"FAITH is confident assurance concerning what we HOPE, and conviction about things we do not see." - Heb.11:1
ETERNAL LIFE is this: To KNOW you, the ONLY TRUE GOD, And in whom you have send, JESUS CHRIST.
Prayer is the key to heaven but FAITH unlocks the door. FAITH is the essential target of Catechesis.
But what is FAITH?
* "FAITH is a response of man to God."
* For Pinoy, Faith means entrusting oneself to the care of God. "Ipinagkatiwala ang sarili sa kamay ng Dios."
* BAHALA KA NA DIOS KO, is a PINOY act of FAITH.
Why should we entrust ourselves to God? We entrust ourselves to God because He offers Himself to us as someone who is trustworthy and can be relied on.
God said:
"It is I, who say to you, FEAR NOT, I will help you." (Is. 41:13)
"As a mother comforts her son, so will I comfort you." (Is. 49:6)
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened ."
(Matthew 7: &)
Do you want to have a conscious, active and alive faith? Just simply patronize the CATECHESIS: "TATAK PINOY"
Sources: a. Sacred Scripture
b. A second look at the Apostolate of Catechizing - Fr. Lino Banayad, S.J.
FAITH in GOD means taking Him as "KATIWALA" of our Life.
1. "Katiwala" is a caretaker of property or business.
2. The "Katiwala" - is trusted and considered trustworthy because he is honest and a good person. With such person, you can confidently entrust yourself. Similarly, we can take God as our "Katiwala" because God knows what is best for us. The question is, can God rely on us? How honest are we to God? Faith is a relationship between persons who are friends and are at home with one another. Trust and trustworthiness are qualities that gave birth to the life of loving intimacy. Accordingly, "the definitive aim of Catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy with Christ." (CT, 5)
As Filipinos our usual and common expression for greeting a guest is "Feel at home". Would it be more understandable to say that the nature and purpose of Catechesis is to put people at HOME with GOD?
Therefore, Faith is a relationship between persons who are friends and are at home with one another.
Reflection:
Are you at home with God?
How is your relationship with God and with your neighbor?
Sources: Catechesis Tradendae, A second look on Apostolate of Catechizing- Fr. Lino Banayad, S.J.
"AT HOMENESS" and "PAGKAKAPALAGAYANG LOOB" with one another prevail when we have "PAGKAKAHULIHAN NGA LOOB". (when we have captured the person and have come to share his life)
To be at home with God, we need to communicate with Him. Divine revelation is God's communication of Himself. How does He communicate Himself with us? When we communicate, we relay our thoughts and feelings with one another. We use verbal expressions and gestures. We use symbols and images.
Examples: Your father is resting. You code your message to the children playing nearby and are getting noisy. You command them to keep quiet by putting your index finger to your lips and say sshh... They got the meaning. They got the message.
God follows the same process as we communicate with one another. Knowing the simple process of communication can help us understand and appreciate all the more God's revelation to us.
What does He communicate? "Himself and His hidden purpose". It is His very person and the "thoughts of His Heart" that He shares. He manifests and gives Himself not to be analyzed but to be ACCEPTED and LOVED.
Do you know the unsurpassing worth of knowing God?
Sources: A second look at the Apostolate of Catechizing - Fr. Lino Banayad, S.J.
* Respect is one of the manifestations of FAITH.
* FAITH is trusting and entrusting all to GOD.
* FAITH IS GOD'S gift to all, making my FAITH MATURE and ALIVE is my response to GOD
God shares His interior disposition "His Loob", for us to know His GOODNESS, the WISDOM of His plan for us and the POWER His LOVE.
Now, where does God speak, give Himself and make us experience the "thoughts of His heart?"
God speaks and enters into our lives in our experiencing:
* in our inner search for meaning and happiness;
* the beauty and goodness of nature and our family, friends and neighbors around us;
* our Filipino history and culture;
* in the Bible, in the Church, in the Creed, Commandments and Sacraments;
* in our human experience.
