Saints We Are

When we talk about “saints,” we immediately think of the “canonized ones” – those proclaimed by the Church as blessed because they have lived extraordinary lives beyond that of an average Christian. Here we note that the Church does not make or create saints, but rather recognizes their virtues and present them to the faithful as role models in the practice of the faith.

The first saint I have known is San Antonio of Padua. My mom entrusted me to his care in my childhood. She even added it as my baptismal name. He was known for his persuasive preaching and impressive miracles borne out of his deep faith in God. The saint who inspired me most is St. John Bosco. Having read his life as a boy, his personality captivated me because he was such a talented individual both in nature and in grace. But my favorite saint is John Paul II because he inspired me to be a priest. Most of all, he is the only saint I have seen in my life.

Many times the saints are projected as bigger than life. We think of them as extra-terrestrial beings who lived perfect and pure lives having no struggles and concupiscence. They seem to be so high on their pedestals that they are beyond the reach of ordinary mortals. Moreover, we focus on their miracles and their phenomenal deeds that make them super human beings. They become like “superheroes” whose lives we love to tell but whose lives we simply cannot imitate.

In reality, they were men and women like us who experienced doubts, fears, worries, joy and hope. They cried and felt hurt. They also had to make difficult decisions in life. They were men and women of their times who were affected by the conditions of their surroundings. What made them extraordinary is that they never allowed their darkness to control them. They cooperated in the grace of God to transform them into vessels of light.

In a broad sense, saints are those who follow Jesus and live their lives according to his teachings. In fact, St. Paul in writing to the different Christian communities of his time, he called them “saints.” Indeed, all of us baptized into Christ are potential saints. We have the capacity because we are children of God as well as the means through the sacraments that give us spiritual strength. In the strict sense, real saints are the men and women who have persevered in their earthly pilgrimage. They have reached the finish line and are now receiving the glorious crown of eternal life.

The lives of the saints continue to challenge us. Even today, there are practical ways that the saints are inviting us to do. Every saint prayed well. They endeavored to have a close relationship with God. They believed that man does not live by bread alone but also needs God’s guidance and direction through His Word. While they kept their feet were firmly rooted on the ground, their eyes were fixed on the spiritual home beyond the stars.

Every saint worked well. First of all, they challenged themselves to overcome their laziness and mediocrity. They responded to the deep yearning in their hearts to seek for real happiness which only God can give. Motivated by the spirit of self denial, they made a commitment to follow Jesus and take up their cross daily. They tried to put into practice the lifestyle and attitude of Christ.

Every saint lived well. Love is the most essential quality of a saint. Every saint is a great lover of God and neighbor. They show their love and compassion even to the point of sacrifice because saints are convinced that there can be no love without sacrifice. Even Jesus declared that “there is no greater love than one who lays down his life for his friends.” Saints live the beatitudes practicing meekness and mercy,

The Irish poet and playwright, Oscar Wilde once wrote: “every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” Saints are never perfect people. Its inspiring to realize that we all have the potentials to be numbered among them. Every day I encounter simple and ordinary people who work well, pray well and live well. I feel God’s grace working quietly in the world despite its confusion and turmoil. Mysteriously, God inspires every willing heart to strive to a life of godliness.

This article appeared in my Sunday Column “Sharing the Word” at Cebu Daily News on November 05, 2017.

Social Conscience

I used to be naughty as I was growing up. I would tease my young siblings especially my sister to the point of making her angry; many times to the point of tears. She even ran after me with a table fork! I had the liberty to do this because my parents were away. At home, we only had our helper who was also a distant relative to manage the house. But I was beyond her control. At any hint of trouble, I was the culprit.

When dad arrived, my sister would immediately report all my trouble making at home. At first, my dad would call me and advise me to be more kind and respectful. But after several warnings and futile efforts to correct me, he was forced to execute disciplinary measures. I remember my dad spanking me several times. I resented him for that. On hindsight, I realize what my dad did was right. He had the duty to correct me. I believe, I am a better person today because of those “spankings.” Today I understand better that he did what he should do because he truly cared for me.

Our Sunday Gospel (Mt18:15-20) reminds us of our Christian commitment to take care of each other. In the family, it is the parents’ duty to teach and demonstrate to their children Christian values and virtues. These are reinforced in the school community by the teachers and educators. Robert Fulghum, author of the book “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” enumerates basic lessons he learned “not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School.”

Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die; so we do.

Don’t hit people and saying I’m sorry are basic things in life. They are rudimentary values that bring nobility in the world. They put order in our society and they are the bedrock of a respectful community. When a child forgets all these things, the father or the mother usually repeats the lesson. The child is told. The “spanking” may be necessary as a deterrent. Today, the spanking may not be physical. The principle is to win over the child to learn the lesson of respect and give value the person. The teacher does the same in school.

But when the wrong doing happens in society, who does the correcting? Who teaches the lessons of fair play in order to moderate greed? Israel had a tradition of rightful living. God instituted it by giving them a set of rules as guidelines for their actions. It became a requirement of the covenant for God to make of them a wise people with a noble heritage. Through the years when the people of Israel would forget the demands of the covenant, the prophets were there to remind them.

