"When a person starts not to pray, he/she starts to be lost and gradually depart from God and be the "god" of himself..."
I deem this to be true. I formulated this statement in one of our classes in Psychology of Religious Life. We were discussing about prayer then. My professor began to name Saints who in their lives experienced spiritual dryness or even darkness of the soul, as St. John of the Cross puts it.
I for myself have already experienced the sudden decrease of one's enthusiasm to speak with God and tell him one's concerns. Talking to God, while bringing to Him all my hearts desires in thanksgiving and praise, for me is a great example of prayer. It is through praying that I can get in touch with the Divine. It is by this that I get to see His plan and conform myself with that of His. Prayer makes me more accomplish the original form according to His design.
Nonetheless, there are moments in my life that instead of seeking the face of God, what I seek is the face of the world He has created that has been gradually populated by creature whose wills have turned against Him. In cases like this, we, people, get destructed and alienated among our own selves. We become farther and farther from Him. We do this by means of our freedom.
Man's freedom is so powerful that it can even drag him to hell. The same freedom is God gift to him by the One who created him. Freedom is a precious gift from on high that even God chooses not to encroach over it. If this awful event in man's life continues, he willfully separates himself with God.
The separation of man from God implies himself to be the judge of his actions and absolute mastery of one's self without any consideration of a Being much majestic than him. Thus, man creates his own god, who is no other than himself. Also because of this, man will not anymore believe in communicating to a God he does not physically see or feel. In this sense, man himself drifts away from the Source of his own existence, who is also the Author of all that is.
This is a sad reality we need to face as men and women of today. The golden calf of the Old Testament, during Moses' time, is continually being fashioned by us in so many instances and places. We need to fight this and be vigilant enough against the attack of the evil forces. With God's loving mercy, may we be able to believe and carry out Christ's mission on earth, to lead each one to the Father under the guidance of the Spirit of life and of love. May God receive us towards the end of earthly life with smile and welcoming words, "Come and share your Master's joy."
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Obedience
In July 1976, Israeli commandos made a daring raid at an airport in Entebbe, Uganda, in which 103 Jewish hostages were freed. In less than fifteen minutes, the soldiers had killed all seven of the kidnappers and set the captives free.
As successful as the rescue was, however, three of the hostages were killed during the raid. As the commandos entered the terminal, they shouted in Hebrew, "Get down! Crawl!" The Jewish hostages understood and lay down on the floor, while the guerrillas, who did not speak Hebrew, were left standing. Quickly the rescuers shot the upright kidnappers.
But two of the hostages hesitated - perhaps to see what was happening - and were also cut down. One young man was lying down and actually stood up when the commandos entered the airport. He, too, was shot with the bullets meant for the enemy. Had these three heeded the soldiers' command they would have been freed with the rest of the captives.
Morale of the story: Salvation is open to all, but we must heed and respect Christ's command to repent and make him Lord. Otherwise, we will perish with the judgment meant for the Enemy. (www.nathan.co.za)
The numbers from the Rule read tonight focus on obedience and respect. On the part of the subjects, brothers in the community are bound to obey their superiors. However, on the part of superiors leading their subjects, they ought to be “Christian” in exercising the power given them.
Obedience entails respect. In the story, had the two hostages not hesitated and respected and obeyed what the commandos told them to do, they could have been set freed. For us vowed persons what is demanded, first of all, is respect in relating with our superiors and fellow brothers. As we respect one another, obeying will not be a hard thing to do. It is something that will flow so easily because of love and out of love.
St. Augustine in the Rule encourages us to see our superiors “as our fathers with respect due them so as not to offend God” (Rule VII, 44). Respect deserves a special mentioning here as our holy father thought so too. It is clear that in his mind respecting our superiors would mean respecting God who work in them. We believe that through them God directs us. Through them God speaks to us and is with us at least physically by their gestures and manner of dealing with us. This is what they must keep in mind. Thus, respect is to be given and obedience will not be impossible.
In obedience we turn to our ultimate Model, Christ. Soretiology will tell us that Jesus saved humanity not just simply because of His death on the cross, but because of his loving obedience to the Father’s will. His will to offer the greatest act of sacrificial worship to the Father redeemed the sinful humanity. The Christ submitted His whole Self and withhold nothing for Himself when He entrusted everything up to the Father, in humble submission of His divine and human will to undergo such process to His glorification. This is the obedience demanded from us, that we submit ourselves to God. And in the religious life, obeying our superiors is such a good way to start. By it we submit ourselves to God. In turn they too have the responsibility to be Christ-like. This is what is expected of them.
Religious life finds a special place for this two intertwining values, respect and obedience in Love. Among fellow brothers too, these two are essential to live in a pleasant and harmonious community. This we pray for always so that our community may be of one mind and heart towards God.
As successful as the rescue was, however, three of the hostages were killed during the raid. As the commandos entered the terminal, they shouted in Hebrew, "Get down! Crawl!" The Jewish hostages understood and lay down on the floor, while the guerrillas, who did not speak Hebrew, were left standing. Quickly the rescuers shot the upright kidnappers.
