True North Missionaries Journal

I realized from my past experiences that sometimes we suffer because we want people who cannot reciprocate how we feel, who don’t love us as much as we love them or we chase after things that we cannot get or aren’t for us; things that cannot satisfy us. We sometimes put these first. We’ve associated these to what complete happiness means. But don’t we realize that we have a God who loves us unconditionally and who loves us with everything He can give?

So why don’t we, first, put as much energy, value, love, and finally embrace God as much as we do these earthly things? How much greater joy can He give more than these?

Why do we keep running away from a perfect love?

Alodia

Come to me and surrender

Offer yourself and render

Value the gifts and blessing

Elevate yourself in serving

Never go back to the old way

Always follow the One way

No one will be lost

Together we will last

This week was another victorious week for the Lord in my area, as a new set of Singles for Christ finished their Christian Life Program. I was so excited for this week to see the new brothers and sisters say yes to the Lord and received their covenant with God.

Before the dedication ceremony on my South Chapter I was asked to give the talk 11- The Life and Mission of Singles for Christ to the North Chapter of Calgary. It was for me a refresher of what my life and mission should be as an SFC. As I was preparing for my talk it makes me go back to the time that I had some question on the Philosophy and the Covenant of SFC. I remember that before I became SFC I had a different point of view regarding some of the points that was listed of them. That is the reason why I did not sign my covenant right away. I was scared that time that if I signed the covenant I will be tied up to an agreement that I would probably break in the future. My thinking that time is that this covenant not just with SFC but my covenant with God. I’m worried because I don’t want to fail Him again if I wasn’t able to do all the things listed. It took me a while until I finally signed the covenant and try as much as I could to follow and fulfill my covenant. And until now I always try my best to lived with that covenant.

That covenant always reminded me of the YES that I made when I became an SFC. Every time that I’m starting to feel dry and lost with what I’m doing I always look back on to it as my reminder and my guide that this what my agreement with God and that no matter what I’m going thru God is always with me on my journey.

“and I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh” Genesis 9:15

            I work as an Electronics Technician at a laser manufacturing company. One of my responsibility is to make sure that the laser stays at the center when it is rotated. In order to do that there are 3 screws I have to turn carefully.

            Every turn makes the light go down or up until I reached the center meaning all 3 screws are equally adjusted to its tightness. Sometimes it is easy to do it because the light is visible or in some cases I encounter infrared light wherein I can only see the light with a camera which makes centering it a bit difficult.

Here’s the final product where the light is completely centered. But there are a lot of light reflecting, it is because the lens of the laser is dirty. A good laser light should be centered and has a clean dot.

Reflecting about it, God is with me even at my workplace. The three screws represents the Holy Trinity wherein The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit should equally be present in my life in order for me to have a Christ- Centered life. If one of them is missing, the light might look like it is centered but once the laser is turned it will not stay where it is.

The light is visible or sometimes invisible but it is there. God can be visible through my family, friends, workplace, counterpart etc. and most of the time he is invisible which I can only feel him through prayers. He always reminds me that he is there no matter what.

Lastly, in some cases the light has some reflection or dirt around the lens of the laser. I am a sinner and that what makes my light dirty. Dirty laser light reminds me  to go to confession to cleanse myself. Sometimes I feel that I am completely centered and I can always see the light but at the same time my light is dirty. Going to confession cleanses my light and helps me to be a clear dot.

As I continue to strive to have a Christ-centered life I am assured that God will always remind me to stay in the center wherever I may be and this time he reminded me at my workplace 🙂

Lord, I’m not going to ask why sometimes it’s so hard or why it hurts or why it feels so discouraging but here is my heart. It’s not in the best shape right now. It is tired, cracked, some black spots here and there, bruised, sometimes off beat, always joyful in your presence, delicate.

So here it is. I’m giving it to You. I don’t have anywhere else to put it but on Your hands. Shape it how You want.

All I ask is, have mercy on this heart, oh Lord because it is trying its best to beat right for you.

Trying,

Alodia

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be still.”

– Exodus 14:14

“Blessed are those who have not seen but have come to believe.”

