pari?” In my case, it would take about three years more, if I pass all the subjects and am admitted without delay into the higher stages of formation.

Question no. 2: “Nagdadasal ba kayo palagi sa loob ng seminaryo?” Well, in the seminary where I am, we pray, of course, but not all the time. The community has prayers at fixed times in the morning and evening.

And then there’s the greatest of them all, question no.3: “Bakit ka nag-pari? Basted ka ba?” Hmmm…do I look like I was “basted”? Fortunately, I haven’t been into courting long enough to experience that. At any rate, the seminary is definitely not an asylum for the heartbroken, you know.

I’ve been there since I was seventeen, and looking back at the years I spent there, I’d say they were happy years of teenage adventures too. Together with my classmates, I had my own shares of the joys and pains of growing up. I never dreamt of becoming a priest when I was much younger. I wanted to be either an architect, physical therapist . Maybe even a dentist. Bakit nga ba ako nag-pari?

To this day, I must admit that’s something I cannot fully understand. The best reason I can give, and maybe the only valid reason at that, is that I think, I felt God invited me. Why me? I don’t know. I can’t be absolutely certain about what qualifications God looks for in those He calls. In my first year in the major seminary, we were a rowdy group of 24. At present, only two of us are still around. The MVP’s and the geniuses in our batch have gone. The “siga” and the “gwapings” have gone. Even the more saintly ones have gone. So if you think God chooses only the conduct-awardees, the super talented, or the valedictorians, think again. Basing on my experience, I find it hard to agree with that. But to be fair with my companions, I won’t say He picks junk either.

Now for those who have the hunch that God might be inviting them to follow him too, the best thing to do is to give it a chance. God calls in varied and mysterious ways. If deep inside, you feel some kind of interest in being a priest, let a priest know. He’ll help you listen to God’s voice better.

And when people ask why you want to give the priesthood a try, be prepared to explain that you’re not “basted.”

Bl. Mothere Teresa

2007-09-09T03:13:00.000-07:00

For I see Christ in you

We all know who Mother Teresa is. We idolize her so much in her great love to Christ. Once asked by a sick man that she is serving “Mother why are you doing this to me, I don’t know you and you don’t know me, what it is for you that you do this?” and Mother Teresa answer with great serenity “for I see Christ in you. I am not doing this just for you it is for him I'm loving so much.” Mother Teresa is an image of what is to fall in love with Christ. We all idolized and idolizing her because of her union with God.

But now letters of Mother Teresa to her spiritual Director come out making us realize that Mother Teresa the one that we idolized of great union with Christ experience a great absence of her lover for so many years. Did she lie when she said “I see Jesus in you”? What does she mean about it? If she felt that she was abandon by her lover what moved her to continue doing the great deeds she had shown us? many think that we were wrong about her? Is she really a Saint how come she was abandoned by Christ?

It was true love that moved mother Teresa. She had shown us the real action of loving and she defined what love is. Out of her love to Christ she accepted the vocation that God has given to her. One of her letter explain everything “ I think this is my vocation and I know if I become a Saint I am a Saint outside the gate of heaven where there is darkness so that I may be a light for the people who are still in the dark.”

She never lie but she just lived out the Gospel "what you have done to your brothers you have done it to me." She is like a wife waiting for the return of her husband. While waiting she is preparing, doing things as an offering to his husband when he came.

It was great and deep faith that moved her. Even she could not see Christ she still hold to her faith knowing that even she could not see him she knows that he is there. remember the words of Christ in the cross "My God, my God why have you abandon me?"

We are not wrong in saying that she is a Saint for she indeed live out the faith which we are all called to follow.

Mother Teresa helped me to remember my vocation as Christian. I remembered that I am called to search, to look for Christ and by knowing him I may love him all the more and be a light to individuals who are in the dark. I most be the "emmanuel" for all.

and she was born

2007-09-08T03:08:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wonder why you were born? Traditionally we celebrate the earthly birth of the Virgin Mary a celebration that reminds us to pause for a while and think the purpose of our existence. Mary was born to be the one to bring God to humanity. Mary’s mission is to let the world know, understand and experience that God is one with us in joy and in pain.

The celebration of the birth of Mary take us back to our Christian vocation to let our brother and sisters remember that we are meant to bring Christ in the world. As Christians we are to be signs and bearers of Gods love to the world.

Mary was born to give birth to the Emmanuel... we become Christians to be the living presence of God in all men and women of the world today.

Happy birth day to all of us!!!

the birth

2007-09-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

And she was born... the one to give birth to the Emmanuel.