Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ.... Firm in Faith

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. (Colossians 2:6-8)

This was the theme for the recently concluded World Youth Day celebration in Madrid.  This post will be my reflection for the theme.

Young people exert a very important influence in modern society.  The circumstance in their life, their habits of thought, their relations with their families, have been completely transformed.  Often they enter too rapidly a new social and economic development.  While their social and even their political importance is on the increase day by day, they seem unequal to the weight of these new responsibilities. (Vatican II, Apostolicam Actousitatem, 18 November, 1965)  Being the future of the Church and the Society, as young people, we feel the weight of responsibilities.  We respond to the challenges of our time like apprentices and we usually feel our helplessness and confusion when confronted.  We sometimes lose our focus.  We might also feel pressure form the people demanding us to fulfill these responsibilities.  There are also instances when we chose to abandon this responsibilities for an easy life and resort to vices and relationships that give us temporary satisfaction.

That is why the Church, as well as our government, has special ministries for the youth.  These ministries are avenues for the young leaders to be trained and be formed as they build the future.  These ministries are also helpful for them to be more exposed to the realities of this world, for them to learn how to cope up with the various issues around them; for them to meet new friends, acquaintances and other leaders that will be helpful in their growth; for them to be brought closer to God and develop closer relationship with Him. 

These ministries must be effective as they bring Christ to the modern youth.  There is a need to reevaluate their programs and their particular charisms for the benefit of the young.  They might need to re-update their programs basing on their needs.  That is why, constant council meetings and assemblies are essential for these ministries so that they can see and then discuss how they can effectively allow Christ to transform the hearts of the young people.  This is the first step because they can only be rooted in Christ if they know Him and decided to be built up in Him.

The World Youth Day was the opportunity for the pilgrims to reevaluate themselves.  The celebration leads them to see if they really received Christ.  The second question would be, if they are rooted in Christ. Like a tree whose roots penetrate the earth to obtain nourishment, so they are called to be so.  And if they are built up in Him as their foundation so that no matter how strong the storms in their life or how strong the current of the world is, they would still stand firm in faith.

The prayer, parties, pilgrimages and fellowship activities together with the clergy and the Pope held at World Youth Day would be opportunities for the pilgrims to reevaluate and reassess their relationship with Christ.  Being in this world full of materialism, secularism, atheism, agnosticism and relativism, world threatened with violence and chaos,  the Church in crusade against the institutions and factors against family, life and human sexuality, we need to have young people who received Christ, rooted in Him and built up in Him.  And it is only possible when young people know their place and role in the Church which is the Mystical Body of Christ.  Christ instituted the Church built on a solid rock so that it may stood firm amidst the changes, lure and crises present in the world.  With the pope, with some leaders of the Church, youth ministers and other young people, the pilgrims are called to understand more the role Church is playing in their lives as Christians as well as their responsibilities in the Church as they constantly put themselves in Christ.  I believe that building up in Christ is a life-long process but at least, this gathering might serve as inspiration.  And after these gathering, these pilgrims are called to go back to their respective countries and reecho their experience of Christ with the whole Church.  They are called to be evangelizers in a special way.

The late Blessed John Paul the Great always says in each World Youth Day where he is present: Do not be afraid!  We, young people are called to be strong as we uphold and share the ideals of Christ, whom we are rooted and built in.  

May the Triune God and Mary, our Mother continually be with us as we remain rooted in her Son.  Rooted but at the same time, continuing our journey of evangelization!

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-27)

Before a boy and a girl, knew the status of their relationship, it is very important to ask: Who am I to you? It is only when they fully answered that question will they know if they actually have that special relationship status.

Who do people say that the Son of Man is?  Jesus is asking us who is he. But we commonly refer to the opinion of others.  We usually refer to what others tell us about Jesus or who Jesus based on what we read in the gospels or what we learn about him in theology.  But that is not enough.  

But who do you say I am? We need to know Jesus personally.  Knowing Jesus through the Scriptures, the Church and the testimony of other people are just but preparations or help for us to know him personally.

In Filipino, we have two different terms if we know a person, that is kakilala and kilala. Kakilala means you know that person only by name.  Kilala means that you know the person by who he is. Saying that a person is your kilala means that you already have a deeper relationship to him or her other than being a kakilala.  For example:  To a person that you have just met, you will refer to him as kakilala when you met later.  But when you noticed that the person whom you know very much is hiding something from you, you might say:  Kilala kita kaya wla kang maitatago sa akin. (I know you, so you cannot hide from me.)  It means that you already have a deeper relationship more than knowing by name, birthday, address  and  other external data.   Because of deeper relationship, you know his attitudes, behavior and values in life.  But you cannot make someone your kilala without him being your kakilala. Since it is the first step in knowing a person. 

That is what Jesus wants from us.  First, we need to make Jesus our kakilala. We need to know Jesus through the Scriptures, the teachings of the Church as well as the testimony of other persons.  But our knowledge of him needs to be evaluated by our personal experiences of him.  We need to have personal relationship with Christ by frequent prayer and the reception of the sacraments.  We need to reflect and see how he works in our lives.  We need to listen to his voice within us so that we can understand more the role he has in our lives.