Prophet Amos, for instance, was just a simple farmer. He lived at a time in Israel when business had never been better. Merchants piled up big profits and luxuries like stone houses, ivory-inlaid furniture, good food and fine wine were readily available. There was peace and prosperity. Yet beyond such surface was a dark side that slowly disintegrated Israelite society. There was oppression of the poor, dishonesty in business, bribery in court, privileges bought with money. Worst of all, God became a mere additive to a convenient lifestyle. God called Amos to leave his job and carry an unwelcomed message to his people.

The Church has a prophetic role today like that of Amos. It is her role to challenge each disciple to be a shepherd to each other. She reminds everyone that one must care for each other as brother or sister. Love requires a commitment to bring a strayed brother or sister on the right path. Hence, we all have the duty to correct each other out of love. It is difficult became the messenger of the message is also targeted.

          The Church has the duty to correct like a mother. She is to be the social conscience of society in order to remind and repeat the fundamental lessons we learned as children: Play fair. Don’t hit people. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Say sorry when you hit somebody. It is the way to go for a better society that promotes love, respect and forgiveness.

This article appears in Fr. Randy’s Column “Sharing the Word,” Faith Section of Cebu Daily News, September 10, 2017.

Keep Believing

Reading a book one lazy afternoon, I could hear the familiar voice of Arnel Pineda on the neighbor’s radio crooning with his heart “Don’t Stop Believing.” This amazingly powerful song immediately struck a chord inside me. After its release in 1981, it is still topping the charts more than 30 years after its debut. The song is one of the most listened to in iTunes and the most downloaded in the 20^th century. It continues to inspire youth and adults alike to always have hope.

This song has also been the synthesis of Pineda’s life. His mother died when he was 13 leaving their family in debt. He was forced to stop schooling. For two years he spent out on the streets sleeping anywhere; earned money by collecting bottles and newspaper. Sometimes he did not have anything to eat. But he kept on surviving and working hard on his talent.

Born a singer-songwriter, his biggest break came in 2007 when he gained international stardom by being chosen as lead vocals of the American Rock Band “Journey.” He kept believing despite the odds on his side such as poverty, lack of connection or lack of pedigree. He did not make failure define his life. He just kept persisting.

Today’s Gospel Reading (Mt 16:13-20) narrates the dialogue between Jesus and his disciples leading to Peter’s confession of faith. They were journeying in the region of Caesarea Philippi when Peter, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, acknowledged and affirmed Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” It was a turning point for him to be given a mandate “to bind and to lose.” On this rock of faith the Church is born.

The Church is a community borne from our desperate need to form meaningful relationships. Each person is in search for love and companionship. At times we have become strangers to each other that we fear isolation and loneliness. We seek someone like Jesus to understand us despite who we are. Hence we need each other around the person of Jesus to teach us how to make our love real. It was for this purpose that he entered into dialogue with his companions in order to invite them to share in his mission.

Becoming Church today is a great challenge. For some, the Church has become irrelevant with leaders experiencing moral failure. It is tantamount to saying that God is now missing in the Church. There is a prevalent mistrust in authority that there are those who declare: “I have a personal relationship with God; why do I need the Church?” Moreover, the growing epidemic of loneliness is also infiltrating the Church that its members are not finding community in it. This is really most tragic!

In Scriptures, Christ gathered a community through the apostles. This community is in communion with him despite their failings. To know Jesus, then, we need the Church, because it is the Church that authoritatively and reliably preserves and proclaims the truth about who Jesus is. Pope Francis said: “The Church is not a community of perfect people, but disciples on a path who follow the Lord because they recognize themselves as sinners and in need of his forgiveness.”

One model of persistence in faith and prayer is St. Monica. Her son, Augustine was a source of her great pain. Despite his brilliance, he was a wayward son. He followed a path that led him away from Christ. Yet Monica loved him unconditionally offering constant prayers and tears for her son. Her anxiety and concern for him made St. Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan exclaim: “Go on your way, and God bless you, for it is not possible that the son of these tears should be lost.”

There are still many Monica’s today who are struggling and uncertain about the future of their loved ones. They are drifting through life experiencing isolation and discouragement. But I believe God sends us people along the way to give us hope and inspiration. Even the Church is a great sign of hope that the power of darkness can never defeat us. We just keep on believing with an unwavering optimism.

This article appears in Fr. Randy’s Column “Sharing the Word,” Faith Section of Cebu Daily News, August 27, 2017

On Apples and Oranges

One ordinary morning at Lourdes Kinder School in Punta Princesa, Zachary approaches Teacher Erica Escasinas with a surprise.

“Teacher, I have big apples and oranges just for you!”

 “Really,” she replies. “Thanks. But why are you giving these to me Zachy?”

Thinking of an answer, he gives her a boyish stare.

Then he smiles.. “Because.. I love you.”

Teacher Erica got love struck for thirty-seconds by his candid thought. And she hugged Zachary  tightly. She claimed it has been a while since she heard those words said so sincerely.

Our lives are made up of parables. Ordinary situations may have amazing lessons for us to reap. Through them one can acquire extraordinary lessons of love, courage, faith or forgiveness. Like every student, we need to be attentive and observant to grasp whatever parable hidden in our lives. We need to form the habit of reflection within ourselves in order to discern the silent ways of God’s instruction.

