PROYOUTH 1

"Life is difficult!"  That is how M. Scott Peck started his book "The Road Less Travelled".  It may sound pessimistic but that’s the reality.  Mahirap ang buhay at mahirap mabuhay! Kaya marami sa atin "Allergic sa Hirap".  Ayaw mainitan, ayaw magutom, ayaw maglakad ng malayo, ayaw tumulong, ayaw magsakripisyo… kasi… mahirap! Life is a series of problems.  Kakatapos lang masolve ng isa, may kapalit agad!  Before,  I thought that becoming a priest would exclude me from sufferings and problems in life… hindi pala!  Jesus was correct, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me."  To be a follower of Christ, one must be a good disciple or learner (from the meaning of the word in Latin)  first!  We are invited by Christ to learn from Him. Learn what?  The lesson of suffering!!! Christ embraced the sufferings and torments of what it means to be a Son of God. Me, as a Christian, as follower of Christ must learn also to endure the sufferings and torments of what it means to be His disciple.  Let us embrace the our crosses everyday… studies, work, nagging parents, disobedient children, hypocritical friends, inconsiderate boss, etc..etc.. Wag tayong allergic sa paghihirap. ‘Pag walang hirap, walang krus… ‘pag walang krus… walang Kristo!

We all have "idols" in life!  We idolized our parents, our big bros and sis, our uncle and aunts, our friends, our classmates… and why not… movie stars??? (yukks! Ang baduy mo father!) hehehe…  Is it bad to have idols?  I don’t think so…  but worship of idols… YES!  In fact that is what we commonly refer to as "idolatria" (in Greek) or "idolatry" (latria means worship).  We fall into forms of idolatry when we try to substitute God with "idols".  When the Creator is substituted with created things.  When we are blinded with material possessions ang don’t recognized anymore the primacy of God in our life.  Anung klaseng Diyos mayro’n ka sa buhay mo?  Sino ang Diyos mo?  Baka naman kayamanan, pera, kasarapan sa buhay, sexual pleasure, fame, etc…etc…  The question the Lord posted to Peter is also the same question being asked to us. "Who do people say that I am?  Who am I for you?" Sino nga ba ang kinikilala kong Diyos sa buhay ko?  Baka naman pang-Linggo lang siyang Diyos natin…?  Mula lunes hanggang sabado iba ang diyos nating kinikilala… pag-isipan mo!      

Asar ako sa mga taong makukulit! Kahit sino naman siguro e maasiwa…maaburido… maaasar!  Para kasi silang KSP (Kulang Sa Pansin) at TH (Trying Hard).  Parang ganito rin siguro ang naramdaman ni Jesus sa babaeng Cananea.  Makulit! Nakakaasiwa! Nakakaasar!  Pero ang pangungulit na ito ay nagbunga!  Pinagbigyan ni Jesus ang kanyang kahilingan.  Hindi sapagkat makulit s’ya… ngunit sapagkat nakita ni Jesus sa kanya ang tunay na pananampalataya…  "Walang matigas na pandesal sa mainit na kape!"  Ang init ng pananampalataya ng babaeng iyon ang naghatid ng katuparan ng kanyang kahilingan… Sana ganito rin tayo,  malakas ang pagtitiwala sa Kanya kahit na mukhang hindi nasusunod ang ating gusto. "Not my will but your will be done, Oh Lord!"  We need to ask in faith with much perseverance but also with total surrender to God’s will!  Man proposes… God disposes! "Lord, bahala ka na sa akin… pero kahit mumong nalalaglag sa mesa ay huwag mo sanang ipagkait sa akin… Amen!"

We have a lot of fears in our life… Nung bata ako takot ako sa dilim, takot ako sa multo (hanggang ngayon naman ganun pa rin.. hehehe), takot ako sa masasamang-loob,  takot ako sa sinturon ng tatay ko, takot ako sa titser kong mabagsik nung grade 2 ako… Nung nagbinata ako, takot akong mapahiya sa mga kaklase ko, takot akong makakuha ng failing grade, takot akong manligaw, takot akong mawalan ng allowance… Ngayong may edad na ako, takot na akong tumanda, takot na akong magkasakit, takot na akong magtiwala sa iba… oo, kung minsan takot na rin akong magmahal… I realized that these fears make me more human, more vulnerable,  more "ako" with all my weaknesses and short comings.  The good news is that Somebody was there to assure me… "Take courage, it is, do not be afraid!"  Akala ko, ngayong pari na ako ligtas na ako sa mga "storms in life" ko… hindi pala! There are times I feel the pressures in life… in being faithful to my vows, in being radical in my commitment, in being a good and holy priest.  Yes, like Peter, I fail.  I started to sink…  But i always find the hand of God stretching out towards me and telling me: " Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?"  Lord, help me to always put my trust in you… help me to remember that you are always at my side… ready to stretch your hand… to take me out from water of failures and unfaithfulness!