Usually in my catechism class, whenever I ask my students who Jesus is, they will immediately say that he is their Savior.  Or their Creator.  Or their Father.  But when I ask them to explain why, they cannot answer.  That means that their knowledge of Jesus is just in the intellectual level.  There is a challenge in me to allow them to fall in love with Jesus so that they can know him and understand him more.

We can also see a lot of Christians who even memorized the Bible and can argue with other religions regarding on how they knew Jesus.  But they condemn other religions, throw negative words against them and even humiliate other people who do not belong to their faith.  That means they fail to know Jesus by heart who made a commandment to his disciples to "Love one another."  They know Jesus intellectually but fail to know his true teachings.  

In the Book of Job, we can see how Job, a just man suffered and then question God the reason for his suffering. In the end, he began to know God, not anymore of how others tell him  but through the constant reflection of his bitter experiences, these allowed him to understand God more.  “I know that you can do anything,  and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’     It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.  You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. (Job 42:2-5) 

It takes a lifetime to know Christ fully.  The search never stops until we see him finally in heaven.  But once we can already answer Christ in his question: Who do you say I am?, he will be very happy for doing our effort and for opening ourselves to God's grace who allow us to understand Christ.  

Knowing Christ also comes with a  mission.  In Peter, he was appointed as the Rock on which Christ will build his Church.  What is our mission in the Church?  For some, it may mean being a leader; to some, a core group member; to some, a follower; to some; an adviser.  But each function that we do in the Church is equally important.  We become channels of God's blessing to the world in whatever work we do.

The 'Forever Young' Pope

For the last few weeks, I have included the list of the patron saints for the World Youth Day celebration in Madrid.  However, the list would be incomplete without including the special patron not only of the recent World Youth Day in Madrid but also of the former and subsequent World Youth Days--- its founder, Blessed John Paul the Great.

Is there anyone in this generation who doesn't not know him?  Because he is known and respected not only by us Catholics but also by Protestants, Eastern rite Churches, Jews,  Moslems, Buddhists and even by some atheists and agnostics.  And he reigned as pope for almost 30 years which brought large influence and development for the Church and for the world.  As the title of this blog says, he is indeed forever young,  he defied age and remains close with us young people hence he is also called "the Pope for the Youth".  He remains an inspiration to the young and it is rightly that we have now an intercessor before God as we continually uphold the faith he proclaimed and the ideals he fought.  

He was born as Karol Josef Wojtyla on May 18, 1920 in Wadowice, Poland.  He was the youngest and the third son of Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska.  His elder sister Olga died in infancy before Karol's birth and his mother died when he was just eight terribly affecting his carefree childhood.  Much more, his brother Edmund whom he is very close, also died after being contaminated by a disease through Edmund's work as a physician.

He managed to live as a happy youth being an athlete as a football goalkeeper.  He studied at the Jagiellonian University in Karakow.  There, he became a librarian, a philosopher, a playwright and a linguist.  He learned there twelve languages, nine of which he used later, during his papacy. Karol's studies were abruptly stopped during the Nazi occupation in 1939 because the university professors and academicians were arrested and deported.  In order to avoid being deported to Germany and also to earn his living, he became a manual laborer in a limestone quarry and then as a salesman in a restaurant.  In 1941, his father died of heart attack and this incident leads him to become the only surviving member of his immediate family.

A year after his father's death, having been in a political and social turmoil, he began thinking seriously about his vocation to the priesthood.  He entered an underground seminary run by the Archbishop of Krakow, Adam Cardinal Sapieha.  He was ordained priest on November 1, 1946.  On September 28, 1958,  he became the youngest bishop in Poland at 38 years of age.   He was appointed archbishop of Krakow in December  1963, as a cardinal in 1967, and in 1978, he was elected as the 264th pope.  He was the first non-Italian Pope since Adrian VI, who was a Dutch who reigned in 1522-1523 and the youngest being 58 at election since Pius IX in 1846.

He chose Totus Tuus for his motto, revealing his deep Marian spirituality.  In his coat of arms, he also inscribed a letter M under a cross.  He desired to dedicate all of his work to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Throughout his papacy, he was a human life and family activist.  He continuously speaks about the dignity of human life and therefore condemned artificial birth control, euthanasia, stem-cell research and all stages of abortion, making a stand that life begins at fertilization.  He taught about the Theology of the Body and also made a stand against homosexuality, premarital sex and other illicit sexual union.  He also talked about the dignity of women but made a stand against their ordination as priests.  He wrote extensively regarding the Social Teaching of the Church and fought against exploitation and unjust compensation of workers.  He was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in February 2003 for opposing Communist oppression and his efforts to reshape the world.  He also recognized more blesseds and saints than any pope in history.

He is known to be an athletic, lovable with a good sense of humor.  As a Pope for the Youth, he usually hike and camp with young people.  He established the World Youth day in 1984 in Rome with the intention of having young people throughout the world to gather, worship and celebrate the faith.  It was followed by 19 other World Youth days.  He brings a huge gathering of people whenever he comes.  The X World Youth day in Manila was the largest recorded Christian gathering with five to seven million people.  He also initiated the World Meeting of Families in 1994. 

