PAULINES

MABUTING BALITA l AGOSTO 13, 2022 –SABADO

Ika – 19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Ebanghelyo: Mt 19:13-15

May nagdala kay Hesus ng mga bata para ipatong n’ya ng kanyang kamay sa kanila at madasalan. Pinagalitan naman ng mga alagad ang mga taong may dala sa kanila. Kaya sinabi ni Hesus: “Pabayaan ninyo sila. Huwag ninyong pigilang lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Sa mga tulad nga nila ang kaharian ng langit.” At pagkapatong ni Hesus ng kanyang kamay sa kanila, umalis na s’ya.

Pagninilay:

Mga kapatid, ang ebanghelyo ayon kay Mateo sa araw na ito ay sadyang napakaikli lamang ngunit ang tatlong taludtud na ito ay may napakahalagang mensahe para sa atin. Sinabi ni Hesus, “Hayaan ninyong lumapit sa akin ang mga bata. Huwag ninyo silang pagbawalan sapagkat ang mga katulad nila ang mapapabilang sa kaharian ng langit.” Hinahayaan ba natin na ang mga bata ay lumapit sa atin? Marami sa atin na nasa hustong gulang na ay naniniwala na may mas marami pa tayong alam kaysa sa mga bata, ngunit kung ating maipagtatanto ang mga bata ay may maraming maituturo din sa atin lalo na sa ating buhay Kristiyano. Ang mga bata ay karaniwang nakikita ang mga bagay kung ano ito. Sila ay hindi pa nabubulag sa mga makamundong pananaw. Ang mga maliliit na mga bata ay kuntento na sa simpleng pagkain at pananamit. Hindi nila kailangan ng marami, at hindi rin sila umaasa ng marami. Ang mga bata ay nagtitiwala sa kanilang mga magulang at sila ay umaasa sa kanila. Palagi silang masaya at may pakiramdam ng pagkamangha sa lahat ng bagay. Ito ay ilan lamang sa maraming likas na katangian ng mga bata. Marahil ito ang isa sa mga rason kung bakit sinabi ni Hesus na ang mga batang katulad nila ay ang mapapabilang sa kaharian ng langit. Sa ebanghelyo ngayong araw na ito, ikinagagalak ni Jesus ang mga bata at ipinakita niya na ang pag-ibig ng Diyos ay may sapat na puwang para sa lahat, pati na sa mga bata. Mga kapatid, sa araw na ito ay inaanyayahan tayo ni Kristo na pansinin ang mga batang nakakatagpo natin. Ano ang nakikita mo sa mga bata na gusto mong gayahin? Pasasalamat ba sa maliliit na bagay? Marahil ang kanilang pagiging matanong, kahinaan, pagiging bukas, pagiging inklusibo, kawalan ng pagkiling, kakayahang maglaro at magsaya? Sa araw na ito, hilingin mo kay Hesus na pasiglahin o palakasin ang isang katangian ng pagkabata na maaaring magbigay-daan sa iyo na tanggapin ang pag-ibig ng Diyo ng lubos. Walang taong hindi mahalaga sa Diyos. Ipanalangin mo na nawa ay ipatong din ni Hesus ang kanyang kamay sa iyo upang matamasa mo rin ang kanyang nakapagpapagaling na pag-ibig at kapangyarihan. Sem. Christian Bagongon, SSP

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 13, 2022 - Saturday of 19th Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Pontian, pope and martyr l Saint Hippolytus, priest and martyr

Gospel: Mt 19:13-15 

13Little children were being brought to Jesus in order that he might  lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those  who brought them; 14but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to  me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom  of heaven belongs.” 15And he laid his hands on them and went on  his way. 

The disciples have just been taught in the previous chapter  that children are the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven  (cf. Mt 18:1-5). The teaching was even accompanied by an  admonition not to despise the children (Mt 18:10), but instead to  look to them as models of Kingdom-greatness (Mt 18:4). That is why  the disciples’ dismissive attitude toward the children in this episode  is rather surprising. Their failure to assimilate the words of Jesus is  a simple indicator of how hard it is for adults to undo society’s mental  conditionings and to be open to something new and different. Their  disposition is exactly the opposite of children’s. No wonder Jesus  repeats here his previous declaration that the Kingdom belongs to  children. Like the disciples, we, adults, need to relearn childlikeness,  that we may be numbered among the little ones who are citizens of  God’s Kingdom. Lord Jesus, help us to rediscover childlikeness and to become at home  with such disposition. Amen

