God and Poverty

This week, Bro. Bo Sanchez asks his readers this basic question: Why so much God and poverty in country?

For details of his blog entry, please check out this link.

http://bosanchez.ph/"why-so-much-god-and-poverty"/.

I would like to join in pondering that question.

My simplest answer to this is: It is not because of God but our misconceptions of God that contributes to poverty.

We wrongfully believe about God’s preferential love for the poor, so poor we want to be. We wrongfully believe that God blesses the poor, so we prefer to live as such. We wrongfully believe that it is better for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for rich people to enter heaven, so rich we never wish to be. We wrongfully believe the lesson of that rich man who died in his sleep after stocking on so many riches, so we subconsciously avoid that.

Our main belief system supports the idea that if we want to be close to God, then we have to be poor.

Whereas I personally believe that there are indeed a collective and truly few - “poor” people around us, all of us are called to be “rich” as well. We all heard about inspiring stories of rag-dirt poor people rising from their poverty to become rich people in their own right. Simply put, both statures can be appreciated as heavenly calling.

Luke 12:33 - Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy.

Luke 3:11 - He said to them in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise."

Matthew 5:42 - Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

Surely these bible verses were not addressed to the poor people but to us who were given the opportunities to alleviate the conditions of the poor people.

And if these verses are meant for us, then God meant us to prosper and be generous stewards of His rich and abundant blessings.

Matthew 25:40 - And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Yes, at the end of time, the Lord will judge us in accordance to our actions and responses to the needs of the poor and needy. So what have we really done to ease the situation of the poor?

Notice also that I use the word “contribute” and not “cause” because there are indeed so many other contributing factors to our country’s poverty. But whereas it is easiest for us to point to other factors like poor leadership, corrupt government, alleged church interventions (though I don’t subscribe to this viewpoint), poor economic fundamentals, lack of nationalism, wanting for peace and order, the often over-looked factor is our very own selves – our attitude and effort.

Haven’t we noticed that those who are pessimistic about the prospects of our country are mostly those who are passive as well? In contrast, those who are contributing to our nation-building collectively and as an individual are those with more positive outlook and hope for our country. If you think I am pulling your leg, then try talking to a Gawad-Kalinga member or a striving entrepreneur and see for yourself what a positive frame of mind can do to help poverty. These people exemplifies the correct attitude and the right effort to be one of the answer to poverty rather than someone who just questions it.

So the challenge question for us remains – Are we going to be part of those who build or those who just whines and retreats? Are we going to help the poor by striving to be better ourselves or do we just keep questioning God’s presence in it all?

Will I be God’s hand or just a man’s mouth?

The answer and decision is in each one of us.

[acknowledment - Smoky mountain photo taken from Jan Fleiter’s Flickr site]

Going for Gold (Part 2)

I couldn’t take my eyes off the Olympic basketball game gold match between USA and Spain yesterday.

I am a self-confessed NBA fanatic who has been ardently rooting for the USA’s "Redeem Team" to bring back their country at the echelon of basketball supremacy. And with the most talented roster since 1992 and a sweeping sense of invincibility during the preliminary games where they blew each game open wide with 30 plus average winning margin, I was one of those who fool-hardly thought it would be an easy road to victory for them.

I was dead wrong since for most of the game, the Spanish team have dug deep into their steady talents and teamwork in giving the US team not only a good run for their money but a heart-deep scare of overcoming their seeming comfortable lead. In the end, however, it was the American’s will-power, dedicated preparations, familiarity with each other during long trainings and, of course, hoop talents that made the difference as they earned their gold medal win only during the dying minutes of the game.

Some aficionados boldly remarked that the road to their basketball redemption was made even sweeter with that edge-sitting thriller. Well for me, I am just glad they succeeded in their mission. They finally ended the 8 year championship drought and now are back on top where they belong.

Back where they belong.

Hmmmm…

Suddenly, this phrase struck me and made me think about my present relationship with the Lord. It’s been quite a while since my wife and I last participated in our “odd coding” (1^st, 3^rd and 5^th Sundays of each month) Sunday community masses due to social gatherings and outings. It has been quite a while since I have a personally deep conversation with Him, living out on sporadic and distracted prayer times instead. It has been quite a while since I recognized and offer insightful thanksgiving for all His daily blessings that never misses a beat. My daily bonding time with my children is sometimes marred by occasions of temper-flares that I have been struggling to keep under wraps. These are just to name a few.

More than ever, now is really the time for me to shape up and exercise my faith again before it withers and totally dries up. I need to get back up where God’s divine plan meant me to belong. By God’s graces (and mercy), I believe I can.

The truth is, we all can.

Swimming lesson

Yesterday, we have our first swimming outing since my son "slightly" drowned while swimming with my wife's relatives a few months ago. Though it was never life-threatening, it left a bad memory for him that he carried until this day. He refused to change into his swimming trunks and insisted not to join us into the pool.

After some prodding and re-assurance that I will stay by his side always, he hesitantly take a dip and started frolicking in the shallow part until eventually started to enjoy himself more and more with all the water slides and amenities inside the kiddie pool area.

After a few minutes, he was going about by himself while I can only look at him from afar - joyful at how he recovered fast from his fear.

Yes, fear can stagnate us and it will eventually be up to us to conquer it.

But we need not to fear because Somebody is watching over us all the time.

My son taught me that yesterday with clarity.

God bless.

