Daily Journeys Part 2 of 2

5 Release of the Holy Spirit
We can experience what the disciples went through at the Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled their lives and empowered them to spread the Good News. It can be intense or subtle, but surely, it strengthens our bond with God. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

6 Repentance
To reconcile with God, we must plea guilty of our sins and failures.  If we hang on to the wrongs we have done, then we block the flow of God’s love into our lives. “Return to me with all your heart.” (Joel 2:12)

7 Forgiveness
Grudges, anger and pride are chains that drag our lives away from God. Let go, let God take over and be reconciled with ourselves and others as well.  “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” (Mark 11:25)

8 Scripture Reflections
A daily dose of God’s Word keeps our souls nourished. Through the Bible, God speaks directly to us, responding to our questions, reiterating His promise of salvation and warming our weary hearts. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)

9 Wait for the Lord to Speak
In most instances, the answers we seek in the rough edges of life come right out of reading the Bible. Just as Jesus retreated to the mountains to confer with the Father; we must retreat in the silence of our hearts, close our eyes and listen to the voice of the Lord. “My sheep listen to my voice.” (John 10:27)

10 Intercessions
We live in a community of people. The world is, because of what people are. There are good people as there are bad, and to all of them we pray for their enlightenment, guidance and reconciliation. So many wanting God’s Touch, so many needing the Lord’s attention.  Intercede for them for the greater good. “I urge then first of all that requests, prayers, intercessions and thanks giving be made for everyone.” (1 Timothy 2:1)

11 Petitions
God wants to show His presence through us. Ask Him for little needs, as you seek for major ones. He will fulfil in us what He means us to be.  “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

12 Thanksgiving
The love of the Lord is without limit. We see this in ourselves, in our neighbours, in our community, in the world.  To Him we must always give gratitude for all that we are, for all that we will be. Be thankful for sending us our Saviour Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit who protects until the end of the time. “Let us be thankful, and so worship God.” (Hebrews 12:28)

The one hour prayer can be referred to as MilagrOras for Miracle Hour. It can be our response to Jesus’ question, “Could you not keep watch for one hour?” (Mark 14:37) It is not merely a challenge, but actually an obligation, if we are to honour and love God.

So as I journey each day to work; I observe MilagrOras. It takes discipline to keep this daily ritual. But as one gets accustomed to it; the cord that binds us to the Lord is strengthened and soon we find ourselves establishing a closer and meaningful relationship with our Maker.

by Mel Libre

Daily Journeys Part 1 of 2

We take journeys daily. As time moves forward, so must we.

Most of us literally make trips outside of our homes to pursue vocations and avocations. During weekdays, I go to work in the Auckland High Court, taking the bus from Glen Eden in West Auckland where I live to the Central Business District where the court is located. It usually takes me 45 minutes to an hour to reach the bus stop. From there I stroll for another 20 minutes to be in the office between 8:00am to 8:15am.

For the past three years, I have found these bus rides to be most inspiring, You see, in 2008 I brought with me a copy of Living Water, a booklet that contains the gospel reading for each day and a reflection. Most often, I ended up composing a song for most of the trips, some of which we sung in masses. In 2009 I was led to doing the Holy Rosary; and the experience of reciting and reflecting on the mysteries made me better understand the life, sacrifices and love of our Lord.

As 2010 began, I prepared myself to continue with reciting the Rosary each time I took the bus. But something happened. I misplaced my rosary and for two days, I searched for it without success. As I tried to locate the precious beads, my attention was caught by a orange booklet placed on top of the table in our bedroom. I took the pamphlet titled, “Miracle Hour” written by Linda Schubert and went through it as I went on my usual bus ride.

The book provides “a method of prayer that will change your life”. Schubert explained: “the booklet emerged at the end of a long dry time, when I was so ashamed of my prayerlessness that I cried out to the Lord for help.”  She continued: “He (God) not only gave a rich, grace-filled hour, but also showed me a simple format for a daily hour that would draw me into deeper intimacy with Him and empower me in my Christian walk.”

