Author: Angelo Saludo

Matthew 14:13-21

The feeding of five thousand is a story of compassion. Jesus was moved with pity, he did not dismissed them instead he fed them with the words of life and at the same time fed their hungry stomach. He saw in their eyes deep longing for something different from the circumstances they are in. Jesus just did Random Act of Kindness (RAK).

What makes this people follow him even to a deserted place? There was a sense of joy and feeling of being heard and cared for when Jesus talk to them. He talks with the reality of their lives, genuinely care for them and has no pretensions. There lives had been like a deserted place, full of emptiness and here comes Jesus filling them up with words of love and compassion. Is it not comforting that from our deserted place comes love and compassion?

Let us do Random Act of Kindness to a stranger today.

The moment a missionary starts thinking only about himself, it’s the start of the end of mission. When we think only of our emotions and feelings, quitting becomes easier. “This is what I feel right now, injustice had been done to me, I don’t like it, I cannot accept that…” I, I, and I… There is no future in mission if it’s only “I”. “I need my time…” but I am fulltime! I had been slapped by it many times in order for me to wake up because yes, I am fulltime. I do need some rest and some time for myself… my emotions get affected too, I do get hurt, Fulltimes are not supermen however, at the end of the day we know what we forego. The moment we answered this call we forego our rights to ourselves. The moment we wear the cloak of mission, we already carry Christ in us and forego of ourselves. This means, everything is secondary, even our own deepest desires, comforts and rights.

Yes we need time for ourselves and need to be respected at times but all these and more are secondary to Christ and His mission. We may as well be reminded of Saint Paul who is his letter to the Corinthians said, “ But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

That is why, on the other hand, leaders must be prayerful and discerning because we cannot play around with the mission, assigning missionaries somewhere without deep prayer and discernment. Lives are affected and future changed here. Leaders must look deeper into each missionaries under them with the eyes of faith, taking into account there personal struggles and shortcomings with grace, so that they can truly journey with them, because for leaders (those handling other missionaries), missionaries are there own mission. So while, missionaries forego of themselves, they are at peace with the thought that there leaders are praying and discerning sincerely for them. Obedience becomes easier because there is an exchange of goodness and grace.

Lord, grant us the grace to understand Your Will in our lives so that we can do your mission with you as our focus and not ourselves. Amen.

I wrote before in this blog about culture of mission, I remember then someone asked me, “Kuya, what’s your dream for the next 20 years of CFC Youth and SFC True North?” I replied that I dream of a community  were mission is a culture. Let me add that I am excited to see that  going on mission, sharing the joy and love of being with and for Christ becomes natural to us. I dream that as mission becomes a culture, every member is consciously being and bringing Christ wherever they are. They are doing the work of the Lord not because it is required but because they are genuinely happy!

Lord teach us to dream big for You and Your mission and let it be done according to Your will. Amen.

 

Serving in SFC gives me a different way of looking at the womb to tomb mission of Couples For Christ. The young adults molded in SFC have become truly a future for CFC. In GTA alone, we have a number of members who just got married and others who just got engaged. Every SFC’s who got engage is victory not just for the community but also for all believers in Christ! The other side will always want to destroy every relationship because one new married couple is life and that’s not what satan wants. No wonder why all these relationship issues are happening because satan wants to stop Godly relationships even before it starts.

Imagine one new couple building a family centered on Christ? I am more affirmed now of the expanded vision of SFC, that says, SFCs are the next generation of Couples for Christ! We are building future husbands and wives, young professionals who will not just support families financially but build homes of character and passion for the mission of Christ. Mission will truly become embedded in every family and becomes a culture that will be passed on from one generation to another.

I find so much beauty of the Church in the sacrament of reconciliation.  It’s a very profound external act of forgiveness to someone who is in internal anguish to be embraced again. Can there be more beautiful than the goodness of someone who forgives and accepts? Can there be more goodness than the compassion of someone who embraces and never judges? Reconciliation is the splendour of the Church who proclaims Christ!

I read something about forgiveness years ago and it says, “In the ‘Our Father’, there is no mention of love, instead, we find the word, ‘forgive’. Perhaps forgiveness is the highest manifestation of love.”

I had this conversation with a fellow missionary and we were sharing about how we’ve survive this far. ( Actually in reality we are not just surviving, we are in fact thriving in the joy of the Lord.) That I can say for sure! 🙂 Why? How can we be happy in the midst difficulties? Difficulties are everywhere, the important thing is we find what kind of life we want to live.

I think missionaries are happy because they found what they wanted. I think, other people who are also working in other ways can be happy too if they find there work as the path God wants them to be.

Another thing, what I found in mission is that we can be in desolation ourselves but can still be joyful because we find our consolation in the joy of others. We rejoice of others joy and that is enough consolation for us.

Lastly, our joy are grounded in our faith in Christ, so things can be fleeting but we can be joyful because His is eternal.

 

 

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

This photo was taken when I was visiting Bukidnon, a province in Northern Mindanao, back when I was assigned in Mindanao. We were walking on a trail on our way to a monastery nearby.

This kind of reminds me of our role to not just be good followers but brave leaders who will dare carve new path for others to follow. It’s scary knowing that to trailblaze is to brave the unknown and it can mean painful sacrifices. However, the joy of adventure and discovery is fulfilling too, much more knowing that is for, of and with God. 

Another thing about this photo is the blessing of being with nature. One of the things that I love about mission is the fact that you got the opportunity to see different environment… nature at its best! You will never get enough of God in nature, His messages are written in every flowers and trees and yes even in weeds 🙂 I find comfort, peace and direction in nature.

Lord, grant us the grace to brave the unknown and the joy of seeing you in the trees, flowers and yes even in weeds. Amen.