Typhoon Yolanda

            YOLANDA is the code name of the super typhoon that hit several provinces and towns in our country, the Philippines, last November 8-9, 2013.  It is considered to be the most powerful typhoon in the whole world during this year 2013 with a velocity of 215 kms. per hour.

            This is a phenomenon which is beyond the control of men. 

            Seeing the great disaster wrought by this typhoon I asked myself the following questions:

1.    Why is this phenomenon happening in the world?

2.    How is mankind responding to this phenomenon?

To the first question, the answer of our so-called scientists is nature’s

 change of climate due to men’s irresponsible abuse of the world’s natural resources, such as deforestation, air pollution,  improper waste disposal, and unrestricted mining operations.

            To the second question, seeing the disaster caused by this phenomenon, there is a universal concern of mankind, coming from all walks of life and from many countries throughout the world.  We are witnessing ‘LOVE IN ACTION’ as relief goods and services keep on flowing for distribution to the victims, though not adequate enough as of today to reach out to all of them for one reason or another.

            For me, the message of God on this phenomenon is: Men should respect the laws of nature and should be responsible in using the resources of nature so as to satisfy the needs of all men, and not to cater to the greed of a few.

            As to the response of mankind to the plight of the victims, it shows that, indeed, there is LOVE IN THE HEARTS OF MEN.  This is a sign that LOVE is the force that will eventually unite all men, as one FAMILY OF GOD.

            Hopefully men will heed this message of God to respect the laws of nature and be carefully responsible in the use of nature’s resources.

            I pray too that all men shall be imbued with a true love for each other, considering each other as brother or sister, and not simply as neighbor, for as Rev. Fr. Teilhard de Chardin says in his book, ‘The Phenomenon of Man’, “LOVE IS THE ONLY FORCE THAT CAN UNITE MEN WITHOUT DESTROYING THEM”.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Nov. 17, 2013 

Beatific Vision

               BEATIFIC VISION IS THE ULTIMATE DESTINY OF MAN.  This is a conviction that filled my heart and mind when I visited the tombs of loved ones on the Feast of All Saints and All Souls day (Nov. 1-2, 2013).  I reasoned out that as I come from God, Who is my Creator, then my greatest joy will be to go back to God and have the privilege of seeing Him face to face.  This prompted me to search for further viewpoints on what  Beatific Vision is.  The following are some excerpts on this subject matter.

            From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, we read:

“In Christian theology, the beatific vision is the ultimate direct self communication of God to the individual person.  A person possessing the beatific vision reaches, as a member of redeemed humanity in the communion of saints, perfect salvation in its entirety, (i.e. heaven). The notion of vision stresses the intellectual component of salvation, though it encompasses the whole of human experience of joy, happiness coming from seeing God finally face to face  and not imperfectly through faith (1 Cor 13:11-12).

            Our human understanding of God while alive is indirect (meditation/prayer, not actually looking at Him). The beatific vision, on the other hand, is direct (immediate, visual) or literal seeing God.  In other words, the beatific vision means a soul is actually looking at God, as is, viewing Him without any sort of censorship like that depicted by the prophet Isaiah. 

            In Christianity, the Bible teaches that God “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has even seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16), but when God reveals Himself to us in heaven we will then see Him face to face (1Cor 13:12).

            Thomas Aquinas defined  beatific vision as the human being’s “final end” in which one attains  perfect happiness. … This kind of perfect happiness cannot be found in any physical pleasure, any amount of worldly power, any degree of temporal fame or honor, or indeed in any finite reality.  It can only be found in something that is infinite and perfect – and this is God.  The only perfect and infinite good, therefore, is God Himself, which is why Aquinas argues that our perfect happiness and final end can only be the direct union with God Himself and not with any created image of Him; that the Beatific Vision surpasses both faith and reason.  Rational knowledge does not fully satisfy humankind’s innate desire to know God, since reason is primarily concerned with sensible objects and thus can only infer its conclusions about God indirectly.  Thus, only the fullness of the Beatific Vision satisfies this fundamental desire of the human soul to know God.

            The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “God Himself will be the goal of our desires; we shall contemplate Him without end, love Him without surfeit, praise Him without weariness.  This gift, this state, this act, like eternal life itself will assuredly be common to all.” (CCC 2550)

             I hope and pray that GOD shall bestow on me, all my loved ones and all the faithful  this wonderful Gift of BEATIFIC VISION.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Nov. 10, 2013

Now and Forever

            “For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, NOW AND FOREVER.” This is the DOXOLOGY which the faithful respond to the prayer of the Priest Presider  after the LORD’S PRAYER at a Eucharistic Celebration.