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 12, 2022 - Friday of 19th Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, religious

Gospel: Mt 19:3-12  

3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus, and to test him they asked, “Is it  lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?” 4 He answered,  “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning  ‘made them male and female,’ 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man shall  leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two  shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 7 They  said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of  dismissal and to divorce her?” 8 He said to them, “It was because you  were so hard-hearted that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives,  but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever  divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits  adultery.” 10His disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his  wife, it is better not to marry.” 11But he said to them, “Not everyone can  accept this teaching, but only those to whom it is given. 12For there  are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who  have been made eunuchs by others, and there are eunuchs who have  made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let  anyone accept this who can.”

In responding to the question of divorce, Jesus goes back  to the Creator’s original intention to bring unity out of  diversity — to turn man and woman into one flesh. Marriage  is meant to reflect the Triune God’s undivided unity in the diversity  of persons. Divorce is never a part of God’s original intention but  the result of hardness-of-heart, of humanity’s stubborn seeking to  have its own way. Conjugal unity is not envisioned by God to be  an instant achievement. It is a gift given in the form of a potential,  like a seed to be sown and nurtured patiently day-by-day. Sacrifice  is a necessary element that brings it to maturity. Sadly, however, it is  the unwillingness to sacrifice that often drives couples to part ways.  Marriages that are solidly built on faith may be rare today, but they  justify Jesus’ uncompromising position on the issue of divorce. Jesus  himself has assumed the sacrifice necessary so that God’s purposes  may be fulfilled, for he was convinced that nothing would be impossible  for God. Lord Jesus, strengthen married couples who believe in the indissolubility  of marriage and faithfully live their commitment. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA l AGOSTO 12, 2022 – Biyernes sa Ika – 19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Santa Juana Francisca de Chantal, namanata sa Diyos

Ebanghelyo: Mt 19:3-12

Lumapit kay Hesus ang ilang Pariseo na hangad siyang subukan, at tinanong nila siya: “Pinahihintulutan bang diborsiyuhin ng lalaki ang kanyang asawa sa anumang dahilan?” “Hindi ba ninyo nabasa na sa simula’y ginawa sila ng Maykapal na lalaki at babae, at sinabi rin nitong iiwan ng lalaki ang kanyang ama at ina, at pipisan sa kanyang asawa, at magiging iisang katawan ang dalawa? Kung gayo’y hindi na sila dalawa kundi iisang katawan na lamang; kaya huwag papaghiwalayin ng tao ang pinagbuklod ng Diyos.” “Kung gayon, bakit iniutos ni Moises na bigyan ang babae ng kasulatan ng diborsiyo bago siya paalisin?” “Alam ni Moises na matigas ang inyong puso kaya pinayagan kayong diborsiyuhin ang inyong mga asawa, ngunit hindi ganito sa simula. At sinasabi ko naman sa inyo: kung may magpaalis sa kanyang asawa, malibang dahil sa pagtataksil, at saka magpakasal sa iba, nakiapid na siya.” Sinabi naman ng mga alagad: “Kung iyan ang itinatadhana para sa lalaking may-asawa, walang pakinabang sa pag-aasawa.” Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanila: “Hindi matatanggap ng lahat ang salitang ito, kundi ng mga pinagkalooban lamang nito. May ilang ipinanganak na hindi nakapag-asawa. May iba namang ipinakapon ng tao. At may iba ring tumalikod sa pag-aasawa alang-alang sa kaharian ng Langit. Tanggapin ito ng puwedeng tumanggap.”

Pagninilay:

Sa panahon ngayon, marami nang mga “disposable” sa ating paligid gaya ng plato, kutsara, baso, facemask, at marami pang iba. Disposable, pagkatapos ng isahang gamit tapon agad. Marahil nakaugat ito sa ugali ng tao na mabilis nang magsawa. Mas gusto na palaging bago kaya palit ng palit, tapon ng tapon. Minsan, maging ugnayan sa kapwa ginagawa na ring disposable. Pati ang kabiyak o asawa na dapat mahalin habang buhay ay nagiging pansamantala na lamang. Nawawala ang halaga at bigat ng sinumpaan sa kasal. Nililimot, itinatapon at pilit binabago ang wastong ugnayan at pakikipagkapwa. Minsan pa ang mismong tao at maging ang Diyos tinatalikuran at ginagawang disposable.

