An inspiring thought from the famous book of Coelho – The Alchemist reads, “Whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth. And when you want something, the entire universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Isn’t it a marvelous thought knowing that things coincide with one another when we want something? When we know, when everyone knows, that we are fulfilling our heart’s deepest desire. Nothing can stop us to search for our own treasure, not even the most complicated trials or any other excruciating suffering. We endure all these. We endure all of the world’s expectation. We strive to stand on our contradictions knowing that we hold on to the truth in us, and for that we are ready to suffer, to endure, and to bear everything to find our heart. For we know that where our treasure is – our joy, there also rests our heart.
Maybe I love you because of so many reasons. Maybe i love you because of this or because of that; or maybe I love with all other reasons in the world altogether. Instead,
maybe I love you because there is only you that I can love like this and no one else; because there is only you that I want to love like this and no one else; because there is only you that I will ever love like this and no one else.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” - Marianne Williamson
In the daily manual “The Warrior of the Light” by Paulo Coelho, a line reads: “Victors never make the same mistake twice. That is why the Warrior only risks his heart for something worthwhile.” So let it be that my heart may continue to risk for Someone worthwhile, One who makes me the real winner.
A dialogue between a friend priest and his vocation candidate goes like this:
P: Hey I thought you would be in the seminary before I come back from holidays.
C: Father, I have my plans.
P: Hey who cares about your plans? Your plans don’t matter.
C: But then father whose plans matter?
P: Don’t ask me. You know whose plans matter.
I perfectly understand. I know whose plans matter. I can relate. I had my own plans too before. But then everything changed when He – whose plans matter – surprisingly came from nowhere in my heart and all of a sudden twist the story of my life I thought I can run myself.
The dialogue is just striking. I never thought that I would have to go back to this thought of asking, “Whose plans matter?” All I know is that I am just being true. I know I need this.
Vocation is actually a continual ‘yes’ to God. Saying ‘yes’ the first instance creates a bigger possibility of saying ‘yes’ the second time around. However, likewise is saying ‘no,’ or ‘not yet’. Vocation is such a mystery that one would never know if it’s really his until that time when one is in front of God. And so, I am saying ‘yes’ to an unknown future ahead of me and likewise I say at some point these days my ‘no’, opening the possibility of a new ‘yes’ to an uncertain tomorrow.
How would one’s hand hold another if one’s still holding someone else’s hand? How can one fill a jar that is full? No two matters can occupy the same space all at the same time. One has to let go of the other so one may hold and fill those empty spaces in between those fingers. One has to empty the jar so as to fill it up with everything one can offer.
What love can be greater than to lay one’s life for one’s friend? To give everything? Today is Corpus Christi Sunday. This feast is the celebration of the Body and Blood of Christ continually offered in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Just a thought from a good homily I heard this morning. “Di ba kung love mo, pakakainin mo? Di ba kung love mo, bubusugin mo? Kung pwede nga lang, magtake-out ka pa, gagawin mo…” This is how we love. We give. We give the best. And what giving could be better than giving one’s life for the other. Indeed Christ doesn’t only offer us much; he offers us everything by offering himself. In return, I hope our longing and hunger for God is also as much as everything, and translate that longing to fill the same hunger of others as well. And so I ask, what hunger can I fill for others?
I hope I won’t get tired giving and loving anytime soon.
Hindi kita iniibig na tila isang rosas, o isang ,mamahaling bato Halintulad sa samyo ng isang bulaklak na kauusbong, Iniibig kita sing-tiyak ng pag-ibig maging ng mga bagay ng karimlan, Isang lihim, sa pagitan ng anino at kaluluwa.
Iniibig kita na hindi batid kung paano, o kailan, of buhat saan, Iniibig kita ng matuwid, nang walang halong kaguluhan o pagmamataas; Kaya’t iniibig kita batid na ito lamang ang tanging paraan
Iniibig kita gaya ng mundong hindi kailanman bubukad Ngunit pasan nito sa sarili ang liwanag ng mga tagong bulaklak; Salamat sa pag-ibig mong tiping halimuyak Sumikat mula sa lupa, at namuhay sa karimlan ng aking pagkatao
Na tila walang ikaw o ako Sadyang matalik na ang kamay mo sa aking kaban ay aking kamay Sadyang matalik na sa iyong paghimlay ay mata ko ang pumipinid.
It is vacation when the sex scandal issue popped out. And since then, I guess, it became featured news on all local TV channels every night. It is personally irritating. I couldn’t believe that people are buying that issue. However, days passed and the issue became the talk of the metro, and worst, I believe is that it became a matter of national interest.
It is alarming to know that there is much catastrophe and confusion brought about by the scandal. However, I believe that there is a deeper issue here than just seeing it as a personal conflict between two persons.
First, by the spread of the scandal I see how low people view physical intimacy. It is as if telling people that “sex is cheap,” that we can buy it for a price too like any other stuff in a department store. Instead, we believe as Catholics that sex is sacred. It is sacred because it is bound by a covenant, a covenant of love which we fondly call marriage. Aside from this truth, we come to a point that we believe that everyone has a power to do anything whatever one wants without regard to another person’s feeling. Sex without the firm foundation of love inside marriage is bound to fail. This may serve as a reminder to people, especially women about one’s responsibility to sexual relationship.
Second, the reaction of the public regarding the scandal is over rated. I guess there is a need of change of perspective, or if possible a change of attitude towards sex. Filipinos are generally brought up bearing the thought that sex is bad, or out of this world. However, I believe that the attitude towards sex can be unlearned by reeducating and refreshing one’s self to its purpose and nature.
Third, the issue has become a venue for politics. Election time is just around the corner and these politicians will get as much publicity as possible even if they aren’t sincere just to gain “pogi points” to the public. I still believe that we have hope. In fact we are hope. Thus, everyone, even non-voters should involve themselves to know whom to vote. We are not just voting people here. We are voting our future.
My reflection ends with a realization that the scandal has become a matter of national interest because the issue isn’t just about some persons involved but because we share the same story with them. The sex video scandal is a reality check to all of us of how we look at ourselves and others, either with cheapness or respect. It calls for a change of view and openness to the topic of sex, and that such issue may be a venue for politicking thus reminding us too of our responsibility to ourselves and the nation.