            For quite a time I have been dwelling on what this Doxology means. Since doxology is a liturgical expression of praising God, I asked myself the significance of the ending words: NOW AND FOREVER.

            For me these words convey an aspect of time which covers the present moment and every moment thereafter for all eternity without end.  I realize that, indeed, life is a series of moments and every moment becomes a NOW at a present time.  What one does NOW is, therefore, a constant challenge to the WHY and HOW  of his actions.

             Pope Francis in his address on the 50^th Anniversary of the Election of Pope Paul VI on June 25, 2013,  said: “Jesus is more necessary than ever for the man of today.”  He further quoted what Pope Paul VI said: “Profane secular humanism has appeared in the end in its terrible stature and in a certain sense, it has challenged the Council (Vatican II).  The religion of the God who became man encountered the religion of man who makes himself God.”

            Man, therefore, is confronted today with a secularism which makes himself  self-centered and not God-centered.  Christ himself said: “Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth?  I tell you no, but rather division.”   Hence, man has to make a decision on whether to follow Christ, the God-Man, or make himself his own God.

 In the Liturgy of the Hours which is considered the Prayer of the Church with Christ and to Christ there is a Concluding Prayer which reads:

“Almighty Father, you have brought us to the light of a new day; keep us safe the whole day through from every sinful inclination.  May all our thoughts, words and actions aim at doing what is pleasing in your sight.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.”

            Following Christ, therefore, means a constant response of  ‘YES’ to Him.  It means offering everything that one does for His glory NOW and FOREVER.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Nov. 3, 2013      

What is my Business?

            WHAT IS MY BUSINESS?  This is a question I asked myself after conducting a survey in our barangay (Centro 07) wherein the majority (65.02%) of the respondents are businessmen. It  dawned on me that like them I should also have a business of my own.  During one of my visits to Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament I got an answer which I believe is an inspiration from the Holy Spirit: “Your business is to make Jesus Christ known, loved and served in your community. And for this purpose you have to invest your whole life.”

            Meditating on this answer I recall what Jesus Christ Himself said to His parents when they found Him at the Temple of Jerusalem: “Do you not know that I must be about my Father’s business.” (Lk 2:49)

             I further asked myself: “How shall I make Jesus Christ known, loved and served in my community? 

            Three means came to my mind which could saw the seeds for a personal relationship with Christ.

            The first is BIBLE ENTHRONEMENT. Enthroning a Bible in a home or work place would make Jesus Christ alive, if the Word of God is read, reflected upon and lived.  This should be a commitment for those who enthrone the Bible and put it in a place of honor.

            The second is BIBLE SHARING.  This would involve a group of people who come together to read, reflect on the Word of God and share their insights with one another.  One’s viewpoint would then be enriched by listening to what others share.

            The third is PREX (Parish Renewal Experience) SEMINAR.  This is a two and a half days seminar which could make the participants have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and make them feel the reality of His loving presence. Tuguegarao, in the parish of St. Peter’s Cathedral, more than 5,000  have already participated in this seminar since it was introduced in 1994.  Through PREX many  will come to experience God’s loving presence.

            The above mentioned means will require a wholehearted willingness to invest one’s time, talents and treasures so as to meet the problems or difficulties that are to be faced in the course of carrying them out.  It is said, however, that “If there is a Will, there is a Way”  Hence, with the grace of God, I shall strive to make this my business: “ TO MAKE JESUS CHRIST KNOWN, LOVED AND SERVED IN MY COMMUNITY.”

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Oct. 27, 2013 

Life is for Itself

            “LIFE IS FOR ITSELF AND NOT FOR A SPECTACLE.”  This is a statement of a great German philosopher who I recall is called ‘Immanuel Kant’.   Lately I was reflecting on the wisdom of this statement.

            I looked at what is happening during a Celebration of Holy Mass.  I observed how the people behave during the celebration.  It then dawned on me that, indeed, there are in general three kinds of people’s behavior which another philosopher has categorized in an article I read several years ago, namely:
            

1.    The Indifferent – those who do not care what is happening.

2.    The spectators – those who see what is happening but do not do anything.

3.    The participants – those who are involved in one way or another on what is happening.

  

            During the Eucharistic Celebration, there are people who are there present,  but do not care at all on what is happening.  Most of them stay outside the church and just sit or stand and attend to whatever may please them.  They are simply indifferent.

            There are those who just look at what is happening, but do not join the congregation in their songs or responses.  They are just spectators.

            There are those, however, who are actively involved in serving on a particular ministry or who join the congregation in singing and responding to the liturgical prayers.

