Truly Rich

Ave Maria:-)

If we talk, if we toil..if we dance ..if we slept...if we caroused and laughed till we cried what would it be for? Many times we do all of the above, and even more, the lifeaholics that we profess to be, we want it all..we brag that we've been thru it all ( BUT THE ALL IS A RELATIVE WORD ) ... and after trying everything a human being could possibly do...we wonder if there is still more - that we have not tried.... we wonder if we are truly happy? we look at our trophies, we count the money in the bank, or the lack of it hehehe.. we check our fairweather... and "all weather" friends, and grunt with satisfaction that we have our rah-rah cheering squad behind us -- to cheer and stand by us whether we did right or wrong,( talk about the need for affirmation, tsk,tsk ....)

           Somewhere along the way, we finally take a closer, more honest look into that image in the mirror each morning --- aha.... skin no longer as tight as it used to be, lines etched in pretty array on the forehead, some laugh lines too, thank God , our lines have different sources hahaha.... the hair dyes are useful until such time that we tire of having to dye our hair -- because D-U-H-H-H Matilda...we are getting old.

But what is it all for, the laughter , the tears, the labours, the victories, the trahedias???

For awhile... the pleasures that the world offers do satisfy us..but for a limited time , andnever reaching the core of our heart nor the soul.... Not all the good food, fancy lifestyle... traveling, success ... working non-stop..generally presenting one's self as busy YET NEVER Knowing if what we gave our time and energies to amount to anything worthwhile ...something enduring and noble. 

We avoid answering these questions, as they require answers that could make us face up to the truth. 

- Either our life makes sense or it is utter nonsense.

- either we have loved God and expressed this love by loving/serving others or we have spent our lifetime cultivating vanity. Vanity of vanities..ahh yes the holy book speaks about these things.

- either we lived our life , moving on to life eternal ... or we died a slow sure death, one when the sun never rises..where we will never see nor behold The Son of God nor enjoy eternity with Him.

From a most healing time with family in Bohol and Cebu ... I find the sudden death of our parish priest the sad news that confronts us upon our arrival in Manila.

This death all the more makes the time spent with family  more valuable.

this april, 2013 would have marked Fr. Manny Sarez's first year with us at Mt. Carmel. 

In so short a time, how he has turned our parish upside down in a positive way. He was simple, direct to the point, with others mistaking it for bluntness -- so simple , he shied away from fancy expenditures, endless fund-raisers ... unless the expenditure would be something that would be for evangelizing the people... or for having retreats/seminars to unite his parishioners ...  whenever it was an opportunity to proclaim the gospel of Christ, he would not blink an eye .... how exciting He truly valued formation.

 He would be content with simple adornments for the altar.. did not like extended programs where the limelight would be on him ... and he was no push-over. I could do cartwheels in jubilation just remembering that part.

Dilbert who never minces words..and who will never flatter anyone nor pretend to admire someone, was so taken by this priest..offering nothing but respect and admiration. 

Dilbert and many others listened intently whenever Fr. Manny gave his simple homily -- sometimes or initially , one might be distracted by his voice -- it was not deep and rich as a broadcaster ... but once you got over it...and just listened humbly you would be rewarded with clear-cut teaching/preaching. Hay ang sarap makinig sa kanya... so precise... like lean steak.Nakaka busog.

The Bohol trip's value was highlighted all the more because of Fr. Manny's passage. I realized that more than the partying, eating, sight-seeing -- twas the moments of togetherness that mattered more... sharing , reflecting on the Word and love of God... Acknowledging that whatever goodness we experienced and enjoyed was from the hand of God no less.

On our 1st day, Alice, Ted and Mona , plus me Josh and the Cebu contingent Tess, Mench, Venny and many others mustav been exhausted... we all lacked sleep... yet time was gold... there was a 6pm mass to catch, it was a great way to thank God for our birthday celebrant Ric-ric --- he who has battled liver ailment and come out a better person , deeper in his knowledge and faith in God. Alice and Mona wanted to attend this mass.

When prayer sets the tone ... there is a better flow of events.

God gives His blessing to the proceedings..his protection too.

Don't laugh but simply sharing a room with cousins for a night or two.. is worth all the plane fare, fatigue, stiff necks (poor Tess) and all ..... love is a mystery -- even if you haven't seen each other for ages .. you just pick up from where you left.

Alice and Mona feasted on meeting cousins, nephews , nieces... after the older ones had their videoke  stints..the young ones finally took over..and that too was a joy -- they formed an impromptu band , with Rafifi their instant Manager... Icee Jr. and Franco on guitar, Ambrose Josh, Virgil, Abigail taking turns at vocals, Jed on drums... Little Andrew commanded the beat box .... 

I dream of hearing them play music for the Lord, how powerful that would be.... may it happen soon. Offer your talents children to the One Who gave them to you, let us give glory to Him.

Whether it was time spent at Isidore and Helen's home...the Bahay Daku with Ric-ric and Tia Fe, Maila...or over at Tio Alex's lovely home.... or even at Cagting : there was this intangible peace and quiet joy.

No we did not have expensive tours ala Europe ... or fine dining ... but we probably would have shared a platito of peanuts and still laugh wholeheartedly. Joy is pure and free hallelujah.

I think it would be hard for us to gather and party and feast and forget about the Lord... we would not thoroughly enjoy ... something would be missing.

In the same maner that I cherished sleeping beside Tess, watched Mench take good care of her grandson who would occasionally make things difficult for his granny , sharing silly jokes with Ven or seeing Molly's smiling eyes or Maila's tear-streaked face  --Josh too , my son soon made his discovery of what extended family feels like ---- hahaha, he prefered to be with his    cousins..sleeping on the floor with Ambrose... taking in his uncles' teasing... just getting to know all the family..yes...how he soaked it all .... that was    priceless ...thank you Lord for making us realize how truly rich we all are...

rich in faith and in love.

It ain't the end of the chronicling ..you'll have to bear with me...God bless you all...love........................................ te mye