MANILA, Philippines -- At a bus stop somewhere in Spain some years ago, I tried out a coffee machine. Using my little knowledge of the Spanish language, I followed all the instructions step by step and pressed the final button which initiated the grinding and swirling sound. My few moments of success were shattered by the frantic shouting of a man behind me exclaiming: “La tasa! La tasa!” So engrossed on the details, I had forgotten to put the cup to receive the dripping coffee!
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In today’s Gospel (Jn. 4: 5:15, 19-26, 39, 40-42), we hear of Jesus who, step by step, led the Samaritan woman to accept God’s grace. At first, she had many fronts and alibis, but one by one, Jesus was able to break down her defenses. From an aloof, arrogant disinterested stranger, she ended up to be a dedicated, zealous and a changed woman who went on to tell others about a wonderful person she had encountered. That’s because she recognized and she received her moment of grace. God offers us His grace so generously all the time, yet we often let it just drip to waste because we are engrossed on important “details” of our day-to-day lives.
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How many chances are we missing, how many graces are we losing just because we cannot let go of our worldly treasures and material blessings? We work so hard on our temporal agenda at the expense of our spiritual well-being. We hold on to our mundane gains, and we so easily let go, and even snub matters of the heart, matters of value, matters of the spirit. Praying for all of us to see the light, so that we do not belittle those that really matter in this life and in the hereafter.
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Left on our own, we often would rather focus on ourselves. That is why God often sends on our way people, events and moments that would make us focus on Him and on other people. And so it is that trials, events, and even people like Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada or Ed Panlilio come our way to make us see the light. They wake us from our slumber, and jolt us out of our comfort zones so that we leave darkness and embrace the Light Himself. But often, we simply put on our sunglasses, or look at the opposite direction, or close our eyes.
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It’s not as if we are on opposite sides. We are all converging toward the light. We all have pieces of the truth. We are all contributing in building our nation and in proclaiming the Kingdom of God; and unto each one of us, grace is given. Our leaders should especially be sensitive and receptive to moments of grace because they are the standard bearers of truth, honesty and goodness. When we do not see these in them, then it is our turn to show them as a people, as a power, what truth, honesty and goodness are all about. What a pity that many of our government and even church leaders are missing on their chances for greatness, and their moments of grace.
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I was just in Vietnam, and I liked what I saw in a people rising from the rubbles through hard work and determination. I particularly took note of the zeal of the Catholics in that land of 113 Vietnamese martyrs, which has a record of so much persecution. The Vietnamese bishops continue to shepherd, guide and protect their flock. They stay with them, and are one with them in their deepest hopes, dreams and aspirations. They listen to, and with, their sheep. They admonish the goats. They drive away the wolves. They are not with the wolves.
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The coffee is dripping, and our cups are not receiving it. While many of us are so engrossed on the instructions and the details, we are missing out on the tremendous grace that abounds in us these days. We often get too caught up on personalities and issues at hand, that we forget the “big picture.” The main personalities here are God and the enemy. So, which side are you on? Are you an agent of the light or a perpetuator of darkness? The issue at hand is: Are you helping proclaim the Kingdom of God, or are you obstructing truth, goodness and love in our land?
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A great moment of grace is unfolding in our land. Let us not be bystanders. Let us not be doubters but believers that God is in control, and that God has a plan. And when that happens, will you be on the side of grace or on the side of disgrace?
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A Healing Mass is scheduled in Haniway, Iloilo tomorrow, Feb. 25, at 5 p.m. with 14-year-old blind girl Fatima Soriano. Tomorrow, too, let us pray especially for healing in our land. One with you!
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help me not to miss out on moments of grace in me and all around me. Amen.
More Inquirer columns
Previous columns:
For love or for sale? – 2/16/08
Not sinless, but sin less – 2/10/08
Try – 2/02/08
Clarity – 01/26/08
Seeing and remembering – 01/19/08
Pleasing the Father – 01/12/08
