KERYGMA MAGAZINE
No. 321 Vol. 28
Inspiring You to Live a Fantastic Life MARCH 2017
Allow God to Love You as You Are
Your Identity Determines Your Destiny
Are You and Your Partner TRUE OR FALSE: Financially Compatible?
IS YOUR Learn the 3 B’s of Big Dreams LIFE KERYGMA BARCODE.pdf 11/16/06 5:43:58 PM Philippines P100 US $8.14 AUS $8.14 Euro 5.07 UK 4.49 BASED CDN $7.95 SING $9.42 HK $51.83 ON A RUPIAH 103,000 PEEVEE LIE? MENDOZA A successful young professional shares how she became better by living out her true self Draw Your STRENGTH from God’s WORD. Talk to HIM Daily.
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Success without living for something bigger than your self is meaningless. Yet you cannot be significant without becoming successful simply because you Now cannot give what you do not have. But wherever you AvAilAble! are in life right now — whether you’ve hit rock bottom or longing for something more — let this book be your guide to a life of happy success and significance. Success beyond Success teaches hard-earned lessons from the school of hard knocks. Get out of debt, darkness and despair by strengthening your life’s most important C’s: competence, character and calling. Turn your failures into stepping-stones and become the best that you can be, so you can give the best of yourself to the world. This book will teach you valuable tips on how to achieve and sustain personal success through Life Exercises. Learn about the Law Harvest, the Law of Probability and the Law of the Outliers. It will inspire you to live a life of significance by getting to know yourself and your purpose. Step out of darkness into a better and brighter life fueled by your greatness. Yes, a life of success beyond success is possible. It starts here. www.kerygmabooks.com The Boss
Grow Your Gift
et me share with you my when I was 13 years old. I joined a small prayer story. group and our group leader, Aida Manongdo, a As a teenager, I was mother of six kids, saw something in me. failing in school. I was What did she see? She saw a gift. She saw terrible in sports. I felt I an anointing. She saw something in me that I Lhad no talents. didn’t see. I remember her walking up to me, I didn’t know what to do with my a peepsqueaky, shy, clumsy, awkward 13-year- life. old boy. I was thin. I was not very bright. I was One of my cousins said that with ugly (emphasis on past tense). And bravely, my looks, I should join the movies. I she said, “Bo, God told me that He has given blushed. “Why movies?” I asked. you the gift of wisdom.” He said, “Horror movies need Wisdom? That was my gift? Not drawing? skeletons.” (If you think I’m thin now, Not my horror-movie looks? you should have seen me when I She made me give a talk to our prayer was 12. I was very good in hide and group of 30 persons. It was lousy. But she seek. My playmates would have asked me to talk again and again and again. to hide behind posts and plants. I And the rest is history. didn’t. All I had to do was stand Friend, God gave you a gift. sideways and I’d become invisible.) Why? Because God believes in you. If He Because I knew how to draw, did not believe in you, He wouldn’t have given someone said I should be an you that precious gift to bless the world. architect. I liked the idea of drawing God has entrusted you with a gift so houses — until I learned that you special that if you don’t share it, the world will needed to be good in math to be be a poorer place. an architect. But I didn’t like math. Right now, you may be asking, “Bo, I don’t Attending a math class to me was know what you’re talking about. I don’t have a slightly better than the torture they gift. And if ever I have a gift, it’s not really a do to captured terrorists and slightly gift. I’m not really good in anything.” worse than a root canal without Hear me out: God does not give fruits, anesthesia. So I dropped the whole only seeds. idea of becoming an architect. And The reason you think you have no I asked myself, “What jobs can I do gifts is you’re looking for fruits. Don’t that has nothing to do with math?” look for fruits. Look for seeds. For Someone told me, “You can be little signs of potential that can an illustrator of a comic strip.” blossom into genius. I liked that idea. Because every Grow your gift! day, I read Dennis the Menace, Fan the flame. Snoopy, Beatle Baily, Blondie, and Tarzan. So I started creating my comic May your dreams come true, strips, laughing the entire time. I thoroughly enjoyed my jokes. But when I showed them to my friends, they weren’t laughing. I was lost. I really didn’t know what to do with my life. But God came to my rescue
Kerygma March 2017 1 mailroom
Kerygma gives me a lot of realizations in life. I hope As a student, I am blessed to read your you continue to do such an inspiring work. magazine because it guides me to the right direction. Your topic about wealth Diane Bermejo motivates me to prioritize well and to Naga City, Camarines Sur save for my future. You are like a personal coach that guides me and encourages me to improve. Kerygma teaches me how I can improve my I hope that more young people relationship with God and with my family. I am and college students will be inspired by always blessed whenever I read your magazine Kerygma. You are a blessing! because it gives me hope that everything will be OK in God’s perfect time. Even if the rest of our family Paolo España doesn’t read Kerygma or attend The Feast, I feel like Cebu City we’re becoming closer because I try to apply what I learn as much as I can. Your articles taught me that love should start from me, and by loving them, I am Kerygma makes me look at life in a already introducing Jesus to them. It takes a lot of positive way. The stories of the people effort but I am not giving up. Thank you for being an featured in your magazine assure me that instrument of healing, courage and hope. God is real and He is working in our lives. God bless, Kerygma staff! Thank you, Kerygma! God bless your coming issues. Faith Almazan Parañaque City Michelle Ragos Sto. Domingo, Quezon City
Erratum: We apologize to Ms. BETTY ROXAS-CHUA. whose name we misspelled as “BECKY”on pages 10-11 of our February issue.
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2 Kerygma March 2017 Just Breathe Living by Grace
’ve always believed that finding out God’s will is not rocket science. He delights to make His plan known to us, that’s why He promised that if we ask, we will receive; if we seek, we Ishall find; if we knock, the door will be opened. But for many of us, discovering God’s will remains to be a mystery. Can I share with you some helpful hints that may give you more confidence in discerning whether your decision is aligned with God’s? Three Green Lights to I learned about these three green lights for knowing God’s will when I was growing up in a Catholic community. The first green light isGod’s Word. God’s Will You’ve been praying for a job and, By Rissa Singson Kawpeng still, nothing’s coming your way. It’s not like you haven’t been searching. In fact, The final green light passages regarding my calling. He you’ve been sending out your resumes to know God’s will is even spoke to me through vivid and doing interviews for the last few the peace in your heart. dreams. months. Philippians 4:6-7 says, My circumstances, too, Then one day, you get a call. You got “Have no anxiety at all, confirmed His direction for my life. accepted! But there’s a catch. Your new but in everything, by Our community had just finished job will require you to handle some of prayer and petition, building our center that could the company’s under-the-table dealings. with thanksgiving, make house its servants. I had already But how can you resist? The your requests known to finished college. I was single and compensation they’re offering you is far God. Then the peace of had no obligation to care for beyond what you hoped for. God that surpasses all How can anyone. So you pray, “Lord, is this the job You understanding will guard I got a lot of flak for my decision want for me?” your hearts and minds in you tell to go into full-time service, but I Put your situation against God’s Christ Jesus.” if this set my face like flint and pursued Word and you’ll easily have an answer. When I was 24 years is what God’s calling for my life. I had peace. The Bible is clear when it comes old, I packed my bags Why? Because in my heart, I was to dishonest, underhanded practices. and said goodbye to the Lord sure that it was what God wanted Proverbs 15:27 says, “He who is greedy of my family. It had been a wants for me to do. gain brings ruin on his own house, but he culmination of years of And I’ve never regretted that who hates bribes will live.” prayer and preparation you? decision. But often, Scripture doesn’t directly for full-time service. cover many of the situations we face. It wasn’t easy to Now may the God of peace… that For this we need to consider do. I loved my family. great Shepherd of the sheep, equip the second green light, which is the To make matters more you with everything good for doing circumstances that we find ourselves in. difficult, my dad had just his will, and may he work in us what Aside from His Word, He also speaks to retired from his career as is pleasing to him, through Jesus
Rissa’s outfit courtesy of Elite Garments/Ensembles of Elite courtesy outfit Rissa’s us through practical ways. a commercial pilot. For Christ, to whom be glory for ever and Your dream job is up for grabs but the first time in my life, ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21) one of the requirements is that the Daddy was home. Every applicant is a male. No matter how hard day. It would have been This is an excerpt from the book, Discover my chance to finally Your Inner Beauty Queen, where Rissa writes you pray, if you’re a woman, then it’s about many practical things you can do to pretty clear that it’s not the job for you. bond with him and nurture your spiritual life. Here’s a secret Or you finally found a guy who can make up for lost that few know about this book: even men will understand you. He knows your deepest time. greatly benefit from reading this book! Get But God had your e-book or paperback editions now at needs. He knows what to say at the right www.kerygmabooks.com. E-mail Rissa at time. He also happens to be your parish spoken to me [email protected] or follow her priest. Clearly, the circumstances tell you through many on Facebook. that he is not the man for you. Scripture
Kerygma March 2017 3 about the cover
Priscila Victoria Mendoza, or Peevee to her family and friends, is a graduate of the University of the Philippines - Diliman. She has a degree in Bachelor of Science Major in Business Administration. She served as the vice president for Internal Affairs of UP Junior Marketing Association, one of the premier student organizations in the country. Currently, Peevee works as a licensed broker and property specialist at Ayala Land. Peevee shares her journey of embracing herself — family, skills and uniqueness, stepping out of her comfort zone, and being proud of who she is . To read more about her inspiring testimony, turn to page 29. The Bo March 2017 1 THE BOSS Files Grow Your Gift 48 POINT OF CONTACT
2 Mailroom 12 KFAM INSIDER 19 It Happened Departments 6 DAILY PAUSE Be Like Jesus Light at the End of the 8 New You 14 DEAR K Tunnel 9 Real Stuff 17 fEAST SNAPSHOTS 36 K-techism 10 SPECIAL FEATURE Let Your Journey with The Eight Commandment Kyushu’s Searing God Start at Kergyma 47 oNE LAST STORY Sound of Silence Rizal Grand Feast 2017 The Great Surrender
3 Just Breathe 39 Health & Home Columns Three Green Lights to God’s Will Set Your Eyes on the Prize 38 WEALTH & WISDOM 43 SEASONS Are You and Your Partner Fly High with Hope Financially Compatible? 45 K PREACHER 3 B’s of Big Dreams
Special 23 IntroDUCTION 29 Testimony TRUE OR FALSE: Is Your Life Being Better by Being Me Section Based on a Lie? 31 Teaching 25 Teaching Your Identity Determines Your Allow God to Love You as You Destiny Are
founder and publisher BO SANCHEZ • editor-in-chief RISSA SINGSON KAWPENG • editorial consultant TESS V. ATIENZA • managing editor MAYMAY R. SALVOSA • creative director MIKE CORTES • asst. layout artist LEAH KIM RECTO • graphics director REY DE GUZMAN • staff writers MARJORIE DUTERTE, DINA PECAñA, KRIZELLE TALLADEN • photographer DANIEL SORIANO • columnists FR. RUDY HORST, ROSE FRES FAUSTO, DR. DIDOY LUBATON, BETH MELCHOR, ABEN GARLAN • production asst. ANGIE ESPUERTA chairman of the board and CEO BO SANCHEZ • president HERMIE R. MORELOS • vice-president for corporate services WENG CEQUEÑA • assistant vice- president for production RISSA KAWPENG • production manager TESS V. ATIENZA • sales director JOSEPH MARTINEZ • marketing manager KRISTINE MUTUC • digital operations KARREN RENZ SEñA
Kerygma. A Greek word meaning “Proclamation of the Gospel.” It is a Catholic inspirational magazine. It aims to be an evangelistic tool for all nations, providing Scriptural, practical and orthodox teachings to Catholics, particularly those in the Catholic Renewal, as an alternative to present-day magazines. It is also committed to fostering the renewal and unity of the whole Christian people. Philippine copyright Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc. 2017. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. Published monthly by Shepherd’s Voice Publications, Inc., whose editorial and business offices are located at 60 Chicago St., Cubao, 1109 Quezon City. Tel.: (632) 725-9999, 650-9733, 725-1190, 650-9733 and 881-3082 (Production Department). Fax: 727-5615. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.kerygmabooks.com daily pause with Pope Francis
“Hope is always1 directed to “Let us open2 our heart, “How many different3 ways there the future, to the fulfillment to enable the Holy Spirit, are to pray for our neighbor! They of God’s promises.” scrutinizing our deepest are all valid and accepted by God if aspirations, to purify them and done from the heart.” lead them to fulfillment.”
