The New Commandment

A face that only a mother could love. This is one of the funnier ways of saying someone is ugly. On a related note, it is also a portrayal of a mother’s love. Sacrifice, going against social biases, complete and selfless love – all these can be found in the phrase only a mother could love. This kind of love is difficult to achieve to the point of being reserved only for very close relationships like that of a mother and her child.

Yet in today’s Gospel, this is the kind of love that Jesus calls us to. It is Christian love. It is the kind of love that Jesus Himself lived and shared with us. The kind of love that enabled Him to forgive and pray for those who persecuted and executed Him. The kind of love that enables one to love in spite of. True, we can say that we have experienced this kind of love: with our families, with our best friends, with the special person with whom we share our whole life. But Jesus calls us to something more – to extend this love to others just as His love redeemed all mankind. Christian love must go beyond borders and break all barriers. It loves in spite of. And in doing so, we show to others the love that God Himself shared with us through Jesus His Son.

Look at the faces around you. Are they faces that only a mother could love? Or are they faces that you as a Christian could love?

Lord, we thank You for the example of love that You have given us. Give us grace that we may love as you have loved. And if everything else fails, remind us of the sacrifices you went through to show us Your love. Amen

THE SHEEP OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Often times, a sheep is described as a meek animal and vulnerable to various dangers.  Without a shepherd to guide and protect them, there is a great tendency that they will not know where to go, lose the sense of direction and become astray, and even worst, they will be defenseless when attacked by wolves.

Our Lord Jesus Christ presents himself to us as the good shepherd.  He cares for all His sheep.  He knows them well and he knows what they need.  The only concern of the sheep is food and water, yet, Jesus does not only satisfies His sheep with material food but also with the spiritual food, that is, His Bread and His Word.  He protects them so as no one will snatch them out of His hand and He also leads them to the abundant pastures of His Father.

Probably, a hired shepherd would not take great risk on behalf of the sheep, and worst, maybe in time of danger, he might even flee and leaving the flock behind to be feasted upon by wolves or by thieves.  Money in exchange of service is not always a good motivator for courage and commitment.  Most of the time, it is love that motivates us to commit ourselves to others especially those who are in need.  Jesus is a good shepherd, in as much as He is always willing to do everything for His sheep and He even gives His own life in order to keep them safe.

The distinguishing mark of Jesus’ sheep is their willingness to hear and obey, just as disobedience is the mark of those who are not His.  In other words, the sheep that belong to Jesus are characterized by obedience, that is, the recognition of the voice of the Shepherd and following His command or instruction.  Now, as persons claiming to be Christians, who are followers of Christ, did we ever dare to ask ourselves: are we really the sheep of Jesus, listening to His voice and obeying Him?  Or are we simply His sheep by name?

As Christians, and true followers of Jesus, we are expected to do what the Good Shepherd did.  Our courage and commitment for the service of others, who are considered also the sheep, must always be motivated by love, so that we can faithfully and joyfully perform our tasks whether it is of small or of great importance, and even willingly and readily risk our life in face of danger in order to save them.  Now, let us start to do even the ordinary things with extraordinary love, and that we can be truly become the followers of Jesus, counted as one of His good and obedient sheep.  By true spirit of commitment to everything good we do, we can also become a good shepherd like our Jesus, tending and shepherding our fellow sheep.

Being Catholic

Malimit nagtatalo ang mga grupo ng Kristiyano sa maraming bagay. Kesyo sabi ng Bibliya, hindi dapat magkaroon ng mga imahe. Kesyo, sabi ng Bibliya, hindi dapat kumain ng may dugo. Maraming mga pinagtatalunan, na para bagang may paligsahan kung sino ang pinakamaraming na-memorize na mga bersikulo na panghambalos sa katunggali. “Mas magaling akong magquote ng Bibliya; samakatwid, sa akin ang tamang relihiyon.”  

