Love your Enemies
One thing that many people find difficult to do in this world is to follow what our Gospel today teaches: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
It is easy to love one’s parents, sisters and brothers and close friends because there is something that bids us together. Loving the other becomes easy when we can connect most especially if this connection is blood or significant experiences that bridge the gap between two persons.
But to love one’s enemies is like asking what is impossible. Look at what is happening around us. See how Arab nations and most Muslims countries hate the Americans. See also how the Americans hate the world and could trust no one. We need not look far to see how this hatred had been fueling so much violence in our very own country. The rising number of slain journalists, missing persons and how our politicians quarrel over kickbacks are solid indications of all of these. From all of these, it seems that the command of the Lord: “Love your enemies” could never happen.
Certainly, we cannot love our enemies unless we stop loving only ourselves and give ourselves fully to God. For the love of God is the sole basis of loving our enemies. Unless we love God, we cannot love our enemies. I guess most of us knows that Pope John Paul II was once shot by a Turkish national, Mehmet Ali Agca on May 13, 1981. The Pope survived the assignation but was in serious condition. Soon after his recovery, the Pope visited Agca in his prison cell and spoke privately with him. This meeting caught the world in awe and admiration at the gesture of kindness, of friendship shown by the Pope to his aggressor. The world could only marvel at the greatness and love that made it possible for a victim to talk and extend peace to his killer and offer forgiveness.
As if words of forgiveness were not enough , the Pope requested the Italian President to pardon Agca. The latter then was released on parole in January 12, 2006. No doubt, Pope John Paul II did love his enemy. And it was possible for him to love because he loves God first. It is in loving God with all our heart, all our mind and all our being that we can love our neighbors and even our enemies.
Linggo, Pebrero 17, 2008
Sabado, Pebrero 16, 2008
Transfiguration
Usually, newly wed couples would have the best experience of their lives on their wedding day. They are the most sought after couple as almost all would come to greet them wearing their best smiles. “Congratulations!” This is one wonderful experience that the couple would like to prolong and extend as they want to savor the moment and enjoy the time they are in high spirit.
In the event of the Transfiguration, Peter with James and John was also in the high spirit. He had the best experience of Jesus as the Son of God and he too wanted to prolong it. The feeling was so sweet in there that he wanted Jesus to stay as is, “Lord, it is good that we are here.”But the joy the Peter experienced is connected with his experience of the glorious God in Jesus who is destined to suffer and die on the cross for our sake. For this Peter was to be afraid.
It must be remembered that in the early part of the Gospel Jesus rebuked Peter because he does not want Jesus to undergo suffering, “Never Lord, this will not happen to you.” So when it was revealed to him in the transfiguration that Jesus, the Son of God will have to suffer and die on the cross, Peter tremble in fear not of pain and death but of the great sacrifice and love the Lord has to take because of us. In other words, Peter too experience transfiguration in himself as his view of the Lordship of Jesus changed with his transfiguration experience of the Lord.
Like Peter, we too are privileged to constantly experience a transfiguration of the Lord everytime we celebrate the Eucharist. When we break the bread and receive the body of Christ in Holy Communion we share in the fruits of Christ's great sacrifice on the cross. Hopefully, like Peter, as we behold the body of Christ we will tremble before God’s great act of love, the God who humbled himself to become like us and allowed himself to be broken as bread for us to partake. Let us then tremble not out of fear but out of gratitude for such great privilege to be loved by Jesus, the Son of God.
But our transfiguration experience does not end in the Eucharist. Rather it begins here in our call to live out and practice our faith so that our relationship will itself be transformed and permeated by Christ. Moreover, our transfiguration experience continued as we respond to the call of proclaiming our faith to others, of sharing this great story of God who out of his great love allowed himself to suffer and die for our sake. What we practice and proclaim is our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who love us most. Amen.
Usually, newly wed couples would have the best experience of their lives on their wedding day. They are the most sought after couple as almost all would come to greet them wearing their best smiles. “Congratulations!” This is one wonderful experience that the couple would like to prolong and extend as they want to savor the moment and enjoy the time they are in high spirit.