“We must not let hope abandon us, because God, with His love, walks with us. ‘I hope, because God is 9 beside me’: we can all say “Let us keep this in mind: our 7 “Let us always ask that God’s will this.” 8 own assurance will not save us; be done, as in the Our Father, the only certainty that will save because His will is surely the us is that of hope in God.” greatest good.”
“The message of the Good News entrusted13 to us is urgent. We too must run like the messenger on the mountains, because the world cannot “God shows His14 fidelity and inaugurates “Hope15 is never still; wait, humanity is hungry and a new Kingdom, which gives a new hope hope is always thirsty for justice, truth, peace.” to mankind. And what is this hope? journeying, and it Eternal life.” makes us journey.”
“God the Father comforts by raising up comforters,19 whom He asks to “Life is often a desert, it is encourage the people, His children, difficult21 to walk in life, but by proclaiming that the tribulation “Only20 hope brings if we trust in God it can has ended, affliction has ended, a smile: It is the become beautiful and and sins have been forgiven.” hopeful smile in the wide as a highway.” expectation of finding “What is greater, God or God.” sin? God! And which is victorious to the end? God or sin? God.” 25 “When everything28 seems finished, when faced with many negative “The fulfillment of so realities and faith becomes “Remembering the faithful departed much love will be the very demanding, behold instead the must not cause26 us to forget to also pray 27 Kingdom instituted by beautiful news brought by those for the living, who together with us face Jesus, that Kingdom of swift feet: God is coming to fulfill something new, to establish a the trials of life each day.” forgiveness and peace.” kingdom of peace.”
6 Kerygma March 2017 “Abraham, our father in faith, “This is beautiful in life: to pray, “All of us, living and dead, are in shows us that4 sure trust in thanking and5 praising the Lord, communion,6 that is, as a union; God’s Word does not mean that asking for something, weeping united in the community of those we will not have moments of when there are difficulties.” who have received Baptism, and uncertainty, disappointment and of those who are nourished by the bewilderment.” Body of Christ and form part of the great family of God.” “Praying for the dead is, first and foremost, a11 sign of appreciation “The Lord Jesus has conquered for the witness they have left 10 “Let us commit ourselves to pray evil and has opened the path of life us and the good that they have 12 for us.” done.” for each other so that the corporal and spiritual works of mercy may become ever more the style of our life.”
“Is God able16 to defeat the most “Hope is the virtue serious, most shameful, the most of the17 little ones. The terrible sin, the worst of sins? great ones, those With what weapon does God who are satisfied, do defeat sin? With love! This means not know hope; they “God does not leave us to ourselves.” that ‘God reigns’.” do not know what 18 it is.”
“The true history22 is not the one made by the powerful, but the “God has not abandoned24 His people, and one made by God together with He has not left them to be vanquished by His little ones.” “Hope23 does not evil, because He is faithful, and His grace is disappoint!” greater than sin.”
“God walks with31 us in Jesus, and walking with Him toward the fullness of life gives us the strength to dwell in the present in “Evil will29 not triumph “We are called to become a new way.” forever; there is an end to men and30 women of hope, suffering. Despair is defeated cooperating in the coming of because God is among us.” this Kingdom made of light.”
Kerygma March 2017 7 new you Tips for Personal Development
A reCENT Harvard University study showed that optimistic women had lower risks of dying from major illnesses such as heart disease, cancer Positivity and infection. We may have heard of other researches showing how optimism can lower the risk Linked to of dying from cardiovascular diseases. But this is the first study that associated positive thinking with protection from Long Life major illnesses. Researchers gathered data from 70,000 women who answered survey questions about their health and mental state — including their perceptions during uncertain times in their life. These women were then followed by the researchers for about eight years. During the follow-up period, the women who ranked high for optimism had an overall 29 percent lower risk of dying from any cause. They had a 52 percent lower risk of dying from infection, a 39 percent lower risk of dying from stroke, a 38 percent lower risk of dying from heart or respiratory disease, and a 16 percent lower risk of dying from cancer. Quick Health It’s true that laughter is the best medicine. What’s even truer is that a positive mindset can Tip prevent us from physical problems. Choose to be optimistic now and live longer! Jackfruit, locally known as langka, is a tropical fruit Source: http://www.realsimple.com/ that is considered one of the largest tree-borne fruits in the world. Its soft, easily digestible flesh Du o yo feel like you’re in the wrong career? Think or bulbs are made up of again. Even if you don’t feel like it, your work right now simple sugars that give might be the best place to spend most of your time in energy and revitalize a day. 11 Signs the body. The dietary Here are some signs that might tell you that you’re fiber in jackfruit is also a in the right job: You’re in good bulk laxative and 1. Your boss strikes the balance between being helps protect the colon nice and being able to challenge you to strive for more. the Right from cancer-causing 2. Your coworkers are more like friends. chemicals. This fruit also 3. You have enough time for your loved ones Job contains vitamins A, C, — and yourself (also known as work-life B-complex, and minerals balance). such as potassium, 4. Time flies at work and you’re getting a lot of magnesium, manganese work done. and iron. 5. You challenge yourself and take risks. 6. You are calm on Sundays and excited about Source: http://www.nutrition-and-you.com/ Mondays. 7. You keep sharing about positive and funny work stories to others. 8. Your organization’s doing well. 9. You’re fine with boring but necessary tasks. 10. Your salary is an honest reflection of the value you bring to your company. 11. You want your boss’s job.
http://www.businessinsider.com/
8 Kerygma March 2017 real stuff
Chinese Catholics Follow Saints-at-a-Glance Pope Francis’ Laudato si Saint Seraphina P arisHIONERS of the Eastern Hangzhou Diocese in Eastern China held Feast Day: March 12 its first-ever charity bazaar at the square of the Immaculate Conception Church Seraphina was born to a poor family in on December 18, 2016. This might sound San Gimignano, Italy, and was known for her acts of penance and self-denial like a usual activity for Filipinos during as a young girl. Her parents died early December but the aim of this bazaar was but they witnessed her being a helpful to spread environmental awareness child, doing household chores and among Catholics in response to Pope assisting her mother to spin and sew. Her Francis’ encyclical on environment, youthful beauty vanished because of an Laudato Si. unknown illness that deformed her eyes, The organizers collected 300 feet and hands, and paralyzed her whole reusable items that included electronic body. Despite her condition, she devoted products, books, clothes, and other herself to St. Gregory the Great who later warned her of the day of her death items to sell in the bazaar. In turn, they through a dream. were able to raise 3,000 yuan (US$432) and collect 11 other boxes of goods Source: http://www.catholic.org/ for the benefit of two Catholic NGOs that help the needy in northern Hebei province. The bazaar resulted from the discussions about creative evangelization and promotion of environmental protection. Some participants also shared that it made them reflect on their consumption habits.
Source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/
PFope rancis will be visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal from May 12 to 13 this year Po pe Francis to Visit to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions of Fatima. Fatima in May The Pope accepted the invitation of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the bishops of Portugal to go on a pilgrimage to the Shrine. But even before this invitation, Pope Francis said that he had already intended to go to Fatima. The Marian apparitions of Fatima first began when three young siblings reportedly saw the Virgin Mary on May 13, 1917 and continued until October 13, 1917. Later, these apparitions were validated by the Catholic Church. Pope Francis will be the fourth pope to visit the Marian shrine, the first three of whom were Blessed Paul VI, Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
Source: http://www.cbcpnews.com/
Kerygma March 2017 9 Special feature
became a spiritual experience because of the visits to several hidden Christian sites in the Kyushu’s region. “And the vision that was planted in my brain Searing Sound Still remains Within the sound of silence.”
Saint Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Society of of Silence Jesus, first planted the seed By Tessa Mangahas of Catholic worship into the unchartered territories of Japan in 1550. For a while, the Jesuit missionaries enjoyed the patronage of feudal lords. They sowed the vision of Christianity in the minds of the early Japanese Christians. It was not long, however, before the Japanese leaders felt threatened by the rapid spread of Christianity and began persecuting the faithful. Thus the saga of the Kakure Kirishitan or the Hidden Christians of Japan began. The Japanese Christians’ faith survived 250 years of horrendous forms of torture and persecution. We saw some of the sites where the persecution took place: Gaspar Nishi’s burial place, the so-called “Unzen Hells” where Christians were thrown into scorching springs, the monuments of St. Thomas Nishi and our very own San Lorenzo Ruiz, and more. Christian martyrdom is most recently watched a cherished when you smell Against all odds. film titledTrolls which The song conveyed the the sulfur along with the The remains of resurrected the hit song, epiphany I had during a trip heat and steam from earth, Kasuga village to the Kyushu region in Japan. where Christians “The Sound of Silence.” a feeling that can be aptly hid during the While the singer and While we had time to do the described as hellish. It’s easy usual touristy things such as persecution. Ithe arrangement were fairly to imagine Christian martyrs savor succulent Hirado beef being thrown into these “hell new, the song maintained the and full-blown Japanese meals, springs.” haunting quality of the Simon try our hand at noodle making, But even intense and Garfunkel original. taste local sweets gobomochi persecution can have an and kasudosu, and delve into upside. It drove the faithful “Hello darkness, my old friend more authentic Japanese to express their belief in a I’ve come to talk with you again cultural experiences courtesy creative, albeit, furtive manner. Because a vision softly creeping of our generous hosts from Tucked within the Left its seeds while I was Japan Discovery, the trip also tranquil, hard-to-reach hills sleeping.”
10 Kerygma March 2017 of the Kyushu region, we saw seem to be Buddhist on the who emerged from hiding and a smattering of churches that outside. introduced themselves to Fr. were so low-key and austere- Thanksgiving. Bernard Petitjean, a French The silence of the burning As part of our trip, looking that you could hardly faith of the Japanese Christians we celebrated the Catholic priest. It signified that recognize these as places of is also mirrored in Yamada Holy Eucharist at Christianity had not been wiped worship, like the European Church. The missionaries Kamikozaki Church, out by the 250 years of torture basilicas and cathedrals. But it and the converts used art as a safe place for and persecution. Pope Pius IX was in these simple churches a creative expression of their the early Japanese called it a “miracle of faith.” where Japanese Christians faith. The multi-layered ceilings Christians. The Hidden Christians nurtured their faith and secretly display an amazing tapestry persisted in their religion practiced their devotion. of colorful and rare butterfly regardless of their wings. circumstances. We breathlessly “People talking without speaking, In addition, there are also clambered up what remained People hearing without listening, the Ono and Shitsu churches of the Kasuga Village where People writing songs that voices located at the outskirts of they fled to hide and eventually never share Nagasaki City. It is said that both got executed. We saw the Shimabara Church dedicated And no one dare edifices were built by French to the martyrs of the Shimabara Disturb the sound of silence.” priest Father De Rotz, as a refuge for many hidden Christians. rebellion, a savage slaughter of Catholic peasants by Japanese Tabira Church, a UNESCO soldiers. In their homes, they Heritage site, stands on the “Hear my words that I might even had secret rooms for hills of Hirado in the Nagasaki teach you their worship. Even the female Prefecture. Even if the Take my arms that I might reach Buddhist image of mercy had a persecution has long ended, you” crucifix etched on its back! Sanryo, our guide, informed us that church attendance Oura Cathedral, the oldest remains low because Japanese church in Japan, was built “But my words like silent Christians had gotten used to to honor the 26 martyrs of raindrops fell worshiping God in the privacy the country. They formed a and echoed of their homes — while they motley group of Christians in the wells of silence.”
The Kyushu trip was both an eye opener and a challenging call. It taught me Miracle of faith. Oura Cathedral is that faith can live and burn in a mighty testimony the hearts of people even in that faith can the darkness and persecution. prevail even over I came back from the Kyushu the toughest oppression. trip resolved to live out a kind of faith that truly, deeply and madly endures — against all odds.