But two of the hostages hesitated - perhaps to see what was happening - and were also cut down. One young man was lying down and actually stood up when the commandos entered the airport. He, too, was shot with the bullets meant for the enemy. Had these three heeded the soldiers' command they would have been freed with the rest of the captives.
Morale of the story: Salvation is open to all, but we must heed and respect Christ's command to repent and make him Lord. Otherwise, we will perish with the judgment meant for the Enemy. (www.nathan.co.za)
The numbers from the Rule read tonight focus on obedience and respect. On the part of the subjects, brothers in the community are bound to obey their superiors. However, on the part of superiors leading their subjects, they ought to be “Christian” in exercising the power given them.
Obedience entails respect. In the story, had the two hostages not hesitated and respected and obeyed what the commandos told them to do, they could have been set freed. For us vowed persons what is demanded, first of all, is respect in relating with our superiors and fellow brothers. As we respect one another, obeying will not be a hard thing to do. It is something that will flow so easily because of love and out of love.
St. Augustine in the Rule encourages us to see our superiors “as our fathers with respect due them so as not to offend God” (Rule VII, 44). Respect deserves a special mentioning here as our holy father thought so too. It is clear that in his mind respecting our superiors would mean respecting God who work in them. We believe that through them God directs us. Through them God speaks to us and is with us at least physically by their gestures and manner of dealing with us. This is what they must keep in mind. Thus, respect is to be given and obedience will not be impossible.
In obedience we turn to our ultimate Model, Christ. Soretiology will tell us that Jesus saved humanity not just simply because of His death on the cross, but because of his loving obedience to the Father’s will. His will to offer the greatest act of sacrificial worship to the Father redeemed the sinful humanity. The Christ submitted His whole Self and withhold nothing for Himself when He entrusted everything up to the Father, in humble submission of His divine and human will to undergo such process to His glorification. This is the obedience demanded from us, that we submit ourselves to God. And in the religious life, obeying our superiors is such a good way to start. By it we submit ourselves to God. In turn they too have the responsibility to be Christ-like. This is what is expected of them.
Religious life finds a special place for this two intertwining values, respect and obedience in Love. Among fellow brothers too, these two are essential to live in a pleasant and harmonious community. This we pray for always so that our community may be of one mind and heart towards God.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Kagabi naka-chat ko clasmate ko dati nung high school, si James. Huli kaming nagkita noong graduation day, kung hini ako nagkakamali. Tagal na rin pala. Kwentuhan at tanungan tungkol sa mga dating schoolmates nagging tema ng chat naming. Sa kalagitnaan ng usapan, nasabi ko sa kanyang, “Masaya ako to know you are happy with your chosen career.” Napansin ko kasing marami na sa mga kaibagan at dati kong kaklase ang enjoy na sa kani-kanilang fields ngayon. Gusto kasi nila ginagawa nila. Pero sabi ni James sa akin, “Eh, hindi naman talaga ito ang gusto kong career eh.” Nagulat ako. Tanong ko tuloy sa kanya, “Ano pala gusto mong career?” “Pag-aartista”, sagot niya. Napabunghalit ako ng tawa sa sinabi niya. Si james talaga, napaka-joker pa rin. Ngunit may napansin ako sa kanya na kahit wala siya sa original chosen career niya ay masaya siya. Kahit na sa chat lang, narandaman kong may galak sa puso niya sa ginagawa niya sa buhay. Isa ito sa mga mahahalagang bagay na nagbibigay saysay sa buhay natin. “Saya.” And bawat isa sa atin ay may kaniya-kaniyang nais sa buhay. Ibat-ibang tawag mayroon sa buhay. May ang tawag ay maging doctor, abogado, teacher, call center agent, sales representative, I.T. expert, magsasaka, tindero, chemist, estufyante, businessman at kung anu-ano pa. ngunit lahat ng sila, tayo ay may iisang tawag kung saan ang lahat ay inaasahang tumugon. Ito ang tawag sa “pagsuod.” Tayong lahat ay tinatawag para maging taga-sunod ni Kristo. Si Pedro, Santiago, Juan at iba pang apostoles ni Kristo ay tinawag upang maghatid ng iba pa sa Kaharian ng Diyos. Hindi kailangang iwan ni Dr. Ragos ang kanyang pagiging dokto upang tumugon sa tawag na ito ni Kristo. Sa halip ay maaari pa nga niyang gamitin ang kanyang profession sa pag-tugon sa tawag. Pero may ilan naman na piniling maging-fulltime sa pag-tugon tulad na lamang ng mga pari at madre. Sa dulo ang mahalaga ay masaya ka sa kung ano man ang piliin mong buhay. Huwag din nating kalimutan ang tawag ni Kristong maging tagasunod niya sa kahit na paanong paraan. Ako kaya, gaano kaya ako kasaya sa uri ng buhay na mayroon ako ngyon? Sapat na kaya ang pag-tugon sa tawag Niya? Nakakpaghatid kaya ako ng kapwa ko patungo sa Kanya?
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