Know it, and do it

Someone said there are different kinds of doctors: “General practitioners know nothing and do little, surgeons know little and do everything, internists know everything and do nothing, and pathologists know everything and can do everything, but it’s usually too late!”

In today’s Gospel (Mt. 3, 1-12), John the Baptist moves us not only to know that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, but also to repent and produce good fruits. This is the problem with us still: We know what is good and what is bad, but still we do not do what is good, and we do what is bad.

“Prepare the way of the Lord and make straight His paths.” We journey through life for Someone greater than ourselves. Life becomes more meaningful if we walk the earth with a purpose and a mission. We are not tourists in search of comfort and pleasure, but pilgrims journeying together to God’s heart.

Teresing Castillo, the visionary of Our Lady of Mediatrix of Lipa, went home to the heavenly Father last Nov. 17 at the age of 89. Her journey was filled with trials and persecutions, but she held on. She lived a fruitful and beautiful life, all because she lived not for herself but for Someone greater than herself. This simple, humble, hidden woman brought and continues to bring people closer to God through the Blessed Mother.

Dec. 8 is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the principal patroness of the Philippines. It is a holiday of obligation. Let us ask Mama Mary to embrace us as a country and as a people, and protect us from corruption, violence and divisions. She reminds us that life is sacred, and that all people have rights, even and especially the unborn.

Dec. 8 is also the birthday of Mama Conching. We honor all mothers. Our mothers have a very deep effect on us, on our character and mindset. Someone once said that the heart that is closest to, and truly approximates, God’s heart is a mother’s heart.

Mama taught me the way to journey through life. She showed me that the road to God’s heart is through prayer, humility, kindness and joy. I have simplified my everyday agenda. What makes my day?

My day is meaningful if I am prayerful, humble, kind and joyful.

“We turn to God for help when our foundations are shaking, only to learn that it is God who is shaking them” (Charles West). When we go through earthshaking and life-changing experiences, bitter or painful they may be, may we experience God in a real and personal way, and come out of these experiences better, stronger and purer persons.

One who has never gone through the discipline and the purifications of Advent will never really know the joy and peace of Christmas.

Sharing with you a beautiful prayer by Sir Francis Drake for Advent: “Disturb us, Lord, when with the abundance of things we possess, we have lost our thirst for the waters of life… Having fallen in love with life, we have ceased to dream of eternity. And in our efforts to build a new earth, we have allowed our vision of Heaven to dim… Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly… to venture on wider seas where storms will show Your mastery… Where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars… We ask You to push back the horizons of our hopes, and to push into the future in strength, courage, hope and love.”

With great joy, gratitude and humility, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) has produced nine missionary priests

for the service of the Church and for God’s Kingdom: Fr. Jerome Alburo, SVD

(assigned to Madagascar); Fr. Jay de Leon, SVD (to Botswana); Fr. Arnulfo

Fraga, SVD (to the Philippine North);

Fr. Henry Go, SVD (to Mexico); Fr. Aaron Paul Hizola, SVD (assigned to the Netherlands); Fr. Ralp Montalban, SVD

(assigned to Mozambique); Fr. Reyann Orlandez, SVD (to Argentina); Fr. Frank Quainoo, SVD (to the Philippine South); and Fr. Arjay Venus, SVD (to China).

Bantay Matanda invites you to an art activity at Tuklong ni San Jose, Christ the King Seminary, E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., Quezon City, on Dec. 10, 9 a.m.-12 noon. For details, please call 3732262 or 9982548.

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us not only to know but also to do Your will. Amen.