Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: A Dose of God Today

  • SHARING THE AMAZING MYSTERIOUS LOVE OF FR. NOEL GARTLAN, C.S.s.R.

    SHARING THE AMAZING MYSTERIOUS LOVE OF FR. NOEL GARTLAN, C.S.s.R.

    BY REMY S. RABOR

    I believe letter-writing is an effective means of communication to get to know a person … This I learned from my 10 years of letter-writing with Fr. Noel Gartlan, C.S.s.R.

    Fr. Noel does not like writing a”personal” letter but he likes receiving them. Since I’m fond of writing, so he gives his response whenever he has time.

    Fr. Noel was a person full of love. He was called to incarnate God’s unconditional love in whatever circumstances he was placed. He expressed God’s love in his work in Tacloban and also in Davao with the seminarians, and in Iligan, and in the people he met.

    In all his letters to me he always begins with; “My dear dear Remy“… In almost every letter, he always says “one friendship progress“, because we can say what we feel, without any fear of being judged or fear that the other would be taken aback by what we say. Our relationship, me being his “little sister” and him my “big brother” is what we liked very much and one we both like to remain. If he has been able to enter into my sufferings and sorrows, trials & challenges in my life a bit, it is because he comes for me somewhat more than ordinary pastoral care.

    Whenever he writes about his love and concern for me, he always emphasizes that he hoped his words could never be misconstrued by Rey as anything but showing the highest concern for me as a married person and for my marriage, for it is great concern for him that my marriage be a success and that Rey and I grow in the deepest possible love together & anything he can do to help that along, is what he feels he should do for a “little sister”.

    “Happiness is the result of trying to do something else besides trying to be happy. Maybe, the worst way to attain happiness is to work with set purpose to be happy. The harder one tries, the more elusive is the fruit desired. The butterfly does not come to the one who tries to catch it. Joy comes from being in tune with life around. The butterfly enjoys being fully a butterfly in full freedom, than captured in our hands. We must try to be at peace with the cosmos, to be in tune, in harmony.”

    It makes him happy when I tell him what I have been doing especially in my marriage because he grows too in this mystery of love as the year goes on.

    Fr. Noel always expressed his gratitude whenever he received my letters, or birthday gifts or phone calls. He expressed his thanks by telling me: “Silly little sister!” and added, “Thank you”, for showing him something of my love for him, and helped him too to know more clearly of his love for me.

    I cannot forget what Fr. Noel said,” Touch the good earth every day. It’s Friendly. It’s from where we came and to where we return.”

    Fr. Noel always said he has so much to thank me for. I too felt the same and happy too, whenever he shares anything that comes to his mind. It is because we are special friends we can say anything to one another.

    Fr. Noel always emphasized on God’s love. Jesus is the human expression of God’s love. We are called to a relationship of love with God, in the person of Christ. Once the relationship is right, all else is right. What I do is very secondary to whom I AM in relationship with Christ.

    In one of his letters, Fr. Noel shared that he was an instrument of God’s love. A woman he met along the small chapel asked if she could take some of his time. There was somehow an understanding between them and they sat in the chapel for about 30 minutes. She poured out her heart to him. Because the nature of the problem she presented they had to share on love. Giving her some of his love, he could feel she was responding. He knew they were both the better for the encounter. With a misty eye of gratitude, she asked his name. It was only 30 minutes, but in that short time, he felt he knows her heart and she, his. He knew he met Christ. Isn’t it a great mystery? This is his little reflection for me in his letter.

    In every ending of Fr. Noel’s letter, he always says that in his prayer each morning, he speaks my name to God and prays that I will know His love for me and that his own way be a little of the same sort.

    Fr. Noel is one person whom I consider a part of my life. In his own unique way, he has shown me the human love of Jesus for me.

    Fr. Noel’s and my letter-writing relationship will always be printed in my heart and mind all years till I depart. I praise God for the gift of Fr. Noel in my life and those whom he also encountered.

    May God have mercy on Fr. Noel Gartlan, CSsR. May the Lod grant him eternal rest. AMEN.

