God's Love is Great (Personal Reflection)

Have you ever wonder how good and great the Lord is?

Have you ever thought how awesome the name of the Lord is?

Before you realize how good, great and awesome the Lord God is, you have first to know that God is love. And the love of God is the foremost basis of our existence as human being. God's love is the root of human relationship and all the other relationships.

God is love. He is perfect and He is perfectly happy. He doesn't need anything. He is not lonely because He is not alone. Even when we say that there is only one God, we should remember the Blessed Trinity: The Father, the Lover; the Son, the beloved; and the Holy Spirit that binds the Father and the Son.

Indeed, God is overflowed with happiness. And He wants to share His happiness with us that is why He created the world. He created Us. This is how we define the Love of God for us. His love is unselfish. He aspires good things for us.

There are three things that God wants us to have: BEAUTY, GREATNESS AND ABUNDANCE.

BEAUTY
(kagandahan)

Many people are mistaken about the concept of beauty. At times when we say that the person is beautiful, we mean his/her physical appearance. That is the beauty which we first see in a person. For some, to be beautiful is to use a few whitening products like soap or lotion with the belief that they will be beautiful when they use those. I believe this beauty is just the front cover of our being.

Real beauty is skin deep. A beauty that goes beyond what the naked eye can see. A beauty that is from within. A beauty that comes from within. And what could be the best way to be beautiful? That is to be happy. Finding happiness with peace in your mind and in your heart. When a person is happy, the beauty comes out naturally.

A simple smile can trace beauty in your face. Being kind and generous is being beautiful. To be humble and be sorry is also being beautiful. At times, you don't easily appreciate the beauty of the person because your judgement comes first. And most of the time, to discover the real beauty of a person, you have to spend a few time of conversation.

Remember, it is written in the Bible that we, humans, are created in the image and likeness of the Lord that is why we are beautiful.

GREATNESS
(kadakilaan)

The Lord created us through His image and likeness and that make us distinct from the rest of His creation. The Lord wants us to be great. We are made to be great.

Every human being is unique. Every one has what the others don't have. We are given talents and abilities for us to cultivate and eventually share to one another. We are given free will to decide what best suits us or what is not good for us.

Our talents will shape us and mold us to be God's greatest creation.

Though each one of us has different personalities and attitudes or behaviors, we have to help one another and compliment each other. Let us set aside the "crab mentality" attitude that we have in us. God wants us to be the best and God brings out the best in us. If at times, we lose hope and chooses to give up, let's motivate each other and remind each other that we are God's greatest creation.

ABUNDANCE
(kasaganahan)

During creation, God made a paradise for humans to live and to take good care of. He puts there everything man needs. He gave man more than what is enough.

In the Bible, there are several times that showed how the good Lord give His people more that what they asked for. The first miracle of God during the Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1-12), when they ran out of wine to serve for the people, they went to Jesus.

There were six stone jars each holding 20 or 30 gallons. Jesus said to them to fill the jars with water.
When the jars were filled with water, Jesus asked them to taste the water and bring it to the master of the feast. When the master of the feast tasted the water, it became wine.

This shows how great God is and how great his love for man is. We just have to strengthen our faith to him.

Unfortunately, in this day and age, many people are poor. Poverty becomes a perennial problem in our country and in some countries around the world.

We believe in fatalism. We put our actions or the events in our life to fate: horoscope, swerte, lotto, game show, etc. We believe that we are powerless and we cannot do anything other than what we actually do.

Another expression of poverty is being poor in spirit. We depend our happiness through material possessions.  Most peoples' illusion is: happiness depends on the amount of his salary. Money is the root of evil. There is something more than luxuries. Our faith in the Lord that He alone can provide us with life's extravagance.

When God created us, He gave us power over his creation. He gave us the resources. He has faith in us that we can achieve something and be somebody someday.

Let us always put in our hearts and minds that the love of God is unselfish. It is pure. It is so unconditional. God who truly loves always sees the good in us and always wishes what is good for us.

Beauty, Greatness and Abundance are some of the expression of the love of God for mankind. Other than these, His greatest love is best expressed in our relationship with Him, with our neighbors and with his creation.

There are three Kinds of Relationships: Relationship with God, Relationship with Others, and Relationship of Man to the World.

1. RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

In Deuteronomy 6:5 it says, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your (mind and) heart and with your entire being and with all your might."

This is how the way we should love God for the reason that He created us. All of us came from Him. Everything we have, everything around us comes from God.

The First Commandment states "You shall not have any other Gods than me." Clearly, this tells us that we should love God above all things. His love for us is the main reason why we are here on earth.

