Kamatayan

Ang buhay ay tila putungo lagi sa kamatayan
Sa bawat hakbang lagi natin
Mula ng ating pagkasilang
Nang tayo ay lumaki
Mula sa ating kabataan

Hindi man natin namamalayan
Subalit tayo ay napapaalalahanan
Kapag may nababalitaan tayong pumanaw
Kapag may kalamidad na rumagasa
Sa tuwing may nawawala
Mga bagay na naluluoy ng panahon
Mga bagay na ibinabaon sa hukay
Nang kamatayan at ng kahapon...

Sa bawat gabi ng bawat burol
Naroon ang mga matang lumuluha
Mga pusong nangungulila
Dahil nawalan ng pinakamamahal sa buhay

May mga panalanging inihahandog
Para sa mga katawang nagtitiis ng pagpapakasakit
Habang nakakaramdam ng hirap ng paghihingalo
Para sa huling hininga patungo sa kamatayan

At may nanatiling lumalaban din para mabuhay
Pilit tinatakasan ang hagupit ng kamatayan
Ang iba ay biktima ng mapait na karanasan
Upang sapitin nila ang malagim na katapusan

Oo, lahat tayo ay mamamatay
Pagkat ang kamatayan ay totoong hangganan ng buhay
Subalit ang buhay ay marapat nating pasalamatan
Mula sa Dakilang Lumikha na dahilan ng ating buhay

Palalimin natin ang pagpapakahulugan natin sa ating buhay
Pagkat ang bawat buhay ay regalong may dahilan at may kaugnayan
Masugatan man tayo sa ating pakikibaka sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay
Bumangon tayo na may pag-asa matapos mahilom ang ating mga iniindang karamdaman

Ganun naman talaga ang kahiwagaan ng buhay
Lagi tayong may mga tanong sa ating sarili
Na kalimita'y hindi natin kayang sagutin:
Kung para saan ang ating buhay kung ito'y papanaw din lamang?
Kung bakit ang kaligayahan ng tao ay panandali at paimbabaw lang?
Kung bakit tayo kinakailangang igupo ng dusa at sakit?
Kung saan patutungo ang buhay na ito?
Mga katanungang buong buhay nating hinahanap
Na ang sagot ay kalimitang...hindi natin agad masumpungan

Subalit kung ang ating buhay
Ay maging dahilan din ng ibang buhay
Maaaring magkaroon ng higit na pagpapakahulugan ang ating buhay
Isang pag-ibig ang sisibol mula sa ating tigang na kaluluwa
Na didilig sa bawat puso na masasaling nang ating buhay...





===
go to a recollection:
http://denmar1978.blogspot.com/2013/04/one-week-on-line-recollection.html

Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

Kaligayahan ng Pagbibigay

Lagi kong tinatanong ang sarili
Kung bakit kung minsan
O kaya bakit madalas
Nahihirapan ako magbahagi sa aking kapwa
Kung bakit mahirap ang magbigay
Kung bakit mahirap ang magsakripisyo para sa iba

Dahil marami palang sakit sa aking puso
Mga pait na aking naranasan
Mula sa aking nakaraan
Na akin pang ninamnam hanggang sa mga sandaling ito
Na nanatili pa ring kumukurot
At umiiyak sa loob ng aking pagkatao

Saan ka nga ba naman huhugot ng pagiging bukas-palad (pagiging mapagbigay)
Kung sa iyong nakaraan, ikaw ay pinagdamutan
Saan ka huhugot nga naman ng pagmamahal
Kung lumaki ka sa isang tahanan at lugar na hindi ka inibig kaylan man
Ano nga ba naman ang maibabahagi ko sa aking kapwa
Kung wala noon sa aking puso
Ano ang maibibigay ko
Kung ang mga bagay na ito ang kinau-uhawan ko

Marami akong galit
Maraming tampo at himutok sa daigdig
Na hindi ko na malaman kung saan nagmumula
Kahit paos na-- ang mga ito ay nanatili pa ring naghuhumiyaw
At nais pa ring makipaglaban sa aking natitirang kabutihan
Dahilan upang isara ko ang aking mga palad
Dahilan upang tikisin ko ang aking kapwa
At ang pinaka-hindi makatao
Ang magtanim ng paghihiganti...
Ang umani ng makasariling katarungan

