Peace! Kalilintad! Shalom!

Tag: Love

  • SELFLESS

    SELFLESS

    September 7, 2025 – 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090725.cfm)

    A recent Facebook post catches my attention. It is about a young man named Seth Adam Smith who realized, after being married for a year and a half, and said that: “Marriage is not for me”…. Why? Because after all these months of marriage with his teenage sweetheart, he comes to understand now what his father’s advice to him before his wedding day, is becoming true and right before his very eyes.

    His dad once said to him then: “Seth, remember marriage is not for you. You don’t marry to make yourself happy. You marry to make someone else happy. More than that, marriage is not for yourself. You are marrying FOR a family and for your future children. Marriage is not for you. It is not about you. Marriage is about the persons & people you marry to.”

    Surely married couples here could relate to this realization or advice. For marriage is indeed not really for the sake of oneself but for the sake of your lifetime partner and family.

    And so eventually married couples have to learn along the way that marriage is not all about me or about I but about US. And surely such realization is a hard-lesson to learn where learning happens only through trial and error experience. To be SELFLESS, i.e. to be not selfish and self-centered then is the very challenge of committed love we called marriage.

    For love is more than just a feeling or emotion but a commitment and decision to go beyond and give up oneself for the sake of the other. In other words, in marriage – in committed love, couples are to love their own spouse as much as, and as more than they love themselves and they love one another.

    This is the very kind of love Jesus asked of us in His commandment of love when he said: “Love one another as I have loved you”. A love much and more than our kind of love, but a selfless love for the sake of the other, and a love that leads us to a life and a world that is not the same as it is, but for the better of us. A married life committed in love not for your own but for the sake of your loved ones and of loving them, and above all for our Lord Jesus Christ.

    It is indeed easy nowadays for people to say: “Not for me”. Priesthood? Not for me. Religious life? Not for me. Marriage? Not for me. And even perhaps, Christianity? Not for me. But come to think of it, priesthood, religious life, marriage – following Jesus is indeed not for Me nor for You, but for Him; not about Me or You, but about Him whom we love & follow in life as Christian. And Christians who opted for Christ is saying that their discipleship is SELFLESS – not for them but for Him whom they choose to follow in life.

    For what it is to be a Christian? What does it cost to be a disciple of Christ? To be a Christian, as Jesus taught us today is like marriage, more than just a preference but a commitment.

    To follow Christ is not just we prefer Christ in our dealings with life – that we want and like Christ to be part of our lives, but it is to commit ourselves to the Christian way of life. To commit to Christ then is to be selfless, i.e. letting go of ourselves and letting God be God in our lives.

    On one hand, selflessness involves letting go, i.e. as Jesus said: to renounce – to give up everything. And this us not easy, because usually we prefer to have, possess, acquire, and own everything.

    But Jesus reminds us that the Kingdom of God is more than what we prefer and desire (want and like) in life, but it is what God’s wants and wills what is best for our life. Like Seth who realized that “Christian Marriage is not for me…not for my sake but for the best and sake of my partner, and my own family”.

    Being His disciples then is not about being self-oriented, self-centered & inward-looking, but rather being other-oriented, other-centered & outward-looking. And the Kingdom of God is then not about You and I, not even about yours & mine. But God’s kingdom is all about We and Ours, and above all about HIM, as our Lord and we, as His disciples.

    On the other hand, selflessness requires to letting God be God, that is to submit to God’s will. Human as we are we like to be in control, to lead and to be the master. In a way we prefer to take the driver’s seat and take the steering wheels, and go where we want to go.

    But following Christ means to commit and submit to God’s will for us, and let God control, lead, guide, and form the direction of our lives. This means that we become passengers, and let Jesus takes the wheels and brings us to place and time in our life beyond our imaginings.

    Again, be reminded what Jesus is saying to us in our gospel today: to BE HIS disciple is to hate our life, carry our crosses & follow Him, and renounce all our possessions… all for the sake of and because of HIM.

    Jesus himself, by his words and examples, has shown us how to be selfless by letting go and letting God be God. In the same way, for us to fully fulfill God’s kingdom in our lives, as Christians, pray we must that we selflessly commit our lives to Christ (as Christian husband, wife, mother, father, priest, religious nuns or brothers, sons and daughters, family) by letting go and letting God be God with total commitment for Him (and, not for the sake of me, you, & ours alone) in faith & life. AMEN.

