#fr the bar was raised so high so early in my life

[lecliss]

I feel like it's a "the bar should not be this low" type of thing when I get excited that a game has one (1) measily air combo.

[astonmartingf]

HAVEN'T MET YOU YET ; JB22

jenson button x fem!reader

. . . slowing down as the high life of the party, jenson turns a new leaf and thinks optimistically about his plans in the future concerning his love life.

amgf finally moving the last couple works 😭 i definitely procrastinated moving these because they're so long and quite frankly i chose to study than move these but now i have time, i can't escape i need to do this for the alo fic to be posted

death of a bachelor ; masterlist

Frozen in front of his hotel room, muttering a string of curses to himself Jenson stood still tracing back the events that led him to this.

Making his way to the front door, Jenson was faced with an eager German and an Australian fellow trailing behind him. With raised brows, Jenson opened the doors wider letting both men inside.

“Are you coming with us tonight?” Sebastian, wasting no time, asked diving into his kept bed making Mark grimace.

“I’m actually choosing to stay in, rest early for tomorrow.” Jenson nods, convincing himself of his plans to stay in. This doesn’t go unnoticed as Sebastian shared a look with Mark before turning his head towards Jenson.

Uncharacteristically for the Briton, Webber expressed his confusion first with raised eyebrows, “You’re staying in? Why?”

Shrugging, Jenson pushes Seb to make space for himself. “I just don’t want to go outside, also there’s practice tomorrow. I don't want to go out for drinks.”

“Okay. we’re not necessarily going out for drinks. Just dinner, walking around the town, maybe a few light drinks here and there.” Sebastian sits up in an attempt to convince Jenson to come out with them. Noticing his reluctance the German looks up to Mark for support.

“Is this about the headlines about you?” Sebastian let out a small groan, brows furrowed directed towards Mark as he mouths “What about discreet do you not understand?”

Mark scoffs in reply, keeping his hands in his pockets, tired of the German’s antics. The exchange however left Jenson smiling to himself, which was a win for the two.

“Are you here to distract and cheer me up?”

Pressing his lip into a thin line in admittance, Sebastian looks over toward Jenson who’s been silent for quite some time.

Breaking the silence, Mark removes his hands from his pocket walking near to Jenson ina soft voice speaking, “If you don’t want to, you don’t-”

“I’ll go”

“Really?” Perking up, Sebastian hurried jumps off the bed pulling Jenson towards the front door.

“Okay we’re going now.” Hooking his arms to both men, Mark drags both of them outside.

Shit.

Exactly. Letting Sebastian and Mark drag him downtown for dinner was the plan, yet somehow the trio managed to lose each other as the night came, assuming the pair had gone over for drinks at some local bar. Jenson didn’t want to be associated with that, not at the moment that is.

Because as much as Jenson tried to hide it, their words were eating at him every time. And just like the rumors say, somewhere in between he believed them, and in turn began to question his own character.

Fuck.

Rubbing his eyes awake, Jenson looked around the hallway looking for anyone familiar who could help him. With no phone, no key card, and in a different country there’s no one he could truly contact to ask for help. Opting to sleep out on the hallways for the night, Jenson was on the verge of giving up.

“Excuse me, sir? Are you okay?”

English.

Jenson looks up, unsure if it was the jetlag, the light drinks, or the lack of sleep in his system but Jenson knew what was in front of him was an angel, his savior, he knew then and there he would give her everything- despite him not having anything at the moment.

“I’m not.” Stopping himself, Jenson chose his words carefully. Shocked at his own honesty, this was the first time he felt vulnerable. He can’t help but open up to such a beautiful stranger, even when he goes over his thoughts, everything is hazy.

“I’m locked out of my room with no phone, no wallet to even get a new one because my friends convinced me to go out. Not that I blame them, I was moping and being sad, and they had good intentions, I said I wouldn’t go out for drinks, and somewhere in between I lost them. I don’t know how I ended up back in the hotel, but I just want to sleep.” Jenson yawned in between his rant, leaning towards the wall, eyes drifting to sleep.

“Do you maybe want to sleep in my room?” Jenson turned his head, now you truly were his savior. But despite his excitement, Jenson couldn’t help but frown to himself.

“I wouldn’t want to impose on you. I’m sorry you had to sit with me on the floor, listening to me rant about my day.”

Chuckling you stood up in front of him, that’s when Jenson thought- he’d never have a chance with you. You were choosing to walk away, which is understandable since he was nothing but a mere stranger. To you, he could be lying just to find a way in your room, something he had done before.

Now he is crushed that karma has gotten back to him by letting him meet the prettiest girl he’s ever seen, when he’s on the lowest of lows and never to be seen again.

“Come on, let’s get you to bed. Fortunately for you I happened to pass by you and your friends earlier, it’s Mark right?”

Grabbing your hand, Jenson laughs before introducing himself, “That’s my friend, I’m Jenson.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you Jenson. I’m Y/N, I stay in the room at the end of the hallway. Let’s get you to sleep, I wouldn’t want you to end your night on such a sad note. Especially after your friends tried to cheer you up.”

“Thank you Y/N, you’re actually my savior.”

jensonbutton

liked by yourusername, aussiegrit, and 1,640,462 others

jensonbutton four months ago you met me and i was at my worst yet welcomed me with open arms.

staying with me when i was locked out of my hotel room, i thought of you as my savior and i remember saying that before falling asleep.

listening to my worries as a stranger, i didn't think we'd grow as friends and eventually lovers. since the day we met my day hasn't ended on such a sad note.

yourusername i love you and i'm glad to be a part of your life. i'm thankful that i'm with you now, and always.

view 857,248 comments...

aussiegrit i'm happy for you two 🤍

sebastianvettel aren't you glad we invited you out, or else you wouldn't have met each other

jensonbutton okay thank you seb and mark

aussiegrit you're acting like we were there, we literally left him alone in the middle of the night, i'm sorry jense

jensonbutton you dragged me out and left me, if it wasn't for y/n i would be sleeping in the hallway

sebastianvettel thank you yourusername you're cute together and i'm taking the credit ☺️

user1 wait jensey/n lore????

user2 i thought of you as my savior 😭😭😭 hello?

user3 it's always i love you and never "SINCE THE DAY WE MET MY DAY HASN'T ENDED ON SUCH A SAD NOTE" 🥹😤😭🥹😤😭😤���😭😤

user4 how are we feeling everyone?

user5 happy crying 😭😭😭

user6 MY PARENTS >>>>> i called it

user7 have y'all seen yn's post 🥹

user8 i love them your honor 🥲

yourusername

liked by jensonbutton and 98,734 others

yourusername four months, since the day i met you. in such a short time i've seen your highs and lows and even then i knew that i wanted to be with you.

you changed my life and i'm constantly proud of you, i won't stop reminding you on how deserving you are of every good thing in life.

you fill me with pride, joy, and i'm so lucky to be with you. since then i knew that i wouldn't let your night end on such a sad note.

jensonbutton i love you so much.

comments are limited by the user.

jensonbutton thank you for giving me a chance to show my love to you.