Subalit wala palang pangmatagalang kasiyahan
Mula sa mga makamundong bagay na inari kong akin
Na lahat na itinuring kong aking pinaghirapan
Mula sa aking mga tagumpay
Mula sa aking pagtitiis
Mula sa inangkin kong bunga ng aking dugo at pawis
Nang gawin kong umaga ang gabi
Upang makamit ko ang lahat ng aking inibig
Pangarap na inakala kong susi sa aking kaligayahan
At naging pader ko upang ihiwalay ko ang aking sarili
Sa aking kapwa na nagdaralita at nangangailangan
Habang sila ay walang makain
O masilungan
Kung saan man sila abutin ng gutom at dilim

Subalit sa paglipas ng panahon
Matapos magbuhay hari ako sa makasarili kong mundo
Naupos na rin ang alab ng aking inakalang kaligayahan
Sapagkat laging may kulang
Laging sumisibol ang tanong na lagi kong iniiwasan:
"Bakit hindi ako nagiging masaya sa kabila ng lahat..."
Dahil ang aking pagkatao pala
Ay hindi nilikha para sa aking sarili
Kundi para sa aking kapwa
Upang magmahal at maglingkod sa kanila

Ang buhay pala ay para sa kapwa buhay
Ang lahat ng mayroon ako ay mula rin pala sa Dakilang Lumikha
Kung kaya kung magbahagi man ako
Wala pa rin pala sa aking mawawala
Dahil ang aking ibabahagi
Ay ang mga biyaya ko lamang
Na natamasa dahil sa awa ng Dyos Ama

Sa edad kong ito... huli na kaya ang lahat?
Matapos akong matauhan mula sa aking pangungulila
May oras pa ba upang baguhin ko ang lahat?
Makikilala pa kaya ako ng Dyos na hindi ko kinikalala
At naalala ko lamang ngayong ako ay may karamdaman na

Habang ako ay nakaratay sa banig ng karamdaman
Habang binibilang ko ang patak ng likido
Na dahan-dahang dumadaloy sa linya ng aking 'dextrose'
Kung kaylan hirap na akong huminga kahit may 'oxygen tank'
Sa lalong madaling salita... habang hinihintay ko ang aking kamatayan
May magagawa pa ba ako upang sagipin ang aking kaluluwa
Kung totoo man ang sinasabi nilang dagat-dagatang apoy
Ang kintatatakutan kong impiyerno...

Kung makakahiling lang muli ako...
Kahit ngayong pasko na ito
Sana magbago ang lahat
Sana maging malakas muli ako
Sana marating ko ang nais kong mapuntahan
At makita ang mga taong matagal ko nang iniiwasan
Pero bago iyon...
Kinakailangan kong wasakin ang pader na naghihiwalay sa akin at sa kanila
At buksan ang aking puso upang magbigay ng ganap sa aking kapwa...
Mahirap
Mabigat
Masakit na para sa nahuhutok kong kalamnan
Subalit kailangan kong lumaya
Mula sa aking sariling kahinaan
Mula sa aking sariling hangganan
Ay kailangan kong lumampas
Hindi para sa akin
Sa pagkakataong ito...
Para sa aking kapwa...

Hanggang ang liwanag ng Dyos
Ay suminag sa aking puso
Upang magpatulong sa aking 'nurse' na sumakay sa aking 'wheel chair'
Dala-dala ko ang mga abubot na kaya kong kalungin sa aking kandungan
At magmistulang 'Sta. Claus' sa lahat ng mga masalubong ko
Ito pala ang sinasabing pagbabago
Nakakapag-paindak ng puso at kaluluwa
Nagbibigay ng lakas sa napapagod na katawan
At nakakapagpa-luha sa bawat ngiti at halakhak mula sa aking kapwa

Ang pinakamaganda palang pangarapin sa buhay na ito
Upang higit na maging makahulugan ang buhay ng tao
Ay ang makapag-hatid ng kaligayahan sa ating kapwa
Upang mapasaya ko ang Panginoon
Sa pamamagitan ng aking kapwa
Oo... marami nga akong pwedeng maibahagi sa aking kapwa
Pero ang pinakamahalaga pala
Ay ang maibahagi ko ang isang bagay na matagal ko nang ipinagdamot
Iyon ay ang aking sarili...
Na marunong din palang maawa sa kapwa ko nakakaawa
Na maaari rin palang magmahal sa kapwa ko kamahal-mahal...

