ONTO TO THE END

Saan tyo dinala ng pagsunod kay Jesus?

In obedience to the command of Jesus to preach His word to the ends of the world, St. James literally went to the ends of the known world of his times. He preached up to Spain which was believed then to be the end of the world. He is the one who brought the Christian faith to the Spaniards. In the tip of the Iberian Peninsula, there lies his tomb today in a beautiful church that has become a popular pilgrimage site for centuries; the Camino de Compostela. The road from Israel to Spain covers thousands of kilometers, but St. James was able to cover this distance, considering the difficulties in traveling during his time. He was able to do so for he had a great source of strength with him; our Lord. His experience of Jesus and His love empowered St. James to do what seemed to be impossible during his time (to travel a great distance; face adversities and opposition from the people to whom he preached the Good News). St. James was able to respond to Jesus invitation to serve Him and His people, to realize his vocation, through Jesus who called him.   

God empowers us to answer His call and to follow Him. Not by our own strength do we respond. It is through God's grace. His grace is more than enough for us to live out our vocation. Si Hesus ang ating lakas!

In our life, from what or whom do we draw strength to continue our journey? From our selves, from the positions we hold or desire?

In the gospel (Mt 20:20-28), the mother of James and John desired that her sons occupy positions of power with Jesus. Such can be considered a valid concern of a mother; to ensure that her sons will be in a better place in life. Jesus points, however, to a better and proper way to achieve such goals. It is not by positions and ranks that we can live a better life, but it is rather through service. It is by serving in a community that we can truly show our strength.

In serving, with Jesus as our strength, we make manifest that great power of God at work in us. For how can we do amazing things in our life of service by ourselves when in fact we are simply earthen vessels, as St. Paul says (2 Corinthians 4:7-15), so fragile and insignificant. But because we hold Jesus in us, we can offer Jesus through our service to others. In the process of serving, we gain true joy. We live a better life because we receive and share Jesus, whom we hold in our fragile humanity. Ang tunay nating saya ay ang makasalamuha si Kristo sa ating buhay paglilingkod, kahit sa gitna ng pagsubok at hirap, kalungkutan at pighati. Karanasan sa pag ibig ng Dios; ito ang pinagmumulan ng tuwa at kahulugan sa ating buhay. Without that experience of God, our studies, service, community life, and other aspects of life become sterile and fruitless. We remain to be simply earthen vessels. 

Thus in life, all that matters is to be with Jesus (all other things will follow). We have to put Jesus first always in our life. If not, we might be desiring other things we think are of great importance (worldly riches, positions of power). The Lord might ask us: “Is it not enough for you, to be with me?” With Jesus in our life, we go anywhere, and do anything, even to the ends of the earth.