The True Christmas

A country with a long christmas celebration, the Philippines, is currently in the mood for the season. Everywhere, there are a host of ornaments symbolizing the christmas spirit. Christmas trees stand in homes, government and commercial establishments differing in sizes from a few inches to incredible tens to hundred feet tall. It is good to see this tradition as a way of promoting goodwill. There have also been a lot of Santa stuff that are visible everywhere in the form of posters, toys, and individuals dressed in Santa clothes. Amazingly, there are motorized or automated santa mannequins smiling, waving hands, or twisting their robust body at the delight of the kids. They are something to be acclaimned in effecting temporary relief especially in these times of grim life brought about by the current world economy. However, what comes to my mind is that it would be a lot better, and of course, more meaningful if people would promote the real symbol of Christmas, the Nativity Scene. People should have erected Nativity structures as big as the towering christmas trees, and as splendidly lighted in the night. They should also have put some creative touch to them to capture peoples' hearts. Supposedly, people should have been amazed at them more than they should be with the other symbols because it is through the scene that we see hope. It is depicted through the scene that we are made the most significant creation, uplifted in spirit and branded as true children of God. The scene tells us the best and fitting story about christmas.

To Grow in Spirit

This morning, while I was saying my routine prayers a question suddenly popped on my mind. As if talking to God, I asked Him how much have I really grown through these years not just in spirit but in my relationship with Him. A thought came to mind as if He was answering my query. It didn't directly addressed my question but trod on what one should do if he is to grow spiritually with God. I was enlightened that by persevering in prayers asking for the spiritual grace, one can slowly attain growth. Prayers, as food for the soul, can be compared to the physical food we eat everyday to nourish our young body and attain physical growth as we get older.

Writing this post, I am reminded of our past senior college recollection when the priest explained to us that there are three kinds of food for the soul namely: Prayers, the Word and the Bread (communion during holy mass). I have then concluded that growing in God means putting all these in our life. It is like nourishing our body with the three essential food groups namely: protein, fat and carbohydrate. They are the basics but must be constantly taken for the rest of our life.

I have come to know that I needed to take these three essential food for my soul in order to grow further in relationship with God. With that, I have implied that I haven't gone far after all. Unlike physical growth, spiritual growth is a lifelong process and should be seen in the virtues that we develop all along and practice in every day living.

God in My Work

Four years ago, I had second thoughts when I finally decided to work in my first line of profession, Nursing. I always loved my second course, compsci., and dreamed it can give me the peace of mind I always wanted to have in my work. Unexpectedly, I ended up deciding to work in the former. I was hired, observed some amount of discipline and tried to cope with adjustment. It did work for some time but waned as days passed by. Eventually, I had to quit supposedly to invest my whole life in the field of technology. I was happy about my decision to take the risk. The weeks that followed then was a series of trials, confusion and finally bouts of depression. That investment was as frustrating as I could imagine.
Now, I'm back working, or rather, training as an ICU Nurse at one of the government hospitals in the city, VSMMC. So far, everything went well and I'm almost finished with the three-month training without a hitch. Wow! I couldn't almost believe I stayed that far. The past feelings of resistance has now been replaced with a fair amount of enthusiasm in this field of work.
When I first started, I doubted if I could ever finish the training because I was apprehensive about it. I could do no less but trust God. I had to be bold, I had to be witty, so I told myself . I did some sort of mental conditioning to arm myself with the challenge. However, the most effective tool was not in the conditioning but in the ability to focus on my daily tasks and offering every action I make to God. I look at my patients each day as brothers in need of my care and tender attention, I look at them as a reflection of Jesus in want of our affection. That way, I changed the way I had to deal with the challenges of this profession. It changed my atittude and the focus has changed from self to God ( through my patients ). I must admit, though, that thinking about self is still there but the bigger part is for God, this time. Undeniably, I feel a sense of fulfillment every time I get out of the hospital every day, thinking I had used eight (8) hours of my day dedicated for HIS glory. It's all about putting God first in my work.

Invoking Angels

For years, prayer has always been a big part of my life. I prayed to God directly. At times, I talked to Jesus, still at other times to Mary. Less often though, I also asked intercession from the saints. One day, however, a spiritual instinct simply prompted me to invoke help from the angels particularly my guardian angel. That was for the urgent need of assistance I needed at the moment. It worked wonderfully in my favor . Since then, I have learned to invoke them in my needs. It has occurred to me that as messenger and servants of God, they have the ability to make things happen according to His will. Calling them, I always intend to magnify God's greatness by saying that they do it for the glory of God the Father through Jesus Christ. For sure, they are very glad to grant the good purpose of my urgent petitions unselfishly in honor of the God.
I have written this post not as an opinion but as a testimonial to this reality, that people may know that there is another spiritual resource we can invoke in times of need. This practice is in no other way contrary to faith but as supplement, an indirect worship to the One God we adore.

75th year Parish Anniversary

Last August 22, 2008, the Sto. Rosario Parish where I serve celebrated its Jubilee Anniversary. It was a simple occasion of Nine-day novena masses, outreach program for the indigents, food for the parish workers and clergy and a few other activities. It culminated with no less than a high mass and the opening of the newly renovated church facade.
At first, I never even felt the significance of the occasion because it was some usual things people would do in any other occasion. I saw people greeting gleefully with each other after the mass and wondered why they could be so happy with the "75th" anniversary of their parish. I said to myself " God, are people simply in want of some occasion of gathering, food, and activities? "
A few moments later, while I mingled with the laymen still unsure of the supposed meaning, a flash of thought suddenly entered my mind as if telling me what it's all about.
The celebration supposedly speaks of the unwavering faith of the people in their church, that, through generations have withstood the test of time. In fact, starting as a small chapel for worship in its infancy, it has now grown to a prominent landmark in downtown area where people from all walks of life drop by anytime of the day to take refuge in their faith. Indeed, the Sto. Rosario Parish Church in Cebu deserved the grand recognition for serving as shelter of refuge and worship for the city's christendom for generations now! - I felt guilt and shame over my attitude that for the length of time that the celebration had been much awaited by the people I had been nonchalant, though I was half cooperative. I realized, it only happened once in my lifetime.