Passion of Christ: A Personal Reflection

When I was in my 30-day Ignitian Retreat. I remember how I cry when I was following Christ in the Calvary. I am always saying that I am afraid, I can’t Lord, why I need to do it? But reflecting and looking back all the bad things I done and how I became so selfish in my 25 years of my life and how I was doing immoral acts secretly. I stop talking and began to cry. My sufferings is not enough on the suffering that the Lord Jesus Christ experienced. In my diary I said “I deserve to nail my hands and feet and deserve in your place rather than you suffer a lot because of my sins, please come down and nail me in your cross” I was very tired in my meditations that I feel every second of every serious point of the passion of our Christ. In every moment I saw Mary who was very hurt in his son’s suffering.

                Through that Passion that we remember every Holy Week especially during Holy Thursday until Black Saturday, I am always thankful for our God who is wonderful and lovable. He always taking care of us. In my own life story, I saw how God loves me so much even I am a product of a dysfunctional family, a product of one immoral sin but I saw how this sin use by God to make me holy and to bless my family in a great perfection.

               During this time I remember my own brother Darren who will celebrating his birthday these 3^rd day of September. I always pray that someday he realize how God loves him so much and by his passion he redeemed him for all the sins that we have. I am thankful that today my heart is already own by Christ. His cross is already mine joyfully following him even in the Calvary and even in the day to day crosses that I experience and I will experience.

Reggie O. Cruz

August 23, 2013

Canlubang, Calamba, Laguna

Note: An Essay when I was at Don Bosco  Seminary

Matthew 6:26

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds: they do not plant seeds, gather a harvest and put it in barns; yet your father in heaven takes care of them! Aren’t you worth much more than birds? My former colleagues in teaching starts worrying about the thought of becoming a missionary priest. One would say in kapampangan “Pakananu ka kanyan Reggie kung matwa ka” How your life would be Reggie when you’re in the old age? And one would say “alang pera ken, dumanup kamu” there would be no money there, you will starve. And suddenly I reflected with those statement and I asked myself a question. 1. Why some of us worried about our own future in life? Usually we human being dream to have a car, own a house and lot and a lot of money in a bank. This passage from Matthew really gives me a relief of trusting God with regards to our human needs. Jesus understands and does not deny the reality of our own needs. But apparently this things like possessions, money even fame and power became our master and we turn to be slaves of this earthly things. God never abandoned his creatures like the birds in the sky, they didn’t worry about anything but they are live and has food to eat. As the saying goes, “Live life to the fullest” so we must live not in worries but in Christ and he will take care of you. As the end of this reflection I would like to quote a verse in Psalms: “The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season, you open your hand, satisfying the desire of every little things.” (Psalms 145: 15-16) May all of us think and feel that God is our provider and he will not leave us behind.

Freebie Green Mug

My Formator Fr. Brendan Kelly SSC, with my co-formands 

 Note: Weekly Spiritual Entry Journal dated July 23, 2011.You can find this entry in my Facebook account

As the 10th week will now ended in my spiritual year journey..
I want to share to you a personal reflection that I done in one of our friday classes

Hope you're inspired with this reflection

Last Wednesday, Fr. Brendan Kelly goes to Greenhills to buy groceries accompanied by Ate Joy for our food this week and a Freebie Green Mug attract me, Tavite also there to help Fr. Brendan in arranging and putting up stuff in a proper place. I said to Fr. Brendan “Can I have that Green Mug?” and I thought in that moment Tavite wants also that small green Mug that is a freebie from a chocolate powder brand. I smiled when father gave me that small mug and I go to my room stared at the mug and feel overwhelmed. I remember 5 years ago, April 5, 2006 before my graduation rites in our university my grandmother secretly gives me 500 pesos and said “That’s yours keep it, understand your Dad I think he has no money” I feel the same way that the mug given me and it been a half decade when I experience the same feelings. In my life history my parents and grandmother always tell me to understand and to give priority to my brother and sisters. I remember when I want a cellphone and my Dad will say give priority first to your brother so that he will motivate to go to school another same situations when my Dad decided to treat my half-sisters an expensive birthday party and even though I want also an expensive party but he said to understand the situation because he has no money left and he just bring a bilao of Pansit Guisado to my birthday. I live with my life that my parents did not give me a thing to make it my own. A thing that make me happy and makes me feel overwhelmed. When I look at back my life history I cry because in my life they put it in my mind that I must to understand. Give priority to others, show your love to our brother and half-sisters but they never asked if I need love and attention to them. But God is my absolute father and mother he provides me all that I need. He let me feel that I am special. He gives me a Job, He let me passed the Licensure Examination for Teacher, He granted my wishes, my aspirations in life. He always gives me graces and gifts that are more personal and grateful and like a Freebie Green Mug. God gives me a free chance of life in this seminary. I know there are times of failures and sorrow but God has a better plan for us and I quote from one verse from the Book of Jeremiah chapter 28:11 for surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you future with hope. And I know and believe that I am here to fix and mold me to better me and for a brand new REGGIE.

