Heart to heart

The story is told about a priest who was preaching about loving one’s enemies. When he asked the gathered faithful who among them had plenty of enemies, no hand was raised. When he asked who among them had a few enemies, a few raised their hands. When he asked who among them had no enemies, an old parishioner raised his hand. When the priest asked him why, he said, “Father, I am 102 years old, and all my enemies are dead.”

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In today’s Gospel (Mt. 16, 13-19), Jesus disturbed His disciples with the question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” He disturbed them further when He asked them: “But who do you say that I am?” One of our greatest enemies in following the Lord is our self, especially our mediocrity and complacency, and our refusal to go beyond our comfort zones.

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The Lord calls us today to make a personal commitment to Him. Faith without a personal encounter with the Lord is empty, and faith without an ongoing relationship with the Lord is hypocrisy. The Lord calls us today to go beyond public opinion and public image and have a personal one-on-one, heart-to-heart relationship with Him.

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Today is the Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. These two great men of the Church could not have done what they did if they did not personally encounter the Lord, and if they did not have a personal relationship with Him. We marvel at their great deeds for the sake of the Kingdom, but more so, we honor them because we know that they did it all with hearts full of love and gratitude for their personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They were not just functionaries, but disciples who had been deeply touched personally by their Master.

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The other day we celebrated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The deepest relationship with the Lord emanates from the heart, and not so much from the head. Let us be reminded  that the greatest journey in our lives is the journey to God’s heart. May we not be so focused on our financial journey, popularity journey, or fame journey so as to forget or belittle, our journey with the Lord in this life, and to the Lord in the next life.

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The road less traveled is the road best traveled, but many shun or avoid it because it is the road that leads to hiddenness and oblivion. Furthermore, it is the way of the cross and sacrifice. But sooner or later, we all have to travel that lonely stretch in our life’s journey, when we experience trials, sickness, persecution, deprivation, humiliation, and loneliness. We take consolation and inspiration in Jesus’ words today, that He will be with us every step of the way.

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Please remember that our journey in this life is not merely about going far and fast. Every day we are bombarded by the traditional and social media with what’s happening in the world “out there.” That’s fine, but hardly do we get to hear about the world “in here.” It is so important to have moments in the candle glow, in a world that is filled with flashbulbs and grind sparks.

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Speaking of enemies, I remember the story about a father who told his son: “There is a battle between two wolves within us. One is evil, filled with anger, jealousy, greed, resentment and lies. The other is good, filled with joy, peace, humility, kindness, truth and empathy.” The son asked the father: “Which wolf wins?” The father replied: “The one you feed.” The worst and the last enemy is our self. It is by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can overcome the enemy. “Come, Holy Spirit!”

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Last June 24, I concelebrated the funeral Mass for Felicissima de los Reyes of Cuyo, Palawan. She was 90 years old. She was a very simple and very prayerful person, a very positive and very happy person. She had seven children, two of whom are priests—Father Joel and Monsignor Jesus. In honoring her, we honor all mothers of priests.

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Yesterday (Saturday) was the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Here was a woman who loved truly and deeply. May we not belittle the heart, and matters of the heart. We still have much to learn from Mama Mary when it comes to loving truly and deeply.

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The key to a peaceful and happy life is to joyfully trust the Lord. Instead of focusing mostly on hurts and problems and their solutions, let us learn to joyfully entrust everything and everyone unto the Lord. It is perhaps naive, simplistic, or maybe foolish, but a person who joyfully trusts in the Lord is a person who has found a great treasure.

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Look at trials as moments of tremendous  grace. Mama always reminded us that when we experience pain, hurt, disappointment, sickness, and persecution, we are already doing our purgatory here on earth, and when we die, we will go straight to heaven. Simple words of wisdom and inspiration from a prayerful, humble, simple and loving heart.

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Think about this: “I don’t know much, but three things I know… There is a God, His words are true. Stay close to Him and He will see you through.”

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me have a heart-to-heart relationship with You as I journey on. Amen.