“FROM NOTHING TO SOMEBODY” is the great mystery of my being. Indeed, my very existence in this world is a great mystery to me.
First of all, how have I come into existence? I was NOTHING when God, the Supreme Being, used my parents through the mystery of CONCEPTION to bring me into existence. For nine months the fertilized egg that I was grew into a baby in the womb of my mother. After that gestation, I came out of the womb of my mother and saw the light of day in this world. My parents then took care of me and provided for all my needs. Then, I grew up and gradually became an independent man, having full responsibility of my own life.
How did I continue existing? For more than eighty one (81) years now I have been existing in this world. It has been a life of ups and downs. In general the events of my life could be described as joyful, sorrowful and glorious. On the whole, it was a day to day struggle to meet the challenges of life as they came in different ways under different situations. In the early years of my life my main concern was mostly absorbed in simply doing the daily chores of living – eating, drinking, working, studying, playing, and sleeping. As a family man, I ventured into various ways of providing for the needs of my family. While there were times when my resources were at their lowest ebb, somehow I still managed to provide three full meals everyday for my dependents.
As I grew older, however, my mind started questioning what life was all about. The question that kept lingering in my mind was “What is the meaning of Life?”
One of the books I read entitled “The Phenomenon of Man” by Rev. Fr. Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, presented to me a rather broad perspective of life in this world. However, the challenges of living still made me skeptical on whatever is worth living for. It came to a point when life seemed meaningless for me. The Supreme Being, however, who created me made me experience His loving presence in a very wonderful way during a Life in the Spirit Seminar (LSS). This personal experience strengthened my Faith in the Reality of God Who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, of everything in this world.
Now I see the Hand of God bringing me into existence, from Nothing to Somebody. I also realize my complete dependence on His creative power to sustain me in my existence. And I fully trust that God, Who is infinitely Good, infinitely Wise, and infinitely Powerful, created me for a purpose – TO BE UNITED WITH HIM IN LOVE AND LIVE WITH HIM FOREVER.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
August 1, 2010
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY
“TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY”. This thought kept lingering in my mind for the past few days. So I asked myself: “How should I put this thought into practice in my life? The answer came to me as I was praying a Concluding Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours.
The Prayer was: “Father, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your saving help. Let our work always find its origin in you and through you reach completion. 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.” (Psalter, Week I, Monday, Morning Prayer)
This prayer makes God a pervading Presence in every moment of my life. In everything I do I should always begin with a prayer asking God for his enlightenment or inspiration, and his continuous assistance until its final fulfillment.
It seems to be a very simple formula to follow. I realize, however, that it takes a constant effort to live in the Presence of God. As I am now writing this article, I indeed started with a Prayer. But as I was groping for the words to write, my mind was so much focused on what to tell and somehow the consciousness of God’s presence was relegated to the background.
This experience is telling me that to take God seriously and live continuously in His Presence is a GRACE which God bestows on those who earnestly pray for it. It is something that man cannot do by his own human efforts. Man has to realize that he is a limited being with limited capacities. God, on the other hand, is an INFINITE BEING, the SUPREME BEING in this world. So man, with his limited capacities cannot simply reach out to an Infinite Being. It is in God’s infinite Goodness that He bestows this grace of enabling man to reach out to Him. Man, therefore, has to humbly acknowledge his complete dependence on God in order to have a loving personal relationship with Him.
The Mystery of INCARNATION, is, I believe, God’s way of bestowing this Grace to Mankind. He allowed His only begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST, to become Man, so that we, men, could participate in the Divine Life of God and each one may become like Him, a Child of God.
TO TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY is an earnest desire of mine. I have to humbly acknowledge, however, that this is a GRACE which God may bestow on me in His infinite Goodness as He pleases. It is something I do not merit. I can only put myself in God’s hands and trust in His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 25, 2010
The Prayer was: “Father, may everything we do begin with your inspiration and continue with your saving help. Let our work always find its origin in you and through you reach completion. 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.” (Psalter, Week I, Monday, Morning Prayer)
This prayer makes God a pervading Presence in every moment of my life. In everything I do I should always begin with a prayer asking God for his enlightenment or inspiration, and his continuous assistance until its final fulfillment.