[akocomyk]

I got a chocolate bar for Christmas

Simple joys, right?

Anyway… After two years of the pandemic, I started going to church again—beginning from this year’s Holy Week. I was highly encouraged by Gerald. Most of the time, I attend the masses in my high school alma mater’s chapel—I went to a catholic school run by OAR priests.

I didn’t make promises to myself—or to God even—about completing the nine days of Misa de Gallo. Even more so when during the homily of the first day, the priest reminded us that we should’t attend the Simbang Gabi masses for the sole reason of completing them, and encouraged us to continue even if we missed a day.

Despite the hardships of waking up early, walking for more than one kilometer in the dark streets and coldness of early morning, and then having to go to work later in the day (although I only work from home), I was able to complete the nine days.

During the homily of the Christmas Eve mass, Fr. Dexter started by asking who among the attendees have completed the nine days of Misa de Gallo, and he asked those people to raise their hands. I raised mine, of course.

He then filtered it out by asking who among them completed the nine days in the school’s chapel. Few hands were lowered so a few were left, including mine.

From the few, three people were chosen—I was one of them. The priest requested us to stand with him at the front near the altar. I had no choice but to oblige.

I was nervous, seeing the amount of people looking at me and not knowing what I’m about to do.

While at the front, Fr. Dexter asked what our wishes are for completing the Simbang Gabi.

The first woman wished for the healing of one her parents who had a kidney disease.

The second woman, a senior, wished for a long and healthy life.

I… I wasn’t wishing for anything, to be completely honest. The first thing I thought when the question was asked was, “Wala po.”

So in the mic I said something like, “Di po ako pinalaki na mag-attend ng Simbang Gabi para gumawa ng wish. Nandito lang po ako kasi I’m grateful for all of the blessings that I have received. Naniniwala po kasi ako na everything that happens to us, whether it be good or bad, we learn from it. So every time na nagp-pray ako dito, I’m just thankful.”

Father gave the three of us Toblerone bars. 🍫 And an envelope with a yellow bill inside. 😊

Some pictures to remember my Christmas with:

[suncaptor]

HUGE SHOUTOUT TO THE PERSON WHO LEFT AN ESSAY ON BELAJO IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF MY UQUIZ. anyways please click readmore if you want to read something that almost brought me to tears. This person is astounding I'm blown away they’re galaxy braining.

anyway so belajo is something that is actually so special to me because we all saw that weird romance plot the writers tried to force on jo and dean right??? we all saw that and felt icky about it??? moving on, we also know bela was a dean mirror. SO okay the reason dean and jo felt so forced and icky and weird I think (besides the actors having NO romantic chemistry) is because jo is a lesbian. LMAO no but fr fr dean always kinda treated jo like a little sister because he had a little brother and it’s the Eldest Daughter Burden Syndrome in him to do so I think. where dean and bela differ is that bela only raised herself, whereas dean helped raise sam, so bela is used to being dangerous and independent etc. without it affecting anyone but herself MEANING where dean tried to baby jo (because she was a girl ((gotta love early spn))? because she was ellen’s kid? because she was new in the hunting world? idk but he felt responsible for her one way or another) bela wouldn’t. SO BASICALLY belajo would be everything deanjo tried to be. both people rough around the edges, self destructive, but where one has too much freedom and a level of confidence that only looks deep from the surface, the other hardly has ANY freedom (or so she thinks because ellen is protective) and confidence that is honestly kind of unfounded for how new she seemed to be at hunting. jo would obviously be game for all of bela’s ridiculous plans and bela wouldn’t patronize jo, rather give her important roles in the plans she makes. my guess is that jo would run into bela on a hunt and they’d butt heads a little bit because O K they’re both stubborn and snarky but they’d end up having to work together and they’d surprise themselves with how good of a team they were making (they wouldn’t say anything at first about it). at the end of the hunt or whatever jo would be the one to give bela her cell number (“incase you find yourself in deep shit again”) and they’d go on with their lives. bela holds onto the number but doesn’t put it in her phone. she doesn’t call either. the next time they see each other it’s another situation where they just happen to be in the same place at the same time. jo is working on a cursed item hunt or something IDFK and bela wants the item to sell or whatever. they’re at some fancy dinner party and bela’s like “you again? can’t get enough, huh?” or something idk sorry I’m literally typing an essay. ANYWAY they work the case exchanging snarky one liners except this one gets intense and it’s one of those Saved At The Last Minute deals. it’s probably bela that goes “guess we make a pretty good team, huh?” and this time they don’t part ways. they get a hotel room together (“I saved your life TWICE! damn right it’s your treat”) and sleep in separate beds it’s all very normal and whatnot because I am a slut for slow burn and it’s ME who is holding YOU captive and making you read my belajo essay so it goes how I say it goes. anyway when they part ways in the morning bela is all blushy and this time it’s Jo with the snarky flirty remarks. bela finally calls jo one day about three weeks later or something (she still doesn’t make jo a contact, and in fact makes a point of fishing her number out of her purse and typing it in her phone every time she needs to call after that) and they work another case together. they work more and more cases together until they literally are just sharing a car looking at each other and going “what’s next?” bela doesn’t tell jo about her demon deal. she almost forgot about it herself, what with the craze of the cases and adrenaline that having a partner in crime comes with. but she doesn’t forget. and she doesn’t say anything either. jo has fully warmed up to bela at this point, all her snarky remarks now tinged with something of adoration. bela’s even met ellen (who took her in immediately, much to jo’s surprise) and ash (who takes a little longer to warm up to her because bela is bela lmao)! jo’s never felt so alive. and it’s not just the adrenaline—it’s bela, who makes her feel like she’s worth something, who she watched shoot out the tires of some guy’s car because she didn’t like the way he was talking to jo (which normally jo would find possessive but something about the way bela did it made her feel safe), who tells jo one night after celebratory drinks that she’s beautiful, and jo’s stomach flips. because when she talks to bela, bela LISTENS. and bela is funny. and smart—UGH SO SMART. and surprisingly handy with a knife. and maybe just a little bit beautiful too. amazing, jo thinks. bela is amazing. and she says so, too, one evening. they’re planning their next move. it’s sticky and convoluted and seemingly impossible until they make a breakthrough. it’s bela that connects the final piece, and she gets that look on her face that says she’s equal parts bewildered and ecstatic. jo says it then—“you’re amazing—“ and it’s the way she says it that makes bela stop in her tracks. the smile melts off her face and she starts shaking her head. she tells jo about the deal then. she has only what like three months left at this point. jo is PISSED. P I S S E D. she leaves bela crying on the bed in the motel room to go for a walk and cool down. it’s pretty intense lmao. she realizes then that she loves her and that’s a terrible terrible terrible feeling. bela is asleep when she gets back to the room. oh god I’ve gotten to the part where it’s only half rendered in my mind but basically blah blah blah jo has ellen and ash and every other hunter she knows looking high and low for ways to save bela. as her time gets shorter and shorter bela gets more and more impulsive and dangerous (“why not? I’m going to hell anyway! I won’t even be around for the consequences :)”) and jo gets more and more frustrated. they have another fight where jo confesses that she can’t lose bela and bela says something along the lines of “you never had me! I was using you the whole time” or something, you know, like a LIAR, and jo tells bela to fuck off, bonus points for an “I hate you,” you know, liKe a LiAr, and she leaves. little does jo know that that would be the last conversation she has with bela before she’s dragged to hell. and of course, it’s jo that finds her in ribbons, a red and white tapestry of blood against the expensive hotel carpet, underneath the chandelier, eyes blown open and limbs splayed out beside her. she was on her way back from the bar, where she walked to with plans to go home with someone else, drink her worries away, etc I guess lmao but she was too nauseous to even go in so she just circled the block a few times before heading back to their room. she opens the door with shaky hands, blinking away the last of her tears, and fully intending to apologize, take it all back, tell her she loved her. instead, well. you know. anyway so OBVIOUSLY bela comes back. idk how but she does she HAS to because I need a happy or bittersweet ending or whatever but yeah I haven’t even placed the next pieces yet. they change each other for the better obviously too. bela allows herself to be vulnerable and heals through some of her trauma and jo grows as a hunter and strategist, and understands more of what it’s like to be protective over someone. even ellen grows to trust jo more on her own especially with bela, who ellen (who is definitely is NOT someone to dote but) grows more and more fond of. it’s found family. it’s hesitant allies to hesitant friends to best friends to widow to awkward I-can’t-believe-you’re-back-I-don’t-know-what’s-allowed to best friends again to LOVERS awwwwwwwwwww

