Sunday, November 9, 2008
Sunday Gospel Commentary
That which is seen is not real; that which is material is dissoluble; that which is in time is temporary; that which is local is but partial.
Friday, November 7, 2008
"Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth"
Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
On Abraham, I, 5, 32-35
Abraham «sat in the entrance of his tent while the day was growing hot» (Gen 18,1), Scripture tells us. The others were resting but he kept watch for the possible arrival of guests. He was indeed worthy of God's coming to him by the oak of Mambre, he who sought so eagerly to practise hospitality...
Yes, hospitality is a good thing which has its own special reward: first of all, it attracts men's gratitude; more importantly, it also receives repayment on God's part. All of us in this land of exile are passing guests. For a little while we have a roof to shelter under but we must move out in no time. Take care! If we have been hard or negligent in welcoming strangers then, when the course of this life has passed away, the saints might well refuse to welcome us in their turn. "Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth," says the Lord in the Gospel, "so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."
Besides, how do you know whether it is not God you are receiving while you are thinking that you are only dealing with men? Abraham welcomed some strangers but, in reality, he received into his home God and his angels. So you, too, who welcome a stranger are receiving God. The Lord Jesus bears witness in the Gospel: «I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me» (Mt 25,35.40).
I find myself in guilt as I read through this commentary of the day from dailygospel.org, the thought was not neoteric. Many times, I've delt with strangers and only few of those have I been nice to people I like. Truthfully told, I am a nutter when it comes to dealing with strangers. I don't want to meet strangers everyday. I am honestly afraid of them, especially to man strangers. I put this wall of grumpiness when I'm facing man strangers or sometimes the shield of arrogance. All because I do not want to be fooled or played around by them. I do not want men on the streets whistling behind my back or greeting me hi or hello as I walk to school or for home. I do not want to be treated that way. I even have this old neighbor (well not an innate neighbor in a sense 'cause our Palawan house is still 'the home' for me), old enough to be my dad who greets me everytime I pass by and who tells the driver of the tricycle to take care of me and even knows where the driver will take me. But of course, my only destination when I'm wearing uniform or most of the time, simply put, is to Tuazon St., but even though.. I know that it is really a nice thing for Mr.Neighbor to do so, but sometimes or most of the time rather, I can not help to wonder why he does so. I get this "I do not like this." feeling and so sometimes I just ignore him when he greets me. And there is this driver, who at the first time I rode his tricycle, seems to me is like a walking biodata sheet. He kept on throwing questions at me and of course I didn't gave him truthful questions. Haha! Good thing Tuazon is barely a minute away from the house. Another one sends me off with take care words and of course I would not look back on him to say thank you after I'm off his tricycle. And as if those where not yet enough, another one called me Ms.Nurse. Now that is quite annoying. I know it is petty. But for one thing, I am not a nurse and not all students or people in white unifrom are nurses just because the course is said to be in-demand to-day (well it is not anymore around here btw). Gist is, he should not be calling anyone names if he is not sure of what he's talking about or should he not just seal his mouth to a girl just merely passing by. Dang. Strangers. I have been thinking a lot how to deal with them because I know I've been thinking and acting so rude. But I can not bear to just let them be. Sigh.... Don't get me wrong though, I'm naturally good to strangers dissimilar to the ones mentioned above. I just don't want people to act as if they know me. Ever since, that annoys me..because..well, because they don't, you know.
I need to think more. Deal with them nice or better yet just ignore them. Pretend that they don't exist. I do, most of the times anyway.
Saint Ambrose (c.340-397), Bishop of Milan and Doctor of the Church
On Abraham, I, 5, 32-35
Abraham «sat in the entrance of his tent while the day was growing hot» (Gen 18,1), Scripture tells us. The others were resting but he kept watch for the possible arrival of guests. He was indeed worthy of God's coming to him by the oak of Mambre, he who sought so eagerly to practise hospitality...
Yes, hospitality is a good thing which has its own special reward: first of all, it attracts men's gratitude; more importantly, it also receives repayment on God's part. All of us in this land of exile are passing guests. For a little while we have a roof to shelter under but we must move out in no time. Take care! If we have been hard or negligent in welcoming strangers then, when the course of this life has passed away, the saints might well refuse to welcome us in their turn. "Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth," says the Lord in the Gospel, "so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."
Besides, how do you know whether it is not God you are receiving while you are thinking that you are only dealing with men? Abraham welcomed some strangers but, in reality, he received into his home God and his angels. So you, too, who welcome a stranger are receiving God. The Lord Jesus bears witness in the Gospel: «I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me» (Mt 25,35.40).
I find myself in guilt as I read through this commentary of the day from dailygospel.org, the thought was not neoteric. Many times, I've delt with strangers and only few of those have I been nice to people I like. Truthfully told, I am a nutter when it comes to dealing with strangers. I don't want to meet strangers everyday. I am honestly afraid of them, especially to man strangers. I put this wall of grumpiness when I'm facing man strangers or sometimes the shield of arrogance. All because I do not want to be fooled or played around by them. I do not want men on the streets whistling behind my back or greeting me hi or hello as I walk to school or for home. I do not want to be treated that way. I even have this old neighbor (well not an innate neighbor in a sense 'cause our Palawan house is still 'the home' for me), old enough to be my dad who greets me everytime I pass by and who tells the driver of the tricycle to take care of me and even knows where the driver will take me. But of course, my only destination when I'm wearing uniform or most of the time, simply put, is to Tuazon St., but even though.. I know that it is really a nice thing for Mr.Neighbor to do so, but sometimes or most of the time rather, I can not help to wonder why he does so. I get this "I do not like this." feeling and so sometimes I just ignore him when he greets me. And there is this driver, who at the first time I rode his tricycle, seems to me is like a walking biodata sheet. He kept on throwing questions at me and of course I didn't gave him truthful questions. Haha! Good thing Tuazon is barely a minute away from the house. Another one sends me off with take care words and of course I would not look back on him to say thank you after I'm off his tricycle. And as if those where not yet enough, another one called me Ms.Nurse. Now that is quite annoying. I know it is petty. But for one thing, I am not a nurse and not all students or people in white unifrom are nurses just because the course is said to be in-demand to-day (well it is not anymore around here btw). Gist is, he should not be calling anyone names if he is not sure of what he's talking about or should he not just seal his mouth to a girl just merely passing by. Dang. Strangers. I have been thinking a lot how to deal with them because I know I've been thinking and acting so rude. But I can not bear to just let them be. Sigh.... Don't get me wrong though, I'm naturally good to strangers dissimilar to the ones mentioned above. I just don't want people to act as if they know me. Ever since, that annoys me..because..well, because they don't, you know.
I need to think more. Deal with them nice or better yet just ignore them. Pretend that they don't exist. I do, most of the times anyway.
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