Christian Paradoxes

If you want God to know that you are hungry, know that another is hungry. If you hope for mercy, show mercy. If you look for kindness, show kindness. If you want to receive, give. If you ask for yourself what you deny to others, your asking is a mockery.

Do not lose by saving, but gather in by scattering. Give to the poor, and you give to yourself. You will not be allowed to keep what you have refused to give to others.

Kwaresma

Unang Linggo ng Kuwaresma


Nagsimula na tayong maglakbay sa panahon ng kuwaresma. Tayo ba ay naghanda? Tayo ba ay nagdala ng sapat na baon?

Sa Ebanghelyo, si Jesus ay ipinakikilala na sa tanang buhay niya ay handang suungin ang paglalakbay patungong Jerusalem upang harapin ang kanyang paghihirap at pagkamatay upang matupad and Misteryo Pascual. Sa katunayan, bago niya simulan ang kanyang hayag na buhay ng ministeryo, siya muna ay pumunta sa disyerto sa loob ng 40 araw at gabi upang maghanda sa kanyang espiritwal na paglalakbay. 40 araw at gabi ng panalangin at pag-aayuno.

Sa disyerto, si Jesus ay napasailalim sa tukso ng demonyo. Isang karanasan na laging nakakasalamuha ng ordinaryong tao. Napagtagumpayan ni Hesus ang tukso kung kaya nga’t ito rin ang nais niyang ituro sa sinumang nais maglakbay sa panahon ng kuwaresma.

Sa paglalakbay, dapat nating dalhin ang mga bagay na kailangan lamang. Paano ito ginawa ni Jesus? Sa unang tukso, iwinaksi ni Hesus ang pagiging makasarili! Sabi ng demonyo: “Dahil ikaw ay makapangyarihan, gawin mong tinapay ang batong ito.” Isang tukso na gamitin ang kapangyarihan sa sariling kapakanan, sa sariling kaginhawahan, sa makasariling motibo. Subalit si Jesus ay hindi nadala bagkus mapagpasinsyang naghintay hanggang sa pagkakataon gawing tinapay, hindi ang bato, kundi ang kanyang mismong katawan, upang maging pagkain, hindi para busugin ang kanyang sarili, kundi ibigay sa lahat upang maging tunay na pagkain sa ikaliligtas ng marami.

Ikalawa, ang tukso ng pagsamba kay Satanas. Ang tukso ng pagsamba sa mga bagay na magpapalayo sa tunay na pagsamba sa Diyos. Ang sabi ng demonyo: “Sambahin mo lamang ako at ibibigay ko sa’yo ang lahat ng kaharian ng mundo.” Ano ang kahariang makamundo? Hindi ba’t ang materialismo! Subalit handa si Jesus ng iwaksi ang kahariang makamundo, sapagkat handa siyang ipahayag ang isang kaharian, hindi ang kaharian ni Satanas, bagkus ang kaharian ng Diyos, isang kaharian kung saan ang pagmamahalan, kapayapaan at katarungan ang namamayani.

Ikatlo, ang tukso ng pagmamataas (pride). Sinabi ng demonyo: Magpatinhulog ka sa templo sapagkat hindi ka mapapahamak sapagkat aalalayan ka ng mga anghel. Subalit ang motibo ng demonyo ay upang makita ng maraming tao, na sa pagkakataong iyon ay natitipon sa templo, nang sa gayon ay maging sikat siya at palakpalakan sa isang spectacular na palabas. Hayagang iwinaksi ni Jesus ang anumang anyo ng pagmamataas, sa halip ay handa siyang magturo tunggkol sa kapakumbabaan, isang payak na pamumuhay at lahat ng mga katangiang katulad ng mga malilit na bata.

Ito ang tatlong bagay na itapon natin sa paglalakbay sa panahon ng kuwaresma: pagmakasarili, materialismo at pagmamataas! Dalhin natin ang mga bunga ng Espiritu Santo, na sa totoo nga’y ipinagkaloob na sa atin noong tayo’y binyagan at kumpilan. Dalhin natin ang mga katangian ng pagmamalasakit sa kapwa, tunay na paghanap sa Kaharian ng Diyos, at ang papapakumbaba.

Ang panahon ng kuwaresma ay isang magandang pagkakataon upang piliin ang mga bagay na dadalhin natin sa patuloy na paglalakbay dito sa lupa. Gusto mo bang magdala ng mga bagay na junk o bulok, o iyong bagay lamang na mabubuti at kaaya-aya sa Panginoon? Magdala tayo ng baon at iyon din ang ating handog sa Panginoon pagkatapos ng ating paglalakbay patungo sa Ama!

