Huwebes, Abril 19, 2012

"BE NOT AFRAID...I AM TOTALLY YOURS"

                 Blessed John Paul II and Mama Mary

"Be not afraid" and "I am totally Yours", these are the two  most popular words by Blessed John Paul II. He often used these words to strengthen our faith. There are many times when we become weak because of the trials that come to us, we cannot stop it from coming because it's God's way of testing our faith. Blessed John Paul II provides us a statement to be strong in faith "Be not afraid", these words appear in the Bible many times like when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Blessed Mother that she would be the Mother of our Savior. Here we can see Mary's faith to the God because she knows that the Lord will not abandon her because she has an important mission. Let's imitate our Blessed Mother, putting all of her trust to the Lord who is ever loving and protective. Let's imitate our Blessed Mother's faith. Let's not be afraid, let's just say to those problem that "my God is powerful, I am ready to face you because I know that the Lord is with me, he will never abandon me."

How many times in the past did we say to God "I am totally Yours"? Have we given ourselves totally to God and to our Blessed Mother? Blessed John Paul II has an enormous devotion to our Blessed Mother consecrating himself totally to the Mother of God, who is the perfect example of a true Christian life. Let's be like Blessed John Paul II, let's also put our trust to our Blessed Mother because she will continue to guide us in our life so that we may be more close to her Son, Jesus. Let us also be like Mary, the handmaid of the Lord who accepted God's will without any hesitation. Let us also remember that when we do God's will, the Good Lord will provide us the joy that no one else can give. Remember also that God said "I am totally yours until the end of time", so why worry? The Lord keeps His promise my dear brothers and sisters. Let's always remember "Be not afraid, the Lord is with me until the end of time." God Bless.

DOUBTING CARLO

Last Sunday (April 15, 2012), we celebrated the Feast of the Divine Mercy and the Gospel is about St. Thomas the Apostle or popularly known as "Doubting Thomas" because he refused to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead.

I was reflecting on the said Gospel in the past few days and I can't seem to write it down into my journal or even in this blog...wow! It's my first blog for 2012!!! I lost the time to write my thoughts in this blog and I think it would be a good resume my blogging with this reflection. In the past, I have been very doubtful of countless things, if you would know me sometimes I'm very pessimistic in some situations or even to other people I judge them easily without even taking time to know that person. In my reflection, I realized that being doubtful or pessimistic is a sign of lacking faith. Lacking faith in the sense that when I judge other people. I easily judge a new person who comes across me or I encounter, I usually say "Mukhang di maganda ugali niya" when in the mere fact I haven't given that person the chance to introduce himself/herself to me totally or the chance to get to know him better. When I say that, I lack the faith in that person and his/her capabilities -- I doubt immediately. When a certain task is assign to me especially in the office and I immediately react that I can't do it or it's impossible for me to do that because first, I'm not a natural born sales person, I'm a biologist. With that pessimism, I lack faith to the person who entrusted that task to me and I even lack the faith to myself also and my own capabilities because I haven't tried to do that job -- I doubt at myself and to the people who trust me. Lastly, I sometimes lack faith in God when I encounter a very depressing moment in my life or when trials come across me and it seems impossible to solve, I lack faith in God -- I doubt God's mysterious way of loving me. Lacking faith in God is probably the most shameful thing to do, because I lack the faith to the one who loves me from the beginning and who created me. I sometimes complain to God why I encounter this kinds of problem and ask "am I not a good servant to the Master?" In the end, I realize that problems are part of our daily life, a test of faith from God. When a master tries to test a servant's faithfulness, he would make a task to test that servant, now if that servant passes that task, the master would conclude that the person can be trusted and truly faithful. Let's take the story of Abraham and Job as our example. In the present, I now take my problems as a test from God to keep my faith in Him because even though I cannot see Him, I feel His presence within me and around me. When I can't seem to bear the problem, I would feel a tight embrace around me and telling me that I can do it and Boom! I found solutions to that problems and I was able to use it to help others who experienced the similar situations in life.

In the end of the day, I always wonder why am I very pessimistic? I also found out that pride has a big contribution in doubt, because sometimes we only think that we can do it we don't need any help from anyone or to the Divine. Lesson learned, always learn to be humble, meek and prudent so that we may not be doubtful of the things or to anyone we encounter, because we don't know that the one we're doubting is actually a blessing in disguise.

I hope my brief reflection would also help you. God Bless =)