[memorylang]

God’s Grace Through Pandemic Life | #45 | October 2020

As I strolled through the neighborhood on my last week in Reno, after days of freeze warnings and fire watch alerts that I saw on my phone, once-green tree leaves had become red, orange, amber and upon the earth. I’d walked with jacket layers, for I felt the breeze of change. 

I celebrated this Hallowe’en in Vegas, where weather’s warmer. Rather than helping at trick-or-treating events of years past, I’d urged against people going around, given we’re in a pandemic. Staying inside, I wrote this month’s tales. 

I start us back in Mongolia, February 2020, then bring us up to nowadays via March, June, September and October. Since we’re amid Allhallowtide, the Christian sequence of All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, I’ve decided to make God’s works the topic of today. Whether you read as a Christian or non-Christian, I hope you feel hope! 

A traditional Catholic prayer called the Examen involves one considering one’s day to recognize areas where God appeared present. Through this type of reflection, Christians better understand how God exists in every moment of all things. Often, this awareness takes conscious efforts to seek and recognize the Spirit. So in October’s tale, I seek it. 

February: Mongolia’s Churches Closed 

Eight months ago, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mongolia packing to evacuate to America. By Sunday, March 1, I would be boarding a Peace Corps vehicle with just my backpacks and a suitcase, having by then had to have said final goodbyes.

The Saturday night before, Feb. 29, a local CICM missionary priest visited my apartment. Back in this spring 2020, I’d written to you about how he and I related as foreign Catholics amid pandemic restrictions. I felt consoled by our discussions that night. 

My friend looked a bit glum when he said that this was his first Ash Wednesday without Mass. By mid-February, Mongolia had already barred large public gatherings, including church attendance. My friend explained how many Catholic churches, such as those in Korea and Taiwan, experienced the same. I realized that this must have been my first Ash Wednesday without Mass, too—what an uncertain start to Lent. 

But my friend and I moved from our dreary topic. We chatted about Mongolia’s culture, American culture and the Congo’s, from where he came. Reflecting on the culture that I’d soon encounter in the States felt refreshing. I felt glad that our discussions readied me for what would come. 

My friend and I also discussed Mongolia’s Lunar New Year /Tsagaan Sar/ that had begun that week. We asked each other how many бууз /boe-z/, the traditional steamed dumplings, we’d eaten. He said 15, and I guessed that I’d had at least 30. We chuckled. 

My priest raised an insightful point. Compared to more widespread Western practices, Mongolian hospitality felt like it extended across both the rich and poor. My experiences that very morning fit well his observation. An older Mongol friend who’d often given me lifts downtown or back had invited me to the house of his shopkeeper friend. And while the shopkeeper may have had more than other Mongols, he and others gave freely and generously. 

Shortly after reflecting with the missionary, my older friend returned to my apartment. To both I gave from my fridge and shelves all the food and ingredients they’d accept. We said bittersweet goodbyes. At least I could give as I’d received.  

God has a way too with echoing my late mother in my mind. My friendship with fellow foreigners in Mongolia reminded me of hers in America. She would befriend Chinese and Asian immigrants. When I was little in Indiana, I used to think that Mom simply liked to have friends who looked like her. Years later, when I’d met our relatives in China, they’d told me how she’d help foreign students who’d come to America. She sounded so selfless. And, after my own experiences being a foreigner in, for me, a foreign land, I realized that even the companionship of those who share experiences provides vital social support (Deut. 10:19). 

Comforted on my final night in the city whose people I’d committed to serve, I felt renewed on my sudden path to leave. 