Jesus was a great teacher. He was an expert storyteller. A big part of his teachings were presented in parables. His stories were lifelike which his hearers could identify and relate. Most of these parables illustrate the Kingdom of God; its coming and its presence.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus proposes three parables to describe God’s reign. The first parable, which is longer and more detailed, narrates about the “weeds and wheat.” Then he goes on to tell about the growth of “the mustard seed” and finally “the yeast” used in baking. All of them explain that the growth of God’s Kingdom is hidden; even secret. Though many times imperceptive like the mustard growing into a tree, the Kingdom of God starts in our world.

This mystery puzzles us when we realize that God simply allows the “weeds and wheat” to grow along side by side. Together. Moreover, we feel a sense of injustice thinking that God permits evil to happen at the expense of those who are faithful. Many times we ask: “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

Once, a young person came to my office in order to talk to me. He was teary eyed. The very first words he uttered were: “Father, life is unfair!” He disclosed that he has been struggling in so many areas of his life. Financially his parents are hard up. He is affected emotionally and socially. In school, he felt jealous to some of his peers who were born with a “golden spoon in their mouth.” The temptation to end everything sooner is always present. Finding God in his situation was most difficult.

Our faith gives us the strength and courage not to lose heart though we feel the unfairness of life. God’s word can help us to understand and not be deceived by our pessimistic thoughts. Life is really a mixture of weeds and wheat, truth and error, sin and holiness, light and shadows. Though we see the reality of violence, hate and the triumph of evil, may we look beyond with hope and greater meaning.  

Most of all, let us never lose sight of God’s Providence every single day. Through simple joys and ordinary situations like a child sharing his apples and oranges to an suspecting teacher, may we have the wisdom to discover God’s hidden presence. These are ingredients which are the source of inspiring parables that direct and guide our life.

(This article appeared in my Column: "Sharing the Word," Cebu Daily News - July 23, 2017)

Gift of Peace

One of the wonderful things that happened during the Holy Week was the presence of so many people desiring to come for confessions. In the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, the long queuing began since Holy Tuesday evening, the whole day of Holy Wednesday until Good Friday. Penitents kept coming non-stop until midnight. Although it is not something unusual since there is daily confession in this Shrine from 4:30 – 7:00 pm, yet the Holy Week drew an added attraction for people to make their Lenten Obligation.

I was in the confessional during these days perhaps between 10-12 hours listening to people from all walks of life. The experience was really tiring and exhausting. So much negative energies were transferred on me; so many sad stories of failures; so many spiritual garbage were dumped. At the end of the day I felt “drunk” of so much catharsis heaped on me. I became like a shock absorber of remorseful hearts.

But the amazing thing was, I witnessed so much miracle and change that happened in silence. When I gazed upon queuing penitents waiting for their turn, I saw “dead people” walking. They looked melancholic but hopeful. Some came frightened and even disturbed. Some have lost contact of this sacrament for 10 years or more. All of them entered into their tomb in sincerity and surrender. They came out brand new. They have experienced resurrection! Peace and forgiveness are powerful forces only God can give.

One of the apostles of the confessional is St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests. It is said that he was listening in confession daily for 16-18 hours. When he started as the Cure of Ars, that out of the way forsaken parish in France he was sent, he was not immediately that zealous in sitting for confessions for hours. It was an act of grace that brought him to this realization.

While praying before the Blessed Sacrament, God gave him the grace to see himself as he really was. For the very first time he saw how pitiable and miserable he was that brought him to tears. He was filled with such horror and abhorrence for sin that grieved him deeply.  For him, it was God’s inspiration not to shame him but in order that he may trust in his mercy. He realized that he could give so much service to people who come to confession offering them a privilege to experience God’s strength and consolation. It is God’s divine mercy and unlimited compassion that one experiences at the confessional.

When John Paul II canonized St. Faustina Kowalska on 30 April 2000, he surprised the entire world by also establishing on that same day Divine Mercy Sunday. This feast falls on the Second Sunday of the Easter Season. In his writings, he described Divine Mercy as the answer to the world’s problems and the uplifting message people need to hear for the third millennium. This was also the reason he canonized this mystic nun associated with the message in Rome not in Poland to emphasize that Divine Mercy is for the whole world.

The gospel tells us that the first act the risen Jesus did was to announce to his disciples his gift of peace. It was now evening of the first Easter Sunday. The doors were locked and the disciples were huddled together in the Upper Room out of fear. Suddenly, Jesus stood in their midst proclaiming: “Peace be with you!” It was such a surprisingly pleasant reunion. They were amazed to see him alive still with fresh wounds on his hands and on his side. His presence also filled them with fear and shame.

But instead of haunting them with their boastings and betrayals, he graced them with peace and joy! He breathed on them the Holy Spirit making them brand new persons with a future and with a mission. They have seen a magnanimous, forgiving risen Messiah with a noble heart oozing with Divine Mercy. With this experience they were never the same. Indeed the fruit of mercy is peace.

The message of the Divine Mercy shows us that God’s love is greater than our sins. His mercy is greater than our fears. The experience of God’s love brings peace the world does not know. Such peace comes from a conviction that only God can fill up our lives.