It seems to be a very simple formula to follow. I realize, however, that it takes a constant effort to live in the Presence of God. As I am now writing this article, I indeed started with a Prayer. But as I was groping for the words to write, my mind was so much focused on what to tell and somehow the consciousness of God’s presence was relegated to the background.
This experience is telling me that to take God seriously and live continuously in His Presence is a GRACE which God bestows on those who earnestly pray for it. It is something that man cannot do by his own human efforts. Man has to realize that he is a limited being with limited capacities. God, on the other hand, is an INFINITE BEING, the SUPREME BEING in this world. So man, with his limited capacities cannot simply reach out to an Infinite Being. It is in God’s infinite Goodness that He bestows this grace of enabling man to reach out to Him. Man, therefore, has to humbly acknowledge his complete dependence on God in order to have a loving personal relationship with Him.
The Mystery of INCARNATION, is, I believe, God’s way of bestowing this Grace to Mankind. He allowed His only begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST, to become Man, so that we, men, could participate in the Divine Life of God and each one may become like Him, a Child of God.
TO TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY is an earnest desire of mine. I have to humbly acknowledge, however, that this is a GRACE which God may bestow on me in His infinite Goodness as He pleases. It is something I do not merit. I can only put myself in God’s hands and trust in His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 25, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
SERVE WITH A SMILE
“SERVE WITH A SMILE”. This thought came to me as I was reading this statement of St. Paul to the Corinthians : “Let each one give what he decided upon personally, and not reluctantly as if obliged, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2Cor.9:7)
Service is something every human being in this world has to render to humanity in one way or another according to his capacity and the situation he is in. How he renders this service would depend much on how he sees its significance and his accountability for its performance.
The significance of a service depends on how one sees its objective or purpose. In this connection, I recall an anecdote of two laborers who were carrying bricks during a construction project. When asked what they were doing, the first one said: “I am just transferring these bricks to another place.” while the second one replied: “I am helping to build a Cathedral.” Evidently the first one saw only the tiresome job of carrying bricks, but the second one saw the Vision of Building a Cathedral, and this filled him with joy in doing his job.
As to one’s accountability in rendering a service, much also depends on how one sees the AUTHORITY to whom he is accountable. If the authority is a human being just like himself, he may perform the service to please a human being. But if he sees GOD Himself as the One to Whom he has to render an accounting, he would surely give his utmost best in doing his job, for GOD, the Supreme Being in this world, deserves the best from all His creatures.
Pondering on the significance and accountability for service, I was further intrigued by the statement: “One can serve without loving, but one cannot love without serving.” To my mind this statement gives me the reason for serving, and that is: LOVE.
Love can be manifested in many ways and SERVICE is one of the best ways. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself modeled this as He put into action what He said: “...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28)
Hence, when one serves out of love, his heart is filled with joy for the opportunity given him to render something good for another. This should make him SERVE WITH A SMILE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 18, 2010
Service is something every human being in this world has to render to humanity in one way or another according to his capacity and the situation he is in. How he renders this service would depend much on how he sees its significance and his accountability for its performance.
The significance of a service depends on how one sees its objective or purpose. In this connection, I recall an anecdote of two laborers who were carrying bricks during a construction project. When asked what they were doing, the first one said: “I am just transferring these bricks to another place.” while the second one replied: “I am helping to build a Cathedral.” Evidently the first one saw only the tiresome job of carrying bricks, but the second one saw the Vision of Building a Cathedral, and this filled him with joy in doing his job.
As to one’s accountability in rendering a service, much also depends on how one sees the AUTHORITY to whom he is accountable. If the authority is a human being just like himself, he may perform the service to please a human being. But if he sees GOD Himself as the One to Whom he has to render an accounting, he would surely give his utmost best in doing his job, for GOD, the Supreme Being in this world, deserves the best from all His creatures.
Pondering on the significance and accountability for service, I was further intrigued by the statement: “One can serve without loving, but one cannot love without serving.” To my mind this statement gives me the reason for serving, and that is: LOVE.
Love can be manifested in many ways and SERVICE is one of the best ways. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself modeled this as He put into action what He said: “...the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28)
Hence, when one serves out of love, his heart is filled with joy for the opportunity given him to render something good for another. This should make him SERVE WITH A SMILE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 18, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
THE PRIVILEGE TO LOVE GOD
“THE PRIVILEGE TO LOVE GOD” – is for me the greatest privilege that can ever be bestowed on mankind.