Kerygma March 2017 11 Kfam insider
Be Like Jesus: The LOJF Grand Leaders Assembly 2017
By Krizelle Talladen Photos by The Feast Manila Media Ministry
Be humble. Cardinal Tagle emphasized the need to remain humble in the mission.
he Light of Jesus Family (LOJF) held its Grand Leaders Assembly (GLA) for 2017 titled “The Next Top Model” inspired by 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am in Christ.” The GLA was held on January 7, Saturday, from 8 Ta.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the PICC Reception Hall, Pasay City. The event was attended by the preacher-builders, Light Group heads and ministry heads of the different Feasts (the weekly prayer meeting of LOJF), including the Feast Video emissaries (those who head Feasts where they watch a video of Bo Sanchez preaching instead of a live preacher), from the Philippines and abroad. Everybody was dressed in their fashionable OOTD (outfit of the day) in twins. They were welcomed by energetic ushers who acted like the huddling paparazzi when celebrities arrive in an awards night. An explosive opening marked the start of the GLA as the Feast builders ramp-modeled one by one on stage while servants from their respective Feasts cheered them and youth dancers grooved to the beat. Worship followed, which set the servants’ ablaze, preparing them for the activities that morning.
Two Main Points in Becoming Like Jesus The first speaker was none other than His Eminence Cardinal Luis Antonio “Chito” Tagle, archbishop of Manila and president of Caritas Internationalis. His intelligent but entertaining talk highlighted two main points in becoming like Jesus. The first point is to learn from the meek, humble and loving ways of Jesus. The second point is to be ready
12 Kerygma March 2017 to be sent like lambs in the midst of wolves. Woven into his homily were heartwarming and inspiring stories from his experience as bishop and president of Caritas. After Cardinal Tagle’s talk, the leaders were asked to form small groups and reflect on the question, “In your situation, what do you need to learn more from Jesus?”
TWINNING = WINNING + JESUS Obet Cabrillas, builder of the two host Feasts for the GLA, The Feast Manila and The Feast Valle Verde, came to speak next. His powerful talk focused on retraining the minds of leaders to see the potential in everyone and to erase doubt and fear when serving. He also reiterated that “twinning is winning” with Jesus symbolized by the letter “T.” Within Obet’s talk, Philip Sumera and Erika Mendoza shared their testimony through a video about how their lives were changed from being simple Feast attendees to servant leaders because of the dedication of Obet and his wife, Joie, who were like Jesus to them. Obet proudly announced after that Philip and Erika would be stepping down from their leadership roles to be full-time disciplers, just like Obet and Joie. The attendees broke into groups for sharing after this talk, with the guide question, “How will you be a model of Jesus to the world?”
The SOFA by the BOss Bo Sanchez, founder and leader of LOJF, gave the State of the Family Address (SOFA) after the break. He reiterated the goal of the community to be a movement grounded in love and humility as its two core values. Bo also highlighted some of the 21 Leadership Beliefs of LOJ which reminded the servant leaders of the call to be disciples who build loving relationships with the unchurched and the youth; the need for innovation, empowerment and succession; and encouraging the multiplication of smaller Feasts without prejudice to the large ones.
Passing the Baton, Anointing of Leaders and More In the latter part of the program, Bo recognized Rudy Mallari, who stepped down as Feast Video director after 30 years of service; and Pio Español, who turned over his position as director of Feast International to Vic Español, builder of Feast Ortigas. Bo prayed over the two leaders as well as all the builders who were present in the event. The builders in turn anointed their fellow Feast servant leaders. Each of them were given souvenirs, one of which was a compact mirror which would remind them to see themselves as the face of Jesus to others. The GLA 2017 concluded with a powerful worship, a photo opportunity with Bo Sanchez per Feast District, and distribution of Bo’s books for free. Though broken and imperfect, the LOJ leaders pledge to continue the mission to be disciples of love for others, especially the weary and the unchurched.
Kerygma March 2017 13 Dear K Is Exorcism True?
I’ve watched a lot of films about exorcism and I’m beginning to wonder how it works. Is everyone allowed to cast out evil spirits from another person? Is it different from a simple pray-over? How do we know if it’s an authentic experience or just psychological? Lastly, I’ve read that the devil is afraid of Mama Mary, but it was criticized by many unbelievers. Since I am a Marian devotee, I want to defend my faith and know more. Thank you.
Nympha
Dear Nympha, phenomenon such as laughter, screams, footsteps, The answer to your question is simple and clear: YES. scratching sounds, shadowy figures, unusual Jesus and His disciples frequently speak of temperature shifts, windows and doors that open possession, and so has the Church in every year and close, and objects that disappear and reappear in of every century. So there is no doubt that such a other parts of the house. The remedy for infestation phenomena exists. Certainly possession is not as is typically a house blessing or a Mass said on the common in our day, and there are also instances premises. where a medical condition may be mistaken for Unlike infestation, oppression is personal in possession and vice versa, but this does not take nature insofar as the demonic activity focuses on away the fact that demonic possession, and the need a person. It particularly manifests itself through for exorcism, exists. In our day, cases of possession physical attacks which can take the form of blows, or appear to be most common among people who scratches to the skin. The remedy for oppression is involve themselves in the occult, witchcraft, and the prayers of deliverance. like. The last and most invasive extraordinary Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “When the diabolical activity is possession. Possession occurs Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name when Satan, some demon or a number of them take of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected over a person’s body without their knowledge or against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn consent. This activity arises as a result of divinations, from his dominion; it is called exorcism” (CCC 1673). witchcraft and black magic and may include the use There are different stages of demonic activity. of the Ouija board, tarot cards, fortune telling, voodoo, Infestation, which is the least invasive, is the satanic rituals and particularly violent video games. All influence of diabolical activity in a particular object, of these provide an invitation for demonic influence. place, or home. This type of activity is directed The only remedy is exorcism. to things. It may manifest itself in unexplained Exorcisms need the permission of the bishop and
14 Kerygma March 2017 a careful medical examination to exclude the possibility of mental illness. But what if one cannot ask the bishop’s permission? Once during a Mass, I observed a commotion in the first pew. After the celebration, some young people approached to tell me that their friend was possessed. They asked me to exorcise her. I thought it was a psychological problem so I went to the girl and prayed over her. Nothing happened. She shouted and uttered words in a strange voice. When she screamed, “Water!” I went into the sacristy and got a glass of water. She drank and demanded, “More!” I went back and filled the same glass with holy water. When she put it to her lips, she screamed as if it was boiling water and threw the glass away! Now I was sure that it was not a psychological case but possession. I prayed the prayer of exorcism over her, three times. Finally she calmed down a bit. One of her friends suggested that we bring her to the statue of Mary and we did. Then we urged her to say, “Mary,” and, “Jesus.” After trying to pronounce the two names for about 10 minutes, she was able to clearly say, “Jesus, Mama Mary.” And then she was completely normal again. She had said that demons were waiting for her outside the church. But after we prayed for her, she went out and nothing happened. I think this personal experience answers your questions, Nympha, and also about whether the devil is afraid of Mary.
Blessings, Fr. Rudy
When Fr. Rudy Horst came to the Philippines in 1984, he was first assigned to the Immaculate Conception Parish in Cubao. It was where he came in contact with the still young Light of Jesus Family. In 1990, he moved to Christ the King Mission Seminary, where he now serves as head spiritual director of the seminarians and teaches Religious Education. He also teaches Holy Scriptures at the Maryhill School of Theology and the Divine Word School of Theology in Tagaytay.
E-mail your questions to [email protected]. Or if you need to talk to someone, call (632) 726-4709 or 726-6728 to contact a Light of Jesus Pastoral Care Center counselor. Pastoral counseling by telephone is 24 hours from Monday to Friday, and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Face-to-face pastoral counseling is by appointment. For correspondence pastoral counseling, e-mail [email protected] or go to www.kerygmafamily.com. or Call (632) 725-999
Kerygma March 2017 15 Your Age Is a Blessing!
What season are you in?
You go through different seasons in your lifetime. Each season is beautiful and gives you special gifts. Are you ready to receive them?
Bestselling author Bo Sanchez invites you to unwrap and appreciate life’s gift-laden seasons in his new book Enjoy Your Age.
Let Bo’s easy-to-understand prose and practical yet heaven- sent wisdom guide you through life’s different seasons and teach you the right response for each:
• You plant during SPRING. • You work during SUMMER. • You harvest during AUTUMN. • You renew during WINTER.
Whatever season you’re in, Bo encourages you through this book to live near the Blesser.
Turn the page and take a step closer to God, the source of all life seasons’ blessings.
PUBLICATIONS, INC. www.kerygmabooks.com
ENJOY YOUR AGE! fullpage ad.indd 1 11/25/16 11:09 AM Feast Snapshots
he Feast Rizal District will once again hold its Let Your annual Kerygma Rizal Grand TFeast on April 8, 2017 at the Journey with Ynares Center, Antipolo, Rizal. Now on its 4th year, the event entitled “Journey” will God Start at feature no less than Light of Jesus Family (LOJF) founder, Bo Sanchez, and two other Kerygma Rizal powerful preachers, Alvin Barcelona of The Feast Bay Area and Dan “Tisoy” Caudill Grand Feast of The Feast Montalban. As in previous years, the Kerygma Rizal Grand Feast 2017 aims to reach out to all Christian brothers and sisters and share with them the power of God’s love as He abundantly blesses every By Mauie Flores aspect of their lives. Through the powerful inspirational talks of its featured preachers, (Prayer Group), and The Feast Valley Fair Town Center–Taytay that the event hopes to spiritually serves as the district’s headquarters. nourish attendees and Tickets are for sale in all The Feast Rizal venues. Ticket prices are True shepherd. spur them to deepen their as follows: VIP (Php 300), Box (Php 200), Gallery and Praise Pit (Php Bo Sanchez, 100). For inquiries and sponsorships, you may contact the Kerygma founder of the relationship with the Lord. LOJF, continues Moreover, the organizers Rizal Grand Feast 2017 Secretariat through e-mail (rizalgrandfeast@ to lead his promise a more exciting feastrizal.com) or phone (0920-5701552). flock in their experience with Jesus this journey to freedom and year, especially for the youth success. Join with a “praise pit” where they him at The can freely dance and rejoice Kerygma Rizal in the Lord as the event closes Grand Feast 2017. with a grand worship concert. The Kerygma Rizal Grand Feast 2017 is also a district- wide event organized and led by united servants of all the Feasts in the Rizal district. Currently, The Feast Rizal is composed of: The Feast Robinsons Place–Antipolo, The Feast Binangonan, The Feast Sta. Lucia East–Cainta, The Feast Queen Mary Help of Christians Hospital-Cardona, The Feast Blue Wave –Marikina, The Feast Saint Anne Child Study Center–Montalban, The Feast Ortigas Extension–Pasig
Kerygma March 2017 17 When Your Family Is Far from Perfect Every now and then, we get stuck with issues and problems that make our family imperfect. Sometimes it seems like downright hell!
Our family means the world to us, but they’re the same people who can easily get on our nerves. We want to improve the situation, but the very people we want to help are part of the system that keeps us trapped.
So how on earth can we understand and embrace our far-from-perfect family? Finally, here’s a book that points us where our relationships have gone wrong, what we can do to revamp them and what goals to aim for to have a perfectly imperfect family we all dream of.
Family Goals: Embracing the Imperfections of Family Life will give practical and wise lessons to help you:
• Confront sticky issues and conflicts that tear your family apart • Increase your intimacy with your mate • Apply healthy ways of coping with life’s stresses, especially those that attack your family’s well-being • Have crucial conversations with your kids and teens on growing up pains, sexuality and other issues in our digital age • Maneuver through critical family matters that will inspire you to deliberately work for your family goals so you can go from OK to great!