            This observation makes me realize the value of getting involved in what is happening in the community where we live as well as in the world at large.  Our life here on earth must have a significant contribution in one way or another to make this world a better place to live in.  Hence, one should not be a mere spectator in life,  but should give a meaning to his life by doing something worthwhile which could enhance the parameters for a decent life here on earth.

            Life, indeed, is a Gift from the Supreme Being in this world.   It is a priceless treasure which should not be wasted for one’s own selfish interests, but should be used in worthwhile endeavors that will redound to the common good of all. 

            In short, our life on earth should not be like a program just to be seen or appreciated by others, but should have a definite objective that will make it significant in the overall plan of God in creating this world.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Oct. 13,2013

God's Methods

            “GOD’S METHODS ARE PEOPLE.”   Several years ago this statement which I read in an article kept me wandering what it really means.  Lately I experienced a feeling that gave me an insight into what it means.  When our parish priest, Rev. Fr. Gerard Ariston P. Perez, congratulated me for the publication of a parish newsletter, saying: ‘MAKASTA’, I felt happy that  God used me as an instrument in assembling the articles to be published in the said newsletter.

            In addition, in the introduction of the SAMBUHAY, a missalette  published by St. Paul’s Media Pastoral Ministry, dated October 6, 2013, I read: “If we believe that God is the one in control and that our achievements are his, the more we become productive in our Christian life. For it is in weakness and humility that God’s greatness shines.”

            Reviewing my past life shows that, indeed, God’s methods are people.  On many occasions when I was in need of some help, financially or otherwise, there were people who responded to give me what I needed.  Just to mention a few:

1.When I was out of job, a priest, Rev. Fr. George Willmann, SJ, offered me a position as Office Manager in the Knights of Columbus Fraternal Association of the Philippines.

           2. When I was not assured of receiving my monthly salary because of the declaration of Martial Law, another priest, Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Manaligod, SVD, came unexpectedly to my residence at San Fernando, La Union, and offered me the position of Dean of the College of Business Administration at Divine Word College in Laoag.

            3. When the salary I was receiving from a Government Office was not sufficient to meet the financial needs of my family, a Paulinian Sister, Sr. Nathaniel Rocero,spc, a  friend during World War II, came to know of my whereabouts and recommended me to the  President of St. Paul College of Tuguegarao, Sr. Benjamin Ponce,spc, for the position of Dean of the College of Business Administration, with a salary that was sufficient to  give my family a decent living. 

            As for being used by God as His instrument in doing something, I recall the following:

1.     He gave me the opportunity to help in starting an Educational Institution in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, which is now called Divine Word College of Urdaneta.

2.     He used me to open a Graduate School of Business Administration in two Tertiary Schools, namely: Divine Word College of Laoag and St. Paul College of Tuguegarao.

3.     He made use of my technical know-how to organize a Multi-Purpose Cooperative at St. Paul College of Tuguegarao.

4.     He used me to convene the descendants of our grandparents, Esteban Birung & Juana Cammayo, and inspired us all to strengthen our bond of kinship by organizing ourselves and form the  Association of Birung’s Clan (ABC).

5.     He gave me the opportunity to serve for a period of eighteen years as the Archdiocesan Catechetical Coordinator in the Archdiocese of Tuguegarao.

I realize then that the blessings I received to lift me up from  critical situations came from people whom God used in His infinite Goodness.   Likewise, I acknowledge God’s wisdom in using me as His instrument in many undertakings.

            Indeed, GOD’S METHODS ARE PEOPLE.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Oct. 6, 2013

God is One

“God wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth.  And the truth is this: ‘GOD IS ONE’.  ONE ALSO IS THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN,  THE MAN  CHRIST JESUS,  WHO GAVE HIMSELF AS A RANSOM FOR ALL.” (1 Tim.2:4-6)

Knowing the truth that there is only one SUPREME BEING we call GOD, WHO IS THE CREATOR OF THE WHOLE WORLD inspires me with an unwavering hope that everything in this universe will eventually redound to GOD’S ETERNAL GLORY. 

As I was reflecting on this great mystery of the ONENESS OF GOD, a song was ringing in my ears, entitled ‘ONE GOD’, whose lyrics are as follows:

Millions of stars placed in the sky  by One God.

Millions of men lift up their eyes to One God.

So many children, calling to Him by many a different name;

One Father, loving each the same.

Many the ways all of us pray to One God.

Many the paths winding their way to One God.

Walk with me brothers, there are no strangers

After His work was done.

For your God and my God are One.

