Author: Kaye Baylon

A Diamond With a Flaw is Worth More Than a Pebble Without Imperfections

“Iron is sharpened by iron; one person sharpens another” – Proverbs 27:17

You always hear this verse put into action with brothers. I have literally seen them after brothers forums, beating their chests and shouting what seem to be war-cries. Kewl? But it is true, although people can bring out the best in others, it takes a true man to show how a brother should act. And it takes a true woman to exemplify how a sister should act.

I have always surrounded myself with strong, faithful brothers. I became tough. I started taking on roles I had no right taking. I started disregarding what the brothers could do for me, because I believed I could do it myself. But as they would go off to brothers forums and their households, I was left wondering how I should be.

My brothers and sisters, a diamond is one of the strongest materials on Earth. So strong and resistant that they are only cut with other diamonds. Try and use iron to shape a diamond and you’ll be out of luck. It is the same with us.

Although I love my brothers – my strong, protective brothers who lead me and guide me, I truly grow with my sisters. With their love and support and, most importantly, their examples, I can truly say that I am becoming a better woman. I am learning to live out my role as a daughter of God.

Iron may sharpen iron, but only diamonds can sharpen diamonds.

Evangelizing by any Means Necessary

The other day my phone got stolen.

I was walking around downtown Vancouver and someone reached into my pocket and took it. Don’t ask me what happened, I obviously did not see it. But, to be honest, although I’m sad about losing such an expensive phone (whyyy are Apple products sooo expensive?!), I’m more upset about losing the things in the phone. All my old messages, all the photos I hadn’t uploaded yet, all the apps that keep me close to my brothers and sisters.

And though I’m upset with whoever stole it, I do pray that they take a few minutes and look through my phone. As invasive as it is, my phone is filled with encouragement from my brothers and sisters. My photo albums are filled with Bible verses and pictures of our Christ, our mother, and the saints. I hope they open up all my Catholic apps. I pray that they see the lock screen and God uses that to touch them.

God works in mysterious ways. And maybe He needed my phone more than I did, to reach out to others.

Praise God

Child-like Faith

“It is up to you, young followers of Christ, to show the world that faith brings happiness and a joy which is true, full, and enduring” – His Holiness Benedict XVI

The genius about children is that they rarely try and trick people. When they push something on you – make you eat this, try this, play this, watch this – it is simply because they love it themselves. They only want to share that joy with others.

When you see young people serving Christ joyfully, it changes people who see it. Because we don’t gain anything worldly from this. If anything, we face more trials and sufferings at the hands of the world. Loving God, and spreading His word and works, will bring backlash from the fear and doubt in others. And we will get hurt.

But with child-like faith, we must continue to serve our God. The joy He gives us, we must give to others. Even if it seems like we fail, time and time again, we must remain steadfast. Because even if we gain nothing from this world, we gain everything at home with Christ, where we belong.

Mommy’s Girl

I have always believed that God is real. And I know this simply because I know my mother.

My mother is the oldest of five. When she was ten her father went missing. Her mom had to work full-time and my mom had to take care of everyone. And she still takes care of everyone.

Growing up I was a daddy’s girl. My mom would always try and make me do chores. Or help out. Or boring stuff like that. My dad would let me rollerblade around his workshop and buy me ice cream. He’s the fun one. And though I loved my mom, I would always run to my dad.

But now that I’m grown, I realize how amazing she really is. My mom quietly endures the struggles that life hands to her. She loves so deeply and so fully, without holding back. She disciplines with love and kindness. She has faith so strong, no storm can tear it down. And when I pushed God away, she prayed for me, and I came back to Him. All the goodness that I have inside, I can attribute to her love and her prayers. And if God is even half as amazing as my mother is, then what a great God He is.

In Hoc Signo Vinces

“In this sign you will conquer”

The person I was before was so afraid to pray in public. Servant evangelization was something I looked for ways out of. I would pretend to casually be brushing my forehead if I would say grace before meals at restaurants. I would be so ashamed to be Catholic. So embarrassed to love God enough to speak to Him.

I was blessed to spend the past two days at the Holy Cross grade 12 grad retreat as an alumni leader. It still surprises me how little God is talked about, how little about our faith is known, to teenagers – even those attending Catholic schools. And it worried me, the entire retreat, because I love my God and I want to serve my God, but how was I supposed to get it through to these youth? How can I get people who may not have a good relationship with God to trust me? To trust that when I say that God loves them unconditionally that I am telling the truth?

But truthfully, I can speak a million truths and perform a million selfless acts, but if I can’t bring it all back to my God, it is nothing. If I can’t acknowledge my God, I am nothing. It is only through prayer to Him that I am able to do His work. It is only through admitting my weakness and glorifying Him in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit that I can do wonders. It is only through this sign that I will conquer.

True Love

“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you” – John 21:17

Today during his homily, Father Jijimon (yes, like digimon), explained how off the translation for the Bible was.

When we think of Jesus asking Peter if he loves Him three times, we think about how incessant Jesus is after Peter answers Him. But He never simply asked Peter if he loved Him. He asked if he love Him with agape love – with unconditional, sacrificial love. And Peter answers that he loves Him with phileo love, with a love of friendship and admiration. Jesus wasn’t making Peter repeat his answer – He was asking him to love Him more.

I often think about how many times Jesus has to ask me to love with agape love. How many chances He gives me to show Him that I would do anything for Him. When I first heard the homily I struggled with the fact that Peter did not just say yes. I used to think about how silly Peter was. How dumb he was to hurt our God like that. To deny Him the greatest love. Yes Lord, I love you unconditionally. It’s so easy to say. But I think that’s how Peter and I differ.

When Peter sins he cries bitterly. He sees that he has sinned and is so sorry. He is heartbroken over his failures to God. But for me, I would have easily said yes, and believed it. I would do anything to make God happy. But I would never look deep down, making sure 100% that this answer was true. Because although I would like to love Christ with agape love, my actions don’t show it. I would do whatever it takes, tell Him whatever He wants, to make Him happy, even if it wasn’t the truth. Because words are not enough for our God, it is our actions, our heart, our everything, that He wants.

And though it’s easier to live on the surface, to simply live to make others happy, it’s not the same as unconditional love. It’s not the same as agape. And although any love is amazing, agape is what we strive for. Agape is what God calls for.

Called to Love

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”    – John 15:11-13

I used to believe that love was always being on a person’s side. To stand by them and support them in all that they did. I thought you were supposed to protect that person from getting hurt, from any pain or sorrow.

But the more I grow in my faith the more I realize that my previous definition of love wasn’t love. I was babying the people I was called to love. I was treating them like infants. When you raise a child you can’t constantly treat them as if they can’t take care of themselves. You have to teach them. You have to guide them in the right direction. You have to lovingly correct their wrongdoings. You have to make known their faults so that they can become better. Love is more than protection. Love is wanting the betterment of others. And in our faith, love is doing whatever you can to get that person into heaven.

And in my quest and calling to love, I’ve come to realize that it is not easy. People fight back. People get angry and upset. People make you feel like you’re wrong, like you’re stupid. But I’ve come to know that I must suffer if I am to do the Lord’s work. To build up the fire inside someone, I’ll have to get burned. But it hurts. And it is discouraging. But it strengthens my faith. And when it gets tough, when my heart is failing, I can hear my God speaking to me:

“If the world hates you, realize it hated me first.”    – John 15:18