Generating Hope

Three days after monster typhoon Yolanda struck Cebu, I went home to visit Bantayan Island. My heart sank at the horrific havoc the storm did to this once beautiful paradise in Northern Cebu. Particularly, I saw the sorry state of my hometown in Madridejos. The storm almost spared nothing. Trees and electric posts tumbled; roofs blown away and concrete walls were pounded. Poultry farms were knocked down with millions of damages to the industry. It also dealt heavy damages to public buildings and schools. The sight was tremendously heartbreaking. I felt the seemingly powerlessness of man over the forces of nature.

The faces of people I saw were painted with grief and angst. Some terror-stricken residents stared blankly of what remained of their houses or property. Others would not know how to start rebuilding with many unspoken questions in their hearts. The once soothing breeze from the sea was now felt with anxiety and mistrust. The dying of the sun over the horizon filled the island with a sense of fear. Darkness covered everything as night settled with an ominous aura of gloom. There was no electricity. Any means of communication was temporarily down. People returned to lighting candles and oil lamps. It was a return to a life of strict simplicity.

After the relief distribution, since our group could not make it to travel back to the city, we requested accommodation from the parish priest of San Vicente Ferrer Parish, Fr. Bobby Paraguya. His parish had the luxury of space and roof. We felt honored by his generous hospitality. That night, while the rest of the island was in darkness, we enjoyed light from the parish generator. It was always in stand-by. In cases of brown-out, it provided alternative power. That handy generator made me realize that it is a symbol of faith.

When storms strike our life and knock us down, we may lose power. We lose our light and leave us in darkness. In such cases, we turn to our alternative power. Faith is like a generator that re-charges us. It sustains our energy and provides us with added strength to carry on. We move forward provided by our faith in God. Our faith in Jesus gives us power to overcome our storms. It generates hope. Though bowed and bent, we are never broken. Faith makes us survive.

Christmas is a season of hope. The deepest lesson of Christmas is the sacred truth that God became man. God assumed our powerlessness to make us strong. In Jesus, we can pick up our broken pieces and arrange them back in order. When we recall the first Christmas, it was to a broken world that our Messiah came. His star over Bethlehem was an omen that the best was yet to come. The beautiful story of a world transformed and redeemed was just beginning. This child in the manger is still the hope of every generation. His presence can still provide us with an inexhaustible richness that defies our imagination. God can still amaze us with his pleasant surprises!

During the ordination of our new priest, Rev. Fr. Rosmon Valenciano at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes last December 7, the ordaining prelate was Bishop Patricio Buzon from the Diocese of Kabangkalan, Negros. He related his experience shared by Archbishop John Du of Palo, Leyte. One of the hardest hit by the typhoon was also Palo. It brought great destruction to houses and churches. Yet despite the magnitude of the damage, he told his priests to continue celebrating Masses in their parishes.

“The people need food, water and shelter. But more than that, the people need Jesus. Because Jesus will give them strength!” Indeed, we need Jesus. It is He who can give us extraordinary strength in extraordinary circumstances. Jesus can transform our helplessness. His hope can change our grief into joy.

A Christ-filled Christmas to everyone!

(This article also appeared in my Sunday Column "Sharing the Word": Cebu Daily News - December 22, 2013) 

 

Doing God's Will

In one of our Christmas Family Gathering, my cousins and I organized a Christmas Drama. It was a portrayal of the first Christmas. Since I was one of the older “kuyas” (I was 3^rd year High School then), I took up the role of Joseph. Another cousin was Mary. Other smaller cousins took up different roles such as shepherds, kings or animals in the manger.

Back then, I thought the role of Joseph was simple. Being the foster dad of Jesus was easy. It was not a demanding task. But reflecting again on Joseph’s story and his role in the life of Jesus and Mary, it was really hard. It needed a lot of courage.

The Gospel (Mt. 1:18-24) for the 3^rd day of Misa de Gallo focuses on Joseph. We are presented with the background of Jesus’ Birth. We have a glimpse of events “behind the scenes.”