In the event of the Transfiguration, Peter with James and John was also in the high spirit. He had the best experience of Jesus as the Son of God and he too wanted to prolong it. The feeling was so sweet in there that he wanted Jesus to stay as is, “Lord, it is good that we are here.”But the joy the Peter experienced is connected with his experience of the glorious God in Jesus who is destined to suffer and die on the cross for our sake. For this Peter was to be afraid.
It must be remembered that in the early part of the Gospel Jesus rebuked Peter because he does not want Jesus to undergo suffering, “Never Lord, this will not happen to you.” So when it was revealed to him in the transfiguration that Jesus, the Son of God will have to suffer and die on the cross, Peter tremble in fear not of pain and death but of the great sacrifice and love the Lord has to take because of us. In other words, Peter too experience transfiguration in himself as his view of the Lordship of Jesus changed with his transfiguration experience of the Lord.
Like Peter, we too are privileged to constantly experience a transfiguration of the Lord everytime we celebrate the Eucharist. When we break the bread and receive the body of Christ in Holy Communion we share in the fruits of Christ's great sacrifice on the cross. Hopefully, like Peter, as we behold the body of Christ we will tremble before God’s great act of love, the God who humbled himself to become like us and allowed himself to be broken as bread for us to partake. Let us then tremble not out of fear but out of gratitude for such great privilege to be loved by Jesus, the Son of God.
But our transfiguration experience does not end in the Eucharist. Rather it begins here in our call to live out and practice our faith so that our relationship will itself be transformed and permeated by Christ. Moreover, our transfiguration experience continued as we respond to the call of proclaiming our faith to others, of sharing this great story of God who out of his great love allowed himself to suffer and die for our sake. What we practice and proclaim is our faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who love us most. Amen.
Linggo, Pebrero 3, 2008
4th Sunday of Ordinary Time
HAPPY IS BLESSED
Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD
What we have heard proclaimed in our Gospel today is the famous 8 beatitudes which speaks about those who are blessed. In others versions of the Bible, the word used instead of blessed is happy. I believe there is an equally valid reason for such translation. Since someone who is blessed is one that is significantly happy.
Let me share with you an anecdote of a boy which was interestingly entitled “Secrets of Hapiness” told by a Rabbi: A young man once came to meet me in Jerusalem. He had an unusually happy disposition, so I asked him what's his secret. He told me:
"When I was 11 years old, I received a gift of happiness from God.
"I was riding my bicycle when a strong gust of wind blew me onto the ground into the path of an oncoming truck. The truck ran over me and cut off my leg.
"As I lay there bleeding, I realized that I might have to live the rest of my life without a leg. How depressing! But then I realized that being depressed won't get my leg back. So I decided right then and there not to waste my life despairing.
"When my parents arrived at the hospital they were shocked and grieving. So I told them: 'I've already adapted. Now you also have to get used to this.'
"Ever since then, I see my friends getting upset over little things: their bus came late, they got a bad grade on a test, somebody insulted them. But I just enjoy life.
At age 11, this young man attained the clarity that it is a waste of energy to focus on what you are missing. And that the key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have. Sounds simple, doesn't it? So why are so many people unhappy?
After reading this anecdote, I noticed that the situation of the happy boy is as worse as what is described as blessed in our Gospel today. Yet in both ways, the boy is said to be happy and those in difficult situations in the beatitudes are noted to be blessed.
By our common and worldly standards, having lost a leg is certainly not something we will be very happy about. Yet the boy was happy. In the same way, being poor, persecuted, oppressed and in some other difficult situation is not a cause for rejoicing. What then constitutes happiness? How come we say that a desperate situation is blessed.
What was said in our anecdotes is very enlightening: “The key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have.” In other words, happiness is not all about having this and having that or doing this or that. Rather happiness is being in such a positive disposition in a particular situation no matter what it is. In a very secular outlook, they say, it is a state of mind. Actually, this is not altogether secular for this being is being with God, this state of mind is a life centered or focused on God similar to what the beatitude calls blessed. They are blessed who inspite of the difficult situation remains and clings to God.