Take all of these from the family life expert, wife and mother herself, Michele S. Alignay.
www.kerygmabooks.com
FAMILY GOALS fullpage ad.indd 1 11/28/16 4:34 PM It happened
he sound of consecutive gunshots interrupted my sleep. The wall clock said it was four in the morning, an hour before my alarm clock should ring. I remembered the gunshots and Light at the I felt a shiver down my spine. I reached out Tto embrace my mother who always slept beside me, but her side of the bed was empty. “Maybe she’s already in the kitchen,” I thought. As I prepared to go back to sleep, a scream downstairs broke the silence. I immediately got End of the up, ran down the stairs, and rushed to where the voice came from. My feet brought me to the kitchen where my mother’s cousin, who was living with us, stood in a state of shock, her eyes fixed on the floor. When I followed her gaze, I saw a bloodied body and I felt my heart pierced a Tunnel thousand times. I was right. My mom was in the kitchen, but she An unknown father, a wouldn’t be able to finish whatever she was preparing for breakfast. My mom was dead. murdered mother and the The investigation revealed that my mom died of multiple gunshots. My young mind tried to absorb tortuous route that led me to everything, but everything was a blur. One minute I was grieving, the next moment I was angry. I didn’t know who God to turn to or believe in. At 15, I became an orphan. Can life be any more miserable than this?
Fatherless Home “You wrote it, didn’t you? You’re pathetic,” my classmate told me after I finished reciting a declamation piece. I was in Grade 3 then, and my piece was about a girl who was longing for her father. “I wonder where you got your confidence to come to school without a father. It’s a shame,” she continued then walked away. I was startled. Honestly, I couldn’t relate to the words of the writer because I was fine. I looked around the room and searched for my only parent — my mother. I saw her coming towards me, smiling, but her eyes betrayed her. I saw how tired she was because of another sleepless night working as a seamstress. I embraced her tightly, as tears escaped from my eyes. In my heart, I knew I was embracing everything that could complete my life. But the words of my classmate resounded in my ears, so for the first time, I blurted out the question that I’d never cared to know the answer. “Where’s Dad?” I felt my mom stiffen. She knelt in front of me, looked straight into my eyes, and flashed a sad smile. “Am I not By Nicole* as told to Maymay R. Salvosa enough?” my heroine asked back. That moment, I learned the unspoken rule between us: Never ask again about the father whose name and face I didn’t even know. There were times when I would get curious, but I’d just brush it off and face each day contented with my mother’s presence. *not her real name
Kerygma March 2017 19 Family Feud be there, but her pleading fell on deaf ears. But an absentee father wasn’t Everyone literally shut us out. the only “glitch” in my family. We never heard from them since then. I met my two aunts and cousins when I was already On My Own 12 years old. My grandfather My mom worked double time after that was very ill and he wanted incident. She put up a tailoring shop and to see us. We went to the toiled day and night. Sometimes, I would province and there I received see her wipe away sweat — and tears — in the coldest treatment ever. the middle of the night. Our aunts didn’t bother to call I exerted more effort in my studies, us during mealtime, didn’t too. I skipped bonding with friends and inform us about the healing devoted time to reading my lectures in service for my grandfather, advance and helping in house chores. and never let us inside his Whenever my mother beamed with pride room unless he insisted. and gratitude, all my weariness would One time, I saw my fade away. I couldn’t wait to graduate from The Big Reveal cousins playing in the garden high school so I could pursue my dream of Years went by so fast with just me and Tita so I joined them. Immediately, being a doctor, especially that I was sure I Lellie. She managed my mom’s business my younger cousin threw her would finish with flying colors. I couldn’t while I focused on my studies. I graduated doll at me and yelled that I wait to give back to my mom. cum laude and easily landed a managerial didn’t belong to their family. But before I could even march for post in an international bank. I was the Her mom came to us and graduation, my mother — my bestfriend, my youngest in the management team. I pushed me aside, calling me strength, my inspiration — was killed inside considered my workplace an extended a jinx. Aunt Mira* grabbed my our own home. What reason do I have to home where I really belonged. hair and responded in rage, keep on fighting? To keep on living? I just came from another weekend “You and your mother are not Life became dark after my mother’s getaway when Tita Lellie informed me part of this family. If not for death. Food was tasteless. Every morning that someone was waiting for me. I saw Dad, we wouldn’t even spend felt like a nightmare. Every second a familiar but miserable-looking woman a second speaking to you. seemed like a punishment. I had nothing inside our home. I tried to recall where we Since childhood, your mother but questions for God. “Why did You let it met, but I couldn’t remember anything. has brought us nothing but happen? Who did it to my mom? Why did it Until she spoke to me. humiliation!” have to be her?” I held and called on to God, “Nicole…” Her voice fluttered. Buried I knew that my aunt but all I received was silence. God must have memories came rushing in at the sound was lying. Tita Lellie*, my abandoned me, too. of her voice, as if they happened only mother’s cousin who took I strived hard after my high school yesterday. Almost in an instant, I felt the care of me, would always graduation. Tita Lellie and I moved to pain of someone pulling my hair, of being boast of how intelligent Mom a new apartment to help me cope with driven away from our grandfather’s house, was as a student. She even loneliness. One of the top universities in of being an unwanted family member. I told me that Mom was my the country granted me a scholarship in remembered the anguish in my mother’s grandparents’ favorite, even business administration, so I changed plans. face when she couldn’t embrace her father up to my lola’s last breath. I committed my 100 percent to my studies. for one last time. Anger consumed me, and My grandfather passed I topped all my classes and was a consistent it took a lot of will power to fight the urge to away a few weeks later, but dean’s lister. Some of my schoolmates called slap and scream at the woman in front of we never got a chance to me a nerd but I didn’t mind. Every time the me. It was my Aunt Mira. grieve properly. The day after smiling face of my mom would cross my “What are you doing here?” I asked in my grandfather died, our mind, I’d grab a book and convince myself an indignant tone. aunts ganged up on us and that I wanted to please her. I repressed my Aunt Mira burst into tears, knelt in drove us out of the house. My emotions by being very busy — too busy front of me and embraced my legs. I took mom fought for her right to that I even forgot God. her hands off my legs and stepped away
20 Kerygma March 2017 over the loss of my mom, the betrayal of I didn’t respond to her. her sister, the unjust treatment that our I was shaking in anger but I relatives gave us, for God’s abandonment couldn’t find the strength to in my life. The speaker then told us that if argue or hurt her. I couldn’t there’s one person who had all the reasons bear hearing her words any to avenge, it’s Jesus. He experienced all longer, so I ran away. And kinds of humiliation, insults and betrayals, but He chose to forgive. Jesus teaches us out of all the many clubs that there’s freedom in forgiveness. and parks that I passed by, I cried upon hearing those words. I ended up sitting inside a “I’m sorry, Lord…” was all I could say. I church, pouring my heart apologized for rebeling against Him, for out to the Man on the cross. not trusting His ways. I apologized for the way I lived. We were in an airconditioned Back to My Father room, but I felt a gentle breeze surrounding Aunt Mira kept visiting me my body, as if embracing me. It was on the days that followed. comforting. It was real. I let God embrace She would bring meals, but me that moment, and I let go of all the resentments in my heart. I realized that from her. She carelessly sat on I never accepted anything, He’s the Father who never left my side and the floor, crying uncontrollably, saying she might poison me. I thought helped me survive through it all. her eyes fixed on mine. She was of bringing her to the police, but one When I got home, I found my Aunt mumbling words but I couldn’t of my cousins came and told me Mira waiting for me as usual. It must be understand her. All I could make that their mom was going through God’s grace, because all I felt when I saw out of her lines was, “Sorry.” After a severe depression. According to them, her was compassion. Her guilt caused few more uncomfortable seconds, sometimes she would just scream, or her to age beyond her years. Even though I turned to leave. cry, or endlessly say, “I’m sorry.” Not she’s not in jail, she was imprisoned by her “It was me!” bad. It’s already a consolation to know past and her conscience. I walked towards I stopped on my tracks. how much she’s suffering because of her, placed my hand on her shoulder and sincerely told her, “I forgive you.” I looked at her again, and this her ill actions. An inexplainable joy saturated my time her head was bowed down. I also kept visiting the chapel. That’s heart as soon as I said those words — my Every part of my body suddenly where I escaped from the presence Father in heaven must be smiling at me. quivered, perhaps my mind and of my relatives and the demands of heart already knew what she was work. I could no longer deliver well in A Sister to All about to confess. the company. I missed my mom and It’s been four years since I accepted God “I ordered someone to follow even the father I never had. Aunt Mira as my Father and forgave our relatives. My you and your mom. To observe admitted that she’s the reason why my relationship with them is still a work-in- her routine, and… and…” she parents separated, until my father died progress, but we’re learning every day. We wailed again, unable to complete in an accident. I wasn’t sure if I should gather together during family events and try to make the most out of our time. her sentence. believe her. I didn’t know what to do Few months after the retreat, I started I felt all the blood in my anymore. The only thing I was certain serving in the parish, which led me to body surging. “You killed my of was I didn’t want to forgive. a Charismatic community. I’ve come to mom, didn’t you! You killed Eventually, the chapel caretaker appreciate how much God loves me, and her!” I screamed at her, my fists approached me and handed me an I try my best to extend the same love clenched. “How could you?!” invitation for the parish’s Lenten retreat. especially to young professionals. I gained “I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” she Since I had nowhere to go, I joined, a bigger family, and a greater sense of without realizing that it would be the reached out to me but I stepped purpose. I didn’t expect that after living turning point of my life. in the darkness for so long, there’ll still be back. I didn’t want her dirty During the retreat, one of the hands to touch me. “I was eaten light waiting for me. There is truly light speakers discussed the power of at the end of the tunnel. Today I have up by envy, greed and jealousy. I forgiveness. He asked us to think of the committed to journey with people who wanted our parents’ love and their people who hurt us and the faces of feel stuck and couldn’t find their way out. inheritance. I was obsessed to see my relatives came to my mind. As I sat Just like how my Father accompanied her fall down.” there, I allowed myself to grieve again me to true joy and freedom.
Kerygma March 2017 21
Special Section INTRODUCTION
TRUE OR FALSE: IS YOUR LIFE BASED ON A LIE? By Bo Sanchez
Kerygma March 2017 23 on’t hide who for your skin color, let me tell you sake of my personal safety, that you are. about my sister’s wedding many information shall be kept in a secret Let me years ago. vault that can only be opened after tell you one I was still in my twenties. I my death. of the greatest remember standing in front of the Can I now shift gears? mysteries of the altar, beside the groom, eagerly Sorry, this article isn’t about Dworld. waiting for his bride. When she makeup. (I’ll reserve my eyeliner A woman puts on blush- finally appeared and started walking and blush-on techniques for another on, mascara, eyebrow pencil, down the aisle, I noticed that my day.) eyeliner, eye shadow, eyelashes, would-be brother-in-law suddenly This article is about enjoying lipstick, lip gloss and powder. entered into a catatonic state. His who you are. Then turns to her husband and eyes had this blank stare, his mouth About being you and celebrating asks, “Honey, do I look natural?” ajar, his body motionless, until I God’s beautiful creation. Now tell me, how does a snapped my finger in front of his So what if you’re too thin, too husband answer that without face. stout, too tall, too short, too round, being hit on the head by Shaking off the shock, he too rectangular, too hexagonical? inanimate flying objects? swallowed hard and asked me a When my wife was a child, her Hey, I’m not against question I wished I recorded for his classmates teased her by calling makeup. future children and grandchildren her “Headlights” because of her I think it boils down to to hear. humongous eyes. And she would inner attitude: By putting He mumbled, “Is she… uh… your cry buckets of tears, wondering why makeup on, are you covering sister?” God made her that way. stuff that you’re ashamed of? Or I bit my lip. “I don’t know. She Twenty years later, in my are you expressing the beauty has so much paint, er, I mean, office, a young woman came in. that you believe is you? makeup on.” I finally shrugged and Immediately, I noticed her lovely Now before I give you told him, “When she comes closer, round eyes. I was smitten. Thank advice on eyeliner techniques, just ask her name.” God for headlights. how to highlight your You may be wondering who Don’t hide. Don’t pretend. Don’t cheekbones, and what various among my sisters I’m referring to be someone else. hues of blush-on you can use since I have five of them. For the Be you. Be happy. Live!