"Christ is the perfect fulfillment of God's revelation" (DV,1)
There was a young girl who grew up in a farm. One day the woman who brought her up revealed to her that she was not an ordinary girl. She was a daughter of a King and Queen who both died during the war. The following morning, the girl went to the farm with a big smile in her heart knowing that she has a royal blood.
There is a cause for us to rejoice because we are daughters and sons of not just an ordinary king but of God, who is the source of life and everything.
God created us all according to His image and likeness. Do we look and treat each other according to His image and likeness. Do we speak and act like Him?
Sources: Catechism for Filipino Catholics - A second look at the Apostolate of Catechizing - Fr. Lino Banayad, S. J.
BLESSED be the God and Father of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who has blessed us in CHRIST with every spiritual blessing... He has made known to us the Mystery of his will... to sum up all things in CHRIST... Now, in him, you too have heard the WORD of TRUTH, the GOSPEL of your SALVATION. Eph. 1:3,9-10,13.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
GOOD EXAMPLE is the BEST SERMON. Thomas Fuller
* For the Youth
Where boasting ENDS. There DIGNITY begins. - Young
Respect for me necessary in developing one's Faith in God. Having been with people of my age with different outlook, norms, values and faith led me to develop respect. At first, I was distracted and disturbed for I have the tendency of comparing myself to them in these aspects. Later on, I realized that each one is really unique. I only have to relate with them accordingly by not allowing them to destroy my faith as Catholic. I have to listen to them as my friends, classmates, schoolmates and board mates without biases at all at the same time listening to myself inner desire. In sustaining this respect, I tried to spend time in SILENCE WITH THE LORD, received the HOLY EUCHARIST often and actively participated in organizations in line with my Catholic faith.
- Mary Karr Soco, 18 year old, Sophomore U.P.,
* For Married Couple
Grant us oh Lord from this day forward to be one heart and
one soul for Richer an for poorer, in sickness and in health UNTIL DEATH DO US
PART. As a mother and wife, I cannot avoid worrying when my children and
husband are not at home. Everyday I
worry a lot. When my children starts to
leave the house for school and my husband for his work. Many ill thoughts are coming out, that for
me, if only I am at their side I can somehow protect them. It was when a close
friend of mine invited me to join an advent recollection in our parish that the
words of our speaker touched me and taught me how to trust and entrust
everything to God. Yes, God entrusted to me my family and I must also know how
to entrust my family to God every time they leave the house for school and
work. God is a God who protects and more capable than myself. “Perfect love casts away all fears. 1JN.
- Mrs. Rose Jalalon,
* Pastoral / Pinoy
People are LONELY because they build WALLS instead of BRIDGES.
- Joseph Fort
When policy fails, try THINKING. Dr. Boyson's Rule
It is NECESSARY to WITHDRAW from time to time. Sustained by the DAILY BREAD of PRAYER while in the MIDST of one's daily activities, there results a HARMONIOUS BALANCE of ACTION and CONTEMPLATION.
Fr. Marie Eugene of the Child Jesus, OCD
1. When was the last time you withdrew from the world to really observe the silence of your heart? YOU NEED IT.
2. Intimacy with GOD fills your heart enough to be intimate with another.
3. Increase my FAITH to join - MARY in saying "be it done to me according to your word."
4. Do we worry too much over our children when they are out of the house?
Let us learn to trust GOD MORE. Ex. 23: 20
"If you live according to my teaching, you are truly my disciples: then you will know the truth, an the truth will set you FREE." - Jn. 8:31-32
ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE, SEEK AND YOU SHALL BE GIVEN. KNOCK AND YOU SHALL BE OPENED
PERSONAL LEARNINGS
Was I able to help you?
Would you like to share your learnings?
I bet your learnings will help others too.
Go ahead and state it.
1. Lord, increase my FAITH and open my heart to your workings
2. Father, help me in my unbelief oh, GOD.
3. Take my hands, Lord and let your arms show me the way. If I ever lose my hold of you, lead me back, oh, JESUS.
SOURCES: CFC -Catechecism for Filipino Catholics - A Second Look of Catechizing by Fr. Lino Banayad, S.J.
Didache 1997 issue