Streams of Water

They are like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; Its leaves never wither; whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3
 
After spending one summer in our home, our lawn grass at our frontage has began to dry. We thought this won't happen for we even contracted a professional lawn caretaker to fertilize the grass. The contractor gave me a list of various chemicals he was about to pour in the coming months. Did he overdo our lawn? I diligently mowed the grass each week or after two weeks if I am lazy. Did I cut too low for the grass to lay forever? Our neighbors have trees all around their houses to shade their lawns while ours was exposed to the beaming sunlight. Did the lack of shade of trees cause the untimely death of the green? I watered from time to time but not as we should have. Did the deficiency in water depress the lawn? So what's the reason for the lawn to turn brown from green? My wonderful wife knows the answer - we failed to water. We were unfaithful to sprinkle water on the grass that they died.

The psalmist inscribed we are like trees rooted near waters of streams. The watering continues on and on and on. It never ends. The supply of water which refreshes the obedient will by no means run out. The irrigations of the earth will dry and produce cracks on soil yet God sends his living water in us for us to yield fruits in due season. We may never bear fruit each day, yet his river will continue to flow towards us to make sure we will produce at the right time and at the right place. If you think you will burn out and turn brown about to wither, think again. His streams of water will be more than enough to sustain our green, to keep us fresh and to give us moist. We will prosper not because of we know what to do or we have the skills to do so but we will thrive for a great harvest just like a tree with a non-stop delivery of water.

All these things may not be possible when we uproot ourselves from where we stand near his streams of water. When we take our own course, and say "I don't need the water anymore." or "I can live without water." or "I will remain fresh or will yield fruits even not near the streams." or "I can just use fertilizer on myself." or "I will prune myself." Like our lawn grass, given some time, you will turn brown.

God is faithful in watering his people. Let's receive his grace and his love. His mercy, let's welcome it in our hearts. Keep standing before him. He will never turn off the faucet.

Apostles R Us

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith." Luke 17:5

By this time, they have seen so much.

If the gospel of Luke narrates Jesus' ministry in date sequence, the apostles have seen who Jesus is, what Jesus can do and what Jesus will do. The Twelve have seen Jesus perform miracles by this instance. They saw the healing of many sick people. They witnessed the feeding of multitudes with just few on the table. They have seen him transfigured. They heard him, with authority, forgive sins and know someone's thoughts. They have seen how Jesus calmed the storm. Even to the point, Peter declared that Jesus is the Messiah of God. They have learned from him through his parables and teachings. They have seen so much with their own eyes, heard so much with their ears, they were touched by him and they might have touched him, they ate with him, and they spent day and night with him. They knew him more than anyone else. They knew what Jesus is capable of.

If being with Jesus for two or more years, have given you that much, would you ask him, "Increase our faith." Seeing what he can do, what he'll do and who he is, would you come up to him and demand, "Increase our faith."

Sometimes, I feel, we are very unfair to the Twelve. For we use their lives with Jesus as our laboratory of reflections. We admire their strengths. We stand in ovation for their wisdom and resilience. We capitalize on their weaknesses. We build ourselves with their blunders. Just like here, I question, why come up with that request when you have seen so much of Jesus.

We know the answer, because we are them.

Recently, I was reviewing our current financial situation. In the end, looking at the past and forthcoming expenditures, I concluded we needed a small miracle, of about say two to three hundred dollars, to get through the month. During one evening as I was putting my daughters to sleep, they asked me about our financial situation. I said I will take care of that part as they would want to take care of their studies. Checking back that statement, I don't know where to get those extra hundred dollars. I am the only one working and no other source of income for the family. It's not that we are procrastinating but this is the law we have to follow as under an employment-based visa. As they got to sleep, I was praying to God, "Lord, let me see your hand in our finances." Yet, in my mind, there was no slight opening where we can get those dollars.

Early this week, my wife called me about a $300 check was sent to me by our former mortgage lender. It seems we overpaid them by that amount. This was God's hands in our lives!

So, we understand the apostles. We, too, have seen so much of Jesus. We have seen how his touch of healing to the unhealthy brought physical vigor. We heard a lot of stories of how he can make things happen. We have feasted on his providence all our lives. We have stared on his power of giving peace to a chaotic life. We know who he is. We know what he can do. We know what he will do.

We have seen so much of him, and yet, when there is no way in our way, we yield to the shadow of doubt. Just like the apostles, we pray to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

I LOVE MY CHURCH

How's that for an all caps title?