This is a conviction that came to me while I was adoring JESUS CHRIST in the Blessed Sacrament. As I was talking to Our Lord JESUS CHRIST, I was filled with awe to realize that the one I was conversing with is GOD – the SUPREME BEING, the REDEEMER of mankind, and the CO-CREATOR of the whole world.
With this realization I questioned myself as follows:
1. Who am I to be given such a great privilege?
2. What makes it possible for me to exercise such a privilege?
To the first question, I have to humbly acknowledge that I am a creature
that God has designed in His own image and likeness. (Gen. 1:26) And to the second question, I realize that God has bestowed on me and on all human beings the gift of FREEDOM which empowers everyone to love.
The realizations brought me to further reflect on the function of the gift of freedom in order to love. After some deep reflections on this matter, I became aware of some characteristics underlying this great phenomenon of love, namely:
1. To love means to give of oneself to the beloved.
2. The giving of oneself has to be done freely, for no one can be forced to love.
If I am to give of myself to God, what can I give Him? I cannot but realize
my nothingness before God. All that I am and all that I have come from Him. Hence, there is simply nothing that I can give Him save the desire to love Him. This is where I can exercise the gift of Freedom and offer to God my whole self as He created me together with all that I have done which may not have always been pleasing to Him.
It has been axiomatic to consider Loving God as a Commandment. To my mind a Commandment is something I have to obey, whether I like it or not. With my reflections, however, wherein I am given the opportunity to address an Almighty God and offer myself to Him, with all my nothingness and sinfulness, I would rather consider this ACT OF LOVING GOD as a GREAT PRIVILEGE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 11, 2010
This is a conviction that came to me while I was adoring JESUS CHRIST in the Blessed Sacrament. As I was talking to Our Lord JESUS CHRIST, I was filled with awe to realize that the one I was conversing with is GOD – the SUPREME BEING, the REDEEMER of mankind, and the CO-CREATOR of the whole world.
With this realization I questioned myself as follows:
1. Who am I to be given such a great privilege?
2. What makes it possible for me to exercise such a privilege?
To the first question, I have to humbly acknowledge that I am a creature
that God has designed in His own image and likeness. (Gen. 1:26) And to the second question, I realize that God has bestowed on me and on all human beings the gift of FREEDOM which empowers everyone to love.
The realizations brought me to further reflect on the function of the gift of freedom in order to love. After some deep reflections on this matter, I became aware of some characteristics underlying this great phenomenon of love, namely:
1. To love means to give of oneself to the beloved.
2. The giving of oneself has to be done freely, for no one can be forced to love.
If I am to give of myself to God, what can I give Him? I cannot but realize
my nothingness before God. All that I am and all that I have come from Him. Hence, there is simply nothing that I can give Him save the desire to love Him. This is where I can exercise the gift of Freedom and offer to God my whole self as He created me together with all that I have done which may not have always been pleasing to Him.
It has been axiomatic to consider Loving God as a Commandment. To my mind a Commandment is something I have to obey, whether I like it or not. With my reflections, however, wherein I am given the opportunity to address an Almighty God and offer myself to Him, with all my nothingness and sinfulness, I would rather consider this ACT OF LOVING GOD as a GREAT PRIVILEGE.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 11, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
THE GREATEST LOVE REENACTED
“THE GREATEST LOVE REENACTED”. This is how I consider the Celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. For as the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner.” (CCC 1367) and likewise in the Catechism for Filipino Catholics we read: “ Through the mystery of the Eucharist, the sacrifice of the Cross which was once offered on Calvary, is remarkably reenacted and constantly recalled, and its saving power exerted for the forgiveness of sins”. (CFC 1689)
Having reflected on these two statements of the Catholic Church, time and again I am filled with awe at what is actually happening whenever I participate in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
First of all I see Christ putting into action what He Himself said: “ There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for his friends…” (John 15:13)
Then, what amazes me is the great Mystery of this Love of Christ being reenacted in an unbloody manner.
