Lessons for the Heart this COVID Easter

Nakakadurog ng puso--

'yung pagkakaroon ng katrabahong nagpopost ng fake news;
'yung, kakapanibago lang natin ng pangako sa Binyag noong Linggo, clueless na agad tayo paano ba maging Kristiyano;
'yung nabubuong tunggalian ng Class E-D-C at Class B;
'yung, imbes na kapwa tao, classification na ang turingan;
'yung salitang kalye at usapang lasing ang maririnig mo sa talumpati o pampublikong diskurso;
'yung, people (fellow Catholics!) will reason: "Ano'ng mas gusto mo, madumi bibig pero may resulta, o diplomatiko nga magsalita pero tiwali naman?"--hindi ba dapat parehong inspiring ang salita at gawa?;
'yung "Katoliko ako, pero..." imbes na "Katoliko ako, kaya..."

Siguro, kaya kahit Easter na, kapiling pa rin natin si COVID19.  Mukhang hindi pa siya tapos sa leksiyon niya sa atin... o kaya, mukhang hindi pa kasi natin niyayakap ang pahatid niya.

O kaya, tulad ng mga ninuno natin sa pananampalataya: hindi naman sila agad humayo at nagmisyon pagkatapos makita ang naigulong na bato at ang nakatuping kayong lino.  May formation pa sila kay Kristo: finding joy and meaning amidst pain, breaking through closed doors, facing one's fears, getting rebuked for hardheadedness and hardheartedness, reviewing the Scriptures, encouraging each other, teaching and breathing peace to them, eating together, renewing their commitment, praying together and waiting for His Gift: the Holy Spirit.

Kapanalig, kalakbay, sama sama tayong maghintay--
not a careless or aimless waiting,
but a waiting in hope,
an active waiting where we strive
to form our faith and nurture our love--
para sa pagpanaog muli ng Espiritu Santo,
upang tayo man ay tumindig, tumaas, kasama ang kapwa,
at hilumin, pagningasin ang durog na puso.

Chapel of St. Joseph, Iloilo Festive Walk, Iloilo City

For our Fathers, Christ's Priests

Today, Catholics honor the clergy (deacons, priests and bishops), for Holy Thursday marks the institution of the Eucharist and of the (ordained) Priesthood by our Lord Jesus.

Tomorrow, Good Friday, commemorates what this High Priest has done out of love: the supreme sacrifice of His life for our salvation.

Might we too, along with the honor due our ordained ministers, give them our support and collaboration in living the dignity and duty of their state?

Can we see more clergymen beloved because of their foremost love for Christ and for the flock He entrusted to them, rather than because of their title?

Shall we put an end, in our own capacities, to careerism in clergy roles, as seen in selectiveness to assignments, unhealthy longevity in terms of office, and a subculture of "only Father has the say" in our churches?

Can we bring to the purifying light of the Gospel those clergy who condone and even abet infidelity to their promises: sexual relations of whatever kind, unjust amassing of wealth, scandalous disobedience to legitimate superior--all reflective of unbridled egoism?

Shall we pray and work together for our clergy to become more closely conformed to the Good Shepherd, Who lays down His life for His sheep?

Among many personal experiences, I am most grateful for two priests very close to my heart.

One, doing very well already in a demanding ministry in his homeland, dared to go beyond and become a missionary priest.

Another one who, despite his physical limitations, which included a delicate health situation not too long ago, continues to quietly work among the poor--an unrewarding congregation in a manner of speaking.

These two, and many others (deacons, priests and bishops), mirror to me the Priesthood of Christ.

May our adulation for them on Holy Thursday lead us to support them, walk with them on the way to Golgotha to share in Christ's sacrifice.

Youth ministry in the COVID19 pandemic

On this eve of the memorial of St. Pedro Calungsod, patron of Filipino youth, I want to affirm and honor youth ministers who, with creative fidelity, are coming up with and putting together usual or unconventional ways to continue accompanying young people in this extraordinary time--

• youth leaders studying current social issues and speaking up against incompetence and evil in the present dispensation, becoming a light to their fellow youth and a voice against abuse and corruption;
• 
priests, consecrated persons and lay adults who tap youthful energy in their volunteer efforts for the frontliners and the poor who are affected the worst;

• teachers going the extra mile for the education of their students;

• lay youth ministers putting together a Google Classroom on Christus Vivit (happy 1st anniversary!);

• a Youth Director doing an online youth tutorial on the teachings of our beautiful faith;

• Bishops who make evangelizing videos for home-bound youth;

• parents who, having more time with their children, take parenting to extra heights by organizing family devotions and dialogue, building the domestic church;

• and countless others--all of them mirroring Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores who was a youth minister to Pedro Calungsod.

"Sa Pagaabang" by Daryll Tudela,

showing St. Pedro Calungsod and Blessed Diego Luis De San Vitores, found in this blog.

I also pray for you all. You inspire me in my own vocation as a youth minister. Marami pong salamat!

Especially as we march towards 2021, may our individual and corporate efforts as Church, the Body of Christ, bring forth in God's grace more Pedro Calungsods among today's Filipino youth: courageous in hope, firm in the faith, selfless in love.

*Originally posted on Facebook