God's Errand Boy

            “GOD’S ERRAND BOY”.  This is how I see myself in relation to God.

       According to Rev. Fr. Teilhard de Chardin revelation is not “God’s whispering to man who he is “, but “man’s understanding of who he is in relation to God”.

            Applying this viewpoint to myself, I have been asking the question – ‘Who am I in relation to God?’.  Several answers have come to my mind, such as, ‘I am an instrument of God, or God’s method, God’s ambassador, God’s missionary, God’s servant’.  The latest of them is ‘God’s Errand Boy’.

            The present situation at home in my family’s residence have given me this idea.  Since I happen to be the only male in a family of four (all senior citizens), I have often been given the task of doing some ‘errands’ – like, buying newspapers, paying bills (electric, water, telephone, RBC Cable,) withdrawing from Banks with the ATM card, mailing letters, buying LPG, contacting repair servicemen, etc.  With this experience, I have been seeing myself like an “Errand Boy”.

            Hence, when I asked myself – “Who am I in relation to God?”, I thought of looking at myself as God’s Errand Boy.  Since then, everyday I would talk to God and ask Him: “Lord, what is it that You want me to do today?”  In the silence of my heart I would listen to Him, and in most cases, the answer I get is: “Just do the errands given to you by your loved ones in the family.”

          With this in mind, I  would then consider the errands entrusted to me as God’s own errands, and  with such conviction I would perform the task with a happy heart  and thank God for using me.

         With this conviction I am truly encouraged to carry out any task or errand in the best way I can with all the love I can give, all for God, Who deserves  only the best.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

March 22, 2013

Pope Francis

            Watching on TV the inauguration of POPE FRANCIS last March 19, 2013, I have been reflecting on how he would be God’s instrument in addressing the many problems and concerns of the Catholic Church in the world today.

            What struck me in his personality is his simplicity and humility.  It is said that he chose the name FRANCIS because he would like to somehow exemplify the lifestyle of St. Francis of Assisi.  Hence, as much as possible he disregarded many conventional practices which would accord him honor and prestige due to his exalted position as the Head of Catholic Church throughout the whole world.

            In simple words he said that the “MISSION OF THE CHURCH IS TO BRING CHRIST TO MAN”.  In his inaugural address he stressed the obligation of all men to help all mankind, especially the poor, the weak and the helpless.  This is an obligation for all men, regardless of whatever may be one’s religious denomination. 

            It is said that the main cause of underdevelopment in this world is that “WE ARE NEIGHBORS, BUT NOT BROTHERS!”.     Hence, the appeal of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, is simply to make people realize that GOD IS OUR FATHER AND WE ARE ALL HIS CHILDREN.  This realization could bring about the following changes in our social life in this world:

1.    That the resources of this world will be equitably distributed to satisfy the needs of all men.

2.    That the power invested on people with positions of authority will be used to “serve and not to be served”.

3.    That the laws of nature will be respected in using the resources of mother earth.

4.    That every man in this world will have the attitude of being a “BROTHER’S KEEPER” to his neighbor.

5.    That the goal of all worthwhile endeavors will be to “MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.”

I hope that GOD will continue to bless the WORDS and DEEDS of our HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS, and thus empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT bring about the above mentioned changes in our world today.

by: Buddy Cagurangan

March 22, 2013