24 Kerygma March 2017 Special Section Teaching
Allow God to Love You
as You Are
By Bo Sanchez
Kerygma March 2017 25 Spec ial Section
any people today enjoy hiding behind their social media accounts. They mask their pain with smiling posts, bury their insecurities with their latest Mgadgets, and conceal who they really are. Remember this line from a popular song? You’re amazing just the way you are… God sings this line to you. In His eyes, you’re amazing. Here’s the truth: Deep within you, you already are beautiful. Because you’re made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). You are already holy. All you need to do is to bring out God’s beauty and holiness within you. Manifest it. Today, I’d like to share with you the powerful story of how Jesus turned water into wine. In this incredible story, you’ll find four powerful truths that will change your life forever.
A Very Unique Miracle One day, Jesus attended a wedding party. Out of the 37 miracles that Jesus performed, this miracle was very unique.
Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother of wine, the host family would desperation. was there, and Jesus and his disciples had lose face. It would be a big God doesn’t shrug off your also been invited to the wedding. When the embarrassment. problems and say, “Don’t bother wine had given out, Jesus’ mother said to C’mon. Doesn’t God have me with your feelings. I have him, “They are out of wine.” (John 2:1-3) more important things to do? more important things to do.” It could have been easy That’s not God. God is a God Wedding receptions today normally last for for Jesus to tell the hosts, who says, “If it’s important to two hours; some may stretch to four. But four hours “You ran out of wine. Tough you, it’s important to me.” is nothing compared to ancient Middle Eastern luck. Swallow your pride. Serve weddings. A wedding reception during the time of iced tea.” 2. Allow God to Satisfy Your Jesus lasted for seven days. He didn’t do that. Jesus met Deepest Needs For seven straight days, guests live in your them where they were. One day, someone asked me, house and camp out in your backyard. No wonder Friend, God meets you “Bo, so many come to you they ran out of wine. where you are now. seeking for help, asking for But Jesus transformed water into wine. What is God saying? He’s prayers, pouring their problems In the same way, God wants to turn your telling you, “If it’s important to to you. Don’t you ever get ordinary into extraordinary. God wants to turn your you, then it’s important to me.” burdened?” mess into a miracle. Perhaps you have a broken I get burdened, yes, but not How? heart. Perhaps you’re worried for too long. Here’s my secret: Do these four things: about your kids. Perhaps I know that on my own, I can’t you’re growing old and you’re satisfy their needs. So I point 1. Allow God to Meet You Where You Are worried that you’re not yet them to Jesus. Why was this a unique miracle? married. Perhaps you’re Mary teaches us the Almost all the miracles of Jesus were about afraid about your increasing same principle. Mary knew meeting a very real physical need: Jesus healed the debts. Perhaps you’re sad she couldn’t turn water into blind, lame, deaf, paralyzed… And two times, Jesus because of some rejection you wine. She had to ask Jesus to multiplied bread because people were hungry. had lately. do that. Why? Mary was an But to provide wine for a wedding party? God meets you where intercessor. (And she still is.) This was a social need. More specifically, it was you are right now, in your At the end of the day, we’re an emotional need. If the wedding party ran out pain, in your worries, in your all intercessors. Because we
26 Kerygma March 2017 Here’s why: You’ve got to offer bought it at the hardware store to something. hold up my shower curtain.” God can create something This is our problem: We’re out of nothing, but that’s not holding onto the pole of others how He likes to work. He takes instead of holding the pole of something weak and makes the bus. We’re depending on it strong. He takes something people instead of depending on damaged and makes it Jesus. People are unstable. People perfect. He takes something will make mistakes. People will fail unholy and makes it holy. you. Expect that. If we depend on Water is a symbol of your God for our deepest needs, it won’t work, your love, your service, bother us too much. your effort, your sweat, your Married person, your spouse — struggles, your tears. In other no matter how fantastic — can never words, water is a symbol of your satisfy your deepest needs. Only God life. can do that. And wine is a symbol of the Child, your parents — no matter Holy Spirit. how loving — can never satisfy your Only God can turn your water deepest needs. Only God can do that. into wine, your imperfect work Friend, your best friends — no into His work, your inadequate matter how wonderful — can never love into God’s love, your satisfy your deepest needs. Only God damaged life into God’s life. can do that. Only God can make you holy. Followers, your leaders — no matter how heroic — can never 4. Allow God to Love You as You satisfy your deepest needs. Only God can’t meet the deepest needs of the Are can do that. people we love. So we point them to Let me shock you. Holiness isn’t Yes, I’m the leader of Light of Jesus. Always. primarily about loving God. That’s Jesus Family. And I love my flock. But Why? We can give water. Only God only a response. Almost like a let me make this announcement can give wine. side effect. loud and clear: I can only give you Your love will never satisfy the People think holiness is water. Only God can give you wine! deepest longings of your husband, about praying, attending church, or your wife, or your kids, or your or reading the Bible. All that is 3. Allow God to Transform friends. You need to point them to God’s important. But holiness is not Something in You Love. Only God’s Love is perfect. about doing something, but Jesus could have gotten empty Here’s an important lesson in allowing something to happen to jars, snapped His finger, and voila — human relationships: Don’t expect you. created heavenly wine. from human beings what only God Holiness isn’t about working He didn’t do that. Instead, He had can provide. The reason why we’re so for God. It’s about God working in the jars filled with water. frustrated with people is because we you. Holiness isn’t about loving want from them what only God can give God. Holiness is about God loving Jesus said to the servants, “Fill to us. you. these jars with water.” They Let me give you a crazy analogy. People think saints are filled them to the brim, and people who love God. Actually, then he told them, “Now draw You’re Holding the Wrong Pole they’re people who allow God to some water out and take it While riding the bus, a woman caught a love them. And loving God just to the man in charge of the man staring at her. He was holding onto follows automatically. feast.” They took him the the same pole as she was. Finally, he Because you can’t give what water, which now had turned said, “Excuse me. This is my stop.” you don’t have. into wine, and he tasted it. He Since she wasn’t blocking the way, St. Francis of Assisi is my called the bridegroom and she was confused. favorite saint. And one of my said to him, “…you have “Go ahead,” she said. favorite stories of St. Francis was kept the best wine until “This is my pole,” he said. when he was walking with his now!” (John 2:7-10) The mother was totally confused friend Brother Leo. until the young man added, “I just While walking through
Kerygma March 2017 27 Spec ial Section a field of flowers, all of a sudden, without any warning, Francis covered his ears and started running, all the while screaming, “Stop talking to me!” Alarmed, Brother Leo ran after him. Finally, he saw Francis sitting by a rock, catching his breath. Leo asked him, “Master, who was talking to you? I didn’t hear anyone!” Francis said, “The flowers. They were talking to me.” Brother Leo’s jaw dropped. The flowers? Has his leader gone loco? He asked a foolish question, “Brother Francis, what did the flowers say?” Francis said, “I heard the flowers say, ‘Francis, Francis, we But I still try to receive God’s out, God-made resources will are in bloom because God knew love in everything I see. appear. you were going to pass by.’” Paolo Veronese’s I see God’s love when my Here’s my belief. Every so Francis was a saint because The Wedding sons and I play together. at Cana (Public often, you need to push yourself everywhere he looked, he saw I see God’s love when I have Domain, https:// beyond the border of what is God loving him. my date with my lovely wife. commons. possible. Every so often, you I repeat: Saints are saints wikimedia.org) I see God’s love when I need to enter the realm of the because they know how to laugh with my friends over impossible. Because if you stay receive God’s love. And they pizza. in the easy level, you’ll never allow that love to overwhelm I see God’s love everywhere. grow. And God will have no stage them, overpower them, and Receive God’s love more! to perform His miracles. transform their lives forever. Let me end with one last You need to dream God- I tried to become like message… sized dreams that can only Francis. I remember doing happen if you receive God-sized crazy things as a teenager. When Your Resources Run blessings. If you dream man-sized When the sun was hot, I’d Out, Rejoice! dreams, then you don’t need God. walk in the sunshine and say, There were two kinds of wine Today, let your limitations “Thank You, Lord, I feel the used in this party: man-made open up to His leadership. Let warmth of Your love right now.” wine and God-made wine. your mess open up to His When it was raining, I’d get Thank God that the man- miracles. totally wet in the downpour and made wine ran out. I repeat. There were two say, “Thank You, Lord, that Your Otherwise, the God-made kinds of wine in the party. Man- love is like the rain falling from wine wouldn’t have appeared. made wine and God-made wine. the sky!” In the same way, there’ll Friend, are you tired of man- When I passed by garbage be days when your resources made wine in your life? and it stunk, I didn’t avoid it. I’d will run out. When your own Let God-made wine — the actually smell it and say, “Thank strength will run out. When Holy Spirit — work in your life You, Lord, that despite the your own ideas will run today. garbage in my life, You still love out. When your human Surrender and embrace the me and stay with me. connections will run out. When truth of your beautiful identity: I was nuts then. your own money will run out. You are God’s beloved child. Three decades later, I don’t If they run out, do that anymore. When it rains, I rejoice! When resources run E-mail Bo at bosanchez@kerygmafamily. open my umbrella. com.
28 Kerygma March 2017 Spec ial Section | Testimony
Fulfilled. Peevee discovers that the secret to living her purpose is by being who she is.
henever I watch my dad, Rex Mendoza, speak to a crowd — whether it’s a small group or an audience of thousands — someone would always Wtell me how lucky I am to be his daughter. He is a brilliant, credible and eloquent speaker who has a way of connecting to every single Being Better person whenever he delivers a talk. His passion is evident — and believe me when I say that he has an awesome talent for motivating and inspiring people. I don’t remember exactly when my by Being Me insecurities started, but there was a point in By Peevee my life when I had that lingering feeling of not Mendoza being good enough. Surrounded by a family of achievers, it was hard not to compare myself to them.
Kerygma March 2017 29 Spec ial Section | Testimony
Living in the Shadow with his talks, but I would prefer pen to paper. I wrote down everything in my Even as a young girl, I had communicating with small head, trying to make sense of it all. I listed my already formed my own groups where I can listen, interact strengths, weaknesses, goals in life and many definition of success — the same and give my own advice. Advice other things. People I look up to, like Mr. Edward one that my dad defined for that, as I have heard, made a Lee of COL Financial and other Mastermind me. He’s a great entrepreneur, difference in some of my friends’ mentors from Bo Sanchez’s Truly Rich Club, intelligent investor and was lives. I learned that there will gave me valuable advice. I discerned and a highly respected corporate always be people we look up to — prayed, asking for God’s guidance because I executive. His achievement in like our parents, siblings, friends know that He created all of us with a purpose. all three aspects of business and mentors. But sometimes we I’ll never forget the night I discovered inspired me, and I wanted to be look up to these people so much something significant and life-changing about just like him. and want to be like them, that we myself. As I went over my list, I realized that But having great parents forget who we really are. climbing the corporate ladder wasn’t something like them equated to having that fit the puzzle anymore. Being an employee very big shoes to fill. Performing Personality and Purpose wasn’t aligned with my personality, my likes below average meant I was I entered Mondelez International, and preferences in a career. It contradicted my inadequate because the one of the world’s largest snacks aspirations and I had to redefine my idea of expectations were naturally companies, as a fresh graduate. I success. The shackles limited me, and I had to high. But when I did well, it was excited over my first job. In break free. I had to change it to something that was because my parents were the marketing electives I took in fit me, not my dad or anyone else. The passage outstanding so it was already college, fast-moving consumer from Jeremiah 29:11 came alive for me: “For I expected of me. goods (FMCG) companies like know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, I realized later on that the Mondelez were always featured plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a difficulty of having parents in our business cases. future and a hope.” like mine stemmed from my Months into the job, I started own insecurities and the to question if it was the career I Embracing Who I Am expectations I put on myself. really wanted. Most of my friends Beautiful things happened when I allowed Looking back, while others were also in various FMCG myself to embrace who I really am. There was a would make comparisons, companies, so wouldn’t it be a distinct kind of joy and fulfillment from creating the ones that affected me the lucrative path for me too? I was so my own vision and accomplishing things I’m most were my own thoughts lost at that time, dragging myself truly passionate about. and feelings. My parents out of bed every morning, and not After Mondelez, I joined Ayala Land unconditionally supported me knowing how to move forward. Sales, Inc. as a property specialist, selling the in all my endeavors, and they My thoughts were muddled, and company’s condominium, land and commercial always assured me that the I felt like I was going in circles projects. I also took and passed the real effort I exert on any task was thinking of my situation. estate broker examination last year. Initially, I more important than its results. It was at this time that I somehow struggled again about being under My dad could inspire thousands decided to take action and put my dad’s imaginary shadow because he used to hold a high position in the company. However, Caption title. Lorem I found that with a stronger sense of self and ipsum dolor sit genuine confidence in my abilities, it was a lot amet lorem ipsum easier to tune this out and continue doing what dolor sit amet I loved. I honestly feel that I am where I want to be and am meant to be here. This empowered me more and gave me the conviction that I am indeed fulfilling my potential. There will always be times when we are faced with the temptation of wanting to be someone else because we feel that this is better than who we truly are. I strongly believe in improving one’s self based on our identity, instead of wearing a mask that covers us. We were created uniquely, all in God’s image and likeness, with a purpose meant to empower us to become the best versions of ourselves and not anyone else.
