Opening…
This weekend is a little bit boring…
April 22 Friday
Just stayed at home…
First, we got my books for the next school year from school. We also got the assessment for next school year, my gash…ang mahal tlga ng tuition sa school…imagine a whopping Php79,000 for the whole school year…pero okie na rin since LSGH gives excellent education naman. After that we went to Greenhills Shopping Center to eat lunch. Then went home. Nothing transpired during the rest of the day.
April 23 Saturday
Just stayed at home AGAIN…
La lang, internet the whole day. Btw, I watched the catch-up episodes of the Amazing Race 7 on AXN. Grabeh…5 sunud-sunod na episodes…angsaya! Then, I reviewed for my exam in Math on Monday about If-then statements until polygons…medyo nkakalito ang formulas, pero okie lng…
April 24 Sunday
Just stayed at home AGAIN and AGAIN…
Siyempre Sunday, so went to mass pero sa Megamall kami nag-mass ngayon. I absented myself from SSJ kasi…ewan…pero the real highlight of today was the Inaugural Mass of the Pontificate of Benedict XVI…I watched it in its entirety, although nka-tulog ako dun sa part ng imposition of pallium, pero nagising ako when the ring was conferred. I was once again touched by his homily, lagi akong natatouch sa homily ng papa na toh…he invoked and echoed once again the words of John Paul the Great, "Do not be afraid! Open the doors to Christ!" These were the words of John Paul the Great during his canonical installation on October 22, 1978. Below is an excerpt from the homily of Benedict XVI.
During these days of great intensity, we have chanted the litany of the saints on three different occasions: at the funeral of our Holy Father John Paul II; as the Cardinals entered the Conclave; and again today, when we sang it with the response: Tu illum adiuva – sustain the new Successor of Saint Peter. On each occasion, in a particular way, I found great consolation in listening to this prayerful chant. How alone we all felt after the passing of John Paul II – the Pope who for over twenty-six years had been our shepherd and guide on our journey through life! He crossed the threshold of the next life, entering into the mystery of God. But he did not take this step alone. Those who believe are never alone – neither in life nor in death. At that moment, we could call upon the Saints from every age – his friends, his brothers and sisters in the faith – knowing that they would form a living procession to accompany him into the next world, into the glory of God. We knew that his arrival was awaited. Now we know that he is among his own and is truly at home. We were also consoled as we made our solemn entrance into Conclave, to elect the one whom the Lord had chosen.
During those sad days of the Pope’s illness and death, it became wonderfully evident to us that the Church is alive. And the Church is young. She holds within herself the future of the world and therefore shows each of us the way towards the future. The Church is alive and we are seeing it: we are experiencing the joy that the Risen Lord promised his followers.
At this point, my mind goes back to 22 October 1978, when Pope John Paul II began his ministry here in Saint Peter’s Square. His words on that occasion constantly echo in my ears: “Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!” The Pope was addressing the mighty, the powerful of this world, who feared that Christ might take away something of their power if they were to let him in, if they were to allow the faith to be free. Yes, he would certainly have taken something away from them: the dominion of corruption, the manipulation of law and the freedom to do as they pleased. But he would not have taken away anything that pertains to human freedom or dignity, or to the building of a just society. The Pope was also speaking to everyone, especially the young. Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen.
