Questions I’d Like To Ask Myself
THREE NAMES THAT FRIENDS CALL YOU:
1. ipe (the most common!); 2. philip (rare occasions, usually by my professors); 3. ipzum (mon nom de plume)
THREE MOST IMPORTANT DATES IN YOUR
LIFE:
1. march 30, 1980
2. march 30, 2006
3. march 30, 2007
THREE THINGS YOU’VE DONE IN THE
LAST 33 MINUTES:
1. washed my laundry
2. took a bath
3. surfed the net
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE BANDS:
1. dashboard confessionals (especially their song "stolen")
2. silent sanctuary (opm)
3. switchfoot
THREE WAYS TO BE HAPPY:
1. Chocolate Cake from Sweet Inspiration, Katipunan
2. Asian Cuisine! (Thai, Japanese, and Cantonese)
3. A glimpse of sunset by the beach
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE SONGS AT
PRESENT: (as of now)
1. stolen by dashboard confessionals
2. can you help me by usher
3. arms of a woman by amos lee
THREE GIFTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO
RECEIVE:
1. New Testament Commentaries by William Barclay
2. Mac Book (hehehehe..wishful thinking…)
3. Black Boots (I am not particular with the brand)
THREE OF YOUR FAVOURITE HOBBIES:
1. cooking, experimenting with food
2. gardening
3. singing at the top of my lungs while inside the shower room
THREE PLACES YOU WANT TO GO FOR
HOLIDAY:
1. Carribean! (Particularly the Bahamas!)
2. Europe!(City of Prague, Paris or Barcelona, Lake Como, Swiss Alps, The Enchanting Island of Sicily)
3. Three "Bs" (BICOL, BAGUIO and BORA!)
THREE FAVORITE CARTOON CHARACTERS:
1. Justice League
2. X-Men
3. Cow and Chicken
THREE GIRL’S/BOY’S NAMES:
1. Melchizedek
2. Tamar
3. Sophia
THREE MALLS YOU USUALLY GO TO:
1. Gateway
2. MOA
3. Savemore, Marikina (hehehe)
THREE OF YOUR FAVORITE FASTFOOD:
1. Karate Kid
2. Oodies (@ Gateway Foodcourt)
3. It’s a tie between World Topps and Sisig Hooray! (Probably the Best Sisig in the World…at least for me,hehehe)
THREE FAVORITE DRINKS:
1. H2O (Tap water’s fine with me…)
2. Cold Milo
3. Fruit Teas
THREE THINGS FOUND IN YOUR BAG: (The last time I used my backpack…)
1. A copy of the Thesis Questions for the Comprehensive Exams
2. CFC, CCC, VAT. II, NRSV, "Neuner-Dupuis"
3. My pencil case and my notebook
THREE PERFUMES/COLOGNES:
1. CK Be
2. CK Truth
3. Emporio Armani White for Men
THREE FAVORITE COLORS:
1. black
2. white
3. green
THREE EVENTS YOU’RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO:
1. 091507
2. christmas holiday 2007
3. parousia
Ako ay Isang Hamak Na Baboy Lang…
Mass Sharing (08/09/07)
Good Evening Brothers!
Analogies are helpful tell-tale signs to better understand the ambiguities I encounter in day to day life. Even in the study of theology or scriptures, I can better unfold the mystery behind God and Jesus Christ by coming up with a certain anecdote or real-life situation that would somehow shed light to my endless questioning and speculation. With this, I am able to assimilate what I have learned and perhaps, personally claim it as my own because I am now fully aware that this is not just a simple fact of life, but it’s a reality of who I am and the things that I believe in.
This evening allow me to share to you one of the best analogies I’ve learned few years back, an analogy which is so close to my heart because it speaks of my entirety as a human person. At times, I’d like to see myself as a PIG. Well, I can leave it on your own fickle minds whether you want to take it literally or figuratively but mind you, the latter is more relative to what I’m trying to point out. Pigs are often dubbed as the dirtiest animals on the planet because of their repugnance for personal hygiene but its amusing how they turned out to be the best tasting delicacy, adorning every table or gracing every festivity with their succulent meat, not minding the cholesterol so long as they satisfy one’s craving. One particular behavior of this animal that caught my attention lately is its inclination to something dirty or filthy. A pig, after it has been washed, cleaned and tidied up wallows itself again in the mud. I know it is just typical for most, but in my reflection, this analogy best describes my sinful nature.
