Faith For the Journey

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Spirit Moments

Live in the sunshine and everything will be bright and sunny. Live in the darkness and you will see nothing but the shadows. Live with goodness and love and your days will be filled with good things and love. Live with selfishness and hatred and you will have nothing but pain and misery and love.

These statements seem to be as self-evident as the Law of Cause and Effect. This is also the Law of Karma:

  • “As you sow, so shall you reap”.
  • Whatever we put out in the Universe is what comes back to us.
  • If what we want is Happiness, Peace, Love, Friendship…Then we should BE Happy, Peaceful, Loving and a True Friend.

And yet, in real life, the opposite also happens very often. Bad things happen to good people and bad people live very prosperous lives. This paradox has befuddled sages and philosophers down the ages. This reminds us that the human mind has its limits. Like, it is difficult for us to fully comprehend the vastness and the complexity of the universe. Yet, it is there. These limits to the human mind and human comprehension and understanding are the ineffable mysteries of life. It is only with the human heart that we perceive and see life’s mysteries. As the Little Prince said: “One sees rightly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes.”

We will not understand these mysteries but with our hearts we will know that they are real and that they are true. This is the realm of faith. We may not see the stars in the daytime but we know they are out there. At night, there is no sun but we know that it will rise again at the dawn of the new day.

So bad things happen to good people, like Job. Jesus told us to do good anyway. So some people get ahead by doing evil. Jesus told us to repent and turn away from our evil ways. And when people get hurt, they wish for that sweet revenge. Jesus told us to forgive our enemies and do good to those who hate us. Our mind will help us get through life day by day. Reason tells us what to do every step of the way. But it is our heart that will bring us successfully to the end of the journey. It is the faith in our heart that will help us deal with the uncertainties of the journey and the mysteries in our life.

Then Jesus began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sid on, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day of judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you.
Matthew 11:20-24

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We Are One For We have One Father and One Source

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Spirit Moments

Today I came across this quote from Rumi: “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” It immediately struck a sympathetic chord in my heart. Deep inside everyone of us beats the same goodness that binds us together in our humanity. In the face of all our differences, divisions and conflicts we are one in the humanity we share. Listening to the Dalai Lama, I am reminded of Christ delivering his Sermon on the Mount. Christ figures prominently in the Quran. Pope Francis reaches out to Muslims in the simple and humble gesture of washing the feet of a Muslim woman. People of different colors and many tongues are in fact brothers and sisters for we have but one Father and one Source.

Some great men and women have worked to change the world. And many aspire to do great things. Yet, history is replete with simple people who attained greatness by doing simple things. St. Therese of Lisieux comes to mind. She is a Patroness of the Missions although she never went out on one. She is one of the Doctors of the Church, those august theologians of the Catholic Faith, and yet she wrote just one book which is actually her autobiographical journal. She spent her days in prayer and conversations with God.

In praying to our one common Father and our one common Source, I come in intimate contact with all my brothers and sisters. And when I change myself according to the will of Our Father, then I can change the world. Some people do this by achieving the heroic. Many do it by accomplishing simple and ordinary acts. Thus, a cup of cold water to a little one in need has a much significance as a grand irrigation project that would bring water to thousands.

‘And whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple-truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’
Matthew 10:34-11:1

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And Who Is My Neighbor?

Posted on July 14, 2013 by Spirit Moments

ImageIn the corporate world, managers rely a lot on job descriptions and performance standards to ensure that their subordinates are doing the right things expected of them, effectively and efficiently. There are probably times when people perhaps also wished there were similar job descriptions and performance standards when it comes to our spiritual life. The Israelites, wanting to be faithful to God and their covenant with him, drew up something close to that – a list of laws (more than 600 of them) to guide them in life. The priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan were merely following this Mosaic Law when they passed by the opposite side of the road as they saw the man who has fallen upon some robbers – beat, stripped and left for dead. Attending to this man would have made both the priest and the Levite unclean to offer sacrifices.

Who is my neighbor? Jesus cuts to the chase and distills the whole Law into love of God and love of neighbor. A neighbor, like the Good Samaritan, is one who would help some one in need and show compassion, even when this might sometime mean doing something not legal. In the news today is the acquittal of Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who shot Trayvon Martin dead. Already there are protests in the streets and people are afraid of these escalating into “Rodney King riots” all over again. There is anger, there are calls for justice. Things would not have come to this if there were only more love and more compassion from the beginning. Then, Martin would not have died. But that is all water under the bridge and as passions and anger begin to rise over the not guilty verdict of Zimmerman, it is a right and timely to reflect deeply on the Gospel for today and ask myself: “Who is my neighbor?”