As of this writing, my church, specifically, the bishops of the Catholic church in the Philippines are under fire. They took a stand against a congress proposed bill number 5403 called "Reproductive Health and Population Development Act of 2008" of the RH bill. The church has expressed its position on this bill ever since it was proposed.

But now, left and right, my church get all the punches. Proponents and supporters of the bill have harassed the bishops. Since other denominations have taken the other side of the fence, the Catholic church seems to be on its own. If you are a catholic supporting the stand of the church, you may be called idiot, hardcore, or being close-minded. T-shirts which are meant to put down the bishops flooded the internet.

When Raissa Laurel expressed her faith after being subjected to DLSU bombing, Filipinos made a quick salute. There is nothing wrong with that, I personally is inspired by Ms. Laurel. However, when the bishops express their faith together with their members against the RH bill, the opposite happens.

I love my church. For when my church expresses it's faith, beautiful things happen. Faith in christian education by providing the best possible education in the country (DLSU, ADMU, San Beda,  St. Paul, and St. Scho among others). Faith in the sacredness of democratic elections by guarding the votes (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting or the PPCRV). Faith in action by feeding the poor, being a refuge for the homeless, caring for the old, housing the abused women and street children, and enabling the incapable (Caritas Manila, Anawim and CFC-Gawad Kalinga among others). Best and brightest schools, numerous hospitals in far flung areas, bringing health care through missions and free medical clinics, rescuing the abused, filling the stomach of the helpless, responding quickly during calamities - these are places and events where you will find my church expressing it's faith.

When I was younger, my old folks used to tell me to go home when the sun sets. I did not understand this for many of my playmates stayed on the streets after the street lights bring their flare. I questioned their approach on this. At some point, I inquired why I have to come home while other kids enjoyed their time under the moon. After ten or more years, I saw why. Those kids who stayed on in the dark street succumbed to drugs, to early marriages  and to crime while on the other hand, my siblings and I completed our education.

Today, people may not understand my church's take on the RH bill. Hopefully, weeks or months or years from now will be different.

Miss Job

In all this Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God. Job 1:22

Raissa Laurel twitted, "♪♪ Our God is greater.. Our God is stronger.. God, You are higher than any other.. ♪♪"

Who is Ms. Laurel?

She was a victim of the DLSU bombing during the bar examinations in Manila, Philippines. She should not have been there. Media described- Raissa was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe. She is only at her 2nd year at San Sebastian College Law school. As a result of the explosion, the 23 years old lass will have her two legs amputated. Tough future for the future lawyer. And yet, she praise God. She exalts Him. She magnifies God. She even expressed, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your prayers and support for my recovery! Our God is sovereign and He is in control of everything.. God bless us!" She was even confused with the media, "Disappointed with media.. Why are they twisting the story?.. Why can't they just understand that GOD IS WHERE I DRAW MY STRENGTH FROM?.."

Job lost everything he had, livelihood, family and his future. Raissa will lose her two legs, small compared to Job, you might say. However, for a young woman full of dreams, who was at the wrong place at the wrong time, she was a victim.  She was innocent. She has every reason to question what happened or what will happen to her. She must be angry with God or with the world. Instead, she still sings for God. She still confess the greatness of God. Like Job, she has remained faithful to God. She did not say anything, yes, anything that will insult God.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Miss Job.

Future

Jesus answered and said to him, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this." And he said to him, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the sky opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man." John 1:50-51

Where have you been? You answer this when you make your resume. This is the report of your resume. You detail your experience. You write your past work descriptions. You even try to sugarcoat some of the things you did so it can suit the vacancy. In the rat race called life, the employers emphasized the importance of your experience. Most of the time, they look into your past. They filter those whose past don't fit into their future.

Thanks be to God, he is not an employer.

Before Jesus came face to face with Nathanael, the future disciple gave a forgettable rhetoric, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" He has not met Jesus yet. He has not seen Jesus yet. He has not heard Jesus yet. Yet, Nathanael has the bravado to speak like this?

Thanks be to God, Nathanael.  He does not mind if you spoke that way before you met him. He does not care if you made that judgment even prior to knowing him. He looks at you and accepts you even sooner than you looked at him differently. Jesus doesn't focus in your past. Jesus looks into your future.

Note Jesus' statements above, "you will see greater things than this…", "you will see the sky opened…" You will.  Those words perpetuate the future. Those words are forward looking. And those words were spoken by the Son of God. He doesn't ask us, "Where have you been?" He already knows that. Jesus is interested in, "Where are you going?" If you let go of our past, and decide to go with him, you will see greater things, you will see the sky opened.

Whatever your past is, you fit in God's future. You will.