REDEEMING FACTOR

There are thousands of reasons to give up humanity from generation to generation. When you look around, you cannot but be like Jesus in the gospel, utterly disappointed. Our society and the entire humanity may seem to be hopeless and giving it up is the only option left to us.

But despite our seeming hopeless condition; our disappointing actions, God never gave us up. Even though we disobeyed His commandments with much gusto, God continues to exert effort to redeem us, to save us. He does so because He sees in us hope. He could have destroyed us and simply create a new creation, but He did not. God sees in us a redeeming factor.

Truth be told, there are no hopeless cases in this world. There are only people incapable of seeing hope and opportunity in every crisis in life. In us, hope springs eternal (Alexander Pope in An Essay on Man, 1732). We can always find fresh causes for optimism, as God does. Let us not give on each other because the moment we give up on us is the moment we lose hope in our capacity to change for the better.     

Isn’t this is the very reason why Jesus came to this world?

God sees hope in each of us. Everyone has a redeeming factor worth holding on.

From this redeeming factor, hope may spring forth and salvation will be at hand.

What is your redeeming factor?

GOD PERFECTS OUR IMPERFECTION

Almost all of us would like to be perfect, to be strong, to be unlimited. These presuppose our feeling of imperfection, weakness, and limitation. We do not like to have any blemishes on our face. We like to have a smooth, flawless, and white skin. We would like to have plenty of money, for money has become the measure of success. We desire for a long life. Other would go to the extent of seeking immortality in this world. We abhor diseases and aging. We would like to be a superman – a perfect man. In the process, we focus too much of ourselves – me, myself, and I; ako, ako, ako. We become self-referential. Human as we are, we can never be perfect by ourselves. We would only end up frustrated and imperfect.  

What shall we then do with our imperfections? How shall we attain their perfection?

In the Gospel, a boy offered to Christ what he had; two fish and five loaves of bread, to feed thousands of people. Impossible. Imperfect. The two fish and five loaves of bread can feed only a handful of persons, but not by the thousands. They are imperfect means to address the problem of hungry of the people. Christ used this imperfect instruments offered to Him.  He blessed them and distributed to the people. What seemed to be impossible and imperfect was made possible and perfected by Christ. The two fish and five loaves of bread fed the thousands. Christ was able to do so because the boy OFFERED his two fish and five loaves of bread, his imperfect means.

In the Eucharist, we encounter a God through the appearance of bread and wine. These are imperfect/limited materials to represent the Almighty and Living God. When you look at the host and the wine, they do not move. They do not seem to be alive. I was thinking, if God used in the Eucharist a beating heart, all by itself, to make Him present in every Eucharistic celebration, I think millions will remain faithful to Him, millions will adore Him. But God chose a bread and wine to make him present in every Holy Mass. The imperfection of these matters are described by St. Thomas Aquinas in his beautiful Eucharistic poem “Sight, touch, taste are all deceived in the judgment of You. On the cross, only divinity was hidden, but here (in the Eucharist) the humanity was also hidden. “ The bread and wine are imperfect instruments to make Christ present in our midst. But as they are OFFERED, prayed over, broken and shared, they become perfect means to present to us our God who nourishes us, our God who incarnated among us. The Eucharist through these imperfect matters becomes an effective means to strengthen our faith in God, through the Word we hear, through the Grace, we receive as we contemplate God’s sublime presence in the Eucharist.

What shall we then do with our imperfections? How shall we attain their perfection?

OFFER them to the Lord. (Because for the Lord) there is no imperfect offering from a generous soul. From these imperfect talents, physical appearance, shortcomings, and sinfulness, from our two fish and five loaves of imperfections God sees an opportunity to manifest His perfecting grace. God awaits the moment you offer, you surrender them to Him. Only then can God pray offer your two fish and five loaves of imperfection, and make them fruitful to others.

What then are you to offer to the God?
What are you two fish and five loaves of imperfections? 

