Rooted

I remember years back, after a stormy night like that of the passing of typhoon Pablo, a tree fell along the road going to the Retreat House in Don Bosco Seminary. It caused inconvenience for several days. The tree was big; it was blocking the way. Vehicles could not pass through. It had to be chopped into pieces so that the passage could be cleared.

Upon examination, the big tree fell because it had no more roots. The termites attacked its foundation. When the mighty wind blew, it fell.

The gospel in Mt 7:24-27, Jesus teaches us to be rooted. He compares the wise man to one who built his house upon rock. Its foundation is strong and sturdy. The foolish, however, is liked to one who built his house upon sand. Its foundation is weak. When strong winds blew it, it collapsed!

I would like to suggest three ways to be rooted:

1. We need to be firm in our faith

Our faith is often tested by trials and difficulties. Even gold is tested in fire. So our faith should endure burning. It is precisely in these experiences of difficulties that we have to make an act of faith. These are the moments when we are to put our faith into action.

2. We have to be familiar with Scripture

We need to read not just for information. Scripture is not only meant to fill our mind but to strengthen our hearts. We read to be transformed. In immersing ourselves in the Word of God, we acquire the mind of God and the attitude of God. It is also necessary to memorize striking and meaningful verses from Scripture. Through it we can continue to reflect and ruminate on the Word of God which gives power to our spirit. The psalmist declare: the Word of God is a lamp for our feet.

3. We nourish our friendship with Jesus

Our familiarity with God is the root that strengthen our life. As our roots go deep, we also become person of substance. It gives depth to our lives and guards us from superficiality. We cultivate our close attachment to Jesus through prayer. It is important that we strive to make Jesus come alive in our life. We talk to Him as a living person. We nurture, particularly, our love for the Eucharist where Jesus is hidden. 

Misguided Priorities?

An American millionaire, according to Yahoo News, donated $8 million to Wombat Awareness Organization, a "non-profit organization specializing in large scare rescue and rehabilitation of the Southern, hairy-nosed wombat." The donation will come $1 million per year starting next year. The news spurred tremendous web interest in these creatures that "wombat" search nearly doubled in 24 hours. These animals are found in Australia. They are chubby, nocturnal, burrowing marsupials often the target of fed-up farmers as they cause destruction to their farmland.

I find it amazing how some people can be so overwhelmingly generous to unknown animals. But what surprises me more is that there were actually rich people who squandered their wealth uselessly.

Hotel icon and "Queen of Mean" Leona Helmsley left a staggering $12 million to her dog "Trouble" in 2007. But that is nothing compared to what a German Shepherd named Gunther III inherited in 1992. His owner, German countess Karlotta Libenstein left her pet an unbelievable sum of $60 million. When Gunther III died, the fortune went to --- of course --- Gunther IV.

Millionaire Dog - Gunther IV

Indeed Dogs are better off than millions of people on the other side of the world who live much worse than animals. How our priorities can really go wrong at times to give more importance to lesser creatures than the children of God who need food, shelter and education to be able to live decently.

Of Fame and Fortune

These past weeks I have seen the passing away of two famous Cebuanos: Winston Anthony N. Velez and Cerge M. Remonde. The former was a musician-artist, the latter a media personality and press secretary. Though I have not known them personally in life but I was touched by their demise.

Winston was a drummer. He was a member of the famous Z-Band. I heard, he was one of the best drummer in Cebu. Unfortunately he has no CDs or recordings to prove it. But his friends in the music industry could vouch for it. I met him when he was already inside his coffin. That was the time when my cousin Victoria, her schoolmate in Cebu Normal, invited me to celebrate mass at his wake in Cospomolitan Funeral Homes, Junquera St. He was only 50 when death took his drumstick away from him forever.

Cerge made a name for himself in Cebu. He was a writer and broadcaster before he became the Presidential press secretary. Though he was based in Manila, his friends attest, that he never changed despite his office and the power that goes with it. He remained a humble and compassionate man cognizant of where he came from. No wonder his townmates in Argao came in droves to bid him goodbye. He was like a shooting star - gone too soon. He died at 51! Several times I saw him during the Sto. Nino Procession. He was walking behind the caroza. He was a great devotee.

