Monday 30 July 2012

Olympic Spirit

The London Olympics opened with a five-hour spectacular extravaganza spiced up with Mr Bean’s comic antics, James Bond’s security effort on the Queen and a wondrous lighted cauldron. The competition started in earnest with world records being smashed, and the medal tally tightly monitored.

Honesty and fairness are considered as important as speed and strength in each contest; yet cheats still continue to hound the organizers. When Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson was stripped of his gold medal for doping, most sporting events, not just the Olympics, have been plagued with competitors using prohibited drugs to enhance their performances. Sports writer Peter FitzSimons described the Olympics as “a heady mix of personal ambition and unrestrained nationalism, creating a "win at all costs" attitude. Some athletes don't know when to draw the line, however, living by the creed that it's only cheating if you get caught.”

One such athlete who was caught was Boris Onishchenko. He won for the Soviet Union in modern pentathlon in the 1968 and 1972 Summer Olympics. In 1976, where he won gold for the third time, it was discovered that he used a modified weapon in the fencing contest that registered a touch (a hit) without making any contact on his opponent. He was stripped of his medal, causing great embarrassment to the Soviet Olympic team members with the USSR volleyball team threatening to throw him out of the hotel’s window if they met him. Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev gave him a personal scolding, and he was dismissed from the Red Army, fined 5,000 rubles and stripped of all his sporting honours. “Boris the Cheat”, as newspapers labeled him, became a taxi driver in Kiev.

Pope Benedict XVI has given his blessing to the Olympics in his message to pilgrims at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo near Rome: “We pray that with the will of God the Games in London will be a true experience of brotherhood between the peoples of the world. I pray that, in the spirit of the Olympic Truce, the goodwill generated by this international sporting event may bear fruit, promoting peace and reconciliation throughout the world.”

God has meant each one for a purpose. And there are those who are gifted with ability in sports. Surely, God wants these talented athletes to reveal Him through outstanding performances. God also wants us to enjoy life, and sport gives such joy. Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko said, “I love sport because I love life, and sport is one of the basic joys of life.”

What did the founder of the modern Olympics have to say about the Games? Pierre de Coubertin, a French educator who is primarily responsible for the revival of the Olympic Games in 1894 stated, “For me sport was a religion... with religious sentiment.” He knew that victory in any sporting contest, was not just a victory for the individual or the nation represented, rather it’s meant to glorify the one God who wants every person to be perfect in spirit.

Monday 23 July 2012

Speak Up

The anti-abortion group ProLife was accused before the Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) of spreading "harmful misinformation" in a pamphlet alleging that abortion can lead to subsequent premature births, miscarriages or infertility, and can cause mental health problems.

AUSA called for a general membership meeting on July 18, 2012 at the university quad to decide on whether the group should be disaffiliated, and therefore, not allowed to further cause “harassment” on students. With more than 300 people in attendance, the move was voted down (225-117) thereby allowing the club to stay within the association.

Pope Benedict XVI in a meeting with the Pontifical Academy for life last year, said, “Through moral conscience God speaks to each of us, inviting us to defend human life at all times, and in this personal bond with the Creator lies the profound dignity of moral conscience and the reason for its inviolability. It is necessary that society as a whole must defend the conceived child’s right to life and the true good of the woman who can never, in any circumstances, find fulfillment in the decision to abort.”

There are many Biblical references to God’s profound love for the unborn, as in Job 3:11-16, when Job equates the pre-born child with kings, counselors and princes. In Jeremiah 1:5 says "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

For us given life, we must protect life, especially the defenseless in the womb. “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the heart consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it?” (Proverbs 24:10-12a)

In a liberal New Zealand society that legalizes abortion, the vote was not simply a debate on free speech, but also, a headcount on those who stood for the rights of the unborn. The vote was a victory for the unborn.

Pro-life Club president Amy Blowers was reported to have broken down in tears as she was embraced by club members after the votes were counted. Well done, Amy. Well done, 225. You did exactly what Proverbs 31:8 states: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…”

Monday 16 July 2012

Her Sweet Voice


Come Together DanceOn Friday 13 July, I attended the 5-minutes of Fame competition at Westfield, Henderson, Auckland.  I meant to give moral support to KIS, a vocal trio consisting of Kayth Ina and Shaine, who appeared in some of TawagAwit events.  The girls gave their all-out best singing, complete with choreography. The crowd reacted positively to their performance with a more than warm applause. Another contestant, an 8-year old Kiwi boy in an attractive white suit and hat gave a captivating interpretative dance of Michael Jackson’s “Come Together”, truly a winning performance.

