Monday 25 August 2008

Pray for the Religious


"I don’t go to church," responded J (name withheld) to my question on which parish she goes to on Sundays. Somewhat taken aback, I asked her if she’d tell me why she stayed away. She candidly explained that she had read many negative things about priests and had come to a conclusion that she would rather pray directly to God than attend mass. The following week, I got a similar response from a friend who paid a visit in my residence. B (name withheld) told me that he had little respect for clergymen as a result of past experiences in his parish where one priest left to get married and another whom he overheard several times making remarks that were uncalled for, if not outrageous.

Without the complete facts, it was beyond me to defend the priests who caused J and B’s disillusionment. I could only offer a general response. I cited many positive experiences I had with priests in activities in church or otherwise. I also related to them the sharing of my wife, Debbie, who briefly worked in a call centre. For eight hours she received calls from customers, responding to their queries and needs. There were times that she encountered difficult and disrespectful callers that drained her emotionally. But at the end of the day, she would be reinvigorated with the thought that out of 100 callers, only two on the average verbally abused her. She would tell me: "The number of good people simply overwhelm the very few bad ones." That statement is true among the religious as well.

Jesus Christ who established the Church on earth designated St Peter as its first leader. Simon Peter was not a perfect follower of Christ. The most flagrant of his weaknesses was denying knowing Jesus three times when the Saviour was to be crucified. Yet Jesus made him the Rock, for Peter repented for his sins, committing himself to preaching and living God’s Word. "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18) As a true servant, Peter died for the Faith. Through the centuries, many have followed the footsteps of St Peter: some dying in martyrdom, others strengthening the Church through evangelisation to the ends of the earth. Through the centuries, there, too, have been followers, including the religious, who have committed scandalous acts that affected not only the Church as an institution, but caused disillusionment among believers.

We must realise, though, that the religious who have dedicated themselves to serving God are human. Satan tempts the religious as he does lay persons. The devil delights more in the fall of God’s ministers; as this advances his intent in destroying God’s City on earth. Such attempt was made on God’s loyal servant Job. "And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil: and he still holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." (Job 2:3)

As much as the religious must pray hard to keep their vows, we the faithful must as well pray for them that they will be shielded from the devil, that they learn from the life of St Peter and that they model themselves after Jesus Christ. As St Paul, a pious person, wrote to the Hebrews: "Pray for us: for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things." (Hebrews 13:18)

by Mel Libre

Monday 18 August 2008

White Day


Melody Lady Garcia, a youthful co-worker in Red Cross, Cebu who now works in Japan as an English instructor, corresponded to me recently. She shared an essay she wrote about the differences between the cultures of Japan and the Philippines.

One interesting item she mentioned was on the practice of gift giving on Valentine’s Day. She wrote: "When I came to Japan, I was dumbstruck. Here, the style is the opposite. Ladies give chocolates to guys. When someone told me that it is the way things are done, I shyly gave a small box of chocolates to an interesting Japanese man. One month later, on White Day, the Japanese man gave me a big box of chocolates and Dior earrings. Wow! When you plant, you can reap. That was one of the most beautiful experiences I have had in life. After that experience, I made it my personal motto to give chocolates to all my students, male and female alike, and also to my friends and bosses. They always gave me something in return. Not that I expected it. When I received so many gifts, I sent some back home to my loved ones."

She further narrated: "Here’s one story I love to tell. One Valentine’s Day, I passed by a tea shop without any customer. The owner, an old man, was alone by himself. I pitied him so much that I instinctively entered his shop and ordered a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. After paying my bill, I handed him two bars of Kitkats and greeted him "Happy Valentine’s!" He smiled at me appreciatively. A year later, I passed by that shop again. At that time, it was empty and there was a big sign outside that said it was closing at the end of that month. I saw the old man sitting with his eyes closed. When I entered the shop, he suddenly woke up. He looked at me and said, "You're the girl who gave me chocolate last year!" I simply smiled and ordered coffee and cake. After paying my bill, the old man handed me a big box of Winnie the Pooh candies. No one forgets a kind deed, even how small."

Giving is one of the values that Jesus Christ taught us. "Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." (Matthew 19:21) The kind of giving that Jesus expects of us is one of genuine concern and humility like the woman in the parable who offered her last money as offering in the temple. The ultimate giving was, of course, Jesus’ sacrificing His earthly life to bring salvation to humankind.

