Friday 29 February 2008

Anchored on God's Love


People marry because they are in love, very much in love. For as the marriage vow reads: “Till death do us part.” Marriage is the surrender of self to the other so that two become as one. "And the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one." (Mark 10:8)  

The promises and the struggles, the joys and the sadness, the triumphs and the failures: these are the elements that make up and strengthen marriage. 

It takes understanding, humility and commitment to make the marriage work. Marriage goes through many stages: honeymoon, child bearing, raising of the family, seeing sons and daughters pursue their dreams, and growing old together. 

Husband and wife must relish all the wonderful experiences of the years past; husband and wife must forgive and forget the mistakes and hurts of yesteryears; husband and wife must continue to strengthen the bond that is holy and sacred. "For the Christian wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the Christian husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy." (1 Corinthians 7:14)


On March 1, 2008, Hilarion (Papa Eli) and Salud Lagare (Mama Luding) Chua, parents of my wife Debbie, renew their marriage vows. Six of their eight children are in Auckland for the 50th wedding anniversary mass at St. Anne’s Church in Manurewa, Manukau City. Nine of the twenty grandchildren and their only great grandchild will also be in attendance. 

Papa Eli says he could not imagine that he and Mama Luding have reached this milestone in their lives. He shared: 

“For a fisherman and a housewife, raising a big family was a struggle. But God has always been kind to us--–providing us food to feed our children and enough money to send them through college. He performed so many miracles in our lives, including saving all our children during the deadly tsunami that struck Pagadian in the ‘70s.” 

When their children married, Mama Luding became the babysitter of most of her grandchildren, even staying for four years in Texas, United States where a daughter works as a nurse and has three kids. She finds great joy in seeing her grandchildren, whom she cradled and cared for, grow into adults. 

Asked how they have lasted through the years, the couple shared: “We have always been in harmony with each other. In difficult times, we work together and seek God’s help to pass the tests. Thank you, Lord for all the blessings.” 

Which brings me to the young couple Peter and Jamael Gayaman, who two days ago got married. I acted as godfather, witness and photographer. I noticed throughout the ceremony the immense happiness that glowed on their faces. 

As we waited for the reception at the Observatory Restaurant in Skycity Tower, I asked the couple about their plans and they answered that they want to raise a small family and that they want to grow old together. 

Marriage is a love story that is lived each and every day. From the wedding day to the golden anniversary and even beyond, the couple must keep the fire of love burning. 

There will be strong winds and storms (sins and temptations) that will try to extinguish that fire, but if the marriage is anchored on God’s love, its brightness and warmth will fill not only the lives of the couple but also those of their children, their grandchildren, their friends and their acquaintances.

by Mel Libre

Friday 22 February 2008

Fruit Picking in the Garden


Keeping ourselves focused is not easy. 

Our group went out for fruit picking in Coatesville just outside Auckland. To enter the orchard, we paid each a fee which would be deductible from the fruits we brought out. The fee also authorized us to eat as many apples as we wanted but only within the orchard. Once inside, we saw the hundreds of apple trees mostly with ripe fruits hanging all over the branches.  It could have taken us less than ten minutes to pick the finest apples; but then we stayed inside for an hour.  Instead of crunching apples, a number of us ate the few enticing pears along the way.

The youth in our group walked deeper into the orchard wanting to see nectarine fruits they were told were within the vicinity. Failing to find nectarine, the entire group settled for sometime beside an enclosure where two beautiful horses were grazing.  And to think that we had not even picked enough apples to fill the small plastic bags given to each one of us! It wasn’t until the last few minutes that we raced to pick the fruits to keep our appointment with the others who waited outside the orchard.  As the cashier inspected our harvest, we found out that there were unripe apples picked, while some bags weighed less than what we paid for.
The experience reminded me, in a different light, of Adam and Eve who took a fatally wrong turn in the Garden of Eden. With God’s gifts at their disposal, the couple proceeded to pick the forbidden fruit of the tree where the serpent tempted them.  All the finest fruits were for their picking, but they ate instead the one that they had been warned against by God. “[The woman] saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious...so she took some of the fruit and ate it.” (Genesis 3:6)

We must come to realize that once we are born, we are given the gift of life which is itself a personal Garden of Eden for each one of us.  God wants only the best for us – to fulfil a life for His glory and to return to Him in His Eternal Kingdom.  “[God] has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first instalment that guarantees everything He has promised us.” (2 Corinthians 1:22) Though we know that if we focus our lives to serve the Lord and His children we can attain eternal life, we get distracted by a lot of things.  Satan and his demons want to take our eyes off God by tempting us with the forbidden apples of the present: worldly things.  If we are not spiritually strong, the devil will succeed and soon we commit sin and we distance ourselves from God.  This happened to Adam and Eve – as it may have occurred in our lives.
Every day, we are bombarded by distractions and temptations. There are even times that we think what we are doing are for the Lord, when in fact they are not. Such occur when we become too indulged in our work, we become too confined to our interests or we become too busy in things other than God and our family.
Pause for a while; imagine for a moment that you are in the Garden of Eden.  Feel the presence of the Lord through the beauty of Paradise.  Pay attention to His Word. Be deaf to the call of Satan.  As you reach the end of the Garden, the trumpets sound and angels open the pearly gates of Heaven.  Inside, you will hunger no more for the fruit of God’s love will fill your soul forever. “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

by Mel Libre

Friday 15 February 2008

The Cord that Binds


As it was, so it is. Human beings never seem to learn from the past that they tend to commit the same mistakes.

