“Do It Again” by Steely Dan for my funeral

Lord My Chef Sunday Music, 01 November 2026

*Photo by author, Don Bosco Batulao Retreat House, Batangas, April 2026.*

You read it right: when I die, it is my wish that Steely Dan’s 1972 classic Do It Again shall be my funeral music. Aside from the fact that it was the first SD song I heard that started my fascination and love for this duo and their music, it speaks so well of my life that if I should live again, I will repeat everything. Just like Jack in Do It Again.

In the mornin' you go gunnin' for the man who stole your water
And you fire 'til he is done in but they catch you at the border
And the mourners are all singin' as they drag you by your feet
But the hangman isn't hangin' and they put you on the street

You go back, Jack, do it again, wheel turnin' 'round and 'round
You go back, Jack, do it again

When Walter Becker died on September 3, 2017, it was the last day of a retreat I facilitated for graduating high school students in Bustos, Bulacan. They were dumbfounded, wondering what had happened to me after hearing their confessions as I spoke of Becker and Steely Dan, singing and playing some of their songs they could hardly relate with. Soon, other musicians died along with actors and actresses whose music and films have shaped us during our growing up years that as a priest, I would include them in my prayers and Masses, hoping some day we could all jam in heaven!

Aside from praying for the souls of my favorite musicians on this All Saints’ Day and tomorrow’s All Souls’ Day, I thought of writing about Do It Again as my funeral song after watching a reel sent by a friend of an imaginary movie of someone dying with this opening track from Steely Dan’s debut album Can’t Buy a Thrill. My friend who sent that said he would have My Old School; but, as I have said, I will have Do It Again.

I must confess I never truly understood the meanings of the SD songs I used to hear and listened to while growing up except that they were all weird and odd like me while at the same time smooth and sophisticated. For me, what matters most always is when the music and lyrics jibe – something Walter and Donald Fagen perfected so well, putting them on top of the pantheon of gods of music.

As I matured, I realized, like me, SD music is deep and profound. Yes, surreal and psychedelic that an aunt (may she rest in peace) used to ask me how would I become a priest while listening to such kind of music. But, I eventually became a priest, still a Danhead! (You should see how some people react when they ask me explain the origin and meaning of Steely Dan.)

Going back to “Do It Again”, it is one of those tracks that I listen to every time I drive because the Remastered Best of Steely Dan is the only CD in my player. Of course I have a USB with other music but every time I drive, Walter and Donald with their fellow gods accompany me in my trips.

Before the Smiths came whom I also love, Steely Dan were there first to “romanticize” life’s many failures and disasters. Alex Pappademas is right after all when he wrote in “Quantum Criminals” that we are actually Jack in Do It Again – the gambler always losing, the one always caught in the crossfires of every battle in life but still somehow survives that hence, we do it again.

That is what I like most with Walter and Donald: they can express truly what we feel in every failures and losses we have had without pinning us down; instead, in their perfectionist music, we feel uplifted that like Jack, we just do it again like in our failed relationships – whether our own fault or others fault. Just choose for yourself and still be consoled, Jack….

When you know she's no high climber then you find your only friend
In a room with your two-timer, and you're sure you're near the end
Then you love a little wild one and she brings you only sorrow
All the time you know she's smilin' you'll be on your knees tomorrow, yeah

You go back, Jack, do it again, wheel turnin' 'round and 'round
You go back, Jack, do it again

I have realized in life that coming to terms with death is coming to terms with life. And vice versa. The moment we start living fully, meaningfully, authentically, that is when we befriend death. That is when we truly become free from others say, from everything that enslaves you to fully become free as your true self.

Now you swear and kick and beg us that you're not a gamblin' man
Then you find you're back in Vegas with a handle in your hand
Your black cards can make you money so you hide them when you're able
In the land of milk and honey, you must put them on the table

You go back, Jack, do it again, wheels turnin' 'round and 'round
You go back, Jack, do it again

I have no claims to greatness nor holiness. I am just like Jack and at this stage of my life at 61 years old, 28 years as a priest, if given a chance to live again, I will do everything again. Yes, still be a priest. And a Danhead. Even perhaps add more mischiefs for more lessons and adventures and fun. Like Jack and the rest of the gang we have come to know as Steely Dan. To all Steely Dan fans, hail! For those wondering what is this all about, listen.

From YouTube.com.

Pagninilay sa Undas: Halaman at bulaklak, tanda ng buhay maging sa kamatayan

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-30 ng Oktubre 2026

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Anvaya Cove, Hulyo 2026.*

Isang kaibigan nakita kong dumaing sa kanyang post sa Facebook sa sobrang mahal daw ng mga bulaklak isang linggo pa man bago mag-Undas. Sa mga panahong ito, pangalawa sa mga sementeryo, mga tindahan ng bulaklak gaya ng sa Dangwa ang puntahan ng maraming tao.

Buhay man o patay, bulaklak palagi ang ating handog sa ating mga mahal sa buhay. Wika nga sa Inggles, “say it with flowers” sapagkat ito na ang pinakamabisang pagpapahayag ng tunay na saloobin sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Wala ka na talagang sasabihin pa kapag ikaw ay nagbigay ng bulaklak kanino man. Ano man ang okasyon. Hatid ng mga ito ang tuwa at kagalakan sa sino man nagdiriwang ng buhay at tagumpay, maging ng kagalingan at lakas sa may tinitiis na sakit at hilahil. Sari-saring kulay, hugis at anyo, iisa ang pinangungusap ng bulaklak sa lahat ng pagkakataon, buhay at kagalakan at kaisahan ng magkakaibigan at magkasintahan, mag-asawa at mag-anak, magkaano-ano man.

