Today, June 2, 2013, the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ. The Gospel is on the miracle of the five loaves of bread and two fish. In Israel, there is a place called Tabgha, traditionally venerated for this miracle. The altar of the church is built on a large rock upon which Jesus gave thanks and said the blessing on the traditional food of common people. There is an interesting mosaic design on the floor depicting the loaves and fishes. Instead of five, there are only four (4) loaves of bread. As I looked at the mosaic intently, I was puzzled by the missing loaf. I tried to recall the Bible passage again and again until I was certain that the the words stated, " five loaves of barley bread and two fish." How could they miss it? I thought it could not be possible to be a mistake overlooked by the people who commissioned the work nor of those who made it. I made my way to the front pew, sat, still pondering about it while gazing at the mosaic and then at the simple elegance of the altar- back and forth, a few times. My mind continued to search for the answer. I talked to myself about the two aspects of Mass- Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist. And then, the revelation flashed with great vigor, "bread blessed on the altar table at every Mass represent the fifth loaf!" Then I understood that since the early days of the Church, the Eucharist has been linked to the miracle of the multiplication of the bread and fish. It seems that today, many people put more emphasis, though rightly so, on the Eucharist being associated with the Last Supper and the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
In the Bible, we find a number of instances when Jesus said or did significant things with food or during a meal. During the Exodus, Yahweh fed the people with "manna" to appease their hunger as they spent forty years in the wilderness while on their journey to the Promised Land. According to the expectations of Israel, the Messiah would gather His people in a fraternal banquet. In the New Testament, Jesus performed His first miracle during a wedding feast when He changed water into wine. It was during a party when a woman poured precious perfume on Jesus' feet indicative of His "anointing" for sacrifice on the cross. And the incident is remembered forever! It was in the Upper Room during the Passover meal that Jesus instituted the Eucharist and said, "This is my Body...This is my Blood. Do this in remembrance of Me." Also, it was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee that Jesus prepared a simple meal for the apostles after His resurrection.
The Gospel today, the multiplication of the bread and fish, has a deeper meaning than food for the stomach. Deeper than what the people conceived Jesus to be as an earthly Messiah who would come with power and authority to crush their foreign rulers. Yes, they acknowledged the extra-ordinariness of the miracle but they failed to understand the true identity of Jesus. He has really come to be our Eucharist, the Bread of Life, the One we Truly Need!
From the Catholic Encyclopedia, we gather that around the year 860 AD, four hundred years before the time of St. Thomas Aquinas, we have the writings of St. Paschasius Robertus, Abbot of Picardy, France who wrote the first treatise on transubstantiation (although the Latin word was not specifically used until the 13th century). Robertus used the word "substance" on his book, "The Body and Blood of the Lord." He taught, echoing the words of the Church Fathers, that after the words of Consecration, through the conversion of the substance, there is present on the altar, the Eucharistic Body of Christ which is identical with His Historic Body. The 9th Century theologian used the word, "substance" to mean the reality that makes a thing what it is: so after Consecration, it is true to say, as Jesus said. "This is my Body." So it is with deep reverence that we should receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in Holy Communion - an encounter which deepens our union with Him. Now, are you worthy of Him? Do you receive Him worthily?
The Catholic Church teaches that through "substantiation," Christ is really, truly and substantially present in the remaining appearances of bread and wine and that the transformation remains as long as the appearance remains. For this reason, the consecrated elements are preserved, generally in a church Tabernacle for giving Holy Communion to the sick and the dying and also for the purpose of the "adoration of Christ" present in the Eucharist.
The Ecumenical Council of Trent held in Italy between December, 1545 to December, 1563 is considered one of the most important achievements of the Church. It was convened by Pope Paul III. Among many of its accomplishments was the reaffirmation of the Seven Sacraments and the pronouncement that the Eucharist is a Sacrament in which the bread and wine are changed into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ through "Transubstantiation" - that Christ is "really, truly, substantially present" in the consecrated form. In giving the apostles the command to "Do this in remembrance of Me," Jesus Christ conferred upon priests a sacerdotal power.
