VOCATION AS A WORK OF GOD

As Jesus moved on, he saw a man named Matthew at his post where taxes were collected. He said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew got up and followed Him.

Is this not too simplistic vocation story? It presents to us the basic elements of a vocation story: God calls, and Man responses. But in between these two events is a process. In could be a split -second process in our hearts. In could be years of thinking over and over again whether to respond affirmatively to the invitation of Christ to live a holy life; to live in a particular way of being Christian. This is discernment. 

In the process of discernment, we may doubt about ourselves whether we are worthy and able to faithfully live the life God is calling us into. We question God’s call. We question our vocation. These questions are often in opposition to our vocation: What if I do not have a vocation? What if I am called to a different life? Can I be faithful to this life? A priest counseled me, “Ask questions in favor of the Lord: What if God is giving me this vocation? What if God is calling me to this life?” Our vocation ought to be oriented towards God, not to an “I.”

As we discern to the life God is calling us into, we have in the gospel (Mt 9:9-13) the story of Matthew, a sinner, considered refuse of their society. In the other gospel accounts, the evangelists would not dare to name him by his common name Matthew. According to St. Jerome, they name him Levi out of respect to him. Matthew calls himself both by his common name (Matthew) and described himself as a publican. No one, even the most sinful person, needs to despair of salvation, as long as he turns to better things. We see this in Matthew who became an Apostle from a Publican.

As we turn to Christ and respond to his call, the light of Christ shines upon us and our true worth is revealed to us; our worth as God values us. The worth of ourselves and our vocation depend on the One calling us, more than to ourselves alone. We are called not because of our worthiness to receive, but because of the generosity of the Giver. God calls us because He wants to give something to us. God calls us to leave our earthy gains; to stand up from our tables and receive such a gift of vocation.

As Christ looked and called Matthew, Matthew returned the gaze of Christ. He promptly stood up and followed Him. His response was not out of haste and temerity. He saw in Christ’s merciful eyes his (Matthew’s) true worth, his vocation not of his own worthiness and doing but of God’s. As we try to follow Jesus, we sometimes experience frustrations, loneliness, and failure. We become sad and angry in the vocation we live. It is so, for we have seen our vocation as our very own work, our personal project. We look at ourselves. We forget that God is the author of our vocation. He is the origin and end, and all that is in between, of our life. When we begin to take credit for the things we do and relay solely to ourselves, we begin to be frustrated. We would always find something lacking, something wrong in what human hands do. We find no reason to celebrate about our own works, which always fall short of the standard of Christ. In Christ alone, at works in our lives, we can celebrate (whatever would the result be. His presence is enough reason to celebrate.).   

More than an act of man, our vocation is a work of God. That is if we allow God to work in us. If only we would look back at Christ calling us, we shall be drawn to Him and receive Him. Though the discernment of our response might take long, the Good News is, Christ never stops calling us, looking at us, waiting for that moment that you will return His gaze. He is waiting for us to return his gaze. In Christ, we find the strength and courage to stand up and fulfill His will. Only then we can prepare a banquet for the joy of vocation, we have received from and live through the Lord. 

THE ESSENTIAL FOR A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE

I had the opportunity to preach in a celebration of the sacrament of matrimony. The marriage was of no ordinary kind. The couple had been civilly married for fourteen years. Despite their civil marriage, they thought of receiving the sacrament of holy matrimony.

According to Plato, humans originally had four arms, four legs, and a single head made of two faces. Humans were so strong that they threatened to conquer the gods. The gods wanted to destroy them but ceased to do so for fear of losing the tribute they receive from humans. Zeus thought of splitting humans into halves that would weaken them and would double the humans who would give tribute to them. So it happened. Humans were split into halves. And only when the two halves find each other, they can be whole and strong again.

By the standards of the Greeks,  this couple was already complete, and ought to be satisfied in their marital relationship. But still, they felt their union is incomplete. Though it was functioning and had borne three daughters, their relationship was incomplete.