Throughout his papacy, he traveled more than one million miles outside of Italy and has visited over 126 countries.   He was also held in esteem by other political and religious leaders like the Dalai Lama of Buddhism, Patriarchs of the Eastern rite churches,  bishops of Anglicanism and other Protestant churches.  He was also known as the first pope to pray in the Jews' Wailing Wall of Jerusalem and inside an Islamic mosque in Syria.

In May 13, 1981, he was critically wounded in an assassination attempt by Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turkish member of a fascist group.  After surviving the incident, he visited and forgave Agca and offered the bullet to the Virgin of Fatima.  A second assassination attempt took place on 12 May 1982, just a day before the anniversary of the first attempt on his life,  by Juan Maria Fernandez, a traditionalist priest,  suffering from a mental illness.  John Paul II fully recovered from the assassination attempts, and sported an impressive physical condition throughout the 1980s.  It was in the 90s that this athletic and strong man's health has been reduced by Parkinson's disease.  On April 2, 2005, he died in Papal Apartments with an estimated crowd of ten thousand holding a vigil in St. Peter's Square below.  Then a crowd of over four million within the Vatican City was there during  the public viewing of his body and burial and it was considered as one of the largest pilgrimages in the history of Christianity.  Besides, the funeral rites has been one of the most viewed television special throughout the world.

After his death, many clamor for his sainthood and he was referred as John Paul the Great, in the tradition of the popes, St. Leo (440-461) and St. Gregory (540- 604). In January 14, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI had confirmed the miracle involving Sister Marie Simon-Pierre.  He was beatified last May 1, 2011.  The date was chosen for his demise on the dignity of workers since that day is also the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. 

Blessed John Paul's message to the young is "Do not be afraid!".  He inspires them to walk in the midst of the darkness of relativism and practical atheism, bearing the light of faith and love for God and humankind. "Duc in Altum!" (Set out into the deep!) He continually inspire us to make a stand especially now that the God-given values for love of the family and respect for life are being threatened by self-choice and materialism.  Let this pope who is forever young inspire us to remain rooted and built up in Jesus Christ and be firm in faith.  May we ask his intercession for us to understand and love the Truth by which, we can be free.

Blessed John Paul the Great, father of World Youth Days, pray for us!

The Queen Stands at Your Right Hand Arrayed in Gold

And Mary said:   “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,  for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—   holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him,  from generation to generation.  He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;  he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.  He has helped his servant Israel,  remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”(Luke 1:46-55)

Today is one of the greatest Marian feasts of the Church.  The others being her Immaculate Conception on the 8th of December and her Motherhood on New Year's Day.  Today, we are celebrating our Lady's Assumption into heaven.  This mystery is not in the Scriptures and is constantly been in the Oral Tradition of the Church.  It is not Biblical however, we can understand that Mary must have been taken away just as God has taken away Enoch, Moses (whose tomb cannot be found) and Elijah.  Mary is far greater than any of them.  And besides the vision of St. John in the Book of Revelation 12:1 saying a story of a woman clothed with a sun, with a moon on her feet and a diadem of twelve stars, is commonly interpreted as Mary.

We read in St. Paul's first  letter to the Corinthians 15: 20-23: But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Since Mary helped Christ in order to accomplish our redemption, and there is no other person aside from Christ who lived a holy and obedient life than her, she must be the first one to receive Christ's promise. 

Today's celebration allows us to see how God loves Mary.  God thought of Mary even before the creation began.  For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. (Ephesians 1:4)  It was God who created Mary in her mother's womb without any stain of sin in order to prepare her for the coming of the Savior.  At the annunciation, the angel greeted her with:  Rejoice! You who are highly favored! The Lord is with you. (Luke 1:28)  He has lavished Mary with spiritual grace above other creatures.  He comforted her in her trials, he guided her in the darkness of her faith and has given her reward at the right time.

We can also see how Mary loves God.  In today's Gospel, we can see how she constantly praise him who continuously makes wonders in her life.  She treats herself as a mere vessel being filled with God's grace.  (2 Corinthians 4:7)  She never boasts of anything but she is filled with thanksgiving to God.  Although she doesn't fully understood his plans, she remained faithful. It is difficult to understand how she will give birth that she is a virgin.  In her culture, God is Almighty and will never undergo suffering.  But she behold the helplessness of God in her very eyes--- how he as a small baby cried when hungry, how he seems to be human,  falling after taking a few steps and later, full of wounds and dying in front of her.  It is said that her life can be summarized with just one word:  FIAT --- so be it.  “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”(Luke 1:38)  Her life is a perpetual oblation to God. 

If we look up our lives, do we see how much God loves us?  Is our life a perpetual thanksgiving to him?  Sad to say, we commonly grumble and complain and we fail to see God's wonders in our lives.  We fail to thank God for guiding us and being with us as we suffer.  We do not see his hand whose providence is revealed in our food, the clothes we wear and the house we live, in the problems that he helps us solve.  We do not see ourselves as merely beggars and if there is anything good in our lives, it comes from God.  We fail to imitate Mary, in seeing God's graciousness to his little ones.