It is my hope that this humble reflection on "Corpus Christi" will help in some way towards the strengthening and appreciation of your faith, greater reverence for the Eucharist and a more enlightened awareness of your own need for "worthily receiving" Holy Communion at Mass.
AMEN.
May is a month that is a storehouse of memories to me. There is my childhood refrain of my frequent, almost daily participation in the May Flower Devotion to our Lady of the Abandoned, Patroness of our parish in Sta. Ana, Manila where I was born, reared and received my elementary education. Then there is the ever-memorable demise of my husband, Rey, on the second of May in 2003 after 47 years of wedded bliss. Also momentous on this month are the birthday anniversaries of some grandchildren. Melanie Mary was born on May 3rd, a day after Papa's entrance to Eternity. I consider this occurrence another evidence of my being "one of God's favorites." Why? Cielo, my daughter's due date was supposed to be during the last week of May but she gave birth right after my husband's departure. I consider it as God's way of telling me, "I took someone you love but I will fill your "emptiness" with someone to love - at once!!" Who can consider this "coincidence?" Tiffany Anne, another daughter of Cielo, celebrates May 12th as her birth date and Michael, Bobby's son, blows off candles on his B-day cake on May 25th. Two of my siblings, Freddie and Beth saw the first light of day on the 13th and 21st of May, respectively.
While I have penned a tribute to Rey, my husband in an earlier blog, I wish to convey my fond memories of my brother, Freddie, who "crossed the Bar" a few years back.
FREDDIE
Your birthday anniversary turned back the hands of
time
And thoughts of you filled some of my waking hours
Our childhood days flashed across my mind's screen
So clear and fresh as early spring flowers.
I remember the many games we enjoyed playing
Hide and seek, "patintero" and marbles, too
Telephone calls we made through empty milk cans
we fashioned
With long strings in which we "blah-blah-ed with
childish passion.
The pebbles we gathered and polished with care
Served as "jack stones" in games we both shared
We played and at times argued with kids on the block
In the nearby meadow we flew kites in the air.
With a roll of Manila paper from Mother's stock
We wrote stories and linked drawings, stand-out scenes
Then we folded and wrapped our long tales on a stick
Made a sideshow on a shoe box, our movie screen.
We were always together not only at play
Close by each other even at work on home duties
Scrubbed window sills, banisters, floors, ever so gay
Work seemed so light with one who is not foolish.
We were a twosome, other friends used to say
I was by your side though with boys at play
Likewise you were among the girls with whom I
wiggled
Through our "playing house" games of girlish giggles.
You loved to draw, mold clay with your hands
Make newspaper airplanes, kites with colorful
strands
You were creative with your hands though words
came out with difficulty
To describe the thing of beauty you shaped into reality.
As God so willed it you ventured into architecture
And I found my calling in the field of teaching
We both went our destined path of grand adventure
Each with a better tomorrow in our hearts throbbing.
Like all lives, in time, we formed our own families
A receptacle of the love overflowing within
Though our spouses and children became our
immediate concern
Yet our love for our siblings remained full to the brim.
Unrelenting, with passion, we pursued life's demands
But kept brotherly love reigning supreme in our hearts
To the very end when the candle of life gave way
At God's beckon call to His haven far away.
Now that you have unspeakable joy in heaven
Your well-deserved rest for the blessings you gave
To others especially to me which cannot be shaken
By anyone till I am laid to rest in my grave.
XXXXXXXX
Memorial Day Celebration
Today, May 27, 2013, the whole nation commemorates Memorial Day in honor of the men and women in the Armed Forces who gave up their lives to defend Freedom for you, me and for our country, at large. It is a special day of prayer for the eternal repose of their souls as well as a time of offering our lasting gratitude to them for the penultimate sacrifice they rendered to us and our future generations. Unmistakably, it is also a day of solemn remembrance of our loved ones and their loss which left an indelible emptiness in our hearts.