Maliban sa tao, ang mga bulaklak at halaman na ang pinakamagagandang nilikha ng Diyos upang ipadama at ilarawan sa atin ang Kanyang kagandahan at kabutihan, katamisan at pagmamahal. Gayon din tanda ang mga ito ng Paraiso kaya bawat kasalan at lamayan, pinupuno ng mga bulaklak at halaman paalala ng langit na ating pinagmulan at hantungan.

Isang tagpo tuwing Biyernes Santo at Sabado Santo ang hindi nabibigyang halaga ng marami, ang paglilibing kay Jesus.

Sa pinagpakuan kay Jesus ay may isang halamanan, at dito’y may isang bagong libingang hindi pa napaglilibingan. Yamang noo’y araw ng Paghahanda ng mga Judio, at dahil sa malapit naman ang libingang ito, doon nila inilibing si Jesus (Juan 19:41-42).

Hindi nagkataon lamang na inilibing si Jesus sa may halamanan dahil pagsapit ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay, kay sarap namnamin ang Kanyang Pagkabuhay doon sa halamanan ay isang uri ng “return to Paradise”, “return to Eden” wika nga.

Kaya nga nang lapitan ni Jesus si Magdalena habang umiiyak dahil wala ang Panginoon sa libingan, napagkamalan niya si Jesus bilang hardinero. Paalala ito na ang Paraiso ay di lamang ating patutunguhan kungdi doon din nagsimula ang lahat sa Paraiso bago nagkasala mga unang tao.

*Pagtatagpo nina Magdalena at Jesus noong Pasko ng Pagkabuhay sa kanyang libingan mula sa commons.wikimedia.org*

Noong Martes, sinabi ni Jesus sa ebanghelyo na ang paghahari ng Diyos ay “Katulad ng isang butil ng mustasa na itinamin ng isang tao sa kanyang halaman” (Lk.13:19).

Bawat isa sa atin ay halamanan ng Diyos, a garden of God. A paradise in ourselves.

Katulad ng ano mang halaman, kailangan natin ng mainam na lugar, taniman.

Noong ako ay naka-assign pa sa paaralan sa Malolos, palagi kong tinitiyak sa mga magulang kapag kami ay nagki-kick out ng estudyante na hangad pa rin namin kabutihan ng kanilang anak na ay isang halaman, minsan mainam na ilipat ng paso o taniman upang tumubo at lumago. May ilan naman sa mga na-kick out ko noon ang nagpapasalamat naman sa akin ngayon dahil daw nakabuti rin yung karanasan at sila ay nakapagtapos ng ibat ibang kurso.

Iyon din ang sinabi kamakailan sa Wimbledon ng ating tennis sensation na si Alex Eala, “kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto” at naging tanda niya ang bulaklak ng halamang Sampaguita.

Maraming pagkakataon pinababayaan natin ating mga sarili tulad ng halaman na hindi dinidilig ni nililinang. Kung minsan naman, hindi nating maintindihan sa kabila ng ating pangangalaga, tila walang nangyayari sa ating sarili, tulad ng halamanang walang tumubo o lumago, mamunga o mamulaklak sa kabila ng pagaasikaso.

Nguni’t maraming pagkakataon din naman na namumulaklak, nagbubunga tayo tulad ng halamanan dahil ang tunay na lumilinang sa atin ay ang Panginoong Diyos na mapagmahal. Ayon kay Sta. Teresa ng Avila, ang pananalangin ay ang tubig na ating dinidilig sa ating sarili na katulad ng halaman upang lumago at mamulaklak.

Kamakailan ay nagpalit ako ng tubig ng mga alaga kong water plants sa aking silid at ako’y natigilan nang maalala ko bigla aking yumaong Ina na napakahusay sa paghahalaman. Mayroon siyang “green thumb” na hindi ko namana sa kanya.

Kahit maliit lamang aming lupain noon sa lumang bahay namin haggang sa kanyang munting tindahan, sagana siya sa pananim tulad ng mga rosas at orchids, cactus, mayana, violets at mayana, sari-saring halaman sa paso at lupa gaya ng papaya, atis, langka, pati kamote at sili sa gilid ng bahay namin ay mayroon siya.

Ako naman, hindi makabuhay ng ano mang halaman. Katunayan noong first year high school kamuntik ako bumagsak sa gardening dahil wala akong nabuhay na pananim. Umani na ng pechay at talong mga kaklase ko, walang tumubo sa aking plot kaya sabi ng mommy ko, kamote ang aking itanim. Kapag daw yun hindi ko pa nabuhay, ako na raw ang kamote! (Nabuhay naman po at ako ay nakapasa.)

Nang magkaroon ako ng sariling parokya noong 2011, kapag dumadalaw sila sa akin isa sa mga inaalam ni Mommy ay ang aking mga alagang halaman na galing sa kanya. Madalas hindi ako makasagot kasi, palaging mayroong namamatay sa mga iyon tuwing darating siya. Pati water plants! Sabi niya sa akin noon, “ano ka ba naman anak, water plant na lang napapatay mo pa? Masyadong mainit iyong mga kamay,” aniya.

*Isa sa aking mga waterplants na buhay pa mula 2021.*

Isang bagay nakalimutan kong sabihin kay Mommy bago siya mamatay noong 2024 ay nakakabuhay na ako ng water plant sa kuwarto ko sa bago kong assignment sa Fatima Valenzuela.