There is another public debate going on today on immigrants. Are immigrants my neighbors? There are those who would invoke the law and say deport all illegal and undocumented immigrants. There are those who would say the law is antiquated and does not reflect the deep immigrant roots of American society anymore; and therefore changes should be made to the law.  Last week, Pope Francis visited the island of Lampedusa in a very symbolic gesture to call for love and compassion for immigrants from Africa wanting to enter Europe. His message was clear: Yes, they are our neighbors.

These are very touchy and thorny subjects and they challenge us to truly reflect on the question: “Who is my neighbor?”

Deep inside we know the answer. “It is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts;you have only to carry it out.”And what is that? The lawyer in the story in today’s Gospel gives us the answer. ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ And the lawyer replies with “And who is my neighbor?”

This is the second Sunday that the words and deeds of the Pope deeply echo the Gospel. Last week, he called on priests and religious to live simpler and humbler lives. And the Gospel reading then was about those whom Jesus had sent forth not to carry money bags nor sacks nor sandals. Today, the reading on the Good Samaritan is echoed in the Pope’s Good Samaritan visit to island of Lampedusa.

Last week, the Pope also issued his first encyclical where he talked about Faith. The world would be a better place if more people followed Christ’s Gospel of love and compassion. To heed Christ’s call, one must first believe. Pope Francis tells us in Lumen Fidei: “Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets.” I must go and do likewise.

“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.'”
Luke 10:25-37

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God’s Providence

Posted on July 13, 2013 by Spirit Moments

Life is a paradox and full of contradictions. People seek to be happy and the happiest people are often found in the poorest of societies. The biggest numbers of sad and unhappy people are often found in rich societies. Affluent nations have the highest suicide rates. People in the US, easily the most powerful country in the world today, live in constant fear and uncertainty – over the economy, about the future and their leaders, about the safety and security of their homes.

There were times in my life I had a lot less than what I have now. Yet, I don’t remember being less happy then. I could have more than what I have now. But I am not sure that will make me happier. I would be happier if I could spend more time with my loved ones. That has nothing to do with what I have and not even what I can give them. Time and presence are enough. I would be happier if I could give and share more with others. Sometimes, I would need money for this. But then again, time and presence are often enough. I would be happier if I could do more and serve others. I may need money for this but more than money, I need to be present and make time for others for me to serve and do things for them. I  am happier having more me-time now. But even this me-time is about time and presence.

We have everything we need to be alive and thrive int his world. Yet, people die of hunger in the midst of plenty. Some die of loneliness in the middle of crowds. No wonder people become fearful and afraid in the face of such paradoxes and contradictions. Christ reassures me not to be afraid. And he teaches me to face paradox with yet other paradoxes: dying to gain life, denying myself to find myself, being last to be first, serving others in order to lead. Everything I know and learned about Christ tells me that he is constantly reassuring me. Like, he keeps on telling me: “Don’t worry. I’ve got your back.” But he said it so much more beautifully: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:24-33

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Sheep and Doves Will Survive and Thrive

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Spirit Moments

The most persecuted and discriminated against religious group today are Christians. Persecutions and martyrdom have always been an integral part of the Church’s history. And in her darkest hours, the Church has even had to suffer brother betraying brother to death, and a father his child, and children rising against parents and having them put to death. Christ knew that what befell him will also happen to his disciples because, while he preached a Gospel of love and peace, his Gospel went against the grain of what the world considered dear and important. “You will be hated by all because of my name.” he warned his disciples.

In one of his posts on Twitter, Pope Francis recently tweeted “The world tells us to seek success, power and money; God tells us to seek humility, service and love.” Many, specially the simple and ordinary Catholics, are cheering for the Pope. But he has also caused a lot of discomfort in high places. He has stepped on many toes by now, some of them very big ones. In fact, there are those who are now worried and afraid about his life.

The willingness and readiness to suffer and die for Christ has always been part of our Christian tradition. The persecutions started almost as soon as the Apostles received the Holy Spirit and began their preaching. St. Paul started his career as the number one persecutor of the early Christians. Tertullian, one of the very early Church Fathers, wrote “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.”

I pray for all Christians suffering persecution and oppression today. I pray also that all men will learn to live in love and peace so that fear and pain will go away. I know that I will not see love and peace triumph in my lifetime. Neither will fear nor pain go away. But I will be blessed to know and meet people who live their lives in love and peace. And I will be blessed and help relieve some fear and pain where I can. Wolves and serpents may be abroad and seem to lord it over. But I will do my part to see to it that sheep and doves will survive and thrive.

