Connected and united
The story is told about a wife who, as a sign of her undying unity and connection, put in her husband’s coffin his cell phone. Imagine her shock when, two days after the burial, she received this text message: “Here na me. Follow na you, ok?” (I am already here. You follow, OK?)
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In today’s Gospel (Jn. 15, 1-8), Jesus tells us to remain united with Him. The branch must remain united to the vine so that it will bear fruit. Let us look at our lives and see if we are really living a life that is deeply rooted and firmly attached to the Lord. Otherwise, our lives would be empty, meaningless, vain, fruitless and unworthy.
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As long as we remain in and with the Lord, we will be all right. Our problems begin and multiply when we cut ourselves off and stay away from the Lord. A lot of our problems and life’s complications would have been avoided if we just held on to God, in spite of, and no matter what.
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I pity the innocent children who are fruits of broken relationships. Just because someone did not love enough, or chose the easy way out, others will suffer the consequences. There is wisdom in staying on, and choosing the road of patience and sacrifice.
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“If you quit, you might regret it.” This is the advice I give to those who have troubled relationships. The bottom line is that when we come face to face with God, we can tell Him that we did our very best, and we have exhausted all the avenues and means. Remember how far easier it is to sever than to persevere, to give up than to wrap it up, to say “the end” than to say “let me try again.”
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Mama Mary allowed me to meet this week Fr. Walter Villamiel, a brother priest who has an interesting life and vocation story. He is an only child, took up nursing at the University of the Philippines, and worked for 10 years as a nurse at the Philippine General Hospital. He said that as he went on serving the sick, he realized that more than medical interventions, he felt the need of God among those he ministered to. This rekindled his childhood dream of becoming a priest. He gave up a lot, and now, Father Walter is a Notre Dame De Vie priest in Novaliches, Quezon City. When I asked him why he became a priest, his answer was simple: “All these years, I held on to Mama Mary who led me closer to Jesus, something I learned from my parents early on.” Stay close to the Blessed Mother, and you will come closer to, and will never abandon, Jesus.
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My heart was crying when I prayed over an 8-year-old cancer patient, Gilbert, at the hospital recently. His left leg will be amputated as a result of bone cancer. What gave me inspiration was the deep faith of his parents, who have unwavering hope that the Lord will help their only child get well. I can never forget, too, the smile Gilbert gave me as I asked him to give me the thumbs-up sign before I left his hospital room.
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I am sure all of us have some “holding on” moments and stories to tell, and I do not mean holding on to sin, power, pleasures, or bad relationships. More than these, I know that many of us hold on to goodness, values, self-respect, and ideals. Please don’t let go of these. In time, these will bear fruit, if not in your lifetime, maybe in those that come after you. Just keep on planting good seeds. Someday these will bear fruit, and give you a reason to smile!
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Congratulations to Mayor Bobom Perez, his city officials and the people of Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, which recently was named the cleanest, greenest, and safest city of Region 1. What made it possible? Work, lots of hard work. And focus, staying focused on doing our mission for God’s people. May we have more public servants who are focused on the good of our people, not on the goods of our people.
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By the way, please be reminded that pruning goes with fruit bearing. If you are experiencing any sort of pruning right now, be consoled and be assured that the Lord is preparing you for something good up ahead, be it a blessing or a mission that is forthcoming. Consequently, if you don’t experience any pruning of any sort, perhaps you are living a life of constant lying or denying.
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“More fun in the Philippines!” Good battle cry for our tourism. More than these, though, let’s stress the other Fs that will help us grow stronger as a nation, and these are freedom, family, and faith. Let us be vigilant and let us fight anything or anyone that would destroy our freedom, our families, and our faith.
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Think about this: “Don’t be just like cigarettes. Don’t let people buy you when they need you, and step on you when they’re finished using you.”
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May 13 is Mother’s Day and we take time to remember and say thank you to our mothers who sowed good traits in us. As Marcel Proust once said, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, no matter what happens, please help me stay connected and united with You. Amen.