Mga kapatid, hindi disposable ang tao. Hindi disposable ang ugnayan natin sa isa’t isa. Huwag pairalin ang “katigasan ng puso” gaya ng narinig sa ebanghelyo kung saan ipinilit nila ang kanilang gusto kaya pumayag si Moises bagama’t hindi ito ang nais at plano ng Diyos. Tandaan, hindi disposable ang pamilya, asawa, mga anak at mga kaibigan natin. Hindi kailangan na ang lahat laging bago. Kailangan lang natin pahalagahan ang kung anong mayroon na tayo at ingatan sila araw-araw upang manatiling bago. Inaanyayahan tayo ni Hesus na gamitin ang puso at isipan tungo sa wastong pakikipagugnayan sa kapwa. Pahalagahan at ingatan natin ang ating pamilya at mga mahal sa buhay. Sila ang ating natatanging yaman mula sa Diyos at ating daan tungo sa ganap na kabanalan. Amen.

Sem. Kerence Fritz Faderanga

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 11, 2022 - Thursday of 19th  Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Clare, virgin

Gospel: Mt 18:21–19:1 

21Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the  church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven  times?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared  to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24When he  began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was  brought to him; 25and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to  be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions,  and payment to be made. 26So the slave fell on his knees before him,  saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And  out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave  him the debt. 28But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of  his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him  by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29Then his fellow slave  fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will  pay you.’ 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison  until he would pay the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had  happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported  to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him  and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because  you pleaded with me. 33Should you not have had mercy on your  fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his lord handed  him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35So my  heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive  your brother or sister from your heart.” 1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and  went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan.

Forgiveness is a grace that cannot be hoarded, for it will  backfire on anyone who attempts to do so. This is what  the Gospel-parable makes very clear to us. God’s forgiveness  works only for those recipients who willingly give it away to others  who ask for it. Jesus knows that the human heart is prone to keep  grudges and subtly get back at an offender by withholding pardon.  Thus, he has ensured that we would not hoard forgiveness nor limit  the number of times that we grant it to another, by making it one of  the petitions in the prayer that he taught us: “forgive us our trespasses  as we forgive those who trespass against us.” The petition comes with  the condition “as we forgive,” which binds the one who prays. To be  unforgiving is to be denied forgiveness. No one is to blame except the  unforgiving person’s hardness-of-heart. Lord Jesus, keep us mindful of the golden rule, and thus extend to others  the forgiveness that we desire for ourselves. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA l AGOSTO 11, 2022 – Huwebes sa Ika – 19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

Santa Clara, dalaga

Ebanghelyo: Mt 18:21 – 19:1

Nagtanong si Pedro: “Panginoon, gaano kadalas ko naman dapat patawarin ang mga pagkukulang ng aking kapatid? Pitong beses ba? Sumagot si Hesus: “Hindi, hindi pitong beses kundi pitumpu’t pitong beses. Tungkol sa Kaharian ng Langit ang kasaysayang ito. Isang hari ang nagpasyang pagbayarin ng utang ang kanyang mga utusan. Nang simulan niyang suriin ang kuwenta, iniharap sa kanya ang isang may utang ng sampung libong baretang ginto. Dahil walang maibayad sa kanya ang tao, iniutos ng panginoon na ipagbili at maging alipin siya kasama ng kanyang asawa, mga anak at mga ari-arian bilang bayad utang. At nagpatirapa naman sa paanan ng hari ang opisyal at sinabi: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon, at babayaran kong lahat ang utang ko.’ Naawa sa kanya ang hari at hindi lamang siya pinalaya kundi kinansela pa ang kanyang utang. Pagkaalis ng opisyal na ito, nasalubong niya ang isa sa kanyang mga kasamahan na may utang namang sandaang barya sa kanya. Sinunggaban niya ito sa leeg at halos sakalin habang sumisigaw ng ‘Bayaran mo ang utang mo! Nagpatirapa sa paanan niya ang kanyang kasamahan at nagsabi: ‘Bigyan mo pa ako ng panahon, babayaran kong lahat ng utang ko sa iyo.’ Ngunit tumanggi siya at ipinakulong ito hanggang makabayad ng utang. Labis na nalungkot ang kanilang kapwa-lingkod nang makita ang nangyari. Kaya pinuntahan nila ang kanilang panginoon at ibinalita ang buong pangyayari. ‘Masamang utusan, pinatawad ko ang lahat mong utang nang makiusap ka sa akin. Di ba dapat ay naawa ka rin sa iyong kasamahan gaya ng pagkaawa ko sa iyo?’ Galit na galit ang panginoon kaya ibinigay niya ang kanyang utusan sa mga tagapagpahirap hanggang mabayaran nito ang lahat ng utang. Ganito rin ang gagawin sa inyo ng aking Ama sa Langit kung hindi patatawarin ng bawat isa sa inyo mula sa puso ang kanyang kapatid.” Nang tapos na si Hesus sa mga aral na ito, umalis siya sa Galilea at pumunta sa probinsiya ng Judea sa kabilang ibayo ng Ilog Jordan.