We are witnessing today a lot of turmoil in many parts of the world.  Lately,  thousands of families in Zamboanga City are living in fear with inadequate resources for a decent living.  In many towns and cities of our country  people  are faced with a daily struggle to cope with the necessities of life due to the onslaught of several typhoons.  As a whole the atmosphere in our country  is besieged  with multiple problems, economically, politically, ecologically, morally  and  spiritually.

To my mind the key to the solution of all these problems is men’s acknowledgment of the existence of One Supreme Being on whom all creation is dependent, coupled with  a sincere desire and willingness to love and serve one another as brothers and sisters in one Big Family of God.  In other words, there is a need for mankind to become One in mind, heart and soul.

This must be the reason for the Priestly Prayer of Our Lord Jesus Christ just before His Passion and Crucifixion: “May they all be one as you Father are in Me, and I in You.  May they be one in us; so the world may believe that You have sent Me.” (John 17:21)

by: Buddy Cagurangan

Sept. 22, 2013  

Our Missionary Territority

“SEE YOUR DAILY LIFE AND THOSE YOU MEET EVERY DAY AS YOUR MISSIONARY TERRITORY”.  This is a statement from the ANAWIM WAY Liturgical Meditations on September 4, 2013.

I used to think of a MISSIONARY as one who goes out to a foreign land to spread the Faith.  The said statement, however, has made me reconsider my viewpoint. 

I was touched by the story in the ANAWIM WAY Booklet of a Christian woman who found work as a domestic helper in a non-Christian country.  Before starting her chores in the household, she used to offer her morning prayer before a makeshift altar she set up in her room.  One day she went into her room and was surprised to find her non-Christian employer kneeling before the altar.  When she asked her what she was doing, her boss said: “I wanted to see how kneeling before this table makes you come out peaceful and happy every morning.”  Over time, through this Christian worker’s many more simple acts of witnessing to her Christian faith, the employer found faith in Jesus and was baptized.

This story is clear evidence that by the example of our lives we can spread our faith to others.

At present I live in a community where most of the people are engaged in a business venture of one kind or another.  Time for them is mostly spent in attending to the affairs of their respective businesses.  Hence, the call of the Church to form BASIC ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES (BEC) is a tall order for them.  This call challenges them to reset their priorities and make commitments to invest their time, talent and treasure to the task of building God’s Kingdom in their community.

Being a resident in this community,  I realize that this is the MISSIONARY TERRITORY where God wants me to spread the Christian Faith.  Hence, these are the challenges that I now see to fulfill my mission:

1.    How to live daily an exemplary Christian life.

2.    How to take time to visit families in their homes.

3.    How to persuade families to have a Bible Enthronement in their homes and listen to the Word of God.

4.    How to invite people to participate in the Community Mass that is held once a month in our Barangay.

            I pray that with the enlightenment and empowerment of the Holy Spirit I shall be able tackle these challenges as a Missionary in my own Barangay.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

September 8, 2013

Let God Be God

            “LET GOD BE GOD IN YOUR LIFE.”  This is the answer to the query on how God can truly reign in me which I asked myself during my ‘quiet time’.  In my honest search for the answer, I was enlightened by a statement from the ANAWIM WAY Booklet which reads: “The crucial question is whether we will let go of our self-sufficiency and actually let God have His way with us.” 

            After a deeper reflection on the statement, it dawned on me that this means a complete surrender of myself to God and let Him do with me as He pleases.  This, I believe, is the attitude that our Lord Jesus Christ meant when He said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls unto the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)

            Many times as I played on the organ ‘LOSE YOURSELF IN ME AND YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF’.   I contemplate on the wonderful phenomenon of how a seed when buried in a ground disappears but allows a seedling to sprout in its place.  In a similar way this must be the way I should bury all the desires of my selfish nature and let God handle my life as He pleases.

            My very existence is, indeed, a Gift from God.  I believe it is a GIFT OF LIFE THAT IS EVERLASTING.  Only God knows how this LIFE should be spent in accordance with His infinite WISDOM.  With this gift of Life is also the gift of Freedom which He bestows on every person.  His plan could be thwarted by a person as he abuses his gift of freedom.  Herein lies the mystery of evil that is present in this world.  God, however, is in control of His creation, and despite all the evil in this world everything will turn out well for good for those who love God.

            A review of my past life made me realize that there were times when my selfish desires outweighed what should have been in accordance with God’s will.  These I now accept were caused by the evil of ‘concupiscence’ which, they say, afflicts everyman in this world.  By the Grace of God, however, I have come to be more and more attuned to the dictates of my conscience.  After experiencing a personal encounter with Christ, I have decided to really follow Him, considering Him truly as God, my Savior.

