On Making Resolutions

Man in the Mirror
by: Michael Jackson

Man In The Mirror - Michael Jackson

I’m gonna’ make a change,
for once in my life.
It’s gonna feel real good,
Gonna’ make a difference, gonna’ make it right . . .

I’m starting with the man In the Mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could have
Been any clearer
If you wanna’ make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and the make a change!

When I’m listening to this song (by Michael Jackson) I always see myself as the man in the mirror. But here’s the catch, I’m a also the type who is fond of making resolutions only to find out that I failed to stick to it overtime. This tendency, overtime counts into the many failures I encountered in life. I figured out it has something to do with Ningas Kugon, when the zeal towards a particular goal is gradually being lost, extinguished like the fire of a kugon (coconut husk; blazing with fire once lit but unable to keep it burning).To give you a classic example, every new year I usually create a list resolutions in the hope of ‘starting the year right’. For me, it is as simple as not being late again, or to sleep early or even have a daily exercise as part of daily routine. When I’m younger I used to have more idealistic resolutions from becoming Mr. Perfect to becoming a holy saint even. But then again, as I have said, I wasn’t able to justify [most of] them, even when I resorted to more the ‘realistic’ one, still, I falter along the way. Struggling with this inconsistency, I realized the need to stop, pause and think hard about this issue of mine. It is really good to have resolutions—that is as long as we really commit to it and put our heart in it, so as not to put it in vain.

“Intentions do not count, only actions do”. – Bo S.

The advent of making resolutions usually comes with the intention to make a change. But unless, we take it into our action and in our daily lives it will not transpire as a real resolution, but failure, so that we ask for God’s grace to help us change our ways, then we pray. But when we pray for this(and oftentimes when we need something), we usually bargain and even compromise so that we say Lord give me this first and I’ll quit this or Lord grant me that and I promise never do this again. We become silly to think that we can actually twist God’s arm to grant us something we wanted or to give us a favor. We often see God as someone who will just have to snap His fingers and tada! Goodbye old filthy self! Welcome new me! (Although i’m pretty well sure He can do, but rather not). As the clitche goes, “Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa”, still everything counts on us.

But how can we really change? Some say change can only happen when a person hit rock bottom or after a life threatening experience. Like surviving a deadly disease, or an addict getting tired of his addiction or a rich person losing all the money he has in a casino and decided to quit it. But do we really have to face and get into such trials in order to really, really change? Looking back on how I failed to sustain resolutions; there is one thing that made me commit to some (small triumphs, i consider), and this is the desire to change in the name of love (the romantic type also counts here). And a lot of times it is even automatic, we are flamed and fueled by this desire to love that we often times never even aware how we are slowly (but surely) being changed by it. Fr. Arrupe, SJ has put this great power of love (to change lives) profoundly in the following passage:

“Nothing is more practical,
than finding God
that is, than falling in love
in a quite absolute,
final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything,
It will decide
What will get you out of bed in the morning,
What you will do with your evenings,
How you spend your weekends,
What you read,
What you know that breaks your heart,
And what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love,
And it will decide everything.”

- Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ
27th Superior General of the Society of Jesus

Let God’s love take charge and dictate everything in our lives (this is the challenge). Only trough this we can be molded into the person we are meant to be.
May God grant us the grace to love as He loved, so that we can be able to change our lives and others’ as well.

A Blessed 2009 to everyone!

- TJ Sunga
http://tjsunga.wordpress.com/2007/07/31/man-in-the-mirror/

Understanding Temptation

Temptation is defined as the enticement to evil, seduction to sin, which leads us away from God. As humans, we are all facing this challenge, even Jesus, being truly human himself was tempted not only once but throughout his ministry here on earth, but unlike us he triumphed over it, he is without a sin.

Temptations in life is there to test our ability to hold fast to Christ's call. Let us remember that it is only the strenght comes from God that we can overcome our own temptations in our lives and to persevere to do good in order to follow Christ more closely.

Reflection:

• Reflect on those times when you faced temptation. Identify what or whom caused you to be severely tempted.
• How did you coped with the temptations?
• Make your own prayer to Jesus, asking for his grace and help for you to overcome your very own temptations in life.

