As I Have Loved You

In the Gospel of this Fifth Sunday of Easter, the Lord says to us: “I give you a new commandment: Love one another, as I have loved you” (Jn.13:34). But easily it comes to our mind what Jesus himself said to the Pharisee: the most important commandment in the Law is “you shall love the Lord with all your heart, with all soul and with all your mind… and also you shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Mt.22:37.39). So if this is in the Law, why did Jesus say that is a new commandment?

The new thing of this commandment is in its last part: “as I have loved you”. The Jews believed in an invisible and unreachable God. You had to love Him to gain His favour, because He is almighty and He will judge you. But Jesus has revealed the hidden face of God: a loving and merciful Father who loves us far much more than what we love ourselves. He loves us so much that He sacrificed His own son to give us the eternal life.

Now we do not believe in an ethereal God, we love God “with all your heart, with all soul and with all your mind” because He has loved and loves us each day very much. He loves us first with an unconditional love. The Lord has taken the initiative again, and He himself shows us how to be perfect, how to be happy indeed: Give your live for your neighbour, love them as yourself.

Let us search in our lives all the gifts and blessings that the Lord grants us each day, be aware of His huge love for us and may try to give Him back a bit of that love loving our neighbours, specially those most in need and the abandon, and also in thousands of small details in our common life. This is how all will know that we are his disciples. If all the Christians followed this way, I am pretty sure that our world would change and all human beings would recover their hope.

Wherever You Go, There Rests a Blessing

Let me share with you a reflection that Carmen Vergara, Filipina Lay Marist, sent me yesterday. Thank you very much to her for sharing these thoughts.

Wherever we place our feet – wherever we are – can be a blessing if we are aware of the inherent sacredness and beauty of that place. That “place” might be the heart of another person or the limb of a newly budded tree or a fuzzy caterpillar climbing a drainpipe. ATTENTIVENESS to the present moment is essential for a blessing to truly communicate the life and beauty of God to us. “Calling forth” a blessing is actually a naming of the goodness that is already there.

In Hebrew Scriptures a blessing is perceived to be something that communicates divine life. With this life comes strength, stamina and inner peace. Blessings were often shared by the Jewish people. When they prayed “Blessed are you, O God…” they were acknowledging with gratitude all that God had done for them.

Blessings were given for a variety of purposes: to invoke divine care; to pray for someone; to regard another with favor; to bring happiness; to guard,  preserve, protect, and to keep safe; to give good fortune or satisfaction; and to approve or encourage another. Whenever God blesses, there emerges bounteous life and an abundance of goodness.

Anyone and anything that brings good or God-ness into our lives is a blessing. To bless is to bring the touch of God, the touch of love and goodness, to another by our presence as well as by our actions. Blessing is a greeting from God saying “I care about you. I desire what will be for your good. You are dear to my heart. I want your life to be filled with love.”

Blessings are not always immediate, “feel good” sorts of things. Sometimes these blessings come disguised in the pain, struggle, and hardship of the unwanted part of our lives. It is only later, with hindsight that we look and see what a gift those times and or events were for us.

As you pray through these days….may you grow in awareness of the countless blessings that are yours. May you become much more aware of how you yourself are a blessing in the lives of others by the loving quality of who you are and what you do. Most of all, may your love and appreciation for the Giver of all Gifts, the best of all blessings, continue to grow and be enriched.

God Bless and praying for you,

ate Carmen

Good News from the Mountain

One of the mission stations of the Marist Fathers here in the Philippines is the Parish of Our Lady of Salvation in the mountains of Timanan, South Upi, Maguindanao. This province is known over the past months because of the political motivated massacre of more than 50 people, including members of the media. Timanan’s population is composed of 50% Tiduray (native tribe), 25% Muslims and 25% Christians.

As two Filipino Marists in the future, Roque and I were assigned there for our Pastoral Placement as part of our Bugey experience in the novitiate. Our two weeks of stay there with Fr. Aliki Langi, Fr. Long Mechavez and Reynan (lay missionary), were quite challenging, and at the same time overwhelming and very inspiring. We went to different chapels for Masses, visited people and stayed with them. I should say that our visits to the different chapels was very moving and fulfilling, particularly for me.