            During my daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament where JESUS is present whole and entire, I have been realizing more and more deeply my ‘nothingness’ and complete dependence on God for everything that I am and have.  Hence, for this wonderful Gift of God to me, I can think of no other better way to show my gratitude than to simply put myself completely at His disposal and let Him do with me as He pleases.  In this way I simply LET GOD BE GOD IN MY LIFE.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

August 31, 2013

See Christ In People

            “The real follower of Christ sees Christ in every person he meets.”  This is a statement from a Meditation for Spiritual Growth published in the Vatican II Weekday Missal. For me is the real challenge of Christianity.

              The Christian Faith tells us that Christ is the Savior of the World,  for through His Passion, Death and Resurrection He has provided the Grace of Redemption for all men, rich or poor, sinner or saint.   Hence, in every man He is present with His redeeming love.  With this presence He is extending to every man the Grace of Redemption.   Hence, when I meet a person I should see him as someone whom Christ loves and thus Christ would expect me to manifest His love for him, for He said: “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me” (Matt.25:40)

            Everyday I meet people from all walks of life.  It is, indeed, a challenge for me to act towards each one of them as Christ Himself would do.  For instance, when I ride in a tricycle, I am challenged to pay the driver in a manner that Christ would do, not based of what is just but on how  Christ’s love would be manifested.

            How to manifest Christ’s love to every person I meet is then the question that comes to me in my daily life.  At the end of the day I would review how I related to people I met and ask myself: “Have I manifested Christ’s love for them in what I have done?”

            When I participated in a PREX Seminar way back in January of 1994 the commitment I made in order to become a better Catholic was: TO SEE THE FACE OF CHRIST IN EVERY PERSON I MEET.  Since then I have been trying to put this into practice.  I must confess, however, that, indeed, it is a tall order.  Many times I have been confronted on how to manifest love to people who have hurt me.  In general, however, the big question is how to deal with persons whose acquaintance is temporary.  In most cases all I can get to know is their name.  It seems physically impossible to manifest love  to everyone who comes my way.  Hence, I believe that this challenge to love has to be applied in situations wherein one is in a position to help or serve.  

            Hence, seeing Christ in people I meet means being ready to be of service to everyone if and when needed.  As Christ has shown, love is manifested in service.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

August 25, 2013

Don't Bargain With God

            “DON’T BARGAIN WITH GOD”.   This was a piece of advise that came to me as I was reconsidering the commitment I made to spend at least one hour everyday with the Lord Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament at the Adoration Chapel of our Parish at Tuguegarao city.

            The Adoration Chapel is at the first floor of our Parish Pastoral Center to provide the parishioners an opportunity to spend some time to have one-on-one encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ Who is deemed present in the Consecrated Host.  Since the intention is to have a PERPETUAL ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT  during the day,  our Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Gerard Ariston P. Perez, gave a standing invitation to all parishioners to avail themselves of this great opportunity to have a Quiet Time with GOD in the Blessed Sacrament.

            In response to the invitation, some parishioners through their Cluster and Barangay Coordinators made a TIME SCHEDULE for their ADORATION.  The said schedule is posted at the bulletin board placed at the entrance of the Adoration Chapel.  The period covered by this Perpetual Adoration is from 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. everyday. 

            The four Clusters of our parish have posted the names of persons who have made a commitment  to spend at least one hour a week before the Blessed Sacrament.  At the start commitments were met, but I have observed that for one reason or another as time passed by more and more have not been faithful to their commitment. 

            I, for one, have often been tempted to shorten the time of my adoration.  For some time I have been considering a kind of substitute by having my own ‘Quiet Time’ at home, since God is also present in me – being  His Temple.   However, this piece of  advise  has been lingering in my mind: “DON’T BARGAIN WITH GOD”. 

            Further reflection impressed upon me that a COMMITMENT WITH GOD is SACRED and should be honored at all costs.  Visiting the Lord God in the Blessed Sacrament is like HAVING A DATE WITH GOD.  Since God is the Supreme Being in this world,  a DATE WITH HIM should be of paramount importance and should be complied with at all costs.  Hence, I should not even entertain anything that would change or lessen whatever I have committed to God.  In other words, I should NEVER BARGAIN WITH GOD, simply because HE IS GOD.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

August 18, 2013

Live For & With God

“LIVE FOR AND WITH GOD.”  This is the insight that came to me as I was pondering on the reason for my existence.

My existence is, indeed, a Gift from God.  From a state of nothingness I became a human being when God in His infinite Goodness endowed on me the Gift of Life.  This life, I believe, is everlasting;   for it is without end.  I will continue to exist even after death here on earth in a state of life which is everlasting.

Since my life is a gift from God, I continually ask myself the question: “How shall I use this gift?” 

