Author: Isay Amante

Letting go can be difficult sometimes. It’s usually the letting go of things that have become habits or even a part of us that are the hardest to let go of. I’m sure most of us have experienced those phases in our lives when we’ve had to say goodbye to our old selves and hello to better versions of our new selves. This process often happens during big transition periods in our life, but in some way, it should be taking place on a regular basis. I don’t think we are ever in a state in this life where we can’t improve, or can’t become greater than the person we were yesterday. We can be less doubtful, less anxious, less angry, less sinful. But we can also be more loving, more patient, more compassionate, more forgiving.

“Putting of the old” and “putting on the new” can be a daily thing. Becoming less of what we want and becoming more like Christ can be and should be a continuous ongoing process. Putting off the old and isn’t meant to be an easy task, but I believe with a mind and heart focused on Christ’s endless mercy we are made capable to be more – not just more like Christ, but more of ourselves, the version that He intends and hopes for us to be.

“The things of this world do not remain constantly with us, for if we do not leave them before we actually die, in death at least we all infallibly depart as empty-handed as we came” – The Maxims and Counsels of St. Philip Neri for September 9th

“So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed. On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!” – First Reading for today, September 9th, Colossians 3:1-11

Emotions are a funny thing. There’s no way to live without them, and although you know they have purpose, sometimes you wish there was a simple on and off switch.

I’ve heard advice before to let myself feel – to feel everything, or in other words, go through the emotion in its fullest and get it out of your system. There’s something refreshing about this quote I found last month that gives another perspective on how we should ‘feel’ certain things, certain emotions. It’s similar to that saying to “take it easy”. Sometimes we (or maybe I should just speak for myself and say ‘I’) tend to let myself feel a little too deeply and let my emotions envelope me, affecting my mood, my attitude, my outlook, my actions, and my reactions. However you understand ‘lightly’ to be is subjective but I take it to mean…not to necessarily be numb, incapable of feeling, or even to feel less, but to know that our emotions should be rooted in the Lord, and that whichever way our emotions tend to sway throughout our days that we always have hope that it too shall pass. Emotions are like plenty of things in this world which all inevitably come to pass.

Feel lightly, friends.

“It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days… Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me…So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling…” – Aldous Huxley, from the book Island

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” [1 Corinthians 13:7]

This year’s Singles For Christ True North Conference was a very personal one. You could see it in the eyes of everyone who shared their stories on stage, but just as much in the swelling eyes of those who were sitting, listening, and often times relating. Family is not always the easiest topic to speak about and it’s often the part of our lives that is kept somewhat hidden, especially the chapters that contain a seemingly dark past.

I’m so grateful for those who willingly shared with everyone the joys, and especially the crosses, that their families have carried. The resounding message I got from all their testimonies was that of hope and trust; that regardless of what situation the Lord placed their family in, there was always trust that He gave them what He knew they could handle. Through Him and with Him, they never let go of hope in greater things to come.

My family is like any other family – a mixed bag of the good, the bad, and the ugly – but overall I think I can confidently say that my family has been, and continues to be, happy and abundantly blessed with a lot more of the good than anything else. Dare I say that we’re maybe just short of being your “ideal” family, that is, if there ever was another one next to our Holy Family. Mom is generous and faithful, encouraging me to always do right and putting the family’s needs before hers, taking the burnt toast and the broken egg. Pop always made time to watch my highschool basketball games while working tirelessly to provide for our family, and still never lets a day pass without smothering me with hugs, kisses, and I love you’s even if I quite literally try to push him away. Kuya (older brother) is the patient brother-friend that is always there for me – to protect me, guide me, stand up for me, teach me, or just simply be there when I need him for anything. God has blessed me with exactly what He knew I needed in this life. As different as each family is, whether together, apart, broken, happy, struggling, or whatever the case may be, they have been given to each of us for a very specific reason.

God’s masterpiece, like any other artist’s work, is carefully planned. I believe that every brush stroke in creating our masterpieces was executed with meaning and purpose. The family is truly God’s masterpiece, but as each piece of work is different, so too are our families unique and different. Families come in many different forms and sizes according to His plan. Among all the differences, the constant thing that remains is that no one is exempt from being in a family, we are all called to be in a family – some to create a new family, some to find family in their service, some to discover family in the life as a consecrated religious. In all instances we’re called to love and serve our household, to trust and hope in His plans, and to remember that He is infinitely good to us.