THE KID DADDY

(GUSTO GAYAHIN NI TOTOY TATAY)

We heared about the case of a kid who became a father at the age of 13 years old with a 15-year old girl in London.

The news became an alibi for some of our lawmakers to pursue the passing of the Reproductive Health Bill in the Congress. Sabi nila: "Kailangan na daw maipasa ang RH Bill para hindi matulad ang ating mga kabataan na magka-anak din sa murang edad tulad ng nangyari sa London!"

Wow naman nga pareng Congress! Do you think London Parliament have not yet pass any law on reproductive health care? Do you think there was no sex education in the elementary schools in UK? I don't think so. Or probably, nasobrahan ng sex education ang mga bata kaya ayon laging ng practicum ng bahay-bahayan.

RH Bill is not the answer to aviod early pregnancy for the young. Sex education at the very early age is not a safeguard of not being pregnant. I may say, sex education among the children (as the RH Bill is encouraging) would make the young curious about sex and would certainly lead to promiscuity!

What will make our young people handle sex with care is their VALUES! On how they regard sex as sacred! On seeing sex as a participation in the creative power of God.

These values, esp. christian values, are best transmitted by the parents themselves and not by the State! (RH Bill is saying, the State a shall be the one to impart sex education to your children. Just simply making all the contraceptives available to them, or if the unexpected happened, pagnatesbun, abortion is also made available!

Now tell me, will this Reproductive Health Act an answer to our young people not to get buntis. Mas maganda pa, let us preserve our christian catholic values. Mas effective pa yata para wag tayo matulad sa batang-batang Englishboy Dad.

Ano say nu, mga katiwala at kapanalig?

BUHAY KATIWALA (STEWARDSHIP)

1. What is Stewardship o Buhay Katiwala?

Stewardship is not all about money or raising fund for the parish. Or others may say: secular fundraising in sheep's clothing! It is not a gimmick or strategy to increase the collections in the Church or to secure financial stability of a parish!
Stewardship is above all, A WAY OF LIFE! a SPIRITUALITY! Isang landas ng pagpapabanal bilang isang katiwala. isang BUHAY KATIWALA!
In short, stewardship is a way of life, a spirituality; not just an activity nor a parish program, nor a practice. It covers all aspects of our life, not just our money. It's about my whole life, my whole self, my time, talent and treasure!
Stewardship encompasses everything: my life, my time, my talents, my possessions & money, my faith, the environment, my vocation/profession and social status/position, my capabilities & opportunities!
Stewardship is the ability to share one’s gifts of life, time, talents, and resources with others with no strings attached and no conditions.

2. What is Spirituality of Stewardship or Daan ng Pagpapabanal sa buhay Katiwala?

Spirituality of Stewardship is a way of life chosen by a person who decided to follow the way of Christ. It's a disciple's response! A response to Jesus' invitation to the young rich man mentioned in the Gospel (cf. Mt. 19: 16-30).

This way of life is also a way of discipleship! Why? Because: a) Mature disciples make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost; b) Christian disciples experience conversion - life-shaping changes of mind and heart - and commit their very selves to the Lord; c) Christian stewards respond in a particular way to the call to be a disciple. Stewardship has the power to shape and mold our understanding of our lives and the way in which we live; and d) Jesus' disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. They are grateful for the gifts they received and are eager to use them to show the love for God and for one another.

Spirituality of Stewardship will lead a disciple to a deeper realization that she/he is:
a) a God’s creature with a mission (true to her/his identity as a child of God);
b) being lead to reverence and awe: an attitude of profound respect – seeing God in all and all in God;
c) expressing a sign of gratitude to God;
d) called to trust God;
e) called to love God above all things, as part of the dynamics of love.

Two important signposts of Spirituality of Stewardship or Buhay Katiwala:

1) Our Connectedness to the Father. A good steward has a "puso sa pusong ugnayan" with the source of all life. We are connected because we are made in the image of God and responsible for all of creation - this is our common heritage and identity. As a an image of God and Steward of Creation "kawangis ng Diyos at katiwala", our lives vibrate with the 4 core values of a) identity as image of God (kawangis ng Panginoon); b) sense of gratitude (may utang na loob, marunong magpasalamat); c) sense of trust (may pagtitiwala at mapagkakatiwalaan) and sacrificial love (may malasakit sa kapwa at kalikasan, may pag-ibig na mapagpalaya). A good steward has a "puso sa pusong ugnayan sa Diyos", a person who honors and nurtures this realtionship by receiving all of God;s gifts gratefully, and shares these gifts out of justice and love to all, esp. the poorest of the poor!