I consider Christ’s Crucifixion and Death on the Cross as the Greatest Love that can ever be manifested in this world. This is because of the personality of Christ Who is God made Man through the Mystery of INCARNATION. No one can ever have such a Dignity as JESUS CHRIST, the only begotten Son of God the Father. God though He is, He manifested His love for men by actually bearing the sacrifice of dying on the Cross in order to obtain for mankind the Grace of Redemption. He is, therefore, a God Who suffered and died for the salvation of all men.
This greatest act of love of Christ has been done historically for more than 2,000 years ago, but the same act of love is being reenacted in an unbloody manner whenever the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated.
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics says: “ Christ instituted the Eucharist so that his once-and-for-all saving Death on the Cross might be made present even to us – 2,000 years later. The Eucharist is a sacrifice because Christ is present precisely as ‘offering himself for us as a sacrifice to the Father. Thus, the heart of the Eucharistic celebration is: Christ, our Lord’s perfect saving LOVE.” (CFC 1690)
I praise the Lord for this deep enlightenment to look up to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as a Great Mystery wherein the Greatest Love is being reenacted, so that I and every man on earth can participate in the Mystery of Redemption and be given the privilege of belonging to the Family of God.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 4, 2010
Having reflected on these two statements of the Catholic Church, time and again I am filled with awe at what is actually happening whenever I participate in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
First of all I see Christ putting into action what He Himself said: “ There is no greater love than this, to give one’s life for his friends…” (John 15:13)
Then, what amazes me is the great Mystery of this Love of Christ being reenacted in an unbloody manner.
I consider Christ’s Crucifixion and Death on the Cross as the Greatest Love that can ever be manifested in this world. This is because of the personality of Christ Who is God made Man through the Mystery of INCARNATION. No one can ever have such a Dignity as JESUS CHRIST, the only begotten Son of God the Father. God though He is, He manifested His love for men by actually bearing the sacrifice of dying on the Cross in order to obtain for mankind the Grace of Redemption. He is, therefore, a God Who suffered and died for the salvation of all men.
This greatest act of love of Christ has been done historically for more than 2,000 years ago, but the same act of love is being reenacted in an unbloody manner whenever the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is celebrated.
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics says: “ Christ instituted the Eucharist so that his once-and-for-all saving Death on the Cross might be made present even to us – 2,000 years later. The Eucharist is a sacrifice because Christ is present precisely as ‘offering himself for us as a sacrifice to the Father. Thus, the heart of the Eucharistic celebration is: Christ, our Lord’s perfect saving LOVE.” (CFC 1690)
I praise the Lord for this deep enlightenment to look up to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as a Great Mystery wherein the Greatest Love is being reenacted, so that I and every man on earth can participate in the Mystery of Redemption and be given the privilege of belonging to the Family of God.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
July 4, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENT
“FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENT” is a term used by the National Catechetical Directory of the Philippines (NCDP) to signify our “Moral Standing Before God”.
1. Self-Centered: a life orientation toward self-sufficiency.
2. Other-Directed: a life of self-giving in loving service of God and neighbor.
I would term the first as “SELFISHNESS” and the second as “UNSELFISHNESS”.
“Selfishness” is, I believe, the essence of SIN. It is too much concern on how to please oneself rather than on how to please God and others.
“Unselfishness” is, on the other hand, the essence of LOVE. It thinks first of God – on how to please Him by doing His Holy Will. It thinks second on how to promote the welfare of others. It is actually a giving of oneself, what one can do or can be in order to serve God and one’s neighbor.
These two ways of acting are the results of one’s exercise of the Gift of Freedom. Our choices or decisions, however, are to a large extent based on our moral convictions. Hence, it is of paramount importance to have strong convictions on how we view the “Mystery of Life” on earth.
The Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC-293) states that “the evil in the world is not some ‘problem’ to be solved, but a ‘mystery’ to be faced. Three faces of evil – fate, sin and death – can never be answered by any rationalistic ‘head knowledge’. What alone is effective is a vibrant spiritual life of believing, hoping and loving God, our Father Almighty, through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, in their indwelling Holy Spirit.”
