5/27/12

It's PENTECOST SUNDAY!


Today is the birth of the Catholic Church. This is when;

"Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak." Act 2:2-4

This is the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the  twelve apostles, the Blessed Virgin Mary and other followers of Jesus

The Catholic Church celebrates Pentecost Sunday, seven weeks or 50 days after Easter Sunday. The Greek word for 50 is pentecost.


 Jesus has ascended into heaven but He sent the Spirit so that believers could have the comfort, guidance and empowerment of God's presence in their lives.The Spirit that enabled them to proclaim God's world to all the world.

On this day, the believers were given the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit, namely;

The gifts of Wisdom, Counsel, Understanding, Fortitude, Knowledge, Fear of God, Piety.

With the mention of these gifts, I can't help singing a memorable song that I learned when I was younger, which we sung in celebration of the Pentecost Sunday, too. Let me share the lyrics of the song. I used to sing this song as part of my prayer, singing it again and again.

                 COME HOLY SPIRIT; The Fruits

Refrain:  Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful
              Enkindle in them the fire of Your love.
              Send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth

I.    Spirit of wisdom, teach me to despise
       The perishable things of this world
      And aspire only after the things, that are eternal

II.   Spirit of counsel, show me the sweet way of
      Pleasing God and heaven
      Spirit of fortitude help me overcome
     With courage all the obstacles that oppose my salvation

III.  Spirit of understanding, enlighten my minds
      With the light of Your Divine truth.
      Spirit of piety, guide me to find
      The service of God sweet and amiable.


                               INSTRUMENT OF CHANGE

You have fulfilled God's promise that we shall not be alone
Let Your light be our guide, in the road to everlasting life

Chorus: Come Holy Spirit renew the face of the earht
             In my heart, with Your light thru Your might.
             Change the world

Thru Your gifts. We shall be strong to face the world seemed lost.
Let Your love be our strength, to witness to God's word at any cost

With Your fire, we have the warmth to fill the empty hearts
Overflow, 'till we grow in the faith and hope with love to carry on

Coda: May I be a temple of Your Divine Spirit.
         To be an instrument of change.
          Renew the face of the earth. (Chorus)


May we continue to allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives as we open our hearts to His promptings.

Happy Birthday to one and all!



5/13/12

Lolo's Smile





This is not frequent, a once in a blue moon moment with my grandfather that I treasure in my heart.

          

              I woke up one very early morning. I have to catch up for the second trip to the next town where I work. It was Monday and I must not be late. After drinking a glass of warm water, I washed my face and hurriedly wrapped my tattered hair with a big handkerchief and took my back pack. On my way to the door, I would pass by Lolo’s room. As usual, it would always be him that I would get to say goodbye every time I would leave this early for work. I would find him playing solitaire. Every time I say my "good bye" to him, sometimes I would find him surprised like he forgot I existed. Sometimes almost shocked that I disturbed him from his meditation with his cards, he would just look at me and nod his head and proceed with his solitaire. Sometimes he would blankly stare at me while I walk away. No expression. I would even suspect if he knows who I am.  I wonder if he thinks I’m a thief? A respectful thief, asking permission to go after stealing something. Huh!?

But this morning was different. This time I was sure he recognized me. He was smiling at me when I told him I was leaving.  He wasn’t surprised or shocked. He was almost laughing. He was looking at me. I thought maybe I had a “morning glory” (muta or dried tears). Maybe he found my unfashionable look so funny that morning even though this has been my attire whenever I travel. Well, I have only red and green bandana.  But no! It wasn’t like the smile he makes when I gave him a cake that he loves when I go home on weekends. There was something in those smiles that stroke like a lightning and was suddenly imprinted permanently in my heart. Ah.... It’s been so long since I saw those smiles. I wonder how he really felt that early morning. There wasn’t just happiness in those smiles but joy. This time it was me that was surprised. After telling him I was leaving, he smiled again and said yes and continued with his solitaire.

                The incident came back to my mind during the mass the next day when at homily, the priest mentioned about making other people happy.  I noticed tears falling down my cheek as I recalled what happened. I wondered what have I done to him that made him smile and laugh at me like that. It’s like a thanksgiving to me. I felt the happiness in those eyes, in those smiles. It showed how contented and happy Lolo is with his life that moment. He was blessed not with material things but with love. Imperfect love from people he has loved imperfectly. God knows how he’s been bad but God never deprived him of being blessed like this especially during this time when he is helpless.
                 
                 I prayed that I would be blessed, even more, like Lolo when I would be old and might also be sick. I wish I would also have someone like Bea beside me.


                  *********************************                                                                                                                                           

I wrote this about 5 years ago. My mother took care of him and my Lola when they started to become sickly until they died. Today is his second death anniversary. 

                     I love you and I miss you Lolo!

Prayer:
   Eternal rest grant unto Paterno, Sr. and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in   peace.


5/1/12

Green Thumb


"An extra ordinary ability to make plants grow."

I have it. It is only now that I have given it much attention. Honestly, I had more important things in mind than planting. Also, it is only in recent years that had my own place to plant.

My desire to help the environment increased my desire to plant. Well, aside from being an entrepreneur.

I like to eat fruits, and so my desire to eat more made me also decide to plant fruit trees. For a year now, I have been buying fruits, grow the seeds and when it grows, I gave it to my friends and officemates and to those who wants to plant, too.

Some of my grown seeds I planted in our small lot in the country. I visited the place today and I was amazed how some have grown. Though some had died because nobody takes care of them often. Fortunately, we met a cousin one day and she asked if she could plant vegetables in our small lot so she could sell it in the market. We were so glad she did. Now, someone takes care of my plants there. Plus, we get free vegetables when we visit like today. I brought some of my grown fruit trees and transplanted it.


Guyabano or Soursop

Guyabano or Soursop

Rambutan
Avocado
Marang
Macopa
Santol
Kalamansi with squash crawling around
Papaya
The small lot is in the middle of a rice field at the foot of the coconut tree
 
It's not easy planting. I got blister digging holes. My one technique is to dig shallow holes then I just put the plants and top it with lots of soil. I know this is not the right way to do it but somehow I have grown many already.

This is my one gift that I am sharing to you, and to the world.

I hope this could inspire others to plant, too. There are a lot of barren lands. Maybe if others will only be conscious of our environment, somehow we can alleviate some inconveniences that we experience that is caused by our present environment. Sometimes I wish I could easily plant in those spare lands. But I know its impossible.







 

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