If we see God's love, we understand it and we are impelled to love him more.  We are impelled to thank him and rejoice with him at all times.  We are impelled to see the world in his perspective and see everything as grace.  We are impelled to love his creatures and our neighbor the way God loves them.  It is inseparable. 


If we love God the way Mary loves, we can be assured that like her, we will also be assumed in heaven.  This is the hope that we hold on to.  We will share the victory of Christ given to the faithful ones.  Like Mary, we will have our bodies back--- at this time incorruptible and spiritual---- and we will be taken up to heaven in order to receive our crown and our heavenly inheritance.

We are heirs of the kingdom with Christ.  May we look forward to the coming of that kingdom.  May all we do be a preparation for that glorious day.  And the only preparation that counts is when we love God above all things and of course it includes the love for the things and the persons that he loves.  Mary, our Mother, the queen assumed into heaven is the best epitome of that love.

In Psalm 45, we say to Christ in glory: Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;  a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness;  therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.  All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.  Daughters of kings are among your honored women; at your right hand is the queen in gold of Ophir. 

The Solemnity of the Assumption is the celebration of Mary's reward after her earthly life.  It is also a holy day in honor of Christ her Son.  Christ in glory shares his joy with his Queen Mother.  And it is also our feast day. Because, someday we will share in their glory as well. 

 

Humility Captures the Heart of God

Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to Him and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”  He answered, “I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.  He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.” “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:21-28)

Was Jesus a racist?  This gospel might scandalize some people to think Jesus as such.  But it is not the case since Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.  Those were pagan territories. The Canaanites' presence in the land was a strong threat to the purity of Israel’s religion and morality.  Jews treat living in those areas as unclean and they do not mingle with them.  But Jesus went there to preach the gospel.  He treat them as equals and tries to remove the barriers that separate them from the Jews.  Besides, there were other instances in the gospel that Jesus spoke and relate to the pagans like what he did with the Samaritan woman, the Roman centurion and the possessed man in Gerasa.  

A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to Him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me!  It is remarkable to understand the woman's faith because some priests and Jews who are actually the chosen people were not calling Jesus as 'Lord' or as the 'Son of David'.  They treated him with contempt as a false Messiah.  Later, they plotted against him and killed him.  But this pagan woman expressed her faith.

"My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession.” Jesus did not answer a word.  The woman asked help not for herself but for her daughter.  She expressed her faith which is more than the 'righteous people' in her time.  But Jesus ignored her.  So his disciples came to Him and urged Him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”   The remark of the disciples shows the persistence of the woman in asking her request.  However, there is a reason why.  It is the heart of the mother that does everything for her child though it means begging for mercy.  But it seems that Jesus doesn't show any sign of compassion or even pity.

There may be instances where God seems not to answer our prayers.  But we usually give up.  If we would be in the place of the woman, we might give up begging from Jesus.  We might think:  If you will not grant my request.  So be it.  I am tired of begging from you.  I have traveled long and suffered humiliation and this is what you will reply?  We might think ill of Jesus and even sacrifice the healing of our daughter for our 'honor'.

He answered, “I was only sent to the lost sheep of Israel.”  Jesus replied and it seems that he is firm in not granting the woman's request.  The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.   But the woman is really persistent.  But for the third time, Jesus replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”  If for the third time, Jesus refused to grant your request, and even insulted you, how would you react?  In those days, dogs were considered unclean.  And to treat you with the same level as an unclean animal--- in Jewish culture, is a height of insult and degradation.

But with wit the woman replied: “Yes, Lord,” she said, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” The woman showed her humility.  Truly, she and her daughter are dogs.  They do not belong to the chosen people.  But she believes that those 'crumbs' --- which are merely tiny leftovers from the table of God's chosen people but are still holding large amounts of God's grace.  Those 'crumbs' can do a miracle for her daughter. 

The woman showed her wisdom.  She knows that she is indeed unworthy of his mercy.  But a portion of Jesus' attention would be a great help.  Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

We imitate the woman's faith when we still persist to pray though our prayers are not answered. We capture the heart of God when we still believe although it seems illogical in human logic.  We are invited by Christ to see everything in faith.  And it is only possible with humility---- seeing and acknowledging your lowliness and trusting in the mercy of God that knows no bounds.

St.  Joan of Arc must feel forsaken by God when after winning battles in the name of God, she was captured and was sold to the English.  The king whom he helped to win his crown haven't helped her.  And the Church has also been part in conducting trials to prove her association with witchcraft.  Seeing how some Church's authorities judged her, she must be undergoing a very difficult trial of faith.  The Church even refused to hear her last confession and give her Holy Communion.  But she remained faithful to the end and she became a saint.

Blessed Aniela was few times refused confession by her spiritual director.  And one time, she was refused publicly.  But she trusted in God's mercy and remained faithful and now she is hailed as Blessed.  It is said that even if Jesus will appear to you saying that he will refuse you mercy, you are not allowed to believe.  For God is a loving God and his mercy has no bounds. 

