Keynote address

Fr. Roger Caalim, OMI our Parish priest, Fr. Boyet Cabrera, OMI our school director, Sr. Mary Paul Diorico, OND, our dean of studies, school administrators, teachers and staff, parents, friends, graduates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

It is simply fitting to first of all to thank God for this wonderful event in your life as students who are now graduates. Likewise, this is a good opportunity to thank the parents and families of our beloved graduates who are here with us today for all the love and sacrifices they have lavished on our graduates. You are now beginning to harvest the fruits of your labor.

We'll, I'm very honored to be your speaker today for the commencement of your graduation.

For a couple of a days, (in fact, 2 days lang) I had a hard time twisting the possible reasons why I was chosen to be the speaker today. I thought there are many individuals whom we can think of as pilling in success in their lives. But Why me? We'll All I can think of is that I am a priest, young and vibrant, at ang pinakamadaling utusan ni Fr. Boyet na magsalita ngayon dito. Joke lang Fr. Boyet.

In any case, let me share to you some principles that could possibly help you understand a bit about the meaning of life and success in relation to this 53rd commencement exercises.

My family lives in the province of Cotabato. We were 6 siblings. My sister who was born next to me died when she was 2. We were quite a number and The meager income of my family somehow were just quite enough to send us through college. Fortunately, we have generous relatives who in a way helped us from time to time in our education.

Like some of you here, I know you also felt that life at times is tough, right? And sometimes, you can just feel that it's so unfair. But sometimes, you really just have to face some truths in life - that life is tough and if you want to succeed, you have to work harder, everyday.

But It doesn't mean that when you are having some tough and rough times in life that you can do nothing. In fact, most people who were successful in life have been to all these. Michael Jordan had to miss hundreds of shots that made him the best. Lucio Tan had to buy and sell empty used bottles that made his good in business. Manny Pacquiao had to go to the market everyday that made him the strongest and fastest boxer. Vice Ganda had to spend nights in comedy bars that made him the most admired tv personality today. Bb. Pilipinas Ms. universe 2014 MJ Lastimosa had to lose 2 times in the same pageant that she finally got the crown. All these stories and many others' tell us one thing, that we should never give up in life. The tougher life gets, the better the winning and success. Success is not what or who you are today but who you become everyday. Now, That's one.

Then the second is this: Your life is your own story. People might tell you what to do but it is your choice to make them real.

People used to tell me I'm not gonna finish my seminary formation. People would tell me I'm not gonna be a priest. So When i was in the seminary, little by little, I began to believe that they were right. Right in front of my very eyes, I did things according to their expectations. I failed to follow the seminary rules. I never listened to my parents to be a good seminarian. And later i just reaIized that I was sent out from the seminary for being immature and hard-headed. So I was out in the seminary for a year working in Davao, Bukidnon and Kidapawan. Then I asked myself, what am I doing with my life? I thought to myself that I cannot just let other people write my own story. I have to write my own story because this is my life. Yes, this is my life. So I went back on my feet, went back in the seminary and I told myself, i have to be back because this is what I want. Then after 7 years I was ordained a priest.

You may fail a lot of times in life. Whether you like it or not, at some point in your life, you will surely fail. We all do fail. But when you fail and stumble, stand up, and go back to your senses. Focus on your dreams not on your failures. For it is not what the world gives you that will determine your success or failure but how you respond to what is happening in your life.

You are graduates now, but it doesn't mean that the fight is over. You still have to work harder. Land a job. Help your family. Be the best person you can be.

Read, learn, listen, pray, love, make good decisions and never stop dreaming.

Graduates, the whole world Is bigger than what you think. It is so big that it can give you everything you need only when you want it. It is so big that it can conspire itself to help you achieve your own success.

You were taught different skills by your teachers and in this school. Use them for success. Use them to change your life. Use them to change the world and let us help one another to make it better.

And finally, Never forget that in your journey you have your family and friends who are so proud of you and they love you and will always love you no matter what. And you have a God who loves you too.

Let me end my speech by quoting to you the words of St. Teresa de Avila:

She says, "Let nothing disturb you.
       Let nothing ever frighten you.
       Everything is changing.
       Only God is unchanging.
       Patience wins everything.
       If you have God, you lack nothing.
       Only God is enough."

To all of you, may God remain with you forever to bless you. Once again, congratulations!

God gives in abundance

When God gives, He gives in abundance!

God loves us. You know that! God wants us to be full, complete. That is why He offers his life everyday for us. When god gives he gives in abundance. He gives himself as a free gift, a ransom for our sins. He is our payment for our debts. He is the source and summit of all Christian life.

When god gives he gives in abundance. And what does god give us? Everything we need. But most of all his love, symbolized by the body and blood of him.

Every human person is hungry for something. Others are hungry for food. They eat every minute. Some are hungry for affection, others for attention, others for fulfillment, for peace, abundance, health, love, forgiveness.

according to psychologists, The greatest hunger of man is love. That is why we want to dream, achieve, be praised, help, serve, to find love in our life. For love is what life means.

And this is what god offers each one of us in the Eucharist. He offers his life, his love. Jesus said, take this..take this..god offers us what we want, god offers us everything that we need in the Eucharist. Then why are we turning away from god, from the Eucharist? Maybe because we are too used to it, maybe because we don't see any change in our life. Maybe because we don't see any inspiration? Whatever our intention or disposition maybe, god still wants us to come and receive him. Others may not be so faithful to it but god has all the reserves left and ready for us when we come to him. Its just a matter of time, its just a matter of understanding, its just a matter of grace.

