HEAVEN'S MATH

Heaven’s Math

 

So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. – John 7:43

 

A division occurred in my life when I was a young teen. When I came to know the Lord in a personal way at 14, I had to part ways with old friends and hook up with new ones who helped me know and love the Lord more. A division occurred in my life when I was in my early 20s. I left my family and home to live in a community center where I could serve the Lord 24/7.

A division occurred in my life when I was in my early 30s. I left the community where I had grown up and joined a new one where I could grow even more.

At every point where a division occurred, there were tears and a subtraction of something. Friends. Family. Community.

But with every division came addition and multiplication as well. Addition of new friends. New family. New community. And a multiplication of love, maturity and blessing.

That’s why, I’ve learned never to fear heaven’s math. Because where God divides and subtracts, He multiplies and adds so much more.Rissa Singson-Kawpeng (justbreatherissa@gmail.com)

 

REFLECTION:

Sometimes God empties our hand so we can receive more.

 

Lord, I believe You prune me for a purpose. I surrender to Your sovereign plan for my life.

Ambience

 

My first extensive exposure in doing Pauline mission in Mindanao was in the sub-region of “ZamBaSuLa.” These are the localities of Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu and Lanao, which are collectively seen as the critical portion of Mindanao. While moving around these places for various conferences on the life and works of St. Paul, I had to endure the standard practice of moving around with a military escort. So, when I received the invitation to meet with the delegates for the 36th Diocesan Clergy of Mindanao (DCM) Convention that was scheduled for Lake Sebu in South Cotabato, I started to visualize an event that will be characterized by a strong military presence and a lot of caution. The event, graced by a little less than 400 diocesan priests and around 10 bishops all over Mindanao, turned out to be a festive and recharging experience of fellowship, prayer and inputs. The town of Lake Sebu itself presented a relaxing ambience that was truly a lot different from the “alarmist” condition of Basilan. The lush mountains, the lake, the seven waterfalls, the cool air, the rustic sounds of Tiboli gongs and tinklers, the peaceful atmosphere of coexistence amongst the natives and the guests left pleasant memories.

Whether we like it or not, our attitudes, dispositions and values are influenced by the environment that we are in, or that we come from. Galilee was geographically proximate to the many pagan and foreign nations that made incursions into the land of Palestine. It was referred to then as the “Galilee of the Gentiles.” No wonder that the purist leaders, the chief priests and the Pharisees, thought that it could have been illogical for the Messiah to come from there.

We should never forget however that we are not simply at the mercy of atmosphere or environment. Our God-given intellect and inner volition make it possible for us to choose which good things from our environment we should imbibe, and which ones we should filter. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

 

Reflection Question:

Evaluate the environment and ambience that you now have at home, in the workplace, in your social life. Are the conditions in these places conducive to your spiritual and total well-being or not? What are the influences that you should learn to filter and regulate?

 

Help me, Lord, to discern what are the good influences around me. Let me be a good example, too.

 

St. Alexandra and Companions, pray for us.