March: America’s Churches Open

One week later—Sat. March 7—was my first full day back in Vegas. It also marked my return to church for the first time in weeks. At that time, my brothers were still busy with school, and our papa worked in another city. So, I went alone. 

Going alone let me arrive early and slip into wherever I wanted to sit. Still, my experiences as a Knight of Columbus led me to favor the front, where few go, anyway. I could hardly believe how in Mongolia so much had already closed yet in the States people acted as though the pandemic was hardly real. People in Mongolia hadn’t gotten the virus, yet people in Vegas already had. 

Still, the Mass felt refreshing. Reading the English-language hymnal hearing English-language speakers made so much a breeze. In fact, singing familiar music reminded me of going alone to the bishop’s Thanksgiving 2017 Mass when I visited home the year Mom died. Parishioners at that time had commented that I sang well. 

In March 2020, I kind of hoped that people wouldn’t comment, so I could lie low. But at Mass’s end, a woman in front of me complimented me, saying that she’d love to see me in up with the choir. Well, there’s my introduction. 

I approached the choir director to learn how to volunteer. I applied that week. When the office woman read my application, she commended that America could really use a person like me, speaking Chinese and Mongolian. I felt glad. 

In seven of eight days (week 1, March 7-14) I’d attended Mass, which was definitely a personal record. I spent almost my whole Friday, March 13 enjoying the church’s Lenten activities including Stations of the Cross and Adoration. 

But I could feel how times have changed. Seeing the newer Fr. Marc many days instead of our past Fr. Jim felt weird. I’d only seen Fr. Marc once, at Christmas 2019, because he’d started during the summer I left for Peace Corps. Fr. Jim, on the other hand, had pastored there since 2013, from my high school sophomore year till past my college graduation. 

At the week’s daily Masses, elderly folks treated me as a new member. They commended me as a young person for showing up to morning prayer, rosary and Mass. To be fair, in all my family’s years since 2008 there, we’d participated in few functions outside Sundays. My late ma was our exception, having sung in the choir. Still, hearing folks commend me for coming to church reminded me of my conversation the week before in Mongolia with my priest who came to say farewell—how much we missed the Mass. 

A week later, my second in America, churches closed from the pandemic. This made more sense. Still, I loved my brief week back in church. I’d recounted Easter 2020 in my story of week 6 (April 10-16). Now, let’s fast-forward! 

June: Feeling Called to Reach Out

On my last June Wednesday, week 16 (June 19-25), I was in Reno, Nev., taking part in our Carmelite Monastery’s Zoom prayer session. We couldn’t meet in person. During our long contemplative silence, I felt this urge to share with a handful of specific friends my then most recent blog story, “Fathers’ Day, Familiarity and Faith | #38 | June 2020.” 

I felt surprised by this idea and sat with it for a while. Ultimately I felt convinced that I ought to share. 

I learned that one of the women to whom I sent the story, a friend of mine from high school, had been working for our congressman’s office. We enjoyed catching up. She even shared with me online events about religious diversity. 

A couple months later, week 24 (Aug. 14-20), the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) advocacy had requested that I arrange meetings with my congressman’s office. I remembered that I had a friend there. I reached out to her, and she was my in. Her colleagues quickly set a conference call with me and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers. 

A month of advocacy followed. Then, on week 27 (Sept. 4-10), the NPCA held a check-in call. They mentioned that I should have already been receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). So, they suggested that I reach out to my congressman’s office. 

Actually, I consider that 2020 week of Sept. 9 my ‘seven days of wonder’ for its great and many unexpected happenings. The week coincidentally followed a few months’ consecutive daily rosaries. Well, I reached out once more to my friend. 

By the next week 28 (Sept. 11-18), after my struggles with the system since mere days after I’d reached the States from Mongolia, I was, in September, then finally receiving the PUA. 

I felt extremely privileged and grateful to have had that connection who could help me. I felt awed by how I’d reconnected with her simply because I felt called in prayer to do so. God works in mysterious ways! 

September: Wondrous Feelings

Usually, car rides between Reno and Vegas can be for many the most lackluster trips across the American west. Well, this time was different! 

During the ride to Vegas ending my week 29 (Sept. 18-24), Dad drove, and my tita /tee-tuh/ (my Filipina stepmom) rode shotgun when she wasn’t driving. Well, Tita suggested that she and I pray a rosary. I felt surprised, since Dad had said that his mom would pray rosaries on car rides. Dad said that the two of us could do the praying for him. Thankfully, since my COVID summer rosaries, I’ve grown accustomed to praying on the fly! 

I procured from my pocket the blue rosary that my mom had gifted me in commemoration of my First Communion 2005—one that I’d repaired last year with a Mexican cross I received at World Youth Day. Anyway, I liked to keep it with me. Tita and I prayed the Luminous Mysteries since it was Thursday. Luminous are my favorites, too. They feature Jesus’ teaching, Transfiguration and Last Supper—all among my favorite Biblical moments. 

Well, after we finished, I noticed that I had cell service again (a blessing in rural Nevada). I also had received a Facebook message from someone unfamiliar, with a uni listed in Hong Kong. The message thanked me for having written an article. I felt joyfully confused and typed to ask which. He wrote that he meant my one about learning Mongolian! He added, he wanted to travel to Mongolia. 

I felt pleased. I’d just finished the piece my week before, recounting experiences learning languages. When I asked him what languages he knows, he mentioned Chinese and added that his English isn’t very good. So, I swapped to Chinese characters, writing back and forth in those. He added that he too is learning Mongolian, so I briefly hopped to Mongolian! Then we settled on Chinese. 

Every so often, when my cell service went spotty, I recounted to Tita my joys from this conversation. 

Turns out that my new friend worked for a media corporation in Southern (Inner) Mongolia in China. I added, what a coincidence, since I’d studied journalism as an undergrad! He asked on what topics I’d reported, so I linked articles about my pieces on religious and ethnic diversity. He felt amazed! I insisted that I’ve great teachers, friends and God to thank. 

By this time, Tita was driving, and we reached Tonopah, the halfway point between Reno and Vegas. Cellular data was stable, so I figured I’d better finish the conversation. With all these coincidences, I felt joys like those of the Magnificat! 

I asked the friend about the topics on which he reports. He wrote that he interviews people and covers Chinese Mongols, including their culture, economy and, more recently, the pandemic. His interest in Mongolian culture is why he’s studying their language. I felt amazed! I love when people share stories about diverse groups. 

