When I saw Jen's email a few minutes ago, it caught me by surprise.
What a coincidence!
I told myself.
Very surprising, since a few weeks back,
I was toying on the idea whether
the ONLY Thing Constant in this world is (in fact) Change.
I am sure you are all familiar with this statement.
But whether or not Change is the only thing constant left me thinking.
Is it true?
Is change the only thing constant?
Perhaps the reason for this is the strong influence of the Catholic Faith on me.
As a Catholic, we all know that GOD is absolute - something that is really constant.
Something that does not change. Something who is always there.
With this stream of thought, this shows that Change is NOT the only thing that is Constant -
since GOD is Constant and GOD is not change.
So how can you reconcile the thought of change being the only thing constant and GOD being absolute is constant?
Either 1 is wrong, or both of them are wrong.
if the established truth is the 2nd statement, perhaps the 1st statement is false.
Or maybe we are not getting things clearer yet.
maybe there are 2 constants, change and GOD.
but wont it be a contradiction?
since God is not change?
or perhaps we need to introduce concepts such as FORM and ESSENCE to reconcile this seemingly contradictory statements?
I don't have the intention of resolving this intellectual dilemma now.
Nor discuss the ideas on FORM and ESSENCE.
I'm still looking forward on that "Eureka" moment!
But simply reflecting on Bo's article - and integrating this on the thoughts above.
Maybe change is not really constant.
Maybe the thought of change as something permanent is illusory
Maybe change is just on the surface that tests our inner constancy which challenges us to show our Inner Image.
But what might be that Inner Constancy?
Maybe that inner constancy is Love.
Maybe that inner constancy is God.
The only Absolute thing that allows us to freely embrace Change that enables us to show our Innermost Image.
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This article first appeared in the SFC-Yahoogroups Forum as a respond to Bo's Article on "Do You Embrace Change". I highly recommend reading his article! Very insightful!
Here: http://bosanchez.ph/do-you-embrace-change/
Yours,
JC
Ps. For insights on discernment, visit this site. Very Helpful!
http://ipsciences.edu/pages/what-makes-us-unique/our-students/greg-bottaro.php
Ps2: For an insightful Filipino graduate (first religious in fact) of IPS, visit this site.
http://ipsciences.edu/pages/alumni/our-alumni/fr.-jaime-noel-deslate.php
" To Love Oneself, One's Family, One's Community ....
To Serve Them With One's Whole Heart Selflessly"
------------------------------------------------------------------
J O N C O R O N E L
HP: +65. 8 1 2 7. 1 3 3 6
I would love to know what you think, feel free to send me your thoughts in my email at : jonathancoronel@gmail.com
You may also visit my BLOG Site at:
http://www.SirCoro.blogspot.com
May You Find Holiness in Your Work! ;-)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
LOVE in the season of LENT
You might find the title odd.
Love during Lent?
What?!!!
Don't get me wrong brother.
But if it's February or December, Yes I can understand.
But during Lent?
No Way!
You just won't “naturally” feel it.
Unlike in February, when you see flowers, heart-shaped chocolates everywhere, love-letters, and of course couples proudly displaying their affection to one another, you can easily “feel” that “love” is “really” in the air.
But during Lent?
No Gifts around. No carols. No joyous melodies. No bonding. No reunion. No Noche Buena (festive dinner). No, nothing!
In fact, the opposite is more true. Instead of carols and joyous melodies – you hear slow hymns, “pasyon” (Passion) songs. Instead of family reunion and bonding times – you get a period of solitude – a period of “SELFness” - a period of “being alone” away from others.
You get a picture of a dry, boring, mechanistic devotional event – reading a repetitive pattern of prayers written in that tiny booklet. Kneeling afterwards at some pre-determined intervals before starting another prayer in the next station.
Very mechanical – repetitive – boring – restricting – and at some point, even dry.
Something that you are not used to – something that is out of touch of your everyday “reality”
So tell me, where is Love in this?
LOVE is just not like this!
Or is it?
Whenever I hear stories of couples publicly announcing their being together, I find Great Joy!
Who won't after all? After guy “courts” girl. After girl makes her patweetum (act don't want) first – moves – to create that sense of mystery. After girl feeling that spark-just-won't-get-out-of-
After all this “tension” - At (long) last the WAIT is finally over!
They are now officially together!
Kilig, diba? (Heart-tingling, isn't it?)
