Light a Lamp

SEDL Prayer Session • 25 January 2005

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lamp-stand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Mark 4: 21-25).

Grace :

Lord Jesus, I beg for the grace to be able to reflect You in the people we work and relate with. May the truths of my life be a shining reflection of the love You have for me.

Points for Prayer:

1. Meditate on the passage above. Read the passage slowly. Allow the words to wash over you. Savor each word. Stay with the words that especially catch your attention. Absorb them the way the thirsty earth receives the rain. Repeat the words or phrases, aware of the feelings that are awakened in you. Read and reread the passage lovingly as you would a letter from a dear friend, or a sweet lover, or your spouse.
2. Persons do not light a lamp and put a bowl on top of it nor do they put it under a bed. A lamp is meant to be seen and to make others able to see; and it is put in a place visible to all. From this saying we may learn two things:
3. (a) Truth is meant to be seen; and, (b) Our Christianity is meant to be seen.
4. In the things that we do in life there are times when we know quite well what the truth demands, what is the right thing to do, what a Christian person ought to do. In every walk of life there are times when we fail to do it, because it would be to court unpopularity rejection, and, even, our dreams. We ought to remember that the lamp of truth is something to be held aloft and not concealed in the interests of our comfort zones, security.
5. What were the instances that you were able to be the Lord’s candle to your colleagues, subordinates, friends and family members?
6. What were the instances that you were not able to be the Lord’s candle to your colleagues, subordinates, friends and family members?
7. Commit yourself to at least one act of kindness to your colleague, subordinate, friend and family member within the week.

Ever Felt the Need to Withdraw?

SEDL Prayer Session • 18 January 2005

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him.

He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly not to make him known (Mk 3: 7-12).

Grace :

Lord Jesus I beg for the grace to be able to withdraw from the crushing crowd that I may be able to savor your presence in my life.

Points for Prayer:

1. Go back to your experience or experiences of prayer for the past two weeks. What graces have you been receiving from your God? What feelings surfaced in the past few weeks and where do these feelings lead you – towards God or away from God?
2. Meditate on the passage above. Read the passage slowly. Allow the words to wash over you. Savor each word. Stay with the words that especially catch your attention. Absorb them the way the thirsty earth receives the rain. Repeat the words or phrases, aware of the feelings that are awakened in you. Read and reread the passage lovingly as you would a letter from a dear friend, or a sweet lover, or your spouse.
3. Where are you now in your prayer life? Are you able, like Christ, to withdraw from the crushing crowd? Or, are you crushed by the crowd of anxiety, work, and worries?
4. What have you been doing that enables you to be closer with your God?
5. Share these fruits to your God by doing an imaginary conversation with Him. Listen to His response.
6. End by thanking your God.

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” (Martin Luther King)

Make Me Clean

SEDL Prayer Session • 11 January 2005

A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere (Mark 1: 40-45).

Grace : Lord Jesus, if you wish, you can make me clean.

Points for Prayer:

1. Bring to mind three significant events, persons, circumstances of the past week. Recall: what happened, where it happened, who were the people involved. As you bring all these things to mind, be sensitive too with the feelings that surface.
2. Meditate on the passage above. Read the passage slowly. Allow the words to wash over you. Savor each word. Stay with the words that especially catch your attention. Absorb them the way the thirsty earth receives the rain. Repeat the words or phrases, aware of the feelings that are awakened in you. Read and reread the passage lovingly as you would a letter from a dear friend, or a sweet lover, or your spouse.
3. What areas in your life do you see the need for healing? Name those areas and facets of your life. You might want to journal or to write those things in your diary. After naming them, go back to each of those areas. What particular concerns surface? What significant feelings emerge?
4. Imagine yourself in front of your God. Share with your God the things that came up in prayer point no. 3. Then, Kneel before God and beg God to touch you and to heal you. Beg your God, “make me clean.”
5. Listen to your God. What did God do to you? What happened to you?
6. End by thanking your God.

Night is truly blessed when heaven is wedded to earth and we are reconciled with God (an Easter Proclamation).

kagabi sa EDSA...

"bandang EDSA,"
bulong ng isa
"duon may sulit na kainan!"
kita naman sa mga itsura
nagtatabaan, naglalakihan
at may isa, labas dila pa nga
sulit talaga ang kainan!
higit sa palkiha't patabaan
halata namang tumataba
puso ng pagkakaibigan
kaya kung gusto mong sumama
sa taong susunod
sa bandang EDSA, si Xave tawagan
426-6101 hanggang 11,
at pagtanungan,
"paano ba sumama sa inyong Kapisanan?"

