Amor Dei

What motivates you to keep going? Why do you dedicate your time and talents to a specific work? These questions have only one and the best answer: LOVE.

Love itself is a mystery. We cannot explain it well. Some would say it is an emotion while others say it is not. Each person have their own definition of love. However, does man still apply love in their lives? The very meaning of love has been tarnished and it is downgraded to the lowest level.

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reminds us of the splendor of love. It is the greatest of all the virtues. Our life owes its meaning in love for God is Love. Because of love we were created and fashioned in His own image and likeness. Our life should revolve and evolve in love. In the seminary, we are called to fall in love with Christ for "priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus," as St. John Mary Vianney said. We should be formed after the Heart of Christ Who is willing to offer Himself for the life of the world.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Love should motivate us to keep on going. Love must be the reason why we dedicate our time and talents to a specific work. It is for this same reason why we share and imitate the Love we receive from God.

Do you love me?

I watched recently the classic movie "Fiddler on the Roof." It is all about Tevye, a poor milkman, with his wife, Golde and his five daughters, together with his community who faced life's challenges with faith in God, hope in times of trials, and love for his family and friends.

There is one part of the movie wherein Tevye was asking Golde if she loves him. You see, their marriage was arranged and they only met on their wedding day. Golde, at first, hesitated to answer the question and tried to avoid Tevye but in the end, she pondered on it: for 25 years, she washed his clothes, cooked their meals, gave him five daughters, cleaned their house, and shared common things with her husband. "I suppose so," was her answer. This puts a question in mind: how do you know that you love someone?

Tevye, the poor milkman and his wife, Golde in the classic movie
"Fiddler on the Roof."

Oftentimes, we hear the expression, "walang forever!" However, love cannot be separated from infinity. It is not bound by time. Love surpasses time. That is why in every moment that we love, we have this feeling of unending happiness, the feeling of "eternity" of that moment. When we begin to spend some time with someone and cherish every moment, that is already an act of love. Love also demands giving oneself totally, surrendering everything for the sake of others. Instead of thinking for your own good, you look on the welfare of other people. You want them to be happy. This, I think, is the basis when one wants to know if he is in love.

"Love... involves a real discovery of the other, moving beyond the selfish character... Love now becomes concern and care for the other. No longer is it self-seeking, a sinking in the intoxication of happiness; instead it seeks the good of the beloved: it becomes renunciation and it is ready, and even willing, for sacrifice" (Deus Caritas Est 6).

It also reminds me when our Lord asked Peter, "do you love me?" (Jn. 21:15). Realizing his weaknesses and unworthiness, Peter answered, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You" (Jn. 21:17). Peter knew that He loves the Lord but has limitations. Jesus, on the other hand, encouraged Peter to perfect his love and so invited him to imitate His love for humanity. Christ also gives us the same invitation: to love unconditionally. Yes, we are not perfect but through love, we can be for we imitate God Who is Love.

If you were asked by our Lord Himself, "Do you love me?" what would be your answer?

Lost and Found

Remember the first post in which I shared that I had a blog when I was in high school? Well I found it and was able to retrieve it! So basically, I now have two blogs. I will work on how to differentiate the content of one blog from the other. Anyway, feel free to visit my first blog: imitatiomundi.tumblr.com

A preview of my first blog! :)

Pananagutan

Our class with our adviser and professor after attending
the Holy Mass at the Manila Cathedral.

While watching Simpsons the Movie for, I think, the third time, I was struck by the words of Homer in his reflection: "Without others, I am nothing..." This is true, especially in the vocation I am currently taking. At first, I thought that holiness solely depends on me but I was wrong. I need help from others. I need a spiritual director to guide me, my co-seminarians to share my experiences with, people, especially my family and friends, to support and cheer me up, but most of all, I need God Who called me. Without them, I am nothing, my life is meaningless. We need one another in this journey towards holiness. Let us help one another and reach our goal, which is God, together.

Fiat voluntas tua

There is a saying that "truth hurts." At first, it seems correct but upon deeper evaluation, it is not. Truth is objective. It does not compromise nor is subject to anything. It stands for itself. People makes the truth subjective basing on how they accept and experience it in their lives. It is only fitting, then, that people must be optimists, to look beyond and think on the good side and most of all, to hope in God, especially when the truth "hurts."

At times, you cannot accept the truth. It seems unbearable. But time gives us the chance to accept it. Most of all, we are able to understand it through prayer - to discover that it's GOD'S WILL. Remember that Jesus accepted the truth that He needs to suffer and die on the cross. It is in the way we see the truth. The challenge is for us to see the truth OBJECTIVELY. No biases. No complaints. Just the truth as it is - the truth which is God's will and His Word made flesh, Jesus Christ.

Buti pa ang mga bata

Kanina habang natulong ako sa pagluluto ng tanghalian, mayroong dalawang bata na naglalaro sa aming refectory (kainan). Ang saya-saya nilang naglalaro. Hindi nila alintana ang oras at kung may gagawin sila. Nasabi ko tuloy sa aking sarili, buti pa ang mga bata, laro lang ng laro. Naalala ko tuloy nung bata pa ako. Naglalaro lang din ako at walang inaalala sa buhay. Gusto ko tuloy bumalik sa pagiging bata. Biruin niyo, college student pa lang ako ngunit nais ko nang bumalik sa pagkabata. Lahat halos ng tao lalo na ang mga matatanda ay nais bumalik sa pagiging bata. Ngunit, sa totoo lang, nais lang nating tumakas sa mga responsibilidad at paghihirap na kaakibat ng ating edad. Takot lang tayong harapin ang mga pagsubok at hamon ng buhay. Pero ating Panginoong Hesus ay hindi nagpadala sa Kanyang takot na mamatay sa krus. Tinanggap Niya ito. Nais lamang iparating sa atin ng Panginoon na ang ating buhay sa mundo ay isang pagtuklas: pagtuklas sa kalooban ng Diyos. Kasabay sa pagtuklas na ito ay ang pagtalima. Kung talagang mahal natin ang Diyos, walang dahilan upang matakot tayo sa mga responsibilidad na ibinigay Niya sa atin. Buti pa ang mga bata, walang inaalintana pero dahil sila'y inosente pa pero mas mabuti sa ating mga nakatuklas na sa isang nagmamahal na Diyos.

Mga batang nagpakuha sa akin ng litrato. Naglalaro sila sa may tabi ng lawa
sa Lungsod ng Calamba.

Sharing my blessings...

I was browsing the Internet when I saw a blog of my friend containing his musings and wanderings [Hi Kuya Carl!]. Then I remembered that I had a blog before way back when I was in high school. My purpose of having a blog is to share my experiences, reflections, and quotations which will inspire people. Well, it is for these same reasons why I decided to create a new blog. I always liked the idea of sharing what I have to everybody (especially food). Jesus encourages sharing. He even gave us an example by sharing Himself to us in the form of bread and wine at the Holy Mass. He knows (and we know) that we cannot live by ourselves alone. NEVER! We were created for God and for each other. Remember Adam? He needed a companion with whom he can talk to, someone to relate his experiences, and share his life. With these, I present to you THE LITTLE ANGEL, dedicated to the Triune God who forms me, to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her chaste spouse St. Joseph who guides me, and to St. John Mary Vianney and St. Martin de Porres who inspired me with their ascetic lives.

With the children of the St. John the Evangelist Parish in Kalayaan, Laguna.