In Memoriam

On top of Mt. Samat in Bataan, looms a large, steel cross measuring 92 meters high. Known as the Shrine of Valor, it is visible even from afar.  It serves as a memorial of the heroic struggle and sacrifices of Filipino and American soldiers who fought and died during the Battle of Bataan in1942. On the two lateral walls of the colonnade is the narrative of the “Battle of Bataan” etched in marble. It ends with the phrase: “Our Mission is to Remember.”

Bataan was the site of the vicious battle against the invading Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The Filipino and American soldiers retreated to the Bataan Peninsula for a last valiant but futile stand. Sick, starving, exhausted and short in ammunition after three months of fighting, Major General Edward King surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. This led to the Bataan Death March with about 80,000 soldiers forcibly made to walk 130 km for five days under the heat of the sun, without food or water.

It was my first time to visit its museum underneath and read war stories that recount the courage and bravery of our soldiers. I was touched by their memory whose blood soaked every stone and pavement of the mountain. Pictures of brave war heroes embellish its corridors whose names today are just for history books. I realize they were flesh and blood people whose honors deserve to be enshrined and remembered. In my heart, I felt the tag to tell and re-tell their stories.

We need to recognize our great past. Telling their stories is for connection. Not so much for them but for us and the generation after us. I wonder when our young people hear names such as Leon Kilat, Natalio Bacalso, Florencio Llamas or Tres de Abril? Will it ring a bell in their heart? Maybe they will recognize these names simply as streets of our metropolis. Like many of our heroic stories, they have slipped out of memory. Without this connection with our past, we contribute to their historical poverty. So become a people without a historical sense.

November is a month of remembrance. We are invited to remember our saints and the souls of the faithful departed. The souls of the faithful departed deserve our memory because they are part of our family. Our connection with them does not end in death. We treasure their memory because we love them. We appreciate their legacy because honoring them with flowers and candles express our gratitude. But most of all, our love for them is made concrete through our prayers especially offering the Eucharist for them.

The saints deserve our focus because they are our heroes of the faith. While the souls of the faithful departed are still purified and prepared for eternity, the saints have reached the heavenly Jerusalem. The book of Revelation speaks of a great multitude that no one can count wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hand. We realize that in our journey of life, we are not alone. So many friends are cheering for us and praying for us. We are always in communion with them.

One of the newest saints we have is the 15-year old martyr Jose Sanchez del Rio. Pope Francis canonized him on October 16, 2016. He joined the Mexican freedom fighters known as the “Cristero” that fought against the Maxist government. Though his mother refused his entry because he was too young, he reasoned: “Mama, do not let me loose the opportunity to gain heaven so easily and so soon.” Captured during a fight, he was imprisoned and tortured brutally. He found strength in praying the rosary daily. In prison, he wrote an emotional letter to his mother declaring that he was ready to fulfill the will of God.

Finally, on the day of his death on February 10, 1928, the soldiers cut the soles of his feet and forced him to walk to the cemetery. They enticed him: “If you shout ‘Death to Christ the King’, we will spare your life. All the more Jose would shout: “Viva Cristo Rey!” When he reached the place of execution, his captors stabbed him with bayonets. Then the commander pulled out his pistol and shot him in the head. As he was dying, he drew a cross in the dirt and kissed it with fervor.”

Stories like this bring out the desire for greatness. Their examples inspire us to be steadfast in the faith. We realize we have a great tradition of holiness. Hence, it is our duty to remember.

                     (Appeared in the Faith Section of Cebu Daily News, November 06, 2016)

Throw-away Culture

Candles burn night and day outside the gate of the Ibona residence. Just a week ago, in broad daylight, brothers Ramonito and Cesario were shot dead right at their home. Until now the perpetrators are still unknown. A 16-year old female victim was part of the collateral damage. Though innocent, she just happened to be in a wrong place and in a wrong time. The killing toll continues to rise. We no longer know whether the operation is legitimate or not. It might just be personal vendetta to stump rivalry.

I feel sad for them because they were my parishioners. According to the Philippine Barangay Population 2015, Punta Princesa - Cebu City has a population of 22,369. Their demise has now lessened my flock by three. I may not have known them personally but they are not just mere statistics. They are more than nameless numbers. They were fathers, brothers or friends; they have families whom they were responsible for. Each was a person with basic goodness at heart. Each of them was loved by God.

These deaths reinforce what Pope Francis has brilliantly defined as the “throw-away mentality.” In this culture of accumulation, we amass so much that we throw-away what we do not really need as excess. As we throw-away food and things, we now throw-away lives. We see them as problems to be avoided and burdens to be eliminated. It takes great love to see them as persons with dignity and worth. Only by love that we see our lives and that of others as gifts.

In today’s pragmatic lifestyle, one name towers above all of us: Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Recently Pope Francis declared her a saint. This means that she was a true follower of Jesus who witnessed to him in her daily life. In fact, she is described as “the icon of mercy.” She spread the love of God radically to the poorest of the poor that even those who have no faith would see compassion concretely in more than words. She was heroic in her sacrifice and self-forgetfulness.