One of the experiences that really touched and struck me really was when we went to a place called Limbuguin for the fiesta celebration of Sto. Niño as the Patron of the chapel. The place is an hour travel by motorbike (sometimes, it’s 2 hours if the road is wet), mostly Catholics but surrounded by neighboring Muslim places. Prior to the day of the feast, Fr. Aliki told us that the people there are living in fear because of the rebels from the neighboring villages who used to steal their livestock and products (corn), and destroy their houses. At first I was so afraid because of the background of the place. It was so surprising also for me that the last time that they had their feast was 6 years ago, and last October 2009, they have began the new community with a newly built chapel. I remember Fr. Aliki said that when they had the Mass again, the people were very enthusiastic, and you can see the smiles on their faces. Somehow the newly built chapel became a sign of “Hope” for them.

True to what Mary wants, the Marists there are a living expression of Mary’s presence into the newly founded community of believers. In many ways, the Marists there are a good support to the people of that community and to show to them that they are not alone in their fear and suffering, that they are in solidarity with them. Somehow, Mary’s presence (through Marists) with them, makes the faithful realize that the chapel is a sign of Jesus’ love and care for them.

When we arrived at the place, we could really see the energy and the hope from the people through their smiles and the joy in their eyes. It was a simple fiesta celebration which started with a thanksgiving Mass, followed by lunch and then games for the kids. But what really touched me was during the thanksgiving message of the leader of the chapel, where he thanked the Muslim brothers from there who helped them in building the bamboo- made church. I was really surprised when I heard it, and for me it was not just an ordinary help, but a wonderful expression of trust and unity among Muslims and Catholics in the area. Despite the fear that they have, they were still able to give service to one another. And for me, as a visitor to them, it was indeed a wonderful experience, it is Good News!

This story made me reflect how a simple and small church brought together the people from different religions who worked together with trust and concern for each other. From a very simple support of Mary to the people who are in fear, comes the Peace, Love and Hope of a better tomorrow.

Isn’t it Good News?

Where Is My Home?

Probably, if somebody asked us “Where is your home?” most of us would reply giving our address, especially if you have never left your town or your country. But also, all of us are very conscious that ‘house’ and ‘home’ is not exactly the same thing. They have some similarities but they don’t match 100%. I have thought about that question, after more than a year out of my country and the answer is a bit more complicated.

I know people who are very tied to their land. They value very much their country or region. They usually talk about their town or their country. Some cultures and religions also link their welfare or well practice to a certain place.

On the other hand, there are people that have a tendency to always leave their house. These people like to travel and to move, and very easily they ‘feel at home’ in a foreign land. As they say: “Your home is where you hang your hat”. These are the extremes, but I’m sure we all identify with them to a certain degree. In my case I have to say that I’m in the middle of them.

I recognize that sometimes I miss my country, my culture, my town, but when I deepen in this feeling of nostalgia, I realize that what I miss the most is not a physical place or a certain environment. Above all I miss persons and to be with them, independently where they are. Especially I miss them when I feel sick, or frustrated, or sad for any reason. For me, ‘home’ is being with my family and friends rather than a physical place or building. ‘Home’ is this place where I feel safe, where I can be myself and nobody judges me; this place of total confidence.

Now, after one year in the Philippines, I have some friends here and I ‘feel at home’ being with them as well. And I’m pretty sure that, when I will be back in Spain, I will miss my Filipino friends, because they made me feel at home in a foreign land.

So all of us are different and each one is free to place his/her home anywhere, but, for me, this way of understanding my home makes it easier for me to follow Jesus’ request: “Those who do not carry their own cross and come after me cannot be my disciples” (Lk.14:27). Because my home is not attached to a physical place but to some special persons and I can meet them or keep in touch anytime, anywhere.

But this is about me. What about you? Where is your home?

Have you ever been Forgiven?

We have just come back from our 2-weeks pastoral exposure and indeed it has been a great time – many experiences and stories. Thilo and I were placed here in Davao, in Balay Pasilungan (Bapas), a house which cares for street children. It is a shelter where the children can sleep, eat, have a “house”, and even go back to school if they want.

