POPE FRANCIS: THE VIST

Thrill of seeing, cheers with the crowd, soaked under the rain, long hours of waiting, and a glimpse of Pope Francis. I did not experience all of these during the visit of Pope Francis. I was home eagerly waiting live feeds from television stations his every move and the people’s emotions. It was not because I did not want to see him. I made a choice to give my slot at MOA to a fellow seminarian. It came to me that it was the right decision. God may have other plans for me.

Although I may not be present on any of the events, I felt I was there after all as I watched it all live even the press conferences. I still felt blessed after watching all the events on television. I may not have seen him personally but I have heard clearly all what he had said and wanted to impart to us Filipinos.

The question that we will try to reflect on is what is the meaning of Pope Francis to me? With all the sermons that Pope Francis left us, two have struck me. First was during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Bishops, priests and religious at the Manila Cathedral. What hit me were His challenges to the congregation. His challenges were not new. A week before, Archbishop Socrates Villegas has given a pastoral letter to the clergy of the Archdiocese. In it were almost the same challenges left by Pope Francis. Was it coincidence? I believe it is the will of God. It is God who is reminding me of these challenges, as I will take the step of becoming his instrument.

Second was his message during the encounter with the youth. Let me concentrate more on this message and what it means to me and to the country. LANGUAGES. This came from Pope Francis in his speech at the University of Sto. Tomas University during his encounter with the Filipino Youths. Let us then try to reflect with these three languages.

Language of the mind. The Pope has encouraged all of us to use our minds in knowing God more. Our minds are given by God to us to be used. They are not for display or for evil doings. They are to be used for good. We are challenged to contribute to the intensification of spreading the Gospel.  Let us be apologetics of the Gospel. Let us guard the faith by using our minds. It is not proper to say that only the scholars, only the theologians, only the priests and religious have the sense of duty to use their mind for the Lord. We are considered people of God upon baptism. We as Catholics have the obligation to defend the Church and to help in the propagation of the faith. I am reminded by Pope Francis to use my theological studies to a great cause.

Language of the heart. The Pope is not only asking us to use our minds in thinking. Moreover, he is inviting us to use our hearts. This means that we need to feel. The question then is what do we need to feel? Joy? Sadness? Anger? We need to feel the need of our dear brothers and sisters. We need to undergo what our poor brethrens are feeling. Today, we are called not just to identify what their situations are, but also sensitivity on what they feel. We need to be immersed to the emotions of others. Learning things is not only from books or schools. There are also times that we learn when we know how to feel. Feeling is an important language we need to develop as Catholics. We need to feel the needs of our brothers and sisters. It is by feeling that we become selfless.

Language of the hands.  It is not enough to know and understand. Pope Francis in his speech stressed that we need to do something for our brethrens. As Catholics, Christ is asking us to give ourselves for the service of God and others. Love is not love when we do not know how to give, when we do not know how to do something for others, when we do not know how to be selfless. Love is love when all our actions are selfless. We have hands not only to grasp on things but also to open it so that others can reach what it is holding. Upon receiving Christ in our life we have to share Him to others. Reach out. Give. Let us however take note that the true meaning of giving is not letting go of the excess that we have. Giving is letting go even those that we have hard time letting go especially those we value most. It is only then that we can say I have given up everything for you oh Lord.

Language of the mind, of the heart and of the hands. We can only say that we are authentic Catholics when we live out these three languages. This is so because Christ our Lord whom we follow did them. He selflessly practiced these languages. He is our model. As followers, we have to do the same. It is hard to practice the languages but they are not impossible to do. I am challenged to PRACTICE THE LANGUAGES!

Last is his constant message that the focus is not he but Christ. I wanted to become a priest not for my own attention but to bring the attention of people towards Christ. His message struck me repeatedly. He did not only mention it once but most of the time.

With all of these, what is his visit to me? One word that I have mentioned the most is CHALLENGE. Yes, it was inspiring. Yes, it was heart-warming. However, for me it was challenging. He challenged me to stand and take part of the action. Yet, this challenge is also for all Filipinos. We are challenged to become true Catholics. We are proud to say to the world that we are a Catholic nation. We must then live as one. We are challenged to become a light. The visit of Pope Francis is truly a CHALLENGE to all of us. It does not matter whether we are poor or rich, whatever culture we have come from. The CHALLENGE remains. Are you ready to take up the challenge?

LINEAGE AND GOD

Do you know who your ancestors are? Today most of us could count only the names up to five or six generations. It is a fact that most of the people today do not know the lineage that they came from. Ask them and some may be fortunate to mention the names but if you dig deeper they will not be able to answer. What does it mean to trace back once lineage.

Our Gospel for today speaks of the lineage that our Lord Jesus Christ came from. The Gospel for today narrated the lineage from Abraham until Christ. The names in the Gospel are people who are important personages in the Old Testament. They played an important role during their lifetime. Some of them we are familiar of like Abraham, David, Jacob and Joseph. No matter how big or small the role that they have partaken, what is important is that all of them have said yes to the plan of God.

