"From Him, Through Him, To Him” Romans 11:32-34

Gospel of Oct 2, 2011 (Matthew 21:33-43) 
The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants reminds us that we are mere stewards of the life given to us.  In the end, when we die, no matter how much we amass, we cannot bring anything with us.

In the same way, we are but caretakers of our children – our gifts from God. Let me share with you this excerpt from “Life On Purpose for Mothers.”

 The Gift We Give Back

Children are gifts from the Lord, and we are privileged as parents to present them back to Him.  As we train our children in His ways, leading them into His presence, they become beautiful vessels for His use.

The Bible promises us that when we gather together in Jesus’ name, He is in our midst.  Jesus’ presence heals, restores, saves and matures every person who spends time with Him.  From the womb to school graduation and beyond, your child will benefit from time in God’s presence.

As we teach our children, using our words, worshipful music, object lessons, and other teaching tools, we will be blessed to watch their personal relationship with Him grow.  Colossians 1:28 summarizes our ultimate goal:

We warn them and teach them
with all the wisdom God has given us,
for we want to present them to God,
perfect in their relationship to Christ.

As we lovingly feed our children God’s word, their sense of identity and purpose grows.  They become mature in their relationship with Christ.  Then we are privileged to give back to Him the precious gift He gave us – each one complete, whole and perfect in Him.

Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of each one of my children.  Use me, Lord, to lead them into Your presence every day.  I commit to feed them Your Word, their daily bread.  Help me to make the most of every opportunity to teach them Your ways.  Thank You for bringing the Word back to their remembrance each time they need it and for perfecting them and maturing them, in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Like the wicked tenants, it may be too easy to forget that we are simply workers in the vineyard.  After all our hard work and strife, perhaps it might be difficult to return to the Master what is due Him.  The Filipino song Paghahandog nails it so perfectly "...lahat ng ito'y nagmula sa Iyo, muling ihahandog sa Iyo."   Someday, I want to return my boys TO Him, and I want to make Him proud.

Understanding Sacrifice

Gospel of August 28, 2011 (Matthew 16:21-27)
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly

As parents, we only want the best for our children. We want to shield them from all possible harm. (in Filipino parlance, “ni ayaw ngang padapuan ng lamok”)  We begin to think, “if only we can give them everything;” “if only we can be there for them all the time.” And so, we begin to act as bodyguards. We cater to their every desire. Our hearts melt with even a whimper.  WE GIVE IN… even if it means stretching ourselves out too thin. Or sometimes, (like when tantrums become unbearable), WE GIVE IN… because it is the easy way out.

In my work as a pre-school teacher, I see this pattern often. I’ve lost count of how many parents cannot believe how behaved their children are in school. For them it is MAGIC. For me, it’s as simple as laying the rules (well it’s not THAT simple) and showing them who’s the boss (without being bossy, of course). If we are not careful, our children can manipulate us. And if we keep letting them get their way, how can we teach them responsibility and accountability? How do we prepare them for the harder decisions that they have to make in life?

Just think about it…

• If I can’t stop my kids from eating too much candy or junk food now, how can I stop them from turning to alcohol or drugs in the future?
• If I constantly allow them to miss their bed time, how can I stop them from coming home late when they grow up?
• If I do their homework for them now, how can I teach them to be honest and responsible with bigger things?
• If I let them play even when there are schoolwork or house chores to be done, how can I be sure that I am not raising a future bum?

Not just for our kids, but, for us as well… there are three things of note from this week’s Gospel:

Deny yourself.                    Take up your cross.                     Follow Jesus.

Tall tasks, huh?  Just like Peter who couldn’t see with God’s eyes, we, too, find it unfathomable why sacrifice is a part of life. It may not be easy, but then, Jesus assures us, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet loses his soul?"

Jesus Who?

Gospel of August 21, 2011 (Matthew 16:13-20)
Jesus grants Peter the "keys to the kingdom of heaven."

If Jesus came to you today and asked, “Who do you say that I am?” how would you answer?

To be honest, I would probably stammer and hesitate. Like me, you would probably reply with common theoretical answers – He is the son of God, Lord and Savior, the Messiah, etc, etc. To this, Jesus would most likely retort, “But, who am I to you?” Now, how would you respond?

I asked my 9-year old, “How about you, who do you say He is?”

“That’s easy!” he replied. He said, “Jesus is my best friend.”
(I was somehow embarrassed, and thought “Why didn’t I think of that?” Hehe)

I further pressed him, “What makes you say that Jesus is your best friend?” “Are there instances in your life where you felt His friendship?”

