He narrated a story of four people, a bishop, a priest, a catechist and a driver who figured in a car accident. All of them died and all of them were to be brought to heaven. They, however, have to stay first in a waiting station and one by one to be picked up by a vehicle. This first vehicle to arrive was a jeep and the one picked up was the priest. Then came a Ford Fiera and it took the driver. The third vehicle was an airconditioned Toyota Tamaraw and the one chosen to ride on it was the catechist. The bishop then thought to himself that perhaps the fourth vehicle will be an airconditioned Cadillac. An hour has already passed and there was no vehicle yet on sight. After more than two hours of waiting, he heard the sound of a motorcycle. Then he saw a tricycle coming. Deep in his mind he questioned why he, a bishop, was being fetched only by a tricycle.
Bishop Bacani then said: “It is not because I am a bishop that my place in heaven will be higher than any of you.” He explained further that holiness depends not on what position you hold but on how well and with how much love you have accomplished your specific responsibilities; that you may just be a mere laborer, a messenger, a tricycle driver, or a street cleaner, but if you do your job in the best way you can and with all the love you can give, then your degree of holiness can be greater than one who may be a director, a chief executive, a priest, or even a bishop.
He further cited the example of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, who as a Carmelite nun, entered the convent at an early age of 16 and died at the age of 24. She was a simple nun whose duties were confined to the ordinary household chores, like sweeping, washing clothes ,cooking and gardening, but whatever task was assigned to her she did it with all the love she could give, dedicating everything to the glory of God. The simplicity of her life style was the secret of her childlike relationship with God which obtained for her Sainthood.
Bishop Bacani then exhorted each and everyone to just “BLOOM WHERE WE ARE PLANTED”; meaning, if you are a teacher, be the best teacher that you can be, if you are a student, be the student that you can be, if you are an office worker, be the office worker that you can be, if you are the father of a family, be the best father that you can be, if you are the mother of a family be the best mother that you can be, dedicating everything that you do to the greater Glory of God, ever conscious that whatever may be the task you are undertaking, it is what God wants you to do.
By: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
Jan. 24, 2010
Jan. 24, 2010