They rightly pinned point that which is missing: the grace of God. Knowing this, they had attempted to be married in the Church for three times. For some reasons, they were impeded for three times. They never stopped pursuing and attaining God’s grace in the sacrament of holy matrimony. Thus, came the day they were married. The joy manifested in their glowing faces was inexplicable, after all, that marriage was fourteen years in the making. The grace they received could not be contained, moving them in tears. Finally, with Christ and His graces in their midst as a couple, their marriage is complete.

St. Augustine once said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You (Lord).”  This is true not only in our individual search for meaning in our life. It extends to our relationship with our fellow human persons. Our relationships are restless until they find rest in God; until God rest in our relationships; until Christ becomes the center and foundation of our human relationships. This leads us to the fact that in every successful relationship there would always be a third party: God. It is not limited to a You-and-I bond. For a relation to remain firm, despite the hurly-burly of life, it has to be solidly grounded on a sure foundation. And Christ alone is our rock.

With Christ present in a relationship, though it may be buffeted by suspicions, pounded by challenges, it will remain standing through the life-principles and graces that Christ imparts. With the teachings and commandments of Christ serving as guiding stars, topped with His very own presence as the steersman Himself, we can be assured that our love boats would reach the port of heaven. With Christ in the rudder of our relationships, even the most hellish marriage, responsibilities, and commitments can be heaven here on earth.

In the gospel (Lk 7:11-17), the touch (of presence) and words of Christ brought back to life an only son of a widowed mother. To lose a husband more so a son, one after the other, cause unimaginable pain and suffering to a woman. Thus, to have her son brought back to life is a cause for unimaginable joy to a mother. Her purpose to live was restored.

The presence of Christ made manifest in His touch, in His words, in His graces in our life, bring forth life, bring us forth to a complete life. When Christ touches us and speaks to us, we experience the fullness of life. And so, it is in anything and anyone that is honored by Christ’s presence. A life graced by the Lord of life is a life that begets life. A relationship graced by the Lord who is love is a relationship that will surely beget love. That is His grace at work in us to make us whole (again); to make us holy (again). What an honor?!? What a privilege?!?

The honor and privilege Christ bestows upon us behoove us towards a mission. The graces accompanying Christ’s presence (in the sacraments and other means) are powers that enable us to be whole; to be holy. But the graces we received are not meant for our own sanctification alone. Our Christian life always possesses a social dimension. The graces we receive sanctifies us, that in turn, we may sanctify others. As Christ brings us to life, we too ought to bring others to life (in Christ). And is this not the goal of every relationship, of every marriage, of every friendship? A husband leads his wife not to nag about unattended chores, and vices, but to cause her to utter kind words. Parents lead their children to become saints through words and examples. In our relationships, with Christ in our midst, we seek the good and holiness of others. We bring them forth to life (in Christ) as Christ has brought as to life.

In life, we long to be complete. Thus we seek for others that will complete us; our better half. We establish human relationships, and for many, marry. But still, our life, our love, and our relationship long to be complete. We remain incomplete until Christ grant us the privilege to grace and honor our life with His presence. As Christ brings us to a life of wholeness and holiness, He gives us a mission: to help others to be brought to the same life (in Christ); to be whole; to be holy. 

That is the essential for a successful marriage. 

  

A TALE OF GOD-MAN ON THE CROSS

Once, a friend asked me “Why do we have the crucifix? In the crucifix, you see a suffering and wounded God. Why do we promote misery? I rather see a triumphant and risen Christ than one who is defeated.” My friend's experience is not far from our experience as we gaze upon a crucifix. 

It displays Christ enthroned on the cross, adorned with a crown of thorns, with hands and feet firmly nailed to its woods, sweat and blood running from Christ head to toe. We see a dying, if not a dead Christ. Other Catholic would not dare to look at it and changed the dying Christ with an image of a risen Christ.  

But does the crucifix exalts death and suffering? As we gaze upon the dead body of Christ, do we simply see a failed cause? If the crucifix promotes brutality and defeats against the evils of this world, then the Catholic faith does too, for the crucifix is the symbol of our Catholic faith for thousands of years. The truth is far from it.