Pero nakapagtataka lang, sa mga bagay na kung saan buhay ang nakataya, hindi pinagtatalunan. Halimbawa, sabi ng Panginoon: “Kung ibig mong maging ganap, ipagbili mo ang lahat ng iyong ari-arian at ipamahagi sa mga mahihirap ang pinagbilhan.” (Mat 19:21);  “…nang gawin ninyo ito sa isa sa mga alagad ko, siya man ang pinakahamak, ginawa ninyo ito sa akin…” (Mat 25:40).

   Ba’t di natin ito pinagtatalunan? Ba’t di natin sabihin sa isa’t -isa: “Hoy, kung tunay kang Kristiyano, ano na ang nagawa mo para sa mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong?” Sa Orthopedic Hospital ngayon, madami sa mga pasyente ang namomroblema dahil wala silang pambayad; sa Golden Acres ngayon, may mga lolo at lola na umiiyak dahil nakalimutan na sila ng mundo; sa paligid ng Santo Domingo, may mga taong walang masilungan.

 Ba’t di natin ito ginagawang sumbat? Kay ganda sigurong pakinggan: “Ipinagbili namin ang ilan sa aming ari-arian, ibinigay sa mga mahihirap, at ngayon, nandito kami sa simbahan.” “Nagpunta kami kanina sa ospital, binisita ang mga may sakit, at ngayon, nandito kami sa simbahan.”  “Kinausap ko kanina ang aking katulong, tiningnan kung paano ko mapag-aral ang kanyang anak, at ngayon nandito ako sa simbahan.”  Nakakatakot hindi ba, kung seseryosohin natin ang ating pananampalataya?

 Pero hindi ba ito ang pagiging Kristiyano—ang madama ang sakit na nararamdaman ng bawat isa, na ang kakulangan ng pagkain, damit, trabaho, kaibigan ng kahit sinuman ay sumbat sa lahat ng mga taga-sunod ni Kristo? Sabi ni Chesterton, isang manunulat: “It is not that Christianity had been tried and it failed; rather, Christianity failed because it has never been tried.”  Hindi sinubukan ang pagiging Kristiyano at ito’y pumalpak; ito’y pumalpak, sapagka’t hindi ito kailanman sinubukan.

Panginoon, tulungan mo kami na isabuhay ang aming pananampalataya, na makita Ka sa mga aba at nangangailangan ng kalinga, at ibigay ang sarili namin upang maibsan ang kalungkutan at kahirapan ng bawat isa. 

THE BEST CELL PHONE BRAND

I have been using the best cell phone brand for many years.  The cell phone brand is the best because it is so effective, strong signal, durable; no need to load, no need to charge the battery but just need to have a good purpose to call. The cell phone brand is not Samsung, Nokia, Sony Ericson, My phone, Cherry Mobile and LG; it is called PRAYER.

Here I would like to share with you one of the most wonderful faith experiences I have in my life. When I was in my final year in high school, I lived far from my family because of my studies. One time, it happened that I had only 45 Kyats (Myanmar money) but I had to pay 300 kyats for my tuition in the school. I did not have any idea where to get that amount of money that time. My home was quite far. Furthermore, it was very difficult to contact my family because of a bad political situation: there was a war between Myanmar national government troops and Kachin Independent Armies. Unless I paid the tuition, I was in danger of not being allowed to take the final examinations.

So it was very much important for me to pay. I was really in crisis.  While thinking how to get the money, I heard a voice as if in my heart say, “Pray to God with faith through Mother Mary.” It was said by a religious sister two years before I entered the seminary. So the night before the deadline for payment, I approached the image of Mother Mary in our chapel. I donated the 45 kyats which was all I had, and prayed with faith in God. The next day I was so sad and troubled for I had no money.

However, after lunch I was about to go to school without any hope. But then, I received a letter from my mother. My hands were trembling while opening it. There was exactly 300 kyats which I really needed. I was so happy for my prayer was granted. I believe that Thomas not just doubted but really prayed hard to see the marks of the nails in Jesus’ hands and the wound on his side and Jesus showed them to him. Prayer is the best Cell Phone Brand to communicate with God. God answers every prayer in his due time.