Pagninilay:

Madalas trending sa social media ang mga posts na nagpaparinigan na magbayad na ng utang na dahilan ng pag-aaway at minsan pa nga sabunutan. Ang dami na ring mga memes ang ating nakikita na gawing katatawanan ang konsepto ng pagkaka-utang ng pera. Relate po ang lahat dito diba? Ngunit hindi lang pagkakautang ng pera ang tinatalakay sa ating Mabuting Balita. Pagpapatawad at pagbibigay ng tawad sa mga pagkakautang at sa nagkasala sa atin. Walang quits-quits na tayo sa utang ko ha. Tapos na at okay na ha. At yung parang sa Divisoria ka na pagnakahingi ka ng tawad sa iyong binili eh ayos na. Happy ka na. Isang mabuting pag-uugali ang paghingi ng tawad sa ating mga pagkukulang at kalabisan natin sa ating kapwa ngunit katangi-tangi ito kung samahan ito ng pagpapatawad ng pagkaka-atraso at kasalanan ng iba sa atin kung sila ay humingi ng tawad. Hindi natin pagmamay-ari ang kapatawaran. Ibinibahagi ito at ipinapakita. Hindi lang pagkain ang hinihingi natin sa Diyos at ibinabahagi natin sa ating kapwa. Tandaan, na ang dasal na tinuro ni Hesus sa atin, hindi ito dito yun nagtatapos. May kadugtong pa ito ng paghingi ng tawad at ang pagbibigaya ng tawad sa iba. Hindi lang dapat ikaw o ako ang happy kung ikaw ay napatawad. Share, share din ng marami at hindi nauubos na ningas ng pagpapatawad. Rev. Sammy Torrefranca

ST. CLARE OF ASSISI l PATRON SAINT OF TELEVISIONS AND COMPUTER SCREENS

Feast Day - August 11

Do you know who is the patron saint of television? She is a very famous saint and in the Philippines there are churches dedicated to her. She is no other than St. Clare of Assisi. She is also called the “Little Flower of St. Francis” because she was his spiritual daughter. She followed his way of life, and became the first woman Franciscan nun. St. Clare was born in Assisi in 1194 to a noble family. She grew up under the care of a very loving mother. As they were rich, they always helped the poor and the needy. As a child, Clare’s greatest joy was to give alms to beggars. She would even take food from their rich table and gave them to the poor on the streets. When she was 18, she heard for the first time the sermons of Francis and she was touched by his every word. Her immediate reaction was to follow him. She asked a pious matron to bring her to Francis and they talked. Clare asked Francis to accept her as member of his friary. To test her, Francis gave her a coarse dress and told her to wear it. She did, and Francis was convinced to take her. Clare knew she would not be permitted by her father to become a nun, so she escaped from home and went to the convent of Francis. Francis cut her long hair, gave her a habit for nuns, and placed her in a Benedictine convent. Her father, who was preparing a splendid wedding for her, became furious upon knowing it. He went to the convent and wanted to take her home by force, but she prevailed and remained. Many days after, Agnes, Clare’s younger sister slipped also from home and joined her. A few years’ later, her mother, Blessed Ortolana, Clare’s another sister, Beatrice and their aunt Bianca also joined her. Many from her family and friends came, so the “Poor Clare” foundation grew rapidly.