With New Eyes

With New Eyes
SEDL Prayer Session • 04 January 2005

John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.” (John 1: 29-34)

Grace:
Lord Jesus, we beg for the grace of new eyes. Grant us new sight to see you in the faces and the features of other persons. That as we begin this New Year with much vigor and renewed strength, we may all the more experience your presence in the lives of the people we encounter, work with and live with.

Points for Prayer:
1. Take time to pray to your God this week. Try to commit yourself to a routine of prayer. Ten to fifteen minutes a day – no more, no less.
2. Try meditating on the passage above. Read the passage slowly. Allow the words to wash over you. Savor each word. Stay with the words that especially catch your attention. Absorb them the way the thirsty earth receives the rain. Repeat the words or phrases, aware of the feelings that are awakened in you. Read and reread the passage lovingly as you would a letter from a dear friend, or a sweet lover, or your spouse.
3. “Prayer is our personal response to God’s presence. We approach the Lord reverently with a listening heart. God speaks first. In prayer, we acknowledge the Divine Presence and in gratitude respond to God in love. The focus is always on God and on what God does.” How was God actively present in my life, especially in the year that just passed? You might want to journal or to write in your diary the fruits of your prayer.
4. End with the Our Father.


For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. Flowers are appearing on earth. The season of glad songs has come, the cooing of the turtledove is heard in our land (Song of Songs 2: 11-12).

vocation workshop 2005

i spent the latter part of my Christmas vacation, upon the brotherly insistence of Scholastic Shio, at the Sacred Heart Novitiate to help in the Vocation Workshop. i did find the experience quite invigorating -- there were more than forty-seven participants, all discerning the call with which their God whispered in their ears. and, it reminded me of the very discernment process i passed through not so many years ago.

Paliparan ng mga Anghel

Ika-apat ng Pebrero 2001 sa pandaigdigang paliparan sa siyudad ng Los Angeles, tatlo kaming pinoy na babalik ng Pilipinas. Galing kami sa pag-aaral tungkol sa sikolohiya ng pamumuno at sa dinamismo ng pagpapatakbo ng isang NGO. Samu’t sari naman ang dahilan ng aming pag-uwi.

Si Ray ang puno ng kagawaran ng teolohiya sa isang unibersidad sa Maynila. Higit sa apatnapung taon ang kanyang gulang. Maalam siya sa turo ng simbahan, at mahilig din siya na magtuturo at mamili sa mga pamilihan. Ika nga niya, “pasalubong sa mga kapatid at pamangkin.”

Isang doctor naman si Eleanor. Dalawampung taon na siyang nanggagamot sa California. Bihasa siya sa panggagamot ng mga karamdamang may kinalaman sa baga. Babalik siya ng Pilipinas upang asikasuhin ang pinatayo niyang HMO sa Ortigas.

Nang matapos ang pagkapkap sa amin ng mga sikyo, ihinatid kami sa ikatlong palapag ng gusali at pinapasok sa business lounge ng Northwest Airlines. Unang bumati sa amin ang bantay na babae, “Good morning! You may want to deposit your things here.”

Ginabayan kami ng bantay patungo sa isang maliit na kuwarto. Sa loob, may mga pitak na puwedeng paglagyan ng aming mga bagahe.

“Would you want me to hang your coat, sir?” tanong ng bantay.

“Thank you very much,” ang sagot ko sa kanya.

“Ton-Ton,” tawag ni Ray, “namili ka ba nang pasalubong para sa pamilya mo? Ang konti ng bagahe mo, eh.”

“Hindi na. Alam mo namang nagtitipid ako.”

“Nagtitipid?! Ang laki-laki ng allowance natin dito. Tapos pag-uwi may matatanggap ka pa para sa isang buwan mong bakasyon. Nagtitipid?!”

“Anong masama doon?”

“Wala naman. Pero sayang yung pagkakataon. Minsan ka na nga lang makapunta dito. Ni hindi ka yata bumili ng damit na souvenir para sa sarili mo.”

“Ay naku, Rey, halika na at mag-agahan na tayo. Gutom lang iyan at saka mahaba pa ang ating liliparin.”

Dali-dali akong nagtungo sa buffet table para kumain at maka-iwas sa mga mapanuring tanong. Kumuha ako ng isang mansanas at isang bote ng tsokolate. Nang makita kong paparating na si Ray, kumuha ako ng peryodiko. Umupo ako sa tapat ng telebisyon at binuksan ito sa CNN. Nagkunwari akong sabay nakikinig at nagbabasa ng balita.

