We Can Still Align: The Antidote to Future Regrets

2^nd Sunday of Lent

Pls Read God’s Silent Message: Mk 9:2–10

Hello, MILLENIALS!

Have you heard some at your age, with these lines?

Sana pala, I didn’t give in that much, di sana ako na-broken hearted!

Sana pala, I didn’t keep secrets from my parents, na-guide sana ako!

Sana pala, di ako nagmadali, na-enjoy ko pa sana ang pagka-bata ko!

Sana pala, nakinig ako, di sana …

Guess what, would you know that your parents share the same sentiments with you?

Kung sana lang nasabihan namin sya, di sana sya nasasaktan ngayon!

Kung sana lang nalaman namin, di naman nya kailangang maramdamang mag-isa sya!

Kung sala lang di kami na-awkward na masabihang stage parents, we could have enjoyed TIMES TOGETHER!

Kung sana lang, nakinig sya at napakinggan namin sya, di sana…

Ang daming “sana”, ang daming time na parang nasayang na!

If dadating ka sa point na parang kulang na ‘yong time, saka mo lang masasabi sa sarili mo:

“Sayang, ‘di sana ako naghesitate na tingnan ang dapat kong makita,

di sana ako nagdalawang isip na sabihin ‘yong dapat kong sabihin;

naging humble sana akong ipakita at iparamdam na kailangan ko ng tulong;

kailangan kong maramdamang di ako nag-iisa.”

Millenials and “Me-linya” … come to think of it, “to each his own!” … sometimes, we just don’t realize and recognize that we both share the same sentiments towards each other in the so-called “generational gap.”

Madalas kesa minsan, we fail to make “both ends meet” kasi we are focused on our own emotions and expectations.

Today’s Gospel is reminding us to be spiritually awake and not miss God’s glory in action:

“The Lord Jesus not only wants us to see His glory - He wants to share this glory with us.

And Jesus shows us the way to the Father's glory: follow me - obey my words - take the path I have chosen for you and you will receive the blessings of my Father's kingdom - your name will be written in heaven.”

We would miss  God's glory and action if we wouldn’t strive to obey “as children” and submit to the path that God has chosen for us “as parents.” The Antidote to future regret is to align as parents & child NOW!   

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Life is too short, we should maximize time, appreciating and enjoying “having each other” while we still have all the opportunity to “make things up with each other”. J #sunset

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Article Published in: The Feast San Lorenzo Bulletin. Issue #12. 25 February 2018. The Light of Jesus Family in San Lorenzo, Sta Rosa, Laguna. https://www.facebook.com/thefeastsanlorenzo/

"True Character is who you are and what you do -- even when no one is watching you!"

Sometimes, we have to “keep distance…”

“I want to pick you up each time you fall, I want to cheer you up each time you frown, I want to ease you each time you’re stressed, I want to calm you down each time you flare up, I want to clear out your mind from bugs when you think that people are against you…”

“I intend to teach you the wisdom that you need when loads are heavy, I intend to make you feel that I am just here in support of the good things that you do, I intend to save you from committing mistakes when you think you seem so right…”

“…BUT, your reactions, your ways of thinking and ways of feeling never allow me. Your justifications keep on pushing me away.  Your self-centered beliefs has created the wall that hinders you from seeing and from realizing -- that all that I intended, and all that I wanted is to help you become the person that God wants you to be.”

“Nevertheless, how I still wanted to give you a hug just for you to know that things will soon be fine and for you to feel that despite the pain that you’ve inflicted in me because most of the time you misunderstood me, still, I will keep on searching for ways ‘till you eventually understand, because I know, deep within my heart that YOU ARE A WORK IN PROGRESS.”

“There may be times when I will have to keep distance, to give you the chance to listen to my silence and make you look within, hoping that you would grab the opportunity to reflect on things and to see the difference when you decide to also look up and ask if I would still be back so that you could cope and make up.”

“This is never easy, but because the Holy Spirit keeps on working in me, I will also never give up on you, my child…’till that day you’ll eventually let go of your pride and let your FAITH in God lead you closer to Him  .”

These lines, I have personally composed for my kids and for the youths of today’s time. I am pretty sure that most parents would also want to boost these lines to their kids, specially those who feel the intensity of manifesting the love when we forgive despite the pain and in never giving up, notwithstanding the difficulty through the force of the Holy Spirit for the purpose of building a “church” in every child.

In recollection, I have several times told my students that such “church” is actually our “personal relationship with Jesus”. I personally feel that we should be channels of this personal relationship which we could sample-out to our kids so that they may witness for themselves the difference of a life in God.#

profgail67.wordpress.com

“Holding onto the Art of Letting Go”

credits to http://paradox/conniejoy.files.wordpress.com

What a PARADOX … HOLD-ON, yet LET GO!

“Mas madalas kesa minsan, saka lang natin sinasabi lahat ng maganda at mabuting nagawa ng tao kapag di nya na ito naririnig. Saka lang natin naaalala mga maganda nyang sinabi kapag di na sya nagsasalita. Saka lang natin pinipilit baguhin ang mga bagay na pinanghinaan na nya ay di pa din natin ipinagbago kapag di na nya makikita na nagbago na tayo.”

In the Gospel of John 12:20-33, God wants us to realize that in  real life scenario, we are actually tasked to mission-out like Jesus; only that, we do not recognize and would not even want to partake in this task just because, IT’S NEVER EASY making others realize their mistakes while they misinterpret our intentions. Much as we could avoid these chances, we would rather divert our attention to other easier things – that is, if we would only have a choice.

Yes, but then no!  Among all others, yes, parents may have the choice not to partake in Jesus’ difficult mission; but then, they can never really say NO if they really love the family whom they committed to raise.  Along the way, parents has to endure every painful complaints, every justifiable and unreasonable tantrums, misinterpreted intentions, intended & unintended disrespects, hard-headedness, plus in effect, misunderstandings between parents themselves despite the both good intentions yet wrong choice of words or chances of bringing things up maybe, and other causes of stress and chaos. Difficult as we could ever imagine,  these scenarios could lead to “silent cries” because we get so hurt.  

Yet, as Jesus said in John 12:24 “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” -- a mom & a dad should let go of such pain and instead, hold-on & never give up fulfilling their mission to raise their kids until they become the person that they should be when its already their turn to continue the responsibility and commitment – the way they were trained within the family – their training ground – the same thing that Jesus did to His chosen Disciples when He coached them the roles they should get through just before His earthly mission ended.

To my hope, may this reflection teach the young generation to HOLD ON to the responsibility which they should have learned from their training grounds. LET GO of their tendencies to justify some not so good actuations; yet, hold on to whatever they have started good and let go of the impending emotions that would hinder them from producing the FRUIT which their parents should see while they still have all the chance to enjoy the reward of their kids’ willingness to LISTEN not only with their ears, but much with their HEART!

In the same way, may this Gospel challenge us, adults, to learn “the art of letting go and letting God!” so that we could maximize the chances of still bearing much fruit --  while pondering within: “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit”! #