Self-denial and sacrifice

THE STORY is told about a father and a mother who wanted to surprise their only daughter with a brand-new car on her graduation day. When she woke up the next morning, she saw in their garage a beautiful red car. On the windshield of the car was a card with this message, "With all our love. Mama and Pauper."

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The Gospel today (Lk. 9, 18-24) speaks about denying oneself and taking up one's cross daily and following Him. Today, which is Father's Day, we remember and honor our parents who have sacrificed so much for us. In particular, we honor the fathers who have worked hard and had to forego a lot of things for the sake of the family. One of the best definitions of a father is the one that says, "A father is one who wears out a pair of shoes while the rest of the family wears out a set of tires." If only parents would follow today's Gospel of self-denial and sacrifice, there would be more happy homes and less delinquent children.

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There's a lot of talk these days about self-fulfillment and self-preservation. A person can spend a whole lifetime doing just that, and still end up empty, vain and unhappy. That's because the secret of a truly fulfilling life is losing oneself for others. It is the givers, not the takers of this world who know and experience what life is all about. Takers end up with a lot in their hands but empty in their hearts, while givers may end up with empty hands, but full and overflowing hearts.

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My father was a giver. He did not give us much materially, but he gave us love. He gave us time. Above all, he gave us good examples and a good name. He gave a lot to other people. He was generous to a fault. He even gave his life plan to a poor relative so much so that three days before his burial on June 27, 1987, we still did not know where to lay him to rest. That is the way how my father lived. That is the way he died. His was the way of the cross, the way of sacrifice, the way of self-denial. It is a way many of us avoid. But that is the only way to a truly happy and meaningful life now, and hereafter.

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Someone commented that finally, we have someone to look up to in Congress in the person of Compostela Valley Representative Manuel "Way Kurat" Zamora. This congressman literally has no fear about doing humble and lowly jobs for his country, like carrying ballot boxes, doing the garden and even acting as a waiter for his fellow representatives. He goes to Congress on a mountain bike, wears simple clothes, and-listen to this-finally, will make his first trip abroad, expenses paid for by the people who invited him to give a talk to Fil-Ams in California. He doesn't talk much. He is about the only guy in Congress who is not concerned about self-aggrandizement. While many of his colleagues are busy fathering bills and all sorts of children, this simple guy is simply being a father to his constituents and to his beloved Philippines. Mabuhay ka "Way Kurat"! May we have more self-effacing, humble, diligent and self-sacrificing government officials like you!

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Recently, this newspaper took notice of a Catholic priest who was robbed and killed in Navotas. Fr. Romeo Asuzano died at the age of 47. He lived a simple, exemplary life. Unlike other priests, he did his own laundry, cleaned his own bedroom and had planned to paint the church roof before he died. In fact, he was on his bicycle, his means of transportation, on the day he was held up. It is so inspiring to know that there are priests like Father Asuzano who literally followed the Gospel value of hard work, sacrifice and self-denial. Mabuhay ka, Father Asuzano. May we have more simple, humble and self-effacing fathers of the flock like you!

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The common denominator of these inspiring fathers I've mentioned above is their self-denial and sacrifice. They are simple fathers who believe in righteousness, hard work and sacrifice. People may find them strange or even stupid, but they go on with their "stupid" ways anyway, because for them truth and being true, goodness and being good are what matter most. Many "such" people end up being poor, laughed at, or even dead, but so what? Actually there are only two choices in this life: Either you self-efface or you self-destruct.

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Let me end with yet another story of a father who had a daughter with two suitors. One was corrupt, while the other was incompetent. What was he to do? He wanted the best for his child. Of course! What father wouldn't want just that? He listened to surveys and to many reports, and in the end decided that it was best for his child to marry the one who was corrupt, for in his mind, that was the "lesser evil," and that would be in the best interest of the child, though he was not sure whom his child really wanted. Question: If you were the father of the child, what would you have done? Would you have taken time to really find out whom your daughter preferred, or would you have, in the name of expediency, chosen what you thought was best for her? Expediency, or truth?

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, teach me self-denial, hard work and sacrifice. Amen.