Faith Empowers

One sport gaining popularity in the Philippines is Running. Many are becoming running enthusiast – ordinary people, celebrities, politicians, professionals and more. Many running events are also being organized by different organizations. Some run for fun, others for a cause.

One veteran distance runner that impressed me is Cesar Guarin. At 56 years old he wants to make a Global Run as his way of honoring and thanking Overseas Filipino Workers and migrants. In the Philippines he is considered as the “Father of Ultramarathon.” He is now in Europe on Stage 6 of his goal which began in 1983 and ends in 2016. If he completes this feat, he would have run a total of 30,232 km in 548 days.

The bottom line of running is really for healthy living. In our life of faith, we also need to exercise our spiritual muscles. It makes us strong and sturdy. Many instances, God challenges us to stretch our faith. I would like to share two stories that show a test of faith.

Last May, I rushed to the hospital for a sick call. The mother of a former student was in ICU. She suffered a heart attack. It was sudden and unexpected. She was lying in bed helpless. Her breathing was aided by a respirator. Her children were in tears and they kept praying for her recovery. As I gave her the anointing, I encourage them to trust that God knows best; that the best attitude is “thy will be done.” I was about to go when the family of the patient on the next cubicle asked me to also anoint their brother. The guy also suffered a heart attack and was in coma. They feared for his life.

The day after, I was told that the mother of my former student passed away. The family was deeply saddened but faith was keeping them strong. Three days later, the coma patient woke up. The family was thankful. I told myself: sometimes God plays favorites. Others he claims back home; others he gives life-extension. Let’s leave the purpose in God omniscient wisdom.

On reading the Gospel of Mk 5:21-43 Jesus showed power.  One message we can learn is this: when we are tested beyond our strength, when things seem impossible, have faith. God can do miracles. And in our greatest fear, Jesus tells us “do not be afraid.” Fear can be paralyzing. Faith, instead, empowers us to trust in a power stronger and greater than ourselves.

Prayers for an Atheist

A day of prayer has been organized for author and outspoken atheist Christopher Hitchens who is dying of esophageal cancer by his friend Larry Tauton, an ardent believer in Christ . Though their views are poles apart yet Larry, who heads an Alabama-based group dedicated to defend Christianity, prays for his friend; and Hitcchens takes no offense, the source said.

Hitchens is best known for his 2007 book "God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything." This writer has made a career in skewering organized religion. Though he is undergoing his 4th round of chemotherapy he rules out a change of heart. The cancer has now spread in his neck and lungs. Smoking and drinking alcohol regularly has been the cause of his cancer.

He hopes to be remembered with affection by some; with passion by others and hopefully as a good father by his 3 children. As for his work, he would be happy to be recalled simply as one of those "who are attempting to uphold reason and science against superstition."

Reading about such incidents give me pain in the heart. Its sad to note that people like him see religion as mere "superstition." This makes me realize that my faith is a great gift. The doubting Thomas was fortunate to have seen the risen Christ. Many today has never yet experience the saving grace of Jesus. Let us pray for them. Its heart-warming to note that Larry, his friend has not given up on him. Perhaps the power of friendship can supply the gap between Hitchens' science and reason towards intelligent faith.

Counting our Blessings

It was the day after Christmas when Maria Fe and her 8-year old daughter, Martina Dominique approached me after my 6 AM mass. She is the wife of Mario Reburiano, a former seminary aspirant and now the President of its Alumni Organization. She wanted me to bless her beautiful girl. I thought it was her birthday. “No, Father. Bless her for the gift of another life!”

On Christmas eve, Martina was in the kitchen to wipe her hands in preparation for Noche Buena few minutes before midnight. Suddenly a stray bullet pierced through their roof hitting the plastic crown she was wearing. The bullet was deflected by it and slightly grazed through her head leaving a small lump that caused her pain. The impact threw her backwards and she cried out “Mom I’m hit!” At first Maria Fe could not understand what happened to her as she clasped her head with both hands. When the Yaya saw the 9 millimeter slug lying on the floor, it was then that Maria Fe felt a deep angst rising within her. She felt a mixture of fear and anger which subsided when the incident was not really fatal. “It’s really a miracle, Father.” She attributes the miracle to Mama Mary and St. Dominic Savio, Martina’s patron saint.

Indeed, it was a blessing of a new life!

As the year 2009 ends, it’s a moment to be grateful. It’s a time to look back at the year that was and count our blessings. Whatever is our circumstance in life, we always have a choice. We can choose to see the good side or the bad side. We can choose to see the bright side or the dark side.

It is faith that allows us to see the good and the bright side of life. Only a person of faith can truly say: thank you Lord! The story of Job is a classic example. Though he was tried and tested in a most life-threatening way at the end of it all he could still exclaim: “The Lord has given, the Lord has taken away. Blest be the name of the Lord!”

Think about how rich we are, not just materially. Our riches does not consist only of tangible things. As the “Little Prince” in Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s book would say: “What is essential is invisible to the eye.” Our treasure also consists of a lot of intangible stuffs. Let us count our blessings as the year ends.

Life is a gift. This is the very first blessing of which all the others flow. Manny Pacquiao recently celebrated his birthday at General Santos City. He was thankful for his gift of life as he shared his blessings to 1,500 guests. During his speech, he revealed the secret of his success. According to him, when he was not yet a champion and he was starting his career he had a talk with God. And God promised him “strength and power.” True or not, these are the kinds of stuff legends are made of. The gift of life is the fount of all success.

Our family is priceless. Among our greatest treasure, our family should be the most brilliant diamond. Our family is like that goose that lays golden eggs. To keep it coming, we need to take care to the goose, nurture it and nourish it. Failing to do so will ultimately bring the goose to death. So too with our family. We need to build it, sustain it and form it. Despite its imperfections, we still love our family and are proud to belong to it.

Health is wealth. Some people actually lose their health to make money and when they have much money they lose it again to gain back their health. It’s crazy! All we need is to put balance in our life. Each in its proper importance whether its work, home, friends and leisure.

Faith gives life a better perspective. Life becomes absurd if seen only in its horizontal plane. Its daily grind and drudgery would be devoid of meaning unless seen from the vertical perspective. From the eyes of faith, our life becomes meaningful with its sense of mission and challenge. Keeping the faith brings in the daily energizer, enthusiasm and excitement. A new day is a new adventure to keep this world a better place than yesterday.

Let Jesus Rule!

We celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of Ordinary Time and ushers us into the Advent Season. We recall the mystery of our faith that Christ will come again. This second coming will be a glorious one unlike the first when Jesus came like an ordinary human. And as judge he will ask an accounting of what we did with our lives. The king will judge us in the capacity of our love.

This brings us to the reality that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega of our life. He is the beginning and the end; our origin and also our destiny. Come to think of it, through him we live, we move and have our being. When my relative, Fr. Jose Mansueto died, i saw these words placed on the hood of his coffin. Perhaps it was his prayer and commitment: Jesus, I live for you. Jesus, I die for you. Jesus, I am yours in life and in death.

If Jesus is truly the King, then let him rule in our lives. When we pray "thy kingdom come," we are actually praying: Jesus come and rule us. Be our king!