Scraps

Did the Lord really mean it when He said that the food of the children must not be taken away and given to the dogs? Did He just categorically marginalize that Canaanite woman as one outside the household of God and bereft of any grace or blessing that is duly for the people of Israel only?

It is unthinkable and outrageously impossible that His response to the woman was in the same context that it was heard. For it is my firm belief that Jesus would have granted the woman’s wish even without uttering a word because He knew how great her faith was beforehand. But like in many cases, He found the opportunity to teach His disciples a valuable lesson of how an unfaltering faith moves God’s mercy despite the perceived unworthiness of a person. Most, if not everybody, who were with Jesus were overbearingly eager to dismiss the woman as a nuisance that must be shooed away from their way. In the end, her faithful response opened the eyes of the disciples to Jesus’ ways of mercy and love.

If I pause and think about how many granted petitions, be it fervently prayed for or subconsciously wished for, did I have in the past, then I can only bow in great amazement and gratitude before Him realizing how much He has been bestowing His graces and blessings to my family. Healthy and loving parents, God-fearing siblings, completed college studies, passed board examination, good friends, a family of my own, a loving and caring wife, our affectionate kids, a stable work abroad to name a few. Yes, I do have my trying moments but the good ones simply out-ratio the bad ones. Sometimes I do ask myself if I deserve them all. I may not get the exact answer to that question because only God sees me either as a worthy household member of His or, in a higher chance of likelihood, a “dog with faith” who is in the receiving end of His boundless mercy and graces.

Anyway, it is not even important to dwell on that thought. What is of utmost importance now is that I do not become a conceited child of God, who, like the disciples at that moment, see others us unworthy of God’s attention and love. I must remember that no human being is meant to be a “scrap” of the world. What I need to be, is a person who awakens or reminds or rejuvinate other people’s faith and help them feel and be filled with the hope of the Lord in the face of their trials in their lives. This is the essence of God’s blessings in my life.

And so, may we, whether abundant in life or still in want, become, as what St. Francis prayed for during his lifetime, God’s channel of His love, joy and peace.

God bless.

Matthew 15:21-28

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,

“Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!

My daughter is tormented by a demon.”

But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.

Jesus’ disciples came and asked him,

“Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us.”

He said in reply,

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, “Lord, help me.”

He said in reply,

“It is not right to take the food of the children

and throw it to the dogs.”

She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps

that fall from the table of their masters.”

Then Jesus said to her in reply,

“O woman, great is your faith!

Let it be done for you as you wish.”

And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour.

Going for Gold

Three days after the spectacular opening ceremony highlighting the rich ancient history of China was received with exclamatory adulations and awe-amazement from spectators and billions of viewers, the Olympics games were well underway with each country’s representative athletes putting out all their best performances enhanced during their years of practice and trainings. But as in all games, only one will come out on top of the pack to claim the much coveted gold medal – the pinnacle of Olympic dreams.

History will tell us that the Olympic games originated in 1896 from the Athens of Greece where people have been showcasing their athleticism and skills. This international tradition carried out through the years has been, minus a few forgettable incidents, is one glaring proof that humanity can be united in peaceful competition with each other, where we can shed color, race, culture, backgrounds, beliefs and religion to live in harmony with each other. So there is hope for mankind after all.

Now going back to the Olympic games – two things can easily come to mind. First, the gold medal is made possible to be earned because of the holding of the Olympics each cyclic years of four. Second, gold is earned never by sheer luck, but by years of back-breaking and grueling training of each athlete.

Simply put, only the best deserves to win the quest for Olympic gold.

Finishing second and third will merit silver and bronze respectively.

Other than those, trying hard is not given any recognition at all.

Having said that, shouldn’t we all be mighty glad that our salvation isn’t played for like the Olympics? I mean, how could we, certified spiritual weaklings, match up against those big-time clutch and steady-under-the-pressure saints and biblical heroes. To name a few - Abraham offering his only son to be killed, Jacob wrestling with an angel, St. Peter dying a martyr’s death and our very own San Lorenzo Ruiz braving all inflicted and induced pain by their Japanese executioners, the tortures that could easily go away with a simple renunciation of his faith. Our faith compared to these warriors of God will be the most lop-sided over-matched faith competition the world can see.

But God’s ways is mind-bogglingly different from man’s thinking. And God’s gold is meant for all so nobody needs to be left out. Hence, as proof of His universal invitation, He sent our Lord Jesus, His only begotten son, to win the race of salvation for us. He made it possible by offering His most precious blood at the cross.

Needless to say, the work of salvation does not end at Calvary. We have our share to keep, in winning and claiming the top prize of being with Him for eternity. We need to keep on fighting a good fight of faith, notwithstanding personal struggles and tribulations. We need to focus on our goal, our life-mission and ultimately, our heavenly vision. We excitedly must look forward to the day when we can hear God’s almighty voice saying,” Well done, my faithful servant, welcome into my kingdom.”

I have competed well, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – 2 Timothy 4:7

God bless.

Fun times with kids

Teka lang (wait a moment :D)

Here is Maia mastering her name-recall:

me : Say “Daddy”
Maia : Daddy
me : Say “Mommy”
Maia : Mommy
me : Very Good. Now say “Kuya Zek”.
Maia : Teka Tek


Shout for Joy

Here is Kuya Zek’s rendition of Gary Valenciano’s Christian pop hit song “ Shout for Joy”: Notice how he likes bread and toys. :D

Zek : Shout for joy, Sing His bread, Lift your toys unto the Lord.
Shout for joy, Tell Him all about it. Lift your toys unto the Lord.