These were the words we heard Jesus speak to the Apostle Thomas in the gospel of Divine Mercy Sunday. Now I’ve heard this reading from the gospel of John countless times before, but by God’s grace I was able to hear it with fresh ears this time around. It was a gentle reminder from God to be faithful even in times of desolation – when it is difficult to see God in our lives. How many times do we not see God because we feel isolated or unmotivated in our spiritual journey? How many times do we look up at the Blessed Sacrament during consecration and look only with our eyes and not with our hearts? I’m sure this is exactly how the disciples felt after the death of Jesus. They hid themselves in a room and questioned their purpose. They contemplated returning to the comfort of their homes, their families, and their fishing boats. They wanted to return back to the way they were before. But the Gospel message challenges us to stand firm in belief even during times of despair – even when we don’t have proof of God’s work in our lives. It dares us to not only believe when we see Christ in times of consolation, joy, and comfort, but to believe when we don’t see Him in times of trouble. This is no easy task (as I’m sure you’ve experienced), but it requires us to make a concrete choice to follow. It requires us to reach out to Christ’s side and understand the value of suffering. Therefore, are we ready to believe without seeing? Let’s always contemplate the cross when it becomes difficult to do so. These times of difficulty and desolation will always come and our vision of Christ may be blurred, but because of hope in the risen Lord, we are able in these moments to echo the words of the Apostle: “My Lord and My God”.

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

JMJ

This month marks my 7th year in Singles for Christ. I attended my Christian Life Program in the Spring of 2010 and had my Dedication on May 2010.

Last Saturday at the Christian Life Program while giving Talk 9: Receiving the Power of the Holy Spirit, I was able to somehow look back on the journey that I had with the Lord through Singles for Christ and how He used His gifts, in my case the gift of singing, to bring me closer to Him.

Before there was SFC, I have already been serving in the Church through singing in the choir. The Lord has gifted me talent in singing and that has been my passion. I remember during my university years, I would never skip a practice on both Church choir and College choir even when I am busy in my Nursing studies. The choir was my safe haven. It was also my avenue where I tried to give back to the Lord the best that I can in gratitude to all His countless blessings.

Back when I used to live in Manila during my University years, my neighbor who was a member of Singles for Christ has been inviting me to join the Christian Life Program, which I had refused to go to due to my busy schedule and wrong perception of SFC as a non-Catholic religion. We have another neighbor just across our apartment, who would let his Born Again church mates use his garage for their Sunday worship. They would sing songs, raise or clap their hands, cry out loud or some times utter loud meaningless sounds. And I hated it. I said to myself that I would never do such crazy things.

Then came February 2010. Our family had to migrate to Canada as planned by our parents after my Mom was able to get her permanent resident status. The first month was exciting. Being in a new place, experiencing snow for the first time, and reuniting with mom somehow eased the sadness of leaving the Philippines. After a month, the home-sickness came in. I missed the place where 21 years of my life was spent. I missed my Grand mom and Auntie who took care of me from when I was a baby till I became a man. I missed my friends. I missed the things I used to do and enjoy. One of which was singing in the choir.

One Sunday after attending the Mass, I approached a member of the Choir to inquire about joining. She gladly welcomed me and introduced me to the rest of the Choir and told me that there was actually a Christian Life Program that has just started 2 weeks ago and invited me to come to it first then I can join the choir after I finish the program. The person that I approached was a member of Singles for Christ. How funny it was when the invitation that I had always refused came into realization here in Canada! I joined the CLP and became a member of Singles for Christ. The crazy things that I told myself I will never do are the things that I am not anymore ashamed to do. I became crazy in love with the Lord!

The Lord has used my passion, the gift of singing, to bring me to Singles for Christ. He has brought me into a personal relationship with Him. What I thought was a non-Catholic religion was actually one that enriched my Catholic faith even more. I have embraced the Catholic faith more than I have ever embraced it before!

I served in the Music Ministry as one of the vocalists. Every worship or praise was a life-giving experience.

It was not all perfect life in SFC. I had my challenges and struggles too. There was one point when I felt so desolate, spiritually dry and so far from the Lord. And it was the gift of singing that the Lord has used to bring me back to Him. It happened when I was asked on the spot to help with music in the CLP as no guitarist was available to play music. As I was teaching and playing the song, I had to encourage and give the participants some pointers on how to worship. Knowing that I was spiritually dry that time and yet speaking those words of encouragement to worship our Lord and surrender, it all hit me. Those words were all meant for me. From then on I knew what has kept me in Singles for Christ. It is the encounter with the Lord in every worship, in every song we sing.

Our Lord is ever-generous! He freely gives us gifts. In fact he has given us His only Son for our salvation. He continues to give us gifts through the Holy Spirit. These gifts are going to bring us closer to God. Let us wholeheartedly accept them!

My hope is built in You Lord

There is nothing more I want

And I find my joy in Your grace

I desire to remain in Your arms