Believe the Impossible

There is this entertaining song entitled “I Believe in Miracles” sang by an artist named Hot Chocolate. As you hear the song, it will surely make you shake, dance and drop until its last line and tune. The lyrics go this way:  “I believe in miracles, since you came along, You sexy thing… Miracles right before my eyes got me hypnotized… Only yesterday I was on my own, Just another day later my mind was blown.” 

Believing in miracles is naturally difficult. No can tell if it is real or unreal unless if you have literally turned impossible things into reality.  Imagine the Gospel of John as a musical play. Afterwards, suppose the miracle at the wedding at Cana its overture. Just like in an opera or in a musicale, an opening salvo is played in the beginning that should give an interesting foretaste of what’s to come. In the story, we know that everyone was blown away by this very first manifestation of Christ’s primacy as the only Son of God.

Little did we know that Jesus allows us to believe in Him. Before then, no one was healed, no one was saved from an evil spirit, no one was raised from the dead, not even a touch where someone feels the presence of the Lord. It was nothing, like a point-blank range without a specific target. Everyone is clueless about the Messiah, specifically in his majestic power that will redeem us from our sins. This was because Jesus initially insisted to his Mother that his Time has not yet to come nor he is in the proper moment either to extol his shining greatness to all. He didn’t waste a single opportunity, as he exercised a miracle that gave us a lasting impact to our Faith directed through the Church and its faithful.

The men and women at Cana witnessed Jesus Christ’s transforming power in this story, like the way people came before God and witnessed how they were transformed by the presence of Christ. At the end of the day, all that we will be in the future, our worries and concerns can only be transformed by his holy presence. Fear not my brothers and sisters, Just believe that Christ is with us in the crossroads of our life.  

Looking Over The Horizon

   The best has yet to come. There are more seeds to be sown, there are more problems to be solved and there are more things to be reckoned with. In these first encounters with myself and with the community, a ton of memories and experiences have already cloistered in the “get-go” stage of the Postulancy.

   As I look and examine myself, I always wonder, “Am I the real me?” Of course, this hypothetical question has surfaced in a number of occasions, but with no characteristic luck, I always fell short of answers and ideas. It is inevitable for me to concentrate and look over the horizons for I believe that in this vocation, there will always be ambiguities in our life. In fact, several of them are without my knowing and are often overlooked in plenty of instances.

   Being a man who looks forward to challenges is the person that I become. I live with these crucial and gut-wrenching situations from time to time. I do believe that these things allow a person to achieve his peak of excellence. These moments shall give a man’s life the purpose of his existence in the society.

  Indeed, when I first set foot on this remarkable journey of priesthood, I virtually anticipated each of these moments with ease. Sooner or later, on the stage where an aspiring Dominican will finally have the opportunity to knock at the front gates of these zealous preachers, I must consciously raise my own standards. Being tough is not always enough, for they say a man’s mettle is seen in his weaknesses not by his strengths. Challenges are not to be underestimated, for these are more than we can possibly imagine. We cannot also expect to go for the easy way all the time, for shortcuts never lead us to success.

   In many aspects, we try to overcome troubles and anxieties. That notion is generally true especially as far as our reputation and integrity is concerned. But then again, I always hook up to myself the reality that life is full of surprises. It may be thrilling or somehow disappointing, but once we try to extend the boundary of our feelings and emotions, we can unwittingly say: “Hey! Slow down, the best has yet to come.”

We Serve, We Preach, We Contemplate

Each day of our lives is a perfect day to speak of what we truly believe and of what we must conceive. At this point of time, we are summoned; we are in for a mission, a mission that is incomplete hence to be fulfilled. The stronger the faith we possess, the further we discover each and every blessing given by our Father. The greater intellectual knowledge we have, the wonderful opportunities shall come for us to discover the meaning and purpose of every living thing. Generally, we are so much blessed in life that is enough to be considered as a good follower of Christ. In fact, Everyone of us is responsible of our own inclinations to conform with His divine will.

A Dominican preaches the Gospel true to Dominic’s calling of changing the world through his tireless preaching. Jesus Christ himself illustrates simplicity and humility that a person can find out through his/her idea of service. Man, in contrast could be one with Christ in simply following his example towards the people, proclaiming the good news and in the spirit of love and brotherhood among us.

The mere fact that we are living here in the Pre-Novitiate reminds us of our promise and fulfillment of service to the people who need our help. Remember that we are called by God to serve, to contemplate and to praise Him. Indeed, we are called to love and honor him wholeheartedly regardless of what is inside and outside At the end of the day, on this very day given by our Lord, let us bear in mind that for every second, every minute, every hour of our lives, we must dedicate the blessings we have received from our Lord in fulfilling our mission to preach the good news to the people, for the service of all mankind.

The Next Filipino Saint

One interesting topic that has crossed in my mind these past few days is about the next Filipino saint next to San Lorenzo Ruiz. As I have strived to grasp the accounts and the life story of this “improbable saint”, I wonder; “What are the qualities or the criterions in becoming a SAINT in the Philippines?” Perhaps in this question alone, we’ll take years to decipher what is the rightful supposition for this, for it brings about issues that can be questioned and apprehended because we all know that our culture is to stifle preconceptions before it actually happens.

Modern-day icons, personalities and celebrities arrive to them an ego of being a saint, possibly on their appealing persona and character of which the people may have believed that they are true, or worse, it may be false. A couple of months ago, I had met an ex-seminarian while riding a van back home in Cavite. As both of us conversed, he knew from the start that I was a seminarian, probably because I wore that time a crucifix on my neck. He said that the easiest or the quickest way for a person to be a Catholic saint is to become a perpetual martyr. It is believed that when you martyred for the sake of our faith, you go straight to heaven.