This is LOVE!
Or is it?
Whenever the topic of LOVE is mentioned, I always recall what Fr. Angel (Luciano) said during his talk in our CLP in Sts Peter and Paul around 2 yrs ago.
Rephrasing his words, he told “That the Highest Form of Love is best summarized in one of the Crucified Jesus' 7 Last Words”:
“FATHER, FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING”
Maybe, this is what TRUE LOVE really is.
Maybe, it REALLY is!
No fancy Hollywood. No disillusionment.
LOVE that is based on the simple Act of Forgiving and Understanding.
LOVE that is just beyond Emotion, but is a rather Powerful VERB that COMMITS you to hone your SKILLS that enables you to Continuously Create that Craft into Perfection!
Maybe that's the reason why it should be repetitive and mechanical.
Maybe that's the reason why it tends to be dry and boring sometimes.
We tend to lose track.
Tending to focus more into the functional aspect of what we do.
And in the process Forgetting our TRUE Direction.
And at times even complaining that our FREEDOM is being restricted.
Not knowing that it is ONLY through this that we can enjoy TRUE FREEDOM.
Because it is only in following the Right Rules that we can TRULY build something.
There is no Freedom in Chaos. It is simply an Illusion!
Just like an ART, before it becomes a MASTERPIECE, we need to follow some basic artist skills, plus patience, discipline and commitment.
And we tend to screw up at first. But who cares? Learn our mistakes, correct it and try again - but this time, following carefully the right rules.
And in following correctly the right rules, we will eventually enjoy TRUE FREEDOM – Freedom in Becoming who we Really Are!
May This Season of Lent Guide You in Your Search for True Love!
Yours in Christ,
JCMonday, April 6, 2009
LOVE LETTER
Evelyn,
Uy, tgl n ntng di ngkusap. Ano n b nngyari s yo? Tumatawag ako sa yo nung isang araw, di mo sinasagot ang fone. Anu ka ba? Kung sa tingin mo, nbawasan ang pgtingn ko s yo, Nagkakamali ka. Kahet ganun ang nangyari sa atin, ito pkatatandaan mo - Mahal na Mahal pa rin kita!
Alam ko, masakit yung gnwa mo sa kin. Pero kahet na ganun, dahil mahal na mahal kita, iniintindi kita. To tell you honestly, I cried when I learned about it. Natawa nga ako sa sarili ko eh, bat ba ako naiyak? Para akong sira no? ;-) Pero siguro, kaya siguro ganun, may ibig sabihin yun. Ganun kalaki ang pagmamahal ko sa yo. Medyo weird ang feeling eh, pero ganun eh. True love ata ito! Di lang naman kse tayo dapat padadala sa emosyon naten, dba? Imbes nga na magalit na lang ako bigla sa iyo, inisip ko na lang - Bat kaya nagawa mo sa akin yun? Inisip ko, ako ba ang nagkamali? Nagkulang ba ako? May nasabe ba akong di maganda? Or may hindi ba akong nasabe na dapat kong sabihin sa yo? Kilala kse kita – alam ko pag naglalambing ka, gusto mo na icompliment kita. But anyway, masakit man. I really didn't expect that you will do that to me. It comes as a surprise. Pero kahet na ganun – Pinapatawad pa rin kita.
Isa lang naman ang hiling ko sa yo eh. Mahalin mo lang ako – ng totoo.
At sana, wag mo na ulit gagawin yun.
Nagmamahal,
Jesse
ps. Punta ako Novena mamaya,
May confession dun.
Tara usap tayo.
The LOVELETTER above is a rephrasing of the PALM SUNDAY REFLECTION GUIDE of the Priest who celebrated MASS @ the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd last Saturday. He summarized the significance of this Holy Week into 4 statements. Rephrasing, He said, “Dear Friends, in this Holy week I wont give you a SERMON. Instead, I would give you 4 points to REFLECT ON. That is -
1. Jesus Loves You
Jesus Forgives You
Love HIM and
Sin no more
May this Holy Week help us feel how much we are Truly LOVED by Christ.
Have a meaningful Holy Week,
JC
TRANSLATION (well at least, almost ;-))
Xia Wa,
Hey ya! Why u nvr return my call ah? Try call u but never picked up, leh. Why like that, ah? Been long time never see one, some more we never talk one. If you think, my love for you has changed oredi. No lah! Still the same one. Remember! coz, I luv u, ok?