Life on earth is, indeed, a great Mystery which we can never fully understand. It is for this reason, I believe, that God, in His infinite Goodness, sent His only begotten Son, JESUS CHRIST, to enlighten and empower us with His HOLY SPIRIT so we could exercise our gift of freedom to make decisions that are “Other-Directed”, a FUNDAMENTAL COMMITMENT to love and serve God and our neighbor.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
June 27, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
God-Our Father
“OUR FATHER” – These are the first two words THE LORD’S PRAYER, which was taught by Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. (Matt.6:9-13)
We may say that this is the Prayer that is most frequently recited by all Christians; but is its significance adequately understood and interiorized? I wonder and my wondering leads me now the share what I learned from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Catechism for Filipino Catholics regarding THE LORD’S PRAYER.
1. Summary of the whole Gospel, It presents in the form of prayer the essential contents of the whole Gospel.
2. Composed of three (3) parts:
a. Address – “Our Father, Who art in Heaven”
b. YOU Petitions – Man’s Worship of God
c. WE Petitions - Man’s Need for God
3. A Brief Exposition of the three (3) parts:
a. The invocation “Our Father” should make us aware of our being adopted children of God through the redeeming grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Who art in Heaven” is a biblical expression that indicates not a place but a way of being. It refers to God’s majesty, His holiness and presence in the hearts of the just. It constitutes our true homeland towards which we are moving in hope while we are still on earth.
b. There are three (3) YOU Petitions:
These are petitions to manifest our WORSHIP OF GOD by:
- Knowing Him – Sanctification of His Name
- Loving Him - Coming of His Kingdom
- Serving Him – Fulfillment of His Will
c. There are four (4) WE Petitions:
These are petitions to address man’s need for God by:
- Asking for Daily Bread – Man’s need to live spiritually and physically
- Asking for Forgiveness – Man’s need to be forgiven of his sinfulness
- Asking for Help to overcome temptations – Man’s need to be strengthened
against the sinful allurements of this world
- Asking for Protection from the Evil One – Man’s need to be protected from
the snares of Satan who opposes God and who wants to deceive the whole world.
4. Meaning of “AMEN”
The prayer ends with “AMEN” which means “SO BE IT”. By this word one ratifies all that is contained in the Prayer.
Whenever I pray the “Our Father” the foregoing considerations help me a lot to give meaning to what I say and thus enable me to concentrate and focus my attention on God, the Almighty, Whom I am addressing as “FATHER”.
We may say that this is the Prayer that is most frequently recited by all Christians; but is its significance adequately understood and interiorized? I wonder and my wondering leads me now the share what I learned from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Catechism for Filipino Catholics regarding THE LORD’S PRAYER.
1. Summary of the whole Gospel, It presents in the form of prayer the essential contents of the whole Gospel.
2. Composed of three (3) parts:
a. Address – “Our Father, Who art in Heaven”
b. YOU Petitions – Man’s Worship of God
c. WE Petitions - Man’s Need for God
3. A Brief Exposition of the three (3) parts:
a. The invocation “Our Father” should make us aware of our being adopted children of God through the redeeming grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Who art in Heaven” is a biblical expression that indicates not a place but a way of being. It refers to God’s majesty, His holiness and presence in the hearts of the just. It constitutes our true homeland towards which we are moving in hope while we are still on earth.
b. There are three (3) YOU Petitions:
These are petitions to manifest our WORSHIP OF GOD by:
- Knowing Him – Sanctification of His Name
- Loving Him - Coming of His Kingdom
- Serving Him – Fulfillment of His Will
c. There are four (4) WE Petitions:
These are petitions to address man’s need for God by:
- Asking for Daily Bread – Man’s need to live spiritually and physically
- Asking for Forgiveness – Man’s need to be forgiven of his sinfulness
- Asking for Help to overcome temptations – Man’s need to be strengthened
against the sinful allurements of this world
- Asking for Protection from the Evil One – Man’s need to be protected from
the snares of Satan who opposes God and who wants to deceive the whole world.
4. Meaning of “AMEN”
The prayer ends with “AMEN” which means “SO BE IT”. By this word one ratifies all that is contained in the Prayer.
Whenever I pray the “Our Father” the foregoing considerations help me a lot to give meaning to what I say and thus enable me to concentrate and focus my attention on God, the Almighty, Whom I am addressing as “FATHER”.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
June 20, 2010
June 20, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
LIVE FOR GOD
“WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?” This is the first line of a song that has kept me pondering on the right answer.
