Rekindling the Romance

Every now and then, I am assigned to court take (or manage the courtroom) during hearings of civil cases.  The saddest episodes are those when family members sue each other over the possessions left by ascendants. Just the other day, there was a couple who must have separated, sitting in the opposite sides of the courtroom, and they never glanced at each other.  Years of togetherness thrown out of the window, and in lieu unfeeling, if not hatred in their hearts.

On a Sunday, just prior to making the final blessing in the Eucharistic celebration, the priest called upon a couple to make an announcement. They said that there was a time in their lives that the love that they professed to each other had nearly become barren due to the busyness in making a living. It was only when they participated in a Marriage Encounter Weekend that they rekindled their romance, having been reminded of their vows and that communication between couples need to be as regular as watering a plant for it to live and flourish. They invited couples to attend.

There is no magic potion to make a marriage work. Husband and wife must develop a lifetime plan to make their relationship flourish, and only when Jesus is made the center of that relationship will marriage last, through good times and bad.  Constant dialogue just like constant prayer deepens the marriage, as the latter enriches the bond with God.  “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:15)

Delight in Mercy

On March 22, 2015, Bong Sombrero wrote this message in his Facebook timeline:

“Maybe most of u are wondering what's happening with my health at the moment. After all the series of test; X-rays, ct Scan, ct PET, MRI scan, blood test ,gastroscopy, conducted mid-January 2015 to 13th of March, and in and out in the hospital due to bleeding, chest and back pains. The doctors and oncologist informed us that the cause of the pain is that the cancer has aggressively spread to the liver, lymph nodes in my back and the mother tumour is growing. Due to this, the doctors estimated that i might only have 4 to 6 weeks to live. Currently i'm in pain (managing pain) and the option is chemo treatment or supportive care, chemo treatment not for curing but prolonging my life but there’s no guarantee that nothing wrong will happen during the treatment).Currently the dosage of my pain reliever has been doubled............what's holding me now is my faith to God and i believe in his kindness, goodness, healing in his time. I surrender everything to him and allowing him to use me. I still believe in miracles.....Please continue to pray for my family especially my wife Cong to be strong, and give her more strength to accept and face whatever trials may come.....”

We are at God’s mercy. And our God is merciful.  Micah tells us through the question, “Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” (Micah 7:18)

Infinite is His mercy that He sent His Beloved Son to die on the cross and save us from sin. Jesus was humiliated and suffered pain to fulfil God’s Promise to humankind.  By dying, Jesus was glorified: resurrecting on the third day and ascending to the Heavenly Kingdom where He sits on the throne at the right hand of the Father in Perpetual Majesty.

“I surrender everything to him and allowing him to use me,” are words uttered by Bong in courage and humility. Let us pray with Bong, knowing that God hears us, and with delight He will show His mercy on our ailing brother in Christ. (Bro Mel B Libre)