The friend had added that he looked forward to reading more of my work. I felt delighted. Finally, I asked how he’d found my work. Turns out he was reading about Mongolia’s education, came across the Peace Corps, and my article popped up. Somehow after that, he found me on Facebook and messaged me, too! The internet astounds me. 

Earlier in the week, I’d attended a seminar in which panelists assured me that whether or not people read my work, I should continue to practice writing daily. Well, somehow my work found someone all the way on our globe’s other side. 

And earlier that day, I’d connected online with a stateside Chinese instructor who’d had some free time, being short on students due to the pandemic. She offered to teach me for free, just because I wanted to learn! I felt overjoyed at her offer and thankful that she wrote how glad she was that we’d found each other. 

How could I be so blessed? 

After all, I’d been already working with a friend to learn my Latin who similarly found joy in instructing me from my sheer willingness to learn. Well, the evening’s surprise conversation with the reporter in Chinese Mongolia gave me my answer. 

I, too, try to freely share so others might learn. I’m like those who teach me. So blessed! 

October: To Church Again and Again (...And Again!)

I empathize with Americans who insist that we need to reopen churches amid this pandemic. I really worry about public health, and indoor churches can be dangerous when people don’t take all the proper precautions. Despite these, some churches take proper precautions. I felt gladdened this month by multiple opportunities to visit church.

Overall, October was a great month for my faith. 

It kicked off with reuniting with the first Peace Corps Mongolia Volunteer from my cohort I’d seen since March! Drew and I had made our farewells in Berlin, Germany, so seeing each other again in Reno, Nev., of all places felt amazing. We swapped religious and spiritual resources like the good ol’ days when we’d served in neighboring Mongolian provinces.

After having been out of church since March 2020 (just watching the liturgies online), I’d gotten to attend Catholic Masses five times! For a Catholic Christian like me, the Mass can be an especially consoling experience with Christ, fellow believers and a religious leader. 

My first Masses since week 1 (March 7-14) were in week 31 (Oct. 2-8). My family had come up for our youngest sister’s confirmation at Our Lady of Wisdom Newman Center, Reno, originally to happen at Easter. The Mass felt different, with people so far apart. I felt flickers of memory from my 2016 confirmation and those that I’d attended over the years. So few people this year with such distance between us left me feeling strange but still gladdened by the fellowship. 

After the event, we ate out at a Taiwanese restaurant decorated with pictures of the 101. I remembered friends and felt nostalgic about my life in Taipei. I miss Asia. 

The Thursday after, fellow Brother Knights of Columbus and I revisited Reno’s cathedral. It had tile floors now instead of carpet. This felt surreal. I hadn’t expected to be there in a while. My Grand Knights and I used to serve there mornings of my undergrad. But, staff still remembered us, greeting us warmly. The place was beautiful. My Worthy Brothers and I returned there the week after, leading up to Fall Retreat 2020. 

Winding Up on Retreat

I feel that God does funny things in our lives. Even what we perceive as inconveniences wind up serving His greater mission. My folks and I thought that I would have a ride down to Vegas for the weekend after Fall Retreat, so I let the coordinators know that I’d be around to attend. 

Through a series of miscommunications, we found on the morning of Retreat that I actually didn’t have a ride to Vegas. But, too late to change that! 

Fall Retreat was awesome, getting to “Be Still” (Mk. 4:39). It was my first retreat since spring 2019, a year and a half prior. Amid undergrad, I was attending two to four retreats a year. Coincidentally, my freshman’s Spring Retreat 2016 theme too was “Be Still” (Ps. 46:10). 

On Retreat, coordinators had posted up a still from the Pope’s Lenten 2020 “Urbi et Orbi” (to the City and to the World) prayer service in the Vatican. I recalled having seen that on TV, the surrounding darkness beyond his platform’s lights, my week 4 (March 27-April 2). Reflecting on this image and others during week 33 (Oct. 16-22) reminded me of just how long I’ve been back in the States weathering this pandemic. 

The retreat reintroduced me to the Ignatian Examen prayer, so I resumed that, too! Retreat’d helped me to remember that solidarity with Christ and fellow believers is crucial to my spiritual wellbeing. 

My fourth October Mass concluded our day. To have a closing Mass reminded me of World Youth Day in Panamá, an exclamation point to mark a grand day. I’d taken years to appreciate the Mass this much. 

Later that week, I got to attend Mass one last time, followed by learning this new game, “Among Us” with the students. Evidently it fits the Hallowe’en season! Fellowship is fun.  

Being Prepared

By mid-October, week 32 (Oct. 9-15), I’d resumed my grad school search after my Latin-tutoring friend taking the LSAT suggested that I take the GRE while still here in the States. 

Meanwhile, the friend with whom I’ve been reading a Psalm a day suggested that I should move to D.C. for its foreign service opportunities. When I mentioned to her my grad school search, she asked a series of probing questions to better understand my intentions. After all, not too many people declare that they want to devote graduate studies to Chinese Christianity. 

The next day, I had a Zoom call with a Catholic writer in Malta. I felt surprised that all the questions my friend asked to encourage me to think critically reappeared as similar questions that the writer asked to gauge my interests. 

I felt gleefully surprised by similarities. I answered his questions with much greater clarity than my friend’s. He gave me clear advice. 

Both encouraged me to remember no matter my work to put God first. As my friend noted, religious leaders of Jesus’ time, according to Scripture, had focused more on the words than their meanings. She insisted that I take to heart the meanings. She and the Catholic writer reminded me of my other spiritual mentors. I felt glad. 

November: Election Day!

After seeing my media mentors before I left Reno and having watched the U.S. presidential debates online, I felt drawn to read “Beyond the Messy Truth” by Van Jones. In his book, Jones tries to pinpoint American thoughts that shaped the 2016 election and teach us to understand and respect many perspectives. 

People pray on both sides that their candidates win. I pray more that with whatever happens, people on both sides accept the outcome. In these United States, we need decency to work together. 

Well, with Bon Jovi’s “2020” on my room’s music player I’ve worked on another few lovely blog stories for you~ Regardless of which way the election goes, my end-of-October story will cover American diversity! Hopefully we’ll know our next president by my time of writing. I’m hoping to include in that second tale this month, too, anecdotal adventures with my present and future. 

The closer I get to January, the more I realize I might be going back to Mongolia soon. Keep me in your prayers. And see you on the flipside! 