Hindi naman siguro masama na ilaan na lamang ang perang naipon ko para sa pag-aaral ng aking kapatid at sa pangtustos ng mga gastusin sa bahay. Aanhin ba naman namin ang bagong kasangkapan. Maiinam pa rin naman yung nasa bahay. At kung tutuusin, mababaw lang naman ang kaligayahan namin. Makita lang namin ang isa’t isa masaya na kami.

Marami pa akong kailangang ayusin sa opisina. Sa asingko, alas-onse ng gabi ang aming paglapag sa Maynila. Papasok ako sa opisina ng asais nang maayos ko kaagad ang mga nagtambakang trabaho. Dapat maayos ko kaagad ang mga nagtambakang trabaho. Dapat maayos ko kaagad. Performance Appraisal na namin sa isang buwan. Mahirap nang mapag-iwanan.

Maya-maya lumapit si Eleanor na may dalang isang tasa ng kape. Tumingin siya sa akin at nag-wika, “May I sit beside you?”

“Sige po, dok. It is my pleasure,” ang sagot ko sa kanya.

“Did you like it here?”

“I did. Maganda ang Amerika. Maayos. Mayaman. Pero siyempre, hindi ako puwedeng magtagal. Kailangan kong umuwi at marami akong kailangang asikasuhin.”

“You know, Ton. I have been wanting to ask you this question. I hope you would not mind me asking?”

“Shoot!”

“What is it that you really desire in life?”
Bakit naman naitanong sa akin ‘yan. Iniwasan ko na nga si Ray sa kanyang mga mapanuring tanong. Ngayon naman pinapaharap sa akin ang isang bagay na tinatakasan ko.

“Bakit n’yo naman po naitanong iyan?,” sabay biglang piyok ng aking boses. Sabay nito na dahan-dahang kong nadama ang mainit na tulo ng luha sa aking mga pisngi.

Sasagutin sana ni Eleanor ang aking tanong ngunit nang makita niyang tumutulo ang aking luha, napaiyak na rin siya. Tumayo siya at nagtungo sa powder room. Pinantakip ko naman ang peryodiko sa aking mukha habang rumaragasa ang mainit kong luha.

Pinilit kong tumahan ngunit umaalingawngaw sa aking mga tenga ang tanong na tinatakasan ko. Ngayon wala na akong kawala. Wala na akong kawala sa bulong na kinabibingihan ko.

I was on the street. Busy. Self-absorbed. Concerned with matters of fleeting moment. Yet, through a friend, You asked me, “What is it that I really desire?” It was as if You did not know. You formed me. You fashioned my heart. My secrets were not hidden from You. “What is it that I really desire?” For four years, I wrestled with You. I tried to escape away from You. I huddled and reasoned. “My family needed me.” “I had a career to make.” “I had my own dreams to achieve.” But You were persistent. I fled from You yet You hounded me. I hid from You yet You searched for me.

You did find me. When You found me, I was trembling, trembling in fear. I was fearful. I fear to be rejected by You – I weighted less than a breath; scourged by my own ghosts; dying in my own emptiness. Yes, You found me – in tears, naked and unloved. Yet, You did not disown me.

You took me by my hand. And, I burned for Your embrace. You walked me through. And, You journeyed with me ever since. “What is it that I really desire?” I desired to be loved by You, to see You, to love You. But the desire did not come from me. It had been Your desire ever since – You found me; You saw me; and, You continually love me. But why me? I had nothing to give. I had nothing to offer. What did I have? A life. My life – decrepit, worthless, useless. Yet You continued to call me by name. But what was in a name? What was in my name? a person so wounded, so vulnerable, and so fragile. Yet, You continued to love me with Your heart – so bleeding, so defiled. You embraced me with Your scourged arms and pierced flesh. You touched me with Your hands that was once nailed on the cross. And, I asked You again, “Why me?” Sinner was and still I am; agonized by my own sins; paralyzed by my own fears. But still, You continued to call me. You entered into my chaos. And, You pursued me with passion inflamed. Again, I bothered You, “Why me?” In the cross, I saw. It was the key to unlock the mystery… “Why me?” All and only because You loved me. You called me by my name. In the stillness of the night and in the silence of dawn, You whispered in my ears, “I love you the same. Do not be afraid. You are mine. Trust me. I love you. Do not be afraid.” And, I stopped wrestling with You. I chose to follow You. Take me, I am all Yours.