From their passing away I learned that fame fades easily and honor's glow disappear. Only one's goodness remain in the memory of friends and loved ones.

Better Self

I accompanied our Cambodian seminarians around the city at the start of this year. I brought them to SM, Ayala and other beautiful sights of Cebu. It was their first time and I noticed their keen interest and wonder. I have been to these spots a lot of time so I just took them for granted. Perhaps my eyes were accustomed to see them. But seeing them for the "first time" left a deep impression on my visitors. I realized indeed that "beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder." My visitors taught me that I need to see things again like the "first time" or at least see them in a different way. This applies to many things especially on the way we look at ourselves, others and the world around us. The New Year is another opportunity to see our world in a different way.

After the tour, I found myself much enriched. I told myself I should not take things for granted. The Latins used to say CARPE DIEM! Sieze the day as we translate it in English. Life is lived but once and we have to live it to the full. Savor each moment for this moment will never come back. I realize things change every time. Even the landscape of Cebu has changed so much. New malls are made, new hotels are built, more people have settled in this city. It has become a metropolis - a global city so different back then 20 years ago. At the same time it has also become unfriendly and scary having so much strangers with evil intentions in their hearts.

On a positive note, it convinced me that I must never give up hope on becoming better. I need to progress and transform into a better invidual. Thus no matter what is our present status we can always change for the better. The only hindrance for us in this endeavor is our mental laziness when we think we can't go much further. If ideas can change the world, it can also change me or you! We are what we think we are.

So this year I resolve to do 3 things: My 3 Ms...
1. Maintain a healty lifestyle.
2. Manage a productive and fruitful habit.
3. Model by example.

So help me God!

Restlessness

I recently read a fascinating conversion story over the internet. Joe Eszterhas, Hollywood’s highest paid screenwriter, wrote the story of his spiritual conversion from a party-lifestyle to one devoted to Christ and his family in his book, Crossbearer: A Memoir of Faith published on September 2 by St. Martin’s Press. As an author he wrote the scripts like Basic Instincts, Jagged Edge and Showgirls and practically invented “erotic thrillers.” At 56 after a wild living with a deeply ingrained habit of smoking and drinking, his life got a turn around. During the summer of 2001, Joe was diagnosed with throat cancer. His doctors removed 80 percent of his larynx and told him to immediately quit drinking and smoking.

Such a recommendation gave him a “hellish” experience. Walking one day through a tree-lined neighborhood, he realized he had hit rock-bottom. He thought he was going crazy. He felt jittery and restless while his whole frame trembled and twisted. He recounts that “every single nerve ending was demanding a drink and a cigarette.” He sat down on the curb and began to cry like a child. Then he heard himself uttering “please God help me.” He had not prayed since he was a child. God had been irrelevant to him all his life. He was also surprise and shocked that he said it. He claimed he had never said it before.

That simple plea had a considerable effect. Immediately, he was overwhelmed with peace. His impatience and restlessness stopped. He no longer trembled. At that moment he saw a “shimmering, dazzling, nearly blinding brightness that made me cover my eyes with my hands.” Joe had seen the light of Christ and he would describe the experience as “absolutely overwhelming.” Like Saul on his way to Damascus, Joe would walk back home a new man. Since his Damascus-like experience in 2001, he and his wife attend mass regularly at a local Catholic Church. Furthermore, his doctors confirmed that he was “miraculously cured” from his throat cancer. His tissues have regenerated to the point that there is no trace of cancer anymore.

He wrote his book as a “thank you to God” for the wonderful blessings of cure and conversion. Through it he would like to tell the world what He “has done for me.” Today, Joe continues to receive large offers for movies with dark, sinister themes. He says he does not want to go there anymore. “Frankly my life changed from the moment God entered my heart.”

This remarkable conversion story reminded me of a similar episode that happened to St. Augustine whose feast was celebrated last August 28. Born to a pagan father and a deeply Catholic mother, he grew up in a largely pagan society where education was dominated by men who opposed the teachings of Christ. His vices led him astray and his profound intellect steered him to error. One day a deep inner turmoil agitated his soul. Such a turbulent spiritual conflict drove him to an insatiable restlessness. His soul yearned for peace and serenity. And in this state of restive fury while in his garden at Milan, he heard a disquieting voice of an unseen child instructing him: “take and read!” In his perplexity he grabbed the nearest text on had and read Paul’s epistle to the Romans 13:13-14 “Let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.”