2) Our Life is ready to be poured out for the Kingdom. A good steward heeds Jesus' call to build the Kingdom of God which is "a new heaven and a new earth" marked by justice, peace and integrity of creation. This Kingdom-building is more than just a call to a new inner more pious life, but also a demand to transform the world. This Kingdom that a good steward is called to pour his/her life is not the kingdom in the next life, it is the kingdom "here and now", the kingdom here on earth, the earth we live in, "ang pangarap nating langit dito sa lupa".

Buhay Katiwala is therefore characterized by a VIBRANT PERSONAL FAITH or EXPERIENCE OF JESUS EXPRESSED IN RADICAL LOVE FOR GOD AND NIEGHBORS - ESP. THE POOREST AMONG THE POOR - THAT TRANSFORMS HUMAN PERSONS, COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD!

3. What are the qualities of a good steward?
a) A good steward is one who is grateful, thanking God daily for the blessing he or she has received. A good steward never stops saying “thank you”.
b) A good steward is one who is responsible and accountable with the blessings that God has bestowed, not only using them prudently, but also making sure that they do not atrophy.
c) A good steward is one who shares God’s gifts out of a sense of love and justice. A good steward knows that it is better to give than to receive, for in giving we receive far more than we could ever have imagined (cf. Acts 20:35).
d) A good steward is one who makes a return to the Lord with increase. Remember the parable of the stewards to whom the master had entrusted the silver pieces? They had to render an account of their stewardship. One day you and I will have to stand in accountability before the judgment seat of God. And God will ask: “What did you do with all the time that you had? What did you do with all the gifts that I gave you? What did you do with your life?”

4. How do we live out this spirituality of stewardship in our daily lives?

One can live out the spirituality of stewardship through the famous stewardship triptych: time, talent and treasure!

a) Stewardship of Time: helping people to look at their lives as an opportunity to serve the Lord and to build up God’s kingdom. Stewardship of time is about paying attention to the three most important things in our life:
Making sure that we are connecting with the Lord through faithful prayer and regular participation in the sacraments of the Church.
Making sure that we are spending time with our families/loved ones.
Making sure that our lives are anchored firmly in our community of faith by allowing our lives to revolve around the worship of the Lord and the activity of the parish.

b) Stewardship of Talent: helping the people in bringing their passion to all that they do in order to make a difference. We can’t think of stewardship of talent only in terms of what we can do to help out around the parish. Talent is the passion that people have for doing what is good. Think of people that you know who are passionate about the cause of the poor, who are passionate about pro-life issues. In bringing their passion to all that they do, they make a difference. Remember that Jesus warned in a parable about the temptation of burying our talents because we think of them as insignificant. Don’t give in to that temptation. Realize that God has blessed you with unique talents, meant to be invested in the lives of those around you.

c) Stewardship of Treasure: helping people realize that stewardship is not about giving to a need, but rather a need to give, a need to make sure that material possessions do not dominate our lives. In the Gospel, Jesus praised the widow who gave what little she had, declaring that she had given more than all the others. Realize that in giving of your “treasure,” what you have to offer is of great value in the Kingdom of God.
· A good steward of treasure purchase goods and services prudently and knows the difference between needs and wants.
· A good steward sets aside part of his or her income for the Church and makes a gift to the Lord that is prayerful, proportionate, planned, and sacrificial.
· The faithful steward gives in a significant way, all in gratitude for the Lord’s magnanimous gift upon the Cross. To be sure, God will not be outdone in generosity.

Stewardship of time teaches us to give in a manner proportionate to how we have been blessed. It teaches us make our gift sacrificial. To give to the Lord a gift that is meaningful to us, a gift that we are proud to present to the Lord as a means of giving thanks for all that He has done for us.

CHURCH AND CONCERNED CITIZENS IN TRANS-PARTISAN POLITICS

I. PHILIPPINE POLITICS, CHURCH AND CIVIL SOCIETY

Approaches in addressing the political crisis:
"The Church values the democratic system inasmuch as it ensures the participation of the citizens in making political choices, guarantees to the governed the possibility both of electing and holding accountable those who govern them, and of replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate." (Centesimus Annus, # 46)

"As bishops, we believe that at the bottom of our political chaos is a crisis of moral values, a crisis of truth and justice, of unity and solidarity for the sake of the common good and genuine peace. Truth has become a victim of political partisanship as well as of transactional politics. Moral accountability and justice for crimes, such as the killings of journalists and labor leaders, are yet to be realized." (CBCP, January 2006)

To promote a spirituality of public service, integrity and stewardship among public servants and citizens groups alike. These forms of social spirituality should counteract the persistent evils of gambling, drug-pushing, usury, destruction of our environment, and corruption in public office."(CBCP, January 2006)


II. CONCERNED CITIZENS IN TRANS-PARTISAN POLITICS
(Renewing Politics through Gospel ValuesPCP II, 351)

A DREAM:

Citizens’ Movement for Good Governance"TINIG SA ILANG"
Movement for a Concerned Citizenry

Why TINIG SA ILANG?