BETTER THAN WE DESERVE

The things we have 

We have them better than we deserve

The person we love

Loves us back better than we deserve

What do we have that we simply deserve?

None!

For everything is better than we deserve.

Who are we to deserve all these,

We sin much, give praise a little; 

people who often not satisfied, 

would always ask for more;

though we already have whatever we need

Better than  we deserve.

The things we have

Where we are

What we are now, 

We only once aspire. 

But now that we have them, 

we desire for another.

We have forgotten 

All these we have 

We once desired and longed for. 

Now that we have them, 

gratitude has to be the norm, 

satisfaction is the true measure. 

For the life we have, 

We have it

Better than we deserve. 

Be thankful!

Be Satisfied!

MIRACLES ARE NOT ENOUGH

Time and again, we hear stories of “miracles”: a statue of the Blessed Mother shedding blood, a dancing Santo Niño, an image of the Sacred Heart that appeared on a wall, incredible healing powers, and even apparition of the Blessed Mother to her supposed visionaries.

As in many rural areas in the Philippines, our barrio was not spared from the occasional supernatural wonders that descended among us mortals. I remembered Sadik who became an instant celebrity in our barrio, even before Facebook. Sadik was a simple farm boy. He once helped us in preparing our rice paddies. Nothing was really especial about him, until one day our barrio woke up with a wonder boy who can diagnose and heal sick people. Sadik became a healer. He was able to restore the health of many ill people. He received his power to heal from Christ, so he claimed. For a time, Sadik gained followers, as his fame reached our neighboring barrios. He and his followers distributed white handkerchief believed to be potent talisman against any evil that would try to harm the person in possession of it. In a monotonous and unexciting barrio like ours, before the era of reality shows in a 24/7 cable TV, the story of Sadik provided an entertainment, a kind of interlude. Soon his miraculous fetes failed, so was his fame faded away, and so too our entertainment. We were backed to our simple rural life.   

Miracles may entertain us for a time, but they are not enough to save us. Ours is a faith sustained not by miracles but by the love of God made manifest through the cross of Christ. It is this Cross that saved us, saves us, and will save us. In the gospel (Lk 9:43-45), after Jesus’ transfiguration and deliverance of an epileptic demoniac, He prophesied his impending suffering and death: The Son of Man is going to be handed over into power of men. It came as reminder to his disciples about the true mission of Christ. Though sadly, they failed to understand the place of suffering in the framework of salvation. Miracles are easier to understand. Wondrous marvels are great to behold. But who likes suffering, more so death? Instinct says, avoid pain, it might lead you to your death.

To be a Christian is to follow Christ not only through his three years of healing and preaching ministries in Galilee and regions of Israel, but more importantly in his last days in Jerusalem.  Christianity is an invitation to enter our own Jerusalems and embrace our own crosses. We are not to remain in Cana, Samaria or in other comfortable place where water turns into wine, where bread are multiplied. A great life awaits us in our Jerusalems.

Miracles are not enough to bring us to heaven. It is only through the Cross of Christ, present in our own crosses, that will save us.

Who would still like to follow Christ in Jerusalem? 

Dios ko, Dios ko, bakit mo ako pinabayaan?

Sa pag-ako ni Kristo sa ating kasalanan, naramdaman Niya sa Krus kung paano magkasala. Datapwat wala siyang sala, pinasan niya ang kaparusahan para sa atin. At isa sa mga epekto ng kasalanan ay ang maramdamang malayo tayo sa Dios; na wala ang Dios sa piling natin. Kasalanan ang naglalayo sa atin sa Dios.

Sa tingin ho ba ninyo magkakasala tayo kung alam nating sumasaatin ang Dios? Ang sanhi ng kasalanan ay ang pagkalimot natin na sumasaatin ang Dios. Kalimot: ito ang sanhi ng maraming kasalan: nangalunya si mister dahil nakalimutan niyang mahal niya si misis; nangopya ang estudyante dahil nakalimutang mas higit na mahalaga ang katapatan kaysa sa mataas na grado; napapamura tayo dahil nakakalimutan nating mahal natin ang mga taong ibinababa natin.

