STOP, LOOK & LISTEN THIS CHRISTMAS

I guess I don't have much to say this issue; others have something to quote you in behalf of my placidity. Nonetheless, just few speckles of my inner thoughts this Christmas season will do for me, I guess.

Foremost, I tagged this cover write-up as STOP, LOOK and LISTEN THIS CHRISTMAS as though an orange color in a traffic light, saying slow down congestion ahead! But here, there’s no congestion ahead halting you down, rather we might be missing a lot of things this Christmas. Real surprises and happiness are not ahead, but are along the way. So get loose off your gas down and paddle your canoe slowly.

Life is short and time is fleeting – together with them are precious events in our lives we might have missed.

Stop, look and listen. It rings a bell. I suspect you’re trying to recap how your little limbs limber to the tune of this nursery rhyme at preschool. “Peep, peep the small jeep is running down the street…” something that goes like that. This is the tune we might have grown up with, but it has something more to tell us this season.

Now, how does this makes sense and jingles with my Christmas afterthoughts?

Why STOP?

Obviously, life now is fast paced! You might not actually notice a thing if you’re in the middle of the road, unless you notice your feet pressing hard against your gas pedal. This is much evident in highly advanced countries, such as Japan where every 3 months most people changes their cell phone units with more sophisticated ones. Well, that’s grossly 3 years here in the Philippines before a unit gets loose.

I’ve been steering the wheel of this advertising magazine for more than a year now and it has been a hell of a ride catching up with all its materials (advertising revenues, editorials, schedules, events, productions etc…) for a release and to serve the needs of our beloved advertisers. At large, I was thinking and doing the necessary just to get ahead of things and the demands of my job, perhaps to impress, show that I’m doing my job or just sizing up myself with it. Then at the end of the day I went home, shrug my shoulders, slumber, shake myself off the bed and realized I’m getting ahead of myself and sanity. It doesn’t pay that much – at least that’s what my paycheck hints me.

Slow down. There is more to life rather than just getting too serious with life or your job – else you won’t get out alive and a balding head to deal with.

LOOK. It would be hard to notice something worth noticing along the road if you’re running fast. So, again you really have to slow down. There is more in this world than just meets your work or whatever that gives you more excuses. It is your family, loved ones and yourself that you have to look straight with love this Christmas. More than anything else, it is your presence among them that matters most.

Believe me, material compensation in behalf of your presence doesn’t get even with your absence. Christmas is getting colder as it gets near and it would even be ‘freezing cold’ without you. Somebody out there in the cold might badly in need of your warm embrace.

One of the most disregarded elements of human communication is listening. Just like the air we breathe, listening is the lifeblood of human communications. So why LISTEN. You won’t STOP and you won’t LOOK if you’re not interested to LISTEN. This Christmas it’s not about how loud your voice in heralding your Christmas greetings or how loud your fireworks popping out of you backyard, but it is how much you mean yourself to them with both ears willing to listen.

There are lots of stories to tell this Christmas. Try listening to what your love ones have to say and you’ll just know that listening is more pleasurable than opening your mouth most of the time. Know that when you listen, not just hear but assimilating every words, you actually connects to the deepest realm of a man’s value and vulnerability. Know that when you listen there would be the intertwining of one soul in two bodies. At best, you might as well understand yourself by just listening to them – that is the power of it – and the greatest gift this Christmas.

Further ahead, I would like to thank Georges Carlin, a celebrated writer, for this worth noting brainchild.

“The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, (or just never mind).

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.”

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LIVES OF SAINTS

It is wrong to think that saints do not sin, in fact saints are sinners too like us. Some of them are even worse than most of us casual people do. What is notable about them is their fortitude, exemplary struggle and persistence, to become closer to God, and show that sin has no power over God's mercy.

Leonardo Foley of the Order of the Franciscan Monks in his book Saint of the Day. Saints become who they are because of their total surrender to the will of God without exceptions – the extent that they are called heroes and heroines worth of emulation.

Saints are recalled as individuals with exceptional zeal towards their faith – spiritually centered and materially tamed individuals. They are considered as one of the most important elements of faith and religion, more in particular the Christian faith. In fact sainthood or “saint” generally attributed to Christians or close to it who is in heaven.

The Catholic Church holds the melting pot of all saints, if sainthood or saint is to be the central concern of the dialogue. The (Catholic) Church does not actually make saints as we might usually know from the term “beatification” and “canonization” done by the pope. The church rather, recognizes saints – it is God who 'makes' saints.

Why do we have saints? What do they do to us living and struggling in the mantle of the valley to tears? Simple, as clearly mentioned above, saints are worthy of praise and imitation. They are role models of faith – it is in them that God rejoices – it is in them that Jesus is magnified! As for us Christians, their lives remind us of how we should imitate a Christian spirituality, values, character, morals and so on.