Schubert divided the hour into 12 five-minute segments with scriptural support for each as follows:

1 Praise.
We acknowledge the Almighty God who is worthy of all praise. “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)

2 Sing to the Lord.
Music is the language of heaven as it opens our spirits to the great power of God. “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.” (Psalm 95:102)

3 Spiritual Warfare.
The devil attacks us at all times, but be not afraid: we have authority to come against the dark spirits. We must call on the Holy Spirit who will shield us and make certain that Satan fails. “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s scheme...” (Ephesians 6:12)

4 Surrender.
When we accept our weaknesses and humble ourselves before God, we allow Him to enter our lives and He fills us with His love and grace, putting His will above ours, thereby fulfilling our reason for being. “May Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42)

(To be continued)

Low-key on High Performance

Hyped as the golden boy of ice hockey, the national game of Canada, Sidney Patrick Crosby was expected to bring glory to Team Canada in its quest for the Olympic gold medal. Called “The Next One”, a reference to succeeding the Canadian hockey icon Wayne Gretzky, the 22-year old was skating at three, scored goals at four, featured in a newspaper at seven and had to transfer school at age 15 as rivals were jealous of his sporting talent.

Crosby became a prized player in the junior league and when he graduated from high school, he became the number one pick in the National Hockey League. He led his professional team, the Pittsburgh Penguins in taking the championship trophy in 2009, becoming the youngest captain to make such feat. A documentary film, Pond Hockey, released in 2008 tells of his experiences in playing hockey. Thus, in the Vancouver Winter Olympics, he carried on his shoulders the incredible task of getting Team Canada to the top.

Yet, Team Canada struggled through the preliminary games, losing a game to Team USA, the latter making itself a strong contender for gold.  Game after game, Crosby failed to deliver as expected; and soon critics sniped at him for not being up to the challenge. During the final game that concluded on the final day of the Winter Olympics 2010, Team Canada led Team USA (2-1) until the dying seconds when an American player hit a goal. The game was even; and a sudden death in the 20-minute overtime would determine the winner.

During the overtime, Sidney Crosby took a difficult shot that hit its mark, causing the people in and out of the stadium to roar in triumph. Crosby delivered when it counted the most. Subsequently, Team Canada stood in the podium to receive its gold medal.

When others would have boasted, Crosby remained humble in victory: “You dream of that moment a thousand times growing up. But it could have been anybody else, it could have been any other guy in that team.”  Asked if he was born to make the winning goal, he responded: “I don’t know. I dreamed of this moment. It’s pretty incredible.”

Each one has a dream of achieving and such can only happen if a person “run(s) with purpose in every step.” (1 Corinthians 9:26)  God sent us His Son at the perfect time. “When the right time came, God sent his Son.” (Galatians 4:4)  So He puts our victories at the right time at the right place. “I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him...Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” (Psalm 62:1,5)

Crosby did not respond to criticisms on his average output in the preliminary games; he simply did the best he could under the circumstance. And when he made his mark, still he remained low-key about his performance. “As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God...Let there be tears for what you have done...Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” (James 4:6-7; 9-10)

by Mel Libre

Nothing Left

Karl Rabeder, an Austrian businessman, wants out of his riches. In an article written by Henry Samuel in Paris dated February 10, 2010, it says that with a fortune of 3.4 million euro, the 47-year old has so far sold his six gliders valued at 400,000 euro and his interior furnishings and accessories business. A villa overlooking the Alps and a stone farmhouse with 17 hectares are up for sale.

 

He came to realize the emptiness of his life while going on a 3-week vacation with his wife in Hawaii. “It was the biggest shock of my life, when I realized how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five-star lifestyle is. In those three weeks, we spent all the money we could possibly spend. But in all that time, we had the feeling we hadn’t met a single real person – that we were all just actors. The staff played the role of being friendly and the guests played the role of being important and nobody was real.”

He will be living in small wooden hut with money just enough to survive decently, while the rest of his wealth will go to a charity he set up in Latin America.”My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing. Money is counterproductive – it prevents happiness.”

 

Rabeder does not fault those who continue to amass wealth: “I do not have the right to give any other person advice. I was just listening to the voice of my heart and soul.”  Surely the message he received was: “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!”(Ecclesiastes 5:10)

 

God does not look down upon those who have wealth, but we are warned of the harm it may bring. “Trust in your money and down you go!” (Proverbs 11:28)  We are also told that if we use our money not just for ourselves, but share these with others, one can be given more so he can share to more. “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain.” (Proverbs 3:9-10) 

 

Rabeder, knowingly or unknowingly, is teaching us a Gospel truth: “Teach those who are rich in this world not be proud and not to trust their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God...Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future.” (1Timothy 1:17-1)

by Mel Libre

Elixir of Life

The young couple with their one-year old child came to office to bid goodbye. Ivy, a co-worker who hails from China, tendered her resignation as Finance Advisor of the government office where I work. Late last year, she was diagnosed of skin cancer; and was told by the doctors that it was in an advanced stage. She did not report for work after the Christmas break; and we were later informed of her decision to stop working, to seek healing and find time for her small family.