Like the situation of the boy, what the beatitudes describes is by no means a cause for rejoicing judging from our human standards. How in the world can we justify that someone tortured, harassed, in desperate need and self-sacrificing is blessed indeed? The world will certainly thinks that we are crazy. What makes their situation blessed is no the poverty itself, nor the pain and suffering inflicted on them by others but the sense of hope, their firm confidence in God in the midst of the troubles that surround them. These people described by the beatitudes might be lacking in material resources like money and power but they are rich of faith, hope and the love of God.
Being blessed is in many ways like happiness. To be blessed is not to have this and to have that but rather it is being… it is being with God, the best that is there for us. If God is at the center of our lives, we got is all, in Pilipino it sounds better: “Sa piling ng Dios wala ka ng hahanapin pa.” Indeed, by being with God we are truly blessed.
Rev. ARNOLD C. BIAGO, SVD
What we have heard proclaimed in our Gospel today is the famous 8 beatitudes which speaks about those who are blessed. In others versions of the Bible, the word used instead of blessed is happy. I believe there is an equally valid reason for such translation. Since someone who is blessed is one that is significantly happy.
Let me share with you an anecdote of a boy which was interestingly entitled “Secrets of Hapiness” told by a Rabbi: A young man once came to meet me in Jerusalem. He had an unusually happy disposition, so I asked him what's his secret. He told me:
"When I was 11 years old, I received a gift of happiness from God.
"I was riding my bicycle when a strong gust of wind blew me onto the ground into the path of an oncoming truck. The truck ran over me and cut off my leg.
"As I lay there bleeding, I realized that I might have to live the rest of my life without a leg. How depressing! But then I realized that being depressed won't get my leg back. So I decided right then and there not to waste my life despairing.
"When my parents arrived at the hospital they were shocked and grieving. So I told them: 'I've already adapted. Now you also have to get used to this.'
"Ever since then, I see my friends getting upset over little things: their bus came late, they got a bad grade on a test, somebody insulted them. But I just enjoy life.
At age 11, this young man attained the clarity that it is a waste of energy to focus on what you are missing. And that the key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have. Sounds simple, doesn't it? So why are so many people unhappy?
After reading this anecdote, I noticed that the situation of the happy boy is as worse as what is described as blessed in our Gospel today. Yet in both ways, the boy is said to be happy and those in difficult situations in the beatitudes are noted to be blessed.
By our common and worldly standards, having lost a leg is certainly not something we will be very happy about. Yet the boy was happy. In the same way, being poor, persecuted, oppressed and in some other difficult situation is not a cause for rejoicing. What then constitutes happiness? How come we say that a desperate situation is blessed.
What was said in our anecdotes is very enlightening: “The key to happiness is to take pleasure in what you have.” In other words, happiness is not all about having this and having that or doing this or that. Rather happiness is being in such a positive disposition in a particular situation no matter what it is. In a very secular outlook, they say, it is a state of mind. Actually, this is not altogether secular for this being is being with God, this state of mind is a life centered or focused on God similar to what the beatitude calls blessed. They are blessed who inspite of the difficult situation remains and clings to God.
Like the situation of the boy, what the beatitudes describes is by no means a cause for rejoicing judging from our human standards. How in the world can we justify that someone tortured, harassed, in desperate need and self-sacrificing is blessed indeed? The world will certainly thinks that we are crazy. What makes their situation blessed is no the poverty itself, nor the pain and suffering inflicted on them by others but the sense of hope, their firm confidence in God in the midst of the troubles that surround them. These people described by the beatitudes might be lacking in material resources like money and power but they are rich of faith, hope and the love of God.
Being blessed is in many ways like happiness. To be blessed is not to have this and to have that but rather it is being… it is being with God, the best that is there for us. If God is at the center of our lives, we got is all, in Pilipino it sounds better: “Sa piling ng Dios wala ka ng hahanapin pa.” Indeed, by being with God we are truly blessed.