Ang epekto ng kasalan ay ang paigtingin ang pagkalimot natin sa Dios: na nilisan tayo ng Dios; na wala ang Dios sa ating buhay; na linayuan tayo ng Dios dahil sa ating kasalanan sa kanyan. Ganyan din ang nadarama natin kapag tayo ay nagkasala: nahihiya tayo sa taong na offend natin. Lumalayo tayo sa kanila o minsan tingin natin nilalayuan tayo nila.

Mula sa pagkalimut sa Dios naging malayo sa Dios.

Ngunit maari ba ito sa Dios? Sa tao possibleng mangyari ito: ang layuan ang taong nagkasala sa atin. Ngunit ang Dios, lalayuan ba tayo ng Dios dahil sa ating kasalanan sa kanyan? Kaya ba tayong pabayaan o kalimutan ng Dios sa ating pagkakasala laban sa kanyan?

Wika ng Dios sa pamamagitan ni propeta Isaias: Hindi kita malilimutan…..Paano tayo malilimutan o mapababayaan ng Dios eh labis niya tayong mahal. Napaka-especial natin sa kanyan. We are unique, we are especial, we are unrepeatable for God. Lagi nating kasama ang Dios sa lahat ng aspeto ng ating buhay. Yun nga lang minsan tayo, at hindi Siya, ang nakakalimot sa katotohanang ito. Tayo ang lumalayo sa Kanyan. But He holds us even if we let go of Him.

Sa mga pakakataong ito, na sa tingin natin iniwan o nilayuan tayo ng Dios, nararanasan natin ang katahimikan ng Dios. Nakakatagpo natin ang tahimik na Dios. Despite of our sinfulness, God is with us, silently accompanying us/ guiding us back to Him.

Katahimikan. Sinasabing katahimikan ang lenguheng gamit ng Dios. God speaks in silence. Magdasal ka; magpatirapa ka man sa harap ng krus, wala kang tinig na maririning. Tahimik lang siya. Ilan lang ang tuwirang kinausap ng Dios, sa kasaysayan ng Simbahan; sina Santo Domingo; San Francisco; Santo Tomas ng Aquino at iba pa. Karamihan sa atin, di natin narinig ang tinig ng Dios. May nakarining na ho ba ditto sa tinig ng Dios? Maging si Mother Teresa, nakaranas ng katahimikan ng Dios habang pinagsisilbihan niya ang mga mahihirap at maralita sa Calcutta, India.

Sa katahimikan ng Dios sa ating buhay, hindi ito nangangahulugan na di sumasaatin ang Dios, na pinabayaan na Niya tayo. Kasama natin siya lagi. Ito ang pangako niya sa atin (I am with you until the end of time). Di dahil di natin siya marinig ibig sabihin ay wala na Sya o absent na siya sa ating buhay. Tahimik lamang ang Dios kasama natin.

Ang katahimikan ng Dios ay di katahimikan gayang nang sa patay, walang buhay. Ang katahimikan ng Dios ay nagbibigay buhay, kahulugan sa bagay na di natin maintindihan, nagbibigay ng kapayapaan. Kapayapaang nakakamit natin sa gitna ng kaguluhan.

Subukan ninyong pumunta sa Cementerio, tahimik din doon vs. Adoration Chapel’s silence (matakot ka kung may magsalita sa cementerio). Huwag tayong matakot sa katahimikan.

Sa paanyayang katahimikan ng Dios makakamit natin ang kapayapaang magkakaloob sa atin ng pinagpanibagong pananaw sa buhay. The silence of God allows us to reflect and attain a new perspective in life.