She hopped from one work station to the other, answering queries about her condition, her plans, etc. When she came near me, I noticed sorrow in her eyes, though she still carried a smile on her lips. We hugged each other, as she did with the others, and said that she was leaving. I asked her what medication she was taking and she responded, “Alternative Medicine.” After a few seconds of silence, I said, “I’ll pray always for you.” She then joined her husband who was carrying the baby, and bid everyone farewell.

“Isn’t life unfair?”, asked a colleague, and it made me reflect deeply. God knows what is best for us. If we suffer, it makes us more sensitive to God’s presence in our lives as well as that of others. “God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are in trouble, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

There is always a positive outcome in suffering as God promised, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:1-2) Most importantly we should be reminded that suffering cannot last forever. “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:4)

When I said to Ivy that I’d pray for her; I was depending on the Elixir of life: Our Lord, Our God.

by Mel Libre

Shine as Messengers

In an intolerant society where open discussion on religion is deemed insensitive to the belief or unbelief of others, a Christian is confronted with the challenge of being an effective messenger of the Lord.

In the institution I am currently working where there is a healthy mixture of peoples of different cultures, ethnicities and beliefs; discussion about one’s faith is uncommon. Talk about rugby, about how the weekend was spent or about the latest overseas trip – and you’re okay. But never attempt to discuss the beautiful homily you heard in the mass, for without doubt you’d end up with sharp stares or a heated argument.

How does a faith believer therefore share the Word of God without alienating one’s self from peers? I offer two suggestions: be creative and be a practicing Christian.

More than three years ago, I identified four strategic places in the government office where I work. I placed a uniform label, “Quotes”, on each and consistently placed every working day, a new quotation consistent with the teachings of Jesus Christ.  I try as much as possible to have a theme each week that is relevant to the lives of my colleagues.

The other week, moved by the devastation in Haiti, I choose as theme “Calamity” and one quote penetrated the heart of a co-worker. It said: “I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street I met a man who had no feet” (Ancient Persian Saying). Luisa, a Samoan, said that she liked the quotation I put up and told me to continue doing the good job.  But it is not smooth sailing all the time though. There have been instances that the quotes are taken out surreptitiously. I do not complain; and simply go about putting up another one.

The more effective way of evangelising others to the faith is through personal example: living a life in accordance with the teachings of Christ. This is easier said than done. For temptations to sin and our human frailty can bring us to shame in the eyes of God and ridicule before fellow human beings. We must try always to relate to others as Jesus did to all those who encountered him during His ministry, including the prostitutes, the sinners, the helpless and the sick. It is indeed a tall order for each one of us, but if we are able to be Christ-like, we can convince those who have yet to experience Jesus to see the Light.

We are obliged to tell the world of His love. “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:13) If we do as God molds us to be as messengers, then, “(t)hose who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.” (Daniel 12:3)

by Mel Libre

Death of a Friend

As I was about to curl on my bed, a brown moth sprung out of the blanket and settled in the study table. I was surprised, but did not mind about it. The next morning, the same moth was prominently resting on the white wall of the bathroom. My wife, Debbie, told me if the presence of the insect meant anything. I responded that “there could be someone close who is dying. Let us pray that nothing untoward will happen.”

The following day, I opened my email and checked on incoming messages. One came from Benjie Hortelano, a colleague in the Philippines, who sends occasional messages. He wrote that a mutual friend, Lamberto ‘Bert’ Migrino, died of cancer the previous day (January 28, 2010).  I told my wife about it, and she was bewildered as she remembered the moth that eventually died,, though she tried to free it out in the open.

A Certified Public Accountant, Bert was a likeable person whose humility and commitment to service were exemplary. I first met him when he was president of the Federation of PTCAs of Catholic Schools in Cebu. He was such an accommodating individual who listened to newcomers like me and made each one important.