Miyerkules, Enero 30, 2008
Feast of Saint Paul, the Apostle
Feast of Saint Paul, the Apostle
One skeptic posed a challenge about the resurrection of Christ: “Can you prove that Jesus is alive and is risen from the dead?” A lawyer replied: “Yes, by considering how the lives of others were deeply affected by the fact of his resurrection.”
Here the lawyer is referring to circumstantial evidence. In saying thus, he is telling us that there is resurrection because many people were changed, reformed, that is, they were deeply affected by the resurrection. Eventhough we have not witnessed ourselves the event of the resurrection by looking at those people affected by it, we can say that indeed, the resurrection did happen.
In particular, the conversion of Paul tells us that truly resurrection happened. The converted Paul who preached the Good News of salvation from Jerusalem, to the whole of the Mediterranean world is one convincing testimony of the truths of our faith--that Jesus is alive and have risen from the dead.
Actually, Paul did not meet nor see Jesus in his lifetime. What he had is the vision he experienced on the road to Damascus. Yet his zeal and dedication in spreading the Gospel equals that of the Apostles who were with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry to his death on the cross. That is why, Paul acquired for himself the name, Apostle to the Gentiles.
It is rather awkward to say that the life of Paul is an evidence of the Resurrection because it is like saying that Resurrection could not stand on its own, that it needs Paul to become convincing and be accepted in faith. What is rather proper is to say that the Resurrection was the one that empowers Paul . It is the fact that Jesus is alive and risen, or simply Jesus who puts the fire and all the energy in Paul to be such a great missionary and herald of the Good News to the ends of the world. Without Christ, his works are all in vain.
All of us in a way are like Paul. We too have not seen Jesus alive and walking in the face of the earth. What we have and hold on to is similar to what Paul had, a vision of Jesus alive which today we identify as religious experience. For us, it is the best and most valuable wealth, the best thing that we could ever have. We stubbornly cling to it, telling the rest that we cannot live without it, for Jesus is our HOPE. As we journey through life, it is Jesus who gives us the confidence that in the end we will rest in the Father’s embrace. SPE SALVI. “In hope we were saved” said Paul in his letter to the Romans.
One skeptic posed a challenge about the resurrection of Christ: “Can you prove that Jesus is alive and is risen from the dead?” A lawyer replied: “Yes, by considering how the lives of others were deeply affected by the fact of his resurrection.”
Here the lawyer is referring to circumstantial evidence. In saying thus, he is telling us that there is resurrection because many people were changed, reformed, that is, they were deeply affected by the resurrection. Eventhough we have not witnessed ourselves the event of the resurrection by looking at those people affected by it, we can say that indeed, the resurrection did happen.
In particular, the conversion of Paul tells us that truly resurrection happened. The converted Paul who preached the Good News of salvation from Jerusalem, to the whole of the Mediterranean world is one convincing testimony of the truths of our faith--that Jesus is alive and have risen from the dead.
Actually, Paul did not meet nor see Jesus in his lifetime. What he had is the vision he experienced on the road to Damascus. Yet his zeal and dedication in spreading the Gospel equals that of the Apostles who were with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry to his death on the cross. That is why, Paul acquired for himself the name, Apostle to the Gentiles.
It is rather awkward to say that the life of Paul is an evidence of the Resurrection because it is like saying that Resurrection could not stand on its own, that it needs Paul to become convincing and be accepted in faith. What is rather proper is to say that the Resurrection was the one that empowers Paul . It is the fact that Jesus is alive and risen, or simply Jesus who puts the fire and all the energy in Paul to be such a great missionary and herald of the Good News to the ends of the world. Without Christ, his works are all in vain.
