Thank You for Life

“You could have died,” the tyre supplier told my wife, as she went back on 20 May 2013 to report about the flat tyre that we had in the South Motorway of Auckland.

On Pentecost Sunday (19 May), my wife, who was driving, and I (with two other passengers) were trying to catch up with the christening of my first granddaughter Emjey Sophiea, so we took the fast lane (100 kph) of the motorway. Little did we know that we were running with a deflated front tyre (Earlier we had the same tyre filled with air at a petrol station). My wife noticed the unusual movement of the car half-way towards our destination. Through speeding vehicles, we safely crossed towards a rare open space along the motorway. We were able to obtain timely aid to change the tire, just prior to a heavy downpour.

The tyre supplier continued, “The tyre is totally damaged; and this could have burst if you continued running at a high speed in the motorway. You should never do this again.”

After my wife related to me about her conversation with the tyre supplier, I told her that we should be thankful to God for guarding us against harm; for allowing us to live for another day; and for us making it to  the baptism of our granddaughter.

Psalm 32:7 says: “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

Truly, the Lord protected us from a fatal accident, as earlier on, we sung gleefully on the descent of the Holy Spirit during the mass at Our Lady of Lourdes-Glen Eden, and I did sing just in time a lullaby, a song of hope, called “Wonderful Baby” to little Miss Emjey.

Also on Pentecost Sunday, our growing music ministry, TawagAwit, marked its 6^th anniversary. The Lord must be pleased with our ministry, by allowing us to live a little bit longer. Thank you, dear God, for life.

Beautiful Girl

She was the most beautiful girl in the graduating class; add to that among the brightest. As part of tradition, students with honours were asked to bring their parents during graduation. When her name was called, she marched on stage to accept the diploma, but no parent came forward instead it was her best friend who pinned the medal.  After the ceremony, her friend asked why she didn’t have her parents around. She responded, “My father left us, while I’m ashamed of my mother, she is ugly.”

Arriving home, she was surprised that her mother had cooked special food to celebrate her achievements. Instead of thanking her mother, she simply showed her the diploma and the medal, and rushed to her room to check on her Facebook. As friends and neighbours partook of the meal, she remained in her room, until one of their elderly neighbours whom she admired, knocked and asked her to join.  As they were heading towards the dining table, the neighbour asked her why she didn’t invite her mother to the graduation adding that throughout the day her mother was in tears while cooking the food.  She responded, “I don’t want my schoolmates to see my mother with all the scars in her face. She’ll ruin my reputation.”

The neighbour asked her, “Do you know how she got all those scars?”

She responded, “No. And I never cared to ask.”

“Well I will tell you,” continued the neighbour, “When you were one year old, your house was burned, while your mother was washing dirty baby linen outside. As the raging fire ate up most of the house your mother barged through it bringing a wet blanket. She arrived at the room, and carefully wrapped her beautiful baby who was crying. Your mother carried you safely through the fire, but nearly died of the burns that ravaged her body and most of her face. She was as beautiful as you are; but didn’t mind losing that to save her baby – you.”

For a moment, the daughter fell silent, as tears flowed from her eyes. She rushed to her mother, knelt down and begged for forgiveness, before stunned guests.

The mother hugged her daughter and said, “I understand how you felt. But I didn’t mind it at all, for you are so precious to me, and always will be. I forgive you and if I have  to go through a burning house again to save you, I won’t hesitate. I love you.”

The priest in our parish narrated a much shorter version of this story on May 12, 2013 during Mother’s Day. I added more details and narratives to honour all the mothers in the world, who do so much for their children, yet the latter often fail to appreciate their sacrifices.

Say “I love you” to your mother, if you haven’t done that as yet. Let us always honour our mother, the most beautiful gift of God to the children of the world.

True Calling

Norman Gayo, in justified anger, smashed the cell phone on the wall, when told by the doctor that his wife had difficulty in delivering their second child. What was supposed to be a happy welcome to a new member in their small family turned into a tragedy that resulted in the death of Leah, a licensed teacher in the Philippines who worked as a baker in New Zealand. For Norman, the dream of a better life turned bitter with the loss of a caring wife, a responsible mother, a generous daughter and a dedicated handmaid of the Lord.

While Leah would have wanted to raise her children to adulthood such was not in God’s plan. But if Leah had one wish for her family, she had said it very clearly to Norman, “You must remain here in your new home in New Zealand.” Truth to tell, she had made great sacrifices in order to reach the shores of Aotearoa.