More than defeat, the crucifix is our sure symbol of God’s triumph over death and sin, over pride and anger; the exaltation of God’s love for man. In a crucifix, we see and experience our God who emptied Himself and took the form of a slave; a form of a criminal who suffered the consequences of sins man committed. Christ crucified on the cross manifests the extent of the love of God for man; a love that is willing to do everything for the beloved, even shedding His very own life that man may live.  

As man was tainted by sin and death through Adam’s disobedience and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so man regained grace and eternal life through the obedience of the new Adam (Christ) and the tree of the cross. By obediently accepting death, death on the cross, Christ atoned for us and gifted us eternal life. Seen from this perspective, a crucifix ceases to be a symbol of suffering and defeatism, but the triumph of God’s love. 

The crucifix is prominently displayed in our churches for a purpose. The crucifix reminds us of the fact that God never abandons us. In our sufferings due to sin, and daily toils of life, God accompanies us. God is with us as we carry our cross. A cross devoid of the image of a crucified Christ is deduced as an instrument of punishment of cruel death. A cross with the crucified Christ is a fitting remembrance of God who suffered and is suffering with us and for us. Through the crucifix, we experience not a distant God, but God who is among us; God who never forsakes us. As we carry our life crosses with Christ, we can be assured that no matter how heavy these crosses are; however painful our sufferings are, they are bearable for they become meaningful through Christ’s abiding presence. With Christ in our struggles, our crosses are means towards a triumphant end; resurrection and eternal life. But when we carry our life crosses by ourselves alone, without Christ, they become punishments to us; meaningless chores and obligations whose immediate end we wish for. The cross is meaningful because Christ embraced it. 

Do not remove Christ from the cross. Let Christ’s presence grace too the life crosses you carry. Embrace your life cross with Christ. Carry your life cross with Christ. It will become your crucifix that will bring you to your glorious resurrection.       

TAMANG BAGAY SA TAMANG PANAHON

Gawin ang tamang bagay sa tamang panahon. Minsan wala sa lugar ang mga bagay na ginagawa natin. At kahit wala na sa lugar ang ginagawa natin, pinaninindigan natin, hindi dahil ito ay tama, kung hindi dahil ayaw nating mapahiya. 

Sa sulat ni San Pablo sa mga taga Corinto (1 Cor 4:1-5), binibigyan diin ng Apostol ang aral patungkol sa panghuhugas. Di naman natin trabaho ang maghugas. Ito ay sa Panginoon na Hukom natin. Naghuhugas tayo sa kasalukuyan, kahit hindi pa naman tapos ang buhay ng isang tao. Naghuhugas tayo datapwat di naman natin lubos na tanto ang nilalaman ng puso ng isang tao. Wala sa lugar ang paghuhugas. Di pa panahon ng paghuhukom. 

Sa ebanghelyo ni San Lucas (Lk 5:33-39), tinuturuan tayo ni Hesus na mag-ayuno, sa tamang panahon para sa tamang kadahilan. Ang pag-aayuno ay ang pagliban sa pagkain ng dalawang beses sa isang araw. Isang buong pagkain lamang ang maaaring kainin sa araw ng pag-aayuno. Kalimitan tuwing Kwaresma at mahal na araw tayo nag-aayuno sa Simbahan. Maraming dahil bakit tayo nag-aayuno; Yung iba dahil gustong pumayat, dahil may check-up sa doctor, yung iba nagpapagutom nang husto dahil may eat all you can na pupuntahan. 

Sa ating pananampalataya, tayo ay nag-aayuno, umiiwas sa pagkain nang marami, dahil ninanais nating maunawaan kung ano ang mas mahalaga: ang material na pagkain na makabubusog sa ating katawan o ang espirituwal na pagkain na kaloob ng Maykapal? Nag-aayuno tayo ng magapi natin ang makamundong hangarin ng ating katawan. Sa pag-aayuno pinapalaya natin ang ating mga sarili sa material na hangarin natin, at pinalalakas naman ang kaluluwa nang mayakap nito ang higit na mahalaga sa atin; ang Diyos na tanging makabubusog sa atin. Kung ganoon ang pag-aayuno ay isang paghahanda sa pagtanggap natin sa Diyos; isang paghahanda sa piging na pagsasaluhan natin kasama siya.