I was so smitten by his style of leadership that I asked if he wanted to lead the accountants’ organisation, but he said that there were others more capable than him; but the Board of Trustees of the Red Cross in Cebu wouldn’t let him get away from leading the humanitarian group. He attained the organisation’s goals by leading by example, by delegating tasks and by acknowledging good work. Always, he had a ready smile.

I often wondered where Bert got that warm aura in his person; and I learned much later that he lived across a chapel and often prayed there. For a long time, he served as lay minister.

The friendship of Bert is one that I will always cherish, for he was steadfast and never hesitated to help. “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” (Proverbs 17:17) It feels like a part of me has been taken away; it hurts. But then the pain is relieved by the thought that he now rests in the arms of God, the One True Friend. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” (John 15:14)

by Mel Libre

God Rewards

Good deeds and pastoral works are often rewarded. The reward comes, but in most instances at unexpected times.

In the lives of the couple Oscar and Miriam Batucan, it came in the form of the Benerementi medal given by Pope Benedict XVI late in 2009.  On the other hand, the couple Cyril and Rose Bas have conceived a baby that they had prayed for in the seven years of their marriage.

Coming from Cebu City, the Batucans migrated to New Zealand more than 20 years ago. They went through the usual route of struggling to find the job worthy of their profession and experiences; and at the same time raising children with the desire to inculcate in them Filipino values and faith in God. Devotees of the Sto Nino de Cebu, they organized a Sinulog Fiesta in 1994 with the intent of strengthening camaraderie and faith in God among Filipino migrants. They became lay ministers in St Patrick’s and St Benedict parishes in Auckland and joined the singing group, Voice of God.

They did not stop at helping the priests in church activities; but extended their hands in assistance to newly arrived migrants who seek jobs, giving them leads to employment, providing spiritual guidance, sharing words of encouragement.  On January 22, a thanksgiving party was held for the lovely couple and many of those who were given a chance to speak on the microphone told of how the couple helped them in their early years and inspired them to become devotees of the Holy Child Jesus. The attendees overflowing in St Benedict’s Social Hall was a testament of the worthiness of the Batucans in receiving Papal recognition.

A young couple Cyril and Rose Bas left high-paying jobs in the Philippines, to start a new life in New Zealand and a desire to have a child. When Cyril arrived he looked for a religious community to join – first TawagAwit (for he loved music) with Rose who came later.  They also became active with Couples for Christ-Foundation for Family & Life (to enrich their marriage life).

It is rather amazing how they cope up with their busy careers and still find time to serve God. And they do to the best of their capabilities. The couple are now household heads in CFC-FFL and the chapter coordinators of TawagAwit in St Mary’s Parish, Northcote. We at TawagAwit prayed that God would gift them with a child and I told them in 2008 that they’d have one by December. But we did not receive any good news by that time. A few days ago, the couple announced to us that Rose was 7-weeks pregnant. It was in December not 2008, but 2009 that the baby was conceived! We all rejoiced upon hearing the news.

Life’s basic rule is that rewards are results of wise behaviour. “Righteous people will be rewarded for their own righteous behaviour.” (Ezekiel 18:20) It may come in the form of tangible like good earning or intangible like inner peace. “How joyful are those who fear the Lord...You will enjoy the fruit of your labour. How joyful and prosperous you will be!...Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.” (Psalm 128-1-4)

If you feel you have not received God’s reward, be patient.  He will reward you in His own time, in His own mysterious way. “If we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.” (Hebrews 3:14)

by Mel Libre

The Most Serious Tragedy

On January 17, 2010, Rev Eric Toussaint preached to a small crowd inside the ruins of the roofless Our Lady of the Ascension Cathedral in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. The city smells of death and sounds of gunfire resonate through the mass, while a dead body lies rotting in the main entrance. Earlier in the week, an estimated 100,000 died as a result of a major earthquake, a calamity described by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon as "one of the most serious crisis in decades." Among those killed were priests and seminarians including Archbishop Joseph Miot.