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus says “Whoever who wishes to come after me must deny

himself, take up his cross and follow me”. This poses a great challenge, especially for us Christians since it is a clear reminder from Christ himself how the cross is essentially part of or lives as faithful and followers of the Lord.

You may ask, but what is the cross really all about?

Well, we may define the cross in so many different ways. During the time of Jesus, it is the greatest persecution; the instrument for the capital punishment of death for a criminal. It is like the silya elektrika during that time. And so it is not surprising that still, even Christians attributes the meaning of the cross to what is painful, or what causes death. You may consider it as poverty, a burden like sickness, a tragedy, or sorrow. It is far away from our own idea of what is pleasing, something that we dare not to have or experience, and yet here comes Christ asking us to take up our cross and follow Him! You may also ask, is Christ being sadistic here or what? Or simply ask why, what for?

Let us remember that Christ Jesus himself was not spared from the cross himself. He carried the cross’ burden even if He does not deserve it. He carried the cross in silence, uncomplaining, embracing it even- for the sake of our salvation. And so Christ gave a new meaning to the cross. More than poverty, pain, sorrow and death, it means denying of oneself for the sake of someone you love. It means becoming selfless, to lose one’s life for other’s sake. And so we can say that the cross can actually be our own selves, when we are being too selfish, pre-occupied with our own concerns, when what we only care about is me, myself and I. When we choose ourselves, than God, we become our own heavy cross, which burdens us and preventing us to follow Christ.

And so today, Christ challenges us to do the same: to give our very selves to others and to love big time; yes, to love even the unlovable. But of course, Christ is very realistic about it, it is not easy. Remember the when He was in Gethsemane; He himself showed some hesitation. But in the end, He willingly accepted it as the will of His Father. Today, we look up to the cross not a symbol of persecution like what it is really meant to be, but a symbol of Christ’s love and salvation, of Him giving up His life so that we may live. . It takes a lot of courage and great love for one to just what Christ did, and so we ask for the same grace of courage and great love so that we may be able to take up our own cross and follow him

So are you ready to take up your cross?

Jesus Walks on Water

10 August 2008. 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 14, 22-33 Faith: Jesus Walks on Water

It seems that the contemporary world of today is in dire need of security, which brings us anxiety and restlessness within. We are constantly anxious of what the future holds, so that most of you may agree and most self-help gurus will tell us: plan and take charge of your life!

The night Pope John Paul II was elected as new pope; his first words were “Do not be afraid”. In his book Crossing the Threshold of Hope, the Pope said that Christ sensed and in fact had known that we are anxious people. That we are afraid, so that He kept addressing this invitation many times in the gospels, when he said “Courage! It is I; don’t be afraid.”

Today once again we have heard how his disciples were terrified themselves perhaps because of the wind that was against them, and found consolation only when they recognized Christ and heard His words “Do not be afraid”. You may ask, of what should we not be afraid? The pope answered that we should not fear the truth about ourselves: our own sinfulness and unworthiness. This is what Peter discovered himself when Christ called him so that he said to Jesus, “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinful man” And Christ answered him the same words, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men”. He knows our anxiety about our own selves and still He comes and continuously invites us to take courage, “Do not be afraid!”

Today we too are invited to take courage and trust in His words of consolation. When we are being tossed and buffeted by the harsh winds in life. When we feel lacking of security. When we do not recognize Him working in our lives, let us take comfort in His words, “Do not be afraid!”

Father we thank you for your words of consolation and invitation for us to take courage! Teach us to trust you and be not afraid to open up and respond generously to your loving will.

jOURNAL # 3: Jesus, Our Elder Brother

YOU are the younger brother.
JESUS, is your elder brother who gave up his life and left a trail of light for us so that we may find our way back home.

Even now, your father is waiting for you.

Thanks to Jesus, our Elder Brother, wherever we find ourselves in this world, there will always be light because Jesus, our Elder Brother, has been there.