Sa ebanghelyo, sumasakanila na; sa mga apostoles, pariseo at escriba, si Jesus, ang Panginoon natin at Diyos. Kailangan pa ba nilang mag-ayuno, gayung nandoon na ang Diyos na kanilang pinaghahandaan? 

May dalawang maaring dahilan kung bakit tutol ang mga pariseo at escriba sa di pag-aayuno ng mga apostoles: Una, marahil di nila tanto na si Jesus ay ang Diyos na matagal na nilang pinaghahandaan. Ikalawa, di na alam ng pariseo at escribe ang dahilan kung bakit sila nag-aayuno. Ang pag-aayuno ay naging kaugalian na lamang, nakasanayan, nakagisingan. Sinusunod nila ito ng di alam ang dahilan. Nang dumating na ang panahon na kailangan na nila itong isantabi, dahil sumakanila na ang katuparan ng pangako ng kaligtasan, di nila ito magawang maisantabi. Nakasanayan na nila. 

Mahirap tanggalin ang nakasanayan na, kahit may bago na, kahit mas maigi ang bago. Minsan kapag ibang bagay na dapat ang ginagawa natin, sa dating gawi pa rin tayo. Iniisip natin wala ng iigi pa sa nakasanayan na. Ito na ang the best. O kaya naman naiisip natin na hanggang dito na lang ako. Ito na lang makakaya ko. We avoid something new because we are afraid we might lose what we thing is the best in exchange of lesser value.

You can't teach an old dog new tricks. But the Good News is: We are not Dogs. We are human persons. We are not old. We are young in contrast to the eternity that awaits us. Every day is an opportunity to learn new things. Jesus presents to us a new way of life: a life of celebration in His presence; a life filled with His presence. May bagong gawi na itinuturo sa atin si Hesus; ito ang gawi ng kabanalan at pagmamahal, ang gawi na maghahatid sa atin sa piging sa langit. 

Umiwas tayo sa mga lumang gawi: ang gawi ng kasalanan.Hindi maaring isalin sa luma ang bago. Maghahalo-halo. Malilito tayo. Hindi tayo maaring maging banal at makasalanan nang sabay. Hindi tayo maairng maging mapagbigay at magnanakaw nang sabay. Hindi ka maaring maging binate at may asawa nang sabay. Gaya ng paglalagay ng bagong alak sa lumang sisidlang-balat, sasabog tayo; malilito tayo. Masasayang ang bagong alak. Masasayang ang sisidlang-balat. Masasayang ang buhay natin. 

Inaatasan tayo ng Panginoong Jesus na mag-ayuno. Mag-ayuno di lang sa pagkain kung hindi mag-ayuno maging sa mga lumang bagay; mga bagay na marapat na nating taligdan: ang kasalanan. Mag-ayuno di lang ang tiyan kung hindi maging ang mga mata; sa patitig sa mga bagay na magtutulak sa tin na gumawa o maka-isip ng masama; mag-ayuno ang mga tenga sa pakikinig ng tsismis; mag-ayuno ang bibig sa pamumutawi ng masasamang salita; mag-ayuno ang puso mula sa pagtatanin ng galit at poon laban sa kapwa. Sa pag-aayuno maiwawaksi natin ang lumang gawi; ang gawi ng kasalanan. Sa pag-aayuno mapaghahandaan natin ang pakikipagsalo natin kay Hesus sa makalangin na piging. Sa pag-aayuno maisasabuhay natin ang bagong gawi nang pamumuhay na ibinibigay sa tin ng Panginoong Jesus. 

Ito ang tamang bagay na gawin ngayon: Kung wala ka sa piling ni Jesus, ngayon ang tamang panahon para mag-ayuno. Sa piling ni Jesus wala ng pag-aayuno. Sa langit wala ng pag-aayuno.