Mission is Now

Transition is good for the mission because it brings a breathe of fresh air. It allows change and change is good because it gives an opportunity for renewal. In community, we heard it from some leaders who were in position for so long, “Before, we do like this and like that and it work, we were so good that we did this and that.” My answer to that is that yes, you were good in the past but how about now? The mission is not in the past; the mission is now. (Ang misyon ay hindi noon, ang misyon ay ngayon.) There is no point of comparing what was in the past to what we are doing now, because the two have different situations and requires different approaches. We can only look back to learn and be grateful. 

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Nothing To Do With Image

We heard it at times, we need to be good because we have to protect the community, and we have an image to protect. No, we don’t have an image to protect; we have a mission to protect. Community exists because the Lord commissioned it to do a share in His mission. And we need to protect it and share it to others. Image has nothing to do with mission other than as an icing in the cake. If it was just for image, Jesus could have probably been the most fashionable person of his time, but He was not focused on it, He was more focused on the mission. What is far more important than image are the eyes that is focused on Christ, feet that walk with Christ and heart that is anchored on Christ.

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A Prayer

Life is beautiful but it can be hard at times. We are comforted in the thought that God is with us. Sharing to you this beautiful prayer from the Philippine Daily Inquirer column of Father Jerry Orbos SVD as we journey:

“Lord, sometimes, when I cannot pray, I sit very still with nothing to say. Nevertheless, I know You are there, and I whisper Your name because I know You care. You know the troubles in mind. You know my weaknesses and the failures in my life, and at times, my doubts, worries, and fears. I know that Your spirit is with me, and that You will never leave or abandon me, ever. And so in the silence of my heart, I will listen only to Your sweet voice, hear Your tender but true words, and feel your living embrace. In You alone will I put trust and my faith, and surrender everything. Amen.”

Faith and trust indeed. 

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Good News, Bad News

There are so many good news. We just have to look around and we can see goodness in ordinary people in everyday life. But why is that we only see mostly bad news in media? We should highlight goodness, kindness, love and compassion. We should highlight positive things to inspire people to be good and do good.

Others are saying that it is just the truth; the world is filled with evil. Yes, but it does not mean that that’s the only truth. There is evil, yes, but there is so much goodness as well. By reporting only bad things, are we not being biased against good things? Truth can never be compromised in goodness, for truth speaks for itself. 

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Love Inspires Us

Love inspires us to be good and do good. Love, in short, brings us to who we really are, an image and likeness of God. Love makes us real.

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It’s Not All About Money

We have heard it many times, “life is not all about money”. It never is. If our thinking and our worries are all about money, for sure we will never be at peace.  We will always be envious of someone more successful than us. We will never end worrying and complaining.

Happiness can never be bought. We can be happy with little. The antidote is to be contented with what we have, be at peace with ourselves and be happy with whatever life offers us. Life is good and beautiful. Look beyond money and you will find that all you need is but a little of everything. Smile, laugh and be happy. 

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The Challenge of Man

The challenge of man is not really how to be good because they are capable of being good. The challenge of manhood is consistency, consistency in being good, compassionate and real. 

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Talking About Friendship

Friendship has to be growing and nourishing not stagnant. Is our friendship making us grow us a person? Does it make us grow in our relationship with God? We are good at chilling out but how about correcting and accepting correction in return? People need real friends and real friends stands by what is true, good and beautiful. 

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Feast of the Assumption

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Assumption of Mary into heaven. This feast gave us so much hope that we don’t die in vain. Mary’s assumption is a prelude of our own destiny. Her assumption to heaven gives us hope and joy as we anticipate a life beyond this world. Our life does not end in the cemetery. Like Mary, our destiny is heaven. 

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The Need To Be Compassionate

I just came from a conference for single men and women and hearing personal testimonies from different people showed how there is so much brokenness in the world. It reaffirms once more, that all of us are wounded in one way or another and we all need some sort of mending. We cannot afford to be rude in a world full of woundedness. We need to be more caring and compassionate. Our call is to be a healing presence to others. 

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Love and Excellence

With love comes excellence. We can never be mediocre when we are in love. Because when we are in love, we will always strive to do our best. We become more forgiving and understanding. We desire nothing but the joy of the other.

In love we become selfless. Therefore, if we give love, we consequentially bring out the best in the other. 

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