Looking back to more than eighty one (81) years of life here on earth, I have been asking myself what actually would give meaning to my existence.
People, places, properties, power, prestige and pleasures have, indeed, contributed in one way or another to make life enjoyable here on earth. They cater to the satisfaction mostly of our senses – to see, to hear, to smell, to taste, to touch and to feel great. However much as these give satisfactions to our senses, they are all transitory or fleeting that sooner or later their satisfactions fade away. Hence, there remains a craving for more and more satisfaction.
St. Augustine of Hippo must have realized this phenomenon in his life and has theologized it when he said: “OUR HEART IS RESTLESS UNTIL IT RESTS IN GOD”.
Just the other day, while my wife, Ofel, and I were praying the Liturgy of the Hours, I was, indeed, struck by the first line of Psalm 62 which reads: “In God alone is my soul at rest.” I then further consulted a commentary on this Psalm in the Christian Community Bible and here I quote what it says: “Believers themselves feel the attraction of money, power and pleasure. But in pretending to respond to our hopes, all these things are deceptive since they cannot fill our hearts. They are powerless and fleeting, while God is the ultimate fullness and no one can destroy him.”
The foregoing statements made me ponder on the reason of my existence. Looking at my own self I realize that my very existence depends entirely on God. It is God Who created me, it is God who sustains me, it is only God Who knows the full mystery of my existence. Hence, I conclude that it is only God Who can give the real reason or meaning for my existence. This realization strengthens my belief that every being in this world is created for a purpose; and it is only God, our Almighty Creator, Who knows the very purpose of every creature. Every being, therefore, can only find fulfillment if he surrenders himself to God’s almighty power and allow Him to dispose of him according to His Holy Will.
Day after day as I live my life, I cannot but ask myself “What am I living for?” There are quite a number of activities, commitments or engagements that call for my attention everyday. Are these the reasons for my existence? Yes, I am expected or challenged to do them. But is this WHAT LIFE IS FOR?
I do believe that whatever we do can only be meaningful if in all sincerity we surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to use us as He pleases in accordance with the very reason for which He has created us. This is the attitude that would make our HEART REST IN GOD.
Hence, my answer to the question: “WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?”, is “I AM LIVING FOR GOD, FOR HE ALONE KNOWS THE COMPLETE REAL REASON FOR MY EXISTENCE”.
Looking back to more than eighty one (81) years of life here on earth, I have been asking myself what actually would give meaning to my existence.
People, places, properties, power, prestige and pleasures have, indeed, contributed in one way or another to make life enjoyable here on earth. They cater to the satisfaction mostly of our senses – to see, to hear, to smell, to taste, to touch and to feel great. However much as these give satisfactions to our senses, they are all transitory or fleeting that sooner or later their satisfactions fade away. Hence, there remains a craving for more and more satisfaction.
St. Augustine of Hippo must have realized this phenomenon in his life and has theologized it when he said: “OUR HEART IS RESTLESS UNTIL IT RESTS IN GOD”.
Just the other day, while my wife, Ofel, and I were praying the Liturgy of the Hours, I was, indeed, struck by the first line of Psalm 62 which reads: “In God alone is my soul at rest.” I then further consulted a commentary on this Psalm in the Christian Community Bible and here I quote what it says: “Believers themselves feel the attraction of money, power and pleasure. But in pretending to respond to our hopes, all these things are deceptive since they cannot fill our hearts. They are powerless and fleeting, while God is the ultimate fullness and no one can destroy him.”
The foregoing statements made me ponder on the reason of my existence. Looking at my own self I realize that my very existence depends entirely on God. It is God Who created me, it is God who sustains me, it is only God Who knows the full mystery of my existence. Hence, I conclude that it is only God Who can give the real reason or meaning for my existence. This realization strengthens my belief that every being in this world is created for a purpose; and it is only God, our Almighty Creator, Who knows the very purpose of every creature. Every being, therefore, can only find fulfillment if he surrenders himself to God’s almighty power and allow Him to dispose of him according to His Holy Will.
Day after day as I live my life, I cannot but ask myself “What am I living for?” There are quite a number of activities, commitments or engagements that call for my attention everyday. Are these the reasons for my existence? Yes, I am expected or challenged to do them. But is this WHAT LIFE IS FOR?