Mother Teresa was a prophetic voice who championed the cause of the least and the last. It all began with an inspiration; seeing Christ in the poor. It seemed a lost advocacy with nothing and no one to help her. But her faith was as great as her dreams. Her heart was big enough to embrace a dying stranger, a malnourished child or an illiterate youngster. She believed in Divine Providence and the basic generosity of people. Amazingly her work caught the imagination of the world. She became an international star. People started to call her a “living saint.” Among the honors she received were the Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize in 1962 and the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

In 1950, She founded the Missionaries of Charity with over 4,500 Sisters imbued by her spirit of compassion active in 133 countries. Here in Cebu, the Missionaries of Charity run two institutions, “Gasa sa Gugma Home for the Dying Destitutes” is located at Cabantan, Mabolo and an Orphanage right at the very heart of the slum district of Barangay Pasil. The former is a place called home by the aged, dying and abandoned people. The latter is a hospice for the sick and malnourished children. The primary task of the Missionaries of Charity is to love and care for these people nobody of us is prepared to look after.

I remember a testimony by Fr. Julius Sanchez, Rector of Don Bosco Borongan, Eastern Samar. When typhoon Yolanda struck Samar, all communications were cut. There was no way to contact them; they had no electricity and food. Three days later, the Missionaries of Charity arrived with their collaborators in a convoy of three vehicles bringing food and supplies. Though they themselves depend on the charity of others, they go out of their way to be missionaries of compassion for those who are in greater need.

More than ever, we shall need the heart of a Mother Teresa to inspire us to swim against the current of a disposable culture. In this Sunday’s  Gospel (Lk 16:1-13), Jesus teaches us that we become shrewd servants if we use the goods of this world to help others. Such a mentality fosters a culture of communion. For Jesus everyone is included, each one is a gift.  

(This article also appears in CDN Faith Section's Sharing the Word, September 18, 2016)

San Roque

I received an invitation to attend the installation rite of Rev. Fr. Mhal Vincent Balili as the new Parish Priest of the Archdiocesan Shrine of San Roque on August 17. There was Archbishop Jose Palma who presented him to his parishioners along with four other Bishops of Cebu. He caused quite a stir with such a cast of big-time visitors and friends as well. It augurs for better things to come for the people of Mambaling.

It is not surprising since this prelate has been the private secretary first to Ricardo J. Cardinal Vidal and then to Archbishop Palma. Trained in Rome, he was the Chairman of the IEC 2016 Committee on Liturgy. He also holds the post as vice postulator for the cause of beatification of Archbishop Teofilo Camomot.

When he was standing in front of his flock as to be their new pastor, I felt it was a historic moment. Like me, he was also a neophyte caretaker of souls. The heart of the installation rite was the profession of faith of Fr. Mhar. Through it, he pledged to be a firm believer even dedicating the whole of his ministry to be a true teacher and custodian of the faith entrusted to him from the apostles. I was privileged to witness the event since he would now become part of the Sto. Nino Vicariate, our group of neighboring parishes united for the purpose of collaboration and common pastoral action.

Being there, also introduced me to San Roque (also St. Roch or Rocco), the parish patron. I took time to read and learn about his life. Many parishes in Cebu have been dedicated to this saint. In my parish alone, there are five out of forty-eight chapels with San Roque as their protector. He is invoked against plagues and pestilence. Moreover, he is patron of dogs and falsely accused people.

He was actually French, born probably in the 14^th century in Montepelier, France. Some say he was the son of the governor. At one point of his life, he made a pilgrimage to Rome. It was at the height of a plague. Out of compassion for the sick, he decided to stay and offer help.

There are many versions of his death. Some believed that he contracted the dreaded disease and died. Another account says that he was infected but went to the woods alone in order not to give inconvenience to people. A dog would come to supply his food. Eventually he was cured and was able to go home to France. However, upon arriving he was accused as a spy and died in prison.

I find his life still relevant today. First, because he was a man of faith. Such faith moved him to make a pilgrimage. St. Paul reminds us that we are pilgrims; in this world “we walk by faith not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). In his encyclical “Lumen Fidei,” Pope Francis writes: “faith illumines the whole of our life.. in the daily experiences of life, in the cycle of the season, in the movement of the cosmos.”

Second, San Roque was helpful and compassionate. He cared less if he would be infected. He was more other-looking than obsessed with himself. This trait is strange for some people today. Few years ago, Time Magazine 2013 came out with a front page describing the millennial generation as the “me me me” generation. “They are lazy, entitled narcissists who still live with their parents.” But the article ends with a positive note saying: “they’re earnest and optimistic; pragmatist idealists, tinkerers more than dreamers, life hackers; not into going to church, even though they believe in God because they don’t identify with big institution; informed but not active; they’re financially responsible.” It’s a generation full of potentials and promise. The challenge is to reach out to them and present them with pragmatic ideals they can connect.

Finally, he was courageous in embracing the hard circumstances of life. Though falsely accused, he rose above his hurts and died with nobility. It might have been a case of mistaken identity. Yet he accepted it as “God’s discipline” to make him worthy of heaven. Today, we have a terrible plague, a deadly drug menace affecting the very fiber of our society. We need the inspiration and protection from above to solve this complicated issue. Hence we turn to God, through the intercession of San Roque, to liberate us from this present social plague! 

San Roque, pray for us. 