Why does god feeds us everyday? Because he wants us to be strong, equipped, ready for whatever trials, difficulties of life. He wants us to be more and more like him, humble before the father, obedient to the father.

And so this feast today calls for a celebration and thanksgiving for god has made available for us everyday. When we consume the body of Christ we know god becomes powerful for us. Yes, we may be weak even after receiving, we may again go back to our old ways, our old sins and mistakes, yet do not worry, the Eucharist, jesus Christ will be there to help us go through life. He will help us right our wrongs, he will strengthen us when we feel everything seems misfortunes, he will be there to comfort us and make us whole and at home at last.

Happy feast day of the HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST,!!!

Nativity of St John

The  birth of John the Baptist will remind us that like John, we were all borne from gods grace and love. He molded us. He formed us into what is best for us. He knew us from the very start. He put into us miracles for us to become special, important, unimaginably perfect. 

We just have to see and discover how god manifests his creativity, life, beauty and love for each one of us. 

Like john, we were all made special. Made for a sublime purpose. We were made to be his instruments of the gospel to others and to the world. 

Live who you were made to be! God bless!

Place your life on God's ground

God always wants us to be strong, able, amazing, happy and perfect. But we cannot do these if we are not on his side, if we always change our ground from one to another, thinking that there are other grounds better than that of God who or that can satisfy our wondering soul.

The Bible says, "God is our Rock. He is our fortress. He is our salvation." Yes, God is our ultimate and safe ground. He is our first and final defense. He alone makes all things possible. Therefore, ALL our dreams, plans and visions, relationships, career, everything we have must be rooted and anchored on God's ground. For though life may seem shaky or scary because of life's storms and tides, we are sure that we will be standing still at the end of the line if we stand on Him.

And so let our hearts and feet stand on God. Let us fight our battles standing as champions of God assured that he closely and gently holds us to make us survive and live more glorious days.

Stand up! Be strong! Be on God's ground!

Follow the Lord

Reflection: FOLLOW THE LORD AT ALL COST.

Fidelity and perseverance are not too common these days. Why? Well because Fidelity and perseverance and not easy journeys.

We can see how many people today for example are here with us in prayer.

This is a test and a question on how much we love the lord, this is a question of our discipleship and How important god in our life. 

I will be wet. The rain is too strong. AnD many other hindrances we allow to stop us from praising and thanking the,lord. 

Don't let any troubles or harms or dangers hinder you from following the lord.

Today, we are once again reminded of our call to follow the,lord at all cost. At all cost.

In our first reading, Elisha being chosen to be the next prophet after Elijah immediately accepted the offer. He followed and left everything.

Walang pasubali, walang pag aalinlangan.

The psalm today gives us a wonderful image why we have to follow the lord. The psalm says you o lord are our inheritance. During the time of jesus, for the Jews, the measure and dignity of a person depends on ones inheritance. If you don't have inheritance, you are less a person, your unimportant, you are worthless. Even today, we see the importance of ones inheritance. If your have no inheritance, you are poor. You have no future. If ther is, then it's very little hope.

What more do you seek if god is your inheritance? What more do you need if god is your inheritance. He alone gives us the dignity. He gives us the hope to survive.

The call to discipleship is an everyday call. Therefore, it also calls for an everyday decision, to follow our call, to follow the lord. To become disciples. This is what Paul in our second reading would like to point out, that god has gifted us with the spirit who will guide us to follow the lord, to do and choose good. Ew only have to allow the holy spirit to help us, to work in us.

The danger of being a Christian is this, when we feel we are already to comfortable. Too much comfort will tell us that we don't need anyone, it tells us that we have enough, resources, energy, strength, why else do I need god? Maybe if I can thank him, it depends on my schedule and availability. It depends on the situation, if situation calls for it, for my own benefit.

God calls us to follow him whatever our status in life, whateve kind of life we live. And the best way to follow the call of god, is to love. 

Following the lord means loving, not simply in a romantic way but to put love in everything that we do. It is to love at all cost. To serve with love. To love until we have nothing more to give.

God doesn't want fence sitters. St Eugene would call it sickening wick. When god calls us, he means business. 

And so we pray that we will be faithful to our call. To persevere in following the lord, to persevere in offering ourselves for others and for the benefit of gods kingdom.

God provides

The story of Joseph and his family in the book of Genesis is a reminder that God takes care of his family. That even amidst anger, problems, separation, god can still bring back together lost hopes, lost relationships, lost faith, lost love.

There should never be any chance that we keep in our hearts revenge, anger or curse towards other people. Whatever they may have inflicted or caused us pain and anguish, we should not let our hearts be rough or hard or indifferent. The bible says, "God will reward those who will persevere." And God's reward will always be peace, harmony and life.

Whatever you have lost in life, trust that the lord will provide you back more than what you best deserve.

Make God your first priority

The gospel reminds us of the importance of putting God as our ultimate priority in life. So that into whatever circumstances we face in life either good or bad, we should never falter in recognizing the need to love and trust God above all things. There may be oppositions and rejections from people or community when we proclaim and live the life of Christ, nonetheless, our fidelity must be firm and lasting. For the bible says "those who persevere in fidelity to God will surely be rewarded." It might not be easy at times to live the ideals of Christ's Gospel since for some it is boring and impractical, but though difficult it still is possible and the noblest of all.

Like the Israelites, though we face difficulties and pains, the Lord's strength will make us persevere and live. We may be slaves of our past hurts and pains or of our present wimps and frailties, yet God's heart is never blind to us. Just like for the Israelites, God will always strengthen us and lead us to a place we've never dreamed of. All we have to do is to make him our hearts' first desire and God will do the rest.