Matangtubig Experience

Note: My reflection on our half day exposure to Barrio Matangtubig in Quezon City as our output in our discussion about CHURCH in our Catechism Class (This will be publish at Tambuli Newsletter - a newsletter of the Daughters of Sacred Heart - Philippine Region) 

 What is Church?
 This is the main question that we should ask during our stay in Matangtubig Community. It's a wonderful experience asking the people about their opinion regarding church. I had with me Tavite as my partner in that activity and with Ate in our side guiding us in our interview. We focus our attention to the fathers in the community. During my convervation and trying to see the depth meaning of church I am amazed with their answer. Church is Jesus, Church is healer, Church as a Teacher, Church as the provider. This are answers that based from their own experiences of healing, teaching and providing food. Church is Jesus that is show by the people surround us. Church is always in our side in our daily household chores, in our way of living. Church works, church loves us – This is according to the group of mothers that we asked. Church is somehow a reationship. If we are regularly visiting our church, the relationship will become intimate and we can't recognize the church if were not use to visit or have time to talk and pray. Church for me is a church were we understand one another. A laughter that is genuine. A group of people who binds together eventhough there is a differences but we are bind because of the church, helping one another with the common good. Church is a church of the poor and I need to inculcate how the poor should gave an utmost care and love. Matangtubig experience is an experience that will remain whenever the life I will face afterwards. Reggie O. Cruz Seminarian

God's Whisper

Note: My Journal entry this morning October 22, 2011, I want to share to you the wonderful experience I had

 I was cleaning the chapel when I heard a voice "Come kiss me, love me, no one sees but you feel good and happy. Come touch me and put me in your heart. We're working together, inspire one another, I am glad that you're mine. Even no one appreciate your deeds. I am here to appreciate you. Look at yourself before when you are sad. I brought people to made you happy. The
sun was shining and you felt the heat of it. But I hug you and say "you're doing a great job" Don't bother people surrounds you. What important is we love one another. Come on kiss me, love me, no one sees. only between two of us. I Love you and you love me too

Psalm of Comfort

' Note: An output in our scripture class with Rev. Fr. Dominic Nolan about Psalms.. I made this one I hope you like it 

 My Lord , Oh my Lord you are my soft and pure cloth who wipe away my tears in my humble eyes in every tear drops My God you comfort me your soft cloth sip my painful memories In every sin, you're trying to save me you give me grace to fight what is evil and defend me to do good things whenever the situations – you are my soft and pure cloth Lord, how pure and gentle is your name my God, who loves me intimately you take away my tears, your cloth catch my sins to save my soul from the earthly spirits and purify me with your softest cloth My Lord is my soft and pure cloth In every sin, I know you become dirty dusty, messy but you accept them all to show your endless Love to show your compassionate heart

The Spirit Walk

I would like to share to you a moment with nature where in God communicates with us, sharing his intimate friendship in such a simple way. I was staring on this insect but no one recognize its name but I learnt a lesson that really touches my heart. You are unknown insect long black one, yellow in every side with several feet. You are every where, I touch you and bend and trying to be a stone, you move around in any direction, trying to find a safe spot. You stop when someone touch, bend until you create a circle. At glance, I see you as a pest but you molded my thinking after a deep moment with you. I see your kindness, your friendship, your intimate care. Accompaniyng me with the unconditional love. You are my God! Continue to love though most often I hurt you and say “ I am here, look at me, I am with you, feel, discover and love me” you became whole and continue your journey and walk with every possible way. I don't know yor name, I asked someone but he never knew but he said you are always there. Thank you that I appreciate you, thank you for a moment. Ilove you very much.
 Note: This was created during our activity on our Friday Modular Classes about VIRTUES. when I shared them to other formand. They like it. I hope you like it too.