Spiritual Desert

Pope Benedict XVI, in his homily during the Mass on the final day of World Youth Day 08, said that a "spiritual desert" was spreading throughout the world and challenged young people to shed the greed and cynicism of their time to create a new age of hope for humankind. He stated: "In so many of our societies, side by side with material prosperity, a spiritual desert is spreading: an interior emptiness, an unnamed fear, a quiet sense of despair."

In the present times, the ideologies of materialism and individualism have overtaken most human beings in all corners of the earth. Pop culture effectively propagated by two powerful tools – media and Internet – have detonated materials on a regular basis in centres of populations that cater to the desires of the flesh and the mind. Many who see and hear have easily bought into the wholesale bargain – mortgaging their lives to items that add ‘value’.

The ornaments that beautify the homes and upgrade the status of individuals are superficial and fleeting. What may be in today may be obsolete at the blink of an eye. Innovation, upgrade and similar terms entice consumers to acquire what is new and better. There is nothing wrong being in tune with the times, but once the individual becomes wrapped up in self-gratification and material attachment, he/she unconsciously distances from God. The nourishment of the soul then takes the backseat causing spiritual dryness. When there is mass spiritual dryness, the world becomes a spiritual desert of hopelessness, gloom and uncertainty.

In the great deserts of the world in China, Africa and Australia, inhabitants fight difficult, if not helpless, battles against the expansion of sand into farmlands and populated communities. It is not so against the spiritual desert for we have our Almighty God leading us to sure victory. All that is required is our decision to be at His side. We must cry out: "God, my God! How I search for you! How I thirst for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. How I long to find you! At last I shall be fully satisfied; I will praise you with great joy." (Psalm 63:1,5) As Pope Benedict XVI puts it: "(We) must embrace the power of God "to let it break through the curse of our indifference, our spiritual weariness, our blind conformity to the spirit of this age."

by Mel Libre

Children of God

In 1965, the 4th centennial of the founding of the Catholic Church in the Philippines was observed. Cebu City was the centre of the celebration since it was there that explorer Miguel de Legazpi constructed a church in the place where the image of the Sto Nino (Holy Child) was found. It was circulated that Pope Paul VI would make a historic visit creating keen interest among people from all walks of life.

In the morning when the Holy Father (he sent a representative) was to hold the Papal Mass at the Reclamation Area, I, then 9 years old, climbed up the star apple tree that stood tall outside our house. From the top, I saw, from the distant, the surge of people around the chapel built specially for the occasion. With the rush of excitement within me, I went down from the tree and dashed to the site. It must have taken me 30 minutes to arrive at the venue filled with worshippers. Determined to reach the stage where the altar was, I wriggled my way through a sea of moving bodies. I was already near the foot of the stage when I realised that I could no longer breath and that I was about to be crashed under the weight of crowd.

Suddenly, a man pulled me out from my dire situation and raised me up. It was at a perfect moment for as I was above the crowd, a priest on stage handed to me a commemorative medal. When the man placed me down – so excited was I that I ran as fast as I could and reached home in less than 20 minutes. I showed everyone in the house of my prized possession – and told little of the near-death situation I experienced. The commemorative medal did not stay long with me though, for a visiting aunt exchanged it with his son’s hand-me-down polo shirt that I did not really like.

How does the Lord look at children? But when Jesus saw what was happening he was very much displeased with his disciples and said to them, "Let the children come to me, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as they. Don’t send them away." (Mark 10:14) Children have a special place in the heart of the Lord for they are innocent and totally dependent in Him. "Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10) When individuals mature, they shed off the child in them and adapt to the demands and expectations of the world. They tend to believe more about themselves and their abilities, oftentimes putting God at the sideline of their lives. By doing so, the mature easily succumb to temptation, sin and even spiritual emptiness amidst material abundance.

We must at all times keep the child in us alive in our hearts; see more the beauty of this world rather than the surrounding ugliness; feel more the love of brethren instead of the hatred espoused by the wayward. We must keep our faith in the Father who never forsakes His children. If we do so, we shall be handed each an eternal medal that cannot be taken away from us, that serves as badge of entry in the pearly Gates of Heaven.

by Mel Libre

On Parents and Children

This week Sydney, Australia will play host to the World Youth Day 08 that actually covers several days starting on July 15 until its culmination on July 20. Pope Benedict XVI will meet, bless and inspire the 225,000 delegates from Australia and from around the world. Up to 500,000 people are expected to attend the Final Mass at Randwick Racecourse and Centennial Park. The German pontiff has followed the footsteps of his predecessor in appealing to the youth who shares equal responsibility in pursuing the mission of the pilgrim church.