What struck me very much in the children’s behaviour was the great lack of mercy that they have. One will always hit another; the last has to take revenge on the first, and if he can’t reach him, he will damage his belongings. I could notice a complete absence of forgiveness.

But probably those kids are not guilty. Maybe they have never been forgiven. Maybe nobody shows them mercy. Perhaps they have always been punished, even when they did something good. They only know the law of the strongest, the law of the street. They don’t know what forgiveness is, what mercy is.

I myself have had a number of experiences of forgiving and being forgiven, and all of them are full of joy. In the Bible we find many stories of forgiveness as well. Last week, in the weekday Masses, we read in the first book of Samuel (1 Sam, 24) how David spared Saul’s life, because Saul is the anointed of the Lord, even if Saul was looking for David to kill him. But David’s forgiveness made to change Saul and he didn’t go after David anymore.

Forgiveness is the only way toward peace. Forgiveness has a great healing effect. The forgiven and forgiver feel peace inside. They don’t have to spend more energy thinking about their foe – both feel a kind of relief. The bigger the fault you forgive, the more mercy you show. And also the more you are forgiven, the more grateful you feel.

These two examples, the kids in Bapas and the story of Saul and David, have made me realize that if we want to change this unjust world, we have to do so, necessarily, through mercy and forgiveness. We have to approach our brothers and sisters with mercy and make haste to forgive their offences. This is part of the kernel of our Christian faith. It is even a sacrament. But there is an essential element in forgiveness: humility. Pride doesn’t allow us to forgive the person who offended us, and also pride is what doesn’t allow us to ask for other’s forgiveness.

All of us, Christians, are called to be Christ’s helpers in his mission of redemption of humankind. We have to bring God’s love to all human beings. Let us imitate Jesus and let us approach our brothers and sisters humbly and in mercy and forgiveness. Let us change the world. Let us show God’s mercy and forgiveness.

A long Advent

We sometimes joke here at the novitiate that Advent is three months long in the Philippines. By the beginning of October there are signs that Christmas is coming, with decorations starting to be put up, and Christmas music being heard with ever greater frequency around the place. As the months go on, there is a growing sense of excitement and joy at the coming celebration.

But just as you might think that the buying of gifts and food for Christmas might be reaching a frenzy of activity, the real reason for Christmas is brought strongly into focus. On December 16^th, a novena of Masses, known as the Misa de Gallo or the Simbang Gabi begins. For nine days there are Masses at about 4.30 each morning which huge numbers of people attend.  These Masses are great experiences of faith, and show that waiting with Mary and preparing to welcome Christ into their lives, is what everyone understands as the real significance of Christmas.

The most important symbol of Christmas in the Philippines is the star. They are seen everywhere as Advent progresses and are decorated with all sorts of beautiful designs. Like the novena of Masses, the star also points to the centrality of Christ at Christmas time. We here at the novitiate have endeavoured to prepare well for Christmas, by keeping our eyes focused on the coming of Jesus, and waiting in faith as Mary did.

Our prayer is that Christ will be born in your hearts again this Christmas, and that he will bring you peace and joy in the coming year. Merry Christmas !

A Marist Annunciation

Every 8^th of December we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day is the starting point of the historical first advent; that nine-month advent of Mary which finished in Bethlehem. And we commemorate one of the most important dogmas about the Blessed Virgin Mary. This happens very few times during the year, but today Mary is the main character. The plan of salvation for the whole humankind design by God Almighty depends on a young Jewish woman’s answer.

Let me compare this moment in Mary’s life with the Marist spirituality that yesterday enlightened me very much. The numbers 50 to 55 of the Marist constitutions, where the goals of the Society are developed, talk about the three foundational experiences of the Marist spirituality. In the Shrine of Our Lady of Fourviere, the Marist pioneers experienced the commitment and assumed the responsibility of their task. In Cerdon, Fr Colin tasted God, knew more deeply himself and discerned the action of the Holy Spirit in the Marist project. Finally in the mountains of Bugey, the first Marists experienced the mission toward the most neglected and abandoned, and they forgot themselves for God’s sake. These three experiences draw up the planning for the Novitiate.