Kahit na napagod ako...
Masaya kong ipipikit ang aking mga mata
Ang sandaling ito ay tila isang walang hanggan
Na ituturing kong kayamanan
Hanggang sa magkita kami ng Dakilang Ama
Kung hindi ko man masilayan ang bagong umaga bukas
Papanaw akong may ngiti
At may pagpapasalamat
Dahil alam ko na kung gaano kamapag-bigay ang Dyos Ama
Nang ibigay Nya ang pinakamamahal Nyang Anak
Upang tubusin ang taong katulad ko na makasalanan...

Malalaman mo palang totoong nagbibigay ka
Kung ang ibinabahagi mo ay ang pinakamamahal mo
Palagi... ito ay masakit
Dahil sa pagbibigay mo sa iyong kapwa
Kinakailangan kang magtiis
Upang ang dahilan ng iyong kaligayahan
Ay ibigay mo ng buong puso
Sa mga taong higit na nangangailangan
Subalit ang bawat nawala at ating isinakripisyo
Ay pupunan din ng Dyos na Lumikha
Nang mga pagpapala na walang patid
At kaligayahang na laging nag-uumapaw...





===
go to a recollection:
http://denmar1978.blogspot.com/2013/04/one-week-on-line-recollection.html

Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

Sakripisyo

Mahirap ipaunawa kung saan ako pupunta
Doon kasi iyon sa lugar na hindi mo magugustuhan
Dahil matinik na landas ang susundan kong mga bakas
Habang binabagtas ko ang masukal at ilang na kagubatan

Malimit aabutin ako ng dilim sa kawalan
Kung saan liwanag ng buwan lamang ang aking tanglaw
Sa umaga, nakapapasong init ng araw ang aking suuungin
O malakas na buhos ng ulan ang kailangang tiisin

Sa aking 'back pack' andun na ang lahat
Ilang pagkain at mga gamot ang aking bitbit
Hindi ito para sa akin kundi para sa aking dadalawin
Na masayang naghihintay sa akin at sasalubong pagdating

Maalikabok man ang daan o maputik kapag maulan
O ilang araw man ang aking kinakailangang lakarin
Hindi ako mapipigilan sa aking niyakap na hangarin
Upang marating ang aking mga mag-aaral na naghihintay sa akin

Sasama ka pa ba sa akin kahit abutin tayo ng sigwa?
Nang biglang pagtaas ng tubig sa gitna ng kabundukan
Kung saan ang bawat bangin ay isang pagpapa-alala
Na ang ating isang buhay ay isang pagbabahagi sa ating kapwa

Wala akong maisusukli sa iyo kung ikaw ay sumama
Dahil salat sa kayamanan ang aking mga tinuturuan
Kundi isang pamilya nang nagmamalasakit na kaibigan
Ang iyong masusumpungan dahil sa pag-ibig sa iyong kapwa.




Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

Gospel Mt 25:14-30: The Parable of the Talents

I believe that every one of us is endowed by God with a talent. Others, may even realized that God has given them more than a talent. These talents are special. Aside from the fact that these are God-given talents, these talents make us unique as a person.

In line with this, allow me to render a part of a song:
I raise my heart as my offering
A pure intention of my sacrifice
As I give back to You, O Lord
All what You own in me…

As I give back to You, O Lord All what You own in me… Like you, God has given me a talent. And what I have just sung is a part of a song which I myself composed.

The servants in the gospel today in the parable of the talents, are almost like us. Some of us here would use their talent wisely and make good profit out of it. But sadly, some of us may not even recognize their God-given talent because they are more ashamed of it rather than being proud.

Let me illustrate the gospel of today with these three points. First, we are mere stewards of God-given talents; second, God is happy when we use our talents wisely; and third, we are called by God to share our talents to others.

First of all, our talents are God given. Since our talents are God-given, we are called by God to be responsible stewards. We are mere stewards of all the gifts from God we transform it into a life giving and life sustaining human creation. We must always remember that good stewardship is a way of life; through it we express the glory of God’s kingdom.

Second, I want you to know that God is very happy when we use our talents wisely. Remember that from the gospel of today, the servant with three talents has the same reward with the servant with five talents. And with this, the master wants to share his joy to these two servants. To share the master’s joy means to share from God His heavenly Kingdom. Brothers and sisters, God is a generous God. If only he would find us as a responsible steward, He will be generous to give us more blessings. We must remember that in our life’s journey, God is not counting our failures, but our trustworthiness to remain faithful in accordance to His will.