Ang pananahimik ng Dios ay di pananahimik ng patay na Dios, kung di ng buhay na Dios na nangungusap sa katahimikan, pagkat walang salita ng tao ang makapaglalarawan sa kung anong ibig sabihin ng Dios sa atin. Makakatagpo lang natin ang Dios sa katahimikan ng ating puso. Ramdam natin ang presensya ng Dios. Ramdam natin ang ibig ng Dios para sa atin. Madalang lamang ang nakakarining sa tinig Dios. Ngunit lahat tayo maaari nating maramdaman ang Dios sa katahimikan ng ating puso. Doon natin Siya hanapin! Sa katahimikan mauunawaan natin ang kalooban ng Dios para sa atin, at matutunang magtiwala sa Dios na nagsasabing “Sagot kita!”

Sa kasalukuyan, marami sa atin, sa ating komunidad ang nakakaranas ng kapabayaan, mga biktima ng kasalanan: mga batang di na inaasikaso ng kanilang mga magulang; pamilyang sinukuan na ng mga mag-asawa na nauuwi sa isang broken family; mga kabataang napariwa at nalululong sa masamang bisyo at ipinagbabawal na gamot, mga biktima ng mapangaping lipunan! marami sa mga kapwa nating ito ang nakakaranas sa katahimikan ng Dios, sa tila paglisan ng Dios sa kanilang buhay (They experience God’s silence and his apparent absence in their lives). Nasasabi rin nila “Dios ko, Dios ko, bakit mo kami pinabayaan?” Ito ay isang hamon sa atin bilang Pilipinong Sambayanang Kristyano: ang maging bibig ng Dios na magbibigay payo sa mga naguguluhan; ang maging kamay ng Dios na magbibigay kagalingan sa mga may sakit; Ang samahan sa katahimikan ang mga taong nakakaranas ng kapabayaan tungo sa kapayapaan; tungo sa pagkaunawa sa mga bagay na pinagdaraanan nila, nang sa gayon wala na sa atin ang magkapagsasabing pinabayan sila ng Dios, dahil naranasan na nila ang Dios sa pamamagitan natin: kung hindi, baka sa pagdarasal natin, may marinig tayong tinig na nagtatanong: Juan, Juana bakit mo pinabayan ang iyong kapwa? Bakit mo ako pinabayaan?

Ang Mamatay sa Kasalanan at Mabuhay kay Hesus

Si Hesus ay nabuhay na mag-uli! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Sa pagdiriwang ng Pasko ng Muling Pagkabuhay, itinatampok ang pinaka dakilang misteryo ng ating pananampalataya bilang mga Kristyano: Ang muling pagkabuhay ni Hesus; ang tagumpay ng kabutihan laban sa kasamaan; ang pangingibabaw ni Hesus sa kasalanan at kamatayan. Ang tagumpay ni Hesus ay naging tagumpay din natin ng tinanggap natin ito sa Sakramento ng binyag; nang iniwaksi natin si Satanas at ang kanyang mga gawa; nang manampalataya tayo sa Diyos Ama, Anak at Espiritu Santo; nang namatay tayo sa kasalanan at nabuhay kay Hesus. Sinasariwa natin ang mga pangakong ito tuwing Linggo ng Muling Pagkabuhay sa pamamagitan ng Renewal of Baptismal Vows matapos ang pagbabahagi ng pari sa misa. Pagkakataon ito upang ipagpanibaguhin (renew) natin ang ating buhay bilang mga Kristyano. 

Sa pagpapanibago ng ating buhay, hindi nawawala ang sakit at hirap na mamatay sa kasalanan at mabuhay kay Hesus. Nang nabuhay na Mag-uli si Hesus, hindi tuluyang gumaling ang mga sugat na Kanyang natapo sa pagkakapako Niya sa krus. Nanatili ang Kanyang mga sugat sa kamay, paa at tagiliran. Mananatili, kung di man madaragdagan, ang hirap na kailangang batain nang sinumang ibig sumunod kay Hesus. Kailangan maging tapat sa pangakong binitiwan sa binyag: iwaksi si Satanas, at manampalataya sa Diyos; mamatay sa kasalan at mabuhay kay Hesus. Mahirap man, ngunit ang pakonsuelo natin ay ang katotohanang kasama natin si Hesus sa ating paghihirap. Ramdam tayo si Hesus dahil siya mismo naranasan Niya ang hirap sa mundong ito. Sa ganitong paraan nagkakaroon ng bagong pagtingin sa sakit at hirap sa ating buhay bilang mga Kristyano: Kung ang sakit at hirap na nararasan natin bilang mga Kristyano ay siya rin sakit at hirap na dinanas ni Hesus, tiyak tayong hindi magtatapos ang ating buhay sa kamatayan. Dahil kung tayo'y namatay nang kasama ni Hesus, naniniwala tayong mabubuhay rin tayong kasama Niya. (Roma 6:8). 