  • LDR – Long-Distance Relationships

    LDR – Long-Distance Relationships

    May 21, 2023 – Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052123-Ascension.cfm)

    For those who are into (LDR) Long-Distance relationships, especially with migrants who have lived and worked abroad away from our families and loved ones, separation and homesickness have been a constant struggle in their daily lives. Experiences of separation and homesickness are indeed never been easy to deal and content with in our journey through life. Difficult it may be, but we also know that our day to day wrestling with separation and homesickness could also provide us opportunities for growth in meaning and values in life. Because at times, in our separation and homesickness, we may become more in touch and conscious of who are most important people in our own life, and what, why and how are they valuable in one’s life. Separation and homesickness could be a chance for us to discover, claim and commit once again to what is important and essential in our own lives.

    At times in life, like “one cannot see the forest for the trees” we need then to detach, separate and be distant from our attachments in order to see and discover once again for ourselves the values, principles and meanings that are most dear to us now and in effect inspire us to move on forward with life. As Henri Nouwen would say: “What is most close, most intimate, most present often cannot be experienced directly but only with a certain distance.” In other words, separation and homesickness can move us to be more appreciative, responsible and hopeful in life. Thus, “Absence makes the heart grows fonder”. Ang mawalay nakakabusog rin ng puso. Ang mabulag makatambok pud og kasingkasing. This can be the upside of life-separation and homesickness.

    However, the downside of separation and homesickness is “Out of sight, out of mind”. Ang mawalay nakakawala ng landas at nakakasira ng ulo rin. Ang mabulag makasaag ug makabuang pud. If you don’t see, you don’t mind, and you even don’t care. Separation and homesickness can also render us directionless, meaningless and hopeless in life.

    Crucial then in our experience of separation and homesickness is the once-again & always search, giving importance and making a promise to our values, meanings and missions in life.

    Today, we celebrate the 2nd Glorious Mystery, the Ascension of the Lord. Tradition has it that forty days after the risen Lord appearances before his disciples, the Lord has ascended back to Our Father, leaving behind and separated away from us His disciples. This would mean that separation and homesickness share in our life as well as in our faith, as part of our life-story and our salvation history as well. Like the experience of the two disciples in Emmaus where the Lord appeared to them and then disappeared when they recognized Him, Salvation also requires the Lord’s resurrection and departure (His coming and going into our own lives) – that part and parcel of our faith and life story is the paradox of homecoming and separation, of the hellos and goodbyes. And during moments of departure and distance, separation and homesickness – though with a downside of pain, anguish & of losing direction, could also be the upside and opportunity to discover and claim once again what is importance and valuable in our life as well as what is our mission in life now, that is, our life-values and life-missions.

    Our readings remind us that in the Lord’s ascension, the Lord empowered and gave his disciples the task and mission to be His witnesses in the world, saying “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them” with the assurance “I am with you always forever.” This explains why the Lord’s ascension is more than just about the Lord’s departure, separation and disappearances but more so about once again and anew finding, claiming, committing and fulfilling our life-missions.

    We pray then, that like the two disciples of Emmaus, may our usual departure and distance from our loved ones and the usual Lord’s departure and distance from us, move and inspire us to go on discovering and upholding our values, principles, and meanings in life, as well as fondly reclaim and actively fulfill our hopes and missions in life. Amen. 

  • Bahala Na

    Bahala Na

    May 7, 2023 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050723.cfm)

    For us, Easter people to fully appreciate the meaning and benefit from the fruits of the mystery of the Lord’s resurrection, we must reflect and try to discover how the Lord has resurrected and can be resurrected in our daily ordinary lives now. Somehow someway during this Easter Season we ponder on the question: Sa unsang pamaagi nabanhaw ug mabanhaw ang Ginoong Dios sa akong kinabuhi karon? In what ways the risen Lord has & may be truly resurrected in our very lives at this very moment?

    As we have recently experienced during the pandemic times, we cannot deny that there are moments in our life that we experience crises and distress. Yes, we do have moments in life when everything seems to fall apart, gets very dark and uncertain, when we are down and at lost, when things get bad, when trouble, sickness, suffering and death strike, when we are left behind and find ourselves on our own, when things have no meaning and doesn’t make sense anymore. These are critical moments in our lives, where usually moments when we have nothing else but faith, have no one else but God, and can do nothing anything anymore but just to trust in God.