• "Tinig sa Ilang" points out to the person of St. John the Baptist.
  "I am, as Isaiah prophesied,: a voice that cries in the wilderness: make straight way for the Lord" (John 1:23; cf. Is. 40:3).
  St. John the Baptist is the Patron Saint of Daet, capital town of Camarines Norte.
• TINIG will always be a VOICE that echoes in the "wilderness" of our society.
  "ILANG" (wilderness) will stand for:
  I - Illegal activities
  L – Life Issues/Labor Issues
  A –Anomalies & Corruptions
  N – Environmental Concerns
  G – Good Governance

Purpose of TINIG SA ILANG:
Bishop Almoneda envisions the inception of a movement composed of Lay Catholic Faithful who will champion the promotion of human development through advocacy on social issues prevalent to our province and in our country in general. TINIG will represent citizens’ voice on

• I – ISSUES affecting the
• L – LOCAL
• A – AND
• N – NATIONAL
• G - GOVERNMENT

Advocacy against:
1.ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES like jueteng and any form of illegal gambling; illegal fishing, illegal logging, etc

Promotion related to:
2. LIFE ISSUES – promotion of culture of life vs. culture of death; advocacy on pro-life issues; promotion of human dignity and human rights and duties
LABOR ISSUES – dignity of human labor, protection of workers’ rights.

Advocacy against any forms of:
3. ANOMALIES AND CORRUPTIONS

Protection of
4. NATURAL RESOURCES/ENVIRONMENT

Advocacy on
5. GOOD GOVERNANCE

Features of TINIG SA ILANG:
1. TINIG is a Catholic Lay Movement coming from different sectors of our society.
2. TINIG works for political education and electoral reforms. Each one’s vote is sacred.
3. TINIG provides a neutral forum for all candidates and parties to present their platforms.
4. TINIG monitors winning candidates who are expected to report every quarter.
5. TINIG works towards the new politics of "principles, party platforms and people’s participation."

Possible Learnings from TINIG experience:
1. A small, committed group of citizens can make a difference in elections.
2. Vote-buying is diminished.
3. Public officials become aware that they are being monitored and accountable for their actions.
4. Separation of the institutional Church and State is observed.
5. Post-election activities take the form of regular social auditing and engage citizens up to the next elections.

"The Church, by reason of her role and competence, is not identified with any political community nor found by ties to any political system. It is at once the sign and the safeguard of the transcendental dimension of the human person."
(Church in the Modern World, no. 76)

50 and something

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS FOR THOSE OVER 50 YEARS OLD & ABOVE

1. Focus on enjoying people, not on indulging in or accumulating material things.

2. Plan to spend whatever you have saved. You deserve to enjoy it and the few healthy years you have left. Travel if you can afford it. Don't leave anything for your children or loved ones to quarrel about. By leaving anything, you may even cause more trouble when you are gone.

3. Live in the here and now, not in the yesterdays and tomorrows. It is onlytoday that you can handle. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow may not even happen.

4. Enjoy your grandchildren (if you are blessed with any) but don't be their full time baby sitter. You have no moral obligation to take care of them. Don't have any guilt about refusing to baby sit anyone's kids, including your own grandkids. Your parental obligation is to your children. After you have raised them into responsible adults, your duties of child-rearing and babysitting are finished. Let your children raise their own offsprings.

5. Accept physical weakness, sickness and other physical pains. It is a part of the aging process. Enjoy whatever your health can allow.

6. Enjoy what you are and what you have right now. Stop working hard for what you do not have. If you do not have them, it's probably too late.

7. Just enjoy your life with your spouse, children, grandchildren and friends. People, who truly love you, love you for yourself, not for what you have. Anyone who loves you for what you have will just give you misery.

8. Forgive and accept forgiveness. Forgive yourself and others. Enjoy peace of mind and peace of soul.

9. Befriend death. It's a natural part of the life cycle. Don't be afraid of it. Death is the beginning of a new and better life. So, prepare yourself not for death but for a new life with the Almighty.

10. Be at peace with your Creator. For... He is all you have after you leave this life.