“Jesus is my best friend because He helps me when I’m down. He helps me a lot… all the time! When I have a test, I pray to Him, and He helps me. When I buy my Gogo’s (his collectible small figurines), I tell him to pleeeeease help me pick the packs with rare ones. And then, I get really nice Gogo’s! That’s why He is my best friend.”

Awww. The innocence of children is truly remarkable! I thank God that my son has a special relationship with Jesus. 

So parents, what about you? Have you introduced your kids to Jesus? Who do they say He is?

Pause and think…What does Jesus mean to you? If you can’t think of an answer, maybe you ought to get to know Him more. Start today.

Jesus, I believe in You. And I would go, to the ends of the earth

for you alone are the son of God,

and all the world will see that You are God.

Make Me Magnanimous

Gospel of July 24, 2011 (Matthew 14:13-21)
Jesus Feeds the Multitude or The Story of Five Loaves & Two Fish

I still remember the time when I watched every show my little boy watched.  It was also the time when we read every book together, took baths together, went to school together – did practically everything together.  We did that for six whole years.

Those days seems so far away now.  Sadly, it also seems impossible for me to devote that much time to my second child now.  Lately, I often hear myself say to my older son, “Please leave mommy alone for a while.”  Now that he’s nine, there are many things that I expect him to do on his own.  Alas, this expectation that I have of him leads me to push him away whenever he turns to me for help.  And when I am stressed out, (which is often) all his jokes are not funny, his stories are uninteresting, his lingering beside me becomes annoying.  Sigh!  I sometimes regret raising this boy to speak out his mind and share everything with me.

But here is the story of Jesus who feeds the 5000.  His cousin, John the Baptist, has just died.  Jesus is sad and tired.  Like a modern day star avoiding paparazzi, he rides a boat to get away for a while.  But the people are persistent.  They went ahead of him and waited where his boat would dock.  In spite of his grief and stress, Jesus ministered to them and healed the sick.  What a magnanimous person!

MAGNANIMOUS  
loftiness of spirit enabling one to bear trouble calmly, 

to disdain meanness and pettiness,  

and to display a noble generosity, understanding and tolerance.   

from Merriam and Webster 

Magnanimous Mom!  Hmm...not bad for my new super hero name!  And so, I pray: 

Thank you for your example, dear Jesus.  Help me to be magnanimous as You are.  Let me be ready to respond whenever my children need me…no matter how petty their needs are.  Help me rise above my stress and set my woes aside for my child who seeks time with me.  As you have said, “Let the little children come to me,” open my heart to the occasion of spending time with my children even when time is seemingly not enough for me. 

Teach me to be genuinely interested in whatever my children say.  Remind me that what is trivial to me is of great value in their little world.  Admonish me to listen…listen NOW…because as their interests change, their thoughts may be lost and never again whispered.

Help me to encourage independence through modelling and gentle guidance…instead of acting like a troop leader who orders them to grow up.   My Lord, You are slow to anger and of great compassion – touch my heart that I may be more like You.  Amen.

Eyes on the Prize (a second look)

Gospel of July 24, 2011 (Matthew 13:44-52)

It’s Sunday morning. I should be contemplating on today’s Gospel, but I’m still stuck on last week’s.  read Eyes on the Prize

Last summer, my personal project was to make a hanging garden for my preschool. Back then, while my son was busy with his soccer games, I was busy collecting his empty Gatorade bottles (the giant kind). The bottles had a charming shape that I felt would make pretty vessels for hanging plants. I took pains to cut the bottles in half, and to put holes on the sides and bottom. And that was only half the work!

I had to dig in the backyard to get soil for the baby plants. I also labored to get saplings from the plants in our garden, and to help them grow healthy. Needless to say, it took the whole summer (and until yesterday) to keep my plants alive…my very first venture into gardening.

I started bringing my hanging plants last Friday, and then the rest of them yesterday. As I hauled them into the car, I felt a sense of sadness. I will surely miss watering them every morning and pulling weeds out now and then. I will miss running out in the rain to transfer the sensitive plants when they have had enough water. Then, a voice inside me said, “What are you gloating about? You knew all this time that you were doing all these to make a hanging garden for the school.”

At this point, I also remembered last week’s reflection. I am so afraid to let go…but why? I know that it’s heaven that I want to reach. Who doesn’t? If I am preparing myself (and raising my kids) to be able to get there, why hesitate when it's time to go? Ah, it’s all clear to me now. My plants are in their rightful place…and in a sense, they look so heavenly where they are.

And so now, I will continue to strive towards heaven. Someday... though I have to leave everything behind... I know that the Kingdom of God will be worth more than any other treasure I have ever known.

I press on toward the goal
to win the prize for which God has called me
heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14