You can read more from me here at DanielLang.me :)

[cookiecielo]

My Heart is Still Full

This is a long overdue thank you post I have been wanting to write since deliberation day in law school (which is May 2016, I’m bad I know!!). Not that I have been less thankful as each day pass by, I cannot write because my heart is so full of emotions that I feel like I cannot think of a word, a phrase or a sentence to capture how I am really feeling. 

It was May 19, 2016 when I learned that I will be graduating from law school. It was five years of sweat and tears. I was a working student. How could have I done it? I was at awe. Until this day, I still cry when I remember sending a text message to my Nanay, Tatay and my brother saying “graduate na tayo!” Graduation day was all blur because I was already starting my bar review at that time. The four or so months of bar review was like walking on thorns everyday. I laugh and then I cry then I laugh and cry at the same time. Crazy, right? 

Then Novembar came and I was at my lowest of lows. First week was devastating. Second week was haunting (Civ is still haunting me until this day). Third week was heart breaking. Fourth (and last week at last) was surrendering everything to some One bigger than any one of us. My biggest surprise is to see my whole family in the Salubong. I am having the chills again just remembering that. 

These things all led to the day that the bar exam results came out. I might need another post just to detail how that day unfolded for me. It was a roller coaster of emotions. And until that day, I never knew that I was capable of being that happy. 

With that too long of a back story, let me start my sending my thanks and love to the following: 

To the Lord Almighty, thank You for giving me just the right amount of everything in my life that made me who I am today. This is all according to His unending grace. To St. Augustine, St. Jude, St. Isidro, St. Padre Pio, Our Lady of Manaoag, Our Lady of La Naval, Pink Sisters, St. Raymond, St. Thomas, St. Pope John Paul and to all the Saints and Blessed in heaven, thank you for the intercession and for praying for me to God. 

To my Nanay and my Tatay, thank you for always believing in me and supporting me every step of the way. Getting me through law school is never easy but you never gave up on me. I appreciate all the things you are willing to do for me- preparing my baon, waking up early, ironing my uniform, picking up calls and then letting me cry over the phone, telling me I’ll pass, believing in me when I don’t even believe in myself- the list is endless. To my brother Owie, thank you for always having my back and front and side. Thank you for being whatever I need during the whole bar review. I could not ask for any better brother than you already are. 

To UST Law, my professors and the Dean Nilo, thank you for the five years of carino brutal. I will not go back to law school even if I get paid a million for every year that I enrolled. Everything I learned and applied in my bar exams I learned from this institution. I wish I could go on, one by one, with how each of my professor helped me understand the concepts of law but that would take an entirely new post. This is just a general thank you for helping me become a Thomasian Lawyer. 

To UP Diliman and the Department of Political Science, thank you for opening my eyes to the real world. Thank you for showing that I should not see things as they are but rather I should see things as how they should be. I know I fail most of the time, but thank you for teaching me that before my self, I should give back to my country. I may have finished my law studies in Espana (Manila) but in my heart malayong lupain akin mang marating, hindi rin magbabago ang damdamin.

To my Ninang Che, thank you for the endless times you re-assured me of your support and love. I was so scared when I resigned to focus on my bar review, but you made me feel safe knowing I could always run to you when I have problem or if anything goes wrong. 

To my Revilla family,  thank you for the support and prayers and virtual hugs you sent me. I know that we stormed heaven with prayers. You guys are family to me, always and forever. 

To my Santos family, thank you for all the prayers you are sending my way. I appreciate all of it. 

To my bestfriend Eman,  thank you for listening to my endless rants. I know I sound crazy most of the time but you listened anyway. Thank you for  sponsoring a part of my hotel fees. I will be grateful for the rest of my life. 

To my girleys and boylets and the rest of my high school bunch, thank you for forgiving me for everything I missed and for still loving and supporting  me anyway. 

To my DFBF JM, thank you for showing yourself up during the most troubled time of life. I appreciate your messages and all the support you showed me. 

To Anj,  thank you for showing up when I needed you most. How could have I survived law school without you? I never want to know. 

To JP, thank you for the virtual barops. Thank you for sending some sense in my life. You are always a kuya to me.  

To Krae and Hazel, thank you for the friendship that goes beyond being classmates or seeing each other too often. I sent my tears and my smiles through text and chat but I still feel your love just the same. 

To Angel, Mila, KC, Leslie, Tel, Mariole and Jill, thank you for bearing with me in our “roommates” escapades. We could have met each other at a different time but it surely is more meaningful having you gals around through five years of law school. 

To Alain, Edu, Doy , Jeff and Krem, I am grateful for everything we had to go through together. Law school was so much more fun having you guys around. 

To Vic, Chie, Yeh, Nars, Rainier, Leo, Monique and Justice, I am thankful for the fun you added into my crazy law school life. 

To 1AA, 2AA, 3AA and 4C and another 4C, thank you for being the best classmates ever! I don’t know why you trusted me to be your class president for two years. But thank you!

To Ate Lovely, Dani and the rest of my MMC family, thank you for letting me take the first step on this working student thing. I found real friends in you mga ‘te. 

To my SPD, OJ5, co-RAs and the rest of the AFP friends, thank you for letting me do the things I always wanted to do and paying me for it. Had things gone differently, I would still very much be with you. You are all family to me. 

To my team and the rest of Legal GSC, thank you for letting me do my thing and accepting me back like nothing has changed. Your support means the world to me. 

To Fr. Henry, thank you for praying me and guiding me to believe in God with all my heart. 

To my go to person, thank you for getting me through bar review, bar exams and waiting for the bar results. 

To the rest of my friends, my family’s friends, the St. Augustine Parish community and the whole community who raised me and prayed for me, thank you very much!! My whole family is thankful for having you guys in our lives. 

To everyone I may have unintentionally missed mentioning here, know that I am thankful and appreciative of all that you have done for me. This is a momentary slip of the mind, not because you are not important, but because I am getting old like that.  

Sending you all the love, peace, prayers and happiness from my full heart to yours. 

[frmartinshomiliesandreflections]

11th November >> Fr. Martin’s Gospel Reflections / Homilies on Luke 17:1-6 for  Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time: ‘Increase our faith’.

Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel (Europe, Africa, New Zealand, Australia & Canada)

Luke 17:1-6

If your brother does wrong, reprove him

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!

If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’

The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’

Gospel (USA)

Luke 17:1-6

If your brother wrongs you seven times in one day, and returns to you seven times saying, “I am sorry,” you should forgive him.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.”