 

Fr Toussaint said, "Why give thanks to God? Because we are here. We say 'Thank you God.' What happened is the will of God. We are in the hands of God now."  The comments were personal to the priest and these, also reflected the sentiments of the faithful present. The clergy described his own near-miraculous survival: "I watched the destruction of the cathedral from this window," pointing to a window in what remains of the archdiocese office. "I am not dead because God has a plan for me." He added, "What happens is a sign from God, saying that we must recognize his power - we need to reinvent ourselves,"

 

It is strange for most to look at destruction, damage and death as an act of a loving God. Yet on many biblical accounts, God punished His Chosen people the Israelites when they took His Word for granted. He flooded the earth once and saved only Noah and his family.  God did so, because He so loved the world. The prosperous life of pious Job turned from bad to worse, but God knew of his faith and trust in His wisdom, that He rewarded him with abundance many times over.“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20-21)

 

We must pray for those who died, now freed of the evils of the world; as we praise Him for allowing many others to survive who put their hope in His Word.   “If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.”  (2 Chronicles 20:9) 

 

The damage wrought on our lives brought about by the most serious tragedies will leave painful scars; but the redemption from God will make our lives more glorious than the original. Fr Toussaint’s thankfulness is therefore appropriate.  “They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.” (2 Corinthians 8:2)

by Mel Libre

Climbing Out of the Mess

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Be always at war with vices, at peace with your neighbours, and let each new year find you a better man.”  It is a tall order for every human being to succeed on all fronts, for vices can be well entrenched, neighbours can be testy and a new year can be worse than the previous one.

If we allow the world to dictate, then climbing out of the mess that our lives may have fallen into can be difficult. There was this man who had a son born out of wedlock. His luck went from bad to worse when his son died in a vehicular accident. As an escape from all his woes, he indulged in alcohol drinking, wasting his life and dying as a result of the vice.

On the other hand, I had a close friend who indulged in smoking marijuana in his younger days. His father brought him to a rehabilitation centre allowing him to turn his life around. He became successful in many things including disc jockeying, advertising and wellness programmes.

Kicking a bad habit can be very difficult.  One has to declare a war against it; and win battles one step at a time. It all starts with identifying and accepting the bad habit; seeking help when it is beyond self therapy; pursuing an alternative use of time and energy; and working forward to becoming a better person. While the decision to put an end to vice is personal, the battles must be fought with loving support from family, friends and therapists. They are the infantrymen that get the enemies hiding in the trenches.

Most importantly, you must have faith in God who is the chief strategist against Satan who is the real enemy.  As Jesus replied to Peter’s concern on a withering fig tree, “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”  (Mark 11:22-24)

Once you have conquered the vice that once controlled your life, then you will have a better understanding of yourself, leading you to realise how special you are in the universe. From then on, you can attain peace in yourself which leads to having peace with your neighbours as well. Not only will you become a better man in the eyes of people, but the better man God created you to be.

Love@25

Dreams and aspirations make people look forward to the future. The visions that we seek cannot come to fruition without a plan, without action. I am a planner; and I act on my plans. But there are things that we aim for that do not happen as planned despite all the careful details made at the outset. We must listen to the Lord who counsels us. "I will praise the Lord who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me." (Psalm 16:7)  Always, it is God’s plan that prevails.

For instance, I wrote in my Self-Realization Program when I was in my teens that I would get married at the age of 30. I fell in love with the woman of my dreams the first time I met her in 1978. I was 22 years old then, while she was 19. My plan, therefore, was to get married in 1987; but Debbie had her own timetable of becoming a wife by 25.  I advanced my plan by two years, thus in January 6, 1985 we got married. It was the happiest moment in my life.  Years later, Debbie told me that she prayed the Novena of the Sacred Heart for a year for guidance that led to our decision to marry in 1985. "Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying `This is the way; walk in it.'" (Isaiah 30:21).

Debbie and I will celebrate our silver wedding anniversary on January 6, 2010 and we will renew our wedding vows before God, family and friends at the St Mary’s Church in Northcote, North Shore City.  Truly, it is a milestone for us as a couple – through the struggles and the successes; having three wonderful children (plus a son-in-law and a grandson); and involvement in worthy causes and pastoral service.  So many memories to cherish, so many stories to tell; and I have to put these together in a few minutes of testimony during the short program that would follow after the ceremonies.

I thought I could express these all in a song that I wrote a few days ago, which I will sing for Debbie and share with our guests. This is entitled “Love@25” and it goes like this:

Love@25

Refrain
Love at twenty-five
What a wonderful feeling
It’s great to be alive
A quarter of a century of loving

I am thankful
To have met you
You put meaning to my life
You took me the way I am
Through good times and through bad
Truly, I am grateful
(Refrain)

I look forward
To many more years
Of spending life with you
Without you, I’d be lost
I pray to the Lord
For us to be together forever
(Refrain)

by Mel Libre