Do not be afraid!

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.  Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”“why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”(Matthew 14:22-33) 

The gospel for today happened after Jesus' performed the miracle of the multiplication of bread.  Seeing how Jesus feed the multitude, a large number of them wanted to make Jesus their king.  Jesus sees how his teachings are in danger of being distorted.  They do not worry about the Bread of Life but of worldly bread.  They might not have any concern now for the heavenly things but of worldly and perishable things.  So to save his disciples from being worldly, Jesus sent them away. He made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 


The similar things happen in our lives when after being called by God, having attended formations and having gained enough experience serving our fellow youth, we usually find our Christian vision and values little bt little, being replaced by worldly ones.  That is why we need to separate ourselves from the world and take measures not to be drawn in it.  We need to reexamine our consciences and our take time to reflect and pray.  That is why we have regular council meetings, retreats, recollections and prayer sessions designed for this purpose.

Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  Life is sailing into the sea which we sometimes perceive as calm and peaceful but as we gradually leave the shore, and gradually go farther and farther into the sea, we meet storms, winds, heavy seas which symbolize our problems and trials in life.  Like the boat in the gospel, we might find ourselves being tossed and we feel as if we do not have direction.

Our initial reaction to problems  is to find solutions.  However, some have solutions while others do not.  When we do not see any solutions to our problems, we complain that life is meaningless and that God is cruel.


It is when Jesus comes to us.  But we do not usually recognize him.  We do not see a Savior walking in the water but a "ghost".  He comes to us with power but we let our fears disturb us.  It may be a time when we see a friend not as someone who can help us but as a threat or a competitor.  They are the times when we see a problem not as an opportunity for growth but as a curse or a burden.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Jesus reveals himself that he is with us.  Problems are not that we should fear of rather they are opportunities for growth.  Jesus guides us to see that there is a reason why he disturbs you.  When the Virgin Mary was visited by an angel, St. Luke says that she was deeply disturbed.  But after the disturbance was a comforting word that she has found favor with God and that she will be the one to bring forth his plans. (cf Luke 1:26-38) Disturbances are actually proofs that we are God's favorites.  He wants to unfold a beautiful plan in our lives.

Four years ago, in the seminary, I have undergone crises in my family which affect my vocation.  My father passed away and I was so distracted and I am planning to go out and help my family.  I have also doubts whether I am for this kind of vocation.  Seeing a great conflict within me, our formator decided for me to leave and take my regency.  It is not easy for me at first, since I miss my friends there and I will be adjusting to a new kind of life.  I do not know where or how to start.  But now, after four years of work, I have realized that those "storms" in my life before actually made me a more mature person and I have met a lot of good friends on my way which greatly contributed to story of my vocation.



It is noteworthy to see Peter's faith after hearing Jesus' consoling words. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  The other disciples are afraid but he wants to go near to Jesus even though it is illogical.  Isn't it a height of foolishness to jump into the boat at the middle of the sea?  Isn't it foolishness to lose any sense of support but just the "ghost" in front of him?


But Peter walked into the water and went near to Jesus.  He was able to do a miracle.  Thanks to his participation in God's grace.


But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, begins to sink.   There are times when as we steadily make our way, we easily lose our focus.  We begin to doubt again and let the "storms" in our lives terrify us.  That is why we sink.  We easily forget that it is Jesus who assures us to come to him and we should not fear. We might also be distracted by thinking that we do "miracles" out of our own and not through Christ.  That is why we lose our focus and we fall.

It is good that Peter knows whom to call. “Lord, save me!” As human as we are, we are prone to fall.  But we are invited by Jesus to always call on him.  For he who calls on Jesus will be saved. (Romans 10:13)

Patron Saints for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid

As human as we are, we always look up to other people for our example and inspiration.  That is why we have patron saints in order for us to be inspired as we follow Christ and as we serve Him through His Church.  They serve well as patrons for young Catholics,and their lives tell us that all things are possible to God,” said Fr. Edwin Galea, who will be a part of the World Youth Day pilgrimage run by the archdiocese of Toronto’s Office of Catholic Youth.
 

“The worst sinner could become the greatest saint so they inspire us. They provide us with a depth of spirituality that is not normally attained in the ordinary world but can inspire a person not to give up.” The nine saints all have ties to Spain.

It was during May 4, 2011, when the Holy See approved the proposal of the organizers of these nine (9) saints which “encompasses the history of the Church in Spain, from the first saints of Madrid.”

“All of these saints are of Spanish origin, in order to root WYD in the culture of the host country, as was done at WYD in Cologne, where the saints chosen were related to the Christian history of Germany,” organizers explained.

 Here is a short story of these patron saints as we join the Church in the WYD Celebration in Madrid this year.