Many relationships failed because they were blinded by fame, power and wealth.  They forgot that to be rich is to be under the care of God's loving arms. They neglected to place God as the center of their relationship.  How many families were broken because they don't see the love of God and that they find it hard to show it to their children? How many children got lost because parents weren't able to find time to express the love of God?

When you fail to see the wondrous and amazing love of God to mankind, then you also failed your relationship with God and to the rest.

All relationships are rooted in our relationship with the Creator of the World.

2. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

What does the Bible says in loving others?

In Luke 6:35, it says, "But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to ungrateful and wicked.


This is what the Lord asks us to do, to love our neighbors the way He loves us.

This may be hard for some of us. Some will say that it is easier said than done. It is not easy to love the person who hurt us and who caused us pain. We find it hard to forgive those people who wronged us.

We hardly notice that we are nurturing anger and hate in our hearts. And God doesn't like to see His children living in pain and hurt. It is true that it is really hard, but have we ever thought that God forgives us every time we sinned regardless of how big or small it was? And He sent His only son to redeem us from the Original Sin committed by Adam and Eve. This shows how great His love is and how merciful the love of God is. He allowed his only Son to suffer and die on the cross to save mankind from sin.

Conversion of the heart is what we need if we find it hard to love others. The Golden Rule tells us to "Do unto others what you want others do unto you." Show mercy and compassion if you want them to be kind to you. Give and share what you have even though you don't have enough if you want them to return love to you. Be humble and meek if you want them to appreciate you. Do not be boastful or too bragging. God's love works in Silence and that silence is the loudest sound that vibrates in the world especially in our hearts.

Forgive. This is what the Lord did.
Forgive. And you will be forgiven.

3. RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WORLD

The story of Creation is one of the clear manifestations of the love of God for us. He created the world to be our home. He created man to become the steward of His creation. And being the steward, we are given the responsibility to take good care of His creation. Being God's stewards means  taking charge of the environment, nature and the people.

Our environment is one of God's greatest gifts to us. It encompasses His greatest art works. In Genesis 1:28, that is when he said to Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

We should understand that not because God said we should rule the earth, we can do whatever we want to do with it. Yes, we can really do what we want to do but let us remember that we are molded and created through God's image and likeness, which means we are rational being having the ability to think properly than the rest of His creations. And by this, it is understood that we are intelligent than all His creations. We are blessed to think what is good and not, and what is right or wrong for the people and the environment.

As I said, we are called to be stewards of His creation and not merely exploiters of the environment. Man's greed is destroying the very beautiful gift God has bestowed upon us. As Christians, we do have the duty to protect and care for our environment. We should do our part before it becomes too late for us.

This is written in Laudato Si, the second encyclicals of Pope Francis. He calls the people of the world to take fast or swift and unified action for our environment. We have to heed this call and start within ourselves, our families and communities.

When we care for the environment, we show how we love God.

Let us all remember that we are all connected to each other. As the lyric of the song goes "Ang lahat ng bagay ay magka-ugnay, magka-ugnay ang lahat."

All three relationships are interconnected. When we love God, we love others, too. And when we love His creation we show how we appreciate the love of God for us.


********************************

The Arzobispado de Manila employees had their annual Lenten Retreat at the Mornese Center of Spirituality in Calamba, Laguna on February 17-19, 2016. The three day retreat was given by Bishop Teodoro Bacani. The topic was in line with the celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

This is a personal reflection of the wandering soul.

My first Christmas without Mommy

As they say, Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year because it is the only season where all the members of your family gather together to celebrate love, life, happiness and of course, the birth of Christ.

This year, we celebrated Christmas without Mommy. Our first Christmas without her, my first Christmas without her.

There are of course so many reasons to be happy about this Christmas season, but the loneliness and emptiness of missing Mommy filled my entire Christmas season and I always find myself looking through all the memories I had with her.

I terribly miss her…

in all ways,

in all forms

and in every reason.

When she was still alive, we used to do a lot of things together especially when this joyous season of the year enters.  She will bring out our Christmas decors, clean it and wash it. Then, with excitement , we will together fill the house with all the Christmas decors to make our home festive.

We will even go to Quiapo and 168 to look for additional decors that will match the colors and designs of the curtains and pillow cases.

I miss her thoughtfulness during this season. She sees to it that we will celebrate Christmas happily. She will buy me and my sister as well as my daddy stuff we will use for the celebration. She will buy her apos clothes, shoes, clips, etc. to be worn during Noche Buena and Media Noche.  The candies and give aways for the kids are already prepared then. We are busy window shopping at SM malls. Afterwards, we will together wrap the gifts and happily place it under the Christmas tree.