The Poor Clares were guided by Francis. They followed absolute poverty and practiced many mortifications and penances. When Francis died in 1226, Clare was left on her own. She wrote her own rules patterned after the rules set by Francis. She zealously governed her Order, and opened monasteries, even outside Italy. Tried by so many illnesses and infirmities, she lay dying for several days. Pope Innocent IV came to visit her. She died on August 12, 1253, and was canonized two years later. She was proclaimed “Patron of the Television” in 1958 by Pope Pius XII on the account that when she was already too ill to attend Mass, she could see and hear what was going on at the altar, while she remained in her room. Clare is represented carrying a monstrance with the Blessed Sacrament. This is to keep the memory of what happened when the Saracens wanted to raid their convent. They put a big ladder by the wall and climbed to reach the window of the convent. Clare took a ciborium with the Consecrated Host (monstrance came out only in the 14th century) and showed it to them. They were seized by great fear, fell from the ladder and fled.

Let us pray to St. Clare that we may not run after the riches and pleasures of this world, to the point of committing sin to obtain them.

Am I compassionate to the very poor and try to help them in any way I can?

ST. LAWRENCE  |  PATRON OF THE  COMEDIANS, LIBRARIANS AND TANNERS

Feast Day: AUGUST 10

t is a Deacon? There are three groups of deacons in the Catholic Church: deacons of the early Church, who exercised the external ministry of the Church as giving food during mealtimes and feasts, distributing alms to the poor, assist as ushers, and count tithes and offerings; the ordained deacons today who serve the Church but have no plans to become priests and are known as permanent deacons; and the ordained deacons who will later be ordained priests.

St. Lawrence, one of the early deacons under Pope Sixtus II, belonged to the first group. He was born on December 21, 225 in Valencia, Spain. After his studies, he went to Rome and met Pope Sixtus who appointed him to serve in his cathedral. His duty was to serve the Pope at Mass, give alms to the poor, and take care of the treasury and properties of the Church. When Valerian became Emperor of Rome, he issued an edict that all bishops, priests and deacons be put to death. On August 6, 258, Pope Sixtus was killed while celebrating the Holy Mass.

Meanwhile, the Prefect of Rome ordered Lawrence to gather the riches of the Church and present them to him. Carefully, Lawrence distributed the properties of the Church so that they would not be confiscated. At the end of the third day, he appeared before the Prefect and showed him the poor, the crippled, the blind and the suffering, declaring them to be the wealth of the Church. It was an act of defiance, so the Prefect was enraged and Lawrence was led to prison and ordered to be killed. While in prison, he cured a blind man who asked for baptism. He was put in a gridiron with hot half-lighted coals underneath, to prolong his suffering. After a few hours, Lawrence cheerfully declared to the soldiers guarding him: “I am well done on this side. Turn me over.” A few hours later, he died.

During his martyrdom, a soldier, who was converted and asked to be baptized, declared that he saw an angel drying the wounds of Lawrence with a linen cloth. During his execution Lawrence prayed for the conversion of Rome and from that time idolatry declined in that city. The pagans, who witnessed his cheerful disposition while suffering, were immediately converted and asked to be baptized. Lawrence had a decent burial and miracles followed. St. Lawrence is honored as the third patron of Rome, after Sts. Peter and Paul. He is called “the archdeacon of Rome.” Churches were named after him and Emperor Constantine erected an oratory in his honor. One of the seven principal churches in Rome is named San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura. He is the patron of cooks, comedians, librarians, and tanners.

Dear God, by the example of St. Lawrence, help us to be faithful to the Church, contribute to its maintenance and be generous in helping the poor.”

I have the duty to help my parish, am I generous enough to render whatever help and service I can give?

GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 10, 2022 - WEDNESDAY

Saint Lawrence, Week in Ordinary Time Deacon and Martyr

Gospel: Jn 12:24-26 

Jesus said to his disciples, 24“Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of  wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but  if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and  those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my  servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.” 

Jesus has transformed the dark and dreaded image of  death from being the inevitable end of everything into the  way-of-fruitfulness. Hating one’s life in this world means not  letting the world, with its illusory attractions and lures, dictate how  one orients and lives one’s life. Committing oneself to the service of  Jesus means following the way of Jesus. This way necessarily involves  the cross because it clashes head on with the sinful ways of the  world. The death that results from this collision is not a loss of life.  Rather, it is the transformation of that life into power-to-generate other  lives. This self-sacrificing life is the grain of wheat whose potentials  are awakened as it lies buried underneath the earth. In this deathlike state, it puts out roots, sprouts leaves, matures, then yields an  abundant harvest. 