But you know, what u did to me – pain pain me v much. But even like that, dun worry lah, cause my love for you so big. Try to understand u some mo. But I cry cry leh when I learned that. But just dont mind it lah. At times I jst laughed at myself, cause dunno why I cried. Me like siao siao, right? But I think, this is true love one! Instead of me just be angry at you, I jst asked myself “Why like that?” Did I do wrong at you? Am I the one to blame one? Or I say something wrong? Or I did forget something? - I know - cause you at times, u wan me tell u good things to make u feel good, ya? I know you lah! But even though it pained very hard, I forgive you, ok?
Jst want you to love me, ok?
And never do that again, ya?
Xoxo,
Ye Su
Note: Xia Wa and Ye Su are the Chinese Names for Eve and Jesus, respectively
Friday, June 6, 2008
Refleksyon
| Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time |
Reading 1
2 Tm 3:10-17
You have followed my teaching, way of life,
purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions,
and sufferings, such as happened to me
in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra,
persecutions that I endured.
Yet from all these things the Lord delivered me.
In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus
will be persecuted.
But wicked people and charlatans will go from bad to worse,
deceivers and deceived.
But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed,
because you know from whom you learned it,
and that from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures,
which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching,
for refutation, for correction,
and for training in righteousness,
so that one who belongs to God may be competent,
equipped for every good work.
Responsorial Psalm
119:157, 160, 161, 165, 166, 168
R. (165a) O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Though my persecutors and my foes are many,
I turn not away from your decrees.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Permanence is your word’s chief trait;
each of your just ordinances is everlasting.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Princes persecute me without cause
but my heart stands in awe of your word.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Those who love your law have great peace,
and for them there is no stumbling block.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I wait for your salvation, O LORD,
and your commands I fulfill.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I keep your precepts and your decrees,
for all my ways are before you.
R. O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Gospel
Mk 12:35-37
As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said,
“How do the scribes claim that the Christ is the son of David?
David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said:
The Lord said to my lord,
‘Sit at my right hand
until I place your enemies under your feet.’
David himself calls him ‘lord’;
so how is he his son?”
The great crowd heard this with delight.
REFLECTION (Refleksyon):
Unang una, nais kong humingi ng paumanhin dahil sa ito ang aking unang pagkakataon na makapagsulat sa tinatawag nating “Gawad-Pananampalataya (Faith-Sharing). Buti na lang at nakapagsimba ako kanina, kasama sina Irene (na narinig kong magiging Wedding Singer” sa susunod na taon! Hindi ko lang alam kung ito ay para sa kanyang sariling kasal o sa iba ;-) ) Pati sina Joahna, at iba pang kasapi natin sa Grupo ng Mga Binata at Dalaga Para Kay Kristo (Singles for Christ) ay naroroon rin. May simba kasi tuwing Una at Huling Biyernes ng Buwan sa ShentonWay tuwing 1240nh (1200 ang praktis ng mga choir members). At di ko alam kung sinusuwerte ako dahil si Fr Angel pa ang nagmisa! Aba naman, pag sinusuwerte ka nga naman! Kaya ginawa kong tagalog ang aking refleksyon para naman medyo pahirapan ko ang sarili ko. ;-)
Nakakatuwa yung homily ni Fr Angel. Minsan kase nagpapatawa sya. At ang maganda pa duon, pati mga lokal ay natatawa rin. ”Pilipino kase” sinabe ko sa sarili ko. Maganda ang ”sense of humour” at magaling magsalita.
Kaya ko sinabe ring maswerte ako ay dahil narinig ko ang isang pari bago ako gumawa ng refleksyon. Kahit papaano ang pagkakaintindi ko sa Salita ng Diyos ngayong araw na ito at ang Paunang Salita ay magiging mas malinaw dahil may gabay ng isang pari. Minsan kase napapansin ko na may tendensi tayo na ipaliwanag ang Salita ng Diyos mula sa ating sariling pananaw – mula sa ating pananaw na limited. At least, kahit papaano aking makokonek ang aking sariling mga karanasan sa tunay na sinasabi ng Diyos at di lamang pangibabawan ng aking kasalukyang maigting na nararamdaman (hightened emotion). Minsan kase pag nakakaranas tayo ng ganoong pakiramdam ay nangingibabaw sa atin ang ating sarili at nakakaligtaan natin ang Tunay na Salita ng Diyos.
