Moments
Remember . . .
By Fr. Jerry Orbos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:49:00 03/15/2008
Filed Under: Religion & Belief, Religions
MANILA, Philippines—Question: How do you make holy water?
Answer: Get ordinary water, and, “boil the hell” out of it!
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It’s Holy Week once again, that special time of the year when we “boil the hell” out of our hearts in response to God who gave His only Son, and in gratitude to Jesus who suffered, died and rose again for us. May the week ahead of us give us all a chance to do three very important R’s in life, namely: Rest, Reflect, Renew.
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In today’s Gospel (Mt. 26,14-27.66) we hear the account of the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us not just be hearers of the Word, but doers of the Word and thus become a part of The Paschal Mystery. Our faith must be real, actual and practical, not just emotional, devotional and intellectual. Remember He did not only say He loved us. He died for us. Let us then also love Him and our brothers and sisters in the concrete way, in the here and now.
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Here’s a thought to ponder, from a blood donor: “I gave blood, He gave His life; I gave a pint, He gave it all; the needle was short and sharp, the nails were large and dull; the cot was soft and restful, the cross was rough and hard; the med tech was kind and gentle, the soldiers were mean and cruel; the crowd applauded my sacrifice, He was derided and reviled; mine was given to prolong life, His was given for eternal life.”
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Last week, I visited and prayed over a 75-year-old woman who has pancreatic cancer. As I was about to leave, she held on to my hand and said: “Father, I am so afraid.” Her words cut deep into my heart and I felt her loneliness and fear on the doorsteps of death. There was something in the way she said it, and in the look in her eyes that really touched my heart and made me realize the inevitability of death, the final, definitive goodbye. Thank God for the gift of eternal life that makes all our goodbyes bearable and meaningful.
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Sooner or later, we all will die. We all will take that lonely, unknown road at the end of our lives. We all have to reckon with our mortality. What amazes me is that some people live as if their lives and power will never end. And even in their sunset years they continue to live a life of sin, deception and lies! Do they ever really think they could get away with it, and will be so privileged again in the next life?
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“IN MY FINAL HOUR, WILL THIS MATTER?” This is a very good question to raise whenever we find ourselves so engrossed about anything or anyone. What matters most in the end is that we loved, that we really loved. Remember, a lot of things you worry about much now won’t even matter five minutes after you’re gone.
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These are trying and confusing times when we are searching for the truth, and when we are discerning our involvement with our people and our nation. Fr. Herbert Scholz, SVD, puts forth two thoughts which could be of big help to us. The first one is “nec laude nec timore,” i.e., neither favor nor fear will prevent me from speaking the truth. (Borrowed from Blessed Cardinal Clemens Von Galen during the Nazi regime in Germany.) The second one is: “I am the king’s good servant, but God’s servant first.” (Borrowed from St. Thomas Moore, when asked to put aside his moral principles.) Yes, life is short and fleeting. We must get busy giving and loving, not hoarding and lying till the very end!
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Remember, a man died on that first Holy Week because He stood for the truth, and He refused to lie. Remember too that this man died because of fabrications and lies. Remember too that this man died because the crowd did not care, and His chosen disciples were too frail. Yes, let us all remember, during the Holy Week, His supreme sacrifice, and how we can prevent Him from dying again and again in our present day and time.
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Especially, not only, during Holy Week, let us go B-A-G-E-T-S-S-S: B—balik Panginoon (Return to God, ask for forgiveness, go to confession); A—alis galit (Remove anger, forgive); G—gawa mabuti (Do good deeds, avoid evil); E—express your love (Let God know, let people know your love); T—tanggal bisyo (Get rid of vices, put on clean living and sanctity); S—sakripisyo (Sacrifice, do penance) S—smile (Do everything with joy); S—secret (Have a “project” with God which only you and He know).
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Let me end with a story about a child who asked his father: “Why do I need to be humble?”
His father replied: “My child, when you choose the lowly path, there is no place to fall and the only way is up.”
A blessed, humble Holy Week everyone!
Wishing, praying and hoping that true conversion happens in each one of us, and in our nation, beginning with our government and the church leaders. Amen.
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Watch the Mission Angels’ Palm Sunday Recollection at the Meralco Theater today over NBN 4, starting 9 a.m. The theme for this year’s recollection is “NEW BEGINNINGS.”
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help me to remember your love, and help me not to forget to love. Amen.
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