I am a child of God,
loved into existence,
redeemed towards fullness,
embraced by heaven even while journeying on earth.
*Originally posted on Facebook
2013-06-10
2013-06-07
Declarations
Our declarations express what we believe, and shape what we become. Because "from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."
We are surrounded by declarations from all around: thank-yous and promises from elected officials, jokes over a heinous crime from a celebrity, a singer's "out-ing" of her sexual preference (probably not sexuality, as many media outfits identify), calls for help from a country between Europe and Asia, among many others.
But are we only the sum total of what we are able to express, whether through our words or through our emotions, efforts and exercise? Are we to be defined, appreciated, related to only according to what we sense, to what we are able to say, to how we see things, to how we struggle between despair and hope?
We are surrounded by declarations from all around: thank-yous and promises from elected officials, jokes over a heinous crime from a celebrity, a singer's "out-ing" of her sexual preference (probably not sexuality, as many media outfits identify), calls for help from a country between Europe and Asia, among many others.
But are we only the sum total of what we are able to express, whether through our words or through our emotions, efforts and exercise? Are we to be defined, appreciated, related to only according to what we sense, to what we are able to say, to how we see things, to how we struggle between despair and hope?
I am grateful to my Nanay for her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She was among the first persons in my life who introduced me to what is beyond me, to that Who loved me into existence. It is from the abundance of His heart, pierced and wounded so that when I am pierced and wounded I may know consolation, that words have come to define who I have come to believe I am. Who am I, beyond my struggles and searching, my despairs and decisions, my musings and music and ministry, my loves and lusts and lukewarmness, my faith and my falls and my forwards? Who am I beyond all these? He tells me, with all the love in this world and beyond: I am HIS.
On this Year of Faith, I pray you hear Him too, tell you this.
*Originally posted on Facebook
On this Year of Faith, I pray you hear Him too, tell you this.
*Originally posted on Facebook
2013-06-06
By the well in Kabankalan
In the Philippines, youth ministers from all over the Philippines came to a city called Kabankalan, which was not far (well, depending on your perspective) from the place where the living Word was first proclaimed and earthly bread was transformed into Christ's body. They seemed tired from their journey in youth ministry and sat down "by the well". It was about noontime of the year, having held towards the end of May.
For the above verses, I thank John the Evangelist for the words in his chapter 4, verses 5-6. We youth ministers came from all regional coordinations of Catholic youth ministry in the Philippines, upon the invitation of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth, for the meeting of the National Youth Coordinating Council. Most Rev. Patricio Buzon, SDB, DD, together with his jolly and committed youth ministers, opened the doors of his diocese to us. The 28th to the 31st of May 2013 were days marked by great simplicity: in location (Kabankalan is not a big urban city in the likes of Manila, Cebu or even Bacolod, but it is, like Sychar that is sanctified by the Patriarchs Jacob and Joseph, made holy by the martyrdom of unsung heroes during the dictatorship), in arrangements (we were in simple rooms, served simple but filling meals), even in process (there was no mind-boggling input or complicated activity). We youth ministers came together and reminded ourselves, allowed ourselves to be reminded, of what is basic in this beautiful and challenging ministry: to be evangelized that we may be evangelizing.
The experience gave us the opportunity to come together to draw water, but it also allowed us to listen to our Lord say to us, "Give me a drink of water."
We received the life-giving water of the Lord in our fellowship (both in fun times and in difficult times--and truly, there was a "natural calamity" where those affected were consoled by the communion of others), in the challenge of "professionalizing" and "corporate-izing" youth ministry, in assessing the current situation of our young people, and in those moments of prayer which became sources of who we are and how we should serve.
But we too have fed the Lord. We fed Him through our humble efforts of listening, through our openness to be confronted with how more youth ministry can become not so much an effective strategy but a shining, attractive manifestation of Jesus' love today, through our giving of ourselves in our worship in silence or in song.
It is my prayer that each youth minister all over this archipelago may receive openly and courageously the water that Jesus is, allow ourselves to become springs of His life-giving presence to the Church and her young people. Then can we hope for our young people exclaim, "We believe now, not because of what you said, but because we ourselves have heard Him, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world!" [cf. Jn 4:42]
For the above verses, I thank John the Evangelist for the words in his chapter 4, verses 5-6. We youth ministers came from all regional coordinations of Catholic youth ministry in the Philippines, upon the invitation of the CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Youth, for the meeting of the National Youth Coordinating Council. Most Rev. Patricio Buzon, SDB, DD, together with his jolly and committed youth ministers, opened the doors of his diocese to us. The 28th to the 31st of May 2013 were days marked by great simplicity: in location (Kabankalan is not a big urban city in the likes of Manila, Cebu or even Bacolod, but it is, like Sychar that is sanctified by the Patriarchs Jacob and Joseph, made holy by the martyrdom of unsung heroes during the dictatorship), in arrangements (we were in simple rooms, served simple but filling meals), even in process (there was no mind-boggling input or complicated activity). We youth ministers came together and reminded ourselves, allowed ourselves to be reminded, of what is basic in this beautiful and challenging ministry: to be evangelized that we may be evangelizing.
The experience gave us the opportunity to come together to draw water, but it also allowed us to listen to our Lord say to us, "Give me a drink of water."
We received the life-giving water of the Lord in our fellowship (both in fun times and in difficult times--and truly, there was a "natural calamity" where those affected were consoled by the communion of others), in the challenge of "professionalizing" and "corporate-izing" youth ministry, in assessing the current situation of our young people, and in those moments of prayer which became sources of who we are and how we should serve.
But we too have fed the Lord. We fed Him through our humble efforts of listening, through our openness to be confronted with how more youth ministry can become not so much an effective strategy but a shining, attractive manifestation of Jesus' love today, through our giving of ourselves in our worship in silence or in song.
It is my prayer that each youth minister all over this archipelago may receive openly and courageously the water that Jesus is, allow ourselves to become springs of His life-giving presence to the Church and her young people. Then can we hope for our young people exclaim, "We believe now, not because of what you said, but because we ourselves have heard Him, and we know that he really is the Savior of the world!" [cf. Jn 4:42]
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