  • From HATE to LOVE: A Journey of Humility

    From HATE to LOVE: A Journey of Humility

    A reflection by Roger E. Miranday

    The First Reading from Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29 reminds me of the beauty and importance of living with humility. It teaches that the greater I become, the more  I must humble myself before God, for humility is the foundation of true wisdom and strength. This passage calls me to recognize that pride and self-centeredness only lead to downfall, while a humble heart finds favor with the Lord. My own experiences have shown me how fragile life can be, and how much I need humility to see beyond myself and return everything to God.

    Roger E. Miranday

     

    The Struggles of Humility (H.A.T.E.)

    Humility is difficult for me because of the challenges I face in my attitudes and emotions. These can be summarized in the word H.A.T.E.

     

    H – Humiliating others: Sometimes, I hurt people by putting them down to make myself feel better. Even when corrected, I find it difficult to admit that I am wrong.

     

    A – Anger: When I am humiliated, I react immediately with anger. I hold grudges and find it hard to forgive, which only distances me from others.

     

    T – Tactlessness: I often rely on my own thinking, believing that I am always right. This makes me insensitive to the feelings and suggestions of others.

     

    E – Envy: I sometimes desire what others have, and  to the point that i forget to value the blessings of God has already given me.

     

    These weaknesses make humility a constant struggle because they pull me towards pride and selfishness

     

    One painful day, I saw my eldest brother fighting against his illness. I witnessed how much he struggled because he wanted to live for his children, who were still very young. I cried because I knew his desire to live was strong, but sadly, he passed away. That experience humbled me deeply. It made me realize that everything returns to God. It reminded me to live with humility and not to take life for granted.

     

    The Power of Humility (L.O.V.E.)

    As a young person, I believe humility builds strong relationships. It can be expressed in the word L.O.V.E.

     

    L – Love: Because doing everything with love, even in small ways, helps me live with humility and connect meaningfully with others.

     

    O – Openness: Because for me, openness means not only sharing myself with others but also embracing my own flaws and imperfections. And i believe it allows me to build stronger bonds with others.

     

     V – Valuing: Because learning to value even the smallest things helps me live with gratitude and nurture deeper relationships.

     

    E – Equality: Because seeing everyone as equal, regardless of status or background, allows me to treat others with fairness and respect.

     

    Through L.O.V.E., humility becomes a bridge that strengthens my connection with others and with God.

     

    Through my experiences, I have learned that humility is not always easy to practice, but it is one of the most valuable virtues I can embrace. The loss of my brother made me realize how fragile life truly is, and that both material possessions and even our dearest relationships ultimately belong to God.

    At the same time, I recognize the struggles within myself summarized in H.A.T.E. that make humility difficult to live out. Yet, by choosing L.O.V.E. every day, I now see that humility is the key to becoming a better person. In the end, humility teaches me to appreciate life, to respect others, and to live with a heart grounded in gratitude and love.

  • Because of Love: The Purpose Behind My NYD Journey

    Because of Love: The Purpose Behind My NYD Journey

    A Reflection on My National Youth Day Journey
    A Reflection by Miss Jossivel Colita, PYM Youth Leader

    “Kung dili ako, para kang kinsa?”
    This was the very first question I asked myself even before the National Youth Day began. I kept wondering: If this journey is not meant for me, then who is it for? But if it truly is for me — and God allows me to join — then it must be grace. A grace with purpose. A grace that’s meant to do something more in me and through me.

    There were times I felt hopeless about joining NYD, especially because of financial concerns. But God’s grace never fails. I was unexpectedly called by our Vicar General, and we talked about the things I needed — including financial support. That moment reminded me that when God wills something for you, He makes a way.

    Before NYD, I was in a difficult place. I felt exhausted from organizing our Parish Youth Day. I felt invisible, unheard, unappreciated. I was tired — physically, emotionally, spiritually. I told myself: “When NYD ends, I’ll stop. I’m tired of understanding. I’m tired of giving. I’m tired, period.”

    But that pain, that tiredness, that sense of loss — it all led me to a deeper realization. It helped me see the light and my true purpose. I started asking: Why did God still grant me the grace to join NYD? Why did I have to feel lost, weak, and tired before getting there?

