The Freedom to Decide

               The FREEDOM TO DECIDE is, I believe, the Gift that distinguishes a human being from the rest of God’s creation on earth.  This gift is bestowed on him to enable him to love, because love cannot be forced – it can only be given freely.  Hence, although God created man out of love, He, nevertheless, cannot force any man to love Him in return.  Man has to exercise the gift of Freedom in order to respond to God’s love.

            Man’s life here on earth depends much on what he decides.  This is a personal viewpoint based on my personal experiences and my personal understanding of the many mysteries of life here on earth.

 

            First of all, are my personal experiences and personal understanding of the Mystery of God.  Being a Catholic by birth,  I have been indoctrinated on the existence of a Triune God, Who is our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.  I have also lived with persons who taught me the tenets of the Christian Faith.  The witnessing, however, of some so-called  authorities of the Church to which I belong have somehow cast doubts on the veracities of what they teach.  Hence, for quite some time in my life I drifted away from some practices of the Christian religion.  Fortunately, a priest, Fr. Portabes, handed a book to me entitled “The Phenomenon of Man” written by a Jesuit priest, Rev. Fr. Teilhard de Chardin.  What I read in this book somehow broadened my perspective of life here on earth and gradually brought me back to the Catholic fold.

            One of the mysteries of the Christian Faith is the Real Presence of Christ in the Sacred Host.  I have heard several stories that somehow validate the veracity of this great mystery.   To believe in something and to put it into practice in  one’s life are, however, two different things.  This is where the FREEDOM TO DECIDE  has to come in and make a difference in the way one lives.

            There is in our parish, St. Peter’s Metropolitan Cathedral of Tuguegarao City, an ADORATION CHAPEL where the BLESSED SACRAMENT is exposed the whole day.  This poses a challenge to one’s Faith.  One has to make a decision on whether to believe or not to believe in this mystery of Christ’s sacramental presence.  I for one have made the decision to believe in the reality of Christ’s presence in the Sacred Host.  Consequently, I made a decision to manifest my faith in this mystery by making a commitment to pay a Visit to the Blessed Sacrament everyday for at least one hour.  I consider this the MOST IMPORTANT HOUR of everyday in my life.  I look at it as HAVING A DATE WITH THE LORD EVERYDAY.  I have further reflected that if HEAVEN is where GOD is, then for me the ADORATION CHAPEL is HEAVEN ON EARTH, for GOD is THERE.  Our naked eyes cannot see Him, but with the eyes of Faith we can make a DECISION to truly adore Him and offer Him  the best gift we can give Him – our TIME – spending it in His presence – and allowing Him to do with us as He pleases.    

            I do hope that I have used the Gift of Freedom to decide to respond to the love of God for me thru this personal commitment of HAVING A DATE WITH HIM EVERYDAY FOR AT LEAST ONE HOUR BEFORE THE BLESSED SACRAMENT.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

December 22, 2012

What Matters Most

            “What matters most is not what I hold in my hands, but what I carry in my heart.”  This is a quotation from one of the books of Rev. Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, entitled “Meaningful Moments”.

            Fr. Orbos made that statement  after reading the last will and testament of Don Alfredo Gothong, patriarch and chairman of the Board of the Gothong Group of Companies, who was buried in Cebu last Jan. 15, 2008, which reads as follows:

“I have lived in this world a long time.  Yet  life is brief and fleeting.

To all my loved ones, I want you to instill in your hearts that the best,

the most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or even touched,

but must be felt with the heart.”

               Fr. Orbos then reflected: “ That is quite a statement coming from a man who left a fortune to his family through honest and hard work.  Indeed, “if through one person, a little more love and goodness have come to this world, then, that person’s life has had meaning.”

            For the past few days, this reflection of Fr. Orbos has  lingered in my mind and made me ponder on what I could best bequeath to this world when I shall pass away.  I humbly acknowledge that materially I do not have much to give.  Definitely however, I believe God has blessed me with a BIG HEART and HELPFUL HANDS.  These are what I could  leave to this world  which may not be seen but I hope will dwell in the hearts and minds of all those I have served with love. 

            “To serve with love” – is, therefore, the best that I could bequeath to this world during my lifetime.  Hence, everyday as I pay a visit to our Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, I pray: “Here I am, Lord, I come to do Your Will.  What is it that You want me to do to serve You in the people I meet today.” 

            Every day has its own challenges.  Some are easy, others are difficult.  What gives me courage to tackle any task  is the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  Talking to our LORD JESUS CHRIST, I pray:  “When it comes to serving You LORD, I give all I have got.”  I then do whatever I could possibly do in the best way I can  and lift up everything to the LORD for His honor and glory.

            What matters most for me then, is  to manifest the love of God as I go about doing whatever I could possibly do under the concrete circumstances of my life with the hope that somehow each day I shall have touched the hearts of those I encounter.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Dec. 16, 2012