Good To Me – Audrey Assad
Reflection song for Session 1

I put all my hope on the truth of Your promise
And I steady my heart on the ground of Your goodness
When I’m bowed down with sorrow I will lift up Your name
And the foxes in the vineyard will not steal my joy

Because You are good to me, good to me

And I lift my eyes to the hills where my help is found
Your voice fills the night, raise my head up to hear the sound
Though fires burn all around me I will praise You, my God
And the foxes in the vineyard will not steal my joy

Because You are good to me, good to me

Your goodness and mercy shall follow me
All my life, I trust in Your promise

Do you know how to swim? Lots of people do, lots of people don’t. For those who do, they probably don’t think twice about jumping into the ocean, but i’m sure it’s much different for those who don’t quite know what they’re doing. Imagine a young child who had never stepped foot in a swimming pool, standing at the edge, while her father is in the deep waters with arms stretched out saying encouragingly, “Come on! Jump in! You can do it!” Although unsure, and maybe somewhat fearful, she jumps – simply because she trusts her father with her whole life.

At times our faith is tested like that of a child learning how to swim. When we know the Father is calling us to something, do we leap into His arms without hesitation like a child would? Or do we, upon seeing the scary and unknown waters, dip one foot in while keeping one foot firmly on the ground? She knows and believes with utmost faith and trust that he will be there, that he will help her, and will teach her the way.

Yesterday’s Gospel (from Tuesday August 11th) reminds us to have a child-like faith. The kind that doesn’t doubt, or question, or fear, but one that is humble and trustingly leaps into our Father’s arms. We may not always know what we are doing, and may not always have control, but we have it in us to believe, to trust, and to have faith. 

Lord, may we trust You enough to jump in with both feet, our whole heart, and our whole being.

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray.  In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” [Matthew 18: 1-5,10,12-14]

There are two specific gifts we’ve been given by God to help us with our day-to-day decisions:

1) The gift of conscience, and
2) The gift of free will

Both quite noteworthy, since they are what separate us from all other creations He’s placed on this earth. As human beings we’re not bound by mere instincts or slaves to our emotions. We have our conscience to remind us right from wrong, and our free will to be able to choose right over wrong.

It comes down to the power of using these two gifts in tandem. Tandem: to have one following, or to have one behind the other. It’s true that we can use these gifts by themselves, which is often done, but they were given to us to be used in tandem. If we do one without the other, exercise knowing right from wrong but don’t follow through by choosing right over wrong, then what is the point? If we exercise our free will, but fail to seek or recognize the right choice from a wrong choice, more often than not we will likely choose based on emotion or our own selfish will.

“No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.” [1 Corinthians 10:13]

*Slight spoiler alert for the movie Inside Out*

Wouldn’t it be nice if we had someone like Joy who protected our “Core Memories” from becoming sad ones? A switchboard to help us navigate through our emotions, telling us how to act or react in an instant? Or maybe an army of emotions fighting every second of our lives to ensure that our family islands or goofball islands stayed strong and intact?

Oh but, wait, we do have all of that!

We’re sent people and opportunities in our life, along with prayers from all our angels and Saints to protect our “Core Memories”. We have the Bible and the teachings of our Church to guide us and help us navigate through our emotions and actions. And last but not least we have the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit loving us in every second while fighting to keep our islands afloat – family island, friends island, honesty island, virtue island, purity island, personality island, phases of life island, etc.

The movie, in all its great simplicity, is a good starter to show kids how important all our emotions are, including sadness or anger, but that’s just the beginning. You see Riley develop the first emotion of Joy, then as she grows up there are new emotions that pop up until you have Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger, and Fear. The thing is, there are many more that we develop over time and it’s a constant juggling act to figure out what they all are and what they all mean.

I like to think, in a certain way, that the “Core Memories” of Jesus can be found in the Mysteries of the Rosary. Similar to the end of the movie, we learn that these core memories aren’t meant to be Joy 100% of the time. In reality, they’re a mixed bag – like Joy, Sorrow, Light, and Glory. They make up who we are, and if we’re made in the image and likeness of God, then it’s expected that our “Core Memories” have spots of sorrow, light, and glory. That little piece of insight provides me great consolation; knowing that this journey is truly a journey, one that is not perfect, one that we can fight to remain joyful in to the best of our ability, but ultimately one that points to His journey and His mercy.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.”
[Ecclesiastes 3:1-8]

 

It’s frustrating when you don’t get what you want, or what you think you need, deserve, or are entitled to. I feel that we live in a society these days where we’re all a little too entitled – entitled to say what we want, entitled to do what we want, entitled to own what we want, entitled to believe what we want.

It takes a slice of humble pie each day for me to be reminded that when we “lose” our way to His way, there is no losing. There’s no one else I’d rather “lose” to than God. Wouldn’t you agree? Because if that were always the case, in the end, we all ultimately win. The art of “losing” to Christ is actually beautiful in that, what we may initially see as “losing” is just part of the journey to victory, which He’s already won. Our “loss” will always point towards His victory, His mercy, and His love for us.

My daily challenge when something doesn’t go my way is to think, God’s way is better – always has been, always will be, forever.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. [Romans 12:2]