Photo credits to Bro. Nicer Natulla, CMF Good evening my dear brothers and sisters. / There are three verbs that accompany us today, t...
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| Photo credits to Bro. Nicer Natulla, CMF |
It is not bad to ask./ In all religions, it is
the easiest way of praying: to ask. / However, sometimes we are ashamed to ask
because of our pride. /Mahilig tayo magsabi "If you need anything, count
on me/ if you want help, let me know/ if you want to lend a hand here I am
....”/ We seem to be relatively easy to offer our help, especially to the
people we care for./ However, when we are in need,/ most of us, most of the
time,/ we try to resolve them without asking help from others. /We have learned
to be self-sufficient,/ we prefer not to owe favors./ Ayaw natin ng utang na
loob. / And above all, it costs us a lot to recognize our fragility./ We
believe that we are sufficient/ strong,/ and we can manage. Kaya ko to./
Perhaps this is one of the many thoughts why some can’t understand Benedict
XVI's resignation as Pope. It's considered as scandal. Because It is not usual
for a public leader to publicly acknowledge his fragility, his weariness, his
fatigue, to ask others to pray for him/her, who would say well I can’t force my
body now to serve ... to be able to say NO. No more. Tingnan nyo mga politico./
But we should be like Queen Esther who said: "Now help me, who am alone
and have no one but you, O LORD, my God.
Jesus
is someone who knows how to ask. He asked John the Baptist to baptize him,
allowing him to be one among the sinners, receiving baptism from his hands. He
asked the help of a few colleagues, disciples, to assist him in his difficult
task. And in time of need, during that night in Gethsemane, he asked his close
company to be awake and pray with him. And since he has nowhere to lay his
head, he have had to borrow a donkey for the day of his entry into Jerusalem,
and a place to celebrate the Last Supper with his disciples. When he felt sorry
for the people who are hungry and lost, like sheep without a shepherd, he asked
for the 5 loaves of bread and two fishes and then asked his disciples to give
them to the people to eat them. And during his last hour he asked to pass the
cup of bitterness. And on his death, he asked John to take care of his mother. Etc
etc
Jesus had the experience of having asked
and found. In people, well, he do not find always what he ask, and from his
Father God. And so he said: Ask ... that your Father God will give you ...
because he is always good. And as he has
practiced: Dare also to ask men. To
ask your fellowmen. Your neighbor.
The
second verb or invitation by Jesus gives us hope. For anyone who "seeks” shall find. But seek from God. The Lord
gives what is fitting for us. As the responsorial psalm said "When I
called, you answered me; you built up strength within me." "Lord, on
the day I called for help, you answered me." Only the ones who seek: FINDS. Alangan, di kaya pupunta sayo ang
bagay na di mo hinanap.
The
third verb is KNOCK or CALL. Jesus keeps on knocking at our door, to see if
we let him in and share dinner with him. Jesus keeps on calling and asking
persons who can collaborate with him in his work. Pero madalas “MAY KATOK” tayo
pagkumakatok sa Dios. Malimit sinasabi natin asan ka nung kailangan kita
Panginoon? Bakit ako nagkakaganito? Bakit nagkaganito pamilya ko? bakit
nagkaganito mga anak ko? bakit nagkaganito buhay ko? Malimit o minsan hindi tayo tumatawag, dumudulog, kumakatok sa kanya
kapag tayo ay masaya.
My dear friends, I invite you to pray
today with this 3 verbs that Jesus had presented to us. LET US LEARN TO ASK GOD AND ASK FROM OUR NEIGHBORS. Do not be proud
not to ask if you need. SEEK GOD AND
SEEK OTHERS. KNOCK ON GOD AND KNOCK
ON OTHERS. And that others too may be able to ask, seek, and nock ... and
find our humble response to them. Good evening.
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