Sa pagdiriwang natin ng misteryo ng muling pagkabuhay ni Hesus, pinagpapanibago natin ang ating buhay bilang mga Kristyano. Buong tapang na tinatanggap ang hamon na maging tapat sa mga pangako natin noong tayo ay binyagan: iwasik si Satanas, at manampalataya sa Diyos; ang mamatay sa kasalanan at mabuhay kay Hesus. Tinatanggap natin ang sakit at hirap na kalakip ng mga pangakong ito, dahil alam natin di kamatayan ang katapusan ng mga ito, kung hindi ang pangako ng isang buhay na walang hanggan sa piling ni Hesus.

TULONG! SAKLOLO!

To ask for help from others can be an admission of one’s inefficiency to fulfill a certain task, or achieve a particular goal. It takes courage and humility to ask for help, especially in our world characterized by competition, and where man is defined by his competence and usefulness. If you ask for help, you can be perceived as weak and dependent on others. But asking for help can also be a manifestation of the person’s desire to improve the little that he has!

When the father of an epileptic child ask Jesus to help the little faith that he has so that his child may be healed, Jesus helped him to grow his faith. His child was healed. When the disciples asked Jesus to help them understand why they were not able to exorcise the demon from the child, Jesus helped them to understand that tasks are best fulfilled when done with prayer and fasting. The disciples understood. Jesus is truly generous in lending help. 

Asking for and giving help facilitate the development of relation between persons that leads to the formation of a community, and improvement of its resources. When one helps the other, they both ceases to be others with one another. They become friends, whose weaknesses and strengths become known to each other. Such knowledge is used not against a friend but for their mutual improvement. The little things, ideas, intelligence that each friend has, remain little if kept for themselves alone. But if placed together, their assets expand, so as their relationship. 

Today, we might be undergoing difficulties, painful life experiences, or perhaps we lack or miss something in life. But remember this, we do not have to suffer by ourselves. Don’t punish yourself. Ask for help. You will be surprised to discover how life can be bearable; how our inadequacies can be filled-in by a help from a friend – by the help of Jesus at work through your friends. 

If you need help, do not hesitate to ask for help!

YOUNG DOMINICANS, SENT TO PREACH

As the Jubilee of the 8th Centenary of the Order of Preachers draws to a close, young Dominicans are sent to preach!

The Jubilee of the Order began on November 7, 2015 (Feast of All Saints of the Order) and will end on January 21, 2017 (the date of the issuance of the Bull Gratiarum omnium largitori – Giver of all gifts of Pope Honorius III). As a new century commences in the long history of the Order, we focus our attention to ourselves; to us young Dominicans. On our shoulder the future of the Order is placed upon, as we are sent to preach the Gospel today, and most especially tomorrow. But for us to be effective preachers of tomorrow, we have to begin TODAY; for today we are Dominicans; today we are commissioned to be preachers; today we are sent to preach. 

Sent to Preach

To be sent presupposes a particular mission; a destination; a purpose. Thus, as we are being sent we aptly ask ourselves; Who sends us? How are we sent? For what does he sends us? Where does he send us? What must be the fruits of having been sent? (Trogir, 2013, n.50). 

