Monday 29 October 2012

Weak Man’s Imitation of Strength


The emcee hurriedly ran down the stage and confronted the almost 25 people who were about to pose for a group photo in a highly publicized event. With a high-pitched voice and penetrating eyes, he shouted, “Who told you to get a photo, you’re not allowed here!” The group leader responded, “The official photographer did.” He continued to rant, so the leader signaled his members to withdraw, collectively feeling humiliated.

In the workshop ‘First Class Customer Service’ I attended on October 29, 2012, I learned that one of the four types of customer service is described as “The Factory”. Its characteristics are: (a) Procedural – timely, efficient and uniform; and (b) Personal – insensitive, apathetic and aloof. While that emcee may have been  outstanding in procedure, he showed weakness in character. According to Eric Hoffer, “Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.”

While the Bible tells us of the importance of orderliness, it also teaches that it should be done with civility. “But all things should be done decently and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:40) To build rapport, one has to make a winning first impression which is lasting. Let us be reminded of the old adage, “You never get a second chance to create a positive first impression.” 

Monday 22 October 2012

St Pedro Calungsod

Pedro CalungsodPrior to Vatican II, the priest said the mass in Latin with the sacristan responding at designated parts.  It was therefore important that a catechist accompanied the priest in his tasks, including missions.  One of those catechists was Pedro Calungsod who served the Jesuit Mission in Guam with Spanish priest Fr. Diego Luis de San Vitores in the 1600s.

He and the priest died on April 2, 1672 when two natives of Tumhon village attacked them with spears and a cutlass because of baptizing a baby girl. The bodies of the two were never found, as these were thrown into the sea.

On October 21, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI canonized the Philippines' second saint Pedro Calungsod together with 6 others, before 80,000 people in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City. In the Philippines, millions of Filipinos celebrated Calungsod's sainthood in churches, public places and homes.  

Among Filipinos of old, having a sacristan or a priest in a family gave a sense of pride and a place of honor in the community.  Which reminds us of a Gospel reading: “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?" They answered him, "Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left." Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" They said to him, "We can." Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared." (Mark 10:35-40)

To be of service to God is to follow the path of service, sacrifice and suffering.  “But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” (Mark 10:43-44) One should never aim to be at the pedestal among men, rather to fulfill the mission that each one of us is called: to serve our fellowmen.

Pedro Calungsod followed the path of service, sacrifice and suffering. He died a martyr. Now he stands tall among men, as a saint. His life serves as an example of what God expects of us as His disciples.  

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Unfit Mother

Elizabeth Escalona, 23 years old, of Dallas, USA, was sentenced to 99 years in prison on October 12, 2012 having been found guilty for beating her 2-year-old daughter and gluing her hands to a wall, this was reported by The Houston Chronicle. State District Judge Larry Mitchell said that Escalona “savagely beat” her child, Jocelyn and must be punished.

The accounts of the four other children of Escalona were given consideration: that their mother attacked Jocelyn in September 2011 due to potty training problems; that she kicked her daughter in the stomach; beat her with a milk jug; and stuck her hands to an apartment wall with an adhesive commonly known as Super Glue. As a result, Jocelyn suffered bleeding in her brain, a fractured rib, multiple bruises and bite marks, and was in a coma for a couple of days.

In their closing argument, prosecutors described Escalona as an unfit mother with a history of violence, who as a teenager threatened to kill her mother. They proved that she was a former gang member who started smoking marijuana at age 11.

Motherhood is a Godly calling, and therefore requires care, gentleness and faithfulness. As children are heavenly gifts, a mother must value a child who is far more precious than any treasure on earth. “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward.” (Psalm 127:3) The comforting embrace of a mother has the touch of God’s love, one that provides peace, rest and assurance. “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” (Isaiah 66:13)

The mother is tasked to nurture the child to becoming upright and virtuous. A mother must prioritize her time for her child - giving love, teaching Godly values, moulding him/her to becoming a good person. “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”(Galatians 6:10)  Before you know it, the child will have grown up, and those precious opportunities in the company of the child will be gone forever.  “But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)

For the mother who takes her responsibility seriously will be justly rewarded.  “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Galatians 6:9) For the unfit mother, she shall deservingly be punished. “God punishes bad people but He helps good people.” (2 Peter 2)

Monday 8 October 2012

Stretching God's Patience


patienceThe advances in science, medicine and technology in the past 100 years are unprecedented. These have resulted in finding cures to diseases; in pursuing space exploration; and in making communication and exchange of knowledge more accessible. When we thought that these achievements would have made us more humane, more enlightened, nay, societies have instead become less civilized, less rational.

Use of cannabis is permissible in Canada and Czech Republic. Euthanasia is legal in Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. Abortion is allowed in France, Austria, and Italy, among others. Prostitution is accepted in Germany, Greece, Hungary, Mexico, Panama, Australia and New Zealand, to name some.

Same-sex marriage is admissible in 11 countries including Belgium, Spain, South Africa, Portugal and Argentina. In almost all countries, usury has long been legalized with banks and lending companies charging interest rates sans regulation. Except for the Philippines and the Vatican City, every nation in the world has divorce laws.

Even Moses allowed divorce; yet he did so because of the hardness of heart of the Jews. “And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce, and to put her away." But Jesus said to them, "For your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.” (Luke 10:2-5)

Satan has contaminated the world, through people demanding equal rights, inculcating freedom of choice and questioning the existence of God. An elderly and retired Anglican pastor could only sigh in disbelief on liberal lifestyle of his children and grandchildren. He said that “they abandoned God in favor of freedom and material progress.”

The priest during the Mass I attended on October 7, 2012 in Holy Cross Parish, Henderson went to the extent to saying that the world has become “Sodom and Gomorrah”. He said that the faithful have to make their voices heard in the ongoing debate on the proposed legislation on gay marriage in New Zealand.

People have stretched God’s patience. Politicians have compromised the larger community by listening to the minority who create so much noise and cry “discrimination” if opposed. We know that God is a patient God, as He delayed the great flood for 120 years, so people would change their ways. But they did not. “Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3)

Humankind because of sin has upset and angered God. But He wants us redeemed through His Son, Jesus Christ, “Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” (Galatians 1:4) But Jesus can only deliver us, if we become His disciples, if we take up His cross to save ourselves and humankind.

Monday 1 October 2012

Cleanse the World

Gang wars, frat wars, religious wars, ethnic wars, territorial wars – so many conflicts make our world dangerous, troubled and mad. Pointless deaths of young people because of differing patches; riots resulting from misunderstanding about beliefs and faith; bloody massacres because of racial disharmony; and skirmishes due to claims over uninhabited islands.

When humanity should have learned from the two World Wars that resulted in countless deaths and enormous destruction, we are bombarded daily with news of murders of innocents not just in areas of conflict, but even in places deemed safe and peaceful. The violence never stops.

In Mark 9:38-41 there is this account: “John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.”

Even among the disciples, there was jealousy and suspicion. They had the mindset that being Jesus’ followers they were more privileged and more blessed than others. Finding others who were able to do spiritual work made them envious. Envy causes hatred; and hatred not only destroys relationships among people, it distances us from God.

We are all made in God’s image, and all of us are meant to do good- and good is immeasurable. Therefore, let us find joy in the good work of others, in so doing, our hearts are purified. Like water our pure hearts will cleanse the world of wars, of conflicts, of evil.