Before Joseph took Mary as his wife, he had a big problem. He had, in fact, a psychological crisis. Mary was for Joseph, not only the most beautiful girl in their town; she was also the ideal girl – kind, caring, hardworking, prayerful, obedient, conservative. The list can go on. She will be a perfect bride; the best mother of his children. He would be the envy of the men of their place.

But one day, he noticed she was pregnant. She was gaining weight and her body structure was showing it. The change was noticeable. The first courageous act of Joseph was this: he never doubted Mary’s faithfulness for a single moment!

What his eyes were seeing could be mistaken. His feelings of what was happening to her physically could be wrong. But his reason can never condemn the goodness and the purity of Mary’s heart. His feelings was telling him one thing but his judgment was absolving her. She is just too noble and so gracious to be counted as a “sinner.”

Thus he planned to divorce her quietly and secretly. It was at this point that God had to intervene. God has to explain and send a messenger to put the story right. This messenger has to tell him personally the truth behind the mystery… in a dream!

From the angel’s enlightenment, Joseph had to bend and bow to the will of God. He became obedient and allowed God’s plan to happen in his life. He followed God’s will not only in this instance but throughout his life.

Joseph was committed to do God’s will. He made a decision to say “yes!” to God. He was consistent. His was a “daily yes.” It was expressed in the concrete circumstances of his life with Jesus and Mary. Finally, his obedience was conscious. It was a rational, intelligent, mature choice. It was a personal acceptance of God’s design for him.

Reflecting on the life of Joseph, the challenge for us is to do God’s will in our life. In reality, we can only do two things in our life: either we do what God wants or we do what we want. Either God is the center of my life or I am the center. Either I build God’s kingdom or I build my own kingdom.

The irony is that, the more I do what I want; I build my own kingdom; I put myself in the center, the more incomplete I become. I become empty and in bondage with myself. As Jesus says “loose yourself, then you’ll find yourself.”

Joseph lost himself in God. He emptied himself with his plans so that the “Emmanuel” can fill him up. Joseph realized that in order for his life to be meaningful he had to make a big space for Jesus. Jesus has to fill up his life.

Once I attended a seminar. During breaks, there were puzzles outside the lobby for recreation. One puzzle was most difficult because it had 1,000 pieces. But since the participants worked together to form the puzzle, it began to take shape little by little. Finally, it was completed except for one piece! The puzzle could not be complete with one piece missing.

The mystery of the missing piece was finally solved when one participant revealed he was keeping the last piece to have the honor complete the whole puzzle!

Our life is like a puzzle. God is the most important piece. Without Him we can never be complete. And we can only find our place in this world by looking at the greater scheme of things. God’s design for us makes our life meaningful.

Welcoming Jesus

The song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” was the #1 hit song in the US and UK for 4 weeks in 1973. It was popularized by Tony Orlando. And according to “Billboard Music Magazine,” it is one of the biggest songs of all time.

This song is a ballad, told from the point of view of a prisoner who has completed his 3-year sentence but is uncertain if he will be welcomed home.

He wrote to his love, asking her to tie a yellow ribbon around the “ole oak tree” in front of the house (which the bus, bringing him home from prison, will pass by) if she wants him still to return to her life. If he does not see such a ribbon, he will remain on the bus (taking that to mean he is unwelcome). He asks the bus driver to check, fearful of not seeing anything.

To his amazement, the entire bus cheers the response – there are actually 100 yellow ribbons around the tree, a sign he is very much welcome!

Long before this song acquired a political color for Ninoy and Cory Aquino (Edsa and People Power for that matter), its original meaning was that of welcome. It tells the story of unconditional acceptance and sincere love.

As we start the Misa de Gallo days, I would like to begin with the theme of Welcome. I would have wanted to give each of you, instead of yellow, a violet ribbon – para way politica (pero daghan ra mu kaayo).