For Mary, the Annunciation was something similar. First of all, she committed herself to do God’s Will. When she said “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me”, she said “yes” to God’s plan and also assumed the responsibility. However, this answer is much more committed than a simple doubtful answer such as “mmm… I don’t know. Eee… ok I will try”. She is fully aware of the problems that this decision might cause, but she belongs to God, she is the servant, the slave of the Lord. Her main concern is to serve God. She has already tasted God many times and discerned the action of the Holy Spirit within her; because of this she is able to offer her whole life for God’s sake.

And she accepted her mission: to give birth and look after the Son of God. From that moment she belongs to the distinguished list of women chosen by the Lord to accomplish his work of salvation. But she didn’t stop there. She didn’t keep sitting and waiting. She hurried off to visit her relative Elizabeth, as we know. And then she followed Jesus faithfully her whole life. She never stood outside of the Church.

So then, Mary is a model of discipleship for us as Marists. She is our dear mother and her life inspires us how to do things. But always it is related to Jesus. Notice that we have very few historical dates about Mary and all of them are related to Jesus.

To sum up, the Annunciation of Jesus was for Mary the “foundational experience” of her vocation. But she kept simple and humble, not waiting for honour or a special title, but working for the needy. She gave her whole life and heart to God. She is, with Jesus of course, one of the best models for our novitiate, for our vocation and for living properly this advent season. May Mary, the Queen of Advent, teach us to wait for the coming of Jesus with active hope and prayerful faith. Mama Mary, teach us and help us to be your presence in our world and in the Church.

The Well and Prayer

I read once a story about a man who had a well in his backyard (similar to Jacob’s well). At that time having a well was a precious possession and it was the only well that never dried up over several months of drought. Most of his neighbours went to his well for it was the only source of water then. The man was respected by the people because of his generosity because he did not charge the people in drawing water from his well. Time came when civilization arrived in their place and the scarcity of water was no longer a problem because electricity provided them a steady supply directly to their own houses. The man decided to make use of the goodness of the new technology and for a long time he did not use his well. One time the man decided to check the well and out of his surprise it had turned into a solid form of dry soil; not a single drop of water was seen. He called some experts to check the situation. They had only one conclusion. The well dried up because it wasn’t in use for quite a long time. The more the well was used, the more it would provide water. The pressure of constant drawing water from the well triggered the water deposits to provide more water.

I quite like this story because of its spiritual insight.  The well is likened to prayer. I believe that prayer is a gift from God. But one needs to work hard to receive this precious gift.  I read the book written by Fr. Thomas Green, “When the Well Runs Dry”. The author uses the symbolism of a well in relation to one’s prayer life. Prayer is like a well situated at the centre of the garden. Obviously, the main purpose of the well is to give life to different kinds of flowers in the garden (garden of virtues). It is also very true in life especially to one who is fully convinced that life is not only a matter of physical consumption and nourishment.  As a starter in prayer, I must say that developing a prayer life is not easy at all. I believe that everybody has their own well. The challenge is to keep watch that water deposits continue to provide water for the garden of virtues. Out of inexperience, I experience running out of water and also the overflowing of water. Neither of the two is good. The garden needs proper care and attention as what a professional garden does. Too little or too much water can affect the growth of the flowers in the garden. But one thing that is also essential is our way of drawing water from the well.

Fr. Green in his book explains that there are 4 ways in drawing water from the well to water the garden. The first way is also the most difficult. It is the way of a starter like me. It is by the use of the hands. One needs to kneel down first to get enough water. It is difficult because it is commonly affected by one’s emotion; too much excitement or nervousness which makes the hands shake and one realizes that when he starts watering the garden, there’s no more water left in his hands. I think it is also true in prayer.  One needs to kneel down first as what I did.  The second way is easier than the first. It is by the use of a pump. In prayer, I believe it is when one already has a foundation in prayer. The Third way is almost perfect.  It happens when the well overflows. One needs to make a stream to guide the water towards the garden. In prayer it is when one almost masters his prayer. Too much work in prayer is not needed anymore. The fourth way is the most perfect way. One doesn’t need to work hard. It is the rain that waters the garden. He is already attuned in prayer. One doesn’t need to talk, one just needs to listen.