Lord Jesus, may we never shun the death that will make our lives  fruitful. Amen.

MABUTING BALITA l AGOSTO 10, 2022 – Miyerkules sa Ika – 19 na Linggo sa Karaniwang Panahon

San Lorenzo, diyakono at martir 

Ebanghelyo: Jn 12:24-26

Sinabi ni Hesus sa kanyang mga alagad: “Talagang-talagang sinasabi ko sa inyo, nananatiling nag-iisa ang butil ng trigo kung hindi mamatay pagkahulog sa lupa. Ngunit kung mamatay naman ito, maraming bunga ang idinudulot nito. Nagpapahamak ng kanyang sarili ang umiibig dito, ngunit iniingatan ito para sa buhay na walang hanggan ng napopoot sa kanyang sarili dito sa mundo. Sundan ako ng naglilingkod sa akin, at kung nasaan ako naroon din ang tagapaglingkod ko. Kung may maglilingkod sa akin, pararangalan siya ng Ama.”

Pagninilay:

Ang butil ng trigo o kahit na ano’ng buto, hangga’t hindi nahuhulog sa lupa mananatili itong buto. Hindi tutubo, hindi lalago, hindi magbibunga. Sa ngayon, hindi na mabilang ang mga plantito at plantita. Natutuwang magtanim ng flowering plants at ganundin ang mga vegetables. Kahit na uso na ang hydroponics na sa tubig pinapatubo at nagsusupply din ng carbon, hydrogen at oxygen, garden soil pa rin ang mas pinipiling taniman. Dahil marami pa ang hindi pa handa sa ganitong sistema ng pagtatanim. Noon at ngayon, sa matabang lupa, mas satisfied tayo sa desired output ng ating tanim. Lupa ang kailangan para mabuhay ang tanim. Lupa, mula ito sa salitang latin na “humus”. Ito ang matabang-lupa gawa ng natutuyong dahon at bulok na prutas na humahalo sa lupa. Pinaka-nutritious itong planting material. Mas mataba ang lupa, mas mataba ang tanim, di ba? Tandaan natin na ang salitang human, ang ingles ng “tao” ay mula sa salitang Latin na “humanicus”. Ang meaning? Ang paglibing. Sa konteksto ng paglibing sa lupa ng buto, hindi lang ito konsepto, kundi paraang konkreto para magkaroon ng buhay. Inililibing para tumubo ang bùhay na nasa loob ng buto. Kung gayon, bilang tao, absolute necessary ang mamatay sa sarili. Habang tayo ay nabubuhay kailangang mamatay sa sarili para lumago ang handog na buhay sa atin ng ating Panginoon. Sa paanong paraan tayo sumasailim sa proseso ng pagkamatay at paglilibing? Isa dito ang pagsasantabi kung ano ang ibig natin, at buong loob na tatalima sa kalooban ng Panginoon. Halimbawa, nayayamot tayo sa isang tao, pero dahil kaloob ng Diyos na magkipagkasundo tayo sa kanya, mag-eeffort tayo na batiin siya at magbukas ng pag-uusapan na interesado ang kinayayamutan natin. Ito ang transcendence. Gawin natin na “humus” o pataba ang pagmamahal, ang pagpapatawad, at ang awa, at ibaon ang galit, ang sama ng loob, ang poot. O kaya, sa oras na nagpupursigi tayo para magtagumpay sa naiisip nating tama, pero natalo pa rin tayo. Pumasailalim at magnilay. Baka hindi yun ang paraan ng Diyos. Akala lang natin iyon. Gawin nating “humus” ang pagninilay, pananahimik at umasa sa banal na kilos ng Diyos. Kaya nga kapag kumakatok tayo, ang sinasabi natin: Tao po! Sa pagtanggap natin na tao tayo, isabuhay ang pagiging “tao”. Ilibing ang sariling kalooban para sa ikabubuti, ikaliligtas, at pagkakaroon ng buhay ng iba. Ito ang ginawa ni Jesus, namatay, inilibing. Umasa tayo na sa ganap na panahon, may buhay na walang hanggan tayong makakamtan. Sr. Gemmaria, FSP