But imagine you are receiving directly from me a Violet Ribbon (Dia ra ha. Dawata ninyo). I would like you to put that around your heart – symbolically (Ibugkos). Ready! In 3 counts – 6, 7, 8. Wear it proudly. It means “Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!” You are showing Jesus: I am welcoming you in my heart!

This is what the Misa de Gallo is all about.. it’s about preparing our hearts. It’s about welcoming Christ dearly and lovingly. I would like to leave you 3 thoughts: Let’s welcome Jesus; Let’s be Close to Him and Let us Become like Him.

1.   Let us Welcome Jesus

The Misa de Gallo is about preparing for a meaningful Christmas. It may sound a cliché but its true: Christ is the reason for this season. There are other preparations we are invited to do for the coming special events in the years to come: In 2016 – Cebu will be the host of the 51^st International Eucharistic Congress. We are expecting Pope Francis to come and visit us. Don’t you think we need to prepare to welcome the Vicar of Christ? Last time was in 1981!

A much challenging preparation is 2021: the 5^th centenary or 500 years of Christianization of the Philippines since March 1521. We have started our count down since last year.. we are, in fact, in a 9-year journey of preparation as we remember the 1^st Mass in Limasawa Island; the 1^st Cebuano Baptism of Rajah Humabon and Haraj Amihan who took the names Carlos and Juana. And we remember the gift of the Sto Nino in our shores.

2.   Let us Be Close to Him

Connected to our welcome is our desire to be close to Jesus. During the ordination of our new priest, Fr. Rosmon Valenciano, in the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes – Bishop Patrick Buzon shared the experience he heard from Archbishop John Du of the Palo, Leyte. Despite the devastation of many houses and Churches in Palo, Archbishop John told his priests to continue celebrating Holy Mass in their parishes. “The people need food, water and shelter.. but more than that the people need Jesus! Because Jesus will give them strength.”

Nanimbawot jud akong balhibo pagsulti nya ana.. We need Jesus. It is Jesus who can give us extraordinary strength in extraordinary circumstance. Jesus will give us power to rise above our storms. These days, let us come to Mass. Let us come to Jesus. Let us feel close to Jesus.

3.   Let us Become Like Him

More than just being close to Jesus, our biggest challenge is to be like Him. Year 2014 is the Year of the Laity. CBCP President Archbishop Socrates Villegas wishes to remind all of you – lay people – of your basic Christian dignity in his recent Pastoral Exhortation. He challenges all Filipino Catholic Laity: “you are called to be saints and send forth as heroes.” He begins in his letter by describing the present situation of the Catholic Laity in the Philippines.

He describes it as a “paradox of poverty and abundance.” Yes we are a poor country but we have two jewels in our rags: our music and our faith.. thus he says with conviction “the first and most important truth about you Filipino Catholic laity is not poverty but the greatness of your dignity. This dignity derives from God’s unmerited choice of you to belong to God’s holy people.” Our faith makes us rich. Jesus is the source of our wealth!

One morning, I woke up and there was a strong compelling voice in my mind commanding me: “Randy, you should begin to seriously walk in holiness.” I felt a deep anguish and fear. I know I am still a lukewarm follower of Jesus.

I looked at myself: I’m 45 years old – soon I’ll be 50! I asked myself, at my age what legacy can I leave when I’m gone? This thought came to me: kanindot unta – what if ma-santo ko. Mabutang jud tingali sa mapa ang Bantayan Island – ang birthplace sa soon-to-be St. Randy Figuracion!

Kidding aside, during my seminary days in Canlubang, there was a quotation on top of the Rector’s Office which I have memorized: “We only live once. If we live right, once is enough.” That morning, I felt the commanding voice of Jesus inviting me to “seriously walk in holiness,” that means to be more Christ-like.. I’m also inviting all of you. Let’s walk together. Dungan ta – as they say “the more the merrier.”

