Advent Prayer

You sent your beloved son to be born among us

Even if You knew that He would one day

Suffer and die a harsh death on the cross

You chose that He be born in a poor stable

Even if His mission was to establish

A heavenly Kingdom here on earth

You gave Him a mind that could be tempted
A heart that could feel anguish and frustration
A body that was not immune to pain 

Even dear Mama Mary was not spared
Her heart most pure and immaculate
Pierced with sorrow at the foot of the cross 
  
Why, Lord God, did you choose to love us this much?
Why gift us more than we could ever deserve?
Why this Christmas mystery?

Guiding Star, Shining Light of our hope
This Advent season I pray, lend me Your eyes that I may see
Through the heart of your Christmas mystery

Amen


. 

Christmas Giving

If Jesus were to physically appear on the scene today, I suspect He would be quite uncomfortable with the way the malls or some businesses position themselves at Christmas and make it their main objective to let people open their wallets and purchase more items than they can afford at the moment, all under the name of Christmas giving. Perhaps Jesus might avoid the cities and decide to hie away instead to the farthest, poorest provinces

and opt instead to bring simple offerings of food or clothing if at all, or more importantly just His very presence, knocking on people's doors, asking to go into their homes to find out how their families are doing with regards to their growth as persons within their family, work and community. 

Then He would probably come back to the city, refreshed in the conviction that the Christmas spirit is still alive and well, and then decide to also visit people here - only to find out that here in the city we are just too busy - multi-tasking left and right, wading through crowded calendars with all sorts of high tech gadgets.. stressed out by traffic, tensely running after the year-end business targets, last minute shopping or party arrangements. 

He would probably knock at the gates of our homes, wait patiently, then leave a note for us to just call Him when we have time so He can chat with us about how we are  growing as persons in our family, work and community.  He would probably also invite us to join Him in His other visits, but telling us to bring only ourselves - our listening ear, our open mind and caring heart - so that the same light of Christmas that shone brightly during His Nativity long ago may also shine  through us and on to those whom we visit together with Him. 

Then, like the vibrant colors of the poinsettias now abloom, our gifts of presence and time may bring to others the sense of love, peace, hope and joy which He longs to gift all of us at Christmas.

*

Legacy

Yesterday was the Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila, as well as the golden jubilee of entrance to Carmel of our Lady, Mary Mediatrix of All Grace in Lipa of one of the nuns there. There was a simple but solemn and beautiful thanksgiving mass, held at the famous apparition site. Imagine sitting there inside their cloistered area, contemplating the site, as well as the lives of both this nun (still so bubbly after 50 years of a life centered on Jesus), and  St. Teresa of Avila whose own life and writings was nothing less than precious legacy to so many.

In addition, the day was also special for my good friend who shared that exactly 16 years ago, she too had said goodbye to the rest of the world in pursuit of the call to join this same convent in Lipa. Like her fellow nun, she too now lives a life centered on Jesus, and yet she too is as bubbly and full of life as one can imagine.

I was so grateful to witness such beautiful legacy, and together with the others present, felt my heart stir with emotion listening to the soloist's voice fill the air with the song of St. Teresa below:

AWIT NI STA. TERESA

Huwag bayaang ligaligin ng anuman

At bayaang takutin ng alinman

Lumilipas ang lahat ng mga bagay

Tanging Diyos ang walang hangganan.

Ang lahat ng bagay ay naaangkin ng katatagan.

Ang nasa Diyos ay walang pagkukulang.

Sapagkat ang Diyos lamang lahat ang kasiyahan.

Huwag bayaang ligalin ng anuman

At bayaang takutin ng alinman

Lumilipas ang lahat ng mga bagay

Tanging Diyos ang walang hangganan.

Lumilipas ang lahat ng mga bagay

Tanging Diyos ang walang hangganan.

It was indeed a special day of grace. The Saint. The apparition site. The vocation and witnessing of the two cloistered nuns. The quiet comfort of Our Lady, Mary Mediatrix of All Grace. Their legacy:

Lumilipas ang lahat ng mga bagay

Tanging Diyos ang walang hangganan.

.

Photo Speak

Every October 1, aside from it being the Feast of St. Therese, is also for me a special  day

for remembering and celebrating another spiritual year.

Sometimes photos, more than words, can better capture our gratitude and love for all that has been, is, and will be, in Him, our Good Shepherd  :=)

 

+

Motherhood Blessings

 

.

Traveling Light

"Travel light.. and go where the wind blows you..."

I first heard the line above in a mass homily, and it has stayed with me since. I am drawn to the feeling of freedom it alludes to.

Traveling light, without the usual years-worn baggages, with mind and heart fully focused on the road ahead... and with the gentle wind of His Spirit blowing behind my back and moving me forward towards new territories yet unexplored... towards new ways of living more free and easy and light.

Midlifing?  :=)


.

Solitude

It's hard to capture in words the beauty of silence and solitude, as this is something best experienced than talked about. 

 

A walk along narrow pathways surrounded by greens,

sounds of crickets and birds as if singing in unison,

alternating light and shadows playing on the ground,

 

the smell of burning leaves intermingled with scented bushes, while wind whispers through the trees and blows on one's cheeks and arms..

 

Sitting still, with mind empty

 

but heart open..

as silence becomes prayer,

and prayer becomes rest

in His cradle of unhurried time and quiet space.