Ready & Willing

“While being on mission, it’s such a blessing to hear mass in different parishes, said by different priests.  There’s beauty in variety yet amidst the many differences, the message hits home the same way. ” — myself

Yesterday our gospel was about the Prodigal Son; a fan favourite parable!  It talks of mercy, of forgiveness, of being lost, of going ‘home’, of love and of acceptance. As the priest recounted the message behind the gospel and reminded us of our Lord’s extreme love for us… it brought to mind the words ready & willing.

Both the father and the son exemplified the meanings for both of those words during both the pre- and post-departure.  Pre-departure: The son seemed to have made up his mind and was ready to ask for half of his share.  Most people wouldn’t dare ask such a lofty question, yet he was willing enough to bring his concern before his father.  Upon hearing the son’s request, and I’m sure against his better judgement, the father was ready to hand over the son’s share of the land & earnings and willingly did so.  I say willingly because there was no catch, there was no bargain, there was no stipulation.  Post-departure: After he gambled and spent everything that was given to him, the son came to a point where he realized he didn’t have to live that life because his father was wealthy and had more than enough provisions.  At some point, we can assume that the son had to struggle with setting his pride aside to even think of going back to the father he turned away from.  In that process he became ready & willing to seek out his father and admit his faults.  The father, I like to believe, was always ready and willing for his son’s return.  When his son came home he was more than ready and willing to love him, accept him, and forgive him.

Both men showed their readiness and willingness to one another.  Both seemed secure enough in their relationship to be able act in readiness and willingness with whatever they set their hearts to.  This is what makes this parable so beautiful and so highly applicable to our everyday lives.

If we were to put ourselves in this parable, God will always play the role of the Father.  Always ready and willing to love us, accept us, forgive us and embrace us.  He will always celebrate our return to him.  He will always forget all transgressions we’ve committed against Him.  He will always be ready and willing to love us through both our best and worst.  That’s how much worth he places on each of us.  We, on the other hand, quickly relate to the character of the son.  We get caught up with what the world deems as necessary, we take our claims to our Father and demand something, as though we’re entitled.  Instead of handling things with care, we waste them on cheap flings and temporary highs only to find ourselves exhausted, used up and unfulfilled.  But like the son, we need to acknowledge our own weaknesses and be willing to turn back to our Father, our Lord.

It isn’t always about How God is ready and willing to love us, that’s a given!  It’s more about how ready and willing we are to go back to him, to ask for forgiveness, to plead for mercy.  How ready and willing are we to die to ourselves and seek the life that our Father in Heaven wants to adorn us with?  How ready and willing are we to pick up our crosses and walk with Him?  How ready and willing are we to fully trust that whatever He has in store for us is exactly what we need; more than we could have ever dreamed to ask or hope for?

Like the Father in the parable, our God is slow to anger and quick to love.  He has more than enough provisions to ensure us a life of fulfillment and true happiness in Him.  He will always toil in preparation for our return to Him, and when we do return, not only will we be welcomed with open arms but a celebration will be thrown, for one of His children, one of His lost sheep has found it’s way back home.

Father, May we listen to your still small voice and be guided back to your side.  Mama Mary, please pray for our souls and for the souls whom have no one to pray for them.

 

Realistically

I met a brother during my recent trip to LA last month. I gave a talk for CFC-Youth San Diego and I was introduced to this joyful brother named Jayson Adams. Jayson is your typical CFC-Youth, happily spending his summer hanging out with his friends and serving the Lord through CFC-Youth. However, one thing that Jayson experiences that we don’t is that he has two rare forms of cancer. Not one, but two.

Now, I’m known to be critical (at times hyper-critical) of the things I do see and experience whether it be something positive or negative. I would still see something negative from something that is really positive. But the way Jayson lives his life is something that really slaps me in the face – yes a slap (or two, three, and then some) in the face of a missionary.

