On the Road to Emmaus- Journeying with the Risen Lord

   God conquered death. That's why I should not fear death. God was raised from the dead after three days. Indeed, we are journeying with the Risen Lord.
    Today's gospel talks about the RESURRECTION of our Lord Jesus Christ. Aside from the truth that He's the Risen Lord, there is something deeper beneath this very beautiful story of conquering death, journeying from an empty tomb to the fullness of life, from darkness to light. Jesus has chosen the disciples who are going to see Him. Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and another disciple. But instead of letting Himself be seen by His beloved disciples in the proud and busy place like Jerusalem, He chose to be in Emmaus, a very silent and an ordinary place, 11km. from Jerusalem. What is something beyond this?
    In our hearts, we always wanted to feed our egoistic nature, we're so full of pride about our worldly achievements. We always glorify ourselves every time we gain something for ourselves. We also lavish ourselves with so much noise and confusion that we forget to pause, think and reflect. We always kindle the big 'Jerusalem' in our hearts when we pry ourselves with selfishness and evil. We seek for happiness, we caught ourselves always longing, wanting, and desiring. We always thirst and we have never quench our thirst. In our disheartened world, we forget the little ' Emmaus' in our hearts where Jesus awaits, waiting to see and to be seen. In the silence of our hearts, God speaks to us in real and clear words. It is about time to walk to the road leading to Emmaus and journey with the Risen Lord in this life.

Good Friday- Seven Last Words of Jesus

The 1st Word

Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)

The 2nd Word

And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:43)

The 3rd Word

When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! (John 19:26)

The 4th Word 

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34)

The 5th Word

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. (John 19:28)

The 6th Word

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and died. (John 19:30)

The 7th Word

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son for the salvation of men...

Reunions

    I am truly contained in a banquet of joy upon seeing old friends and acquaintances this week. I was brought to my fondest memories in college with Norms and Joy last Saturday, April 16, and we had a meaningful talk about our faith life. We had set our priorities now to a higher degree. We had more regard to our purpose than our achievements. We've talked about our varying personality and all our experiences that have brought impact in our lives. Thanks to you my dear friends for sharing your precious time with me on that fateful night.

    And few days after, God has given me another reason to be happy. I call it PROVIDENCE. Early this Wednesday, April 20,  I was with my high school friends, Fem2, Rochelle, Matet, Rachel and Luv. A night of talking and reminiscing was never enough. We were only filled with countless stories of our daily plights in life, we expressed sentiments about our frustrations in our respective work places. We've understood ourselves a little more. And after realizing that our topics were dreary and heart crushing, we've caught ourselves exchanging topics, setting aside our problems, focusing on the bubbly side of life. We've talked about our carefree nature. We exchanged laughters and smirks, we spent hours reminiscing our high school experiences, being trapped in a DOST class which is really a pride and honor. We have received strenuous academic trainings, we were loaded with lots of projects and we've realized how stressed our lives were during high school. As we recounted them, we never capitalize on the stress, we focused our gab on how we were able to  get through it. Nevertheless, we considered ourselves fortunate for we experienced pressures and hardships early in life, that have molded us to be who we are now. It did prepare us for a deeper reality in life which we are experiencing now.
     Thank you very much for my classmates and friends for the time we've spent together. Our memories will never be forgotten. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and messages of love. You have left an imprint in my heart. Wherever we will be, whatever trail we take, I know God will be with us every step of the way. See you soon. God bless you in your respective lives.

Lessons from Fatima

      Everything I should have learned in life, I've learned from Fatima. She is a blind teenage girl who is called a 'miracle kid', having claimed to have seen and talked Mama Mary. I watched the TV program, The Bottomline, for the first time. I truly could not describe the feeling that drew me in and glued me to watch and listen very intently to that very meaning-filled interview. There, for the first time, I felt the depth of one's innocence, the incorruptibility of one's soul. As I was digesting every word she uttered, I felt intensely magnified by her words as if the words were heaven-sent. Her words were simple, direct, and genuine.  Like the rest of the bottomliners, I felt embarrassed for myself. I was taken aback and startled upon knowing that here she is, a simple lass of less than eighteen years old, a blind at that, talked a lot about her love for God and Mama Mary as if she has really seen them. Not only that, she meant every word she said. She always started her conversation with the opening phrase, "I see in my heart,..........." It was so touching that she felt the realness of God and  Mama Mary without having the eyes to see, and just letting her heart to feel and believe what she felt in her heart. I felt ashamed and I have asked myself, am I the real blind? Why did it take me so long to realize what is essential in this life? While it is true that a lot of people including myself have eyes to see, we remained blind. We have blindfolded our eyes, we failed to see the reality unfolding before us. Our hearts are hardened by our senseless pursuits of power, knowledge, possessions and a variety of worldly things. We keep on climbing the highest echelon in the society and at the end of day, we've learned we are still kindergartens in this life. We have never learned that the most essential thing is not a thing and that the essential thing is invisible to the eye.
    It takes a simple girl's words to lead me to the most essential values in life: SIMPLICITY, FAITH and WISDOM.