First of all, since it is a GIFT from a Supreme Being  to whom I owe my very existence,   then it is but logical that I should use this Gift as He pleases.  Hence,   everything I do should be FOR HIM and not for myself.  In other words,   His Will should always be paramount in everything I do and should never be replaced by something that runs counter to His design, no matter how noble it may be.  This for me is a daily challenge as I go thru the various activities of life here on earth.  It demands a constant consciousness that whatever I do is really FOR GOD and not for myself.

Secondly, I have to acknowledge my powerlessness in doing anything,   since all power comes from God and without Him I can do nothing.  Hence,   in doing anything for God I have to depend on the graces He gives that enables me to do it.   I, therefore, have  to pray always for God’s help, so that WITH HIM I could do whatever pleases Him.

            For the past few days I have been striving to ‘Live For and With God’.  It dawned on me that this, I believe, is what I shall do for all eternity.  God, in His infinite Wisdom, has created me so that I could serve Him for all eternity in accordance with His DESIGN.  My joy, then, is simply to surrender myself   entirely to HIS HOLY WILL, so He can use me as He pleases for HIS GREATER GLORY.

            Everyday that I encounter the Lord JESUS CHRIST in the Blessed Sacrament at the Adoration Chapel, I pray: “Lord, here I am,   I come to do Your Will.”  I then place myself at His disposal, so that throughout the day I am enabled to LIVE FOR AND WITH GOD.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

August 11, 2013

Characteristics of Faith

            The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II)  names seven Characteristics of Faith according to Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr. in his book ‘Faith and New Evangelization’.  I would like to share these characteristics in a nutshell.

1.    Personal:  Faith must be a personal conviction based on God’s loving presence in one’s own life.

2.    Informed:  It must know something of what Christ has taught.

3.    Communitarian:   It must be united with others of the same faith.

4.    Growing:  It must strive to have a more and more deeper understanding         of the mysteries of life.

5.    Loving:   It must be manifested by love of God and love of others.

6.    Missionary:  It  must be shared with others.

7.    Inculturated:  It must be understood in one’s own way of thinking, speaking and perceiving thru signs and symbols.

According to Bishop Bacani these are the characteristics of faith that we should seek to spread and foster in the Philippines.  With  this kind of faith we shall transform the Philippines and win the rest of Asia for Christ.

Of the above mentioned characteristics, I consider the first – PERSONAL – as the most fundamental.  Based on my own personal experience,  it was  when I had a personal experience of God’s loving presence in my life that my faith deepened and my personal conviction of the reality of God was firmly grounded.  From then on, I strove to learn more and more about the tenets of the Christian Faith. These I tried to  manifest in my love of God and neighbors according to the circumstances of my life. I shared my insights with others and continued to have a deeper understanding of the mysteries of life as propounded by the Christian Faith.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

July 14, 2013

Evangelize Like Jesus

            “EVANGELIZE LIKE JESUS”  This is the title of Chapter 22 in the book entitled “FAITH and NEW EVANGELIZATION”  by Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr.  After reading it,  I thought of making a condensed version of what he expounded  in my own way of writing.

            Evangelization is the work of Jesus and He wants the Church to continue His work.  Since  the Church embraces all who were baptized as Christians, everyone (clergy and laity) is mandated by Christ to evangelize.  How are we to evangelize?  Bishop Bacani says that Jesus Christ Himself showed us how to evangelize during His historical life here on earth.  The following are the different steps:

1. Be present.   Be one with the people and bring the Presence of God.  This is  the mystery of Incarnation – Christ becoming Man to be with us.

2. Proclaim the Kingdom of God.  What we say should be conformed with what we do.  Christ went about preaching and doing good.

3. Pray for light and strength.  Take time to commune with God.  Christ always made time  to  pray no matter how busy He was.

4. Collaborate.   Work with others, undergo and give  formation.   Christ chose to have collaborators –  the  apostles   and    many other disciples.  He taught  and  formed them.

5. Sacrifice.  Be willing and determined to face with equanimity  all kinds of difficulties or problems that may come our way, trusting in God’s overflowing graces.   Christ said: “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matt. 16:24)

6. Be empowered by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the Principal       Evangelizer.     He  empowers the evangelizer and also  opens the hearts of hearers to accept the Good News.    Hence, evangelizers should always begin their mission  invoking the Holy Spirit.

