In the Eyes of the Child

I'm in mixed emotions while watching a child of my cousin supporting same sex marriage. I'm not even sure if she is already eighteen. We're not that close so I  really don't know how to approach  her. I know what her family has been undergoing is painful already. My cousin decided to leave his wife who has been abusing drugs and been in and out of rehab. I can only emphatise with what she is undergoing and without parental guidance all these years. What alarming is that she even misunderstood the bible and quoted that Jesus has nothing to say with homosexuality. I only commented to her post for her to study more. I don't want to humiliate her for lack of knowledge but hoping that I could shield her from any bashings of these controversies. But she did it again. I just let her since this is the free world. How I wish I could talk to my cousin and be able to properly guide his children especially on social media. It only shows their family values and I really felt sad that his children are growing to a world patronizing immorality. I really don't know even if they know such a word. Well, Jesus may not speak directly during His lifetime regarding homosexuality. But if we are among the Christians who believe He is God then the whole bible is regarded as His Word regardless if unitarian or trinitarian. Let me cite two bible verses regarding these:

Leviticus 18:22 ‘Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable.'

1Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous[a] will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,[b] 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Corinthians 6:9 Or wrongdoers
2. 1 Corinthians 6:9 The two Greek terms translated by this phrase refer to the passive and active partners in consensual homosexual acts

Nevertheless we are commanded to love one another and we also know that we are all sinners and all equal in the eyes of God. We must be reminded to condemn only the actions and not the sinner.

I'm Pro-Life

I was saddened by the news last Saturday that same-sex marriage are now legal all over US. I can't help but say 'what is happening now in the world?' A brother alerted us that the rainbow effect application in FB to change one's profile is now available for those who supported the above. This is some kind of celebration for their long advocacy. My mother instinct kick in and so I check my sisters who have changed their profile already. I saw there were three.. I was wondering if they knew what they were supporting. At first I told them to speak to me first before changing their profile. But when I was fallen into deaf ears, I just wanted them to let them to know what I say about this issue. As their big sister I just want them to understand the church's stand. Because I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, that they only hear the inequality that these homo have been shouting through the years. Though I added that we are adults and after my short speech they can decide on their own. Don't get me wrong. I'm an avid fan of Vice Ganda, I have lots of gay friends and I simply love them. But I'm also a Pro-life advocate and this stand makes a difference. Being a Pro-life means carefully analyze which would interfere life and the right of the child. The basic unit of society is the family and it all began in marriage. I understand how the homo dreams to experience this but they did not understand why marriage has been instituted in the first place. This is basically to promote a family -- that is to create a new life. How can same-sex marriage achieve this? They may argue that they can easily adopt an orphan. Yes I won't disagree that the motives are pure and alright but why deprive the child to have a mother and a father? This would only confuse the child of his/her notion of family and how can you handle when s/he asked how s/he came into this world? And imagine all of us are into this same-sex marriage, what will happen to humanity? Will we go into extinction like the dinosaurs? There are sometimes more than fighting for our rights if we listen enough to our conscience, and honestly admit that what we wanted are out of selfishness. We made our society. And peace and order is all in our hands. 

Thinking Outside the Box

I felt a little embarrassed when I presented to Sister Linda my analysis with Richard Rohr. She agreed that there are indeed good points he discussed and what have been teaching in our faith. Nevertheless perhaps I  stick on the teaching too much and did not get out of the box that I insist my own belief on the matter. Well it is forgivable since it has been the notion for common people like me that it is the will of God that Christ has been crucified. Nevertheless I felt that I'm on the verge of thinking outside the box if only I choose the first argument I have  in my head that is God is mighty and that is enough to save us. Well as it clearly stated by Sr. Linda, God does not need to come down but He did out of His love and that is enough to save us because He indeed showed us the way even in the brief of  three years in His ministry. We are even finding it hard to follow Him. How much more if He stayed longer. I was caught off guard again by stressing the prophecies in the bible (in Isaiah, Psalms, etc.) about the destiny of Jesus being crucified. And so Sr. Linda finally explained what it means to be a prophet. And that is to uphold the truth -- which is the message. Prophecy is not really about foretelling the future but witnessing to the message of the Lord. I then conclude that we are indeed all prophets especially those who are serving Him since everyone has been giving messages of His love and compassion. Well Richard Rohr is indeed a brilliant man with good ideas inside his head though there are things that still not accepted. Not because we judged the people especially the homosexuals but surely to uphold the what we called Pro-Creation and that is the basis of having a family and  marriage.

As I prayed that night, I felt so loved by God still that He chose to be one of us just to show us the way and what happened to Him when He came down brought me to tears. It was a very cruel world indeed that He has to die for us in a way so humiliating and horrible. And that is the price of loving us.. I'm also grateful to learn that on the question if He is destined to be crucified or not is simply we do not know the answer. What we sure of is that He have shown the love that nobody can ever give but only Him. There are many things in this world that don't have definite answer. For simply His ways are not our ways. 