    Then came the first day of NYD. A day of warm welcomes, new smiles, and joyful faces from other dioceses. Despite being the smallest delegation, we were embraced with so much love. My foster family welcomed me with open arms. That day, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a while — loved. I realized that I wasn’t alone after all. God gave me a family through people I had just met.

    During the Translacion of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, I began to complain. My feet hurt. The heat was unbearable. The line was too long. It was taking forever to move. But in that moment of discomfort, I encountered my true self. I realized: sometimes, we focus too much on negative things — things that weaken our spirit and body. But what we truly need is faith, hope, and patience. These three give us the strength to continue, not just for ourselves, but for those who need us most.

    My NYD journey reminded me of the reason behind it all. It gave me strength. It gave me a renewed vision of myself — that I am capable, that I am chosen, that I am enough. Even in the face of trials, I am reminded: we are not tested to be destroyed, but to be refined.

    Many times, we are tested by our own thoughts. But in all that we go through, we must proclaim the goodness of God — goodness that gives us hope. A hope not just for ourselves, but for all creation. All the pain, sadness, and struggles I experienced were not punishments, but invitations — invitations to persevere in prayer and to trust in God’s plan.

    I was also reminded of the true meaning of chastity — not just about avoiding physical intimacy, but about purity in all aspects of life. Purity in our thoughts, in our actions, in our words, in our intentions, in the way we treat others. If we live by this, nothing — not even the strongest storms — can bring us down.

    Because if we are rooted in Christ, no uncertainty, no struggle, no suffering can shake our purpose.

    Thank you, NYD, for allowing me to see that my pain had purpose.
    Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that I am loved, called, and chosen.

    And to everyone reading — remember this:


    When God calls you, He equips you.
    And when He allows you to feel weak,
    It’s because He’s preparing to show you His strength.

    And in the end — love remains.
    It is love that gives us hope.
    Love that gives us courage.
    Love that empowers our renewed mission and purpose — the very purpose revealed to me through this NYD experience.
    This is the greatest reason why I was able to join NYD: because of God’s love for me.

    A love that constantly gives me strength,
    A love that gives me understanding,
    And a love that reminds me —
    I belong to God.

  • NYD 2025 Reflection: OUR FOSTER HOMES

    NYD 2025 Reflection: OUR FOSTER HOMES

    A Reflection by Diovelene Francisco, Youth Coordinator

    MAOGMANG PAG-ABOT SA AMONG HARONG!—the very phrase that welcomed me in my foster family’s home in Brgy. Carolina during the NYD 2025 at Caceres, Naga city. The smiles were wide, the hugs, warm; the foods, masiram asin nakakainit nin puso (delicious and heart-warming); and the people, made me feel at home.

    Participating in this nation-wide activity for the Catholic Youth made me feel excited—looking forward for a fruitful and worthwhile experience; and at the same time anxious. I was anxious that I may find it hard to get along with other people because of my personality. I was anxious because of prior events (PAR- Personal Area of Responsibility) that left my heart heavier than the baggage I paid for. And I was anxious that I might create an awkward atmosphere between me and my foster family or my safety might be compromised. This anxiety and all its “what ifs” weighed heavy on me, until I got the chance to spend a silent hour with our Mother on our little stop over at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran. I prayed. I believed. And I walked forward though scared.

    Pilgrims were fostered. The place is new to most of us. There’s also the health risk of Mpox in some areas where the pilgrims came from. At some point, this gathering was a bit scary.  Our harong (host parish) the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, was quite far from the centro in which the major activities were held. There were only six of us pilgrims from the Prelature, yet, I felt uncertain for what would come for us in the next four days of the event. What more for those who were with a larger number of pilgrims?

    Yet, God works wonders when we persevere in prayer. I was scared, but I was hopeful. This was enough. As we arrived in Caceres and right then and there, our patience was tested. But the warm welcome from our Pueblo and foster family offered comfort and security. Since then, I felt at peace and relieved, knowing that our foster families were ready to accompany us in this youth gathering. I felt reassured from the very first day.

    My foster nanay, Mama Gina Bobis, gave us her social media account and assured us that whenever the activities are unbearable for us (me and my foster sibling, Ate Rassel), we can message her. They were reading to pick us up and drive us to their house so we can rest. If the food during the activities would not be enough or not to our liking, a message from us would make her pack home cooked food for us (but the food offered by the pueblo and harong, the organizers during the activities were more than enough. Dios mabalos!).