The First Saints of Madrid:

(1) St. Isidore (San Isidro Labrador), patron saint of farmers and of Madrid, Feastday: May 15

and his wife, (2) St. Mary of the Head (Santa Maria Torribia dela Cabeza),  Feastday: September 9

He was in the service of the wealthy Madrid landowner Juan de Vargas on a farm in the vicinity of Madrid.  Every morning before going to work, Isidore was accustomed to hearing a Mass at one of the churches in Madrid. One day his fellow-laborers complained to their master that Isidore was always late for work in the morning. Upon investigation, so runs the legend, the master found Isidore at prayer while an angel was doing the plowing for him. On another occasion, his master saw an angel plowing on either side of him, so that Isidore's work was equal to that of three of his fellow-laborers.

St. Isidore married St. Mary Torribia de la Cabeza. and had one son, who died in his youth. On one occasion their son fell into a deep well and, at the prayers of his parents, the water of the well is said to have risen miraculously to the level of the ground, bringing the child with it, alive and well. Isidore and Maria then vowed sexual abstinence and lived in separate houses.

St. Isidore died on May 15, 1130, at his birthplace close to Madrid. St. Mary Torribia substantially outlived her husband, who died in 1130. After his death, she lived as a hermit, performed miracles, and had visions. For instance, legend suggests that every night she dreamed of the Virgin Mary crossing the river while extending her pure cloak over the waters. Her unusual title "Santa María de la Cabeza" is derived from the most prominent relic associated with Torribia, a head said to be her own. This relic is often used in processions, and is traditionally an intercessory tool for the relief of drought Revered by farm workers throughout the Catholic world, she shares a feast day with her husband (May 15), while also having her own on September 9.

These two saints serve as a model for us youth in their devotion to God, their love for work and their example of chastity and purity.

The Great Spanish Mystics:

(3) St. Ignatius of Loyola (San Ignacio de Loyola), patron saint of spiritual retreats, founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Feastday: July 31

He was a Spanish knight with a noble origin. During a battle in 1521, he was seriously wounded and when he did not find any book except the Life of Christ and the Saints, he underwent spiritual conversion and he abandoned his military life in order to devote himself to the service of God.  He experienced visions of the Virgin Mary and the Christ Child.  He became a priest and founded Jesuits in 1539.  The group was a very important factor during the Counter Reformation times where the Church has been in turmoil due to schisms lead by Martin Luther and his followers.  He also experienced scruples, fears and despair in his spiritual life however, he overcome this trial of faith and this has caused him to write the Spiritual Exercises which has been very influential in modern retreats and meditation. He died in 1556.

His life teaches us to be aggressive in holiness by being strong in leaving sin behind and choosing to follow Christ and to always be courageous in face of the difficult trials of our faith. 

(4) St. Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, founder of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, Patroness of Spain, Feastday: October 15

She entered the Carmelite convent and there during a great period of sickness, she enjoyed mystical revelations.  She also had experiences of spiritual ecstasy and she wrote a lot of spiritual works which are fruits of her rich spiritual life.  These stand out among the mystical literature of the Church among those famous are The Way of Perfection,  Spiritual Castle and her Autobiography. These books contain sublime doctrine particularly the evil of sin, the fruit of sufferings and the necessity to abandon oneself in God.   Because of the laxity of her religious order, she makes reformations with St. John of the Cross however, they met much resistance but eventually succeeded due to her courage and wisdom.  She established 15 convents throughout Spain.  The Order has played a decisive role during the Counter Reformation times especially in their practice of extreme poverty and mortification.  She was the first woman to be proclaimed Doctor (Teacher) of the Church due to her contributions to the Church's teaching on interior life.  She is also invoked to cure headaches due to her use of the intelligence (which is commonly associated with the head).

She is an example in attaining perfection through wisdom in our thoughts, courage in our will and temperance in our appetites.

(5) St. John of the Cross (San Juan de la Cruz),  Doctor of the Church, co-founder of the Order of Discalced Carmelites,  Patron of Spanish poets, Feastday: December 14

He founded the Discalced Carmelites with St. Teresa of Avila.  He is considered the one who brought energy and vigor to the brothers of the Order in 1568.  In the same way, this Order has been very important during the Counter Reformation Times.  He met several trials of faith including being kidnapped, beaten and imprisoned due to his willingness to bring reform to the Order and the Church in the difficult times of his day.  He produced beautiful works which are actually the fruits of his rich interior life while experiencing trials and difficulties.  He wrote books about Christian Mysticism which are very remarkable in Catholic literature.  Among those popular was Dark Night of the Soul and Ascent to Mount Carmel which has been influential to Catholic theologians like Blessed John Paul II, philosophers like Jacques Maritain and St. Edith Stein and saints like Teresa of Avila and Therese of the Child Jesus. He was also bestowed with the privilege title of being a Doctor of the Church due to his contributions to Christian Mysticsm.

His life teaches us that the darkness of our faith are actually passages for us to attain peace and enlightenment.  And as we accept to walk in the darkness of our faith, we will be given enough grace to stand and walk with God as we journey to the light.