Kaya noong Martes na ang ebanghelyo ay tugkol sa halaman ng mustasa, habang ako ay nagpapalit ng tubig ng aking mga water plants, naisip ko marahil masaya na sa kabilang buhay si Mommy kasi nakabuhay na ako ng halaman.

Sinabi din niya sa akin noong bata pa ako, dapat daw marunong akong mag-alaga ng halaman at hayop dahil tanda raw iyon na makakabuhay na rin ako ng tao.

Siguro nga. Kaya ko nang mabuhay maski wala na siya, paalala marahil nitong aking mga halaman.

Losing the battle, winning the war

Quiet Storm by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II, 30 April 2026

This front-page photo of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on August 20, 2021 is my favorite shot taken during the COVID pandemic coverage by the local media. It is worth a thousand words indeed.

I remembered this photo last month before the Holy Week when a friend and former colleague in GMA News texted me about the death of her former staff member. Her message read, “please pray for the soul of ____ who had lost the battle with cancer.”

It is perhaps one of the most widely used template in announcing a death, lost a battle. In my 28 years as a priest, it is only now as a senior citizen that I have reflected about that most common text I receive whenever somebody dies after a lingering illness. Or battle.

But, is dying really losing the battle?

Since turning “sigisty-one” years old last March, I have considered it as grace that the more I have now become aware of the reality of my mortality, the more I have become more filled with hope in life too.

Despite death becoming so real this time as I really feel ageing through weakening of muscles, diminishing stamina, failing memory, and most especially of the onset of comorbidities like diabetes, the more I am most convinced that life is beautiful, always good to be alive. Every gising indeed is a blessing!

This is not an attempt to romanticize or make death palatable. I know. This is easier said than done. Memento mori is a reality like the sword of Damocles literally above us daily, not just a fashion fad we put on our t-shirt or some on their skin as a tattoo.

We all shall die. What is scary is the process of dying, not death itself which we shall not feel because we are already dead. Dying is a defeat, a loss when all we have is bitterness and anger, unforgiveness and resentments because that is when we resign and stop living, losing life by default.

Death is a loss as in a battle when we deny its reality, its being a fact and part of life that we have refused to look beyond it that is fuller and eternal.

*Photo by author, Manaoag Basilica, 09 January 2026.*

But, when we have love and forgiveness, contrition and acceptance, death turns into a victory. And life. Especially when we have Jesus Christ.

In Jesus, every death and its other faces of poverty, losses, failures, sufferings and sickness are all a gain, a true wealth, a victory because these lead us to fulfillment not just happiness; fruitfulness not only success in life because death leads us to the hereafter.

Recall Luke’s beautiful account of the road to Emmaus when Jesus joined the two disciples walking at the opposite direction, leaving Jerusalem late afternoon of Easter. They did not recognize Jesus during their journey because their eyes were fixated on what happened on Good Friday; their eyes would only be opened after Jesus broke bread with them in their home in Emmaus. It is when we are broken like bread that we experience the fullness and meaning of life. (See https://lordmychef.com/2026/04/18/leaving-disbelieving/)

I recently went to the wake of former RPN-9 reporter Ed Nanquil who “battled” prostate cancer for sometime until dementia hit him two years ago that abruptly cut off our communications.

Despite my busy schedule that week, I made sure to come to his wake to offer Mass as a final tribute and gratitude to Ed who was very instrumental in my becoming a priest.

We last met in 1993 at the WPD headquarters in UN Avenue, Manila. It was our seminary break and I have come to join my former GMA News cameraman Jun Fronda in his graveyard shift duty when Ed approached me that night at the lobby of the police headquarter.

“Totoo pala ang chismis na nagpapari ka,” Ed calmly told me in his characteristic genteel voice.

I looked at him and laughed, telling him how I have been used to that comment. As we talked about my vocation, I told Ed how I felt God playing a big joke on me: first, when he made me a TV reporter when I do not have the broadcast voice at all, explaining that I applied as a news writer but by God’s grace, I was catapulted to being a reporter. And secondly, how God brought me back to the seminary to become a priest who would be preaching, singing and chanting a lot when my voice has remained small and sintonado!

That was when Ed told me that “many times, the things we hate and do not like in ourselves are exactly what God likes in us.” Whoa! It was the tipping point in my vocation story as I felt Ed was an angel sent by God to assure me He wanted me to become a priest, that I have to stop doubting Him and His call despite my many weaknesses and limitations. And sins.

That night at his wake, as I blessed the remains of Ed, I silently thanked him, and whispered to him he had not lost his battles with cancer and dementia. I have become a priest partly because of him who had taught me along the way how to battle with my many doubts of self and of God.

When we refer to death as a battle we have lost, it means more of the grief of losing a beloved because the truth is the opposite: it is when we die that we win the war in life with the many lives we have touched and won over who would continue to live and touch others too in the process.

For those battling with cancer and other sickness, as well as those hurdling so many obstacles and trials in this life, especially those “lumalaban ng patas”, God is with us always. Our battle had long been won by Jesus Christ. We just have to be present. Do not lose by default. Accept. And “surrender” like St. Paul:

…the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance (2 Timothy 4:6b-8).

May we have the same courage of St. Paul in life. And in death. To live forever and ever. Amen.