A flash of realization settled in his soul. He returned home a changed man. He would relate this transforming experience in his famous autobiography “Confessions” which is both a classic in spirituality and literature. “Our hearts are restless” writes Augustine, “until they rest in Thee!”

St. Augustine truly captured in words the common sentiment of the human heart. The symptoms of conflict, tension, war and meaninglessness outside us are all rooted in the inner emptiness of the soul. We seek God in wrong places. Until He fills us up our hearts remain restless.

LIGHT AND SHADOW OF VIENNA

I am now in Vienna, Austria for already over a month. After having given my nuptial blessing to my parents who celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary, and after having baptized my brother’s daughter, Gwyneth, I also took time to visit and appreciate the Austrian scenery.

Vienna is a very impressive city steeped in tradition and style. Here the old and the new blend in a fascinating mixture. As one stands on the façade of St. Stephan’s Cathedral on the First District or walk on the gardens of the palace of Schonbrunn, one senses the remarkable artistry and fine architecture that once dominated this city that gave it its stature as one of the most important places in Europe. I have observed two remarkable things while I went around: its cleanliness and organization.

Wherever one goes, Austria is characterized by its beauty and cleanliness. Even its countryside is still untouched by pollution and contains the aura of freshness. I came during election period when different political organizations are vying for a post in Vienna’s parliament. Yet the city remains unscathed by irresponsible posters and ads of any political group. Furthermore, the city’s organization is admirable. Its buildings, roads and railways are well planned. Transportation is very convenient. One could buy a ticket that could be used for the bus, train, tram or the underground metro. The roads of the city are wide and well-lighted. Pedestrians and bicycle riders are prioritized because there is really a specific lane for them. There are no traffics in Vienna.

People live very comfortably. There are no poor in this country since there is a very strong government support for society’s needs. Though taxes are quite high, about 20% of one’s salary, yet people don’t mind because they enjoy them. Education and hospitalization are free. The government has a very good social service system. In fact those who bear children have two years maternity or paternity leave with government support for the child. Indeed, people here enjoy the good life.

However, Vienna is not heaven yet. There is another side of the city’s face. Here, people seem not to believe in God anymore. Religion is cold. Spirituality is lacking because perhaps people have everything they need. Even prayer is no longer a need and materialism is strong. When one enters the church for Sunday services, only the old people are present perhaps to atone for the sins of their youth. The young are far from the Church. Austria is characterized by a very liberated stance on sexuality. There is free love even for young people. Sex advertisement can be seen on TV. Sex shops are all over the city. Though Vienna has a population of 8.5 M, 2 M are senior citizens. Like all the other European cities, Vienna has a zero percent population growth. More people die than children being born.

I visited a bookstore once in the First District. A few meters away, I noticed several persons distributing pamphlets. I learned that they were members of the Human Life International praying and protesting to stop abortion in Austria. I saw a door leading to a building which is said to be the biggest abortion clinic in the country. In the last 10 years, it has aborted almost a million babies. Beside the door is a woman wearing an anti-abortion placard while she prays the rosary and holds a miniature image of an aborted baby. They have been fighting and struggling against this evil for the last 8 years. They have a little office around the corner which has a counseling room and a small chapel where at least 2 volunteers pray daily before the Blessed Sacrament. An icon of the Holy Family is prominently place in front as a reminder of the importance of the family.

What they do is very inspiring. Though they have little success, they keep the struggle every single day even during winter. They explained that the number of abortion has decreased. Before their advocacy, there were about 12-15 abortions everyday. Today, there are about 6-8 abortions per day. The clinic itself has suffered financially. It used to occupy 3 floors of the building. Now it is left with only one floor.

Austria may be a very cultural and artistic city but it has also a façade that is not so beautiful. In living the good life, some people forget the purpose and meaning of why we live. In their desire to enjoy the best of what life can give, some people forget the spiritual side of man that can never be extinguished. The thirst, though, continues to persist for only God can fully quench it.