    We, Filipinos usually express this faith through the words: “Bahala na”. Usually in moments of crises in life, we articulate our faith in God and in Jesus by saying “bahala na.” Others have criticized such Filipino faith as our fatalistic or defeatist mentality. But for us Filipino, praying and saying, “Bahala na” is more than an expression of resignation to fate or “kapalaran” but articulations of our deep trust and faith in God in times of crisis in life. Because for us, “bahala na” means more than just “come what may” (o pawala nalang), but it is our way of saying, that when after we have already done our part, but things are not complete or finish yet, now “Bathala na” “sumadios nawa”, “gipaka-dios ko na”, “gitugyan ko na sa Ginoo”. “I now entrust to Him.” All now is in God’s.

    This has the same meaning with the word “Amen” “Kabay pa”. “Hinaut pa Unta”. So be it.” This is our expression of deep trust in God, saying, “after all I have done… with God, all will be well. So be it. Siya Nawa. Amen. Bahala na”.

    Here in our gospel today, we hear Jesus saying to his apostles, “do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God, have faith also in me.” These are the farewell words – the ‘mi ultimo adius’ of Jesus to his apostles said during his despidida party – the Last Supper. After he had warned them of the crisis that lies ahead for Him and his disciples, Jesus have also felt the heartbrokenness his apostles must have felt of the coming loss and crisis. Here, at their crisis moment, Jesus consoles and directs his friends to trust in God and in Him – an invitation to: “Bahala na.” He said to them & to us now: “Don’t let your heart’s be troubled. Believe in God. Believe in me.”

    This is Jesus’ way of saying: “Don’t worry, Me & Our Father got this. Have faith in us. Entrust this to Us”. “Ayaw na kabalaka. Kami sa akong Amahan ang bahala. Salig lang kanamo. Isalig, ipasa-Ginoo, ipasa-bahala, ipasa-Dios na kanamo”.

    The same words of consolations and directions are being preached to us today. Jesus feels for us. He feels and knows the heartbreak we feel, and the difficulties we are in – in our every moment of our life-crises. He also invites us to always trust always in God and in Him. When he said “I am the Way, the Truth and Life”, he is also leading us that it is God and Him, not ourselves who will bring and deliver us to our salvation and eternal life. And only when we always follow and persevere in the Lord’s way, which is the way of the suffering and cross, as well as keep on trusting in God – “bahala na” not only during crisis moments of life, we eventually share and enjoy our life and salvation at Home with God, Our Father and Jesus.

    In other words, the Lord has and can be truly resurrected in our daily ordinary lives now, if and when we learn how to trust and have faith in Him, who is our Way, Truth and Life. Thus, by saying Bahala na, Amen to His Way, Truth and Life, and allowing His Way, Truth and Life in our ordinary lives, He has indeed risen and can be truly risen.

    In every moment of our ordinary lives then, as we do our part, we pray that we must always have faith and trust in God and in Jesus. For we know, without the way there is no going, without the truth there is no knowing, without the life there is no growing. Thus, we seek the way that we may go, the truth that we may know, and the life that we may grow eternally, only to discover and realize that Our Way, our Truth and Our Life is the Risen Lord himself in daily ordinary lives now.

    In other words, and simply said, our prayer is  Bahala na. Amen.

  • THE GATE OF THE SHEEP

    THE GATE OF THE SHEEP

    April 30, 2023 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/043023.cfm)

    Parents are the first shepherds of children at home. As shepherds, they take care of their children, and make sure that home is welcoming and nurturing. Parents secure that the basic needs of human intimacy and love, of physical, mental and spiritual aspects of children are provided. Parents lead children by example through their words and deeds.

    However, what if our parents are irresponsible? When a father turns out to be alcoholic, abusive and immature or a mother turns out to be distant, self-obsessed and cruel in her words, then, it will not be surprising if children will also turn out to be like them, lost and unproductive, broken and resentful.

    This can also be true in a wider picture. When our leaders, whether in our Church or State, will turn out to be unreliable, corrupt, abusive and self-absorbed, then, our community will surely be in a mess. That is why, there is really a need to learn and to practice what Jesus calls us to be.

    Each of us, certainly, has the responsibility of taking care of others. As we celebrate the 4th Sunday of Easter, we also celebrate this as Good Shepherd Sunday. And so, let us take a deeper look on how God invites us today.