Nga pala, nabanggit ko kanina ang salitang “Karanasan.”
Karanasan. Ito kase ang pangunahing ibig ipahiwatig ng Salita ng Diyos kanina.
Iba – iba ang maaaring magawa sa atin nito. Minsan pag maganda yung karanasan natin, excited tayo. Minsan naman, malungkot. Pag nabasted ka. Pag may nabalitaan ka na di maganda. Minsan naman pag nawalan ka ng trabaho, ganun rin mararamdaman mo. Pero, minsan may mga nangyayari sa atin na talaga nga naman.
I am not in the best position to describe how it feels to be in this predicament. Pareho pang buhay ang aking mga magulang. Maayos naman ang kanilang mga negosyo. Minsan nga naisip ko na “Ang swerte ko” dahil sa di kami nakaranas ng ganitong karanasan. Di kami nakaranas ng matinding sakunang pinansiyal. Nakapasok ako sa isang maayos na eskwelahan tapos nakapasok ako sa gusto kong unibersidad, Matapos nuon ay nakapagtrabaho ako sa gusto kong maging trabaho na “technically” di nag-apply. Naging masarap naman ang buhay ko nung ako’y nagturo sa kolehiyo. Magaling ang mga estudyante. Masarap turuan. At isa pa, I enjoyed the flexibility and the academic freedom of being an Educator sa
nagkaroon agad ng mapagkakakitaan (have a living). Bukod sa paminsan- minsan na paggawa ng komersyal, at minsan naman paghohost sa ilang events diyan sa Orchard, I am doing Education, Training, Marketing and Consultancy works. And Lovin’ It! Smooth ba, ika nga.
Kaya masaya ang naging buhay ko.
Isa pa, buhay pa naman ang pareho kong mga magulang – malakas pa nga at mukha namang di namumroblema sa pera (dahil di naman sila nanghihingi sa akin kahit na ako ay nagtatrabaho na). Pero minsan nagbibigay rin naman ako (defensive ba? ;-) )
Kaya mas masaya ako.
Pero hindi nangangahulugan na pinagpala ako.
Dahil hindi naman ito ang nagiging basehan ng ating pananampalataya. Faith is something more than simply receiving what we are praying for. Our material successes, wealth and all the luxuries that we experience are not measures of the intensity of our faith. Pero hindi naman nangangahulugan na minalas ako, dahil hindi ako nabigyan ng pagkakataong ipamalas ang aking pananampalataya. It is not true either. We don’t need to be poor to receive more of God’s blessings or should I say to have more of God’s blessings. .Hindi ibig sabihin na pag mas mayaman ka, mas may blessing ka, pag mas mahirap ka, ay, sorry ka na lang dahil ala kang blessing na natatanggap kay God. No. Not really. Because it all lies on what we are DOING inspite of !!!
This means inspite of whatever is happening around us – there may be persecutions (emotional, physical persecutions). Kahit ano ang nangyayari sa paligid. Kahit masakit, masaya, mahirap, madali, panandalian lang (simpleng sakit) o kaya naman panghabang-buhay (halimbawa ay pagiging lumpo). Hindi nito dapat kayang malupig ang ating pananampalataya! Dahil ang Salita ng Diyos ay mas higit dito! Kung kaya’t kailangan nating maging handa sa anumang sakuna (
Minsan nga naisip ko, pano kung mamatay na ako o mamamatay na ako. Ano kaya ang magiging hitsura ko? Saan kaya ako ililibing? Ano kaya sasabihin ng mga tao tungkol sa akin – syempre meron maganda, merong hindi maganda. Pero I don’t care, kase hindi naman nila talaga nakikita at alam ang lahat ng mga nangyayari sa buhay ko para makapaghusga. Our eyes are so limited that’s why there are only two! We are not a product of other people’s ideas, beliefs or irresponsible misconceptions. We are a product of our own doing – seen and unseen by many.
At pano kaya ako mamamatay? Mamamatay kaya ako na gwapo? ;-) Forever Young?(
Hindi ko alam.