From a blog by his family of his journey – http://walkwithjayson.blogspot.com.au/ – Jayson shares from a recent Youth Camp a question that we might and most probably ask if we were in his situation.

He asked the question why.

But he asks something more. He asks why was he surviving?

Now when I face problems whether it be the big problems in life or the #firstworldproblems, that should never be a problem in the first place, I would usually make a big deal out of it and act as if the world would end if it wasn’t resolved quickly. At times be quick to announce that indeed #thestruggleisreal.

However, Jayson faces a real life-threatening problem, and asks for the source, of him still being able to enjoy the graces and blessings in his life. He focuses on God’s love. As I reflect on this, his point of view is not optimism but rather a realistic point of view. Allow me to explain.

A quick search of optimism on google yields this definition “hopefulness and confidence about the future or the successful outcome of something.” It based on a possibility of something positive in the future. Totally not the case for Jayson.

To be Christian is to believe, to experience, and to be transformed by the Love of God that is constantly and unconditionally at work in our lives. Jayson sees this perfectly in his own “struggle”. His is grounded, raised and is in fact very much living in the reality of God, Who is Love.

If I am then to be a Christian – the root of my missionary call – then I should be realistically looking and living in His love. His love gives meaning and purpose to my life. Ergo, I should see grace and blessings abound even amidst the trials and tribulations.

Yes, easier said than done. But at least knowing this, is a step in the right direction.

The thought of my pain, my homelessness, is bitter poison. I think of it constantly, and my spirit is depressed. Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue. Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in Him I put my hope. – Lamentations 3:19-24

Lord, allow me to see everything for what it is – a product of your Love.

St. Jude Thaddeus, pray for Jayson Adams. Amen.

**This reflection is also posted on my personal blog at kevinmuico.com

At the Cross

Within the last week, I was able to reflect on the importance of the journey I take with my cross… About how the sufferings that come with carrying my own cross will (somewhere along the way) bring blessings, not only to myself but also to others. And of course, as the days passed, I was tested even more in this reflection.. My cross… in many different ways… became heavier and heavier. But as the days continued, I found myself coming to another realization… What good is the journey… What would it be to me if I carried my cross all this way, only to stop at the crucifixion? 

To boldly say, “Yes Lord, I will carry my cross,” should be an automatic yes to the latter… “Yes Lord, I will be crucified. For Your sake Lord, I will be crucified.” In my family, in all my relationships, in the CFC Youth community, as well as in my journey as an MV, I cannot deny that there were times wanted to give up. In fact, I think I have never been so tested to give up so much in the past 2 years. There were so many times that when things were going well, something else in my life would be up for question and I was only mere inches from trying to take back my yes. But that is not accepting my cross. To carry the burden of my cross solely for the Lord will bring blessings, but it is in the crucifixion that my burden becomes a miracle.

It is in completely binding myself to the cross that the suffering truly becomes love. Blessed Mother Teresa once said, “Love, in order to be genuine, has to have a cost.” My cross… my crucifixion… no matter how much it hurts sometimes, I will always say YES to the Lord, wherever HE calls me because it is out of love that I am willing to suffer for Him. It is out of such a deep love I have for the Lord that I am willing to set my pains and all my gains at the cross for Him. And WHY? Because it is simply at the cross that He suffered for me… it is at the cross that He gave it all for me… at the cross, He saved me… 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00Nci1ATvPg

True Obedience

“Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” Lk. 2:19. 

MaryHeart

Oh, her heart so pure.
Whenever I look at Mother Mary, or simply think of her, my heart feels so overwhelmed and
my mind cannot comprehend the very fact of how pure she truly is. How holy she truly is.
She is so pure. She is so beautiful.
I just imagine if I ever did meet her in person, I think I’ll just be staring at her (and maybe add in some tears too) Have you ever met someone and you just know that that person has no hint of judgment in their veins? Like they are just so nice, just such a nice person.
I feel like Mother Mary is that, just a million times more.