Two days before Christmas, the table is filled with different kinds of fruits.  The day before Christmas, we will go to the market and buy all the foods to be served for Noche Buena. Spaghetti, Salad, Ube, Leche Flan, Puto, Ham and Queso de Bola were among her favorites that you will see in the table.

Then I can see her smile, the joy and happiness of celebrating it with us. When Christmas countdown, you will hear her call us, “Jheng, kain na, tawagin nyo na si daddy nyo. Nasan na sina Nica at Janelle? Tawagin nyo na si jaramine saka yung mga bata.” And all of us will gather around the table eating and sharing the foods we cooked.

Around that table is a family that ate, talked, shared stories and laughed together. Oh, how I miss you, Mommy….I really miss you. We all miss you.

But this Christmas, we celebrated it without her. We were happy, we tried to be happy. We did the same preparation she did while she was with us. But nothing and no one can take the pain of losing you, Mommy.

I tried not to drop a tear when we celebrated Christmas. I tried to smile. I tried not to think that you’re not here anymore. But as I looked into the photos of you during Christmas 2014, I said to myself you wouldn’t want to see us in pain. You wouldn’t want to see us enveloped with loneliness. You want us smile. You want us to be happy.

You were always the life of the party, Mommy.

But our Chirstmas will never be the same without you.

Though it hurts, though it’s sad, life goes on without you.

Merry Christmas, Mommy! I know you are celebrating your happiest Christmas with the Lord. Don’t forget to take a glance upon us through the windows of heaven.

I love you, Mommy and I miss you so much.

Long ago...

I am a fan of Bruno Mars and I love listening to all his songs. "When I was your Man" is one of my favorites. This soulful song became more pleasing to me when somebody gave meaning to it. And after hearing it over and over again, I gathered my thoughts and was able to write this short poem.


Long ago you gave me flowers,
long ago you held my hand.

Long ago you gave your hours,
long ago we danced.

Long ago you slipped the chance,
long ago was a memory you can only glance.

You're sorry and you're wrong,
coz long ago you weren't strong.

Long ago was your biggest pain,
coz that long ago is a thing you can no longer gain.

I kept in my heart your promises of long ago,
but now it was a memory I forego.

Long ago was a lost time,
coz long ago you use to call me mine.

Long ago there was you and me,
and now you're here saying sorry
coz you didn't have me.

Long ago was long ago,
simply because....
long ago you let me go...

The things I've learned...

I was taught to show kindness and affection to people who has a heart and even to those who show mean and nasty deeds.

I was taught to give due respect to people who value their self-worth much more to the elders and even to those who show rigid disposition in life.

I was taught to share what I have be it much or less to those people who show appreciation and recognition and even to those who have selfish acts.

I was taught not only to share but to give even if I don’t have enough, to the people who have less in life especially to the poor and the needy ones.

I was taught to follow and obey rules with sincerity and truthfulness and live it by example so that other people will understand its significance.

I was taught to fight for my right even if it is too impossible because of inequality. Sometimes you need to fight for your right with conviction not only for yourself but for those who chose to keep silent. Because in our society, some see you more and some see you less.

I was taught to be polite and smart when the situation requires me to, not because I accept their words of insult but because my mind dictates me that it is part of my behavior to be well mannered at all times.

I was taught to be composed even if the moment calls me to freak out not because I am uneducated but because my maturity is tested.

I was taught to be humble and meek to people who also show humility and even to those who are too proud and loud of their accomplishments. I am often reminded that humility is a virtue.

I was taught to ask for forgiveness if I know I’ve done wrong because to ask for forgiveness doesn’t make me less of a person. Likewise, I was taught to forgive no matter how much pain it caused me because healing is good for my health and my soul.

I was taught not to hold grudges against anyone especially to the people I love and even to those who want to bring me down. They may have pulled me down but God's hand is there to lift me up.

I was taught to be silent if I don’t have anything good to say because words are better uttered to uplift a spirit rather than to cause wound in the heart.

I was taught not to judge a person right away because of the way he speaks, the way he dresses or the way the acts. What they need is an understanding heart. This person lacks love from the people around him that is why he easily casts stone on anyone's back.

I was taught not to point a finger on someone unless I’ve proved them wrong because I shouldn’t be throwing sharp words to him for the words I used to destroy him are the words that sometimes suit to describe me.

I was taught not to question on someone else’s happiness because happiness cannot be seen on what possessions I have or cannot be counted with the places I've been through. Happiness is not tangible. It cannot be measured. Happiness is a state of mind. Happiness is happiness if your heart grows in love and you have peace of mind.

I was taught not to compare myself to anyone. God created us equally and I believe I am unique in my own ways. Comparison will not bring me any good. It stimulates unhealthy competition, disappointment and depression.