(This article appears in the Faith Section of Cebu Daily News, August 21, 2016)

Finding Jesus

              Every Christmas Day, I join the Salesian Cooperators and young people in giving joy to hundreds of children through gift giving. This year has been no exception. More than 400 children and their families received gift packs of rice, canned goods and toys. They were also treated with a delightful breakfast thanks to the generosity of sponsors and benefactors who have been supportive in making this program a reality annually.

            It is inspiring to see both young and adults come together in a spirit of generosity and service in preparing for this yearly Share-A-Gift Project. The event involves a series of preparation:  packing of bundles of joy, cooking of breakfast, organizing games and program for the children, the distribution of the gifts and the clean up at the end. The occasion is a hands-on experience for young people to reach out in the spirit of sharing. It teaches them selflessness. It is tiring but we all feel a sense of joy when we see children bringing home something for Christmas. Children say “thank you ang babait ninyo!” as they receive their gift pack. The thought that we have made them smile made me feel good.

            On second thought, it should have been me thanking them. The children have given us more than we have given them. We have given them only a little bundle of joy. But they have reminded us that every child is an image of Jesus today. Those poor children reminded us to find Jesus in them. They moved us to actually see Jesus in them. Jesus, too, was a poor little baby lying in a manger.

                       

When Jesus was born very few recognized him as the Son of God. He came in silence and obscurity in a small town of Bethlehem. Though a long prophetic tradition foretold his birth, only humble shepherds recognized that he was actually the Promised One. He was revealed only to them.

            The sign of a star showed the world that somebody big had come. The heavens proclaimed it loudest such that the magi read and understood its meaning. Moved by its outstanding brightness, they crossed deserts just to pay homage to a newborn King of Israel. The star was God’s way of leading them to find Jesus, the star of their lives.

            Until today, the image of the baby Jesus in the crib is a powerful reminder that God made himself weak so that we can find him. He already made himself so available that all we need to do is a little effort to meet him half-way. God has already come down to our level. As Pope Francis said: “God is humble. We, who are proud, full of vanity, and who think ourselves great stuff, we are nothing. He is the great one: he is humble and he makes himself a child.”

            This year has been declared as the Year of the Eucharist and the Year of the Family. God’s humility is even more evident in the Eucharist. He further makes himself small. As a baby he was helpless; in the Eucharist he is hidden. As a baby he was crying for our attention; in the Eucharist he is calling for our faith. As a baby he craved to be love; in the Eucharist Jesus challenges us to love him.

            The magi were courageous to follow the star. Every year we are invited to be like the magi to be courageous journeyers. We have to continually seek the star of our lives in Jesus. He alone can give us joy and meaning. In finding Him, he makes us experience the Father’s merciful love.

Consecrated Life

Pope Francis proclaimed 2015 a Year of Consecrate Life. It coincides with the 50^th anniversary of the 2^nd Vatican Council’s two important documents that pertain to consecrated life namely, Perfectae Caritatis (Decree on Religious Life) and Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church). Consecrated Life has many diverse forms. There are hermits, virgins, members of contemplative institutes, apostolic religious, secular institutes, societies of apostolic life and many other new forms according to the needs of the Church.

These forms of life are part of the holiness and mission of the Church. Moreover, each is a gift from the Holy Spirit to build up the Mystical Body of Christ. More often, those who belong to these forms of life have taken the gospel challenge seriously. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mk 8:35). They consecrate their lives totally for the Lord.

The first time I encountered a religious sister was when I enrolled at the University of San Carlos as an elementary kid. My principal was Sr. Leonoris, a Holy Spirit Sister. On Saturdays, I and my siblings would still be at school for piano lessons with Sr. Priscelda coaching us. Eventually I dropped out of the lessons because the sound of the playground was more attractive than the sound of the piano.

Brother Mario Rossi was the first male lay religious I have ever known. He was Italian. His big, black spectacles and penetrating blue eyes made him look serious and strict. When I enrolled in Don Bosco Missionary Seminary in Lawaan as a high school student, he was economer and in-charge of the kitchen. He was a very simple religious, talked very little but worked so much. Though he was in his 60’s, I saw him doing the marketing in the morning and working at his garden in the afternoon. He planted several fruit trees like papaya, jackfruit and mangoes. But the most exotic then was the fig tree. When the fig tree bore fruits and when he wasn’t looking, many of us aspirants were helping ourselves at them. He had skillful hands. When our water system would stop working, he was there as plumber to make it work again.

I saw the inner goodness of Bro. Rossi many times. When he was done with his kitchen chores after dinner, one would usually see him seated by the staircase near the kitchen. Some of us boys would flock around him. He was originally a missionary for China. But when the Communist took over, he and other foreigners were asked to leave. He ended up in the Philippines. In those evening conversations he would tell us stories of his China mission, his village in Italy and other milestones of his life. But we had to prod him to keep talking because talking was not one of his gifts.

He was also there to observe us and to know us better. One evening, I came to sit beside him by the staircase. That afternoon, I almost had a fight with a companion in the playground over a football game. I was then, impatient and hotheaded. Winning was everything to me. I was surprised that he told me: “Figuracion, be patient. Be humble!” I realized Bro. Rossi knew each of us. He was teaching me, outside the classroom, a lesson on character building.