Realizations and Hope

The last weekend has been hard for me. Simply because my bff Anne B. has left for good though I'm grateful in the technology that up to this moment I am able to talk to her through skype. I just felt that I'm losing again the only person who told me she can understand me no matter what. Second there was a mishap happened in our whatsapp group with my previous upper household. I just felt out of place when our household head posted a photo where I was not included and didn't even noticed by any in the group and they just continue to chat on and reminisce the days. Perhaps past hurts have immersed where I really felt my household head didn't treated me as her friend but just part of her mission. She didn't even let me into her inner circle and I felt I'm always crying for her attention. Even before she left to get married, I just let it passed without really putting the details of my disappointments to her. I just thought she saved me from that abyss of depression when I thought I am not part of the community. I hang to her word to give it a chance and  never ever thought of leaving. I felt betrayed that I didn't receive any kamusta from her ever since. I was never part of her life and I felt I'm really not important. Same feelings with my partner then where I already pour out my rants to her and at the end of the day I just felt stupid because as if I'm just talking to the wall. She was there for me because we were partners in running a household. And after that then I'm forgotten. I left the whatsapp group with an alibi that my handphone keeps on hanging and needed to remove some groups. I just felt that its time to remove people in my life who just keep on hurting me. It is better to hold on to just few who knew my worth. I know in time that would will get healed too and I will able to face them again. 

It was also hard for me since I was on the edge of not accepting the new household. I felt that I will be a burden to my to be household head. I got the feeling that my advancement on faith made it difficult for my household head before to keep up and be able to be my guide. How can you simply guide a person who is more knowledgeable than you. And most of all who is crazy on Jesus. My soon to be household head had openly declare that she has so many hang ups and even imperfect in embracing the Sacraments. I think we will have an issue there if she would know how I love them and been regular receiving them. Perhaps her own issues will be answered if she will walk with me. I have spent many minutes in the Adoration Room just resting in the presence of God. So many things have been happening and I just want to pursue what I planned. Yes I want to try a different mission. Over the years I felt I don't belong to the evangelisation mission of SFC. Simply because it is not my mission to convert people especially to people with other religion. I have a different belief on that. In some way serving in this ministry is hypocrisy. Its clashing on my ideals that my way of evangelising is not by converting others faith but by simply letting them feel the love of God. And I want to take actions. I am not just a bystander who just sponsor child education in the background or donate when there is in need. I want to dirty my hands even how small the task is. I want to serve God during the Holy Eucharist too. I want to love Him more and more. Although I have physical handicapped but in His grace I was able to do these little task and survive each day. I just pray that all these plans will become a reality soon and that I can glorify Him in my own little ways.

My Dear Jesus and The Holy Eucharist

In the past few months I noted a sudden change on the celebrity sister of our dear president with regards  for her being vocal as Catholic. She is now praying before every meal featured in her show and even would explain to his son what it mean to be born again. I know we are all imperfect and there are things  need to learn. But being tactless has made a difference. She told her viewers recently about her trip in Japan where she attended a mass. She was amazed by the attitude of the church goers there who bow down before communion and even commented how delicious the host there compare to what is being serve in Manila! Well first of all that practice of bowing has been there even before we are born! And we indeed are doing it to our parish here in Singapore. I know reverence is hard to be taught especially in our country where Mass is taken for granted. And my dear Kris Aquino that delicious host is Jesus Christ! You may reserve your tactless comment in privacy and not on nationwide television where everybody is looking up to you. Especially the ignorant Filipinos who would follow your footsteps. Its hard to love the unlovable and sometimes I tell the Lord I'm sorry for this is the moment I can't tolerate how the Holy Eucharist is being promoted as a mark of being a religious one. The Holy Eucharist is a gift for TRUE believers with all humility receiving the body and blood of Christ who love us so much. I hope that communion won't be just an act but understanding the true essence of receiving Christ in our body. Him, out of his love have even transformed into that tiny host to join us even travel in our veins. That is how much He loves us and I hope that all church goers will understand that simple fact. 

Corpus Christi 2015

I like the way God answers me. Yesterday at the Holy Eucharist since it is Corpus Christi the topic is about the body and blood of Christ. Father Frederick has been discussing about blood of the animals being offered before and how in the New Testament the blood of Christ has been offered and it is the last offering since it is the perfect offering.  It was quite sometime that I felt why God has been accepting blood as sacrifice. Before Father Frederick says the reason it came to me that blood is life. In fact I'm a volunteer of Red Cross where blood is the main service of the organization how can I missed this! And so Father says blood means life, a new life is given to us. I was also moved when he says that every breaking of the bread we do in the Eucharist is a commemoration of the Last Supper. That is we let Jesus come again, to be present with us. I felt so privileged and blessed to be a Catholic especially to receive Holy Communion where I received Him and run into my veins. Thank you Lord for your affirmations. Thank you simply for just being with me.