In the Gospel, I was confronted by two important characteristics of Peter: First, his honest avowal of Jesus’ identity as the Messiah, the Son of the living God and Secondly, his attempt to control the fate of Jesus Christ by swearing that nothing bad will ever happen to his Master. His desire to be prudent and truthful disciple was disproportionate to the very mind of Christ. Inasmuch as he wanted to be a faithful to his Master, he is limited by his sinful humanity. In the end, he was given two conflicting titles- He is considered the Rock, and at the same time he is also Satan. Pondering upon this truth, I can say that I have a lot of similarities with Peter. My life has been inflicted with so much misgivings and woundedness that until now, I still occasionally question my worthiness for the priesthood. I have always wanted to respond to that call but reality bites sometimes. There have been instances where my hurtful past would haunt me and it’s tempting to indulge in its crazy-making pleasure. Like a pig, after it has been cleansed from dirt and filth, I still wallow myself in an endless mud of transgressions, committing the very same sins over and over again. Sometimes I’d like to fall into an attitude of disbelief but then, when I am given the chance to get up after a hard fall, I am again reminded of God’s love which is more powerful than my own sinfulness. After a long struggle with my disloyalty and unfaithfulness, I am invited to hope amidst my fears. By the example of Peter and the rest of Jesus’ disciples, I am only human and being human, I am bound to make mistakes. In my desire to follow Jesus, I bring with me my ambiguities. Just as what one priest told me before: Life is a dichotomy—goodness and wickedness are not just opposites, they also form a singular thread of my humanity. But what matters here is the profound truth that God has never given up on me. Despite my endless wallowing, He patiently washes my sins with his love until I am clean again and ready to tread the paths His beloved Son has taken.
The Gospel, complemented by the analogy, has reminded me of the idea of a “Wounded Healer”. My first impression of this term is more of an irony but reflecting upon my life as a seminarian in the past thirteen years of my formation, I’ve realized that it made sense after all. As far as my grace history is concerned, looking at my weaknesses, woundedness and sinfulness have made me embrace even more the love of God and these things have taught me humility, charity and compassion, giving me the willingness to deal with different people, even those whom I find difficult to understand and love. Oddly enough, my own wounds are being healed by sharing them with my fellow brothers and sisters.
To end this sharing, I think it is fitting to go back to the analogy of the pig. I received a text message from a friend months ago which I rephrased. It’s actually a confrontation between the chicken and the cow. They were arguing about the pain they have gone through in order to provide sustenance for every family food table. The chicken told the cow that she has to lay eggs excruciatingly just to come up with a plain sunny side up for breakfast. The cow argued back that she has to eat so many grasses and endure the seemingly endless pinching and squeezing just to come up with an ounce of milk. The pig, in order to appease the two, told them that she has nothing to offer except her life just to provide meat to mankind. The two were stunned. End of the story.
It is funny how this animal who wallows himself unceasingly in the mud will eventually make the ultimate sacrifice. I think this is my invitation as I also make an ultimate sacrifice— to offer not just one aspect of my humanity but my whole life as well, given all my capacities and limitedness. Brothers, I think it’s an opportunity for me to ask for your prayers not just for me but for our class, the BUGSAY class. (Kahit sa ngayon ay medyo nag-aagam agam pa rin kung bibigyan nga ba kami ng dimissorial o hindi, or kahit na mag-praktis pa kami ng Ignatian indifference pero iba pala talaga ang pakiramdam kapag malapit na). Our only wish is that may the Lord Jesus Christ grant us a heart like his, so that we too may learn to love beyond measure, make an ultimate sacrifice by offering our lives for the service of the church and our fellowmen.
Salamat sa pakikinig.
P.S.
I also pray that our class will continue to live up to its name no matter what happens in the future. That it is not just a title that will distinguish us from the rest but an Identity rooted in Christ. That we will always be reminded that BUGSAY is an acronym for BUong Gawa at Sampalataya Alay kay Yahweh.
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