In the case of Abram in the Old Testament, it is written, “The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you’" (Genesis 12:1-3).

It must have been difficult for Abraham, but obedience to God was foremost in his mind, and so he went, and God duly rewarded him. “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8).

I came to know of Leah only when she died. It is the testimonies of others that reveal the true nature of a person. It takes faith to migrate to another country with uncertain prospect of employment.   Out of necessity, she settled to work as a baker; but it was off work that she shone brightly like a candle in the dark. According to Norman, his wife committed herself as a handmaid of the Lord attending prayer meetings and helping single women and wives with absentee husbands.  “Much as she took care of the family,” said Norman, “she always found time for these women.” Many of those women came to the wake attesting to her good deeds.

One writer said, “Abraham’s life also shows us the blessing of simple obedience. When asked to leave his family, Abraham left. When asked to sacrifice Isaac, Abraham “rose up early the next morning” to do so. From what we can discern from the biblical narrative, there was no hesitation in Abraham’s obedience. Abraham, like most of us, may have agonized over these decisions, but when it was time to act, he acted. When we discern a true call from God, or we read His instructions in His Word, we must act. Obedience is not optional when God commands something.”

I am certain Leah found her true calling; something most people fail to discover in their lives. She had done well in her assigned tasks, and God has sought her to leave her family for the eternal home. She can rest now, assured that God will take care of her family, through brethren and friends, through kind hearted individuals, through benevolent institutions and through the Advocate in the Holy Spirit.

I Believe in Miracles

God does not make miracles simply to heal a defect. God does not make miracles to dazzle people. God does not make miracles to showoff that He is great and powerful. No.

I read this very long article about miracles, and one of the points highlighted was that “A miracle is a factor in the Providence of God over men. Hence the glory of God and the good of men are the primary or supreme ends of every miracle.” Therefore the miracle must be worthy the holiness, goodness, and justice of God, and conducive to the true good of men.

Miracles are badges of God’s love for His people. Hence, miracles are meant to be told, to be narrated, to be testified, to create awareness of God’s holiness, goodness and justice. If we are to limit our testimonies to people who already believe, we have failed to accomplish the purpose of God’s miracles.

Such was the fault of the Jews who believed that they were the Chosen People, believing that the miracles of God were meant only for them. In Mark 5 Jesus healed a non-Jew possessed by a demon called Legion in Gadarenes.  The message Jesus was telling his disciples: miracles and the gospel are meant for all, not just for a select race or people.

Thus St Paul wrote “For I am not ashamed of the gospel (and miracles), because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)

In the Gospel of Matthew, he says, “And this gospel (and miracles) of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

For believers, it is our duty, our responsibility, our mission to bear witness to the Word of God, to tell unbelievers of God’s teachings, of God’s love, of God’s miracles. 

(Excerpts taken from the Inspired Talk of Bro Mel B Libre delivered during the inaugural Light Soul Breakfast on April 27, 2013 in Henderson, Auckland)

Come and Have Breakfast

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is an old adage. It must be so for generation after generation families partake of breakfast before pursuing the demands of the day.

I remember as a boy when I spent summer vacation in the family farmland in Pinamungajan, Cebu; I could not understand why we had to wake up so early before sunrise. We then took light breakfast; and the able men then proceeded to tend the fields.

It was much later that I understood the routine. The farmer ate early to provide his body with energy; and it was best to work early as the heat of the sun tended to be less harsh in the morning than later in the afternoon.

In John 21: 12, it is written, “Jesus said to them “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord.”

Jesus saw the importance of breakfast, for how could the body sustain the rigid demands of fishing? Appointed as fishers of men, the Apostles needed to sustain their bodies and more importantly their souls; so early on Christ gave them His Body and Blood. The task on hand was far greater than the demands of the seas, for the conversion of non-believers brought the ultimate act of sanctity: martyrdom.

Inspired by John’s Gospel, I have convened Light Soul Breakfast. It is a fellowship of people praying, sharing and singing as a way of expressing love for God and a forum towards creating a caring society. In these times when couples work hard throughout the week, their souls need to be energized, to be filled with the Holy Spirit to prepare them for the demands of another week of family time, of work in the office or field; and, of community service.

As our bodies cannot run on empty at the start of a long day; our souls cannot run on empty at the start of each long working week.