Trusting and Believing

As a miracle baby celebrated her 7th birthday recently, I came to reflect on the song and the MTV we did that shared her mom's story of trusting and believing that the Lord's promise of a child would come true (as well as other stories of trusting and believing).

The lyrics of the song continue to encourage me when I am faced with situations that are difficult, testing my faith and trust and sometimes (or most of time) lead me to wrack my brain in trying to understand why this is happening.

Lord We Believe

Lord we believe
That You are God
No other God can fill our hearts but You
Lord we believe
That You are faithful
Forever true, Your promises are true

* O God, our trust in You
the darkness won't subdue
Our hearts will ever more sing of Your goodness
No matter what may come
In You we shall be strong
As one, O Lord, hear Your people declare

**You are God, You are Lord
You are all our hearts' desire and more
Come, O God, let the veil be raised
Let Your people see your face


Lord we believe
That we are Yours
Created Yours, our lives we give to You
Lord we believe
That You are here
Holding us near, our spirits You renew (*, **)


You are God, You are Lord
Let Your people see Your face

Lord we believe
We'll see Your face
Lord we believe


Whatever we are facing right now, be it backlogs in school or at work, exams and requirements left and right, client demands piling up, disappointments in not getting the deal, contract or promotion, relationships being tested, or what have you, let us all be encouraged to trust and believe in the Lord who has promised: Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God (Yahweh), the Creator of the ends of the earth, faints not, neither is weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint; and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but those who wait for Yahweh shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:28-31).

(Happy Birthday Janine Villamor! You are truly a blessing to your mom and dad and to all of us who are witnesses of the Lord's great love for you!) 

San Lorenzo Ruiz: A Thousand Lives, All for Christ

http://mmdelrosario.hubpages.com/hub/saint-lorenzo-ruiz

As I was reflecting today on the Feast of the first Filipino saint, San Lorenzo Ruiz (who will soon be joined by Blessed Pedro Calungsod who will be canonized on October 21, 2012), I came across the song "Sanlibong Buhay" by Bukas Palad (http://youtu.be/h0ZilfCpMIQ). This song was inspired by the words he uttered in response to his tormentor who asked if he would renounce his faith if he was allowed to live: "That I shall never do, because I am a Christian and I shall die for God, and for Him I will give many thousands of lives if I had them. And so do with me as you will please."

Sanlibo man aking buhay,
bawat isa'y iaalay
sa Diyos at bayan kong mahal,
'sasanggalang inyong dangal.
Isugo Mo kahit saan,
hamakin man ako't saktan.
Dalangin ko'y maging tapat.
Pag-ibig Mo ay sasapat.

Sanlibo man aking buhay,
sanlibo ring iaalay.
Sanlibo kong kamatayan,
sa palad Mo ilalaan.

Going through the lyrics of the song made me ask myself if I would be willing to lay down my life for the Lord. My initial response was "Yes" maybe because it was easy to say "Yes" immediately and not think of what will come with my saying "Yes". But as I reflected further, I found myself coming face to face with the realization that it's not as easy as I thought it would be especially living in the world we are in today. So many distractions, temptations, second bests that come our way make it a constant struggle to be true and committed to our relationship with the Lord.

Yet, I have hope that I will be able to commit myself to my Lord each day because of San Lorenzo Ruiz's example of an ordinary person with extraordinary faith. That is, relying on his love for His Lord and the grace and strength that came from the Lord to withstand even the temptation of the gift of life if he just renounced his faith. It is my prayer that I, too, may be able to offer myself "as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God because this is my true and proper worship." (Romans 12: 1b)

On his feast day, let us be encouraged and inspired by San Lorenzo Ruiz's example of unwavering faith in the midst of adverse situations that we may find ourselves facing and his dedication and great love for the Lord.

Jesus' Gift of Love through Mama Mary

Heard mass earlier at the EDSA Shrine and what I remember from the homily of Fr. Carlo is that we have every reason to celebrate the birth of Mama Mary today because through her fiat, her saying Yes to the Angel Gabriel, we have all been given the opportunity to know Jesus Christ as God made man. Through her opening herself to becoming the mother of Jesus, we have become recipients of Jesus' great love, a love that was willing to sacrifice and experience death on the cross. That exchange at the foot of the cross (Mother, behold thy son. Son, behold thy mother.) set into motion our journey as disciples together with Mama Mary. Indeed, we have become one family in our journey towards heaven.

One of my favorite Marian songs "Mariang Ina Ko" sung by Bukas Palad (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceoyURdymJY) speaks of that journey with Mama Mary as we acknowledge the gift of love Jesus gave us before He breathed His last on the cross.

Sa 'king paglalakbay, sa bundok ng buhay, 
Sa ligaya't lumbay maging talang gabay. 

Koro: 
Mariang ina ko, ako ri'y anak mo, 
Kay Kristong kuya ko, akayin mo ako. 
Kay Kristong kuya ko, akayin mo ako. 

Maging aking tulay, sa langit mong pakay, 
Sa bingit ng hukay, tangnan aking kamay. (Koro) 

Sabihin sa kanya aking dusa't saya, 
Ibulong sa kanya, minamahal ko siya. (Koro)

I am grateful to the Lord for giving me this blessed opportunity to experience Mama Mary's guidance in my life journey with Him and, therefore, I (and, I believe, all of us) have every reason to celebrate the birth of the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ today.