Bishop Bacani said: “These were the steps of Jesus evangelizing work.  But it is important to remember that He took every step of the way in the spirit of humility, obedience and love.  It is in this same spirit that the evangelizer must bring the Good News to others.”

by: Buddy Cagurangan

July 7, 2013

God in Action

            “GOD IN ACTION.”    The Mystery of God’s presence in this world has long been a question that my mind has been laboring on.  Recently, what made me dwell more deeply on the question is the greeting of the priest presider at  Holy Mass: “THE LORD BE WITH YOU” and the people’s response now is: “AND WITH YOUR SPIRIT.”   This greeting emphasizes a phenomenon of God’s presence in the assembly attending the Mass.  Hence, it may be inferred that during the Eucharistic celebration GOD is PRESENT  in ACTION.

            In a Spiritual Reflection by Blessed John Paul II, published by the ANAWIM WAY booklet  he says: “The image of God is mirrored in every human being.  This is the deepest truth about man that can never be ignored or violated.”   Since God is in me, should I not develop a CONSCIOUSNESS OF HIS PRESENCE IN ME?   This question is a great challenge to me in the way I should live.

            How should I live so that I would be constantly conscious of God’s presence in me?    This is simply answered by the letter of St. Paul  in 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “PRAY WITHOUT CEASING”.  The ANAWIM WAY booklet, however, says: “PRAYER BEGINS WITH ALLOWING GOD TO BE IN CONTROL”.

            To allow God to be in control is, indeed, for me the key to a constant consciousness of His presence in me.  This requires me to be humble, acknowledging my unworthiness of God’s presence, and my sincere desire to surrender myself to whatever is God’s Holy Will.   This is an attitude which I will strive  to develop more and more with God’s grace.

            Often, specially for these past few days I have been saying a prayer in my heart: “Lord God, what is it that You want me to do NOW?”  This is  based on my belief  that ‘GOD WANTS TO DO SOMETHING NOW’, using me as His instrument.  Hence, I have to be attuned to HIS HOLY WILL by sincerely asking for enlightenment from the HOLY SPIRIT.  After listening in my heart what God wants me to do now at a particular instance, I simply have to ACT accordingly.

Thus, GOD then is IN ACTION thru me.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

June 29, 2013

The Bible is Christ

            “The WORD OF GOD is primarily JESUS CHRIST.”   This is a line from Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr. in his book ‘Faith and New Evangelization’ (Chapter 17, p. 62). This statement made me ponder more deeply for some moments what the Bible is.

            Externally the Bible is just like any other book with several printed pages bound together and covered with  hard-board or leather.  For families who enthrone the Bible in their homes, it is put in a place of honor.  As it is, it is lifeless.  It can remain lifeless unless someone takes it, reads it, reflects on it, and lives it.  Only then can it become alive. Hence, it becomes actually a Living Person – JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF  - the WORD OF GOD.   We read this in the Gospel of John Chapter 1: 1,14: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.”  

            To me the Bible could  be compared to a computer with an internet.  Left to itself the computer would be just like any other material object that is inanimate.  But when one opens it and uses it’s keyboard, then it provides a multitude of information or accomplishes a lot of activities that has been programmed into.   One, however, has to be computer-literate in order to use a computer.  So it is that there is a need to learn how to make the Bible the LIVING WORD OF GOD – JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.

            First of all, one has to have FAITH that God is, indeed, speaking to mankind through the Bible. 

            Secondly, one has to study and reflect on what the Words mean to him.  Although they are Words of God, they were written by men in their own language and according to their own circumstances.  Hence, there is a need to uncover the meaning of these words as they apply to one’s own situation. 

            Thirdly, one has to sincerely desire and live his life in accordance with whatever he understands to be  God’s Holy Will.

            To consider the Bible as CHRIST HIMSELF speaking to us, one has to take time to read it, reflect on it, and live it.   This requires a firm commitment to spare some period of time everyday to dwell on some Words of God in a quiet atmosphere where listening to God would be undisturbed.  Then, and only then can CHRIST be truly present in the Bible as the WORD OF GOD.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

June 24, 2013

I Am Nothing

            “I AM NOTHING.”  This is the thought which occupied my mind in the past two days and was further reinforced in the Concluding Prayer  in the Liturgy of the Hours this morning  which reads: “Our very existence is a gift from you, oh Lord; to you we offer all that we have and are.”

            This made me realize more fully my “NOTHINGNESS” … that without God I would simply be nothing.  This, I believe, must be the basic reason for the virtue of humility.  This also should be the basic reason to enflesh the virtue of forgiveness.

            If I am nothing; how can I be hurt?  The one who really gets hurt is God Himself, because He is my Creator, the Source of my existence.  Hence, forgiveness rests on God.

            What then should I do if and when someone hurts me?  I believe that I simply have to lift up to God whoever hurts me and pray that God would extend to him the grace of forgiveness.