The theme for the celebration is: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.' (Acts 1:8). This passage occurs after the death and resurrection of Jesus, just before his ascension to the Father, representing the birth of the Church.

While the Holy Father tells the youth of the sacrifices and the rewards that await the faithful workers of the Lord, it remains a challenge among many parents to keep their children along the Shepherd’s path. There is a tendency among parents to be overly concerned about what their sons or daughters are engaged in at any moment. It is not because parents distrust their children, rather they want to protect them from the hostile environment outside the home that the latter are exposed to. It is a difficult balancing act for parents to be firm on one side and accommodating at the other end.

Dependent on their parents in their childhood, the youth soon discover their talents and potentials and at the same time experience pressure from peers and of pop culture. When parents look over their shoulders, the youth, in some instances, take this as an affront to their independence and maturity. "Why can’t they just leave me alone for I know what I’m doing?" is the typical question that registers in the mind of the young.

Most parents anchor their relationship with their children on Proverbs 22:6: "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." It is said: "The father (and mother as well) of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him." (Proverbs 23:24-25) On part of the youth, the Bible tells: "Be happy, young man, while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth." (Ecclesiastes 11:9) But they are admonished: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord [as His representatives], for this is just and right." (Ephesians 6:1)

Parents cannot live the lives of their children, they can only guide them. Children should not be deaf to their parents’ words. As the young should be allowed to spread their wings to find their place under the sun and in His garden, they must do so heeding always the words of wisdom and love of their parents and elders.

As Pope Benedict XVI warms the hearts of the youth in Sydney, let us be one in our prayer for parents and their children to fill their homes with peace, love and hope that are meant to overflow to their community, to their nation and to the world.

by Mel Libre

Measuring Happiness

The United States Government-funded World Values Survey that involved 350,000 respondents ranked 97 countries from the happiest to the least happy. Denmark topped the 2008 list followed by Puerto Rico, Colombia, Iceland, North Ireland, Ireland, Switzerland, Netherlands, Canada and Austria. The United States is no. 16 next to New Zealand (ranked no. 15). The Philippines is no 38, while Zimbabwe is expectedly last, with four others slightly happier than the latter - Armenia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine - all former republics of the Soviet Union.
What is in Denmark that made it to the top? (Another survey by Leicester University researchers likewise proclaimed the Scandinavian nation the happiest in the world.) The study director, Ronald Inglehart of the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, points to its prosperity, democracy, social equality and peaceful atmosphere. In its editorial, New Zealand Herald, opined that New Zealand has most of what Denmark has, but the difference "lie in the Danes' more modest expectations of life, allied to their willingness to acknowledge what they have and cherish it. They expect less and, therefore, are apt to appreciate what they have." That the United States did not rank even among the top 10 may have surprised many people, as the US has always been the preferred destination for migrants it being the richest nation in the world. The reason could be because the flip side of expectation of increased earning capacity and modern lifestyle is the social pressure on individuals to attain economic success.

When people commune together, there must develop a common vision and shared values. "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." (Proverbs 29:18) The co-operative work of everyone and the accomplishment of required tasks can bring about communal happiness. "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:16) While citizens of most civilised nations declare their aspirations in a written constitution, conflict would arise when individuals put their own goals first. The resultant effect: adverse interests pulling down the objective for the common good. Instead of unity, there is division; instead of solidarity, there are factions; and instead of success attained, assured failure. Where division, factionalism and failure prevail, it is certain there is gloom and unhappiness.

Jesus Christ came purposely to save Mankind. "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:31) He brings all peoples of the world to honour and love God."And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Luke 10:27) He showed us the Way to lead us towards our Heavenly Father. ‘Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:6) Like the early Christians, we are to work together in pursuit of His cause of evangelisation and salvation. "And more than that, he has been appointed by the churches to travel as our companion in regard to this bountiful contribution which we are administering for the glory of the Lord Himself and [to show] our eager readiness [as Christians to help one another]." (2 Corinthians 8:19)

A high measure of happiness of a nation lies in the heart of each citizen in harmonious communion with others. St Peter pointed out on how man can experience God’s Kingdom here on earth: "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king." (1 Peter 2:17)

by Mel Libre