And the Apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.”

Reflections (11)

(i) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

The first part of today’s gospel reading has to do with how we relate to each other, and the final part with how we relate to God. In the first part, Jesus initially warns against becoming an obstacle to others on their journey of faith. We are not to undermine the faith of others by giving scandal. We are very interdependent when it comes to our faith journey. We either build each other up in faith or we do the opposite. Saint Paul often called on the members of the early church to build each other up in faith. We have some responsibility not just for the material well-being of others, but also for their spiritual well-being. Inevitably, we will not always live in ways that build up the faith of others. Jesus is a realist and in the gospel reading he recognizes that we will often wrong each other. When that happens we must stand ready to forgive others the wrong they have done us if they express sorrow and ask pardon. Sometimes we are the ones who will asking pardon of someone; at other times we will be asked to forgive someone who asks pardon of us. Jesus outlines a way of relating to others here that is ultimately rooted in our relationship with the Lord, in our faith. Here is a way of life that flows from our faith, and that is why we need to make our own the prayer of the apostles in the gospel reading, ‘Increase our faith’. Yet, the reply of Jesus to his prayer, reminds us that we should never underestimate the faith we have. The Lord can work powerfully through faith that is only the size of a mustard seed. Even our little faith can be the wellspring of that loving way of relating to each that Jesus outlines in the gospel reading.

And/Or

(ii) Monday, Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time

The disciples in today’s gospel reading seem to be concerned about how much faith they had. They turned to Jesus and asked for more faith, ‘Increase our faith’. However, Jesus did not respond to their request as they might have expected. He did not say to them, ‘Yes, your faith is weak, I will give you more’. Instead he stressed to them the power of a faith that is no bigger than that of a mustard seed, the smallest of all the seeds. In other words, when it comes to faith, the issue is not one of quantity. Jesus suggests that even the tiniest level of faith is enough for God. God can touch our lives through even the tiniest of openings that we make. The prayer of the disciples in today’s gospel reading is one we find easy to identify with. We can sometimes feel vaguely dissatisfied about our faith, and wonder about the state of our relationship with God. We might even describe ourselves as hanging on by a thread. The thread may be all that the Lord needs to continue relating to us. At the end of the day, faith as small as a mustard seed is all that God needs.

 And/Or

(iii) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Sometimes if we are strongly challenged by someone, it can leave us feeling a little bit deflated. We might think to ourselves, ‘yes, I hear the challenge but I am not at all sure I can rise to it’. We sense that the bar has been raised too high for us and we are tempted not to bother even trying to clear it. Somewhat similar seems to be going on in the exchange between Jesus and his disciples in this morning’s gospel reading. Jesus had issued some very demanding teaching to his disciples and to his all. He calls on us never to do anything that would lead a person of faith astray, anything that would undermine another person’s faith. He goes on to call on us to show unconditional forgiveness to those who do something wrong to us, even if the offend us seven times in one day. In response to these words, the apostles say to Jesus, perhaps with a heavy heart, ‘Increase our faith’. They sense that their faith isn’t up to this challenging teaching. In response to their almost despairing prayer, Jesus gives them and us great encouragement. He assures us that even the tiniest bit of faith, faith the size of a mustard seed, can do wonders, the impossible. Rather than focusing on the poverty of our faith, we need to acknowledge whatever little faith we have, and be confident that the Lord can work powerfully through that little faith. If we are seeking the Lord at all, that is enough. He will empower us to take the path he is calling us to take.

 And/Or

(iv) Monday, Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time

In the course of the gospels we find many prayers of petition that people make to Jesus. When the disciples were in the middle of the storm at sea, they prayed aloud to him, ‘Lord, save us’. In this morning’s gospel reading we find another prayer of the disciples, ‘Lord, increase our faith’. It is a prayer we all probably find easy to make our own. It reminds me of another prayer of someone in the gospels, ‘Lord, I believe, help my unbelief’. The prayer of the disciples, ‘Lord, increase our faith’, comes immediately after Jesus’ challenging call to forgive those who offend us and who go on to ask our forgiveness, even if they offend us seven times. Before Jesus’ challenging message, the disciples felt their need of more faith, ‘Increase our faith’. In reply, Jesus declares that even faith the size of a mustard seed can do extraordinary things. The Lord can work powerfully through our little faith. Even if we feel our faith is weak at times, we can thank God for our little faith, because the Lord can do great things with it. We can never underestimate how the Lord can work in and through our little faith, if we let him.

 And/Or

(v) Monday, Thirty Second week in Ordinary Time

We find many prayers on the lips of the characters in the gospels. We often find it easy to identify with those prayers. In this morning’s gospel reading, the disciples turn to Jesus and pray, ‘Increase our faith’. That is a prayer we can easily identify with. Even people of faith know that they can grow in their faith. Those who have a relationship with the Lord know that they can deepen that relationship. In that sense, in terms of our faith we are always on a journey. We are always being called to keep growing into the person of Christ. Even at the end of our earthly lives we won’t have fully grown into the person of Christ. That is why the prayer, ‘Increase our faith’ is appropriate at every stage of our life journey. The response of Jesus to the prayer of the disciples, however, reminds us that even a little faith is a wonderful thing. Even faith the size of a mustard seed creates an opening for the Lord to work powerfully within us and through us. So we must never devalue the faith that we have, even if it seems very small to us. The Lord certainly does not devalue it but, rather, he treasures such little faith and asks us to do the same.

And/Or 

(vi) Monday, Thirty second Week in Ordinary Time

The gospel has three parts to it. In the first part Jesus warns against the danger of leading others astray. We are to watch ourselves for the sake of others. We have a responsibility for each other, and, in particular, for each other’s relationship with the Lord. We have the awesome possibility of helping to open up others to the Lord or placing an obstacle to their relationship with the Lord. The second part of the gospel reading calls on us to be ready to forgive those who do wrong us if they ask for forgiveness, and to be ready to do that not just once but seven times. It is in response to both of those quiet different but equally demanding teachings of Jesus that in the third part of the gospel reading the disciples turn to him and say, ‘Increase our faith’. They sense that the call of the gospel is beyond them and so they ask for an increase in faith. We can all feel at times that the call of the gospel is more than we can rise to. We may be very aware of ways that we block others from meeting the Lord and ways that we fail to forgive when forgiveness is asked for. Yet, Jesus declares that God can work powerfully through faith as small as a mustard seed. We are not to underestimate the faith in the Lord we do have and the ways that the Lord is working powerfully through that faith. We need to acknowledge the faith we have, especially at those times when we are tempted to think that our faith is terribly impoverished.