Of course, on my part, I cannot help to ask who his favorite saint is. His answer was simply straightforward. “Si San Lorenzo Ruiz” he replied. Luring my attention, I was totally surprised with this man. (Even though he looked like half-Chinese living in Binondo, Manila) I never expected that a person like him would admire and hold devotion on our very own Filipino saint. A martyr, a family-man, a devout Catholic and an ideal saint, St. Lorenzo Ruiz is indeed a true son of God and a role model for the youth.

Looking on the present generation, we can’t just stand still on relying on martyrdom alone to become a saint, but being Christ-like in living what you do and what you believe. The next Filipino saint could come to our eyes very soon, and this shall remind us that the time for its arrival is only the aftermath of what we have shared to them. We can be branded as “Ang Santong Pinoy” if we only try to become natural and inherent of what the Christian values have taught us in reality. It would take less miracles, less evidences and less testimonies in the legitimacy of our own understanding of sainthood if we could follow the trail of these saints whose life are dedicated for the glory and the salvation of God and mankind.

            

A Love Letter from a Seminarian

Dearest SWEETHEART,

My Darling, My Love and My Sweetheart ------ Last Sunday, the 14^th of February, I have to admit that I screwed you up. I didn’t tell you truth on why I was not there. I have to attend a courtesy call from President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo in Malacañang and I can’t really tell you what transpired to our brief meeting for I turned to be somehow retarded and problematic at that time, but I know to myself that I will be the one to be scrutinized for my fault.

To tell you quite frankly, since this incident, my coziest nights became by most haunted nightmares. Believe it or not, I never had this emotional, traumatic problem before. I constantly sweat to death in my bed, whilst sleeping. To counteract this, I always keep in mind those remarkable memory of our fairy tale relationship, our first kiss, first date and our first opportunity and time to say “I love you, sweetheart.”. And oh, by the way, on no account I haven’t failed to remember our anniversary celebration in Paris, France, where we altogether say “Je vous aime!” which means I love you in their native French before we go back home to Manila.

Gosh! I was so stupid, and rightfully to be arrowed by Cupid of St. Valentine, for these selfish and weird acts of mine. I even think of suicide for that matter, and killed myself right away, with no hesitation. (Preferably in front of your house in Valle Verde..) I also get to think of Kim and Gerald’s latest movie Paano na Kaya?, Where both of us can visibly relate on Bogs and Mae’s relationship as BFF (Best Friends Forever) in their pre-Valentine movie flick. This movie brought me to tears and whew, thank God I’m still alive for my Death Insurance is still not ready once I have a sudden heart attack. (hehehe..)

Nevertheless, I could always think of you, I wish I can spend all my life with you forever, at your side, at your caress and at your heart. But you alone are my sole inspiration, my informer of good things, you saved and changed my life, and for that reason I sincerely thank you.

After all, It’s not easy for me to leave you that day, In fact I even heard you cry, weep and whimper in my daydreams and fantasies, for I know you’ve been a prisoner of my mistakes and it’s all because of me, your best friend, or shall we say the best among your friends, impairing your delicate heart because of my stupidity and foolishness.

With my sincere apologies and deepest sorry for you my dearest sweetheart, I promise to be a better person, not because I want to please you once more, but to show how genuine I am to be the person you loved the most. Je Vous Aime Baby! I’ll always be at your side, I promise.

Your loving sweetheart,,

Bestriend turned lover,

J A S B

Detachment

DETACHMENT

v  The act or process of disconnecting or detaching; separation.

v  The state of being separate or detached.

  TEN THINGS MOST FILIPINO TEENAGERS CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT

v  Cellphone                                                  (Text and Call 24/7)

v  Ipod / Mp3 Player                          (Mabibingi ka to the max)

v  PC Computer                           ( Facebook and YM magdamag)

v  Television                                (ABS VS. GMA, who wins?)

v Chizmisan                                        (The Buzz vs. Startalk)

v  Gambling                                                  (Sugal: Tong-Its)

v  Basketball and Boxing                   (Lebron, Kobe at Pacquiao)

v  Boyfriend /Girlfriend                              (sunod sa uso)

v  Kikay Kit                                                    (For GIRLS only)

v  DOTA                              (National Sport of the Philippines)

We, Filipino teenagers have been always a victim of this unlikely phenomenon, a fast-growing trend that many of us are guilty of doing so. Like those things above, we find them difficult to detach, that’s why my brothers, detachment from the material things we love is probably one of the most laudable, or perhaps the most heroic sacrifice we can do as the Lenten season approaches. We must always bear in mind that our greatest possessions cannot be with us in heaven and in the Kingdom of God. This is also why our Lord Jesus Christ reminded his apostles in their journey to only bring the things they only need, for such insignificant belongings of them isn’t too relevant at all.

“ Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.”

- St. John of the Cross

(a best-seller GOSPEL REFLECTION from Mk. 6:7-13)

MY MISSION AND VISION

MISSION

I, John Andrew, son of Alvin and Jocelyn Bautista,

unswervingly commit myself to fulfill a promise of

dedication and perseverance on my endeavors in life,

in the hopes of realizing my dreams and aspirations of

triumph and success.

I shall walk steadfast in following footsteps towards Christ,

in the essence of diligent study, hard work and devotion

to my day-to-day work in forming myself worthy of

becoming Christ’s pastor of the Church.

VISION

In the direction of fulfillment and complete

realization of my pledge,

I envision myself as a person that embraces

the role of a model pastor

Who possesses Christ’s dedication of work and service,

in view of achieving peace and unity to his brothers and sisters

A man whose character is stirred by passion and zeal,

battle-readied in the outmost skirt of obstructions and miseries of life.