*Photo by author, Don Bosco Batulao, Batangas, 08 April 2026*

Sa buhay at kamatayan, bulaklak nagpapahayag ng buhay

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-31 ng Oktubre 2024

“Say it with flowers” ang marahil isa na sa mga pinakamabisa at totoong pagpapahayag ng saloobin sa lahat ng pagkakataon. Wala ka na talagang sasabihin pa kapag ikaw ay nagbigay ng bulaklak kanino man. Ano man ang okasyon. Buhay man. O patay na.

Mababango at makukulay na bulaklak. Mas maganda at mas mahal, pinakamabuti lalo’t higit kung ibibigay sa sinisinta upang mabatid nilalaman ng dibdib ng isang mangingibig.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda sa Benguet, 12 Hulyo 2023.*

Sa buong daigdig, nag-iisang wika at salita ang mga bulaklak na ginagamit upang ihatid ang tuwa at kagalakan sa sino man nagdiriwang ng buhay at tagumpay, maging ng kagalingan at lakas sa may tinitiis na sakit at hilahil. Sari-saring kulay, hugis at anyo, iisa ang pinangungusap ng bulaklak sa lahat ng pagkakataon, buhay at kagalakan at kaisahan ng magkakaibigan at magkasintahan, mag-asawa at mag-anak, magkaano-ano man.

Marahil kasunod nating mga tao, ang mga bulaklak na ang pinakamagagandang nilikha ng Diyos upang ipadama at ilarawan sa atin Kanya at maging atin ding katapatan at kadalisayan ng loobin at hangarin. Alalahanin paalala ni Jesus sa atin, “Isipin ninyo kung paano sumisibol ang mga bulaklak sa parang…maging si Solomon ay hindi nakapagsuot ng kasingganda ng isa sa mga bulaklak na ito, bagamat napakariringal ang mga damit niya” (Mt. 6:28, 29).

Kapag ako ay nagkakasal, palagi kong ipinaaalala sa magsing-ibig ang kahulugan ng maraming gayak na bulaklak sa dambana ng simbahan na nagpapahiwatig ng larawan ng Paraiso.

Alalaong baga, bawat Sakramento ng Kasal ay “marriage made in heaven” – malayang ginawa at pinagtibay ng magsing-ibig sa harap ng Diyos at ng Kanyang Bayan sa loob ng simbahan. Kaya wika ko sa kanila, ipagpatuloy ang pagbibigay ng bulaklak sa maybahay kahit hindi anibersaryo, lalo na kapag mayroon silang “lover’s quarrel” bilang tanda ng “ceasefire”.

Kaya naman maski sa kamatayan, mayroon pa ring mga bulaklak na ibinibigay tanda hindi lamang ng pagmamahal kungdi ng pag-asa na harinawa, makapiling na ng yumao ang Diyos at Kanyang mga Banal sa langit. Gayon din naman, dapat katakutan ng sino mang buhay pa ang padalhan ng korona ng patay o bulaklak sa patay dahil babala ito ng masamang balak laban sa kanyang buhay.

*Lamay ni Mommy noong Mayo 7, 2024; paborito niya ang kulay pink at bulaklak na carnation.*

Dagdag kaalaman ukol sa mga bulaklak sa patay: isang dahilan kaya pinupuno ng maraming mababangong bulaklak ang pinaglalamayan ng patay ay upang matakpan masamang amoy ng yumao dahil noong unang panahon, wala pa namang maayos na sistema ng pag-eembalsamo maging ng mga gamot para ma-preserve ang labi ng yumao. Kapansin-pansin ngayon lalo sa social media kapag mayroong namamatay, ipinapahayag ng mga naulila na huwag nang magbigay o mag-alay ng mga bulaklak bagkus ay ibigay na lamang sa favorite charity ng yumao. Kundangan kasi ay malaking halaga ng pera ang magagarang bulaklak sa patay; kesa ipambili yamang malalanta rin naman, minamabuti ng mga naulila ng yumao na mag-donate na lamang sa favorite charity ng pumanaw nilang mahal sa buhay.

Marahil ay hindi ito matatanggap hindi lamang ng mga Pilipino kungdi ng karamihan ng tao sa buong mundo; higit pa ring napapahayag ang pakikiramay at pagmamahal sa namatay at mga naulila sa pamamagitan ng bulaklak dahil malalim na katotohanang taglay ng mga ito.

Tuwing Sabado Santo noong nasa parokya pa ako, gustung-gusto ko palagi sa aming umagang panalangin (lauds) na ipinahahayag iyong tagpo ng paglilibing kay Hesus.

Sa pinagpakuan kay Jesus ay may isang halamanan, at dito’y may isang bagong libingang hindi pa napaglilibingan. Yamang noo’y araw ng Paghahanda ng mga Judio, at dahil sa malapit naman ang libingang ito, doon nila inilibing si Jesus (Juan 19:41-42).

Inilibing si Jesus sa may halamanan, garden sa Inggles. Nagpapahiwatig muli ng Paraiso, hindi ba.

Kay sarap namnamin ng tagpo ng Pasko ng Pagkabuhay ni Jesus doon sa “halamanan” na muli ay paalala sa atin ng “return to Paradise”, “return to Eden” ika nga. Kaya nang lapitan ni Jesus si Magdalena nang umiiyak dahil wala ang Panginoon sa libingan, napagkamalan niya si Jesus bilang hardinero.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, halamanan sa St. Agnes Catholic Church, Jerusalem, Mayo 2017.*

Noong Martes, sinabi ni Jesus sa ebanghelyo na ang paghahari ng Diyos ay “Katulad ng isang butil ng mustasa na itinamin ng isang tao sa kanyang halaman” (Lk.13:19).