We do not worship the saints, contrary to what other religious denominations think. We only ask their assistance on our prayers. If it's good to pray alone, isn't it better or best if somebody prays with you or helps with you in your prayers? We have to remember that the saints are also called masters of prayers; and that prayer to them is actually the lifeblood of their soul. Prayer has been their sword and shield on their spiritual struggle here on earth.

To clarify things there are three “worships” that we attribute to God, Mary and Saints if worship would mean its perennial meaning, “to honor” or to “give respect.” For the sake of clarity, we have to use the term devotion.

Latria, Hyperdulia and Dulia are devotions we attribute to God, Mary and the Saints. These terminologies are Greeks for terms such as honor, reverence, adoration and worship to God and the saints or any act that we raise our hearts and minds to God and them.

Latria is the highest of them all and in sacrificial in nature. Hyperdulia is attributed to Virgin Mary. This special adoration is given her because of that exceptional role and fiat to the Plan of Salvation. Dulia is given to the saints because of the exemplary faith and obedience to the Savior. The last two are actually salutes in recognition to a great works of faith they've done – like a military official who have shown indomitable bravery on the field.

In other words, a saint can be summed up but not limited to being an exemplary model, extraordinary teacher, wonder worker or source of benevolent power, intercessor, selfless, ascetic behavior and possessor of a special and revelatory relation to the holy – according to John A. Coleman, graduate of theological studies at Berkely.


HANDFULS OF SAINTS

According to the Catholic church census there are about 10, 000 saints recognized by Christianity not counting perhaps those unlisted and imminent to sainthood. Nevertheless there are few of them here I've handpicked for your emulation.

SAINT VALENTINE
(Patron of Love, Young People, Happy Marriages)
Feast day: February 14

SAINT THERESE OF LISIEUX
(Patron of Missions)
Feast day: October 1

SAINT LUKE
(Patron of Physicians and Surgeons)
Feast day: October 18


BLESSED KATERI TEKAKWITHA
(Patroness of the environment and ecology)
Feast day: July 14

SAINT JEROME
(Patron of Librarians)
Feast day: September 30

SAINT ROSE OF LIMA
(Patroness of Latin America and America)
Feast day: August 30

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA
(Patron of Pregnant Women, Doctor of the Church)
Feast day: June 13

SAINT BERNADETTE
(Patroness of Bodily Illness)
Feast day: April 16

SAINT ANGELA MIRICI
(Patroness of Handicapped People)
Feast day: January 27

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST
(Patron of Hospitallers)
Feast day: June 24

SAINT MATTHEW
(Patron Saint of Bankers)
Feast day: September 21

Thanks: catholic.org for the photo credits

THE BETHLEHEM SUPERNOVA

The avalanche of the ideal foundation of this article did not evoked from an awe-stunning blight of a supernovatic-effect of a star. Rather, it started from an exodus of this paper-article from a dark and stingy compartment, kept perhaps as a valuable chronicle of things almost immemorial.

The pages of the paper almost collapsed even by the gentle caress of my fingers; signaling a surrender and exhaustion from a long vexation of time and matter.

Hence, from the cunning intent my mental faculty could give, I begun unearthing the lacklustered pages of the old magazine. I seemed to be a vagabond lost in every unfamiliar highways of its leaf. Till the curious ardor of my wondering consciousness was spellbounded by a generous article which spells – “The Bethlehem Supernova.”

That article of Gregorio Brillantes hooked me up like a man hypnotized by a perfect stranger. I noticed myself pressing my nose against the faded pages of the magazine for several minutes. For some time now, we will plunge into retrospection of this awe-inspiring phenomenon between the two grotesquely intertwined narrative accounts; the beautiful interplay of the theoretical exposé of the celestially based sciences and the literary brainchild of Arthur Clarke, a sci-fi of his short story – “The Star.”

The scientific discipline broods of the theory, that after a few hundred years are consummated, a star in our galaxy will reach the edge of its glorious immortality. An infernal outburst of its searing chemical components exudes an overwhelming amount of light and radiation. Due to the exhaustion of its thermonuclear elements and processes, the sun tends to overheat, giving off a bedeviling temperature of seven billion degrees centigrade. The power chamber of the sun, which is its core, collapses, causing the outer envelope of the searing gaseous chemical to rush in, forming a highly insufferable concentration. Soon thereafter, a critical stage is reached. The high concentration undergoes chain reaction, ending a star breathing-off its last thermonuclear sinews.