Pope Francis would like to highlight the women and men religious who take Jesus as their inspiration to live poor, chaste and obedient. Despite the spiritual pollution of the world, God’s grace continues to touch people to live only for God. This is the witness of the “martyrdom of religious life and it sounds an alarm for people. “The witness that can really attract is that associated with attitudes such as generosity, detachment, sacrifice, self-forgetfulness in order to care for others,” says the Pope. Thus he challenges all religious to “wake up the world. It is possible to live differently in the world.”

Consecrated life is actually rooted in baptism. The consecrated person is only expressing such commitment in a radical way. Thus the life of the consecrated person is a reminder for all men and women in our times that our very first vocation is not priesthood, nor marriage or a single state. Our primary vocation is to know Jesus, to love him and serve him in our brothers and sisters. They show us that our lives goes beyond this world.

(This article also appears in My Column: "Sharing the Word," Cebu Daily News, September 13, 2015)

Praying Hands

One of the most familiar drawings in the world is the “Praying Hands.” It was sketched by a great German artist Albrecht Dürer using ink and pencil on blue colored paper in the early 14^th century. The drawing focuses on the hands of a man praying with his body out of view. It took more than a year to complete because the artist totally poured refined precision and exquisite craftsmanship into it. Today, this stunning masterpiece is found, along with Dürer’s finest collection of drawings, at the Albertina Museum in Vienna, Austria.

It was a commissioned art work. But there are many stories surrounding its origin. One version has it that the artist used his brother’s hands as model to honor those hands that worked and suffered for him. The obra simply immortalized the nurturing hands of his brother.

When I attended the ordination to the priesthood of Fr. Generoso A. Llenos at the Archdiocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Punta Princesa, Cebu City on May 23, 2015, I was reminded of the “Praying Hands.” During the laying of hands by Archbishop Jose S. Palma on his head, I observed the hands of his parents Mr. and Mrs. Celeste Llenos clasped in prayer position. They were certainly praying for their son, Gene. Indeed, all these years they have been praying. Finally he is ordained a priest! Those hands also provided for him, fed him, cared for and supported him. The priest is never alone in his journey to the altar.

Now those hands that once were nurtured will be anointed. In an amazing manner, after the bishop anoints his hands with holy oil, those will be consecrated hands to do a work exclusively sacred: to bless, to absolve sins and consecrate the bread and wine. Those hands will now be the extension of Jesus’ hands in the world.

At the rite of ordination, the bishop presents an offered chalice and paten to the new priest symbolizing the spiritual power that grace has bestowed on him. Many times, we priests, acquire a great sense of entitlement by using such power for self-serving reasons. Perhaps a towel and a basin should also go along to remind the priest of his role as servant leader in the community. Just like Jesus who washed the feet of his disciples, he needs to reach out in humble service.

The priest is to model his life on the mystery of the Lord’s cross. It is for this reason that when St. John Bosco was just a newly ordained priest his mother, Margaret, reminded him: “Remember John, to begin to say mass is to begin to suffer.” The very heart of priesthood is the Eucharist. Just so suffering is part and parcel of the priestly life. The vocation of the priest is to unite himself to Christ for the glory of God and the sanctification of the world.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we need to take a second look at the Eucharist. It expresses the incredible love of Jesus. It is a memorial that brings us back to his Last Supper when he took with his sacred hands the bread and the wine. He broke his body and shared his blood to become the source of our nourishment and purpose. Every time we offer the Eucharist we remember Jesus’ tremendous sacrifice. Through it the world is continually blest and each participant constantly renewed. Our challenge is to see beyond the bread and wine the extraordinary love of our Savior and Lord.

The Eucharist immortalized the nourishing hands of Jesus giving himself to us as antidote for our indifference. Those hands were pierced by nails but they never gave up on giving. Our Eucharistic communion makes us part of the one family of God united in both suffering and glory. Every time we clasp our hands together in prayer to work for unity we become stronger. Through us the world is blest and sanctified. As Body of Christ and a priestly people, we become the extension of the praying hands of Jesus in our times. 

Love One Another

When Jhon Robert was growing up in Bantayan Island, he was told that his mother was working abroad. Any arriving vehicle would give him a feeling of excitement. He would run toward the door to peep hoping it was finally her. He would imagine her bringing toys and candies for pasalubong. But months turned to years. It was only when he was ten years old that his family told him the truth. Her mother will never ever come home because she died while giving birth to him in Bacolod City.

His young mind could not yet understand. That was the day he started to hate her.

Imelda Andales, his mother, was five months pregnant when the doctor told her the saddest news in her life. She had cancer in the stomach. Any medical procedure done would be detrimental for the baby in her womb. The doctor advised her to postpone the chemotherapy and operation after she gives birth. But the cancer was so aggressive. After nine months she had to choose between her life and her baby. Her husband wanted to save her. But she chose her baby over her life. Devastated at her death, the husband left his two children for fifteen years.

To escape the difficulty of home, Jhon Robert applied as a working student in their parish. But strangely, it was also there that he felt the attraction of entering the seminary. He did enter Don Bosco Formation Center in Lawaan, Talisay City. Through the intense seminary formation, he began to understand deeper God’s work in his life. He also started to pray for the closure of his issue regarding his mother.