I do believe that whatever we do can only be meaningful if in all sincerity we surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to use us as He pleases in accordance with the very reason for which He has created us. This is the attitude that would make our HEART REST IN GOD.
Hence, my answer to the question: “WHAT AM I LIVING FOR?”, is “I AM LIVING FOR GOD, FOR HE ALONE KNOWS THE COMPLETE REAL REASON FOR MY EXISTENCE”.
BY: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
June 13, 2010
June 13, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
LIVE IN HEAVEN
“A CHRISTIAN WALKS ON EARTH BUT LIVES IN HEAVEN.” This is a statement from the Easter Meditation of the Vatican II Weekday Missal.
The Easter Meditation dwells on the words of St. Paul in his Letter to the Philippians which says: “ For us, our citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making it like his own body, radiant in Glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself.” (Phil. 3:20-21).
From these words of St. Paul the meditation concludes that though our bodies keep us on earth, by nature and by grace we belong to heaven.
I have been pondering on how I could really put into practice this wonderful statement. The big question that confronted me is: “WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE IN HEAVEN?”
We have been used to think of heaven as a PLACE where GOD IS. Spiritual writers, however, view heaven as a STATE wherein one is UNITED WITH GOD. Hence, even here on earth one can already be in heaven, if he is united with God. UNION WITH GOD is, therefore, the essence of HEAVEN.
The challenge to me then is “HOW TO LIVE IN UNION WITH GOD?”
This, I believe, is precisely the WORK that has been attributed in a special way to the HOLY SPIRIT – the WORK OF SANCTIFICATION.
PENTECOST – the Feast we celebrated last Sunday, May 23, is the Mystery of the Third Person of the Holy Trinity – which gives Birth to the Church and makes her alive in dispensing the graces we need to become HOLY and be UNITED WITH GOD. The Church ordinarily dispenses these graces through the seven Sacraments. There are also other means or channels, by which one can obtain these graces, such as prayer, corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
For me, then, TO LIVE IN HEAVEN, means to strive to be ALWAYS UNITED WITH GOD, through the GRACES coming from the HOLY SPIRIT Who dispenses them through the Church or through various works of sanctification.
This consciousness of being united with God, regardless of whatever situation one may be in, is indeed, a great inspiration that brings me peace and joy – a foretaste of the LIFE IN HEAVEN.
The Easter Meditation dwells on the words of St. Paul in his Letter to the Philippians which says: “ For us, our citizenship is in heaven, from where we await the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lord. He will transfigure our lowly body, making it like his own body, radiant in Glory, through the power which is his to submit everything to himself.” (Phil. 3:20-21).
From these words of St. Paul the meditation concludes that though our bodies keep us on earth, by nature and by grace we belong to heaven.
I have been pondering on how I could really put into practice this wonderful statement. The big question that confronted me is: “WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE IN HEAVEN?”
We have been used to think of heaven as a PLACE where GOD IS. Spiritual writers, however, view heaven as a STATE wherein one is UNITED WITH GOD. Hence, even here on earth one can already be in heaven, if he is united with God. UNION WITH GOD is, therefore, the essence of HEAVEN.
The challenge to me then is “HOW TO LIVE IN UNION WITH GOD?”
This, I believe, is precisely the WORK that has been attributed in a special way to the HOLY SPIRIT – the WORK OF SANCTIFICATION.
PENTECOST – the Feast we celebrated last Sunday, May 23, is the Mystery of the Third Person of the Holy Trinity – which gives Birth to the Church and makes her alive in dispensing the graces we need to become HOLY and be UNITED WITH GOD. The Church ordinarily dispenses these graces through the seven Sacraments. There are also other means or channels, by which one can obtain these graces, such as prayer, corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
For me, then, TO LIVE IN HEAVEN, means to strive to be ALWAYS UNITED WITH GOD, through the GRACES coming from the HOLY SPIRIT Who dispenses them through the Church or through various works of sanctification.