Bawat isa sa atin ay halamanan ng Diyos, a garden of God. A paradise in ourselves.

Maraming pagkakataon pinababayaan natin ating mga sarili tulad ng halamanang hindi dinidilig ni nililinang. Kung minsan naman, hindi nating maintindihan sa kabila ng ating pangangalaga, tila walang nangyayari sa ating sarili, tulad ng halamanang walang tumubo o lumago, mamunga o mamulaklak sa kabila ng pagaasikaso?

Nguni’t maraming pagkakataon din naman na namumulaklak, nagbubunga tayo tulad ng halamanan dahil ang tunay na lumilinang sa atin ay ang Panginoong Diyos na mapagmahal!

*Ilang araw pagkaraan ng Pasko nang kami’y magtanghalian ng barkada, 2023.*

Noong Disyembre 2022, umuwi isa naming dating teacher at kaming magkakaibigan ay nagsama-sama para sa isa pang dati naming kasama sa ICSM-Malolos, si Teacher Ceh.

Umuwi siya mula Bahrain noong 2020 dahil sa cancer at sumailalim siya ng chemotherapy.

Dahil Pasko, niregaluhan ko siya ng orchid.

Enero 2023 namasyal kami sa Tagaytay at napakasaya namin noon. Gustung-gusto niyang pinupuntahan ang Caleruega tuwing umuuwi siya mula Bahrain kung saan siya nagturo matapos mag-resign sa aming diocesan school.

Ang akala namin ay papagaling na si Teacher Ceh at dadalas na aming pagkikitang magkakaibigan mula noong simula ng 2023. Pagkatapos ng huli niyang chemotherapy noong Setyembre, nabatid na mababagsik kanyang cancer cells at hindi nagtagal, pumanaw si Teacher Ceh noong ika-16 ng Oktubre 2023.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, 16 Oktubre 2024.*

Isang araw bago sumapit kanyang babang-luksa, ibinalita sa amin ng kanyang Ate na umuwi mula Amerika na buhay at namumulaklak ang bigay kong orchid kay Teacher Ceh. Dinala niya ito nang magmisa ako sa kanyang puntod kinabukasan para sa kanyang ibis luksa.

Laking tuwa namin sa gitna ng nakakikilabot na pagkamangha nang makita naming magkakaibigan ang regalo kong orchids kay Teacher Ceh.

Isa’t kalahating taon pagkaraan naming huling magsama-samang magkakaibigan, isang taon makalipas ng kanyang pagpanaw, buhay at namulaklak pa rin ang orchid kong bigay sa kanya na tila nangungusap na masayang-masaya, buhay na buhay si Teacher Ceh doon sa langit!

*Sa aking silid; bigay lamang po iyang halaman na iyan at di ko alam pangalan.*

Ako man ay nagtataka. Kung kailan wala na aking Mommy, saka ako nakakabuhay ng mga halaman. Green thumb kasi si Mommy.

Kahit maliit lamang aming lupain, sagana siya sa pananim mula sa mga rosas at orchids, cactus at mga mayana, mga sari-saring halaman sa paso maging papaya, atis, langka, pati kamote at sili sa gilid ng bahay namin ay mayroon siya.

*Ito yung flower vase ng mga napatay kong waterplant sa dati kong assignment; ayaw ko sanang dalhin sa paglipat dito sa Valenzuela pero awa ng Diyos, buhay pa halaman mula 2021*.

Nakakatawa, ako hindi makabuhay ng halaman. Muntik pa akong bumagsak ng first year high school sa gardening kasi hindi ako makabuhay ng ano mang panananim maliban sa kamote. Sabi ni Mommy sa akin noon, kapag iyong kamote hindi ko pa nabuhay, ako ang talagang kamote!

Nang magkaroon ako ng sariling parokya noong 2011, nakakadalaw pa siya at simba sa amin noon tuwing Linggo. Ipinagyabang ko sa kanya mga alaga kong water plants sa kuwarto ngunit pagkaraan ng ilang buwan, namatay mga iyon. Sabi niya ulit sa akin, “ano ka ba naman anak, water plant na lang napapatay mo pa? Masyadong mainit iyong mga kamay,” aniya.

*Hoya daw ito na nakuha ko noong aking personal retreat sa Sacred Heart Novaliches noong 2022; buhay pa rin hanggang ngayon sa aking banyo.*

Isang bagay nakalimutan kong sabihin kay Mommy bago siya mamatay ay nakakabuhay na ako ng water plant sa kuwarto ko sa bago kong assignment sa Fatima Valenzuela.

Ako ay nagugulat sa sarili ko ngunit ngayon ko lamang napagnilayan nang makita ko ang orchids na regalo ko kay Teacher Ceh: apat na taon nang buhay aking mga water plant sa kwarto mula nang malipat ako dito noong 2021.

Hindi ko rin alam pangalan ng halamang ito na bigay sa akin pero nakapagpatubo na ako ng isa pa niyang sanga nasa aking office sa University; yung orchids bigay sa akin noong Abril, wala nang bulaklak pero buhayn pa rin. Himala!

Parang sinasabi sa akin ng mga alagang kong water plant na marahil, buhay na buhay at tuwang tuwa na rin si Mommy at nakabuhay ako ng halaman.

