Parents' Memories

The role of parents (our papa and mama) is so etched in our memories because they have been closest to us since the very beginnings of our existence and took care of us since the early years.  So it’s quite normal we become warmly disposed towards them because it’s but human to be grateful and loyal to them.  No wonder our tender memories of both mother and father linger through the years even if they could have passed already to the life beyond the grave.  Hence we keep them always and ever in our prayers that the Lord may grant them eternal rest after their journey on this earth.  Then we know that our part is not just to live in memories but to proceed from there to do our part in fighting our own battles of justice, concern, and follow whatever good example and lessons our parents and forbears have left us.  If we experienced love and care from our own parents, relatives and friends, we must do our best to extend such love and charity to other human beings we encounter in our short and temporary life, after all what is life worth if not for the love and care we get and share to others in life. 

St. Paul writes in his 2nd letter to Timothy referring to his many encounters or battles for the sake of justice, love, concern, truth, and reconciliation: “As for me, my life is already being poured out as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone.  I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).  The Jerusalem Bible describes those quotations of St. Paul as ‘St. Paul in the evening of his life’.