Really?

THE STORY is told about a wife who, while preparing breakfast for her husband one morning, said "Honey, you should help me in household tasks. Don't you know that even in the Bible the husbands prepared the coffee for the family?" "Oh yeah? Where in the Bible do you see that?" asked the husband. With a smile, the wife got the Bible and pointed out "HE BREWS."

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Women were subservient to men in the patriarchal setup of the Judaic society, that's why, it was unthinkable that the men would help in the household tasks. In the same way, we see in today's Gospel, (Lk. 15, 1-3; 11-32) the unthinkable and unexpected reaction of the loving father who forgave and welcomed his wayward son. The normal reaction would have been outright rejection, or at least, a scolding to teach the prodigal son a lesson. But no, the father embraces his son, and even throws out a welcome party for him who came home. This is really beyond all expectation and imagination. But God is like that. Grace is like that. Instead of questioning the love of God with our limited understanding, we should just be grateful and celebrate God's love. If you keep questioning God's way of "doing things," maybe you have not really fathomed the height and the breadth and the depth of God's love for you and for me. As somebody once pointed out, even if all the Gospel parables were lost, but the parable of the prodigal son was preserved, we would still have the very core of the Gospel message.

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The problem with us is that we tend to limit God's love for us, and for others, too. That's because we use our own standards and impose them on God Himself. That we are loved and that we are loveable has been the constant message of God, and yet, we continue to be cold, indifferent and incredulous to it. "Really?" "Talaga?" "Too good to be true!" "Isn't that presumptuous?" When it comes to our relationship with God, it is better to be presumptuous of God's love than to doubt God's love.

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In my own life, I can only say that if I did not really believe in God's unconditional love, I would not have become a priest, and would have left the ministry already because of my unworthiness. I have been forgiven much. The goodness I have done is nothing compared to the goodness of God in my life. I can't help but be grateful for His blessings. But, more than His blessings, I thank God for His mercy and forgiveness through the years. And so it is that I have come to accept too that my sins and failures are nothing compared to God's mercy, understanding and compassion. Blessed and forgiven, I can only be humble and grateful. If you have not experienced and accepted God as a loving and forgiving God, then you have not really experienced God. Maybe that is why you are so unforgiving of others and of yourself.

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I experienced once again the Father's love on two encounters this week. The first was when I blessed the lifeless body of Father Bon Guanlao, a confrere who left the ministry some years ago. As I stood there and prayed for the repose of his soul, deep in my heart I knew that he has gone home to the embrace of the loving Father. In death, a lot of could have beens and should have beens don't matter as much anymore as the could be's and the should be's. Who are we to judge, more so, who are we to limit God's tremendous love and mercy? Let us continue to trust and believe that we are all loved, more than we know, more than we realize, more than we allow ourselves to be loved by God.

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The other encounter was with Father Caloy Rodriguez, a confrere who joined the Trappists some 20 years ago. I was so happy to meet again in this life this gentle and happy person who has always been a living reminder of the Father's welcoming and warm love. This 61-year-old priest who loved to smoke, drink, eat, and most of all talk, was the most unlikely person to enter the monastery, where they live simple, austere and silent lives. He left everything and obeyed. What struck me in our encounter was that this man has really experienced God. In the 24 years that he was with the SVD, I knew him as a good preacher, professor and speaker who had many dynamic ideas about God. Talking with him last Wednesday morning, I knew I was talking to a person who was filled not only with ideas about God, but a person who has truly experienced God in the silence and in the darkness.

Indeed, it is in our hearts and on our knees that we truly know who we really are, and who God really is. May we always be open to God and to His way of "doing things." May we not think of Him or speak of Him, according to our own image and liking.

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When was the last time you allowed the Father to embrace you and whisper to you again "Be still, and know that I am God"? Whoever you are, whoever you think you are, whatever you have been, whatever you're going through right now, you are loved. Really? Really!

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A moment with the Lord

Lord, instead of constantly doubting (REALLY?), help me to be filled with hope and thanksgiving (REALLY!). Amen.