(6) St. John of Avila (San Juan de Avila), patron of the Spanish clergy, Feastday: May 10

Spiritual director of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila, among others, he drew large crowds with his denunciations of evil and his many sermons. He was not considered a founder of any Order but his advice and direction gave inspiration to the two founders of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.  His missionary efforts were centered on Andalusia, a community in Spain, and his letters and other writings have become Spanish classics, among those was the Spiritual Letters containing sublime doctrine which,  like his spiritual directees, also reflects his rich spiritual life.  As of now, he is being considered to be called a Doctor of the Church like his two spiritual students.

(7) St. Rose of Lima (Santa Rosa de Lima), patroness of Latin America and secondary patroness of the Philippines, Feastday: August 23

Contrary to common misconceptions, St. Rose of Lima was not a nun, rather, she was a lay tertiary, spending most of her life at her family home where she worked to support the family. She was born in Lima, Peru in 1586 and was baptized as Isabel de Oliva.  She was nicknamed "Rosa" for her beauty.  As she grew older, she was so devoted to chastity that she used pepper and lye to ruin her complexion so she wouldn’t be attractive to her suitors. She stayed at home all the time and will leave only to go to the Church for daily masses, Eucharistic adorations and confession and to go to her community to help the sick and the poor. She also vowed total abstinence from meat.  In her spare time, she would grew flowers in her garden or make laces and sell them in order to give alms to the poor.  St. Rose was a mystic and visionary, who received many mental and physical sufferings, including an invisible stigmata (wounds of the crucified Christ). She died in 1614. She was the first Catholic saint of the Americas.

Her life teaches us that we can attain holiness through ordinary deeds.  We can imitate St. Rose in her simple acts of doing household duties, frequent reception of the sacraments and helping our less fortunate brothers and sisters through corporal or spiritual acts of charity.

The Great Missionary of the East:

(8)  St. Francis Xavier (San Francisco Javier), patron of the missions, Feastday: December 3

He is one of the first called by St. Ignatius of Loyola while he was studying liberal arts at Paris.  He was ordained in 1537 in Rome and went to the southern India to began preaching the gospel.  Then he preached in Sri Lanka, then in Indonesia.  He went to Japan in 1547 and there he tirelessly preached and converted many to the faith.  He also went to China to spread the gospel there.  He died in 1552 in a land known today as Hong Kong while waiting for a boat to take him back to China.

He was responsible for converting more than 50, 000 to the Catholic faith.  It has also been said that no missionary aside from St. Paul who has been so effective in preaching the Gospel and converting many as that of St. Francis Xavier.

His life teaches us to devote ourselves to the mission of evangelization at least in our modern and more effective means.

Young saint of modern times:

(9) St. Rafael Arnaiz, model of modern youth, Feastday: April 26

He was the first of four sons born to a well-to-do, deeply Christian and Catholic family.  As a boy he went to several schools run by the Jesuit Fathers.  By the time of his adolescence it became clear that  Rafael had special human, intellectual, artistic and spiritual gifts.  These qualities were remarkably well balanced in him, producing an open positive, joyful attitude to the world of persons and things, characterized by exuberant good humour, respect and humility. After studying to become an architect in Madrid, he experienced the call of God to consecrate himself in monastic life, entering the Trappist monastery. God wished to test him with a painful sickness — acute diabetes — that forced him to leave the monastery three times. But always, he returned. He died in 1938 at the age of 27.  St. Rafael was just canonized in 2009.

St. Rafael was proclaimed as a model for the youth of today by Blessed John Paul II when he was prcolaimed by the latter as Blessed in 1992.  The pope wants to invite young people to follow his example of humility and deep love for God in the midst of the difficult trials of faith.  And personally, as a seminarian in this year of pastoral exposure and discernment, I just pray through his intercession to allow me to listen to the call of God and respond with an open heart and a generous hand.

Happy World Youth Day Celebration to all! May we be one with the Church regardless of location.

“Rooted and Built Up in Jesus Christ, Firm in the Faith” (cf Col 2:7)

Kayo ang Magpakain sa Kanila!

Nang marinig ni Hesus ang pagkamatay ni Juan, sumakay siya sa isang bangka at pumunta sa isang lugar      na walang tao. Ngunit nang mabalitaan naman iyon ng mga tao, sila’y naglakad papalabas sa kani-kanilang bayan at sinundan si Hesus. Pagdating ni Hesus sa dalampasigan, nakita niya ang napakaraming taong iyon. Nahabag siya sa kanila kaya’t pinagaling niya ang mga maysakit na dala nila. Nang dapit-hapon na’y lumapit sa kanya ang mga alagad. Sinabi nila, "Malapit na pong lumubog ang araw at ilang ang lugar na ito.     Papuntahin na po ninyo sa mga kalapit na nayon ang mga tao upang makabili ng kanilang makakain." "Hindi na sila kailangang umalis. Kayo ang magpakain sa kanila," sabi ni Hesus. Sumagot sila, "Wala po tayong pagkain kundi limang tinapay lamang at dalawang isda." "Dalhin ninyo rito," sabi niya. Pinaupo niya sa damuhan ang mga tao. Kinuha ang limang tinapay at dalawang isda, tumingala siya sa langit at nagpasalamat sa Diyos. Pinaghati-hati niya ang mga tinapay at iniutos sa mga alagad na ipamahagi iyon sa mga tao. Napakain at nabusog ang lahat. Nang ipunin ng mga alagad ang natirang pagkain, nakapuno pa sila ng labindalawang kaing ng tinapay. May limanlibong lalaki ang pinakain, bukod pa sa mga babae at mga bata. (Matthew 14:13-21)