Kasi sabi niya kasi sa aking noong maliit pa ako, dapat daw marunong akong mag-alaga ng halaman at hayop dahil tanda raw iyon na makakabuhay na rin ako ng tao.

Siguro nga. Kaya ko nang mabuhay maski wala na siya, paalala marahil nitong aking mga halaman. Flowers for you, kaibigan.

Lihim ng mga pamahiin sa lamayan

Lawiswis ng Salita ni P. Nicanor F. Lalog II, Ika-30 ng Oktubre 2024

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, St. Scholastica Retreat House, Tagaytay City, Agosto 2024.*

Heto na naman ang panahon ng maraming pagtatanong at pagpapaliwanag sa ating mga pamahiin ukol sa paglalamay sa mga patay. Matagal ko nang binalak isulat mga ito nang mamatay aking ama noong taong 2000.

Biglaan ang kanyang pagpanaw noon. Katunayan, madaling araw ng kaarawan ni Mommy, ika-17 ng Hunyo 2000. Dalawang taon pa lamang akong pari. Nasunod ang aming mga kamag-anak na sa aming tahanan paglamayan si Daddy. At noon pinuna ng ilang matatanda ang aking kawalan ng kaalaman sa maraming pamahiin at kaugalian tuwing mayroong paglalamay sa patay.

Napuna noon ng nanay ng isang kaibigan na naghahatid ako ng mga panauhin matapos makiramay sa amin. Wika niya sa akin, “alam ko” aniya, “marami kayong alam at napag-aralan, Father; hiling ko lang po sana sa inyo na igalang pamahiin naming matatanda ukol sa lamay ng patay… masama ang naghahatid ng mga nakikiramay.”

Humingi ako ng paumanhin at iyon ang una kong aral sa mga pamahiin lalo sa probinsiya – pag-galang at respeto. Huwag nating pagtawanan kanilang pamahiin at kaugalian bagkus pagnilayan, pag-aralan at tuntunin pinagmulan ng mga iyon. Higit kong naunawaan ang mga ito sa aking pagtanda lalo nang pumanaw si Mommy nitong nakaraang Mayo. Ito po ay aking sariling pagsusuri, opinyon na maaring tama o mali. Kayo na ang tumimbang kung tatanggapin at paniniwalaan.

Bago po ang lahat, ibig kong bigyang pansin ang salitang ginagamit na “bawal” at “masama” tulad ng “bawal ang ganito, masama ang ganire”. Iisa lang kahulugan nito sa ating mga Pinoy. Dito ating makikita ang positibong katangian natin na magkasing-kahulugan ang bawal at masama kasi “ano mang bawal, tiyak masama”! Kaya, heto na po ang ilang mga pamahiin at aking paliwanag na marahil na dahilan o pinagmulan:

Bawal o masama magpasalamat sa mga nakikiramay ang namatayan. Ito palagi sinasabi sa akin ng mga nakiramay sa amin noong mamatay aming mga magulang. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan.

Tanging sumasagi sa aking isipan ang kasabihan na ang “paglalamay lamang ang hindi pinangungumbida.” Alalaong-baga, sa amin sa probinsiya, masusukat ang husay at kabutihan ng sino man sa kanyang pagpanaw: kung maraming makipaglamay at makiramay, siya ay mabuti; kung kakaunti, marahil hindi siya ganoong kabuti. Kaya walang dapat ipagpasalamat sa mga nakiramay dahil binabalik lamang nila kabutihan ng namatay.

Ngunit nang pumanaw si Mommy noong Mayo, noon ko higit naintindihan ito di lamang mas matanda na ako kungdi dahil marami na akong pinakiramayan bilang pari. Ayaw ng mga panauhin sila ay pasalamatan dahil ang kanilang pakikiramay ay pagbabalik ng kabutihang ginawa di lamang ng pumanaw kungdi pati ng mga naulila tulad ko na pari.

*Larawan kuha ng ni G. Noli Yamsuan, Manila Cathedral, 2010.*

Palaging sinasabi ng mga nakikiramay maging ng mga paring dumalaw sa amin kung paano ako noong sila’y nagdadalamhati ay akin ding sinamahan sa pagdiriwang ng Banal na Misa o maski pagbabasbas lamang. Kinuwento ng marami sa kanila kung paanong di nila malimutan mga iyon, pati na rin nang dalawin ko at dasalan kanilang mahal sa buhay habang may karamdaman.

Kay tamis maalala na di nila kinalimutan pakikiramay ko noon. At wala nang higit pang tatamis itong aking naranasan pagkamatay ni Mommy, sumunod kanyang nakatatandang kapatid. Nalaman ng ilan kong dating parokyano at kusa din silang nagtungo sa lamay ng aking Tita. Nagulat mga pinsan ko nang sila ay magpakilala at ang sabi daw sa kanila, “naku, si Father pinuntahan lahat ng aming mga patay kaya kami narito ngayon.”

Hindi naman sa sinusuklian ating kabutihan kungdi patunay ito na hindi nalilimutan ng mga tao ating pakikiramay sa pagpanaw ng mahal nila sa buhay; dala-dala nila ito palagi at kinukuwento sa mga bata kung paanong dumamay mga tao sa kanilang pighati. Sakaling mayroong kaaway o kaalitan ang pumanaw, doon din nakikilala kabutihan ng sino man. Marami akong napansin mga kamag-anakan lumalambot ang kalooban kapag nagpunta at nakiramay nakaalitan ng kanilang pumanaw subalit, kung magmatigas yaong kaaway at ni hindi man lang sumilip sa lamay lalo na kung kababaryo, itaga mo sa bato, sasabihin ng mga kaanak sadyang masama iyan.