Meaningful Quotes (Vocation )

" Do not worry and do not be afraid for nothing is lacking for one who has God. The Lord suffices."
St. Rita

"It is not honor and glory that I desire, when I resolve to dedicate my life to Christ, it is the cross and the life of suffering that I embrace, nothing more." St. John the Baptist of Concepcion

"Lord, I have resolved to offer my life to you, I lift up to you all the outcomes. If I win, I'll praise you. If I lose, I'll still praise you. My life is not about me, it's about you. It is for me to use the tools you've given me for your greater honor and glory." - From the movie ' Facing the Giants' (March 31, 2011)

"I need you Lord in my life. I need you to come into my life. I need you. It is you that I thirst."

"I give my life, my all to you Lord. I entrust everything into your most Holy hands. You are always with me." Gigi

The Rediscovered Self

Three names I get used to hearing:

1. Gigi

2. Gina

3. Jena
Three People I Love The Most :
1. Mama
2. Papa
3. Dodong (my brother)

Three Good Traits I've Learned About Myself:

1.Persevering

2. Responsible

3. Self- Regulating

Three Things I Could Identify Myself With:

1.Books (inspirational and devotional)

2. Journals and pens

3. Very pink-y room

Three Things I Love Doing:

1. Reading

2. Writing something 
3.Watching T.V.(documentary programs and showbiz-related talkshows)

Three Things I Hate Doing but I Have To:

1. Studying

2. Hurrying

3.Checking (Editing, Revising)

Three Favorite Books and Authors:

1. The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren

2. ABNKKBSNPL ako by Bob Ong

3. Rumors of Another World by Philip Yancey
Three Favorite Teachers:
1. Ma'am Lagura (elementary)
2. Ma'am Quevido(high school)
3. Some of my SMC College Teachers (too many to mention)
Two Favorite  Places:
1. Camiguin
2. Tagaytay
Two Favorite Snacks:
1. Corn
2. Toasted Bread
Two Favorite Dishes:
1. Beef Caldereta
2. Pork Caldereta
Two Closest Elementary Friends:
1. Mylene
2. Dianne
Two Closest High School Friends:
1. Eufemia
2. Rochelle
Two Closest College Friends:
1. Norms
2. Joy
Two Closest Colleagues in the Grade School Department:
1. Luding
2. Ma'am Shie
Two Good Companions in the GS:
1. Alma
2. Aubrey
Two Closest Colleagues in the College Department:
1. Neil
2. Flora
Two Good Group Companions in the College:
1. Egphae Society
2. the 'defunct' Junk Pepa

One Very Significant Person in My Life:

Sister Elsa

One and Only Favorite TV Personality:
 Paula Peralejo (former actress)


One Favorite News Anchor:
Jessica Soho


One Favorite TV Program:
I-WITNESS

One Favorite Mini Books/ Booklet:

Candid Moments by Fr. Gerry Orbos, SVD


One Favorite Newspaper Section:
Youngblood

One Thing I Hate Doing:

 Washing Clothes

One Virtue I Need to Live with:

Integrity

One Trait I Value the Most:

Sensibility

One Overwhelming Weakness I Have:

Sugarcoating Hard Facts and Real Experiences

One Strong Trait I Have:

Taking Responsibility 

One 'Thing' I Value in Life that is not a thing:

Building Good Relationships

One Guiding Principle in Life:

Be good and do good

One Motto in Life:

When life is a lemon, turn it into a lemonade. (That's basically the reason why I love sugarcoating)

One Trait I Admire About Others that I Don't Have:

Courage

One Trait I Hate About Others:

Greed

One Thing to be conquered in my life:

Pride

One Hardest Thing to Embrace:

Rejection

One Biggest Lesson in Life:

Everything happens for a reason.

One Biggest Question in Life:

What happens to persons who have died before us, where are they now? 

One Bigger Question about My Life:

Where will I go when I die?

One Greatest Fear:

Death

One Biggest Belief about God:

God is LOVE. He is an all- forgiving God.  No sin is greater than His LOVE for all of us.

One Ultimate Weapon in Life:

Prayer

One Greatest Dream:

To serve God and others

One Ultimate Belief in Life:

Believing on the things that are unseen- FAITH

One Greatest Idea of Faith:

That there is GOD in everything.

One Greatest Belief about Love:

LOVE is God and God is love. 

My Ultimate Source of Life, Love and Everything:

GOD