Madalas tayong magreklamo sa mga problemang nakakaharap na tin sa araw-araw.  Napakadali sa ating magpasa sa iba ng mga solusyon sa ating mga suliranin.  Halimbawa: sa mga krimen, ipapasa natin ito sa mga pulis, sinasabi natin at nagrereklamo tayo na di nila ginagawa ang dapat nilang gawin.  Kapag may mga problema sa trapiko, magrereklamo tayo sa MMDA.  Sa mga suliraning pulitikal at pangekonomiya, pagbibintangan natin ang gobyerno.  Sa mga problemang moral at ispiritwal sa ating lipunanan, ating ipinapasa ito sa Simbahan.


Sa madalas nating pagpapasa ng gawain sa mga institusyon at mga lider ng ating lipunan, madalas ay nakakalimutan natin ang ating responsibilidad.  Halimbawa: sa korapsyon sa ating pamahalaan, madalas tayong maghimutok at magprotesta sa mga lider ng ating bayan.  Totoo na laganap ang korapsyon sa ibat-ibang departaento at ahensya ang ating gobyerno subalit hindi natin nakikita ang ating mga maliliit na ginagawang corrupt din sa paningin ng Diyos.  Ang pagtanggap ng bayad sa boto ay maliit na bagay nga subalit kasingtindi rin ang epekto katulad ng malakihang pagnanakaw ng mga pulitiko sa kaban ng bayan.  Ang pagtaya sa jueteng ay maliit na bagay nga subalit ito rin ay pagpapahayg ng suporta sa malalaking pwersa ng sugal sa ating bayan na karaniwang pinasisimunuan pa ng ating mga pulitikong corrupt.  Ang pagkuha ng coupon bond sa government office ay isang pagkuha rin ng bagay na hindi sa atin kundi pag-aari ng ahensya ng gobyerno.  Ang pangongoya sa exam ng mga estudyante ay maliit na bagay nga subalit pandaraya din katulad ng pagdaraya sa mga civil service exams ng mga balak magtrabaho sa gobyerno. Ang pagpepetiks sa trabaho ay isa ring uri ng pandaraya dahil sinasahuran ka ng sapat gayong di ka naman tumutupad sa takdang oras.

We keep on putting a blame on others but we fail to take ownership. Napakadali sa ating mambintang subalit di natin nakikita na ang kasamaan pala ay nagmumula sa atin! Tayo ay nagko-contribute pala sa kabulukan ng ating lipunan sa maliliiit na paraan subalit hindi nangangahulugang mas maliit ang epekto sa ginagawa ng mas makapangyarihan sa atin.  Kung tayo ay gumagawa ng maliliit na uri ng kasamaan, sa tingin ba natin ay hindi natin magagawa ang malalaking kasamaan kung tayo ay nabigyan ng pagkakataon? I think we will do worse things if we will be given a chance.

Nais kong ibahagi ang short film na ito. Very relevant sa Ebanghelyo natin ngayon.

 Sinabi ni Hesus sa Ebanghelyo nang ang mga tao ay nagutom: Kayo ang Magpakain sa Kanila! Subalit magtatanong ang mga alagad: Paano namin mapapakain ang 5, 000 na lalaki kasama ang mga babae at mga bata? Ilang pera ang kailangan naming gastahin para mabigyan man lang kahit tig-iisang tinapay ang bawat isa? Subalit hindi nagpadala ng mga alagad sa kanilang logic. Ibinigay nila ang limang tinapay at dalawang isda.  Imposible para mapakain ang libong tao ng kakaunting pagkain.  Subalit tinanggap ang mga ito ni Hesus at binasbasan.  Naa-appreciate ni Hesus ang efforts natin.  Gaano man ito kaliit.  Ang Diyos ay handang gumawa ng milagro kung tayo ay mananatiling cooperative sa kanyang mga plano.  Sinabi sa Ebanghelyo na silang lahat ay nakakain at nabusog.  At nakaipon pa ng labindalawang bakol na tirang tinapay.

Anumang mabuting bagay gaano man kaliit ay papuntang langit. Sabi ni Blessed Teresa of Calcutta: Kung ang bawat isa sa atin ay magdadala ng isang timbang tubig sa Sahara desert, makakabuo tayo ng malaking karagatan. Araw-araw 25, 000 ang namamatay sa gutom. Nasan ang ating pananampalataya?  Kailan natin masasabi: Ano ang maari nating maibigay? Sapat na lang bang manalangin at iasa sa Diyos o sa gobyerno ang ganitong suliranin habang marami ang namamatay? Kailan kaya natin masasabi sa ting mga sarili: "Sa kabila ng aking kahinaan at limitasyon, AKO MISMO ang gagawa nito"?