'Who you?'

THE STORY is told about two people, so in love with each other, who died in a car accident. In heaven, they still loved each other so much that they requested St. Peter that they get married. "You will have to wait. There are no priests here," St. Peter replied. After some years, an old priest finally arrived, and their wish to get married came true. But after some years, things did not work out well, and they requested St. Peter for divorce. "Forget it," St. Peter said, "there'll never be lawyers here"!

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In today's Gospel (Lk. 10, 25-37), it was a lawyer who raised the question "What shall I do to receive eternal life?" What? A lawyer interested on eternal life? Wow! That's something. But as we read further, the lawyer was just putting Jesus to the test. All he wanted was a debate, a show. He was not sincere in his search and questioning. Many people never come close to God because they refuse to let go of their grip on what is legal, what is intellectual and what is beneficial. Are you sincerely seeking eternal life? Are you living a life that will lead you to eternal life?

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Too often, we miss out on what is really important in life, and we even miss out on God because of wrong concerns. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite did not stop to help because, perhaps, they had work to do, or schedules to keep, and titles to protect. Valid concerns. Sure. OK. Fine. Whatever. The problem: they opted to be professional in a situation that demanded of them something personal. All too often, our hearts fail to extend compassion because our minds are focused on our profession or tradition. When the heart is calling, don't keep it on hold or keep it waiting. When the situation calls for your compassion, set aside your computation and calculation.

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Jesus calls on us to become larger than our profession, bigger than our vocation. In other words, He wants us to go the extra mile, and to do it with passion and compassion. He calls us to be good and also nice, to be professional and also cordial, to be hardworking and also inspiring, to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves, to be a grown-up adult and all that, and yet, still have the heart and wonder of a child.

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According to a story I heard, a strict teacher once asked her students to enumerate the seven wonders of the world. After some moments of uneasy silence, a little girl raised her hand and said: "It's wonderful that we can see, we can speak, we can hear, we can taste, we can feel, we can laugh and we can love"!

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We praise God and thank the Blessed Mother for the success of the National Congress of the Clergy. Renewed by this experience, we must now go back to our realities with zeal and resolve. Let us continue to pray for quantity and quality in the clergy. Let us remember that work done grudgingly is servitude, work done willingly is service, and work done lovingly is a sacrament. And please don't forget dear reader that you and I are priests sharing in the common priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of wallowing in your selfish concerns, saying "I am depressed," get out of your shell, stand up, get going, and say "I am the priest"!

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On behalf of all my brother priests, I would like to thank you for your prayers, understanding and support to us, your priests. I also would like to ask your forgiveness for whatever hurts we have caused you in any way. Please continue praying for us as we continue to serve you and pray for you also.

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My sister Bing is home for a vacation from the United States. She is such a dedicated teacher (like our mother), that she has remained single, but a real mother to so many children under her care. At dinner one night, she shared with me this beautiful prayer which I share with you now: "Oh God, your world needs people who cannot be bought; whose word is their bond; who put character above wealth; who are larger than their vocations; who do not hesitate to take chances; who will not lose their identity in a crowd; who will be as honest in small things as in great things; who will make no compromise with wrong; whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires; who will not say they do it 'because everybody else does'; who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity; who do not believe that shrewdness and cunning are the best qualities for winning and success; who are not ashamed for the truth even when it is unpopular; who can say 'no' with emphasis, although the rest of the world says 'yes.' God, make me this kind of person. (By Michigan Rep. Bart Stupak) Bing pointed out that what makes this best prayer truly beautiful is the last line, "God make me this kind of person," a humble acceptance that change must begin in each and everyone of us.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, may I be known not so much by profession and passion, but more so by my vocation and compassion. Amen.