A loving God

When we observe the world around us, we know there must have been a loving God who created the good things around us.  In fact, He, the God Almighty has disposed that the powerful and mighty on this earth should not abuse of their power, so He has provided that the powers of the mighty ones in our world are also counter-balanced by other potent ones, so they may not abuse of their powers. 

            So there is indeed some kind of balance in our world so one may not abuse of his/her natural talents or abilities to take advantage over other less powerful people.

            So indeed how true the principle enunciated by Jesus: “Whatsoever you wish men to do to you, do you also unto them” (Mt. 7:12).

Easter Message

Our reasons for celebrating Christ’s Resurrection are indeed numerous since they are connected with our own salvation, as Jesus died to save us from our sins.  He died in atonement for our sins, it is true.  But He asks us to reform our lives as stated in the gospel of Mark: “Reform your lives and believe in the gospel” (Mk. 1:15).

            So the work of salvation is like a constant battle so as not to be overcome by our own weaknesses and imperfections but rather achieve the perfection of the new man reformed by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  It’s truly a lifetime labor and effort since the Devil is there to tempt us constantly as that is his firm desire—to bring more souls to perdition in Hell.  Let’s bear that in mind that the work of saving our souls is a lifetime job as the devil never rests in his work of bringing souls to damnation in Hell.  St . Peter gives us an important advice of always being watchful and vigilant.  “Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat.  Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things.  You will have to suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will see that all is well again: he will confirm, strengthen and support you.  His power lasts forever and ever. Amen” (1 Pt. 5:8).

            The Devil uses different ways to tempt human beings such as through bad pictures, bad companions or false literature.  We need God’s help and grace for this continual battle of good versus evil.

BREVITY OF HUMAN LIFE

We do have ambitions for a long life.  Yet counting from the very first centuries of human existence, we know and we should realize how short the human life span is.  Sixty or seventy would be the average age or even eighty for the stronger ones.  God wants us to remember that our life on earth is fleeting and temporary.  It would be better to make sure we live lives according to God’s will so we may deserve the reward God has prepared for us in His kingdom.  Yes, most surely we should not be shortsighted and narrowed to the material and fleshly allurements and risk losing our eternal rewards that God prepares for those who are faithful to Him and keep His commands of love and justice.  True indeed, as you can observe, life is short and passing away.  Let’s be after true greatness which only consists in our constant quest to fulfill God’s will in our lives.

In Chapter 26 of the gospel of St. Matthew in verse 42, Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father in this way: “My Father, if this cup cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done!” (Mt. 26:42).  Doing God’s will should be our only and constant aim in life.  In the Bible’s book of Psalms chapter 90 verse 9, thus God’s word describes human existence: “Our days dwindle under your wrath, our lives are over in a breath – our life lasts for seventy years, eighty with good health” (Ps. 90:9). 

FACING REALITY

One thing which we have to learn in life is to be able to face reality bravely.  Part of the reality we have to face is our own weaknesses and shortcomings.  But sure indeed one of the surest signs of bravery is to be able to face the reality of your own weaknesses and limitations.  You cannot remain a coward all your life just because you are paralyzed by fear that haunts you all your life.

However you can vanquish that subjective fear by learning to face reality.  Make an effort to remedy such cowardice since it can only lead to greater disappointments and failures.  As one famous writer once said in his book titled “Powers That Be,” he was quoted as saying: “Face the Situation Fearlessly and There is no Situation to be Faced.”   

Many problems in society may certainly have an adequate solution if only we faced them.  This may turn out a failure for you just because you never bothered to give it a try.  Usually successful people have been thoroughly persistent in their quest for success.

PARENTAL ATTACHMENTS

Loyalty and love for the parents is really something admirable and natural.  In fact it is of the basic commandments of God (the 4th commandment): Honor your Father and your Mother.  But as we grow towards maturity in life there are decisions we have to make which mean taking a step when we have to leave our parental attachments—because we are forming a new family or entering a religious vocation which may entail leaving your close family circles, e.g. becoming a priest or nun or whatever other vocation or commitment in life which may require leaving the original family ties.  Anyhow that’s natural as we mature in life.  These new attachments do not mean of course denying the original parenthood, only some adjustments being made to new states in life, as we grow in Maturity.  Surely there is a time when we become less dependent on family ties as we mature, as we grow from childhood to manhood or womanhood.  That’s what we see in most families in our world, the stages of growth from childhood to human maturity as men and women.

The gospels contain some enigmatic expressions which explain how in the lives of many Saints they had to sacrifice close family ties to follow a religious vocation as you can see in the lives of many Catholic Saints who entered the religious life as priests or nuns.  They were just as if forming a religious group or family (congregation) just as a man and a woman leave their original family ties when they get married.  Of course, the religious congregations do not enter into marriage but their numbers live together as a community under the solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, separately of course, the congregations of men and women religious, which are numerous worldwide, and here in Davao Oriental and many other places in the Philippines they take care of most of our Catholic schools and many Churches and parishes.  Celibacy in the lives of priests and religious is certainly an evident mystery since we can see how they extend their love and care to millions and millions of children and people as they continue their mission in schools and parishes, here and the whole world over.