come O Holy Spirit: 11th wk Friday 2013
Let
us allow the gospel to give us some cues.
First
the gospel speaks of treasures, treasures that last, treasures that no moth and
decay can destroy, treasures that thieves cannot break into or steal, treasures
that are real treasures because the heart is attached to them, the heart
follows them. We invoke the Holy Spirit
because he leads us to our real treasures in life, not the passing ones, not
the short-lived values of our time, but that which we bring through life. What are these?
I
overheard a mother saying, bisan mangutang pa ako basta mapa-iskwela ko lang ang
mga kabataan ko sa maayo nga iskwelahan, amo lang ini ang mapasubli ko sa ila. The only inheritance she can give was a good
education, the only real treasure she can leave behind as a legacy was a degree
for her children. Many of you students may
take for granted the opportunity and the privilege of being provided a good education. But for many of your parents this is about
the only treasure they are bequeathing. Many
of you faculty may take for granted the so many students you meet and teach
each day – some are nameless and anonymous to you, some are “just another
student.” But for many parents these
students are here hoping that they would receive through you the only treasure
they are giving and leaving behind.
In
the seminary we have in our chapel the image of Our Lady of the Miraculous
Medal. It is said that Cardinal Sin when he was a student wrote a letter to our
Blessed mother and placed this under her image asking for a miracle during one
of those bouts with asthma when he was young.
He wanted to become a priest, he knew where his heart was, he knew where
his treasure was but he argued how can I become one when I am too sick. So he asked the Blessed Mother to ask the
Lord – does he want me to become a priest.
If he does, tell him I need a more healthy body. If a healthy body cannot be had then I would
take it that my treasure lies elsewhere.
That was the last inquiry about his asthma. No letters were sent after that.
A
treasure becomes lasting when it is also God’s treasure, a thing of value to us
becomes lasting when it is also a value to God.
Only God can make things lasting because only God lasts. If it is just my plan, it will not last, if
it is just feeling ko lang, it will not last, if it is just a fling, it will
not last. A lasting treasure is yours as
much as it is God’s. So as you go
through school just be sure where your treasures are, and that the really important
things you hold in yourself are God’s values as well.
This
is what the Holy Spirit does to us. He
helps us identify the treasures that lasts.
The second purpose why we invoke the
Holy Spirit as we start the school year, again taking our cue from the gospel, is
to keep our eyes healthy because if
your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness, but if your eye is sound,
your whole body will be filled with light.
The eyes
are used analogically in almost all languages to mean I understand. When I ask, “do you see the point,” I am
actually asking, “do you understand.”
When you say,” I see,” it actually means I understand.
I am not
a medical student but I was told that the nerves of the eyes travel to the
brain through a shorter route than hearing.
Is this correct? That is why,
they say, we learn more and quickly when we see, which explains why schools and
teachers invest more on powerpoints and lcds.
Many
times we are slow to learn because we could not see, we could not get the point. Many times our eyes blinded and many times
what we could not see hurt us. Many
times our eyes get easily distracted and we lose focus. Many times we are not careful not just with
what we see but also with what we watch and we become predisposed to something
that can hurt the soul and the psyche, our eyes being their windows to the
world. Many times our eyes are trained
only to see the bad and not the good and so we see the pimples but not the
beautiful face. Many times it is not
only what we see, but what we show for others to see that brings about and
prolongs evil in the world. Be careful
what you see, be careful what you show.
That is why we invoke the Holy Spirit to keep our eyes healthy.
Today in
as much as it is a life well lived, we celebrate the death anniversary of the
founder of St. Paul of Chartres, St. Louis de Chavet and we pray for his
intercession that we will keep our eyes always focused on the mission he began;
today too in as much as we are being led by the leadership of Sr. Carolina Agravante,SPC, we celebrate her birth anniversary and we pray for her intention
that she and her staff may be the eyes that would lead us to our true treasure. And finally, today too in as much as we are
still in the world we permit ourselves to get distracted by game 7 either to
celebrate or to grieve but nevertheless at home with the resolve that the real
finals in life are played in the heart and not in the basketball court.
May the Holy Spirit be always with you,
in your company, amen.
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