Mapa-aksidente yan. O kaya naman sakit na talagang nakamamatay. Or natural death. Hindi ko alam. Pero, minsan naisip ko sana mamatay na lang ako sa isang aksidente para di na gaanong mahirapan pa ang aking mga mahal sa buhay kaysa naman isang sakit na tulad ng cancer dahil siguradong ito’y isang malaking pasaning maaaring matagal na dadalhin - Hindi lang ako kundi pati mga mahal ko sa buhay. Pero mas makapaghahanda ka – humingi ng tawad sa mga kasalanan sa Diyos at sa ating mga Kaibigan. Pag aksidente naman, naku, “Nay ko”, wag naman
Pero hindi talaga natin alam.
Lalu namang hindi natin ito kontrol.
Ang kontrol natin ay kung ano ang magagawa natin mamaya ..... kung ano ang gagawin mo matapos basahin ang salitang ITO. Kung ano ang magiging respond mo sa tawag Niya.
Marahil, we take our LIFE for granted. Kasi sinasabi natin sa sarili natin, Hindi – Hinding hindi mangyayari iyan. Pero
Kung kaya’t ang galit mo sa kaibigan mo, hindi mo pa rin napapatawad. Ang kapatid mo na naging katampuhan mo at hindi mo pa rin kinakausap hanggang ngayon, wala ka pa ring panahon. Si Mommy, si Daddy, di ka man lang tumatawag. Sa trabaho mo, hanggang ngayon late ka pa rin – na isang milyon na libo mo nang sinasabi sa sarili mo na hindi mo na ulit gagawin iyon at pilit mong magiging magaling at mahusay na empleyado – para naman umasenso asenso ka na – para naman makatulong ka na dun sa atin – para naman makatulong ka na sa ekonomiya naten hindi lang ngayon kundi pati sa kinabukasan (5,10,15+ years from now). Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago. At higit sa lahat, nakakalimutan mo nang mahalin ang sarili mo – ang kapwa mo. Bigyan mo naman panahon ang sarili mo na gawin kung ano talaga ang gusto mong gawin ng sa gayon ay sumaya ka pa lalo ng sa gayon ay makatulong ka pa ng maigi sa iba. Sustainable ika nga.
Maging Responsible tayo. Maging Responsible tayong Magmahal.
Mahalin mo. Magmahal ka. Simula ngayon, lubos kang magmahal.
Kung ikaw ay nagmamahal na. Magmahal ka pa ng higit sa nagagawa mo, hangga’t ito’y umapaw at pati ang ibang tao ay makakaramdam nito.
Ito ang iyong tanging dapat na Karanasan. Wala ng Iba.
Hintayin mong dumating ang panahong ang mga tao ay maririndi na sa iyo dahil sa ikaw ay sobra kung magmahal.
But wait, hindi ko sinabeng mangulit ka. Magbigay ka ng bulaklak kahit ayaw sa iyo. O kaya naman maging ”Nagging Parent” ka na – Military Style pa!
No. Hindi. Hindi iyon ang Karanasan na dapat mong gawin.
And dapat mong maging Karanasan ay ang Magmahal ka ng naaayon sa Salita ng Diyos!
Dahil Ito ang Tunay na makakapagbigay sa iyo ng Tunay na Kaligayahan Mula Ngayon hanggang Magpakailanman.
AMEN.
Lord, tulungan ninyo po kaming lumalim pa ang aming pananampalataya. Na kahet ano ang magiging mangyari sa amin o sa aming mga mahal sa buhay, maging “faithful” pa rin kami sa inyo. Make our Faith stronger such that you are overpowering us. You are perfectly in our Self. The day when you said that we were made in your own image,
Lord, sa panahong ito tulungan ninyo po kaming maging matalino, gawin kung ano ang tama at patuloy na manalig sa inyo kahet ano pa man ang mangyari.
Nananalangin rin po kame na gabayan ninyo ang mga nasakuna sa
In Jesus Name.
AMEN.
DISCLAIMER: The comments made here are the author’s own opinion and do not speak for any institution. The author is hereby open to any suggestion or feedback to verify the accuracies, inaccuracies that are borne out of this article. The reader is hereby advised to use his Reason properly to know what is true and not and to know what to do next. It is also highly encouraged that the reader use his Free Will and Heart to do any undertaking that will make him/her Happy before any event happens for Now and till the End of Time.
You may contact the author at:
Leave a Comment or SMS to:
+65.8127.1336
For a Papal Encyclical concerning the Nature of Love, you may click here:
For the Video of Tell the World of His Love, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLkt6rPcITY
See you all in Melbourne and Sydney WYD Delegates! ;-)
See you all, Mate!
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