Martyrdom is meant only for a few called upon to sacrifice their lives for the Faith; thus majority of us are expected to declare each and everyday one like a White Day, that is, one of giving in gratitude to God’s inexhaustible love for us. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:17)

The wonder of it all – is that if one just gives and gives, no one actually loses anything. The recipient is filled with joy and gratitude. The giver finds a true sense of meaning and purpose. The Lord and Creator will not forget the kind deed, even how small. In His chosen time, He will reward the giver with an eternal experience far more sweet than a box of the world’s finest chocolates.

by Mel Libre

Monday 11 August 2008

More Precious than Olympic Gold


If the Olympics were to adopt a human face that could represent its essence – that face belongs to Mark Spitz.  In the 1972 Munich Olympics, the American swimmer torpedoed into the pool and claimed seven gold medals, making him one of the top Olympians of all time. It therefore does not come as a surprise that others want to break Spitz’s record. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Michael Phelps, an American swimmer, promised to rewrite sports history by going for eight gold medals.

How are champions made? Other than innate abilities, Spitz trained hard. He once said: “The only side effect of too much training is that you get into better shape. There is nothing wrong with that.” He also had two things going for him: a supportive father and equally talented team mates. He was learning to swim as he began walking; and his father saw the potential of his son. Arnold Spitz took his son to the best coaches and even travelled 80 miles each way for his son’s training. He taught him the maxim: “Swimming isn’t everything; winning is.” At 18 years old, he competed in the 1968 Mexico Olympics boasting he would win six gold medals. He fell short of the target: winning two gold medals in team relay events, one silver, and a bronze. The experience taught him to change his demeanour from being proud to being cool and sociable. Not only did this make him closer to his team mates, it also inspired them to give their best. In Munich, he won in all the events he participated in: four individual gold medals and shared three gold medals with his team mates in relay races.

God wants us to be champions in the daily grind of life. Every day we are competing against Satan, a powerful adversary. While in sports competitions, there are sets of rules to ensure fair play, with the Devil there are no rules and he plays dirty. But then we can overcome Satan as we have the support of the Father and Son; and courageous team mates – the Holy Spirit, angels and saints ready to do battle for the good. “This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15) The Devil will try with all his might to wear us down as we race towards the reward of eternal life. Alone, we are no match to him; but if we have faith in God and be guided by His Word, we “put on all of God’s armour”. (Ephesians 6:11) Satan will then be vanquished.

While the Olympics happens once every four years, the competition against Satan comes about daily. Winning athletes like Mark Spitz and Michael Phelps train hard to gain gold medals; if we are strong in our faith we can earn medals more precious than gold. “Trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” (1 Peter 1:7)

by Mel Libre

Monday 4 August 2008

Violence against Humanity


On Sunday July 27 2008 in Tennessee, USA, while 25 children were making a presentation of the musicale, Annie, inside their church, a man shouting hateful words open fired his shotgun on 200 people in attendance. Two people died, while seven adults were injured. The next day, three suicide bombers struck a Shiite pilgrimage in Baghdad killing at least 32 people and wounding nearly 100. Why would God allow violence to be directed against worshippers?

How many of us have been witness to violent crimes? When I was in grade school while I was walking my way home, I saw a dead man lying on the ground bathed in his blood. He had been shot. It was difficult for my young mind to comprehend. Two years later, one my cousins, who was my age, was killed when he was drawn into a crowd witnessing gang members battling in the streets. I was deeply saddened and confused on why one so young could become a victim of others’ follies. Now at a mature age, I still cannot fathom the logic of killing others for whatever cause or reason.

Wherever we may be; the possibility of being a victim of hatred and violence is not remote. For evil lurks in places where we least expect to find it. Satan tempts people to defy God’s commandments and even a firm believer can put to a test. Job, a faithful servant of the Lord, was subjected to Satan’s designs. Satan even made attempts to tempt Jesus Christ in the desert. For as long as we are in this world, we are never safe from the devil. Therefore, we must not let our guards down in all instances.

While public officials and those in authority are primarily responsible in ensuring the safety of citizens, they can only do so much. We must do our share as well – not by arming ourselves with guns or installing high fences to keep danger out – but by shielding ourselves and our communities, with God’s coat of love that comes from fervent prayer and works of charity. "The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence." (2 Samuel 22:3)

God’s wisdom is beyond human comprehension. He loves humanity that He gives people free will. Yet there are those who abuse their freedom and worse cause suffering, if not death to fellow beings. The unrepentant sinner, to them shall be punishment for their wrongdoing. "His mischief will return upon his own head, and his violence will descend upon his own pate." (Psalm 7:16) To the victims and the innocent, He gives them refuge. "So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us." (Hebrews 6:18)

by Mel Libre