Thanks to Him, our Elder Brother, God's first born, no place is so far or so dark that it falls beyond the love of God. Its time to go home. [1]

Points of Reflection:

• Go back to the story of the Parable of the Elder Brother. What struck you most in the story? What did you feel after hearing the story?
  Now, look into your own life, how is your relationship with your Elder Brother, Jesus? Had there been times when you somehow felt you are in the shoes of the younger brother? Bring this into prayer.


• How about your family? How's your relationship to your parents? To your siblings being an elder or younger brother/sister? The Elder Brother gave a perfect example how we must relate and show our love to our families. Are you willing enough to follow his example? If not what prevents you? Perhaps you may want to spend some time reflecting over these points in personal prayer.


• It is helpful to keep track of our prayer experiences by keeping a prayer journal. Note down all your feelings, significant movements, and the image of God you met after the prayer period.
  "Wherever I go, I will leave a lighted candle. So even if I don't find him, he will know I've been there. Should he get lost, he will find a trail of light that can lead him back home."
  
  - Elder Brother
  ____________________________
  
  [1] Go, Johnny C., SJ, The Parable of the Elder Brother, Jesuit Communications Foundation, Inc., 2006.

Good News Naman Please!

6 July 2008 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Zechariah 9, 9-10; Psalm 145; Romans 8, 9-13; Matthew 11, 2-30

25 At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

It’s been scary to read the newspaper lately. For how many days, it was all bad news. The recent typhoon Frank left the country devastated, killing hundreds of people and hundreds more homeless. World oil price soars to $145 a barrel last Thursday, the highest in history and gone up to more than 50% than its price last year. Last month, our inflation [1] rate hit 11.4%, the highest in 14 years. From one bad news to another (well, at least thanks to Pacquiao, who somehow made us forget the bad news for a little while) you may wonder, how long this will this last. Will it ever go to an end?

In today’s gospel, we hear Jesus’ consoling words …“Come to me all, who are burdened and I will give you rest”. Jesus knows how burdened people we are, because He shared our humanity and even embraced our poverty. During His time, His people were also burdened with poverty, heavy taxes to pay to the Romans and to the Jewish temples and violence is also everywhere. And so we believe that He understands how troubled we are, more than anyone else. Jesus’ clearly invites us today, to come to Him and rest in Him especially during these tough times. He invites us to trust Him even more by offering our difficulties, our sadness, pains and struggle so He can give us comfort and rest. And that I think is the good news, amidst all the bad things happening around us. That God, who is much bigger good news than all the bad news combined, is out there, sympathizing with us and will never leave us no matter what. We just have to keep the faith and pray even more.

And so let us continue to pray for one another, for our country and especially for our poor brothers and sisters who suffers most during this time.

---

[1] Inflation measures how fast overall prices are rising over a specific period, usually a year. The higher the inflation, the faster the prices are rising, Inquirer Research, PDI, Sat. July 5, 2008

Journal # 2: Watcha' Still Looking For?

During Jesus’ time, His own people are very much troubled in their life. Like what we are experiencing today, they are living in a troubled world. There is so much poverty, corruption and taxes to pay! (They need to give taxes both to the Romans and the high priests of the temple). And so they are hoping for someone to save them. Perhaps a he is like a superhero, a spiderman or superman like figure. He could also be a king, or an influential person, or a soldier. A guy named, Prophet Isaiah even described this person as a “suffering servant”, but they are really not sure about his identity! But one thing is for certain, they call Him the Messiah – the Chosen One, as prophesized by the prophets of the old. Atlast, then came the Messiah, it is Jesus, the son of a carpenter named Joseph. No wonder they were not able to recognize Hiim because he came from a poor family, in a very simple and humble home. The Messiah has come, but sadly they were not able to recognize Him. And so they continue to become troubled and waiting, and still waiting for the One who already is with them.

Points of Reflection

• Reflect over God’s great love for us when He gave His only Son to us, Jesus, Who humbled himself to share our humanity and even our poverty.
• Had there been times when you yourself did not recognize Jesus present in your life? Say a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus, who is our own superhero, our savior who came to the world to save and remind us of His great love you and for me.
• It is helpful to keep track of our prayer experiences by keeping a prayer journal. Note down all your feelings, significant movements, and the image of God you met after the prayer period.