Brothers and sisters, today as you go home bring your violet ribbon at home. Tie it in at the door entrance of your homes, in your drawers – in a place where it is visible. Let it remind you of 2 things:

1.   You are committed to welcome Jesus with joy

2.   You are committed to live for Jesus – to become like Jesus! 

Bowed but never Broken

Anderson Cooper is a veteran CNN journalist. He spent several days reporting onsite about the devastation brought about by typhoon Yolanda from disaster zones in the Philippines. He even got involved in a controversy with Korina Sanchez of ABS-CBN who took offense to the harsh realities he was reporting.

On his CNN “Anderson Cooper 360°” one Saturday Morning, he thanked the Philippines and the Filipino people for “showing the world how to live.” This are his words:

“We’ve seen people with every reason to despair, every right to be angry, instead find ways to laugh, and to love, to stand up, to move forward.

A storm breaks wood and bone, brings hurt and heartbreak. In the end, the wind, the water, the horror it brings is not the end of the story.

With aid and assistance, compassion and care, this place, these people… they will make it through. They already survived the worst. They’re bowed, perhaps tired and traumatized, but they are not broken.

Mabuhay Philippines! Maraming Salamat for all you’ve shown us. Maraming salamat for showing us all how to live.”

One character of the Filipino is our resiliency. We are often compared to the bamboo. With strong winds, the bamboo is bowed but is resilient. It stands again. But when I went to Bantayan Island three days after the strongest storm ever to hit Northern Cebu, I passed by a barrio in Madridejos known as “Kangwayan.” It is suppose to be “Kawayanan” because it’s an area where bamboos are abundant.

I was horrified by what I saw. All the bamboos there were not only bowed. They were actually broken. So strong really was typhoon Yolanda that it defied expectations. Yet still we manage to smile. We pick up our lives and return to normal.

I believe the reason and foundation of our resiliency is our faith. We believe in God! We believe God is greater than the storms our in lives. Because of Him we can stand! Because of Him we can always rise from our falls. We always have the strength after the storm.

On this 3^rd Sunday of Advent we are reminded that God is near. His “nearness” inspires us. His presence strengthens us. His closeness gives us delight! This  mysterious presence and our strong awareness of it makes us smile – even laugh because God will still take care of us.

Hence, we are invited to take on Two Qualities in our Advent Preparations:

1.     Be Patient

Let us be patient because the Lord is coming. He comes to fulfill His promises. He will satisfy our expectations. The Letter of James encourages us to be patient like the farmer (Jas 5:7-8). After all his labor and toil – preparing the land, planting the seeds and watering them diligently – he now waits patiently for the seeds to grow. He needs to wait because the growth of the seeds does not belong to him. It belongs entirely to God. Thus after doing what we can, we wait. God will do the rest!

We need patience in waiting for the Lord. Without this patience, we begin to complain. Our hearts grows weary and heavy when we begin to count the minutes and hours. If we wait with a grumbling disposition, the waiting would seem eternity. Let us, rather, wait with patience filled with excitement. God will surprise us with what He can do!

2.     Be Hopeful

We also need to be hopeful. Hope gives us power not to be defeated or broken by life. Whatever comes to us: wind, water or wars – “it’s not the end of the story” (says Anderson Cooper).

I read John Pages’ Column (Match Point) in Sunstar few days ago (December 11). He narrated an inspiring story by Lester Tabada, a runner from Southern Leyte. With some of his friends, they decided to “Rise up and Run for Tacloban.”

Some did a 5k run others 10k. But they run around Tacloban despite the lack of so many things – no registration fees, no singlets, no water stations, no marshall. They only had hope in their hearts. They wanted “to show to the people of Tacloban that we are stronger than Yoland.” They ran traversing the hardest hit barangays; some with borrowed shoes and running gears. The goal was just to show the people “hope” through running. Lester wrote: “these were good people trying their best to be strong for each other.”

Patience, hope and resiliency. These are qualities that come through our faith in a God who is one of us. He comes to be our strength. As Psalm 146 says: “The Lord raises us those who were bowed down.” For this reason we may be bent but never broken; bowed but resilient.