Alike to how the Little Prince’s reserves his rose, "…an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you-- the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three that we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing. Because she is my rose…" so I know why I reserve my rose among all others.
Friday, October 23, 2009
There can Only be One among Everyone
Alike to how the Little Prince’s reserves his rose, "…an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you-- the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three that we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing. Because she is my rose…" so I know why I reserve my rose among all others.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Storms of Life
The storms of life may shake our ground, but a greater peace still dwells in our heart. Fear no harm for we are ruled by a far greater love.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
A Haiku on New Beginnings
When is light coming from where
To clear this darkness?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
On the Road Again
So I’ll go with my heart so sure, yes without regrets, and also with certainty that it’ll miss what it used to do, how it used to live, and who it used to be. So I’ll go in the middle of the busy year giving an impression that my leaving is untimely, but who knows my heart but God alone, I need not explain further. And though my leaving seems untimely, I find it most fitting and perfectly fine to go ahead after a good discernment in front of life’s junction for years. I am taking a path not quite far different from the usual, though one significant distinction from the usual is that I decide to take a road less traveled.
To my formators, my brothers in the seminary, my family, friends and benefactors. I leave with a grateful heart. May the spark of God found in each and every one of you bring you closer to Him by also finding in one another the spark with which yours will ignite brighter, causing you to discover the fire of His love for you. Thanks much for the support, kindness, and affection.
I move on.
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Paalam Tita Cory
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Our Heart’s True Joy
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.
May our hearts rest where true joys are found.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Maybe I Love You Because
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.
I remain persevering in love.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
What am I that You should Love Me?
“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
Thursday, June 18, 2009
One Who Makes Me the Real Winner
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.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
You Know Whose Plans Matter
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.
Monday, June 15, 2009
A Rule of Matter
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.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Hungry with You, Hungry for You
I hope I won’t get tired giving and loving anytime soon.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Labimpito
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.
BEYOND THE SEX SCANDAL ISSUE
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.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Humility of God is the Freedom of Man
Mary was asked. She had a choice. Mary could have said no on that popular situation when everyone knew that she was betrothed to Joseph. Instead, she said that sweet “Yes”. And because of that yes, we are saved.
Many times, we are confronted with situations that needed serious decisions, each decision calls for a series of more decision-making afterwards. God’s humility is the mystery of every vocation. That God, who is all, knows each one of us; the all of who we are, what we can do and what can’t. And yet, whenever he calls, the first thing he does is ask, “Is it alright for you…,” because he respects our freedom though He always gives us options.
It deeply moves me to believe that God’s humility is the freedom of man. That God wants us to be happy in whatever decision we choose, whether we choose to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to whatever invitation he sends.