    This short conversation around the dinner table on our first night in our foster family ate up all the anxiety I had before coming to Naga. I was assured. I have a safe place to go when outside becomes unbearable. I have a home.

    And so, my NYD days have updates like “Na sa venue na po kami, Nanay”, “We had snacks/ lunch/ dinner po given by our Harong po.”, “Pauwi na po kami, Nanay.” And then, it wasn’t very scary anymore. I wasn’t that anxious anymore. I was happy and at peace. The kindness this family have shown us from the day we arrived was inclusive, light in atmosphere, and genuine; so does the other foster homes that catered the other participants. Our foster families made sure we never felt unwelcomed.

    In return, we made sure they know how grateful we are in everyday that we’ve lived with them. The mutual respect, care, and trust were shown and felt. God blessed us with these households that opened their home for us young pilgrims.

    The thought of an unfamiliar place and people could be scary, threatening our sense of security in almost all aspects. But people, like our foster families in NYD 2025 Caceres, whose hearts and hands were open to welcome us even before we’ve arrived in their doorsteps, made us felt home.

    Despite their own busy daily schedules, they accommodated us and treated us like we are family; full of consideration, understanding, prayers of safety, and genuinely happy with what we are doing. The four days we’ve spent under the roof of their home was enough to cherish the family we had in Naga for a lifetime. 

    And before we knew it, we’re already exchanging goodbyes and promises of keeping in touch and praying for each other, a bit of tearful “We’ll visit again po, Nanay. Puhon.” And a long tight hug. And that, this NYD experience was a core memory because God, once again made His presence known, through the families who opened their home for us, assured and created a safe space for us, and made our NYD 2025 Caceres experience memorable and worthwhile. Dios mabalos!

  • Known by our love

    Known by our love

    May 18, 2025 – Fifth Sunday of Easter

    Click here for the readings (https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/051825.cfm)

    Having married to his childhood sweetheart for only a year & a half, in fear & anxiety, a man told his father: “Dad, marriage is not FOR me.” After few minutes of silence, the father gave this advice: “Son, I make this really simple. You marry not to make yourself happy, but to make someone else happy. Marriage is not for you because you are married for a family & your future children. Marriage is not about you, but about the person you married & the life you have chosen.” So, marriage is more than just for your sake, but for the sake of your beloved ones.

    Easy for us to think that ordained priests and consecrated religious people are married to God & church. Rightly so, for they dedicate their lives to & for God & the church. It does not mean however that lay Christian couples & family are not married to & for God & the church. Christian marriage & family life is a

    discipleship – a way of following Jesus & loving God through & in His people. Like ordination & religious professions, marriage is not about & for oneself but for your beloved whom you love in life, and above all for God.

    Christian couples do have their marriage in the church because they consider their love & marriage to each other as sacred & holy, and they wish to make their life now & always as their sacred offering to God & His church. Their marriage then is not about themselves but about each other living their love life for God & His Church through their own family & Christian community. Same way with ordained priest & consecrated religious people, Christian married couples are also thus married to God & His Church. And above all, being Christian is being married to God, and being in marriage to our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Jesus in our gospel today said: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

    Here Jesus reminds us that it is not enough just to know the commandment to love, but most of all we must live & practice Love. And Love then is for one another than oneself. Meaning, love is basically not for and about oneself (not for and about you), but Love is all about & for one’s beloved & others. In other words, love is our marriage of one another to God.

    Ultimately then, marriage is not for the sake of Me and about Me, but for the sake of and about An-other than Me. Love lived in Christian discipleship then is not self-centered, self-serving & self-oriented but more so other-centered, other-serving & other-oriented. If & when we love this way, as Jesus says: “We are not far from God’s kingdom.”

    And above all in & our loving one another, by our marriage to God, as we love same way as Jesus loves us, we are known to be His disciples and known to be Christian, …because as it was said, “marriage is not for me, but for one another than me”. By our love & loving, then we are known to be Christians.

    In this mass, we pray that our love for our beloved & others in life be our way of following our risen Lord, and be our marriage to God & His Church as our fitting sacrifice & worship to God’s goodness for us now & always.

    So be it. Amen.