Beyond self

THE STORY is told about a patient who told his psychiatrist that life is so lonely in the hospital, so he wrote himself a long letter. When asked what the content of the letter was, his response was "Oh, I don't know yet, doctor, because I will still receive it next week!"

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The Gospel today (Lk. 17, 5-10) speaks about true discipleship as servanthood and service beyond self, with no expectation of receiving a reward. Those who serve must serve selflessly and must not expect perks and fireworks. "We are no more than servants; we have only done our duty." Every civil and religious servant would do well to bear in mind this biblical message always as they go about discharging their duties.

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I grew up in a family of public servants, at a time when public service was a source of pride and honor and not a source of wealth. For mama, duty meant going to the barrio school some five kilometers away from the town-every day, rain or shine, even if she had to walk the whole distance at times when there was no ride. For Papa, it meant going in an old surplus jeep to his austere office at the South harbor every day and making himself available and accessible to all sorts of people. They didn't preach sacrifice. They showed sacrifice.

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We have a confrere who is home from his mission for a much needed rest and medication. Father Jun, SVD is home from Siberia, where the temperature can go down to as much as 30 degrees in deep winter. Aside from the severe weather conditions, Father Jun, like any missionary, has to grapple with the difficult language and adapt to the food and culture of the place. And then there is always the presence of loneliness and homesickness. I asked him what keeps him going, and his answer was simple: duty and mission. "As Christ stayed on, so I must stay on."

I was edified and inspired when he told me that, in his loneliest and most difficult moments, he would find again reason and strength to go on by just embracing his mission cross. When he came home to the Philippines, there was no marching bands or banners to welcome him. And he will go back to his mission as quietly as he came in.

Yes, we have in our midst many nameless people who do their duty quietly, without much fanfare, and without much fuss. And without earthly rewards. But they just do it. No big deal. Discipleship at its best.

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Another confrere is home to bury his 75-year-old father. Fr. Jerry Soncog, SVD, our missionary to Madagascar since 1998, would have liked to stay near his parents especially in their sunset years, but he chose to go where the Lord sent him. In the eyes of the world, his sacrifice of leaving country, family and career doesn't make sense at all. Faced with the cross, a selfish, worldly person would say "that's beyond me," while a true disciple would say "that's fine with me."

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Another missionary has gone back home to the Heavenly Father. I can never forget Sr. Idmara Nolledo, S.Sp.S. who was our group mother when we were first year high school here at Christ the King Seminary. This simple, joyful and dedicated sister from Mindoro left a dear and lasting impression on me as a young boy. I can never forget how she taught us how to pray. What impressed me most was her humility and self-deprecation. She was well on her way to becoming the superior of the Mission Congregation of the Servants of the Holy Spirit (S.Sp.S.) when a rare sickness disabled her speech and motor abilities. Even in her pain and sufferings, she always exuded joy, hope and life. She was such a giving person, as in give na give, unlike many of us who claim to serve but are only serving with one give, two gives, three gives. Here was a person who gave to so many nameless people without expecting them to remember his/her act of kindness.

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Let us ask the Blessed Mother especially in this month of the rosary to give us civil and religious leaders who really give and who really serve. We have too many of them who get and who serve themselves. Let us ask her to remove from our midst leaders who are so greedy, corrupt and never go beyond themselves.

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At the end of our lives, when we finally face our Creator, may we all be able to say with all humility and with deep gratitude "Mission accomplished, Lord!" In the meantime, let us continue to give without counting the cost, and without calculating our rewards here and in the hereafter.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me to look beyond myself and to go beyond my selfish interests and agenda. Amen.

E-mail jorbos@manila-online.net