‘See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles.’
Matthew 10:16-23

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Heaven On My Mind

Posted on July 11, 2013 by Spirit Moments

There are times I feel that there is more joy in the anticipation and greater fulfillment in the struggle to possess something than in the actual possession of that object. It is almost like going after the end of a rainbow, hoping to find a pot of gold, only to find out that the rainbow has moved on further away or even that it has gone. It is like preparing for a great celebration. There is the thrill of preparing the guest list, drawing up a menu, setting up the venue, looking after a myriad of details to make sure everyone has a great time during the event. This might take days or even months of nerves, hustle and bustle, excitement and joy in preparations. The event itself might last only a few hours, at most the whole day.

I do think about my final destination, maybe more these days than in the past. But I find my happiness and fulfillment in the here and now, in the present striving, in my current journey and struggles. I wake up in the morning excited and thrilled by what the day has in store for me. As I go through the day, I relish every moment and squeeze out every thrill and joy I can from each action and each encounter I go through. Now, if I can gather all the thrill and joy ever in my life and bring them all together in one here-and-now and if I can combine these with the happiness and fulfillment of arriving at my destination or achieving my goal and if I can experience all of this in one eternal moment, I think that is but a glimpse of what heaven is like. The eternal life promised to those who have followed Jesus.

Then Peter said, “Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life.”
Matthew 19:27-29

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Finding God in Everyday Life

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Spirit Moments

I pray everyday but I do not consider myself particularly religious. I try to be a good person but I know there are a lot of bad things in me. Even my online persona is most likely different from the person that I really am. I try to be a person of Faith; but like Mother Teresa I am beset by frequent bouts of doubts. What is there were no God after all? Like her, I say “I will believe anyway.” What if there were no after life? “I will do good anyway.” What if love and compassion are actually the ways of the loser? “I will love and be compassionate anyway.”

Like the Jews of old, I sometimes challenge God to give me a sign of his greatness and of his presence in my life. Sometimes, I wish God would show himself to me in wind and thunder to remove any shadow of doubt that He is in my life. Sometimes, I wish I could hear his voice and I would do anything he would bid me to do. But that would be like tempting God.

Christ did perform signs and wonders during his time but not in order that people may believe ( Except perhaps that one time when he forgave the sins of the blind man and doubters started grumbling and he restored the sight of the blins man just so the doubters would believe.) He did his miracles out of love and compassion as when he fed thousands. He did his miracles because people already believed. “Your faith has made you whole.” God uses the ordinary to teach us the extraordinary. God uses the human to reveal to us the divine. God chose ordinary people to bring His gospel to the ends of the earth. And bring to the ends of the earth they did: St James to the western edge of the known world at that time in Spanish Galicia and St. Thomas to the eastern end in Kerala India.

I sought to see God so that I can truly believe in Him. He was silent but He sent me the rustle of the wind for me to feel His caress; He walked me through the changing of the seasons for me to see that He is journeying with me; He blessed me with the beauty and grandeur of nature for me to realize the Source of such beauty and grandeur. I tried to learn and understand love and compassion. He gave me His Word that I might believe and live. He has blessed me with people who love me and show me compassion so that I might come to know Him through them. And today, i am especially grateful for one person who is celebrating her birthday and who has brought so much love and compassion into my life – Kathleen.

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
Matthew 10:1-7

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Teacher. Mentor. Healthworker.

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Spirit Moments

Jonathan and Jane go to Saint Clare School where Fr. George Aranha is pastor. I love going with them to their school community mass because I love hearing the homilies of Fr. George. I always pick up morsels of wisdom I could take home. One time he told the story of a man going to Confession. The man was obviously in pain, burdened by some great problems, sullen looking, shoulders stooped like he was carrying the weight of the world on his back. After a few minutes inside the confessional, the same man comes out his eyes red with tears but now with a joyful glow on his face, head held up high, a bounce on his gait and a certain lightness in his spirit that was palpable. A psychiatrist-friend of the priest in the confessional later remarked: “I could never do in many hours of therapy what you are able to do in the confessional in a few minutes.”