Reading the book is both an evaluation and a realization. Everybody varies as everybody is unique. But one thing is certain. One cannot step a little higher without experiencing the first way; “a hundred miles of steps starts with a single step.”  I am happy enough to know that I am still using my hands in drawing water from the well. The good thing is I am constantly drawing water from the well. It is an assurance that the well will never run dry.

Every one of us has a Treasure

A treasure is something precious and valuable that makes us rich and wealthy. In our childhood fantasy wealth was composed of gold, silver, gemstones and jewellery in big boxes guarded by a heavy lock. Only Kings and Emperors possessed these and they were hidden in secret places. Walt Disney’s Scrooge McDuck owns heaps of money in a tower like strong room, a safe vault. This imagination is closer to the world of us grownups. Our imagination of a big treasure today includes huge amounts of money, a big house and fancy cars.  No matter if fairy tale treasures, Disney’s version of it, or in reality, all have in common that each is usually owned by very few people or even, as with Uncle Scrooge, by a single person, only.  And in most of the cases the owner of a treasure doesn’t like to share his or her wealth.

Very easily we point at others; but what about ourselves? Ok, most of us don’t own a lot of money, not to mention gemstones or jewellery, but if we widen our view of wealth, we can see that every one of us has a treasure. A treasure not composed of gold, money or expensive things, but a treasure of gifts: skills, qualities and abilities. These gifts are not restricted to things. The gifts I am talking about are also inner skills and faculties like being able to listen or the gift of being empathic, someone’s friend and helper in difficult human situations.

This kind of treasure is not earned it is received; received as a gift from God. This is a treasure we have to share with others. That’s the way to let it grow. But here too, it is not always easy to share, caused by a competitive “I want to be the best” attitude.  And even if we are not very competitive, we want to decide ourselves which of our gifts we share and which we don’t share.  We tend not to share frankly our gifts with others. Sharing frankly means to offer my gifts to others. They are the ones to decide which of my gifts they need from me. I offer –they take. If everybody does the same it is a giving to all and receiving from all. Nobody looses. Everybody gains.  We are invited to open our inner treasure box and let others choose what they need.

Quite possible also is that something of me is needed, that I don’t like to share. For example if I am good at calculating I might be asked to do the accounts, although I would prefer to do something different, so to say to share one of my other gifts.  But because I am called to meet the need of others I do it. Certainly there is the hope, that the others might see my needs, too. In this way a healthy balance seems to be possible.  God asks us to share freely what he gave freely to us. Let’s be courageous and try to really share.

The Measure of Love is Love Without Measure

From October 19^th to November 4^th we enjoyed the second retreat of the Novitiate, in the Dominican House of Prayer. It has been a challenge because it was the longest retreat that we have ever made. The topic was the second and third weeks of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

These two weeks are focused on the life of Jesus: Annunciation, nativity, childhood, his model, the call of the apostles, the last supper, the agony in the garden, crucifixion, resurrection and more themes.

For me, it was a great opportunity to review how my discipleship is. I could meditate on Jesus’ life and confront his deeds, words and behaviours with mine. It is really challenging.

I have reflected and realized a number of things, but I just want to share with you two of them. First is that, if I am a Christian, I have to try to be like Jesus as much as possible. He is calling me to pick up my cross and follow Him, but to be able to do so, I have to detach from all material goods, and also listen to God and what He wants from me. The more detached I am, the easier to help my neighbor.  And when I leave myself I can relate better with God.

The second thing is that my life will only make sense if I give it to others. How long is the life of a flower? Is it worthwhile to live just few days? But its beauty and aroma can make our day very happy. Jesus gave his life for us, to save and redeem us. And He did this just for love and for God’s sake. In the same way Christians have to give their lives for love to their neighbour.

Jesus’ cross is love and if I share with Him his cross, I will also share His glory and resurrection. The cross can turn evil into goodness, death into life, selfishness to service. It can heal our wounds, if we accept our cross. With such a great love, the excuses to not love are finished. As St. John of the Cross said: “In the cross of Jesus, the measure of Love is Love without measure”.

Click here to see more photos of the retreat

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