            This full realization of my nothingness makes me acknowledge further my complete dependence on God.  Since I owe everything to Him, my life should be a constant act of thanksgiving, praising and glorifying God.            Everything I do must be according to God’s Holy Will and for His glory.  In other words, I should always be GOD-ORIENTED and not SELF-ORIENTED.

            This is an attitude which I should strive to develop by the grace of God, so that together with St. Paul I could say: “It is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20)

by: Buddy Cagurangan

June 15, 2013

God's Image In Man

            “RECOGNIZE AND HONOR GOD’S IMAGE IN EVERY HUMAN BEING!”  This is the concluding statement of Blessed John Paul II, in his Spiritual Reflection on the Mystery of the Blessed Trinity whose Feast is celebrated today, May 26, 2013.  As many spiritual writers state, the Blessed Trinity is the most central faith mystery of all, because the Holy Trinity is the Mystery of God Himself. 

            God is, indeed, the greatest of all mysteries which no one can ever fathom.    One aspect of God’s Mystery which poses a very great challenge to me is His PRESENCE  everywhere.  His presence is manifested in all of creation.  In a very special way, however, it is manifested in man, for it is said in Genesis 1:27 “God created man in His own image.” Blessed John Paul II says: “This is the true greatness of man, this is the root of his indestructible dignity.  The image of God is mirrored in every human being.  This is the deepest truth about man that can never be ignored or violated.  In short, every violation by man turns out to be a violation against his Creator, who loves him with the love of a Father.”

            The challenge for me thus, is: “ How am I to recognize God’s image in every human being?” 

            First of all, I am used to categorize people into those who are good and lovable and those who are not good and unlovable.  For the former I would have no difficulty in recognizing God’s presence in them, but for the latter, this is where I have to buckle down and strive to seek for a reason to love.

            Reflecting on the statement of Blessed John Paul II I find an answer to my query, namely, that the root of man’s indestructible dignity is his being ‘created in the image of God’.  Hence, whether a sinner or a saint, every man bears within him the Image of God.  In other words, God is truly present in a very special way in every man, regardless of how he relates with God. 

            For me, therefore, what matters most is not the goodness that I may see in a man but in the wisdom of God in creating him in His own  image, which is indestructible.  This wisdom of God is beyond man’s comprehension.  Hence, I have to bow down and accept God’s wisdom and recognize the dignity of every man, saint or sinner, and strive to love every one according to God’s Holy Will.

            This, indeed, is a great challenge, but trusting in God’s grace I believe I can overcome all difficulties and see God’s special presence in every man He has created.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

May 26, 2013 

A Celebration of God's Love

            The HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS  is a CELEBRATION OF GOD’S LOVE.  This is an insight that came to me as I participated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass today, May 23, 2013.

            In my studies and in Eucharistic seminars and congresses I have participated in I have learned several descriptions of what the Holy Mass is, such as the following:  That it is a Meal, a Memorial,  a Sacrifice.  This insight that it is a Celebration of God’s Love, however, made me aware that it is also GOD’S LOVE FOR MAN that is being celebrated.  The celebration to my mind is composed of two phases: a Preparation phase and an Execution phase.

            The Preparation Phase is what is commonly called “Liturgy of the Word”, and the Execution Phase is called “Liturgy of the Eucharist”.   In a layman’s language, however, the terms ‘preparation’ and ‘execution’ may be more understandable. 

            The central figure in this celebration is, of course, OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

The preparation phase consists of man’s humble acknowledgment of the Presence of Jesus Christ, asking forgiveness for his sinfulness and listening to God’s Word through the prophets, through Christ Himself and through the interpretation of a homilist.  This phase concludes with some petitions of the faithful.

   The execution phase begins with a humble gesture of the faithful’s desire to unite themselves with the LOVE OFFERING of CHRIST HIMSELF.  It culminates with a RE-ENACTMENT of the SUPREME SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS, which though unbloody is still as real as when it occurred on GOOD FRIDAY, more than 2,000 years ago.  This is  actually what is being celebrated during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass – CHRIST OFFERING HIMSELF TO GOD TO REDEEM MANKIND FROM HIS SINFULNESS. 

As a consequence of this Supreme Sacrifice of Christ, the Graces of Redemption can now be availed of by mankind especially through the Sacraments instituted by Christ.  Hence, the execution phase ends with an opportunity for all the faithful to receive JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF under the appearances of Bread and Wine or the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

With this insight of mine that the Holy Mass is a Celebration of God’s Love for Man,  I am greatly motivated to participate in it, if possible, daily, so as to manifest my deep gratitude to God for His Love.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

May 23, 2013