All of us in a way are like Paul. We too have not seen Jesus alive and walking in the face of the earth. What we have and hold on to is similar to what Paul had, a vision of Jesus alive which today we identify as religious experience. For us, it is the best and most valuable wealth, the best thing that we could ever have. We stubbornly cling to it, telling the rest that we cannot live without it, for Jesus is our HOPE. As we journey through life, it is Jesus who gives us the confidence that in the end we will rest in the Father’s embrace. SPE SALVI. “In hope we were saved” said Paul in his letter to the Romans.
Linggo, Enero 20, 2008
Feast of Sto.Nino
Feast of Sto. Nino
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Feast of Sto.Nino
Feast of Sto. Nino
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness of the child merited him not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Feast of Sto.Nino
Feast of Sto. Nino
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
The story of this boy goes this way. One day, upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness merited for the child not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
Least yet the Greatest in the Kingdom
Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old
child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.
The story of this boy goes this way. One day, upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” (Arnoldus Nota Jan 2008)
Such simple act of kindness and thoughtfulness merited for the child not only the admiration and acclaim of many who have heard of his story but will also merit him a place in the Father’s Kingdom. This child, truly exemplifies what our Gospel vividly declares today as the “greatest in the Kingdom of heaven,” which is none other than an honest to goodness act of kindness. I truly believe that our devotion to the Holy Child Jesus (Sto. Nino) is an expression of our inner longing and constant desire to be great in the kingdom while we remain unnoticed, unrecognized, and simple as a child. Certainly, there is much that we can learn from a child.
Honesty and openness are true marks of a child. Learning is easy and fun for them because of their eagerness and readiness to learn. Children admit and knew that they knew little and it pushes them to gain more. No wonder, children normally bombard us with questions. For us who are grown up we have become wise and complicated. Our actions will have always reasons and explanations. Here lies our problem and difficulty to such an extent that our acts of kindness and charity have to pass through our deliberative faculties.
Once, I was with my relatives going down the stairs of MRT station in Pasay, one of my younger nieces instantly drops a P5 coin in the cup of a child begging. When we get home, his Father strongly tells him not give because these kids were part of syndicate. Hearing that I came to realize that not only did we loss that personal attitude of honestly and openness, but the society itself had lost such atmosphere of openness and honesty. Hence, the message of a child remains very valid and relevant today. In our times when things are so complicated, the child’s call for honesty and openness is very urgent and needed. I believe many of us are naturally kind and charitable, but aware of the complex reality of life, that people are cheating on us, that there are many who would have no second thoughts of hurting us or even of killing us, it is not easy to be a child with openness and honesty. Today’s feast of the Sto. Nino is an urgent call for all, individuals and communities alike to bring back into our lives and communities the openness and honesty of a child.
One thing that I like about our devotion to the Sto. Nino is the various and different renditions of the Holy Child. I enjoy seeing the Sto. Nino dressed up as a fisherman, basketball player, doctor or nurse, fireman and a policeman. (Once when I came across this, I have to check if its hand is outstretched to receive a “tong”.) With these, I came to realize that our various renditions of Sto. Nino is an outward manifestation of a very deep religious thought. It expresses that religious vision of saturating every aspect of life with Christ. It is a symbol of our faith and hope to make God present in every moment of our lives, in all our relationships and in all dimensions of our communal living. This is exactly the inauguration and fulfillment of the same Kingdom preached by Jesus, “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, by dressing the Sto. Nino as a nurse, we are telling others that I see Jesus, I see God in the care of the sick, I see Jesus in my work to provide health care services to others. Or when we dress the Sto. Nino as a policeman, it expresses our hope that our law enforcers will be honest, that they will defend the weak, that they protect our rights, while at the same time we declare that God is our source of security as we find ourselves secure with our policemen. The applications and insights can continue on. All of them express our hope and faith to find and experience God in different people that cross our lives.
From these we can say that it is in finding God in the people we meet that we can regain the attitude of honesty openness of a child. But this is not an overnight job. It may take our whole generation before we see it happen. Nevertheless, it provides us with the direction and proper outlook of life. It gives us the opportunity to contribute in making our communities a better place where God reigns and children are the greatest of them all.
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