30 Kerygma March 2017 Special Section Teaching
Your Identity Determines Your Destiny By Marc Lopez
hat you see (in the identity you present to people most of like to please people. mirror) is what you the time. Mel is a doctor, Jeff is a tennis These are still descriptions of get. What matters player, Tom owns the black Ferarri. my social identity, of how I appear in most is not how You choose your social identity. front of others. Beneath what you see others see you, but You express yourself through the outside is the “deeper me.” That is my Whow you truly see yourself. Who are clothes you wear, the stuff you own, personal identity. It is how I feel about you when you are all alone? When no the things you do. Underneath your myself when the noise fades. It is who one is watching? social identity is your personal I really am when no one is around. How you see yourself determines identity. how you allow people to treat you. Source of Your Personal Identity How you see yourself dictates what Personal Identity Your social identity is how people see you expect from others, from life, If you meet me for the first time, I will you. Your personal identity is how from God. present to you my social identity: “Hi, you see yourself. This is formed by Are you clear about who you are? I’m Marc. I’m a school principal. I’m significant experiences in the past as Who are you? married. I have kids.” well as the present. An event with a As you get to know me better, you strong emotional impact often Social Identity will observe that I am a stickler for determines it. You have a social identity. This is a time. That I think in terms of black or In my case, my personal identity description of yourself based on what white, right or wrong. I avoid getting was formed at birth. I’m the third you do and what you have. This is the into conflicts as much as possible. I child in a family of four boys. When
Kerygma March 2017 31 Spec ial Section
Mom was pregnant with me, ultrasounds were not yet available to determine a baby’s gender. Intuitively, she felt she was going to have a girl. She had the nursery painted pink. She bought baby girl clothes. So when I came out and her obstetrician told her she was having another boy, she was devastated. In her words, “I cried in disappointment: ‘Another boy!’” On the very first day of my life, my own mother rejected me. That formed my personal identity: “I am unwanted.” I found out about this birth experience only in my late 30s when Mom casually shared it with me. I grew up always feeling loved. I never noticed any form of favoritism in our family. Yet that short month when my mom sacrifice my comfort, privileges you are, be aware of it. Do not hide felt disappointed left a strong and rights just so people would the feeling. Feelings are neither imprint on my identity. I grew like me. right nor wrong. This deep feeling up making sure I was pleasing to If that was the impact of you have about yourself is your her. I was referred to as the good my mom’s rejection of me, how personal identity. This is what son, the boy who “never got into much more for children who drives you to do, to have, to relate. trouble.” are unwanted from conception It determines the quality of your That was my social identity by an unwed mother or a rape life, the direction you are headed growing up. I unconsciously victim, or children who are for. maintained that reputation abandoned or left for adoption? Your personal identity into adulthood. My spiritual Childhood experiences are is what motivates you. It is director once told me, “You powerful. either propelling you to a life of have a scrupulous conscience.” greatness, or it is a lid that keeps Everything was either black or Take the Test you trapped in a big glass jar you white. I always made sure I was What is your personal identity? call “my life.” on the side of the right and the Silence is a good test. Are You’ll be surprised. Some good. I couldn’t stand being in you comfortable with silence or people can appear to “have it the middle or on the gray side. A do you avoid it? all” outside. But beyond the fake friend of mine often complains, Try this out. Look at smiles and the applause, deep “You can be very legalistic.” yourself in the mirror. Stare at down inside their personal Why? Because deep down, yourself for a minute or two. Do identity is: “I am unlovable.” That’s my personal identity was “I am you like what you see? What is why they are driven to do more unwanted.” I strove to be good, to the deepest feeling you have and to be more in the hope of be right and to be wanted. about yourself? Complete the being loved. Being good was a matter of statement: “I am ______.” On the contrary, some people survival! Blessed? Loved? Privileged? have nothing much going for Sometimes I’d catch myself Lucky? Favored? them but feel really good about being a people pleaser and a Or I am… themselves. They might see conflict coward. I was afraid Disabled? Ugly? Unworthy? themselves as: “I am blessed.” to rock the boat or that people Impure? Abused? Cursed? A What past or present event wouldn’t like me for being failure? has had the greatest emotional demanding or saying no. I would Whatever it is you truly feel impact on you?
32 Kerygma March 2017 You are more than what child! you do or what you have. St. Paul explains this outrageous love: “God You are not what you did or proves his love for us in that while we were still what was done to you. sinners Christ died for us.” You did not qualify for You have a spiritual identity. God’s love by something you did, or something you have. God simply loves you as you are. Even at Who You Truly Are your very worst! “Our Father.” I have prayed God does not call us His “creation.” He calls us those two words thousands of His “children!” times. St. John says, “See what love the Father has The meaning of those bestowed on us that we may be called the children words forever changed when of God. Yet so we are.” my wife, Margot, and I had our Nothing you did, will do, have or feel, will ever firstborn. change that. Our two-hour-old baby, Nothing that anyone has done to you or Nicole, lay sleeping in the will do to you can change that truth. “For I am hospital nursery, cozy in her convinced that neither death nor life, neither crib. I stood outside gazing at angels nor demons, neither the present nor the her. She looked so adorable! future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, I felt overwhelmed by my nor anything else in all creation, will be able to immense love for this tiny, separate us from the love of God that is in Christ beautiful being. Jesus our Lord.” In my heart, I told her, You are God’s beloved child. As a child, were you the “Nicole Isabel, I will do anything That is who you truly are! favorite? Were you always to keep you safe. I will die for chosen? you.” My feelings turned into Ten Over Ten Were you the “popular tears. I once asked God, “If I am Your child, why do I not one”? “I love you. I always will. experience ‘fullness of life,’ the ten-over-ten life Or were you the black Nothing will ever make me stop You promised to those who believe in You?” sheep? The ugly duckling? The loving you.” I received God’s answer through this true story. unwanted? A glass window separated Cecilia, my mom, taught me how to pray. Not Did you feel secure? us physically, but we had an just by words, but by her example. I saw her faith Accepted? Cherished? inseparable bond. The bond of a in action. In her generosity, her fearless honesty. In Or were you abused? father and his child. her love for Dad, family and country. Through her Abandoned? Betrayed? I felt the same bond with life of faith, God redefined “fullness of life” for me. What was the most every child Margot and I were On a Wednesday morning, September 18, 1991, significant event that happened blessed with after Nicole. Lance, Manolito, my eldest brother, woke me up. to you lately? Gian, Carmeli, Nathan, Anton. “Marc, get up and pray. CP has been Did you receive a I love them all so dearly — kidnapped,” he said. promotion? Did you just get differently but equally! “Is this for real?” I asked myself. CP was our married? Have you attained a “Father.” I know now what youngest brother. He was 17 years old, on his very life-long dream? the word means. first semester in college. Or are you going through a When God looks at you, He Just six days earlier, we had dinner together painful separation? Did you do does not see His creation. He to celebrate my birthday. And today he was something unforgivable? Did beholds His child! kidnapped? you get yourself into something “My child.” That is how God “Lord, I believe in You. But if something you can’t get out of? Are you sees you. happens to CP, I don’t know if I can keep loving buried in debt? Have you failed “Beloved.” That is how He You.” That was my prayer and I never forgot it. again and again? feels about you. We stormed heaven with our prayers. Family, The answers to these God is crazy about you! relatives and friends would visit us and pray with questions define your personal It has nothing to do with us from morning till evening. identity. what you have or what you do, CP was a well-loved student leader in his high Be aware of it. what you did or what was done school, so his principal had asked his entire school Because you can change to you. It’s all about simply being to pray every day until he was safely released. what you are aware of. who you are — God’s beloved Mom’s Christian witnessing became more
Kerygma March 2017 33 Spec ial Section
policemen to trail me…” The line went dead. There was no communication for the next couple of days. And then one evening, they made a very short call: “Pick up your son’s body in Valenzuela, Bulacan.” Dad was shocked, speechless. Mom responded with faith, “The Lord’s words for me were very clear today: CP is coming home. They are bluffing. He has escaped!” Three hours later, policemen found a body in Valenzuela, a city 20 kilometers away from Manila. They wanted Dad to identify it. Our uncle, Tranquilino, who was very fond of CP, volunteered to go to Valenzuela on Dad’s behalf. He called Dad an hour later, crying. CP was dead. Mom’s prayer was answered. She evident to me as we waited instructions not to involve the police. Our heard God right. CP would come home each day for CP’s release. “He uncle assured us, “They will keep watch that day. But not into her arms. He went is going to come home. That is from a distance. Your dad won’t even home to the arms of our heavenly Father. God’s promise to me,” she told know of the police’s presence.” I was beside Mom when she received us. She had this sense of inner Dad received a call from the the news. She screamed and pleaded to peace amidst the outward kidnappers to go to a certain gas station God in anguish, “Lord, please take me agony of waiting. and await further instructions. When he home with CP! Please take me home with On the day Dad was to got there, a street vendor handed him a him.” deliver the ransom money, I note that instructed him to go to another slipped a Bible with a note for location. He followed the lead. This Fullness of Life his kidnappers into the money continued, until about the third or fourth Is my mom a child of God? Yes. bag. The note said, “God accepts stop. There was no note. No call. Is she a beneficiary of Jesus’ abundant U-turns. He loves you. Come Dad waited for over an hour. He life? Yes. back to Him.” sensed something had gone wrong. Then why did God allow her to suffer Their instructions were He asked the driver to turn back the such agony? Why did He seem deaf to our simple. “No harm will come to car. While exiting the street, a car met prayers? your son. Just do as we tell you. them. The car’s driver lowered his window. Devotional writer Oswald Chambers Do not involve the police. Drop So did Dad. explains why when he said, “God has off the money at our specified “Mr. Lopez, we are policemen assigned only one intended destiny for mankind — location.” to protect you. Did you get to meet the holiness. His only goal is to produce saints. Dad left to deliver the kidnappers?” the policeman in the other God is not some eternal blessing machine money accompanied only by car asked. for people to use, and He did not come an office driver. Dad was furious. The kidnappers to save us out of pity. He came to save us As soon as he left, must have been observing if he was because He created us to be holy.” Tranquilino, my mom’s brother, being followed. When they saw the police Every answer God gives us in prayer asked us, “Do you want me trailing behind him, they aborted the is meant to make us holy. Fullness of life to request policemen to keep ransom exchange. does not always mean more wealth, more watch over your dad? He Four hours after, Dad received a call. health, more happiness. might be at risk of also being “You did not keep your end of the deal,” the Fullness of life means full of Christ. kidnapped.” Mom and my two voice on the line said. The murder of my brother CP brought brothers agreed. I reminded “My sons feared for my safety,” Dad my mom closer to Jesus. them of the kidnappers’ tried to explain, “I did not know they asked CP was not just her son — he was the youngest and the closest to her at
34 Kerygma March 2017 that time. While we were all off to college, CP kept Mom company as often as he could. My grandmother once asked her, “Why do you always travel with your sons?” Mom replied, “I would go crazy if I lost any of them!” Mom thought she would go insane with grief when CP was murdered. Instead she grew deeper in intimacy with Jesus. Amidst the pain, she was surprised to experience His “peace that surpasses all understanding.” During CP’s wake, we heard stories about his I always thought fullness of life meant vibrant How much of my life is kindness. A poor lady visited physical health, overflowing wealth, a life of filled with Christ. It is His life Mom and shared how she first unending happiness. in me that makes life on this met him when his high school But health, wealth and a problem-free life is not side of heaven “complete” and class visited their slum area to what completes us. Christ alone completes. Christ assures me of unending life, share some food and clothing. alone perfects. like CP’s, in the hereafter. “We never saw his classmates Yes, some people are miraculously healed. Is your life less than a 10? again. But CP would come Some debts are supernaturally paid off. Some Let Him free you. Let Him every month bringing my prayers are answered in amazing ways. But bad heal you. Let Him complete family a bag of groceries. He things can still happen to good people. Fullness you. stopped only when he left for of life has nothing to do with our physical Surrender your life to college.” circumstances. It has everything to do with our Jesus and let Him complete Nuns shared how he spiritual state. St. Paul was beheaded, St. Peter your life now and eternally. secretly donated money to was crucified, many of our saints were martyred. Pray: Jesus Christ, forgive their community from the Christian blood is still being spilled today for the me for all my sins. I reject proceeds of his backyard sake of the Gospel. CP, who gave his life completely Satan and his works. I accept garden and poultry business. to Christ, was murdered at 17. You as my Savior. I surrender We also heard stories of Fullness of life means Christ perfects your life to You as my Lord. I receive conversions. Of friends and now and extends that perfection to eternity. Your Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit, set relatives that were drawn me free. Cleanse me. Fill me. closer to God as a result of Surrender Renew my life. his death. Of a priest whose Three days after we buried CP, I visited his grave. I Come with Your power. vocation was nurtured. went not so much to grieve as to reflect on what God Father, I thank You that in As I went through CP’s could do to a life that was made completely His. Jesus Christ, I am now Your belongings, I came across a CP’s remains were encased in a tomb, but he beloved child, complete in letter he wrote to God during was no longer there. He was more alive than ever. Him. Amen. a retreat months before he Not in our fond memories of him, but in spirit, in If you have sincerely was murdered. He prayed for Christ! prayed this prayer, your life Mom and Dad, and ended On his gravestone, Mom placed this verse: has just been fully reset. Your with a short line of complete “Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and life is now a 10! surrender: “Thy will be done dies, it remains but a grain of wheat; but if it dies it Believe and proclaim for my life, Lord!” produces much fruit” (John 12:24). I sensed Jesus who you truly are: I am God’s CP’s life taught me what speaking in my heart, “CP lived for only 17 years, but beloved child! fullness of life really means. A he gave Me his all. What about you, Marc?” I am complete in Christ! life completely surrendered to I was awakened to the truth, that what matters Christ. A life full of Christ. A life most is not how much time I spend on earth, but Excerpt from Marc’s book, Hit Your where Jesus is 10 over 10. how much I have loved. Life’s Reset Button, available at www. kerygmabooks.com.
