Have you courted
anyone? Courting is an expression of love. When a man courts a lady, he
manifests his love and desire for the lady. He does his best just to win the
heart of his beloved. In the Philippines, that entails pleasing not only the
muse of your heart but also her family. We do paninilbihan (to render
service) to the household of our beloved, just so we may prove that we are
worthy of the trust and love of their daughter.
A man always puts
his best foot forward as he courts someone, until she says yes and his love
will be complete. The man and the woman, totally in love with each other, will
be ready to leave everything behind just to be with their loved one. In love,
they will never exchange the moments they spend with one another with anything
else in the world. They will marry each other (lalagay na sa tahimik)
and become one. The wife will bear a child; will bear the fruit of their love.
They will be at peace with each other, that is if the love they expressed
during their courtship is genuine. I remember my mother and father's story. He
courted her for five years. During those five years, his voice was so gentle as
they conversed that it can be likened to a baby. But after their marriage, even
our neighbor can hear the voice of my father as he rants to my mother the daily
chores of family life. In God's grace, they are still married for forty-one
years with six children and with eight lovely grandchildren. Their love even
bore a son-priest. Truly, God is gracious to those who strive to love like Him;
to those who aspire for peace in the midst of their differences.
The first
Christian community experience peace and understanding, even the love of God,
through the willingness to listen and be led by the Holy Spirit. The situations
of Jewish and Gentile converts confronted them: should the latter observe the
customs of the former? Should the Gentiles be circumcised too like the Jews?
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, they recognized what may appear to
be a mere burden to new followers of Jesus and what is essential and important
in following Jesus: the circumcision of their hearts. God decided for their problems through the
Holy Spirit who inspired the community’s decision-making. There was peace among
them, not because of their uniformity but through their oneness towards one
goal: in praising and loving God. This is the essential made realized by the
Holy Spirit. This is what enabled the apostles to be at peace (cf. Acts 15:1-2,
22-29). Truly, the Holy Spirit enlightens us. In times of problems and
confusions, It can guide us towards the right decisions; towards peace and
realization of God's love for us made manifest in our obedience to His
commandment of love.
John too was led
by the Holy Spirit to the peace experienced in the Kingdom of God; a peace
through the Lamb of God. God alone can
enlighten us in the midst of darkness; of the things, we may not understand.
When worried, harassed, or persecuted like John, God comes to us through the
Holy Spirit to assure us with His love; to bring peace to our disturbed souls
(Rev 21:10-14, 22-23). Indeed, in times of persecutions and hatred, the Holy
Spirit encourages us and inspires us (as John was strengthened by the Spirit
who led him to a vision of heaven), to aspire and embrace the peace God offers
to us.
We feel troubled
whenever a loved one departs. When the one who gives us security leaves, we
become anxious. This is how, probably, the apostles felt, as Jesus was about to
depart from them. But Jesus says: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to
you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be
troubled or afraid. In times of forgetfulness, dryness, or being overwhelmed by
the realities of life, the Spirit makes us remember, discover, and understand
the will of the Father for us, the teachings of the Son to us, the essentials
of our faith in God, the most important thing in life: the Love of God for us.
That causes peace to our mind and soul. One indicator of this is the fact that
you can sleep well. Do you sleep well?
People who are truly in love can sleep well for they are at peace with their
beloved, they are assured by the love of their beloved.
God dwells to
those who love Him. But truth be told, even before we love God, it is God who
loves us first. Thus, it is God who moves us towards Him. It is God who draws
us closer to Him to dwell in Him that in return He may dwell in us. God courts
us. He tries to convince us of the authenticity of the love He offers to us. Nililigawan
tayo ng Diyos. And the Holy Spirit helps us be convinced about the love God
has for us. And when one realizes the magnanimity of His love, one is ready to
leave everything behind for the one who loves him or her.
God loves us and
he will remain in us. Thus, we have no reason to be afraid, anxious or disturbed.
His love appeases us. Kaya walang dahilan upang mangamba o maghanap ng ibang
magmamahal sa atin. Kapayapaan ang dala nito; dala ng pangako ni Hesus ng
Espirutu Santo; dala ng pagmamahal ni Hesus. Pumayapa tayo batid na may
nagmamahal at tumutulong sa atin. The love of God brought to us by the Holy
Spirit brings forth peace; a peace different from the world’s notion which is
synonymous with threats, silencing and absence of difference. The genuine peace
which comes from God brings calmness in the midst of differences and troubles,
unity amongst us despite the varying opinions we may have.
Mananatili rin
kaya tayo sa kanyang presensiya?
Mamahalin din
kaya natin ang Diyos?
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