Kaya, bukod sa hindi sinasabi ang “salamat” sa lamayan, laging pakatandaan sa ating mga Filipino, ang pakikiramay ang isa sa mga pinakamagandang paraan ng pakikipag-kapwa tao dahil hanggang kamatayan, laan tayo makipag-ugnayan.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Agosto 2024.*

Bawal o masama maghatid ng mga nakiramay. Nakakatawa po ito nguni’t tunay na tunay lalo sa aking karanasan. Hindi na dapat maghatid sa mga nakiramay ang namatayan dahil maraming maraming iba pang dumarating na panauhin at baka ikaw lang ang nakakakilala sa kanila.

Alam naman ninyo tayong mga Pinoy: sasakay na lang o nakasakay na nga sa kotse, hindi pa matapos ang mga kuwentuhan natin! Kaya kung maraming nakikiramay at isa isang ihahatid mga nagpapaalam, wala nang makapag-eestima sa mga dumarating na iba pa. Praktikal ang pamahiing ito.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Sacred Heart Novitiate, Novaliches, QC, 20 Marso 2024.*

Bawal o masama magbaon ng pagkain at inumin mula sa lamay. Nakakatawa din ito. Ngunit gaya ng bawal na paghahatid sa mga nakikiramay, praktikal ang pamahiing bawal mag-uwi ng pagkain at inumin mula sa lamay.

Nang mamatay si Mommy noong Mayo, dalawamput-anim na taon na akong pari, matagal na ring nagsipagtrabaho mga kapatid ko at marami na ring kaklase at kaibigan mga anak nila. Sa dami ng aming mga nakilala, lahat dumarating para makiramay. Bagamat marami ang mayroong bigay ding pagkain at inumin sa kabila ng saganang handa naming pagkain na pina-caterer pa, may isang gabing halos kinapos aming handa kaya nagpabili pa ng lechon manok kapatid ko!

Kung bawat bisita ay mag-uuwi nga naman ng mamon o magsha-Sharon Cuneta ng lumpiang shanghai at iba pang ulam, mauubos ang pagkain at baka walang maihain sa mga darating iba pa lalo na kung hating gabi na. At iyan ang tunay na masama sa paguuwi ng pagkain at inumin mula sa patay: nauubusan mga maglalamay!

Dagdag kuwento: ayaw na ayaw iyan ng aking kasambahay noon na si “Manang” sa aming kumbento. Hindi niya kinakain mga “take home” sa akin at madalas, pinamimigay pa niya sa iba. Masama daw baka ako magkasakit. Pero, kapag kakaiba at masarap mga pagkaing uwi ko mula sa lamayan lalo ng mga rich at showbiz friends ko, okey lang sa kanyang kainin mga iyon! Ano nga ba masama? Wala maliban sa ating nabanggit na dahilan.

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Nagsasa Cove, San Antonio, Zambales, 19 Oktubre 2024.*

Bawal o masama maligo kapag mayroong patay. Siyempre! Puyat kasi tayo sa paglalamay kaya dapat magpahinga muna saka maligo. Iyon lang iyon.

Noong Hunyo, isang dating kasamahan kong DJ sa GMA7 namatay ang ina. Matapos akong magmisa at nang magpapaalam na, tinanong niya ako ng seryoso: talaga daw bang hindi pa siya puwedeng maligo?

Nakupo! Kaya pala kako tumutubo na yang balbas mo at nanglalagkit ka na! At ito ang dahilan sinabi ko sa kanya ukol sa pamahiing iyon. Maligo ka na wika ko at ang baho mo na!

*Larawan kuha ng may-akda, Anvaya Cove, Morong , Bataan, Abril 2024.*

Bawal o masama ang umuwi kaagad ng bahay galing sa patay. Ito ang popular na kaugaliang “pagpag” bago umuwi kasi kailangan daw iligaw iyong patay na baka sumunod. Ang totoo ay kailan lang naman ito naging laganap at napa-uso. Kawawang mga convenience store, naging tambayan ng mga nagpapagpag. At kaluluwa!

Hindi po ito totoo. Una, walang gumagalang kaluluwa. Kapag namatay ang isang tao, kaagad-agad hinahatulan kanyang kaluluwa kung ito ay pupunta ng langit o purgatoryo o impierno (ibang paksa ito na mainam pag-usapan sa ibang pagkakataon).

Heto naunawaan ko lamang nitong kamakailan habang dumarami ang namamatay kong mga kamag-anak at mga kaibigan. Dahil sa lamay na lang kami nagkikita-kita, itinutuloy namin ang kuwentuhan sa labas kasi naman, nakakahiyang ubusin pagkain at inumin sa lamayan.

At saka para mas masarap din ang kuwentuhan. Iyon sa aking pananaw ang tunay na dahilan kaya nauso ang pagpag. Sabi ng iba, iyon ay galing sa mga kapatid nating Chino na naniniwalang kailangang ipagpag mga negative vibes mula sa mga lamayan ng patay.

At kung tutuusin, ano nga ba ang mga negative vibes na ito? Balikan ang aral ng COVID-19 pandemic: mga mikrobyo at virus na maaring pagmulan ng pagkakasakit. Sa halip na magpagpag kayo ng kakain pa muli sa labas, mag-disinfect palagi pagdating ng bahay pagkagaling sa lamayan nang mapuksa mga kumakapit na mikrobyo.