However, before the star shrinks into an “insignificant” white dwarf, it will first paint the abode of heavens with rich thick clouds of luminous gases. Afterwards, a signature of an oblivious retire follows. The Nebula, which astronauts later capture epitomized the remains of the said cataclysm. The next story is comparatively a sequel of the previous account. However, it is just being exemplified in a sci-fi celestial fantasy. This is the story of “The Star,” courtesy of a, perhaps, fictitious intellectual sleigh of an author Arthur Clarke.

This story as told, might have been a grotesque enterprise of a Christmas story, of the manifestation of an Intelligence beyond human arrest, and a test of faith – all brought about by the explosion of a certain star, we opt to quote as “The Bethlehem Supernova.” After a said stellar outburst, a Jesuit priest-scientist, an astrophysicist by specialization, had just retreated from an expedition to a pro-chaotic remnant, the nebula. The Jesuit scientist (the narrator and character in the story), though reluctant to admit, had with them viable data from the mission to phoenix nebula. Together with them were scrolls of photographs that captured the panorama of the mission.

They are unconsciously expecting to discover a ‘last standing planet’ circling the exhausted star at a considerable range – the ‘Pluto prototype’ of this vanished solar system. Upon surveillance, they were stunned to discover archives of a long-before existing civilization. It was immortalized by the artifacts and intelligent remains nestled in that planet. The “vault,” that they call, encased the signature of a relatively human-like civilization that existed just before the cataclysm – or even advanced and brilliant than what we have.

The ‘monolithic marker’, which was engrossed on the entrance of the vault and the pylon, gave additional weight to the objective evidence of the doomed civilization. They must have been given an ample time to prepare; the sun just have warn them of the imminent end they will meet.

The fruit of their genius were all brought to this distant planet in a hope that they will never too soon be forgotten. They might even trumpeted to the whole macrocosmic vicinity, especially to the whole human kingdom, which are at least relatively aware of this fact, that indeed, we don’t have the monopoly of an intelligent and conscious existence in this splendid valley.

The magnificent aura of their civilization was projected against the disconcerted being of the earth through thousands of visual records and machines preserved inside the secured ambit; records that present a tough sophistication of a civilization superior than of our own. The priest scientist would helplessly sigh in bitter confusion bugging his soul: “even if they had not been disturbingly human as their sculpture showed, we could not have helped admiring them and grieving for their fate.” How can we reconcile this to the mercy of God?

It might be common as grass for the people and cultures of the earth to come and go. But to be vanquished from a full flourishing civilization without survivors at all – would be unthinkable. The atheist co-worker of the Jesuit-scientist says these things happen because there is no divine justice – God does not exist.

But the Jesuit-scientist, perhaps, from the repugnance of a bitter anguish and retaliation from the smog that put his faith into the crucible, took a stiff heads up, hailed his being saying to himself, “God indeed needs not explain to His actions to His creatures.”

There must be a time that as humans even the firmest faith may falter because of the weight of the dilemma pressing against ones shoulders.

Being an advocate not only of religious acumen but of scientific as well, he had calibrated the exact moment when the colossal conflagration reached the earth. It just have reached the earth before the dawn somewhere in the East – when and where Jesus is about to be born.

The supernova, through the instrumentality of the exceptional star that shines triumphantly in the night sky before the sunrise, serves as beacon and a guiding light for the Three Kings that would give praise and honor to His majesty, our savior Jesus Christ.

“But O God, there were so many stars you could have used, what was the need to give these people to the fire, that the symbol of their passing might shine above Bethlehem,” cried the disconcerted Jesuit priest. But again, can we compel God to justify his deeds over us, though it might seem crazy in our own opinion?

Is it that God valued earthlings more than those doomed civilization? (They’re isn’t too evil perhaps?) If not, then what is that sublime reality calling God to plunge this civilization on the furnace just to give the passing of these Three Kings a compass on their nocturnal journey?

We may for some instance in our life accuse God of putting us into the crucible and question him of such like a culprit at large.

The stories, if we remember, are conglomeration of factual and fictitious accounts. However, no matter how factual or fictitious those narratives may be, it nevertheless, conveys sublime reality – God’s love to the whole human civilization.

First, he made a ‘sacrificial lamb’ through the agency of the distant doomed civilization in behalf of us his beloved sinful civilization. Second, and the greatest of these, God sends forth His only begotten and precious son to be subjected to human civilization. To be accused though innocent, to be killed in behalf of our own transgression over the divine justice, and to be resurrected to arrest human civilization from the doom akin to the fate of the distant civilization.

Lastly, we may never be able to capsulate the plans and thoughts of God, yet his love is a reality beyond all telling and mark of any reasonable doubt.

(An excerpt from the December 13, 1969 issue of the Philippine Free Press in an Article by Gregorio C. Brillantes)

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