‘Back-to-back’
The story is told about a group of children boasting about having “back-to-back” names—that is, spelled backwards, their names would come up with another name. The first one, Leon, had Noel. The next, Niño, had Onin. Everyone was having fun , especially when they came to the last one. His name? Toto!
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In today’s gospel (Mk. 9, 38-43, 45, 47-48), Jesus warned His disciples that following Him included a “back-to-back” presence of trials and victories, persecutions and affirmations, temptations and resolutions. In other words, a disciple is one who experiences the good and the bad, the happy and the sad, the darkness and the light. In our journey to God’s heart, we must continue to take the road of goodness, justice and righteousness, no matter what.
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One trait we must learn as disciples of the Lord is that of openness and teamwork. “For whoever is not against us is for us.” Pope Francis is showing us the way on how to dialogue and reach out to other people of different culture, creed and religion. We do not have the monopoly of truth. We must learn more and more to respect, listen and appreciate other people. It all boils down to humility. Self-righteous people still have a long way to go in their journey as disciples.
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Discipleship involves decision. Jesus asks of us not only a personal decision, but a radical decision as well. “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off…. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off…. If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…” It would be good for us to reflect and talk to the Lord today about things that are bothering us, about our transgressions, or anything that could hinder our entering the Kingdom of God.
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Tomorrow is the Feast of San Lorenzo Ruiz and his martyr companions. They made a choice to suffer and die for their faith. Like them, we are also called to make a choice for God, for goodness, for righteousness. If we never experience persecution, inconvenience or suffering because of our faith, then maybe our faith is just for convenience, for comfort or, worse, just for show.
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In line with martyrdom, let us choose leaders who are willing to sacrifice for us. Those who became richer when they became public servants did not serve us. They cheated us!
Those who became proud and arrogant when they became public servants did not respect us. They used us!
May our public servants become not only public but real servants and martyrs.
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Sept. 29 is the Feast of Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. In remembering them, we honor and thank God who, out of His love for us, sent us His angels to guide, protect and enlighten us. Angels are real. Let us make them more real by constantly becoming aware of and acknowledging their presence in our lives. Also, by praying to them often, especially when we travel, when we are in need or in trouble, or when our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy. “Angel of God, my guardian dear…”
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I could have died last Sept. 19, 2015. At about 9 a.m., while we were on our way to a healing Mass in Divine Word College, Bangued, Abra, a car came straight toward us for what could have been a head-on collision. Luckily, our driver was able to steer the car to the side of the road in the nick of time; still our left rear tire was hit at such an impact that sent our car into a skid. Miraculously, our car stopped a few feet away from the ravine! And I, with driver Jun Jun and my ex-seminarian classmate Eggai Matias (XVD) survived the accident unhurt.
We found out later that the driver of the other car had dozed off, and the seven passengers were asleep when the accident occurred. Everything happened so fast, and the dreadful incident only made sense to me when the owner of the other car told me: “Thank you, we bumped you, Father Orbos! Your car ‘stopped’ us from going straight into the ravine!” Wow! We were hit… so that others may live?!
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The near-fatal accident made me believe more in the reality and presence of our guardian angels. Yes, angels are real! A few minutes after the accident, an approaching car turned around and stopped, and the driver, Dr. Ramon Dickson, offered to bring me to the Divine Word College so that I will be on time for my scheduled healing Mass there. (Wasn’t he an angel sent to me by God?) I believe, too, that the guardian angels were there to save me and my companions—and the passengers of the other car, among them three children, one of whom, Miko, was celebrating his fifth birthday that day!
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Think about this: “Never think hard about the past; it brings tears. Don’t think so much about the future; it brings fear. Live this moment with a smile; it brings cheers.”
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, amid trials and difficult moments, help us not to turn our backs on You. Amen.
