It is the Lord who Calls

I was just talking with the KOA of Majada under the Acacia Tree fronting the chapel while waiting for the tricycle ride back to the Post Novitiate when a van stopped and opened its window. A lay minister was inside inviting to give me a ride back to the very door step of Don Bosco. I was quite happy to oblige since it would save me the hassle and around P20.00 of fare.

We had a good chat with the lay minister as he was driving. He was sharing to me his experiences of serving the parish for some two years already. He had a colorful life. He wasn't very keen in participating more in Church at first, in fact he was evasive to invitations. Not until he had a turn in his life that he opted to serve as a lay minister and bringing God to the people.

It is really the Lord who calls, not us who choose to be called. He calls whoever he wills. Among the Salesians, there are engineers, dentists, and accountants who suddenly dropped their tools of trade to answer the voice from within. It's a mysterious and personal encounter that makes a 180 degree turn. Vocation is a personal, unmerited, and unique gift of God to a person. It comes from the Latin word, vocare, which means 'to call'. This call, surprisingly takes on many forms and many paths. We only need to listen well.

All of us are called by the Lord. I pray that when we hear the call we would answer it with faith and trust.

The Good Communicator

The Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians brought me many blessings. A very good confrere and friend, one that can really inspire you and worthy of emulation and imitation, Bro. Donnie Duchin Duya, SDB, gave me a book regarding Salesian Social Communications. As I read through its first pages, I felt a rush of inferiority. With my current standing now, am I worthy to become a Salesian communicator? What is really the essence of communication?

I remember my high school studies in Oral Communication where our great teacher, Ms. Regiene Sarana nee Ynclino, first introduced us to the model of communications: sender-message-medium-receiver-feedback. The model is enough for basic presentation. However, we have come to know that even the sender is a message himself. The advertising industry tells us that delivering the message is all about impact and imprint.

The Christian viewpoint of Communication involves a deeper level of understanding. We model ourselves after Christ, the perfect communicator. Jesus is the Message and His whole life became a message to us. From womb to tomb, He perfectly delivered the Father's message to us. He is the Perfect Communicator. For us to become a good communicator, there must be a seamless integration and identification of message and life, of the exterior and interior life.

This is crucial for us Salesians who want to make a difference in the Social Communications field. As we strive to evangelize the media and make ourselves present to the young even in the internet and the web, we must become the message ourselves - the message of Christ.

So, who is the good communicator? Certainly, it isn't limited to public speaking and media production skills. A person who can speak well in front of people or do a full-length video documentary all by himself fails at communications when he can't deliver the message. Nor is communication limited to delivering the message faithfully and clearly. I believe the good communicator is able to send the message across and transform the receiver to become the message to other people. Communication must have a transforming and transcending power.

This reminds me of stories of how people can inspire others without saying a word. Even a person's presence is enough to touch the hearts of men. Here lies the challenge. A person must embody his own message to such a degree that even his own presence broadcasts it powerfully breaking through the walls of interpersonal distance. Let it be that a young boy look at a Salesian and see Christ and Don Bosco in him.

End of the World?

I was quite stunned when I heard some of my KOA from Majada Out Chapel who came by last Saturday that they would not live until Sunday. It was reported that someone declared that the world would end the following day. I shrugged it off as nonsense but a teeny weeny part of my brain was wondering who this "prophet" might be this time.

How many times have we heard of prophecies pinpointing the day when all would be over? I have lived twenty five years and have heard more than ten of these prophecies, all of which never came true. Count the number of predictions outside of my lifetime and you can see how much the world is paranoid of its end. It is funnier still when you count how many people fall for the same prophecies.

People need to calm down. Only those who are not prepared to meet their death anytime are on the tiptoes for some apocalyptic news. If we are truly living our lives then we would not fear the end. Nor should we believe such predictions. As Christians, we have been forewarned by no less than Christ Himself who said that not even He knows when He would come back. Only the Father knows and no one else. It would be logical to say that those who claim to know the time claims they know more than the Father.

So that's it. If the end is so frightful, why don't we prepare for it everyday?

A Life Worth Living

It was a private affair for the community. The doors were closed and eight people prayed in the air-conditioned chapel at night. Gone are the festive decorations and letterings. Gone are the majestic voices of the choir. Gone are the invitations and all the other massive and grand preparations of the first profession. This time, it is a simple and intimate profession. Last May 4, 2011, we renewed our profession.

Fr. Charles received our profession in behalf of the Salesian Society and the Church. Fr. Dixie and Fr. Joe were sitting and quietly smiling over us as we once again took our candles, light them up at the Paschal candle, and kneel before the altar we are used to celebrating mass every day.

I once again moved my left hand over the bible and my right holding the lighted candle. There were no camera flashes. The number of priests were much less than before. As I glaze my eyes over the text of religious profession, that 24th article of the constitutions which silently binds me to Christ and His Church, I realize it is the same profession even without the pomp and the romp.

There isn't that much excitement anymore. It is the second time already or perhaps I have become used to this life? But no, it is not the excitement or the time that counts but rather the intent of doing it again, and even more again and again and again in the future.

In a world where happiness is the measure of success I may sound foolish because the life I am living is certainly not the everyday-blissful type. At times it becomes dragging, boring, and even painstakingly burdensome as it becomes light, beautiful, and fluffy in some days. Am I really ready to live this life and soon take the vows for ever? Is it a life worth living? Yes, I have convinced myself a long time ago. It is not about happiness, success, fame, power, standing, or whatever that seemingly add to who I am. It is certainly about finding meaning. It is about finding meaning in who I am, what I am, and what I am for. And I can say with a firm resolve that I can live this life even for ever.

Chastity. Poverty. Obedience. I bind them once more to me. I bind them closely to my heart. I bind them closely to my spirit. For another year I will do my best to live them as Christ did. I know I can fail but it won't stop me from trying. The faithfulness of a Salesian, or of any religious, does not depend on his faith alone, but ever more in the faithfulness of Christ who would continue to love us and call us to Himself despite ourselves.

Blessed be God forever.