    The image of God as a shepherd is a recurring theme in the bible. In fact, the Psalm today captures very well this image, “The Lord is my Shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”  Jesus used this image to portray himself as the Good Shepherd who is willing to give his life for the sake of his sheep, who makes sure that the flock is taken cared and well provided. The Good Shepherd cares, protects and provides for the sheep as he himself proclaimed, “I am the gate the gate for the sheep.”

    In Biblical times, sheep were very important to the lives of the people because sheep provide both food and clothing. Since the sheep needed grass, the shepherd would always look for green pastures. Because of this, the shepherd and his sheep were always on a journey in search for green pastures and water. The shepherd will provide shelter and protection for his sheep – 24/7. Consequently, the shepherd would develop a close relationship with his sheep to the point of becoming familiar to each of them, giving them names and calling them by name. The sheep in return would also become familiar with their shepherd. They would recognize his voice and follow him wherever he may lead them. In a way, trust and confidence is built up in this kind of relationship.

    From this point, I would like to highlight the two relationships where we are invited to reflect and to grow and mature. First is the relationship of the Shepherd to the sheep. Second is the relationship between the sheep with their shepherd.

    As persons who exercise responsibility over others God invites us to learn from the relationship the shepherd has with his sheep. The shepherd takes time to know his sheep; he spends quality time with them. The shepherd develops a rapport with his sheep allowing himself to be in the midst of his sheep. He is neither distant nor indifferent, but close and involved to every sheep. The shepherd responds to the needs of his sheep.

    Thus, Jesus invites us that like him we too shall develop a consciousness of serving, of taking care of others, of becoming instruments of God’s care and compassion to His people. As parents, as leaders in our community, organization or in your field of work, or as priests and religious, we are called to learn from the Good shepherd.

    And remember, this is power which is an ability to influence, to create and transform. This power is ought to be expressed through love, so that, power transforms into service and giving of oneself. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, tells us that being a person with power as an authority figure or leader is not about controlling others or manipulating others, but rather, having the capacity to serve and love without pretension, without manipulation and that does not count the cost.

    The second relationship that I am emphasizing is between the sheep with their shepherd. Today, we might not like the idea of being called as sheep. Sheep are known to be stupid and submissive animals. Yet, we, human beings are cultured, intelligent, and sophisticated because of our reason. But then, do these qualities in us really make us totally different from the attitudes of the sheep?

    Is it not that we also tend to be unmindful and unconscious of many things in life except for our personal desires and wants, except with those that will give us comfort and pleasure? Yes, we might tend to be more focused of the green pastures that we have at this moment but careless of what surrounds us.

    We might be full of ourselves, of what others can give us and of what is only beneficial to us without minding the needs of others, meaning, egocentric. Like the sheep, we might not be conscious also of the vicious and greedy wolf in our midst and saying nothing about it. We might find ourselves dumb and stupid for not recognizing, not speaking out, and not standing up against to what is unjust and evil in our community. Like the sheep, we might also wander to the other side thinking that there is more security in vices, in depression and loneliness. So, we stray away from the comfort of our brothers and sisters.

    Thus, we too need a Shepherd who will lead us, who will show us the way, to inspire us and to motivate us. We are called, then, to also develop a close relationship with our shepherd, to put our trust and confidence to our shepherd, whoever he/she may be – our parents, leaders in the community, the pastors in our parish, or teachers and mentors.

    Indeed, we are called to trust and to grow in faith and confidence in Jesus, who is our Good Shepherd who laid down his life for us. Jesus is in our midst, hopefully, we too shall spend more time with him in prayer so that we become familiar of his voice and attuned to his ways. In this way, we may be able to follow him with joy and confidence. Kabay pa.

