On Obedience

It is not hard to obey when we love the one whom we obey.
Saint Ignatius

Prayer

The truly communicative prayer changes people and, if it continues, ultimately brings them to examine the whole of their lives.

Photo: Loyola House of Studies, Ateneo de Manila University-Installation of new provincial mass. 2008

Faith

A simple desire for God is already the beginning of Faith…

Photo taken at Mirador Jesuit Villa, 2008

On Trinity

Ignatius said the Trinity is like a chord, and he evidently meant a musical chord. I think we all have that experience sometimes in our quieter moments, and perhaps after a time of struggle-an experience of a harmony that is self-validating. It happens when the testimony from one’s experience of creation, of one’s own life and consciousness, comes into harmony with the Jesus of the Gospels and with call of the Spirit as mediated through a prophetic person, a strong longing, or an opportunity that opens up.

Grace

Grace they say is the meeting of two desires, God’s desire and your desire…it happens when one is open to the prompting of the Spirit. Passivity under the action of divine grace creates a spiritual being able to serve in truth and for God.

To a young man who wishes to be a Jesuit

To a young man who wishes to be a Jesuit, I would say:

Stay at home if this idea makes you unsettled or nervous.
Do not come to us if you love the Church like a stepmother, rather than a mother.
Do not come if you think that in so doing you will be doing the Society of Jesus a favour.

Come if serving Christ is at the very center of your life.
Come if you have broad and sufficiently strong shoulders.
Come if you have an open spirit, a reasonably open mind and a heart larger than the world.
Come if you know how to tell a joke and can laugh with others and … on occasions you can laugh at yourself.

- Pedro Arrupe,S.J.
28th Superior General
Society of Jesus

photo taken at nehemia center-cebu (shs-j out-reach program)

Prayerful Journey

Prayer is a journey… its a loving union with God towards eternity.

photo taken at Edeng Mountain Resort-Davao

Jesus and the World

Jesus combined prayer with ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so
that I may preach there too. Because that is why I came’ (Mark 1:38)

Points for my reflection:

1. How can I be more for the world and not of the world?
2. How can I attain courage to be always available to people?

photo taken in zamboanga city

Lead us not into temptation

temptations may always be there waiting outside of our of doors, eager to catch us when we least expect it. like dark clouds that gloom the day and poisons one’s pure heart.

but prayers will help us stay in focus. focus to the One we truly love and set our directions back to the One we ought to follow.

points for my reflection:
1. What grace do I need to beg for in order to resist temptations?
2. What activities do I need to do to help me stay focus with the Lord?

photo taken in RELC Region IX in Cabatangan, Zamboanga City

Light and Shadow

I always hear from people that darkness and pain in life are there because God wants to test us. Is our God would go as far as testing us just to know how far we can endure or it is because of something else.

I’m no stranger to darkness. We all do experience darkness in our life but why would God allow us to experience dark moments from time to time?

It is surprising sometimes that I would feel the presence of God more real when I’m in my darkest moment.

That is because I would only cling unto Him and nothing more. It is the time when I can only trust Him and later on would help me trust my self.

I’m not afraid of the dark now for I know that a light would surely appear.

photo: my room (LHS-Quezon City)