Easter 2014 and my Birthday

I haven't written in a long time because of a tragedy that struck me and my family in the early part of this year. But this Easter, we seemed to be the hallelujah people, as Pope John Paul II said "Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song"

It became so true in my case. Lent came early for us on the First Saturday of January. My brother died, all of a sudden, our world crumbled. I personally didn't know how to go on in this world anymore. I couldn't explain the loss, I couldn't explain how my emotions were--- there were too many things to process and even now, if I try to recall everything, I still feel that I will not be able to go on without breaking down.

We are in mourning ever since, and holy week was very evident to us. God seemed to be absent in our trial, our misery.... but no matter how I deny it, I came to a realization that I came to understand Christ's passion even more. I used to contemplate and meditate Christ's pain during lent before this year--- but I remained to be just a mere observer. But this year was different. My brother who I thought was doing nothing for God, have become my gateway to God's wisdom and work in my life. Through his death, I have come to know of God's faithfulness, His mercy, His thirst for souls.... I was humbled--- I thought I was the one who loved God and did more for God than anyone around me---- but on the contrary, I was only putting on a show. God knew me better than anyone, and in His grace--- he saved me from myself--- he saved me from my masks, my hatred, my unforgiving heart, my pride, my blindness. I was a mess, a filthy sinner.

Through my brother's death, I came to know more about God---- I used to know God in His justice, but now, I know God in His infinite mercy.... that is what I hold on to, because without God's Mercy, who can stand?

Holy week 2014 have been very meaningful to me.
Came Easter, my birthday. God gave me a gift, He had my aunt call my mom to tell her that she dreamt of my brother  on Easter Vigil kneeling before a resurrected Christ. And he was wearing white and finally turned to my aunt and waved goodbye to follow Christ. It was something that greatly set me free---- my God is the God of the living, He has risen, and so will those who followed Him. Winning against death, Jesus will certainly be faithful to those who followed him.

God also made it happen that I get to see the relics of the greatest Pope that I look up to, the Pope who knew artists the best. I asked Pope John Paul II to guide us in the media.

Then Easter came, I went to two Masses to offer for atonement and for conversion. And in between Masses, God inspired the musicians to play a Happy Birthday song, it was so random--- no one there knew that it was my birthday because no one there knew me--- But God knew me. It made me smile, I disregarded my birthday to make way for the mother of celebrations which was His resurrection--- but He included me. 

I am sold--- I am in love with the God who loves me. Who disciplines me when I am in a mess---- it is a painful travel to stay faithful to Him---- but I know it will be worth it. I sing my hallelujah--- with the new hope and new life, which Easter represents--- I want to shine the light of Christ in the world. Amen!

Tribute to Pope John Paul II's Beatification

This coming May 1, 2011, the people of the Universal Church will be watching for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II who had made a lot of landmarks in history. Few knew about the history of this remarkable successor to the chair of St. Peter, and so here I will list down some of what I read about him.

- While still a child, his classmates used to tease him that he'll be a saint one day.
- While still a young priest, Karol Wojtyla went to confession, and the Franciscan priest Padre Pio told him that one day he will become the Pope.
- He was the Fatima Pope of which the Blessed Virgin Mary talks about in Fatima when she said that she asked a priest from her Son to sit in the chair of St. Peter to crush the communist party of in Europe (true enough, he had been friends with Mikhail Gurbachev of Russia and had been in tireless opposition of Russia's communist movement)
- He has Totus Tuus as his apostolic motto (latin for I'm all yours) which is a response to the Blessed Virgin's call to him.
- His coat of arms is the only coat of arms among all the popes which bears the letter M for Mary. A proof that he indeed embodied the personalty of the predicted pope of Fatima.
- His papacy reached out to the hearts of the leaders of the world. The most traveled pope, or the "gypsy" pope, and appealed to the youths.

There are so many things that proves that this man is truly a builder of Bridges.
Other people and even some Catholic bishops and priests may have hated him, which is sad, but there is no denying that Christ is truly faithful to His Church and had given the keys to St. Peter and his successors.

Pope John Paul II has called the Jews "Older brothers" since Jesus Christ is a Jew himself. Without the Jews, there will be no Christ for the Catholics to know, contrary to what others say about Catholics condemning the Jews. (Well, some traditional Catholics refuse to obey the pope and still insist on hating the Jews)

Pope John Paul II was the only man who united the world leaders at his burial. Iran and Iraqi leaders were sitting side by side, even though they were at war at that time. But they had to go there to pay their last respects to this holy man.

Pope John Paul II has truly become an inspiration through his courage and perseverance. The faith he showed when he led the Church was undoubtedly alive.

To be honest, I myself have a lot of doubts about my faith, but seeing him with steadfast belief and hope made me want to see the God he sees. He truly is an inspiration. An example to all, a saint through and through. I am happy to have lived at the time of his Papacy! I caught a glimpse of what a true Catholic should be!

True, priests, bishops and some of the Catholic officials have tarnished the reputation of the Universal Church with scandals and abuses that made the lay people leave the fold, but they are not the Church. There are people who are determined to make things right. Pope John Paul II, you're a hero! Reflecting Christ in this time of confusion.

May the Church produce more people like him!

Cool! A role model!