Lessons for the journey

According to a story I heard long time ago, a male dog urinated near a wall which suddenly collapsed, but luckily it survived. From then on, the dog started to spread an important message and lesson, and that is, to raise one hind leg while urinating, for safety and protection!

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In today’s Gospel (Mark 13:24-32), Jesus reminds us to learn and remember our lessons regarding the end-times which will be marked with great tribulations. However, we also must not forget the lesson of hope for His coming with great power and glory. In life, let us learn to prepare for the worst, and always hope for the best.

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As we write, super typhoon “Pepito” is threatening to come to our shores. As a country, let us take all the necessary preparations and precautions. Let us also pray and hope that “Pepito” will be kind, and leave our shores without much damage and harm.

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We pray: Lord, our land is already ravaged by political calamities; please spare us from more natural calamities. Amen!

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“When you walk through a storm; hold your head up high; and don’t be afraid of the dark,” (You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers). May this line of a song remind us to hold on tight to God’s presence. May our storms make us come closer to God, help us become stronger and better persons, and make us learn our life lessons well.

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There is an end-time. Life is short; death is certain. Let us ask ourselves today: “Am I happy, and am I making others happy? Am I holy, and am I leading others to be holy? Am I kind, or am I proud, selfish, and greedy? If God called me today, will I be ready?”

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Nov. 21 is the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Next Sunday, Nov. 24, is the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. When you and I come before God’s presence, will we be “presentable” or will we be “despicable”?

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Let us be reminded again that our most important journey in life is our journey to God’s heart. Are you closer to God now than you were last year? Is your relationship with Him more personal and more real now? Are you loving Him with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your strength, with all your soul? Has He finally truly become your God?

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Many of us are so focused on our material provisions for our journey. Make sure you have these spiritual provisions on your journey: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatian 5, 22-23) The journey will be lighter and brighter if you travel with the Holy Spirit in your heart.

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Please check if you have these symptoms: “Frequent attacks of smiling; frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation; a loss of interest in judging others; a loss of ability to worry; an increasing tendency to act based on hope rather than fear; an unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment; an ability to give and receive love in spite of life’s problems; sharing whatever little you have with people who have less in life.” If you have these symptoms, congratulations! You are blessed! You are headed to God’s heart. You are living with the Holy Spirit in your heart.

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As we journey on, what is important is not so much our speed as our provisions for the journey, our companions who travel with us, and making sure we do not lose the way to the final destination of our journey.

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Inviting you to the 33rd Eucharistic Congress at the Pink Sisters Convent, Hemady, Quezon City on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with talks by. Fr. Aris Martin, SVD, Fr. Dave Conception, and talk and mass by Most Rev. Pablito Tagura, SVD, D.D. For inquiries, please call 0927-366-4116.

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Think about this: Fear says, “what if…;” Faith says, “even if…”

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A moment with the Lord: Lord, help us not to forget the lessons we need in our journey, so as to not to lose our way. Amen.

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