 And/Or

(vii) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

People make many requests of Jesus in the gospels. We can find ourselves easily identifying with many of the requests. These prayers of petition can easily become our prayers of petition. In this morning’s gospel reading we have one such request or prayer of petition addressed to Jesus. The disciples turn to him and say, ‘Increase our faith’. It is certainly a prayer we can make our own. As people of faith we greatly value the gift of faith that we have but we are also aware that our faith is not as strong or as deep or as courageous as it could be. We celebrate our relationship with the Lord, as we are doing every time we come to Mass, but we know that there is always scope for us to grow more fully in our relationship with the Lord. In his response to the request of the disciples, Jesus draws attention to the tremendous potential of the faith that they already have, ‘were your faith the size of a mustard seed...’. Yes, we can always pray, ‘Lord, increase our faith’, but we must not underestimate the faith we already have and the powerful way the Lord can work through our faith if we exploit its potential to the full. We need to appreciate where we already are in our relationship with the Lord, as well as seeking to grow in that relationship.

 And/Or

(viii) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

At the beginning of today’s gospel reading, Jesus warns against putting an obstacle in the way of someone else’s faith, leading someone astray, away from the Lord. The opposite to that is being a support to someone else’s faith, being present to others in ways that help them grow in their relationship with the Lord. We can do that in various ways. Those who become faith friends or prayer friends to the children who are to make their first holy communion support their relationship with the Lord. When the children become aware of people praying for them, it helps them to appreciate all the more their friendship with the Lord and his friendship with them. At the beginning of his gospel, Luke presents Mary and Elizabeth as faith friends or prayer friends. The meeting between them, following on Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, helped each of them to deepen their relationship with the Lord. Elizabeth was graced by Mary’s coming and Mary in turn was inspired to pray her Magnificat by Elizabeth’s welcome of her. We may feel that our own faith is not strong enough to be a support to the faith of others. Like the disciples in the gospel reading we may find ourselves praying, ‘Lord, increase our faith’. Yet, in response to that prayer, Jesus assures his disciples and all of us that even a little faith can work wonders, even a small mustard-seed size of faith can do marvellous things for the faith of others.

 And/Or

(ix) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

Many of us may be able to reflect over our lives and identify those who helped to nurture our faith. Our parents may come to mind, as well as teachers or what could be termed faith friends. We give thanks for all those people who helped to bring us closer to the Lord. At the beginning of today’s gospel reading, Jesus draws attention to the negative effect that people can also have on the faith of others. He issues a strong warning to those who lead members of the community of faith astray by placing an obstacle in the way of their faith. The Greek word that is translated ‘obstacle’ gives us the English word ‘scandal’. We have had to live with scandals of various kinds within the church in recent times. Such scandals have been a feature of the church’s history since the earliest days of the church, taking different forms at different times. No one can deny that the more recent scandals have undermined and weakened the faith of many. It is possible for any one of us to lead others astray, to undermine their faith in the Lord. This realization may be behind the request of the disciples to Jesus towards the end of the gospel reading, ‘Increase our faith’. It is a prayer we can all make our own. If we are to nurture the faith of others, rather become an obstacle to their faith, we need the Lord to keep increasing our own faith. Yet, Jesus’ response to the prayer of the disciples suggests that we should never underestimate the power of even our little faith, faith the size of a mustard seed. If we keep seeking the Lord, even out of our little faith, then he will work powerfully through that little faith to build up the faith of others.

 And/Or

(x) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

In the gospel reading Jesus is very critical of those who lead others in the community astray or cause them to stumble, in another translation. He was aware that his followers could become an obstacle to others coming to faith. On several occasions in the gospels, the disciples are portrayed as trying to block people, including children, from coming in contact with Jesus. Those in positions of leadership in the church have a special responsibility that they don’t become obstacles to people coming to faith in Jesus or to believers growing in their faith in Jesus. We have all become very aware in recent years of the great harm that can be done to the church, the believing community, by the giving of scandal. Our English word ‘scandal’ comes from the Greek word that stands behind the word ‘obstacle’ in today’s gospel reading. When Jesus says in today’s gospel reading, ‘Watch yourselves’, we are being that the way to nurturing the faith of others is to first nurture our own faith, whereas if we fail to nurture our faith or if we fail to live in accordance with our faith, the faith of others is undermined. We all have an influence for good or otherwise on each other’s relationship with the Lord. We can be an obstacle on the faith journey of others or we can help to bring each other to the Lord. If we are to lead each other to the Lord, we need to keep making our own the prayer of the disciples in today’s gospel reading, ‘Increase our faith’.

 And/Or

(xi) Monday, Thirty Second Week in Ordinary Time

There is a certain realism about the opening words of Jesus in today’s gospel reading, ‘Obstacles are sure to come’. He is very aware that the world in which we live will present many an obstacle to living as his disciples. There will be temptations and pressures which will draw us in a different direction to the one that the Lord might want us to take. Given that obstacles to faith will come from the world in which we live, Jesus insists that such obstacles should not come from within the community of faith. Disciples are capable of leading other disciples astray. Believers can give scandal which makes the journey of faith more difficult for other believers. As members of Christ’s body, our calling is to support one another as we try to live our faith in the Lord in today’s world. Something of Paul’s support for Titus comes through in today’s first reading. Paul refers to Titus as ‘true child of mine in the faith, that we share’. The rest of the gospel reading outlines two ways that we can support one another on the journey of faith. One way is by our willingness to forgive one another when we wrong each other, ‘if he wrongs you… and says, “I am sorry”, you must forgive him’. The other way we can support one another is by living the faith we have to the full, even if, at times, our faith seems very weak and small to us. Yes, we can all pray, as the apostles do in the gospel reading, ‘Increase our faith’, but in response to our prayer, the Lord will remind us as he reminded them that even our little faith, a faith the size of a mustard seed, if lived generously, creates a space for the Lord to work powerfully through us.

Fr. Martin Hogan, Saint John the Baptist Parish, Clontarf, Dublin, D03 AO62, Ireland.

Email: sjtbclontarf@eircom.net or  revmartinhogan@gmail.com

Parish Website: www.stjohnsclontarf.ie  Please join us via our webcam.

Twitter: @SJtBClontarfRC.

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