To preach the gospel is to evangelize. And evangelization is the greatest charity we can offer to one another as it involves the breaking of the Word of God with one another (Bologna, 2016, n.3). Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminds us that: “There is no action more beneficial – and therefore more charitable – towards one’s neighbor than to break the bread of the Word of God, to share with them the Good News of the Gospel, to introduce them to a relationship with God” (Message for Lent 2013, n. 3). This is the mission given to us in 1216, and it remains to be the mission of the Order after 800 years: Sent to Preach the Gospel. 

Who sends us?

The One who sends us is the One who called us: God Himself! God is calling us towards a particular way of life. But today the voice of God is competed by many other voices; consumerism: telling you that you are not good enough so you have to buy many products to modify yourself; careerism: telling you that your success in life is based on the success of your profession; how much money and honor have you made?; the throw away culture: telling you that you can easily dispose anything or even anyone you do not like anymore, throwing away the values of commitment. There are thousands of other voices that compete with the voice of God. How then one can hear the voice of God calling him or her towards a way of life? It is by developing a conversation of friendship with God (cf. Bologna, 2016, n. 8.). Converse with God as often as you converse with your friends, as often as you update your status in the Facebook, Twitter and other social media. Cultivate your relationship with God by constant communication with Him primarily through the sacraments and through personal prayers. Be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit because God speaks through unexpected way; through the events in our lives. With constant communication with God, day by day His voice will be clear to you. 

How are we sent?

“He sent them two by two.” Jesus sent his disciples two by two. And St. Dominic sent his brothers two by two in 1217 to build communities. For us Dominicans our community is our first preaching. Thus in the beginning, Dominican communities are called Sacra Praedicatio, a Holy Preaching. 

A Dominican is a witness of a life lived in a community. We exercise charity first in our community. From there, we attain credibility in our mission of preaching to others; how can we preach the love of God without building community with our brothers and sisters (cf Bologna, 2016, 12)? As Blessed Paul VI said “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses (Evangelii Nuntiadi, 41)."

The call and mission that God bestows upon is always in the context of a community; of a family. We are called to be a member of a family. All of us belong to our biological family. I belong to the Sicat-Vasco family in as much as you belong to your particular families. I belong too to a spiritual family; the Dominican Family, in as much as I am called to be a Dominican brother. It is in these family that we first learn how to love; where we first experience love; more so the love of God. Our biological family later extends to our family in the school clubs, offices and to our circle of friends whom we consider too as our family. 

For us Filipinos this is not difficult to understand for we are family-oriented people (see CFC 34-36). We do everything for our family: Why do we study hard and earn a living? Not for ourselves but for the honor that we would bring to our family, and for welfare of our parents, spouses, and children. But the love we experience in, and for the our families ought not to remain alone in our families. It has to be extended. It has to be shared. In fact if what we experience in our families is true love and goodness it cannot but be shared, after all love and goodness are self-diffusive. We do not keep good news among our families alone. When one of our family members passed the board exam we share it to the whole world; We post it in the Facebook. We print tarpaulins and hang them in front of our houses. So it should also be with the Good News we experience in our families. Let our families be places where one experience God’s goodness. And share the goodness of God you have experienced in your family, so much so that when people see your families they see God. Through this, our families, can also be rightly called as Sacra Praedicatio; a Holy Preaching. 

Why are we sent?

The two poles of Dominican life are Contemplari et aliis tradere. Our call to preach the Good News is an invitation to live with God, and realize through our lives His message of Salvation; of healing the sick and proclaiming the kingdom of God. This brings us close to the broken and to the poor (cf. Bologna, 2016, 16). As preachers, we bring mercy, hope and the presence of God in the peripheries; among the poor. We name the grace of God present in their midst, even in their very sorry situation. 

We approach the poor and broken to share the goodness of God we had experienced, to be their companions with whom we can share the Bread of God. And we would be surprised that we too would be nourished by the poor and broken by their own experience of God shared to us preachers. They too have something to share. Thus as preachers to the poor and broken, we ought to be listeners too. We have to be prepared to become good listeners, before we become good preachers.

