THERE IS LIFE - EVEN WITH CANCER

THERE IS LIFE — EVEN WITH CANCER

 

But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ… – 1 Peter 4:13

 

With tears in her eyes, my cousin said, “Si Lord na ang bahala sa akin (I am in God’s hands).” The dreaded big C had spread to her ovaries, intestines and pancreas. Her words keep coming back to me.

These past years, I have seen so much suffering at close range. Many friends in our neighborhood have cancer. A few have passed away; some are still battling with it.

And yet, too, I have seen people who, though suffering with cancer, continue to live joyfully and meaningfully, finding purpose in their illness. Their suffering has blessed the people around them —just as Jesus’ suffering and death blessed us all.

Maybe it’s time to act soon on the inspiration that’s been nagging at me for three years — to form a cancer survivors support group that will not only be a haven for those afflicted with the illness but will also provide support for caregivers.

An inspiration, a prayer, a willing spirit.

As I write this, I know that God is moving things for His will to happen. Tess V. Atienza (svp_tvatienza@yahoo.com)        

 

REFLECTION:

How donyou look at your suffering or those of the people around you? Do you find meaning in them?

 

Lord, there is so much suffering around us and in us. Grant us the grace to see Your purpose in allowing them to happen.

BLESSING OR CURSE

 

We love to bless and be blessed. We believe in blessings.

Some curse and are cursed. Some believe in curses.

Do you believe in curses? If you do not, then why do you believe in blessings? Is it our belief that makes either blessings or curses work?

Curses are as real as blessings. If we have faith when we curse, that which we curse is accursed indeed. If we have faith when we bless, that which we bless is truly blessed. Be generous so as to bless. Be careful so as not to curse. Be loving so as to be a blessing. Why curse anyway? But Jesus cursed the barren fig tree. He did! It was because, being barren, the fig tree already ceased to be a blessing long before it was cursed. By cursing the fig tree, Jesus brought to consciousness what the fig tree really had already become: a curse.

Be fruitful and be a blessing. Do not be a curse. But we are not fig trees. When we are barren, there is still hope for us to heal and bear fruit in due time. And this is Good News!

Be healed and bear fruit. Bear fruit and bless. To be healed, we need to be cleansed as Jesus cleansed the temple with its maladies for it to be truly what it should be — a house of blessing, never a den of thieves. Be cleansed and be what you should really be. Be what you are truly meant to be and bless others.

To be cleansed, we must pray. Prayer purifies us with the presence of God. This is grace. Pray and be purified. Be in the presence of God and bless others.

To bless, we must love. Love makes us the presence of God in the world. This is virtue. Love and be a blessing. Be the presence of God and bless others.

Are you a blessing or a curse? Fr. Bobby Titco

 

Reflection Question:

Am I a blessing or a curse? Am I fruitful or barren?

 

Beginning today, Lord Jesus, I will pray not only for You to bless me but for You to transform and use me to be Your blessing to others. Be it far from me that I become a curse to anyone. Amen.

 

St. Wiliam of Gellone, pray for us.