Of the forest

A very dear Sister of my Congregation just died.
I know, and a lot of people knew, too, that I had a very special place in sr. Silvia's heart. I think it is because she saw me growing up as a girl. She was a very dear friend of our family, especially of my nanay. Of course, they were both Ilongas, too.
Sr. Silvia was my first music teacher. I remember that when she as teaching me to play the piano, she knew when I was being lazy and just playing the notes by memory and without reading the music sheet. She would say, "read the notes".
She gave life to the rondalla group of the Girls' Center in Tondo. We had a professional teacher who came once a week and we practiced for three hours every Sunday. That helped me to develop discipline and camaraderie. Of course we were also motivated by the merenda that awaited us, courtesy of sr. Silvia, after every rondalla practice or after playing for the Masses on Sundays.
Sr. Silvia was among the Sisters who brought my brothers and sister to visit the Sisters' chapel (inside the cloister) when they were attending the Sisters' kindergarten. I think that also sowed the seed of religious vocation in my siblings.
Sr. Silvia was very faithful in sending me birthday and Christmas greetings especially when I came to Rome. She used to write the cards herself, but later on, when she found it difficult, if not impossible, to write, she asked the Sisters to write for her.
Sr. Silvia was not an easy person to live with. I know that, but she always loved our Institute. Her comments that came in different ways and forms, had a seed of truth, though.
I thank the Philippine Province for taking care of sr. Silvia and for giving her the chance to prepare herself for the final and definitive meetingwith the God whom she has tried to serve in fidelity.
I am sure that now, free from pain and other limitations, sr. Silvia is now having a great conversation with my mother and all the people who have been a part of her life.
So, why the title of this blogpost? It turns out that "Silvia" means, "of the forest". What a Providential coincidence. Sr. Silvia belonged to Don Bosco's congregation. "Bosco" means "forest".

Compassion

I have a blog. I've had it for a few years now and its title is "Everyday Compassion".
Compassion is an attitude that has always fascinated me. It is one of the most moving traits of Jesus.
Compassion indicates an abundance of goodness in one's heart,and this cannot be but a gift of God. If I only rely on my own natural traits, they get drained and exhausted. I can only give so much, if I rely on my own.
Hence, I am called to be humble; to realize how much my everyday life is filled with God's goodness, with God's compassion. If God forgets me for an instant, I come to nothing. And the thing is, God just does it as pure grace, out of the abundance of His mercy,
Yes, indeed, I am called to show compassion everyday. We have a lot of hurting people; we have a lot of fragile situations.
The beginning and end of my mission is compassion.
The end of my mission is to be moved and to act with compassion in the face of a hurting world.
The beginning is God, my everyday compassion.

Maria's message

And one of them, a doctor of the law, questioned him, to test him: "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him: "You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul and with allyour mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. But the second is similar to it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments the entire law depends, and also the prophets." (Mt 22:35-40)

Today we celebrate the holiness of Maria Goretti, an Italian girl who, at twelve years of age, chose to die rather than to compromise her purity. Perhaps in our present context this doesn't make sense to a lot of people. She could have just allowed "it", so she could save her life. Some people might even resort to ridiculing her choice, saying that she was such a prude.
For me it goes beyond protecting something that was a part of her. Maria defended, upholded a choice, the choice of her life. Her martyrdom was an expression that her choice for God was non-negotiable. It was the most significant choice of her life and she was not willing to compromise, even if it meant losing her life. Indeed, hers was the beatitude of the single-hearted. That is what purity means. Jesus said that the pure of heart will see God.
But what makes Maria Goretti's life more incredible was that she died forgiving the person who did her harm.
Yes, she really put Jesus' words into practice.
To love God is not something that is only between God and me. Loving God is verified by our love of neighbor. The more difficult it is to do that, the more we need the help of God. And when we are able to do so, we are truly daughters and sons of God.

Who do you say that I am?

It is a question that Jesus asked his disciples once.
It is a question that I have to answer throughout my life, not once, not twice...
It is a question that is ultimately not only about Jesus but about me as well.
The question, though asked in plural form, is addressed to me in person. I cannot hide behind others.
Jesus first asks who others say He is as if to prepare the ground for a more direct question. I think it is reasonable; after all, my faith is a heritage, something that I did not invent. My faith and its many expressions have been passed on to me.
But this faith has to grow and become personal. However, it doesn't cease to be a faith of the community. In fact, the community dimension is what gives faith a stable foundation, a solid rock, so that it doesn't depend on my whims and feelings.
My knowledge of Jesus is a relationship with Him. It is dynamic and alive and permeates my entire life. It has its ebbs and flows, as does my life. It is necessary to go away, to leave the hustle and bustle, so that in the silence of my heart, Jesus' question may be heard, "who am I to you?"

When God doesn't send fire

When I was a kid, one of my favorite Bible stories is that of the Prophet Elijah, especially about that duel with the prophets of Baal. The plot fascinated me, and my Bible illustrations made it even more compelling: one single prophet against the high and might Jezebel, King Ahab and the many prophets of Baal. The true God was the one who sent fire the burn the offering. Of course, Elijah won this round.
It doesn't always happen that way in life. God doesn't always send fire or manifest Himself in the way we want Him to.
It is time to go back to who we really are: We are creatures dependent on God's mercy and love. We don't need any grandstanding miracle to prove to ourselves that God exists. Every day I am already in touch with at least one miracle: MYSELF.

Be the one

When we feel short-changed by people, it is easier to wallow in self-pity or to complain just how unfair people can be.
But that is not the only option we have.
When others are not there for you, be the one.
Be the one to make the first step.
Be the one to see another person's need.
Be the one.
This was Jesus' answer to the question "who is my neighbor".
Be another one's neighbor.
Be the one.

Indifference

A big news in Rome these days is the death of a young lady burned by her ex-boyfriend. She asked at least two motorists for help but no one stopped, and this tragedy happened.
Indifference kills. In this instance, it killed a very young lady full of life and hopes for a future. It also killed what is human in each one of us, the natural instinct to reach out and be of help.
Certainly, there are many facets and aspects to the story. There are reasons for the choices of each of the persons involved in this event.
We pray that the young lady may enjoy eternal peace in heaven. We pray for us, that we may wake up and see that we, too, are accountable for a lot of things that are happening in the world, directly or indirectly.
Indifference kills.