Let us affirm our life’s journey with God. Let us say in our hearts: On my journey with God, I am letting Him lead. I let things go and let my God to do His will in me. I trust Him with all my heart. And on my journey I know that He is near. It means that we are not afraid to use our talent because we know that God is near.

Third, we are called by God to share our talents to others. We must remember that talents are blessings from God, and what we are offering to others are the same talents and blessing that we received from God. As a community of God, we must realize that: we need to appreciate one another; as a community of God, we must realize that: we must value one another… because must realize that we need one another. Each one of us with a unique talent contributes a piece of a puzzle into God’s greater glory where we can claim that: in diversity, we have unity. And we are united by God’s mercy.

The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) points out that there is no one who is so poor that he cannot give something to others, nor too rich not to need for other’s for help. We can always contribute and give our share. I remember, Diocese of Cubao launch this project on stewardship: Share your Talent, Treasure, and Time. Talent: to participate in Church’s activities. Treasure: To support church’s activities. Time: to be committed in every church’s activity.

As good stewards, let us always remember these three points: first, we are mere stewards of God-given talents; second, God is happy when we use our talents wisely; and third, we are called by God to share our talents to others.
Let us appreciate one another. Let us say to one another: Thank you for the memories we've shared for giving me a home in your heart. Thank you for the life that you've shared I found a family in you. You've touched me more than anyone else. You've moved me and inspired me to do my best. You made me feel, you made me realized the value that's in me. You loved me as your friend. You're my family.

And to God let us give our thanksgiving.
Take me Lord as Your servant
Fill my heart with Your faith
As I move with Your Spirit
Lead me Lord, as Your servant...
...where You are...
Lead me Lord, as Your servant...
...where You are...

In our celebration of the Eucharist, let us ask God to make us good stewards…

Amen.




Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

December 8-- Immaculate Conception of Mary

Just recently, from YouTube through Facebook, a friend of mine shared a mother’s story (see link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyxRjmQx-Os&feature=related). When Japan was shocked by a powerful earthquake, many houses collapsed. After few days, rescuers reached the devastated area and they started digging for the remains of the victims. Suddenly, they were astounded when they lifted a slab of wood that pressed onto a dead woman’s back who was in a posture of kneeling with her arms on the ground as if she’s stopping the slab to further drop even for some few more inches. The rescuers stretched her cold dead body. They were right, there was something beneath her, something wrapped in a blanket. They open the blanket slowly… ‘God’s grace!,’ they exclaim, they can’t believe… there’s a child wrapped in it. The child was almost dead… not moving nor responding. They immediately brought the child to a safer ground for first aid medication, but when they fully unwrapped the blanket they discovered a celfon. They charged it, turned it on and the picture of the woman who appears to be the mother of the child was on the screen with the child. When they pressed to play the last recorded message of the mother, they heard her saying these words in agony of pain: “please tell my baby, that I love Him…” The baby opened his little eyes when he recognized the voice of his mother; he started to cry even in a very weak voice.

In our story, the mother gave her life to her baby. The mother, upon the occurrence of that terrible earthquake, even without thinking, automatically run to cover her baby. Her instant reaction was to protect her child. It was a mother instinct. This motherly instinct happens because of love; and this would reach even to the point of death. In the story, we witnessed that motherhood is all about self-giving… all about loving.

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Immaculate Conception is one of the Dogmas of the Church. A Dogma of the Church is a teaching of the church which we believe as an entire church. From the opening prayer, we heard that God, the Father, prepared the Virgin Mary to be the worthy mother of His only son. In fact, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception literally refers to the conception of Mary, which after nine months will be born on her birthday on September 8. But, as Filipino we often associate this feast to the virginal conception of Jesus: this is because we understand that without Mary, there would also be no Jesus Christ.

To give you a more adept insight about the significance of our feast today, allow me to share three important points about the Immaculate Conception of Mary: first, Mary was conceived free from sin and preserved by God to be the mother of the Messiah; second, with Mary’s response, she is called ‘blessed among women” by every generations; third, Mary is our hope as Christians.