Right now, my thoughts revert to my beloved father, Pablo, a Staff Sergeant in the Philippine Scouts, a regiment of the United States Army, who died in the concentration camp of Capas,Tarlac in the Philippines on August 4, 1942. My walk along Memory Lane envisions Subero, my father's elder brother who lost his life in the battlefields of Bataan during the war years of World War II. The ever-smiling face of my brother, Freddie, parades across my mental silver screen who after receiving his diploma in Architecture decided to dedicate his service to the US Navy.
As I am writing this blog, I look at Quail Park which is in front of our house in Sacramento and see the somber grief of Mother Nature with human emotions indelibly associated with this day. The park is at a "stand-still " - empty of the children who usually run here and there under the watchful eyes of their parents or guardians. No one is briskly walking or running around the park for his/her fitness routine. Not a Senior Citizen is sitting on a bench watching the world go by or admiring the manicured green. The trees stand majestically upright and paradoxically, even the rustle of a gentle breeze seems to be absent such that to my gaze, each leaf lie motionless. The whole panorama unfolds under a canopy of dark clouds at 11:38 AM. For a few moments, I stare at the scene as if it is a picture on an album.
Enthralled by the thought that our dear Lord, through, Mother Nature, helps us to take some moments from our busy lives so as to remember the significance of this day, I closed my eyes and bowed my head in prayer. I prayed for the repose of the souls of those who sacrificed their lives for the preservation of Freedom we now still enjoy. I prayed for the men and women in uniform and for innocent civilians who lost their lives in the "war fronts" against Terrorism in Iran, Afghanistan and elsewhere. I lifted the souls of the thousands, nay, millions of victims of the atrocities of war which, lamentably, had twice been in worldwide proportions. Quite inevitably, I remembered the infamous Holocaust at Auschwitz...and my visit there....
May 12, 2013 was Mother's Day, a celebration for all women who have been esteemed "tools" for God's procreation of the human species. Like all mothers, I was exceptionally happy with my children and their families over a sumptuous lunch with a wide assortment of delicacies to suit any discriminating taste. The exchange of views centered on the recent happenings in the family specially among my grandchildren. There was Christina's hilariously marvelous performance in her school's musical comedy production, "Wedding Singer," where she was nominated Feature Actress in the county's school system. There was Joshua's commendable presentation of his Senior Volunteer Work Project teaching Hawaiian dancing to children and young adults and his athletic prowess in football. Michael's praiseworthy dedication to his acolyte services at Mass and his fascinating "split-second" moves in Volleyball was highlighted, too. There was Christian's remarkable skill on the ivory keys as to provide the musical score in a Retreat he recently attended. Much talk was on Tiffany Anne's magnificent school awards - Achievement Award for her 4.0 GPA and Athletic Award on Soccer. There was Melanie Mary's wonderful singing and dancing renditions as Mermaid in the school play, "Peter Pan." My joy knew no bounds! And the added "elixir" of the day were the lovely gifts from my children of flowers, a Fodor book, a car raffle ticket and a "one-of-a-kind" exceptionally hand-crafted card with a message so touching to my heart.
As a fitting finale to our Mothers' Day celebration, I gave each of my grandchildren, "Nuggets of Wisdom" which crystallize my advice to them.
NUGGETS OF WISDOM
Jesus said, "Be not afraid I am with you"
A promise spoken like an arrow hitting its mark
I claim His Word at all times and in all places, too
Endless praise and thanks I release from my heart.
To you, my Grandchildren, I share this message
God's unconditional love in this Biblical passage
Be assured that His promise is an everlasting sign
So true and precious like gold seven times refined.
Be not afraid to be a witness to His Word
Through your day-by-day activities of any sort
If you "live" the Bible and all your relationships feed
YOU may be the only "Gospel" people may read.
