Recognize?

The story is told about a man who ordered pizza in a restaurant and was asked by the waitress, “Sir, how many pieces do you want your pizza sliced? Four or eight?” He thought for a while, then said: “Make it four slices. I may not be able to handle eight!”

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In today’s Gospel (Lk. 24, 13-35), the disciples still could not “handle” the astonishing and mysterious events after the Resurrection. The two disciples headed to Emmaus did not recognize Him as He walked and conversed with them. He was with them but, too focused on their tears and fears, they did not realize that He was there, and He was near.

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All too often in life, we focus on what is missing, and we do not see our blessings. In fact, we should even see the Lord, especially in our trials and sufferings. How? We should accept that these are means to lead us closer to God’s heart. Our prayer at such moments should be: “Lord, I do not understand, I cannot explain why I have this suffering. But if this suffering is leading me closer to Your heart, then, OK lang!”

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Ironically, blessings can also prevent us from recognizing the Lord in our lives. And so it is that there are people who are materially, physically and socially blessed, but who forget the giver of their blessings! Please never forget that we are recipients, not the source, of our blessings. Keep in mind that we are recipients more than achievers of life’s blessings! We have received more than we have achieved in this life.

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Upon the invitation of Fr. Joel de los Reyes, we were in Guam recently to preach on divine mercy in Sta. Barbara Church and in some other churches. May we all see and recognize how much we are loved in spite of everything. God’s love and mercy are overflowing. One of the greatest gifts of Easter is hope. May we recognize God’s loving and healing presence in our midst. The churches were full and joyful, but one of the highlights of my visit was the humble and contrite confession of a person who for so long had been in sin. He saw the opportunity, he was given the grace, and he went back to God’s loving embrace again.

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In Guam I noticed how the traffic stops on both sides of the street when a school bus stops to pick up or drop off students. The safety and wellbeing of schoolchildren are of primary concern there. Perhaps that is also the way we should see how God stops for each one of us, especially for the last, the least, and the lost among us.

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Last Friday Fr. Bob Ebisa, SVD, made a painful journey to the last parish assignment of his brother, Fr. Loi Ebisa, SVD, who died last year at the age of 53. Both are natives of Cebu.

Father Loi had wanted a statue of San Pedro Calungsod for St. Anthony Parish in Aguinaldo, Ifugao, and Father Bob made the journey to fulfill his brother’s dying wish. Do not our hearts burn within when we hear such a story of faith and devotion? The Easter challenge for us all is to journey through this earth fulfilling our Lord’s dying wish that we love one another, and that we spread the Gospel to all creation.

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May is the month of Mama Mary. May 1 was a sad day in Christ the King Seminary. A portion of the grotto in our compound was razed by fire. Someone lit a candle and placed it at the foot of the statue of Our Lady of the Annunciation. The base, which is made of fiberglass, caught fire. All around were ashes, but the statue of the Blessed Mother was still there, standing, including the rosary in her hands. It was such a powerful message.

Everything around us can be destroyed, but if we hold on to the Lord and to our Mother, we can survive it all.

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By the way, next Sunday, May 11, is Mother’s Day. Let us remember and honor our earthly mothers, and our Heavenly Mother. It is the first time in our family that Mama will not be with us on Mother’s Day. We take consolation in the thought that our earthly mother is already with our Heavenly Mother.

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Let us not forget our motherland. We need respect and care for our country and for our people. We surely can do better than who or what we are now. With the 2016 elections in sight, different names are being mentioned as possible leaders for our nation. Perhaps we should broaden our search and pray much that God will give us leaders who need not come from a political party, or a political family. Let us keep on searching, and let us keep on praying!

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Let us not forget, too, Mother Nature. They say that God forgives, but Mother Nature does not, so we better take good care of her.

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The XVD (ex-SVD seminarians) and their wives (XVDas) have come a long way, indeed.  From a group that started as a Sunday-morning basketball club, or a drinking club, it has evolved into a prayer group that meets regularly with regular recollections, and a group that is filled with a sense of outreach and mission. Recently, the group helped in the rehabilitation of the statue of St. Joseph at the back of our seminary. What is evolving is the culture of “courtesy” and sharing. Daily text messages and prayer requests have helped make this group cohesive, cooperative and active. One with you!

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A moment with the Lord: Lord, help me to recognize You and acknowledge Your presence at any moment of my life. Amen.