First, Mary was conceived free from sin and preserved by God to be the mother of the Messiah. When the Angel announced to her that she will bore the Son of God, she accepted by saying “yes, thy will be done,” she responded with gladness in faith to God’s gift. For Mary, she knew that it would be a risky situation for it will be a matter of life and death in their culture if a woman began to conceive without a known husband. It would be a shame to her family and ridicule to their biased society. That because of this, she would be sentenced to die by stoning. But, she didn’t mind all these probable sources of fears because of her obedience to God. With Mary’s fiat to God, the destiny of human race has been changed forever. By being the blameless Mother of the only Son of God, we were saved from the bondage of sin.

Second, Mary is called ‘Blessed among women’ by every generations. We, as Catholics, are very thankful to Mary’s gift to us. Without her great ‘fiat,’ a Messiah wouldn’t have been born. Our history proves that Mary is honored in different ages. In the Eastern Church, as early as the 7th century, there’s already a feast of the called the Conception of Mary. The celebration reached the West, especially England towards the 10th century. From then on, the feast passed into Europe, and become a feast of the Immaculate Conception. The feast was made a holy day of obligation by Clement XI in 1708. The invocation “O, Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse thee” confirming Mary’s freedom from all stains of sins was affirmed by accounts of The Miraculous Medal apparitions to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830. Finally, in 1854, the Immaculate Conception was defined by Pope Pius IX in the bull Ineffabilis Deus, the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception which stressed that “Mary was never bound by any guilt of original sin.” And from then on, through this feast, we commemorate as one Christian family the Blessedness of our Lady, being conceived without sin.

Third, Mary is our hope as Christians. The most important thing that we should remember about the Immaculate Conception is the assurance that she was redeemed despite the original sin which is rooted from Adam and Eve that separated humanity from God. Mary was conceived sinless, that is she was redeemed by the grace of her Son, Jesus who died for all of us sinners on the Calvary. We can see that redemption is fully at work in the Immaculate Conception of Mary. We can say that through this gift, Mary is the fully healed one: she never had the spiritual flaws that hold us back from total love of God. What she has in her pondering heart were songs of thanksgiving to God’s greatness and glory. Thus the Immaculate Conception allowed Mary’s ‘yes’ at the Annunciation to be limitless, without any unconscious restriction.

Mary, was preserved by God from the stain of original sin. As our source of hope, God let her to share in His plan of saving the fallen humanity from sinfulness through His Son Jesus Christ. Her life here on earth was really exemplary, really worth emulating for all of us. As a child, she’d been a very obedient child to her parents, St. Anne and St. Joaquim. As a woman, she’d been very obedient to God. Her meekness and purity of heart has made her delightful in the sight of God. As the mother of God, she offered her womb to be the first tabernacle of God. She was the first to worship the Son of God. She was the first witness to the Son of Man. Even at the foot of the cross, as a mother, she remained and suffered with Jesus. All through her life, from her conception and her assumption to heaven, we have witnessed that she remained sinless in a world that challenges everybody’s virtue. Until now, in her apparitions, she as our mediator to Jesus Christ as Jesus Christ to the Father, as the mother of the church, she continuously prays for all us, from our conversion from all our sins.
Let us always remember the importance of the feast of today, the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Let us always keep in our heart that: Mary was conceived free from sin and preserved by God to be the mother of the Messiah; that with Mary’s response, she is called ‘blessed among women by every generations’ and we share her blessedness through her Son Jesus Christ; and that Mary is our hope as Christians. Let us always emulate Mary’s meekness, gentleness, and obedience to God… which are all deeply rooted in her authentic ‘love for God.’

In today’s celebration of the Eucharist, let us pray to God that like Mary, we would also serve God and say our ‘yes’ to His call.

Amen.




Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

Trauma

Ano nga ba ang pakiramdam nang binabalikan mo ang isang bagay na nakakasugat sa iyo?
Maaaring ang tawag doon ay katapangan
Dahil mahirap muling tingnan ang isang bagay na nagmulat sa iyong natutulog na damdamin....
Mahirap muling sulyapan ang isang bagay na nagturo sa iyo upang magalit sa isang bagay na hanggat maaari ay pilit mong iniiwasan
Mahirap pakitunguhan ang isang bagay na bumasag sa iyo ng paulit-ulit....