Her heart is so pure and so in love with the Lord, that Love, Himself radiates within her and
shines her whole entire being. She is a true model of obedience.
A true obedience that allowed her to be assumed into heaven.
A true obedience that allowed to fully, wholehearted trust our Heavenly Father.
A true obedience that allowed her to truly love.

I pray that my heart be like hers. To be truly obedient like her. To love like her.
To keep things in my heart so I can truly hear God.
I pray the same for you my dearest brothers and sisters,
that we may all be able to keep things in our heart
and ponder truly so that we may truly hear the words of our Father,
so that we may truly hear our calling.

Our God loves us so much.
He truly does 🙂

God bless us always.
I hope that you are all doing very well 🙂

Peace and Love,
Apple
🙂

Novena Prayer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Most Blessed Mother, heart of love, heart of mercy, ever listening, caring, consoling, hear our prayer. As your children, we implore your intercession with Jesus your Son. Receive with understanding and compassion the petitions we place before you today, especially …(special intention).

We are comforted in knowing your heart is ever open to those who ask for your prayer. We trust to your gentle care and intercession, those whom we love and who are sick or lonely or hurting. Help all of us, Holy Mother, to bear our burdens in this life until we may share eternal life and peace with God forever.
Amen.

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.

Amen.

Random Thoughts

The Day 1 of HOLD Conference just ended and these are just some of the reminders  of the Lord:

  • You cannot doubt the power of the Holy Spirit
  • If we do our best, strive for the best and exert all efforts to the work that the Lord has entrusted to us then He will definitely make our plan perfect.
  • The way we live our lives reflects our relationship with the Lord.
  • Trusting other people is recognizing God in their lives.
  • Teamwork doesn’t have any “I”
  • All for Love is All for God.
  • Longing for love is Longing for God
  • Talent is useless of there is no time to spare for it.
  • The enemy refused to believe that the Victory has been won.

Desolation

Why is that when I sin, the first thing that takes a hit is my prayer time? I’ve felt many times, after that I sinned, I felt “unworthy” to pray. Unworthy to be in His presence, unworthy to lift up concerns, or ask for graces. Like Adam and Eve, I feel the need to hide from God. I enter a period of spiritual desolation, where I feel so separated from God, so anxious and so heavy hearted.

I’ve learned that at times of spiritual desolation, one should never make a change. This comes from The Rules for Discernment of Spirits by St. Ignatius. In times of desolation, one should remain firm and constant –even in prayer.

Since learning that, I cannot say that things have gotten any easier. There are times where it is very difficult to pray. There are times where temptation is so great, that I want to give in, and put aside prayer. There are many times where I feel so ashamed. But then a beautiful thing happens, where God imparts graces on me, and reminds me that this is the beauty of our relationship. That a sinner like me, can be so immensely loved by our God. That He will love me no matter what, and that in times of desolation, I will cling to Him all the more, because He has never left me. We need to protect this constant connection to Him, and realize that prayer is more than a mere feeling of being close to Him. It’s trusting that He is there, that He listens, and that He will answer.

The Narrow Gate

This is a reflection on the calling to be a missionary. This reflection is meant for those discerning for Full Time Pastoral Work.

God’s call for you is very unique. It is how the Lord calls. It is very personal to you. Ordinary to others, extraordinary to you. The more you reflect on it, the more you realize how the Lord has moved the universe in all its precision and accuracy to capture your attention.

That is how much the Lord knows you. He will pluck the right chords to capture your attention.

Your calling is like passing through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14), it is narrow because the opening that leads to life is meant for you. Distractions abound and the gate to other things is wide open, but it is only when you pass the narrow gate will the call will bring you to life.

How is God calling you? How is God using the things that you find awesome and life changing, but ordinary to others?

Lord, may I be sensitive to Your call for me. Like Mama Mary, let me answer You with my full yes. Amen.