I was taught to live a simple life even if I have the means to have a luxurious living. It is better to be contented for what I have than to crave for the things my arms cannot embrace. With this, I was also taught to be thankful and grateful for every blessing I receive.

I was taught not to take revenge or retaliate on someone who has done something bad on me. I was taught to practice self-control and anger management. Remember, God blesses a peaceful, forgiving and loving heart.

I was taught to let go of something or people that no longer bring good or peace to myself. It’s good to look back to memories once in a while but to let go is far more best than holding on.

I was taught to view life in a wider perspective and that is to keep a fighting spirit, to keep positive thoughts even if I am in world full of chaos, hypocrisy, selfishness, greediness and pride. It is better to be surrounded with optimism and good vibes.

I was taught to trust even if sometimes I feel disappointed. Trusting is placing my hands in the hands of God because He alone can unveil whatever lies ahead of me. 

I was taught to value my family because no matter what happens, no matter what it takes, my family will still be the first to catch me when I fall, the first to get hurt when I'm in pain and the first to be happy and proud when I reap victory.

I was taught to love with all my heart the people dear to me, the people close to me and even the people who hate me because they need it the most for love is the greatest gift of God to His people. It breaks walls and boundaries and builds bridges.

Above all, I was taught to pray even if it is hardest to pray. Many people need it. Prayers are the best weapon in every battle I encounter. It can move mountains. It can save a soul. It can change a life. It can soften a hard heart. It can heal. It increases faith.

There are many things in life that I learned and everyday I am still learning. The lessons are sometimes hard but I keep in mind that it is part of life. I am  thankful that I am still alive for I get the chance to see the beauty around me. 

In this journey, I am blessed to love and be loved and to care and be cared for. Life is short. Life is sweet. Life is good. It is not how long I live my  life but how I take this journey as I go through life matters the most. Enjoy life and learn to live life happily.

You will always be remembered

The gate of heaven will be opened as you leave your body on earth and your spirit goes up in the skies. At the door, God awaits you. 

Mommy, I know you are already at peace and in peace up there in heaven. A place where you will be more loved and cared for. A place where there is no anger and hatred but only a harmonious relationship with God. A safer dwelling place.

Watch over us especially Daddy. Bring closer our intentions to the Lord. I cannot hold you anymore but I'll keep all our memories together. You will be forever alive in my heart and mind.

I will let you go, Mommy but this doesn't mean I will forget you. This means that I want your journey to a new life to be easy and happy because I know the good Lord is waiting for you already.

Thank you so much for all the things you've done to me and to my family. I am proud that you are my mother. We are proud of you. The most proud of herself should be you because you have accomplished your mission more than what was tasked of you to do and I congratulate you.

40 days passed and that was the thought of you not being around us anymore. Help us to be strong even without you. Be our angel. Be our guide.

You will always be remembered.

I love you and I miss you so much, Mommy! 

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy!

This is the first time that I am celebrating Mother's day without you. And it is so painful that I will be celebrating it for the rest of my life without you.

Since you left, everday is a struggle for me. I felt that a big part of me is missing. Para akong napilayan. I always ask God why? Ang daming masamang tao, pero bakit ikaw. Ang aga ka nyang binawi samin. I haven't given you enough. How I wish I have granted all the things you asked.

You were my inspiration, Mommy eventhough we argue at times. I looked up to you with so much admiration and wished that I can also do all the things you did for your husband, for your children, for your family to my own family.

You were the first to let me feel that I am not alone and you never lose hope when I already did. You never gave up on me. You were always there in all my battles and I can't forget all those times that you were beside me when I felt that I was all alone.

I miss you every moment of the day, Mommy. It is so hard but I am always trying to move on and continue living because I know you will not be happy to see me lonely all the time.

Life should be lived forward and I should celebrate life because every thing shows that you are at peace already.

I love you, Mommy and I won't forget our memories together.....

Life without you, Mommy

Mommy, I hope you are happy wherever you are but I know you are with Him in heaven. I know you will be happy to see us smiling again. I know you will be glad to hear our noisy laughs whenever we gather together. And I know you will be at peace to see us continuing our lives even without you. But my eyes still drop tears everytime I think of you. My memories with you are still fresh that I just thought you only have a long vacation so far away from us. The thought that you are gone forever still don't sink in my mind and heart. I always feel you're just around and I miss every piece of being with you, Mommy. I just wish I have granted all the things you asked for and have shown you how glad and proud I am that you are my Mommy. I just wish I often say to you Thank you and I love you but I do...Thank you, Ma and I love you so much! Please watch over us and please, Ma, help me live my life without you.