Fade away

The story is told about a woman who was about to place her bet at a casino table. An attractive gentleman beside her whispered to her: “Bet your age, madam.” To impress him, she put her bet on number 25. When number 30 came out, she collapsed.

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In today’s gospel (Mt. 16, 21-27), we hear how Jesus handled unsolicited advice from Peter. His words were strong and direct: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” We need to listen to human advice and counsel, but all the more we need to listen to God’s voice and will in prayer. Beyond the voice of the people, we need to really listen to the Boss of us all.

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People in power must have the wisdom and the guts to tell their so-called advisers and counselors, “Get behind me, Satan!” Consensus is good, but in the end, conscience must prevail over anything and anyone. By worldly standards, Jesus made a lot of bad moves and decisions in His lifetime and in His ministry. The disciples, especially Judas Iscariot, and even Peter, must have been disappointed many times with their hard-headed Boss. But Jesus was resolute to please not the people, nor Himself, but the Father, nothing more, nothing less.

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Jesus teaches us today to deny ourselves and follow Him, while the world around us teaches us to affirm and follow our own agenda and ambitions. What values and lessons are we leaving behind the younger generation with our words and life example? Are we teaching them the value of hard and honest work? Do they have a sense of mission and sacrifice? Are we teaching them the basic lesson that it pays to be good in this life?

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One of the best shots in basketball is the fade-away shot, so too in life. We must learn to step back, take our time, and not push too hard all the time. The other thing we must learn in basketball is to assist, and to pass the ball so that others who are in a better situation can take the shot and help the team win. We had a name for selfish, greedy, trying-hard players then. We called them “buwaya,” and I think such players in the game of politics and nation-building, kuno, are called likewise.

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Fr. Herminio Ricafort, SVD, specialized in fade-away shots and assists during his younger basketball days. Now 75 years old, he still does so in life, gracefully surrendering positions of fame and power and just assisting younger confreres in their priestly and religious ministry. This he does effectively by taking time, listening or just being there, be it in conversation, in work, or in prayer.

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One afternoon last week, I was shoveling gravel in our SVD Mission Center in San Jose, Batangas. There I was sweating, with joints and muscles aching, walking back and forth to fill up a hole. And all this I was doing in earnest, with a sense of sacrifice even.

After 20 minutes or so, Father Ricafort, who must have been observing me, walked up to me and said: “Jerry, use the wheelbarrow. It is easier!” Wow! What a lesson from the master of ground work and gardening! What a valuable lesson for work, spirituality, and prayer.

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Another companion in our SVD Mission Center is Fr. Vic Cisneros, SVD, who worked as a missionary in New Zealand for many years. He is a very low-key, hardworking missionary who “specializes” in sick calls and funeral Masses. He is also in charge of the prison ministry in the archdiocese of Batangas. This self-effacing priest does his work with lots of humor, boasting that whenever he preaches to the prisoners, he has a captive audience! And he told me of his proposal to the authorities that prisoners should have an outing once in a while, or go to the mall on weekends. A good sense of humor helps us to fade away and let the world know that God, not we, is in control!

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This life is all about God, not so much about you and me. Unless and until we learn this basic lesson, we will live a life that may end up vain, shallow and empty. Let God be God, and let man be man!

If you are having problems with your marriage or having difficulty finding “Mr. Right” or the right marriage partner, you are invited to join the next Psychogenetics-Gestalt retreat seminar on Sept. 20-21, 2014, at St. John the Baptist Retreat House, Tagaytay. Please contact Ed (09178360305), or Angie (09178092849), or Harry (091784110398).

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Think about this: “For a more peaceful life, never hate, worry less, live simply, expect a little, give a lot, smile often, love much, pray more, and just trust, joyfully trust in God!”

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me fade away and let You and others have the glory. Amen.