Kerygma March 2017 35 36 Kerygma March 2017 K-techism
The Eighth Commandment: You Shall Not Bear False Witness Against Your Neighbor By Chit Mercado
he Ten Commandments entire property, family and livelihood, or members of the human community that God gave to Moses both. That is why the punishment for a and as disciples of Christ. Thus Christ on Mt. Sinai — what the witness, if proven to be lying, was death. proclaimed before Pilate: ‘The reason Jews referred to as the (See the story of Jezebel in 1 Kings 21 I was born, the reason why I came Law — are not merely who incited two people to falsely accuse into the world, is to testify to the truth’ Tan authoritarian and repressive list Naboth so that he would be put to death (John 18,37).” of do’s and don’ts that belong only and she could acquire his vineyard. We Filipinos value one who is to the Old Testament. They were Or the story of Susanna in the book of honest in speaking and acting. We given to guide God’s chosen people Daniel.) reject pretense (pagkukunwari), in all their relationships to God The Catechism of the Catholic Church empty words and promises (palabas and neighbor. They “constitute the says, “We are to ‘love our neighbour’ by lang, pakitang-tao), or double-faced basic imperatives needed for life in respecting their honor and good name persons (doble-cara), and overacting. community, like a community ‘Bill in our everyday speech. Truth envelops Dishonesty and hypocrisy are of Rights,’ to show what righteous our whole being. There is the truth of condemned because...they can turn living was in God’s sight, the way of our thoughts, when they correspond a persons’s whole life into a “living life which leads to happiness (CCC to reality and are not erroneous; the lie”(Catechism for Filipino Catholics 2058-61, CFC 870). truth of our words when we honestly 1219). We like to be with people we In this light, the Eighth declare what we really thinking and can trust (kapalagayang-loob, derecho Commandment is not merely are not lying; the truth of our actions ang bituka, napagkakatiwalaan). a prohibition against lying. The that corresponds to our words, so we This commandment is not consequences are grave and far are not hypocrites who say one thing intended to limit us. It is an invitation reaching. In the Old Testament, and do another... Each kind of truth — for us to be better and more loving the justice system relied on the our thoughts, words, actions — relates persons. Let us become the very testimony of two witnesses to to others and like our very persons is person we want other people to be. convict a person of a criminal or essentially relational. Truth is not our civil offense. A false testimony private possession. It is the center, the E-mail Chit at [email protected]. could cost a person his life or his meaning and the goal of our lives as
Kerygma March 2017 37 I Wealth &Wisdom 38 respondents do not know the I conducted, majority of the they’re getting into. without really knowing what sign into apermanent contract And almost always, people one pocket, one pool of assets. remind us. You become also wedding ceremonies always in heart, mind and soul,asour partner become one, not only Philippines, you and your marriage contract here inthe Money! what the top cause of conflict is? of arguments. Canyou guess ranked on top inthe frequency love to their partners, but also Kerygma one inexpressing their Philippines ranked number 10 countries inAsia, the relationship index among n arecent survey on In amini-informal survey When you enter into a A re youandyourpartner financially compatible? M arch 2017 Post-Valentine Question: Gains (CPG). Partnership of the Conjugal is governed by your marriage prior to July 6, 1987, If you got married Partnership of Gains of Property vs. Conjugal The Absolute Community they are getting into. marriage understand what that couples considering days, it isof utmost importance with the rate of separations these or no properties to consider. But young couple inlove with little because we were the typical a vague idea about it. Maybe contract years 27 ago with only and Isigned our marriage couple. Honestly, my husband of their properties asamarried laws that govern the ownership
By Rose Fres Fausto 1. the ACP: part of the ACP. bought while still single willform from your ancestors, and those you that even those that you inherited during the marriage. Thismeans marriage and those they acquire the properties they bring into the and wife become co-owners of all (ACP). Under thislaw, the husband Absolute Community Property Philippines isgoverned by the the Family Code, marriage inthe pool. likewise form partof the common spouse during the marriage will properties acquired by either conjugal property. Then allother form partof the common pool or previously acquired properties will fruits or income derived from these prior to the marriage. Only the ownership of properties owned Under thislaw, the spousesretain 2.
There are three exceptions to Starting July 6, 1987 under still go to the personal property considered jewelry those so Expensive bags are not yet that jewelry forms partof ACP. ACP anymore. Note, however, not have to form partof the clothes, underwear, etc. do exclusive use. Ofcourse, your child. ownership exclusive to the wedding inorder to keep the their biological child after the wealthy families donating to part of the ACP. I’ve heard of the donation forms also if the donor stipulates that given to either spouse, except in layman’s language, donation marriage by gratuitous title or, P P category. roperty for personal and roperties acquired during the 3. Property acquired before the marriage by either spouse who haslegitimate marriage and the fruits or descendants by aformer Continued onpage 40 I disposition, with asmile on I instantly felt her positive each other after three months. of her health. We agreed to see empowered she isto take care wants to live her life, and how she wants to feel, how she have avision for herself, how healing. Iencouraged her to relational, and spiritual for her physical, emotional, and walked through plans talked for almost two hours do anything to get well. We possible. She was willing to and happy for aslong as shecrisis so could live healthy to recover from her health difficulty. her feet and she walked with of injury. She had edema on kidneys were showing signs was way too high and her her, her blood sugar level years now. When Ifirst saw diabetes for anumber of mee hashad adult onset Last week, Isaw her again. She said that she wanted connected to me that she more. She told and she walked exercise routine daily. She created an hours of uninterrupted sleep schedule of seven to eight was faithful to her sleeping less carbohydrates. She fruits and vegetables and of her nutrition, eating more recovery. She took control she did for her remarkable progress. She narrated to me what diabetes control. levels. The numbers show fantastic functions were inthe also normal from 12.40 to 7.40. Her kidney past three months) dropped also result sugar (blood control for the high of 392 to just 107. Her HbA1c her blood sugar dropped from a me her blood test results, Isaw that carried herself. When she showed recovery was visible inthe way she no more difficulty in walking. Her her face. noticed Ialso that she had I c ommended Imee for her
Set Your EyesonthePrize
By Dr. Didoy Lubaton Health &Home pursuing our fullnessof health. happiness. enduring success, wealth, and the more we ourselves set upfor The more we thinklong term, to reach our dreams and goals. discipline, sacrifice, and even pain helps usto bearthe necessary the prize, we keep our focus. That who are inthe same situation. healing journey to inspire others as she hasstarted to share her wantsalso to beahealer too, and healthy with her family. She vision of growing old gracefully what kept her going was her to her discipline. and Iasked her secret to sticking more that she shared. Igot curious husband. There was much so people more, especially with her May we beunrelenting in When we keep our eyes on Don’t ThemYou Let Lose (How to Take Care of Yourself You So Can Take Care of Others , available at www.kerygmabooks.com. Know Dr. Didoywrote abook titled, more about him at www.didoymd. com. Kerygma
She said that M arch 2017 39 Wealth & Wisdom Continued from page 38
understand these important matters. Attend seminars and workshops on couple compatibility. We bother a lot about preparing for our wedding. It’s a big production number and most couples hire all sorts of wedding specialists, suppliers and whatnot. They spend around a million pesos for a day’s pageantry. I think they ought to spend more time, energy and resources in preparing for the marriage itself. And for the romantics, I hate to burst your bubble, but the money part is way too important to ignore, regardless of your financial condition. It’s a sensitive matter that may eventually involve beyond the married couple so it’s better settled prior to “I do.” income of such property. habits and common financial goals. It is There are many more things to having the same financial belief and value discuss about this topic, but I’ll stop Back in the early ‘90s, system. here to allow you to digest the above a lawyer friend told me the But are there really two people who discussion. Tell me what else you want story of his wealthy friend share the same money values? The answer to know about this topic and I’ll tackle who consulted with him prior to that is pretty much the same as when them in future articles. to marrying her D.I. (dance we’re considering compatibility in the other For the meantime, couples out instructor) boyfriend. She aspects in a relationship. You don’t have to there should ask the question, “Are we recognized the huge gap in their possess identical ones but similar values are financially compatible?” If the answer financial conditions but didn’t important because, remember, you two will is no and you’re about to get married, want to hurt the boyfriend become one when married. Ask questions it may be worth to take a pause and by being too detailed in the like: What are your spiritual beliefs? What work on your differences before you prenuptial agreement. So what are your core values? Do you like kids? How’s take the plunge. If you’re already my friend advised was this: Just your relationship with your parents? What married and the answer is still a no, sign an agreement that simply are your goals in life? What kind of life do you then please have a heart-to-heart talk states, “This marriage shall want to live? What do you stand for? to reconcile your differences. Start be governed by the Conjugal Getting your financial acts together is a with your financial goals and make Partnership of Gains.” must prior to marriage. the necessary adjustments. This way, Clear and simple, no need it does not become an attack on the to enumerate which property When Should You Start Discussing Money spending habits of the partners but a goes to what pool, and it as a Couple? way to achieve your goals together. reduces the risk of hurting They say there are no-no topics on your first Cheers to a financially happy anyone due to sensitivities on date, like past relationships, political beliefs, union! the issue of money. religion and money. We avoid these because they are too polarizing and too personal. But Rose Fres Fausto is an investment What Is Financial if you’re already on your nth date and getting banker turned full-time homemaker Compatibility? interested in each other, I think you have and now a writer and speaker. She wrote Financial compatibility is not so to talk about something else aside from the two books, Raising Pinoy Boys and much about having the same weather and other trivial topics. It’s time to The Retelling of the Richest Man in net asset value (total assets talk about the things that matter in building a Babylon (English and Filipino versions). minus total liabilities) prior to strong relationship. She’s also a behavioral economist marriage, although that would Prior to that, keen observation is key. and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach. be a big help because no one You can see how your partner is in these Follow her on Facebook and YouTube will likely feel shortchanged important aspects of life, like spirituality, as FQ Mom, and on IG and Twitter as getting into the Absolute finance, etc.; the nuances of their behavior, theFQMom. For questions, e-mail Rose Community Property. It is more how they spend time, and other areas. at [email protected] or FQMomm@ about having similar money Do not wait until the proposal before you gmail.com.