This consciousness of being united with God, regardless of whatever situation one may be in, is indeed, a great inspiration that brings me peace and joy – a foretaste of the LIFE IN HEAVEN.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
May 30, 2010
May 30, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
LIVE BOLDLY
“LIVE BOLDLY”. This is a challenge that came to me after reading an article entitled: “TOTAL ACTION NOT FLABBY REACTION” written by an SVD Priest, Rev. Fr. Ambrosio Manaligod.
The article is actually a criticism on how we, Christians, live our faith. It exposes the reason why there is so much graft and corruption in our country, the Philippines, in spite of the fact that we are considered the only Catholic nation in the Far East, with a population of 90% Christian. It is said that in our country Christianity actually has not failed, but that it has not been truly tried. Some describe our Christianity in the Philippines as a “Split-level Christianity”, meaning we do not really practice what we believe, that there is a dichotomy on what we believe and on how we live. Hence, the challenge to LIVE BOLDLY.
To live boldly means to live according to ones convictions; for Faith is a Conviction, not a certainty. Our Christian Faith is, indeed, a Conviction that God is Our Father and that we are all His children, and that therefore, we should love one another as God loves us. This is the Challenge where probably many of us, Filipinos, fail. This is because loving one another should not only by our lips but more so in our deeds.
Studies reveal that the great majority of our population are living in poverty. The rich are getting richer and richer, while the poor are getting poorer and poorer. Why? Because of greed. Those who have want to have more and more, even at the expense of those who have very little. We have an AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM, where the tillers of the land are supposed to own the land they till. But after almost half a century since its enactment into law, the great majority of the tenant farmers are still subservient to the landowners.
In the recently concluded National Elections, there is an overwhelming desire of the voting population to weed out “Graft and Corruption”. Those who were voted upon to take the reins of the government were chosen with the hope that they, indeed, will implement and enforce laws that are meant to eliminate this “evil” in the government. How they will do it remains to be seen.
Personally I believe, however, that the root cause of graft and corruption should be addressed – that of GREED. Greed for Power- for Property- for Prestige. Unless this root cause is eliminated and changed with the Christian Principle of LOVE, the problem of graft and corruption can never be eradicated.
The challenge, therefore, to live boldly is to take seriously the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”. (John 13: 34-35)
In a nutshell, to live boldly means “TO LIVE WHAT WE BELIEVE”.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
May 23, 2010
The article is actually a criticism on how we, Christians, live our faith. It exposes the reason why there is so much graft and corruption in our country, the Philippines, in spite of the fact that we are considered the only Catholic nation in the Far East, with a population of 90% Christian. It is said that in our country Christianity actually has not failed, but that it has not been truly tried. Some describe our Christianity in the Philippines as a “Split-level Christianity”, meaning we do not really practice what we believe, that there is a dichotomy on what we believe and on how we live. Hence, the challenge to LIVE BOLDLY.
To live boldly means to live according to ones convictions; for Faith is a Conviction, not a certainty. Our Christian Faith is, indeed, a Conviction that God is Our Father and that we are all His children, and that therefore, we should love one another as God loves us. This is the Challenge where probably many of us, Filipinos, fail. This is because loving one another should not only by our lips but more so in our deeds.
Studies reveal that the great majority of our population are living in poverty. The rich are getting richer and richer, while the poor are getting poorer and poorer. Why? Because of greed. Those who have want to have more and more, even at the expense of those who have very little. We have an AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM, where the tillers of the land are supposed to own the land they till. But after almost half a century since its enactment into law, the great majority of the tenant farmers are still subservient to the landowners.
In the recently concluded National Elections, there is an overwhelming desire of the voting population to weed out “Graft and Corruption”. Those who were voted upon to take the reins of the government were chosen with the hope that they, indeed, will implement and enforce laws that are meant to eliminate this “evil” in the government. How they will do it remains to be seen.
Personally I believe, however, that the root cause of graft and corruption should be addressed – that of GREED. Greed for Power- for Property- for Prestige. Unless this root cause is eliminated and changed with the Christian Principle of LOVE, the problem of graft and corruption can never be eradicated.
The challenge, therefore, to live boldly is to take seriously the Words of our Lord Jesus Christ when He said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another”. (John 13: 34-35)
In a nutshell, to live boldly means “TO LIVE WHAT WE BELIEVE”.
by: Salvador 'Buddy' Cagurangan
May 23, 2010
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