Once in their immersion program he was assigned in Victorias. Every time the bus he was taking would pass by Manapla area on his way to Cebu, he would feel something strange. Soon after, his mother’s brother came to him in Victorias informing him that his mother was actually buried in the Manapla Cemetery. He lost no time to visit her tomb as well has his relatives who explained to him the circumstances of her death. It was an eye opener. She saw the death of her mother in a new light. He realized what she did was martyrdom. It was an act of love. She gave up her life for him to live!

Recently, Jhon Robert made his first religious profession as a Salesian of Don  Bosco along with eleven of his novitiate companions. Among his family members who witnessed the event was his father. Both father and son now realize how God moves in mysterious ways. Her loss turned out to be fruitful. The family’s gain was the result of a mother’s sacrifice. As they embrace forgiving each other, they were able to love one another this time even deeper.

The Gospel reading taken from the 15^th chapter of John is part of the “farewell discourse” of Jesus. He was beginning to tell his disciples that he was “going away.” Before he leaves, he tells them to love one another. He uses a very striking, yet common Jewish metaphor: the vine and the branches. It expresses a vital relationship that the disciples need to maintain with Jesus. This is still true for all of us today. Jesus tells us to be connected with Him. We are to remain in Him. This dynamic union assures us of our fruitfulness. 

In his visit to our country, Pope Francis reminded us that despite of our “busy-ness” we need to pray. “If we do not pray, we will not know the most important thing of all: God’s will for us; without prayer we will accomplish very little.”  Prayer gives us spiritual strength to love Jesus. And our love for Jesus gives us a strong motive also to love one another. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, let us pray for our mothers who were instrumental in giving us life.

(This article also appears in Cebu Daily News, May 10, 2015: Sharing the Word)

Extra Mile

Two of my cousins came to Cebu for a short vacation. It had been years since they returned. Work and family abroad have absorbed most of their waking hours. Theirs was such a sweet-respite to get a break. They were more than willing to stay longer so that we could do more catching up with our lives. Both came at a time of the year when Christmas carols have ceased playing over the airwaves. At least they heard the Sinulog drumbeats before they fell silent. They stayed on when things had gone back to normal and I was getting into the groove of my routine again.

I had ambivalent feelings when I was told of their arrival. The excitement of seeing them was great; yet that nudging why-only-now feeling was beating faster. I had to squeeze my schedule to meet them in order to spend quality time. I had to prioritize their presence and actually had to go the extra mile for them. In the end, the effort, the time, the sacrifice was worth it. The simplest reason was: I cared about them. They are my family! I realized when you do something out of love, it feels like it cost you nothing.

When Jesus, in the Sermon of the Mount, taught his disciples: “Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles,” it must have caused consternation among his listeners. Rome imposed a legal obligation to the Jews, a colonized people, to carry a burden for a mile. Roman soldiers especially compelled Jewish men to carry their heavy backpacks. And they hated it that after a mile they refused a step further. Yet Jesus was getting them to understand that they are to do more than is required by law. They are to go beyond the minimum. A Christian’s love is to love without measure.

Ash Wednesday ushered us into the Season of Lent. And as Catholics flocked into Churches to wear their faith in their foreheads, they were once again invited to practice the spiritual disciplines of almsgiving, fasting and prayer. For some, the rules for fasting and abstinence may be cumbersome. The penitential requirements may be demanding. But the aim for all these is: to create a space of God in our lives. More than a ritual to be practiced or a task to be done, Lent is about prioritizing God. We are invited to go the extra mile because we truly care about Jesus. This attitude ought to be the true spirit behind our Lenten observance.

There are two dangers in our Lenten observance. One, we become indifferent. We take on the I-don’t-care attitude and let just Lent pass unnoticed. We don’t practice any spiritual discipline at all. We just don’t have time for these trivialities because of other priorities in school or work. We just don’t like to listen to God’s voice or to give up anything at all. Pope Francis, in his Lenten Message for 2015 pointed out a phenomenon he calls the “globalization of indifference.” He reminds us that “indifference to our neighbor and to God also represents a real temptation for us Christians. Each year during Lent we need to hear once more the voice of the prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience.”

The second danger is our selfishness. We become focused on what we give up that they become potentials for our bragging and boasting. We become high on ourselves. Pope Francis gives us this light:  “whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.”

The goal of our spiritual discipline is selflessness and spiritual renewal. In the Gospel, Jesus cautioned his disciples not to “perform religious deeds for people to see.” The basic Lenten program is expressed in the Prophet Joel’s message of “return to the Lord.” It is a call directed from inside-out. It is a challenge of having a “new heart” that becomes more available for others. This makes Lent a time of grace in our preparation for Easter.

If taken seriously, we could develop healthy spiritual habits that could go beyond the 40-day limit. We become less self-absorbed and take on the attitude of Christ. Such attitude of generosity and extending ourselves beyond what’s expected can truly enrich others. It can make a positive difference. Perhaps the world becomes better starting with ourselves. I believe when we do more that what is necessary, it becomes a true act of compassion. Truly, the extra mile is the mile of great love. It is a mile of joyful sacrifice.