When the judges announced the winners, I felt negative vibes as the audience simply walked away, disappointed at the results, neither of the crowd favorites won.  While the technical people were packing up things, quite a number of people encircled the 8-year old congratulating him for his awesome performance.

Ferdie Esclamado, the father of Ina, told the girls that one should take loss in stride.  He said, “If you gave your best, you can stand tall, even if you were judged unfairly.”

Life can at times be unfair.  Yet there are those who accept suffering without complaining. One of the members in TawagAwit was diagnosed with cancer. She has lost her hair, and told us of the pain as a result of the treatment.  Yet, she finds time to attend the practices and the singing of offerings during masses.  She is able to laugh at jokes; and as I heard her singing, her sweet voice exuded praise and love for God. She sees no unfairness in God.

Every day I pray for the healing of Sis Elvie. To all who think that life is unfair, listen. “Do not be afraid for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2) Be confident for “(w)eeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm30:5)

Tuesday 10 July 2012

Do Count Your Blessings

Most people wish they’d win the lotto; thinking that all their dreams and aspirations will come true with the cash windfall. While there are inspiring stories of winners who share their prizes to worthy causes and charitable institutions; there are also tragic tales of families torn apart and of individuals falling into the trappings of temptation and excesses. There are also those who become frustrated that the material wealth that they long does not happen.

CORD
But if one just looks at life on a day-to-day basis, there are packets of joy and happiness that come our way. Obviously, waking up in the morning is such a thrill, for we’ve been given another day to share with our loved ones, and the rest of the world. Oftentimes, simple little things (like laughter, a warm ‘hello’, a hug, an offer of help) are often ignored; as individuals long for that big-time ‘happiness’. If you’ve seen Adam Sandler’s “Click”, then you know what I mean.

In this issue of CORD, our cover story is about Cattski Espina who recently released an album, after a hiatus of two years from playing with the band. To her the album, 00:00:00, is “my new child…my life”, and what gives her joy is for her “music to find its way first to your ears, and then to your hearts.” We also feature performers like the BeeGees and Donna Summer who we remember not just for creating Top 40 hits, but also making us dance during the disco years. Jessica Sanchez is in this issue, whom many expected to win American Idol 2012, but wound up one notch short. She said that it was enough that she was able to give her very best and that winning was secondary.

For my part, a packet of joy and happiness I experienced recently was singing a duet with my 5-year old grandson, Jeydi, “My Favorite Things” before family and friends. It is one of those moments that is forever treasured in life.

Do count your blessings each day.

Monday 2 July 2012

The Return of the Priest


Fr. Mario was back. Parishioners missed the good priest who always sprinkled his Homilies with funny anecdotes. He had fallen ill, and was confined in the hospital, having been diagnosed with cancer of the blood. During masses, the priests would ask people to pray for his recovery, with a request for them not to visit him as he underwent medication.

So it was glad news that Fr. Mario was celebrating Mass once more in Holy Cross Parish in Henderson, Auckland.  I attended one of those masses on June 30, where coincidentally the readings focused on Jesus’ healing powers.  I was drawn to his statement that “God gives suffering for a reason.”

He said that when he first learned of his illness, he went into denial, and he only suffered the more. But when he accepted his fate, he saw the world in a different perspective. During hospital visits, he saw other cancer-stricken patients, and could feel the depression and stress they underwent. He joined sharing sessions, and brought the Good News to other sufferers. He then realized that as he empathized with fellow sufferers, he was himself healed physically, and more importantly, spiritually.

“When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation.” (Proverbs  10:25) It is not God’s intention to make one suffer or be in pain; He promises renewal, healing and spiritual direction.  Through suffering, we are given a fresh re-start in our belief; we are strengthened in our faith, we are given a new vista on how we relate to Him and to others.

For as long as we lean on Him, we become stronger and focused, knowing that He leads us to understanding better our life, appreciating more our neighbors, and reconnecting the bond that ties us to Him.

As the Mass was at its tail end, Fr. Mario said that the final blessings would also include those who had left the church after the communion. And everyone smiled. Fr. Mario was back, also, with his humor.

Let us pray for the healing of Fr. Mario and all the people in the world who are suffering or in pain.