Twenty Five, Fifty, Seventy five, Forever....

            Twenty five, Fifty, Seventy Five, Forever….

“The scribes and Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.” (Matthew 23:2)

I met Paulyn and Bana Rosell a few weeks ago. Pau and Bana were parishioners at the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in UP Diliman where I was assigned assistant parish priest thirty years ago. The Rosell family was and continues to be close friends. Their parents were a quiet couple who beautifully combined work, family life and faith into a vibrant home. My memories of the Rosell family takes me back to my first blog, “February is Family.”

            That Pau and especially Bana whom I have not seen for at least two decades, would reappear in my life is clearly a gift as I celebrate thirty years of my priestly life. I remember many afternoons of jogging with Pao around the UP Campus. Bana was not really into sports. I remember the countless times that we teased her until she was red in the face or was it our faces that turned red? Now Pau works for the Department of Health and fulfills her dream to dedicate her life to the promotion of health.

            On February 7, Tuesday Pau invited me to say a thanksgiving mass for the silver and golden jubilarians of the UE College of Medicine batch 62 and 87 respectively. As the auditorium began to fill with the jubilarians, I noticed rather dignified men and women dressed in formal jusi. Soon the front seats turned beige while the middle seats were occupied by men and women in black. More than a simple color coding of white for the Golden and black for the Silver jubilarians, I saw something more. The white formal dresses worn by women and men in their mid seventies spoke of the white light of wisdom. The black jackets worn by women and men in the middle seats stood for the heights of professional success and fulfillment.

            These are medical doctors who have helped hundreds if not thousands of patients over the years. During the homily, I shared how similar the priesthood and the medical profession is. Unless, our work somehow becomes vocation, it would remain formal, mechanical and eventually, mediocre. There are three things to ponder as we celebrate any anniversary. Anniversaries are really important occasions to pause and renew our fundamental vision and option. What are doctors for? What are priests for?

            Losing our fundamental vision and orientation reduces us to something less than we are meant to be. My good friend and mentor Dr. Prospero Covar used to joke about how some doctors are like ‘katipuneros.’ I asked then what he meant and he explained, “Parang Katipunero dahil mahusay tumaga.” They are like members of the Katipunan, skilled in the use of the bolo (taga). Taga also has the second meaning of ‘overpricing.’

As church people, bishops, priests and religious are just as vulnerable. I was talking to a good friend who shared how she was hurt and scandalized by a retired bishop who during his mass said the following to the congregation, “I am going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, give me all your intentions (envelopes) and I will bring all of them with me as I pray in the Holy Land.”

            I don’t know who among those in white is most accomplished and has become quite rich over the years. Even those in black may be just as successful. The money we acquire is a good thing but it is not the core of what we are. There are three things that matter. The first is love, the desire, energy to give of oneself unconditionally in the service of others. The second is fidelity, to remain true and faithful to my vocation and profession, shunning any form of compromise. And finally, humility, the capacity to constantly reflect and pray over my life, my thoughts, words and deeds and see where and how I may have erred and immediately make amends and go back to doing right and most importantly being what God meant me to be.