Teaching . . . proclaiming . . . curing . . . This is what Jesus did when he walked on earth. This is what the Church, his followers and disciples, have been doing through the centuries. BC, there were no real schools; education was the exclusive right of royalty and the rich. AD, the Church started the education of the masses and laid the foundations of what eventually would become free public education in most countries today. BC, people lived their lives dictated by the edicts of kings and emperors. AD, people would take responsibility for their lives with guidance and inspiration provided by the Church through homilies, letters, retreats. BC, sick people did not have anywhere to go to; physicians were hard to come by and usually reserved only for the rich and royalty. Lepers were outcasts and lived outside the city gates. AD, the Church took special care of the sick, the destitute and the dying and started what would become modern day health systems and social services networks.

Today, Catholics and Christians are still in the forefront of the teaching ministry. In the US alone, the Catholic Church educates 2.6 million students at the cost of ten billion dollars to parents and parishes. If there were no Catholic schools, it would cost American taxpayers eighteen billion dollars of their tax money to provide room for these children in public schools. In the field of higher learning, the Catholic Church has more than 230 colleges and universities, some of them nationally rated, with an enrollment of seven hundred thousand students. In the Philippines, Catholic education plays an even bigger and more vital role.

In terms of health care, the Catholic Church has a nonprofit hospital system comprising 637 hospitals, which treat one in five patients in the US every day.

I have been blessed to have participated in the Church’s work of teaching, proclaiming and healing. Thank you, Lord.

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’
Matthew 9:32-38

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When My Faith Wavers, I Look Back With Gratitude and Humility

Posted on July 8, 2013 by Spirit Moments

When I was growing up, I thought the world of my little hometown, Angeles. I thought it was an awesome place, possible the best one in the world, to grow up in. I was quite ready and resigned to the fact that I would be spending my whole life there. Never did I think nor believe that I would eventually come to live in an American environment, very much like the environment of the near-by Clark Air Base in the community I grew up in.

When I was a boy of about ten, I had a dream that I would meet a very beautiful girl with long black tresses and soulful eyes. She had the most captivating smile. And she was a Tagala. Many years later, I would meet Anabelle and I realize she was the girl in my dreams.

When I thought of my future when I was a kid, I saw myself as a teacher like my father was. I was happy in the thought that I would follow in the footsteps of my father. I even reveled in the thought that I would try to be a better teacher than he was. I would eventually start out my working career as a teacher indeed. But I moved on to other things and never dreamed the success I would enjoy as a top corporate executive. I never left teaching though for I had a parallel career as a professor at the leading business school in the country for many, many years.

My life would have been pretty much predictable, dull and boring if it had followed the script I had in my mind. But having allowed my hand to be held and led by God, my life has been totally unpredictable and immensely rewarding. If, as a child, someone had come up to me and told me about my life as I have lived it; I would not have believed that person. Now that I look back at my life with deep gratitude and humility, I believe there has indeed been a Presence guiding me all through the years.

When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.
Matthew 9:18-19,23-26

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Pope Francis Rocks As He Keeps Rocking the Church

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Spirit Moments

ImagePope Francis was reported in the media today, asking priests and religious to practice a simpler and humbler lifestyle when it comes to their choice of cars and other modern gadgets. In part the report said: As part of his drive to make the Catholic Church more austere and focus on the poor, Francis told young and trainee priests and nuns from around the world that having the latest smartphone or fashion accessory was not the route to happiness. The Pope was quoted as saying: “A car is necessary to do a lot of work, but please, choose a more humble one. If you like the fancy one, just think about how many children are dying of hunger in the world.”

There will be those who will quibble with this message and will water it down with such remarks as: “Well, he did not really mean it that way.” Or, “It depends . . . ” Or, “The occasion and circumstances are different here . . .” Or, “We can be even humbler by using bikes or even horse carriages . . .” Or, “But this is just a gift from a devoted and generous parishioner . . ”  And then there will some who will read the message and then just file it away under the letter G, as in Garbage.

Many have also re-interpreted and watered down the radical and disturbing message of Christ so that there are some interpretations of the Christian message where it is difficult to see the face of Christ anymore. Looking around today, I see a world even hungrier and more thirsty for Christ’s message of love and service, of peace and brotherhood, of joy and happiness. But there are not too many who are willing to taking up the challenge. There is a great tendency to change and reinterpret the message to make it more palatable to an increasingly secular and agnostic world. Thus, the Pope’s message is very reassuring. Even in my life, I sometimes put boundaries on how I can be a disciple of Jesus. In prayer, I ask for wisdom to learn and understand God’s words for me and for courage and determination to live them out in my life. I want to be part of the harvest, usually a joyful occasion in the place where I was born and grew up.

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals.’
Luke 10:1-12,17-20

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