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ave you ever encountered someone who has lost all hope? I once visited a home for the elderly and I noticed Hhow they hardly had a smile on their face. I was told they were aging faster than they should because they had lost hope. They felt their families had abandoned them, leaving them in the care of an institution. Many of them had not been visited for months. There was, however, one woman who still smiled. She still hoped that one day someone would come and visit her. Because she kept hope alive in her heart, she did not age like the others. She looked younger than the rest even if she was biologically older than they were. Fly High with Hope My father told a story about two boys who were twins. On their birthday, one boy was with cancer in January 2010, the on the cross. These valuable placed in a room full of toys news didn’t shatter my hopes. truths were not visible to my and wonderful gifts, but the Rather, it helped me fix my eyes physical eyes, but just like the boy was miserable because he on what was truly important in boy in the room with horse was not satisfied with the gifts life. It helped me realize what manure, I chose to see with the in the room. The other boy was was most important were not eyes of faith. placed in a room full of horse my accomplishments, but what By Beth Melchor It’s been said, “Our attitude manure and surprisingly he Christ had already accomplished determines our altitude.” Let’s had a smile on his face. When for me. As I lay in bed recovering choose to fly high on the wings asked why he was smiling, the from chemotherapy, I realized that of hope. Let’s choose to see boy replied, “With all this horse God did not value me because beyond what our physical eyes manure, there must be a horse of things I did. I was just as can see. Let’s feed on the “bread nearby.” He knew how to hope. important to God as I prayed of angels” as often as we can. Scripture says, “Hope is in my sickbed, as I was when I Our God is a God of second not hope if its object is seen; organized a large evangelistic chances. Lamentations 3:22-23 how is it possible for one to event. More importantly, I declares: “The steadfast love hope for what he sees? And realized that whenever of the Lord never ceases, his hoping for what we cannot see I went to daily Mass, I mercies never come to an means awaiting it with patient was doing something end; they are new every endurance” (Romans 8:24b-25). more important than morning; great is his When we begin a new year, anything I could ever faithfulness.” we do not know what the new do with my day. Not year will bring, but we hope it only was I being fed Beth shares her story will be a good one. We do not with the Word of as a missionary in her book titled, Taken by see the future, but we know God and the “Bread Love. E-mail Beth at who holds our future, and that of Life” that gave me epmelchor@ymail. is why we hope. All that I have strength for the day, but com. seen teaches me to trust God I was celebrating a most for all that I have not yet seen. important truth of When I was diagnosed what Jesus did for me
Kerygma March 2017 43 Ultimately, it all comes down to love.
The collection of personal stories and reflections in this book, Taken by Love, traces the author’s experiences of encountering the immense love of God — from her conversion to her entry into the renewal; her life of discipleship in community and on mission; and her experience of God’s love even amidst sickness.
This book speaks of amazing miracles and numerous blessings the author received from God. The stories relate how God leads His Beloved in this wonderful pilgrimage of life from a once rebellious youth to a missionary in China.
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ow’s your progress in achieving your dreams? As you read this, maybe you’re worried how things will turn out in Hthe coming months. Before you lose hope, let me share my personal experiences to you through my ABENtures.
YOUR LIFE ABENTURES To progress in reaching for my big dreams, I followed this formula: BUILD MOMENTUM + BIG LEAPS + BREAKTHROUGHS = BIG DREAMS 3 B’s of Big DREAMS
Build Momentum. Take small steps to increase your able to meet new and old friends. Exactly one month later, the competence and to develop Light of Jesus Family CDO Chapter your confidence. Take Big Leaps. Achieve several was born with 10 members. We held In 2007, I worked for higher goals to master your small group meetings and one-to- a company in Ortigas that competence and increase your one discipleships. Months after, we entailed travelling to different confidence. launched our once-a-month live Feast. parts of the Philippines. As I travelled to nearby countries After that, we made it twice a month, a Sales Account Officer, I to meet my Filipino and foreign then weekly. Today, we hold two
was assigned to handle our friends, and to make new friends. By Aben Garlan sessions every Saturday at SM Cinema provincial accounts in Visayas One time I attended a Malaysian- 3. Aside from this, we now have more and Mindanao. Eventually, Moslem wedding in Kuala Lumpur than 20 Feast Videos (and counting) in I handled Luzon Accounts. and was hosted by my Malaysian northern and western Mindanao. We Thus my territory expanded friends for six days! It was a trip faced a lot of challenges along the way, covering many provincial cities filled with lots of fresh learnings but by God’s grace, we experienced in LuzViMin. and new friendships. In addition, breakthroughs in the ministry. The following year, I’ve also gained more self-esteem For 2017 and beyond, our bigger I decided to set my own on how to deal with other people. dream is to have 118 Feast Videos in personal ABENtures — this Little did I know that it was my this part of Mindanao. We may be far time purely for vacation. After preparation for a bigger purpose. from our target, but I have confidence few months of preparation, I that God is moving His hand to make pushed through with my first Seek Breakthroughs. Develop this a reality. official ABENture Philippines! your character, accept new Do you want to make progress I travelled solo to the secluded challenges and trust in God. to reach your big dreams? Follow the island of Cagbalete in Mauban, In 2010, my passion formula above and remember this Quezon. It took me five hours to travel led me to work important success principle: Slow is by land, 45 minutes by boat and and live in Cagayan fast. Small is big. Be patient, don’t lose 45 minutes of trekking to reach De Oro City. It was a hope. Because your breakthrough is the beach resort. There, I was breakthrough in my coming! welcomed by the fine white career. I handled the HAPPY ABENTURES! sand beach that rests along the sales department of a waters of Lamon Bay and the company that sells and Aben Garlan is the builder of Feast CDO. Visit Pacific Ocean. distributes a popular www.AbenGarlan.com for more empowering, inspiring and amazing articles and ABENture Months and years later, I’m flip-flop brand to stories. able to travel both to famous northern and and unknown tourist spots in western the country. On these trips, I was Mindanao.
Kerygma March 2017 45 Beauty by the Belo Authority One Last Story
hen I first attended had to think and pray about it. The Feast Makati I went out of their office in July 2011, I was and cried my way out of the heartbroken and compound. I poured my heart emotionally unstable. out to the Lord at the nearest WI felt the Lord asking me to give up an adoration chapel. I asked Him, important area of my life — my love “Why? Why are You giving me life. After offering my heart to God, my this?” I thought that in the world’s desire to lead young lives to the Lord, point of view, it would be insane which had been constant in my heart, not to grab the offer. It was the was awakened. I wanted to look for next big move for my career. avenues to serve. Amidst my ranting, Jesus spoke to my heart. He reminded Joining the Campus Missions me of a verse from Matthew In 2012, I came to know JC Libiran, the 8:36, “How good it is to gain the Light of Jesus (LOJ) Campus Missions whole world, but lose your soul?” director when he visited Feast Makati. I stopped crying. “If I can give you I was occupied with my career then. I The Great a job offer like that, what else can was building my way up the corporate I not give you?” His words calmed ladder. It was my way of honoring me down and assured my heart my parents for putting me through Surrender again. Then my thought shifted college. to the only thing left that was During my free time, I would go keeping me from pursuing my I planned and prepared with JC to the University of Sto. Tomas mission: my brother’s job. financially as months went to facilitate Light Groups and interact Free. Ice now by. I accepted baking projects serves the with students. I was there not as a Receiving God’s Provisions alongside my full-time work so I Lord full-time technical guide, but as an ate to them. and testifies My younger brother, an aircraft could raise funds. I also talked to The Lord led me back to Feast to God’s mechanic, graduated three years my parents regarding my plans Makati. I asked the Holy Spirit to give goodness ago but was having a hard time and asked for their blessing. They everywhere she me the courage to talk to the young getting a job. I told the Lord, “I’ll were initially skeptical about it goes. attendees and ask them to form a Light say yes to You, but take care of because they were employees Group. I discipled three young leaders our family’s needs, please?” If ever, all their lives and it proved to be who eventually led their own Light both my brother and I would be the way to their financial security. Groups. Feast Makati Youth became an jobless. But towards the end of the year, I official ministry in 2016. A week after, I received a finally received their blessing. I felt I asked the Lord where He wanted call from the competitor and I an unexplainable joy. Whenever me to go next. I had the heart for respectfully declined the offer. I read the daily readings, there the missions, to go full-time. I was By Ice Hidalgo Exactly on my last day at was always a “go message” from already a senior food recipe researcher work, I received a photo message the Lord. I felt affirmed with my and developer at one of the oldest from my brother. It was a job faith goals. I was certain that I was culinary schools in the country. I also offer from an international airline headed on the right track. established an online bakeshop as company hiring him to be part of I submitted my resignation a sideline since I loved customizing their team! letter to our company on cakes, cupcakes and cookies for any I realized that the Lord December 6, 2016. In the occasion. is concerned even about the afternoon of the same day, I smallest details of my life. When got a job opportunity from our Discerning God’s Will He calls you, He provides. He company’s competitor — a I decided to resign by December 2016. doesn’t leave you empty-handed. tempting six-digit salary offer, a I presented my plans to the the Lord In fact, He blesses you so much car, premium healthcare services during a week of prayer and fasting, so with more than what you can ask and a good number of employee I could discern if pursuing my passion for or imagine. leaves. During the interview, I in baking and decorating as a solo So here I am now. Serving learned that they wanted me to entrepreneur and my desire to do full- the Lord full-time while fulfilling manage a new department — time missionary work were aligned my passion for baking. My great and their need was urgent. I was with His plans for me. I wanted to surrender led me to my great shaking inside. I told them that I please the Lord. mission.
Kerygma March 2017 47 Point of Contact I Pray That You Receive Your Miracles In Jesus’ Name!
I pRAY that God lift your trials, heal your diseases, bless your problems and direct you to the path He wants you to take. I pray that God remove your fears and give you the courage to surrender your burdens to Him. So place your hand over my hand, and let’s pray with trust, together with our prayer team of intercessors praying for you right now…
This page is our Point of Contact, our spiritual connection. Say after me…
In the Name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Lord, I surrender to You my worries and anxieties. I surrender to You my needs, my problems, my trials. I place them all in Your big hands. And I open myself to all that You want to give to me. On this day, I say yes to Your love, to Your blessings, to Your healing, to Your miracles. And Lord, specifically, I ask for the following miracles for my life... I believe that You answer my prayer in the best way possible! And I thank You in advance for the perfect answers to my prayers. I also ask for the special intercession of Mama Mary. I pray all this in the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
SPECIAL INTENTION FOR THIS MONTH:
Dearest God, we thank You for creating us the way we are. Thank You for our E-mail your prayer requests to me families, for our talents, for our uniqueness. We ask You Father to free every person at bosanchez@kerygmafamily. who is imprisoned by lies, insecurities and denials. Breakt hrough their hearts that com or write to me at Shepherd’s we may all live the truth that we are loved, accepted and important. We pray these Voice Publications, #60 Chicago in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. St., Cubao, Quezon City, Praying for you, Philippines 1109.
48 Kerygma March 2017