  • GOD-Struck

    GOD-Struck

    April 30, 2023 – Fourth Sunday of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/043023.cfm)

    During the time of the desert monks, around 450 AD, a young monk went to an old and holy monk and asked him, “Father, how is it that so many today leave the monastery? The old monk answered him, “When a good hunting dog sees a rabbit, he will immediately run after it, howling, and barking with excitement. This will, of course, attract other dogs, and they in turn will run and bark and howl like the one that saw the rabbit, although they have not actually seen it themselves. After a while the ones who did not really see the rabbit, but relied only on barking and howling of the first dog, will get tired and give up the chase, because they are no longer interested. They drift off and go home. Only the dog that really saw the rabbit will go on running and eventually catch up with it. That is the way with many who enter the seminary,” the old monk concluded. “Only the one who has his or her eyes on Christ and has seen Him will and can survive. The others, who came only because the enthusiasm of others had drawn them, will lose interest and leave.

    Once I had been involved with the formation of our seminarians as assistant Postulancy director in my years of priesthood. As of those who had been with me, only one out of nine in the first batch, one out of six in the 2nd batch, and three out of seven the last batch are still in the seminary. Meaning, only 5 out of 22 seminarians have persevered in their formation in the seminary. With this, we cannot help but think if there is hope in religious life or priesthood. Some would even blame us, their directors or formators for being too strict. I say, as the story suggests, it is not the Formators but the dynamic and intimate relationship between the seminarian and the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe growth and perseverance in vocation to priesthood or religious life must be based on the personal faith relationship of the person with the Lord Jesus Christ.

    Jesus in our gospel today claims himself as the Good Shepherd, who knows His sheep. He is a Good Shepherd who has a deep personal relationship with His sheep. He knows His sheep and His sheep knows Him. We, Christians proclaim that Jesus is our Good Shepherd not only because we believe that He is the Shepherd but He is OUR very OWN Shepherd. Our faith moves us to proclaim that Jesus is yours and ours Good Shepherd. He is not like any other shepherd but He is your personal shepherd, who knows and loves you. We believe in Jesus as our Good Shepherd, because we choose Him to be our own shepherd. 

    If Jesus is our Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep, what does it mean to be His sheep? There are three important things.

    First, to be His sheep is to believe in Him. The basic message of Easter is to have faith in the risen Christ. Like the hunting dog to the rabbit, we must believe in what we have encountered & witnessed Him, as Jesus reveals himself to us in our day to day life-experiences.

    Next, we must listen. Jesus said, “My sheep listens to my voice.”  We ought to be sensitive to hear and listen to His words in the Scriptures and in the movements of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Meaning, we should lead a life of prayer to nurture our faith.

    And lastly, to be His sheep is to follow Him. Jesus said, “My sheep follows me.” We must heed His voice, i.e. we must live what we believe and practice what we preach. We must be like the hunting dog that is persistent in its following and fulfilling what it believes.

    While our world today promotes the Star Struck motto: “Dream – Believe – Survive”. Jesus, our Good Shepherd calls us today to God Struck motto: Believe – Listen – Follow. If seminarians want to grow and persevere in their vocation, they must believe, listen, and follow their calling. And if as Christian, we want to grow and persevere in Faith, we must believe, listen, and follow Jesus our Good Shepherd.

    Particularly for us Filipino Catholic, we do have special or unique take in knowing our Good Shepherd. We know Him not only because Kilala natin siya but because Dama natin siya. Culturally sense-feeling perceptions are important to us. Like,… I may know you, but I may not feel you. I may feel you though I may not know you. (Kilala kita, pero di kita ramdam. Ramdam kita kahit di kita kilala). This is how we distinguish real from fake, depth from superficial, good from bad.

    Same way as we Filipinos have this natural felt-instinct & sense, we also come to be familiar with & know more the shepherd’s voice through our gut-sense and feelings. We do come to know the risen Lord as our true Good Shepherd in life not only by our volition, consent & reasonings, but most of all through our sense & feeling perception (damdamin at kalooban).

    By our sense-perception & feeling-gut insights, we come to know the risen Lord with us – in person & in flesh. Like the hunting dog who first sees the rabbit, knowing the Shepherd is thus not only for us a cognitive familiarity or herd-mentality but more so a deep felt-sense knowledge and insight of His presence, love & blessing.

    We pray then that during this Easter Season may be our moments to be God-Struck in believing, listening & following Jesus, and so enhance and improve our special felt-sense of knowing our True & Good Shepherd, & ensure that we may not be gone astray from His fold but rather have a much deeper relationship with Him, and be always attuned with His will & plan for us now, especially these new normal times. So Help Us, God. So May it Be. Amen.