Are you listening?

SOMEONE once told me that there are two signs that one is getting old. The first sign is that one gets to be forgotten. The second is... I forgot!

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In today's Gospel (Lk 18, 1-8), Jesus teaches us to pray continually so that God will take notice, and will not forget. Just as the poor widow moved the judge to give in to her request, so too will God listen to our persistent prayers. God does listen, and He does answer all our prayers even if He delays at times, and often not according to the way we want it. The assurance is there: He is listening, He is in control, we are not alone.

Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl: The one was wise, and a cheery soul.

The other one took a gloomy view / And bade his friend a sad adieu.

Said the other frog with a merry grin, / "I can't get out, but I won't give in;
I'll swim around till my strength is spent, / Then I will die the more content."
And as he swam, though ever it seemed,/ His struggling began to churn the cream Until on top of pure butter he stopped, / And out of the bowl he quickly hopped. So there are no hopeless situations, only people (and frogs!) who have grown hopeless about their situations.

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Fr. Charlie de Guzman, SVD, can tell you that persistence does pay. After 30 years, Father Charlie finally made it to the priesthood. He entered Christ the King Seminary in 1974. In 1982, he left the seminary and went to America where he became the vice president for finance of a construction company. All through those years, the desire to become a missionary somehow never died. It was something He could not explain. Through it all, he kept close to Mama Mary. He prayed the rosary every day. Unable to deny the call, he re-entered the SVD seminary in Chicago and was ordained a priest (finally) last June 5, 2004. His mission assignment is Spain. Father Charlie is one of our 130 Filipino SVD missionaries working in some 35 countries all over the world, persistently continuing Christ's mandate to spread the Gospel to all creation.

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My very own Papa is a very good example of humble (not manipulative) persistence. In particular, Papa told us, as children, how he was able to get the hand of Mama in marriage by continually writing to her. Even during World War II, he persisted in his letter-writing. Papa always told us that even if he was an "underdog," he showed his sincerity and goodness through the years, and in the end, Mama chose him from among her suitors. Bravo Papa! Papa's favorite saying through the years is "During trying times, don't stop trying"!

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We can learn from our Muslim brothers and sisters who are not ashamed to pray in public. I and my group recently experienced something like this in transit while we were in the Singapore airport. We were praying the rosary in a quiet corner and there were many people who were edified. In fact, some even joined us. However, there were also those who laughed and even sneered at us, but it was one meaningful experience of persistent witnessing prayer. Have you ever experienced professing your faith to others, especially in unfavorable moments and situations?

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Rio Diaz is one beautiful example of brave and persistent prayer. She who was dying of cancer gave so much hope and meaning to so many people. A lot of beautiful things have been said about Rio and her achievements, but it was husband Charlie who summarized everything so beautifully when he said, "It is not Rio but the grace of God that made it all possible. May God be praised for using Rio and her sickness to give a message of love and hope to all people." Amen!

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Speaking of cancer, my sister-in-law Ditas had her first chemo treatment and began losing her hair recently. I know and I believe that the Lord will listen to our prayers for her. I was so touched when I heard that my 10-year-old nephew Gio told his Dad that both of them should shave off their hair just to be one with his Mom, and so that God will answer their prayers. What a thoughtful child. What a beautiful prayer!

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The cries and the prayers of the poor, the oppressed and the downtrodden are especially heard by God. As God warned Solomon of Old, careful to you who have haughty eyes; have lying tongues; have hands that shed innocent blood; have hearts that devise evil schemes; have feet that are quick to rush to evil; have dishonesty; and have hearts that stir dissensions. Are you any of these? Don't we have an abundance of these in our country? Careful, careful! The cry of the poor is getting louder every day.

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Congratulations to the winners of our Raffle for the Mission last Oct. 1: 1st prize -- Menchie Mendez; 2nd prize -- Cecilia S. Hata; 3rd prize -- Grade VI St. Matthew DWCL; 4th prize -- Emma Moises; 5th prize -- Eling Lagazo; 6th prize -- St. Jude Archdiocesan Shrine; 7th prize -- Fania Cariño; 8th prize -- Nami Sanchez; 9th prize -- Elenita B. Andrade; and 10th prize -- Ricci G. Hipe.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, I believe, I know that you are always there, and that you are really listening. Amen.