In the beginning of the world, Adam and Eve were blessed by God with all that He had created, for God so loved them. Yet they defied the Father by taking a bite from the fruit of the forbidden tree trusting in the serpent’s promise that they would not die. The defiance brought about the downfall of Man and established Man’s attachment to worldly things
One of the most powerful masterpieces of Michaelangelo shows God the Father in Heaven lowering down His hand as Adam reaches out to touch the Lord. The cord that binds Man to the Creator was best illustrated in that powerful painting. As a result of breach of the trust and love of God the Father, the Garden of Eden disappeared from the face of the earth. .’And the Lord God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever".’ (Genesis 3:22)

Man could only connect to the Lord God through the prophets until His Son came to walk amongst His people. That period of detachment revealed both the fury and the gentleness of God for Man. As He made the sinners suffer and evil kingdoms fall, He gave hope to those with faith and rewarded those who believed.

The cord tying Man to God was reinforced through the coming of His Only Son. God the Father showed the ultimate example of love by sending Jesus Christ not only to live amongst His people, not only to teach His people, not only to heal the sick, but most importantly to save them from sin. "I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick." (Ezekiel 34:16)

Through the suffering and death of Christ and His joyful resurrection, Man is able to reach out to God the Father though the intercession of His Beloved Son. "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 37-39)

In the beginning, there was only perfection, God; so will there be perfection in the end of time

by Mel Libre

Friday 8 February 2008

Friendship and Romance


As a new employee, she was introduced in our department and I knew I saw the most beautiful girl with the sweetest smile. She was 19; I was 22. We became friends. Finding that we enjoyed each other’s company, I courted her, while other gentlemen were likewise competing for her attention. She chose me. It took six years for both of us to decide to get married. It has nearly been 25 memorable years since Debbie and I lived together as friends, as lovers and as couple.
Settling down with a spouse does not come out of the blue; rather it is a series of events that begin with acquaintance until the solemnisation of the marriage vows. While there are a few instances when childhood friendship could lead to a lifetime journey as husband and wife, in most times, the person whom we commit our life ‘til death do us part’ is one whom we may not know from Adam until the time of introduction. Love may come from the most unexpected places, but it is usually just around the corner or within close surroundings.
It is through formal groupings or informal events that friendship can blossom. For friendship is the precursor to romance. It is never a good idea to rush into romance. It is only through time and association that a meaningful understanding of each other can be attained. As George Washington puts it: "True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation." Respect towards the other is another key to a lasting relationship. Holding the other in esteem will make friendship flourish that can continue even if romance does not happen. "A friend loves at all times." (Psalm 17:17)

Most importantly, guidance and protection of God must be sought always. Debbie, years later, told me that she prayed fervently before she made her choice of me as her boyfriend. In our six years as boyfriend-girlfriend we had shares of ups and downs in our relationship. In all instances we called on the Lord for us the weather through the storms. "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee." (Psalm 55:22)
Finally, the devil finds relationship of opposite sexes a fertile ground for temptation and sin; thus being prayerful is pivotal. The Lord will send His angels to shield love-struck individuals from lust and passion. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." (Mark 14:38)

by Mel Libre

Friday 1 February 2008

Gathering Oysters


At 5:30am, I was awakened by the ring of the phone. My friend, Jojo Taghoy, made the wake up call for me to prepare for our journey to Cornwallis Wharf in the Waitakere Ranges in New Zealand where we planned to gather oysters. By 6:00am, he was at my doorstep eager to be at the beach in time for the low tide. He begged off from taking breakfast and soon we were racing to our destination. The beach was empty as we headed off to a rocky portion just below a cliff. We had strong footwear to protect us feet from sharp rocks and broken shells, and hats to cover us from the summer sun. We both had chisels and Jojo had gloves as well as a hammer. We settled in a place where we found oysters clinging on the wet rocks and buried in mud. We had harvested about 75 pieces with a few large ones.

Jojo, who had been in the place previously, said that he knew that there were bigger ones in a farther area which had more rocks and was certainly dangerous. But he persisted and settled there for sometime, making me decide to follow him in an uncharted path. And I found out that we had reached the gatherer’s haven – with the largest of oysters sprouting like grass in grazing field. Though we had the tools, we still ended with a few cuts in our hands and feet. But it didn’t seem to matter as we had two bucketful of large oysters numbering almost 200. The harvest became a sumptuous meal not only for the two of us, but also for 15 others who joined us later.
Oyster gathering is analogous to our relationship with God. He calls on us to do His work on earth and we must respond without delay. For life is like the tide: if we heed God’s call we will safely reach our final destination in His company, otherwise, the high tide of sin could sweep us away to eternal damnation. "But this thing I did command them: Listen to and obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and walk in the whole way that I command you, that it may be well with you." (Jeremiah 7:23) In all instances, God sends us a guide to lead us the way – it could be people, it could be angels or saints, it could be the Holy Spirit, it could be His Word in the Bible. "The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever." (Psalm 121:7-8)
But while God is on our side, we must ourselves be prepared; for the devil and his minions will tempt us with worldly things that make us lose sight of where we are heading to and what we are meant to do. We can overcome the devil’s obstacles by spiritual tools such as prayers, confession and works of charity. As God protects us, He too will put us through sufferings, pains and tests, if only to make us genuinely worthy of His love. "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." (Psalm 34:19)
By trusting God and following His will we are assured of salvation. "Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you." Our deeds will be like water to a garden full of plants. Good work done selflessly and consistently will fill the souls of people thirsty for God’s love. When we do God’s work, we, as disciples, assure Him that there will be people who will be at the banquet when the Master arrives. And yes, we can be assured of a place in the Feast. "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son." (Matthew 22:2)

by Mel Libre