Making a difference

THE STORY is told about an adolescent coming home from school who casually asked her mother, "Mom, what is sex?" Rattled by her young daughter's question, the mother said, "My child, well, sex is... ah... well, it's something natural... ah... it's something which two people do... ah... to show their love for each other. Yeah, that's it!" The young girl looked at her in amazement and said, "Wow, that's a rather long sentence to put in the bio-data I'm filling in."

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Adultery is the sin of adults, not so much in the sense of the sixth commandment, but in their tendency to adulterate truth, goodness and life itself. In today's gospel (Mt. 5, 13-16), Jesus tells us to be "salt of the earth" and "light of the world." We often lose our potency as salt and light because, instead of being straight and simple, we become complicated and sophisticated. We no longer make a difference because instead of choosing the "road less traveled" we choose the road of comfort, success, lies, half-truths and easy compromises. Instead of becoming salt and light to worldly people, we often get sullied and blighted by them.

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Did you ever wonder why Jesus told us to be salt, and not sugar? That's because sweetness can be faked. And so it is that we have artificial sugar and so many hypocrites so filled with niceties, lies and pretenses. More than sweet talk and sweet smiles, God is calling each and everyone of us to make a difference, and to be true to our commitments.

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There is a story about a mental patient who was singing while he lay on his bed. Suddenly he stopped and turned his head face down, and then he started singing again. When asked by the nurse what happened, his reply was that he had switched to side B. "Side B" of being salt of the earth is being light of the world. It is not enough to be good. One must also do good deeds -- and be a light for others -- to see so that "they may see your good deeds and glorify your Heavenly Father." When people see and encounter you, do they glorify God? Do they remember God at all?

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People who make a difference are not so much those who shine, but those who reflect God's light in their lives. In fact, some people shine too much that they no longer reflect the source of their light. Are you a reflector or a deflector of God's light? Do you convert, or do you divert and obvert God's light in your life?

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How do we make a difference? If we translate "difference" in Tagalog, we come up with the word "diperensya," which connotes not so much that something is different, but that something is wrong. Perhaps this can give us a clue on how we can be different or how we can make a difference -- and that is being "wrong" or being "fools" in the eyes of the world. The reason why we never really make a difference is that we conform to the ways, values and standards of the world. The bottom line is, at the end of our lives, did we make a difference in people's lives because we encountered them? Did we make a difference in this world because we passed by? This should lead us to another clue: we can make a difference if we are truly aware that we are just passing by.

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Rotary Club of Urdaneta North president Budee Sison thought of making something different this Lenten Season by inviting Rotarians and guests to "An evening of light moments with Fr. Jerry" on Feb. 19. This will be held at the Balikbayan Hall, Urdaneta City, which will start with a 5:30 p.m. Mass, followed by a recollection, dinner and fellowship. The proceeds will be for our Filipino missionaries overseas. Yes, let's all try to be salt and light in whatever we are doing, wherever we are.

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Let us all say a fervent prayer for our dear Pope John Paul II, someone who is truly a salt and light of this world, an inspiration for all of us.

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Feb. 9 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. We are all reminded again that we are "dust, and to dust we will return." In our own simple and truthful ways, let us all "repent and believe in the Gospel." May we also as a nation and as a people, starting with our leaders, change our deceitful and greedy ways.

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Feb. 9 is also the Chinese New Year. Wishing all of us a better new year in all aspects, in Jesus' name. We all want good health, long life, prosperity and progress; but more than these, let us wish for peaceful, meaningful and substantial lives.

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Batanes, once more with feeling! A pilgrimage to Batanes is scheduled on Feb. 16-18. For particulars, please call +63 2 721-7457 or 523-8581. What attracts people to Batanes? It's the beauty, simplicity and serenity of the place and its people. Yes, simple is beautiful.

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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help me make a difference by living a life of substance (salt) and good deeds (light). Amen.

E-mail: jorbos@manila-online.net