Be not afraid to speak the truth of God's teaching
To people ignorant of or indifferent to His preaching
Dare to be bold to proclaim Christ's Good News
Your Christian courage will enlighten lukewarm views.
Be not afraid to be consistent in your prayers
God is the source of your life and all that flows in
Confide your joys, pain, concerns to your Maker
If you do often to your friends, why not to Him?
Be not afraid to do work or walk the extra mile
In your school, office and home chores at hand
To give MORE than what is expected with a smile
Lifts your spirits up, an inspiration to others send.
Be not afraid if frustrations, ill-will come your way
Temptations, trials, heartaches thrown at bay
For a purpose God allows them to test your faith's gap
Trust Him for healing, strengths and insights it will tap.
Be not afraid to have many friends around you
They make life happier, your journey pleasant, too
But dare to lose them than compromise conviction
Of what is right according to God's truth and action.
Be not afraid to be a notch better than your friends
It may require hard work, more study, less play
Dream dreams, "hitch your wagon to a star"
Stay focused, do your best, with God, you'll soar!
Be not afraid to exercise your free will
God's gift to each one of His creation
What you will be at age 50 is the seal
Of choices YOU made- family's pride or its poison.
Be not afraid to defy society's trend
Of accepting loose morals as being "cool"
Stick to God's way though you be a loner to the end
Than let a brilliant mind go to waste like that of a fool.
Be not afraid to share time, talent and treasure
You were born to be a blessing for others
You, yourself will be mysteriously assured
Peace and joy by your bountiful gift of giving.
Be not afraid to follow your Grandma's advice
They are guidelines for young hearts to live by
Your life will have meaning and purpose, O, wise
If it always "burns" with fervor for Jesus on high.
What you are now, I once had been
What I am now, you will in the future be
Like me you will look back and see the unseen
"I have done my best to be what I can ever be!"
XXXXXXXX
Today, May 8, 2013, I was awakened by a need to answer a call of nature so very early in the morning. My bathroom clock registered thirteen minutes before 6 AM. As it often is the case, I would go back to bed and sleep again usually until 10 or 10:30 AM. This is so because my bedtime is normally not at night but in the morning at around 1:30 or 2:30 AM. My brain is at its optimum level of productivity during peculiar hours. Strange, isn't it? But isn't it also true that despite our similar characteristics as "homo sapiens" we do have individual differences? I believe that this disparities make our world more interesting!
Today, instead of going back to bed, I went straight to my laptop, clicked it open direct to my "Blogs of Grace" which I created at the beginning of this year. My old set of scribbles on "Grace's Blogs" has already reached the 115 mark. This set of blogs was started in 2009 with the trip to Rome and San Giovanni Rotondo to see the incorrupt body of St. Padre Pio.
Today, being different, I decided to write something about......:
T O D A Y
Today, I must learn to give sincere love
To those difficult for me to extend my affection
The ones clothed with pretense and who rob
Me the joy of true friendship and compassion.
Today, I must learn to turn the other cheek
To those who hurt me with insults and ridicule
To bear with patience the harsh words they speak
To the plaque of untruth I must remain "cool."
Today, I must graciously forgive and forget
The people who have betrayed my trust
The heartaches I harbor with pain and regret
A burden I need not carry with harmful fuss.
Today, I must learn to totally cast away
The loss for those who had always been there
Time may have dulled the pain, held it at bay
From the cross, God took it gently from my care.
Today, I must see more clearly Jesus
Feel His presence, alert to His whisper and touch
In every person I meet even the sourpuss
The "always right," the proud, rude, they're no match.
Today, I must accept with "a certain smile"
The aches of arthritic knees, hands and back pain
They're the "trophies" of a life spent on file
To nurture the young, fill some needs, ease life's bane.
Oh, not only must I search high and low today
For the divinity that is in everyone who cross my path
More importantly should I try to fit a perfect "T"
Jesus Who lives, acts and loves in me!
XXXXXXXX