We preach not with the arrogance of an all-knowing speaker. We approach the poor with docility and openness to learn also from them. I once shared to a group of young members of the legion of Mary in one of our parishes. I taught them about the importance of giving back the love we have received from a person. When I asked their individual reflections, an unassuming girl replied: We should love a person even though he or she may not have loved us. Love can begin from us. Such was a humbling experience for me. I thought preaching before kids would be an active role for me, after all what can little babes add to my knowledge acquired after long years of studying. But that girl who spoke with the wisdom taught me that preaching can also have a passive dimension. A preacher should also have a receptive attitude towards his receivers because he can also learn from them. 

To where are we sent?

We are being sent to the people of God; to be in their midst. Our preaching is contextualized not only by where we are, but also in the people who live there; in the men and women who need the announcement of hope founded in Christ (cf. Bologna, 2016, n. 19). Our preaching should be relevant to others and primarily to us. God begins from where we are. As a student He is asking you to preach in your classrooms, in your schools. He would not sent you now in Africa to be a missionary, perhaps later. But today he is sending you to preach in your present situation. 

Today, we young people, the so-called millenials and digital natives, are sent to the digital continent; in the Internet and social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. This is a very familiar landscape for us. Internet has become a part of our lives. And God begin from this recognizable place for us. We can post, like, share Bible quotes in the Facebook instead of latest gossips about our favorite Hollywood stars. We can update our friends about Church events. We can follow news from Vatican. We can engage in a more productive conversation in the Internet by joining Catholic blogs and sites. We can bring Christ in this Digital continent in just a click of our finger. Indeed, the technological advances offer us a powerful instrument for preaching (Bologna, 2016, 21). 

What must be the fruits of being sent?

“They returned full of Joy.” The disciples returned filled with joy after fulfilling their mission. They are joyful not because they are successful but because God succeeded. They are happy after a lifetime of preaching not because their plans had been realized but because God’s plans had taken place. The joy of the disciples is rooted not so much in what they have done by themselves but in how they have served humanity in the name of Jesus (Bologna, 2016, 26). 

When I was a Dominican postulant, we were asked to facilitate a recollection to a group of students. For us, then, the indicator that one successfully facilitated a recollection is when students cried: when recollection became a crying session That became may goal. Students must cry in my recollection, but to my frustration. Students kept on laughing, activity after activity. No one cried except me, after the recollection. Looking back, I was frustrated and felt as failure because I had set my own goal, before the will of God. But in the end, I think the will of God prevailed, after all recollection are no crying session but encounter with God who prefers laughers than tears. If only I learned to own the will of God, I too would have end up laughing with my students in that recollection. 

In the beginning of our preaching ministry, we have to learn to entrust our lives to God, to offer ourselves at the disposal of God, and embrace the Paschal Mystery as our own spirituality; To offer ourselves as Christ offered Himself for our sins; To die to our selfishness and individualism, to die for others; and to live as Christ has risen from the dead. As we embrace the Paschal mystery of Christ as our spirituality we would never experience in the end. In between, there would surely be sorrows, difficulties, frustrations, negativity. God doesn't promise us a smooth journey, but he does promise us the best destination. We can only returned back to the One who sent us with Joy if throughout of preaching ministry we have made Him the center of our lives that holds us together; keep as whole, in the midst of trials and difficulties. 

The future of the Order

The Dominican Order exists for 800 years. Through its faithfulness to its mission mandate: to preach (for the salvation of souls), the Order has an uninterrupted service to God and to the Church in the past. At the threshold of the new-century of the Order, we young Dominicans commit ourselves in preaching the Gospel: sent by God, as a Family, to name His grace, in our world today, sustained by the paschal mystery of Christ. The future is full of possibilities but it can only be defined by the present guided by the wisdom from past. 

The future of the Order can only be as bright as we can be bright today. Upon our shoulder the future of the Order is placed as we, young Dominicans are sent to preach the Gospel, today.