Rich Man, Poor Man

The Gospel today (Lk. 16:19-31), gives us images of two extremely different persons: one rich, and the other poor. The rich man dined everyday and feasted everyday. While the poor man, named Lazarus, covered with sores, is already enough to eat the scraps falling from the rich man's table. Then they both died. As their lives end, our lessons begin.

Two points: Give and Endure.

Being rich or being poor does not guarantee us Heaven. What we do with our richness or poverty, and the grace that accompanies such states, determines it. If God has given us more, more is required from us. From the rich man, we learned the importance of being productive and of giving, which he had not done. Being able to produce and to give. The Gospel says that Lazarus was just lying at the rich man's gate; and yet, the rich man wasn't even able to give Lazarus anything. Doing nothing bad is good. As well, doing nothing good is bad. We have to work with our brothers and sisters. Not just to work for them; but to work with them. (To help and work with the poor, click here.)

The rich man is supposed to be in purple. Hehe. (cf. Lk. 16:19)

I believe that Lazarus was able to be in the presence of Abraham's bosom not because he was poor nor because of his sores, which the dogs lick, nor the scraps he eat. Rather, he was able to enjoy the comfort of Abraham for eternity, I believe, simply because he endured. He endured the pain of his sores. He endured the company, not of men, but of dogs. He endured just having scraps as meal. Lazarus endured; and he endured up to the very end.

What is important is that we give until there is nothing to give; and in becoming empty, we learn to endure. Enduring, not with the little that we have, but with the enough that we have. How do we do this? The First Reading (Jer. 17:5-10) teaches us:

" ... Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is in the LORD. He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, it leaves stays green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit. ... " (Jer. 17:7-8)

In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit--produce (give) and endure--because it has trusted in the LORD.

As the Reading that we have in the Afternoon's Liturgy of the Hours (or Divine Office) from Hebrews 10:35-36 affirms us: "Continue to have confidence, since the reward is so great. You will need endurance to do God's will and gain what he has promised." (Jerusalem Bible).

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Ave Maria
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners,
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Most Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
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Fearless

LORD, make me always remember that Sunday morning when I stood in front of almost 1,500 young men and women, together with my missionary brothers and sisters, and declared that we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!

Despite of our fears, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of the pain, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of our difficulties, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of the persecutions, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of our uncertainties, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!
Despite of the unknown, we'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU!

We'll be FEARLESS FOR YOU, because YOU LOVED US FIRST!

My GOD is now my Strength [Part 1]

I've lost myself for good within God's promise.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011.

I entered my review class with a heavy heart. Everything the reviewer says was mere noise to me. I was not in the mood to study and learn. And since everything was just noise and I can’t digest and understand anything, I moved out of the room, went to the veranda of the building. I tried to cool myself: Nagpahangin ako ng magulong puso.

It was supposed to be a me-time moment. But God made it as a God-time moment. As to where I am, I had a view of the houses, the cars, the other buildings, etc. As I sit in the veranda, I saw a flock of birds just flying in circular manner. This is where the Lord spoke to me.

God says:

See the birds fly? As they fly, they are able to worship Me. In their very act of flying and in simply flying, they are worshipping Me. They are able to worship Me by just doing what they are made to do. And Kaye, I made you for Me. By simply being human, you are worshipping Me. In doing the things I made you to do, you are able to worship Me. I MADE YOU FOR ME; and not for anyone else, not even for yourself. And with this, I promise that you are DESTINED AND MADE FOR GREATNESS, that I may be worshipped.

With this, it occurred to me that I should get back to class and review. This is because by just reviewing and doing it for God, I am able to worship Him. What God told me created both fear and excitement. Fear of not even having myself; and excitement for what the Lord will further do for me to witness and experience. Before going back to review, I prayed and thanked God for the affirmation. I went back to review, and heard another affirmation.

Through our reviewer, I believed that God affirmed our work of being missionaries. Our reviewer was discussing “transcultural nursing”; and in the latest book of Madeleine Leininger (proponent of transcultural nursing), she says that Filipinos is the best example of transcultural nursing. With this discussion, I am affirmed that God has really set the Filipino people for His Work: that God would use the Filipinos in the Church’s work of evangelization and mission.

Thursday, April 14, 2011.

A day before the much-awaited World Youth Congress 2011. It was about 6AM. A carpool of missionaries was bound to the north of Luzon at Dagupan City, Pangasinan, for a five-hour drive. We were able to reach Dagupan City by almost 12PM. As we enter the main venue, CSI Stadia, and as I saw the stage, aesthetics, the largeness of the venue, etc., I said to myself: “Huwaw! This is the life! Ang lakas! Sure win ang congress.” Everything in Stadia was big. Ang laki ng stage. Larger than twice the human height ang mga designs. Kakainin ka ng venue if you are not prepared for its greatness.

Then we had our Mass at the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist. After celebrating the Mass there, we went to the Blessed Sacrament. Everything was just beautiful and everything was worth experiencing. ‘Yung pag-Simba ko lang sa Cathedral at sa pagpunta sa presensya ni Kristo sa Blessed Sacrament, panalo na ang congress ko!

In the evening, we went back to Stadia for our recollection. The message was very powerful: 

JESUS CHRIST IS THE MASTER OF BOTH THE SEEN AND THE UNSEEN.

The congress proper has not even started. 

But the strength of God was very present. 
On the feeding of the five thousand: Lahat kayang pakainin.

Totoo, Walang Imposible Sa Lakas Ng Diyos!


My God is now my strength.
-cf. Isaiah 49:5