Two Saints

The Catholic Church welcomed two saints – St John XXIII and St John Paul II – on April 27, 2014 when Pope Francis canonized the two past popes to become members of the Communion of Saints.

After the celebratory feast on Easter Sunday, the faithful were gifted with the sainthood of two men who had differing paths, yet have contributed to Catholicism remaining as a vanguard against the changing morals of modern times.

St John XXIII through Vatican Council II made the Mass speak in many languages and allowed people to actively participate. St John Paul II, in his long period of papacy, was a pilgrim pope who tirelessly brought the Gospel to the four corners of the world and touched the young through the World Youth Day.  He was also the pope who canonized as saints the most number of holy people and martyrs in the Church’s history.

There have been issues regarding the canonization of the two popes, not just on the speed of the process, but also on their teachings and legacies. But one writer said, “Without assessing those objections, it’s worth noting that whenever a pope is beatified or canonized, Vatican officials insist it’s not tantamount to a declaration that every policy choice during their papacy was beyond reproach. It’s rather a statement that despite their human failures, they strove to live a holy life worthy of imitation.”

Let us rejoice and be glad for our new two saints. Let us make them our models for even with their human weaknesses, they offered their lives fully for Christ. I hear St John XXIII and St John Paul II resonate what St Paul told the Corinthians, “Be imitators of me as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

Black Sheep

He was the black sheep of the family.   He was the eldest son of my father, out of wedlock. He lived with us and we called him “Noy Warren”. While the rest of us put school first in our young lives, he was engaged with friends in the neighborhood (called estambays). As a young man, he worked as a taxi driver, while the rest of us busied ourselves getting an education.  “What would he turn out when he’d matured?” was a question at the back of my mind in those times.

But Warren Tesaluna was such a likeable person. He was charming and handsome having inherited the Hispanic-look of our father. And he always looked at the sunny side of life. Like in one instance, I visited him during my university days; there he was flying a kite in one of the crowded suburbs of Cebu City. He was always fun to be with.

As he got older, he became an entrepreneur and quite successful at it. He was a dedicated family man while pursuing his livelihood. The last time I saw him was about 9 years ago when he accompanied my family to the airport as we left for New Zealand to migrate. He helped us with our luggage and cargoes, and bid us goodbye. I came to realize at that moment how wrong I was in judging Noy Warren as a black sheep in my younger days. He was unique; but he was basically a caring and loving older brother that one could be proud of.

He is gone. He died on April 21, 2014 at the age of 70. I am sure he had no regrets in life: having a loving wife, having raised good children, and having fun until the end.

In the Book of Genesis, Jacob upon being released by his uncle Laban was asked, “Name me your wages, and I will give it.”  To which Jacob responded: “I will pass through all thy flock this day, removing from there every speckled and spotted animal of the flock, and every black one among the lambs, and the spotted and speckled among the goats, and these shall be my wage.” (Genesis 30:32)

While “black sheep” today connotes one who contradicts the values and norms of a family, one author says that it could also mean, “People who have the innocent acknowledgment that they are not perfect; that they do tend towards evil and false things”. The “black sheep” is who Jesus came to save. The New Testament reads: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10)

Farewell, Noy Warren. You can rest now as you find everlasting joy in the presence of the Lord.

Temptation

The 46-year old man fell on his knees, showed an engagement ring, and asked the woman her hand in marriage. The woman, 34 years old, responded affirmatively, taken by the gentlemanly and loving attention of the man. She said: “I’ve never been treated like that before.”

The man was arrested and charged with theft and fraud.  You see, a few days after making the marriage proposal, the man disappeared in thin air bringing along $600 worth of the woman’s property.  The man had used the same modus operandi with two other women who believed that he was a successful entrepreneur, kind, gentle and romantic.

While there is much goodness in this world, evil lurks in every corner. Worse, the evil can appear like a knight in shining armor to unsuspecting victims.  “And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Nobody is free from the temptation of Satan, as he even tried to lure Jesus Christ to earthly possessions. In Matthew 4:1 it is written, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” The devil failed as Christ countered with the Word of God.

How many times have you been lured by Satan with temptation of possessions and flesh?

At times, we fall. Those who fail to repent and change their ways are pulled towards the devil’s lair. Those who pray, who ask forgiveness, who change their ways are redeemed for God treats us as His children. For in truth, we are.

Long Life

On March 5, 2014, Misao Okawa observed her 116th birthday. Acknowledged as the oldest person in the world today, Okawa, according to a news report from Daily Telegraph UK, attributed her longevity to good eating habits, 8-hours sleep each night and staying relaxed.

On the other hand, Professor Yasuyuki Gondo, a specialist in geriatric psychology suggested that “people with a strong will, are outgoing and have a sense of curiosity live longer.”

There is no such thing as a Fountain of Youth that prevents people from growing old. As conception begins life, old age leads towards death. Okawa’s testimony and Prof Gondo’s findings are worthy of attention for those wanting to prolong their lives.

The Bible shares a secret to longevity: “Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.”  (Proverbs 16:31)  To live a righteous life goes beyond eating habits, sleep, and relaxation; it surpasses being strong willed, outgoing and curious. 

Righteousness comes at a level above the physical and emotional. It is one that is spiritual, that is, by following the example of Jesus Christ.  St Luke wrote, “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.”  (Luke 17:33)  For in truth, selflessness is how Christ lived his life.

Selflessness does not mean that you should forget about yourself, rather, one must live healthy and morally, while at the same time, be caring and be of service to others. Have you not noticed that the more you attend to the needs of people, the more fulfilled your life is? While it is good to live a long life, it is better to live a meaningful one. The latter one is what we should aim for.

Family Time

“Social media cannot replace the interaction of friends and family sitting around a barbecue or cafe discussing life and each other and providing a positive environment,” wrote John Ford of Glendowie in the Editorial and letters section of New Zealand Herald on February 25, 2014. He was commenting on the suicide of TV personality and Australia’s Top Next Model judge Charlotte Dawson as a result of character assassination in social media.

True that the internet has made the world smaller every day, with communicating with friends and family available at the tip of one’s finger.  But there is a dark side of technological advancement in social media, described in two words: “addictive” and “impersonal”.

One can fall into the tentacles of digital connectivity with engaging games, instant celebrity bonding, unlimited self-promotion & gratification, and a lot of dirty stuff. Under the cloak of secrecy, evil people commit fraud and cyber bullying.

Pope Francis has acknowledged the impact of social media saying that ““The Internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God.”  He cautions us: “The speed with which information is communicated exceeds our capacity for reflection and judgment, and this does not make for more balanced and proper forms of expression. … We need, for example, to recover a certain sense of deliberateness and calm. This calls for time and the ability to be silent and to listen.”

We need to realize that the internet cannot substitute for personal interaction. Shirley Engelmeier in a business article wrote: “When personal touch is lost, time is not lost, but meaningful relationship building is. Technology has “lazyfied” the communications process and the outcome diminishes the effectiveness and efficiency of getting messages sent and received. Harnessing the power of face-to-face communication is key to harnessing the power of your workforce…keeping them happy, and working for you longer.”

If personal interaction is important in a business environment, more so in the basic unit of society: the family. When was the last time you all shared a meal in the dining table? Did you have a family picnic in summer? Do you still pray the Rosary together?

The pontiff advises: “It is not enough to be passersby on the digital highways, simply ‘connected’; connections need to grow into true encounters. We cannot live apart, closed in on ourselves. We need to love and be loved. We need tenderness.”