Masakit at masyadong nakakapagod
Subalit mahirap kalimutan ang bahid ng pait at kalungkutan
Naroon lagi ang mga latak ng nakaraan
Sa puso natin na ito ay patuloy na kumukurot
Nangungulila rin pala tayo sa mga bagay na sadyang nagbigay kaligayahan
Kahit sa mga bagay na nais nating kalimutan
Kung saan tayo nasadlak
Kung saan tayo napariwara
Nawala at muling nahanap
Nadapa at muling nakabangon
Subalit... sabandang huli...
Mai-isip mong kailangan din palang balik-balikan
Upang gunitain
Ang ating pagkamatay at muling nabuhay...

Bakit nga ba?

Bakit nga ba may mga bagay na kinakalilangang balik-balikan
Pwede naman sanang hindi na
Kaya lang kapag tumambad na sa iyong paningin
Wala ka nang magagawa
Sa mga multo ng kahapon
Nang ating mga madidilim na gabing pilit tinatakasan...

Malayang dumadaloy upang salingin ng paulit-ulit
Ang ating mga pangamba at pagkatakot
Madalas...
Mas kinatatakutan pala natin
Ang ating mga sarili
Dahil mas masakit pala ang masaktan
Kaysa sa makasakit ng iba...

Bawat Isang Saglit

Hanggang kaylan ikaw maninikis
Sa aking panaghoy kaylan ka darating
Hanggang saan ikaw ay magtatago
Sa aking pagtawag kaylan ka tutugon?

Kung sakaling ikaw ay mabigo
Sa paglakbay ikaw ay mapagod
Narito ako, sa iyo ay nananabik
Naghihintay bawat isang saglit...





===
go to a recollection:
http://denmar1978.blogspot.com/2013/04/one-week-on-line-recollection.html

Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

Bawat Pasko

Pasko'y narito na ngunit nangungulila
Tanging ala-ala ang kapiling ko ngayong pasko
Kung maari lang sana humiling ngayong pasko
Ang nais ko ay... makapiling ka...

Paskong anong lungkot nananabik sa piling mo
Sa araw ng Pasko lumuluha dahil sa iyo
Pangarap kang mahagkan, hangad na makasalo
Sana, makapiling ka ngayong pasko...

Paskong anong lamig paskong nananabik
Malayo ka man sa aking nangungulilang piling
Mananatili pa rin akong tapat na maghihintay
Sa iyo bawat pasko...




Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

Kuntento

Malimit...
marami akong reklamo sa mga bagay-bagay
Wala akong laging kasiyahan
Para sa akin palaging may kulang
Lagi akong may hinahanap pa
Lagi akong may hinahangad pang iba...

Pero...
Ang aking napagtanto
Ang buhay pala ay parang isang mahabang pila sa lahat ng mga bagay
Kung saan... may mas mahabang pila pa pala na nakasunod sa akin
Na marami palang gusto ng aking kinalalagyan na nasa dulo ng mahabang pila
Na dapat pala...
Ako'y magpasalamat sa halip na magreklamo
At maghangad ng wala...




Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

Pananatili

Kapag nasaling ka ng Panginoon
Walang salitaang mamumutawi
'Pagkat puso sa puso ang nag-uusap at nagkakaunawaan
Tanging mainit na pakiramdam ang naglalagablab sa iyong damdaming sinisilaban ng pag-ibig ng Dyos
Luluha ka nang pagtangis ng kagalakan
At aayawin mong mawalay sa kanyang sinapupunan...

Subalit...
Upang mapalapit tayo sa Amang Lumikha
Kinakailangan ding maging banal tayo
Manatili sa kabutihan
At hindi lumihis sa kanyang mga pangaral...

Ang magpatawad...
Ang magmahal..
Ang makita ang Dyos sa ating kapwa
Bilang buhay na Kristo na sa ati'y nananahan sa bawat araw
At sa bawat sandali nang ating buhay
At sa bawat hininga na ating inia-alay sa ating Dakilang Lumikha...




Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

Kawalan

Tinuruan ako ng aking kawalan upang lumuha
Upang tumangis sa mga bagay-bagay na wala ako
Oo... kinaa-awaan ko ang aking sarili
Sapagkat nakakaramdam ako ng pagka-inggit
Nakita ko at nadama kung paano ang kawalang kinalalagyan ko
Ang magtakwil sa akin at gumawa ng pader na hadlang
Sa pagitan ng mga gaya kong inaapi nang mga makapangyarihan....