Some of these personages have once in their lifetime fallen yet they stood and followed the Will of God. What made them unique is that no matter what circumstances they are into, most of them have felt the presence of God in their life. They have recognized that they have God in their journey.

Allow me to quote a story that I heard from the priest who celebrated the mass this morning. There was a young priest going to a chapel he is not familiar with. Since that priest was new to the place, he asked for a direction to a man walking along the street. He said, “Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the Holy Cross Chapel?” The man answered, “Sure. Follow this road, upon meeting an intersection turn left, from there turn right after two more intersection, then count 5 houses and turn right to a narrow road, from there you will see a green house turn to the left, follow that path and you will see a cemetery, after it you will see another intersection and turn right and after turning right you will see a big Acacia turn and beside it is the chapel that you are looking for.” After hearing the man, the young priest was at a lost after some few turns. He then asked again for a direction. He asked an old man. The old man replied, “Okay, let me accompany you!”

Accompany! Like the Old man, God also accompanied the personages mentioned in our Gospel for today. Knowing also the lineage that we came from we also allow our ancestors to accompany us in our journey. Through the great example of how they live their life, through knowing the mistakes that they have done, through hearing the stories that they experienced we learned. We do not only know the people who came before us but we also allowed them to teach us how we should live our life. God is telling us today to allow Him to accompany you by learning from the past.

Our ancestors surely in their love, they have also felt the love of God. We likewise if became wise enough to learn from them, will surely not only learn more so feel the tenderly loving care of God towards us. Feel the love of God in your life. Allow Him to accompany you through the experiences of your ancestors. Know where you came from and life would be a smooth sailing. 

DEVOTION: MISA DE GALLO

Just this early morning was the start of the Misa de Gallo. The feeling was gloomy. The atmosphere was different this year than in the previous years. I asked my self, why is it that my feeling is gloomy? Upon reflection after the mass, it came to me that in the parish that I belong to, few people have came for the celebration of the mass in comparison with the previous years.

Upon seeing that the Church was not anymore that filled, it was disappointing since even in devotion people have already become lukewarm. I am not saying that all have been lukewarm. However, the numbers of people are increasing. It is quite alarming. As Catholic, Christ is the center of our life. Devotions, such as the novena in preparation to Christmas season, are trademark of our faith. Other people have misunderstood us on our devotions just like the Misa de Gallo but we remained firm with our faith throughout the years. Such case is already a sign of a future crisis if we keep on neglecting details.

We need to strive more to educate our young brothers and sisters on the importance and significance of devotions. Through them we could inculcate the future of the journey towards a brighter future. What then can we do to encourage our young brothers and sisters?

As parents, ask them to join you in celebrating the Misa de Gallo. They may feel obligated at first but as time goes by they themselves will clearly see the importance of devotions such as it in their life. We do not instill Catholic Faith but as discipline.

As a minister either as altar server, acolyte, lector, choir member, ask your friends also to take part on such celebration. As mere invitation to them, God is already using you in calling them to partake in His table banquet. Be an instrument of God in welcoming your brothers and sisters in the House of God.

Simple acts in proclaiming the faith, simple acts of being an instrument of God are already a sign of our dedication to God. We do not only bring God to them but we even bring ourselves closer to Him. Invite others to partake in such wonderful celebration. It is a indication that we surrender ourselves to Him. Let us say, "Lord, I surrender myself to you. Use me to call others. Use me as you please."

PRAYER TO ST. JOHN XXIII

Oh, St. John, your simplicity and meekness carried the scent of God and sparked in people’s hearts the desire for goodness. You spoke often of the beauty of the family gathered around the table to share bread and faith: pray for us that once again true families would live in our homes.

With outstretched hands you sowed hope, and you taught us to listen for God’s footsteps as he prepares a new humanity: help us have a healthy optimism of defeating evil with good.

You loved the world with its light and darkness, and you believed that peace is possible: help us be instruments of peace at home and in our communities.

With paternal gentleness you gave all children a caress: you moved the world and reminded us that hands have been given to us not for striking, but for embracing and drying tears.

Pray for us so that we do not limit ourselves to cursing the darkness but that we bring the light, bringing Jesus everywhere and always praying to Mary. Amen.

St. Jon XXIII, pray for us.

PRAYER TO ST. JOHN PAUL II

Oh , St. John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing! Bless the church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading it along the paths of the world in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. Bless the young, who were your great passion. Help them dream again, help them look up high again to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth.

May you bless families, bless each family! You warned of Satan’s assault against this precious and indispensable divine spark that God lit on earth. St. John Paul, with your prayer, may you protect the family and every life that blossoms from the family.

Pray for the whole world, which is still marked by tensions, wars and injustice. You tackled war by invoking dialogue and planting the seeds of love: pray for us so that we may be tireless sowers of peace.

Oh St. John Paul, from heaven’s window, where we see you next to Mary, send God’s blessing down upon us all.

St. John Paul II, pray for us.