Naramdaman kong maawa sa aking sarili
Hanggang sa ang kawalang ito ang siya ring magturo sa akin
Upang sa ibang bahagi ng aking buhay
Ay makilala ko ang aking sarili
Na may mga bagay na mayroon din pala ako sa kabila ng aking kawalan
Na nakaukit na pagpapala mula sa aking Panginoon
Na ngayon ay niyayakap kong biyaya at inaangking meron ako
Sapagkat ito ay dalisay na bumubukal mula sa aking puso at kaluluwa...

Buong buhay na pagtitiis...
Manaka-nakang pagluha...
Sandaling pagtatampo at galit...
Na mabilis na pinapawi ng aking pagpapatawad...
at nag-uumapaw na pagmamahal...
Kung kaya kahit na sa matindinding karukhaan
Kaya kong humalakhak mula sa kaibuturan ng aking puso
Nang walang pagtatangi
O bahid ng pagkukunyari...




Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS

The Repentant Thief

It’s very painful to be nailed on the cross. I can feel my own warm blood drifting from my veins drop by drop. Time seems to stop as my heart keeps on pounding intensely to the horror that I myself is the victim. Pain ridicules me more than the shame of being naked in front of the witnessing crowd.

I can still remember... I thought I can finally have that bag of silvers I looted from that greedy tax collector. The Romans took everything from me. I needed to feed my hungry family. But, they chase me. They sentenced me to be crucified. I’m now afraid. I couldn’t believe. I tried to run away but they were many and stronger than I was. They dragged me here with these two others to be nailed on the cross.

I pleaded. I said "…please don’t hurt me." I urged them to have pity on me. I tried to resist... but they held me… they pushed me to the cross lying on the ground. They stripped me naked to show my shame! They forcefully stretched both of my arms. One of them open my left palm. I felt the tip of the nail and the sudden jolt of pain over it by a hammer that made me to shout terribly. "Yahweh!" The pounding keeps on as there will be no end to my misery... it's all pain. Then, the most painful part, they hit my feet with another nail. I felt how the nail crushed my bones... One more painful blow of a hammer...there, I lose my consciousness. I went black...

The pain woke me. I thought I was dreaming but it’s true. I felt fresh warm blood dripping so slowly from my wounds...My family is over there among the bewildered crowds, crying but helpless. I heard my companion cursing the man, whose name is Yeshua (Jesus), to help himself out of the cross. The man seems to be so silent. I heard Him praying to the what he said, to his Abba (Father). He even forgive others even on the cross.

My companion, the one who curse this guy in our middle, and I were robbers. We are just paying the crime we did. But this man, I heard that He’ve done so many good things. I remember, He talks about heaven. He heals. He've done miracles. He even raised the dead. Why?

He looked at me with His calm eyes. I know He’s in great pain. He’s body, full of scourges. Blood drips from Him so fast. I told him, “I believe in what you’ve said. Remember me when you’re in paradise. I also want to be there.” Then, generously, he promised me that heaven He’s been talking about.

All the pains I am suffering that moment were suddenly turned into a sweet hope of tomorrow in the afterlife— that I could be saved from the fires of gehenna (hell) in a heaven which is free of hunger, injustice and where I can be a renewed person again. I now claim that I can die peacefully with the man whom I just met but whom I believed with my whole heart.

A terrible earthquake shook the ground. One of the Roman soldier with a hammer hurriedly run towards me...Then suddenly, I felt a great pain on my legs. My bones in my legs were broken by the guard. I can’t breath anymore. The pain rushed deeply. My heart pounded... I now feel that my time has come... Fear has caused me to tremble. But I’m helpless. I can’t shout anyore. Only tears flaws from my eyes as I grasped for breath. There’s nothing I can do. I need now to let go and let death welcomes me in her bosom.

I can still see the guard pushing a lance into the dead Yeshua (Jesus). But, water and blood rushed out of Him. That can’t be! Am I seeing a miracle because I’m hallucinating? What I know... what He’s saying were all true. I know deep in my soul that He’s telling the truth. Veritas (truth). It seems that He’s not a stranger to me. I know that He’s always been a part of me…a God I now recognized in my midst. A God who promised to dwell in me now at the hour of my death. My Lord and my God... my creator and my redeemer...





Br. Dennis DC. Marquez, sSSS