*Larawan kuha ni Ka Ruben, stained glass sa Pambansang Dambana ng Birhen ng Fatima, Valenzuela City, 10 Oktubre 2024.*

Bawal o masamang maglibing tuwing araw ng Lunes. Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo mga naunang pari noong araw. Sila po nagpalaganap nitong “pamahiing” ito. Hindi naman talaga masama o bawa kasi kadalasan, Lunes ang araw ng libing ng mga yumaong pari pati kamag-anak namin.

Tanging dahilan ng pamahiing iyan ay pagod ang mga pari ng araw ng Linggo sa pagmimisa kaya, Lunes ang kanilang day-off. At pinakamabisang paraan upang matandaan ito ng mga tao, sabihing “masama” ang paglilibing ng Lunes na siyang unang araw ng trabaho.

*Larawan kuha ni G. Jay Javier, Hulyo 2024.*

Kaya po ako mula noon pa, ang day off ko ay Huwebes kasi Lunes ang pagpupulong naming mga pari!

Kayo ano pa alam ninyong pamahiin sa mga patay at lamay?

Hanapin ang praktikal na dahilan at higit sa lahat, igalang pa rin natin paniniwala ng ating mga kababayan kesa pagtawanan.

Tandaan, sa kamatayan palagi nagkakasukatan ng ating pagkakaibigan at pagsasamahan.

Ang pakikiramay ay tanda ng pakikibahagi sa pagluluksa at pighati ng namatayan.

At iyan ang pinakamainam na dahilan sa likod nitong mga pamahiin natin tuwing mayroong lamay at patay.

Conversing with God in time of COVID-19

40 Shades of Lent, Sunday Week-V, Year-A, 29 March 2020

Ezekiel 37:12-14 +++ ***Romans 8:8-11* +++ *John 11:1-45***

Photo by Ms. Anne Ramos last March 22, 2020 during our procession of Blessed Sacrament in the Parish when a rainbow appeared at the horizon.

Once again as we near the closing of our Lenten journey, Jesus does another “sign” or miracle — his last and grandest in anticipation of his coming Passion, Death, and Resurrection: the raising from death of his friend Lazarus.

What is so beautiful in this story is how the evangelist involves us his readers and hearers into a conversation with Jesus unlike last Sunday at the healing of a man born blind where the characters conversed only among themselves.

The raising of Lazarus to life is more engaging because it is deeply personal and intimate as it involves friends dearest to Jesus — exactly like each one of us! And that is why it is also very timely as we go through the ongoing lockdown due to COVID-19.

When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
John 11:4

My dear family and friends, Jesus assures us today of the Father’s love and healing, that he would save us from the deadly corona virus. Come and let us converse with him with the sisters of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.

*After my “private Mass” (Missa sine populo) during the Solemnity of the Annunciation, 25 March 2020.*

Presence of Jesus

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.”
John 11:21-22

Twice do we hear this line in this very long story of the raising of Lazarus when Mary repeated it upon meeting Jesus later at the entrance of their town of Bethany.

And like Martha and Mary, we always say it to Jesus too as if he ever leaves us alone!

“Lord, if you had been here…”

Jesus is always with us.

We are the ones who always leave Jesus behind.

We always have so many other things to do, so many other people to meet that we have no time to truly pray and most of all, celebrate the Sunday Mass every week.

It is my hope that following the suspension of the “public Masses” due to lockdown, people now realize the value of the Holy Eucharist which is the “summit” of our Christian life where we are nourished by the words of God and strengthened by the Body and Blood of Christ.

Photo from Forbes.com via Facebook, 2019.

Long before we were told to observe “social distancing” in this time of pandemic, we have long been distant from one another and from God.

How ironic that these modern means of communications were invented to bring us closer but have actually brought us farther apart! Most often, we are close enough with someone miles across the seas but too distant and cold to persons physically near us, even seated beside us.

Let us spend more time with our family and most especially with God in prayer during this enhanced quarantine period to be the presence of Christ with one another. Let us remember Fr. Patrick Peyton’s expression, “The family that prays together, stays together; a world at prayer is a world at peace”.

Remember: the most wonderful and enriching relationships we can have are those rooted in Jesus Christ who is always present in us.

Jesus is perturbed and deeply troubled

While praying over this long gospel, this photo by Raffy Lerma kept on flashing in my mind, showing me how Jesus must have reacted upon seeing Mary weeping over the death of her brother Lazarus.

He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept.
John 11:33-35

Like our gospel today, Lerma’s photo of a mother crying over her son lost to “tokhang” at the height of this administration’s war against drug in July 2016 is very conversant, so moving like the Pieta by Michaelangelo in Rome. In fact, the government doubted the veracity of the photo, claiming through its trolls it was merely “staged” or “drawing” as we say in journalism. The photo is authentic because the event truly happened. And continued to happen before this lockdown.

What I like most with this photo is the composure of the mother. You can feel she was deeply sad and troubled, weeping without the hysterical theatrics or palahaw in Tagalog that we see in many instances like funerals.

Photo by Mr. Jay Javier, Quiapo, January 2020.

Multiply that to the highest degree and we get the image of Jesus “perturbed and deeply troubled, weeping” at the death of his friend Lazarus.

There is the gentle yet firm mastery by Jesus of the situation, of the loss and tragedy.

No hysterics nor theatrics. Pure and all-encompassing presence.

It would be the same mastery and composure Jesus would exhibit at his coming Passion and Death, reaching its highest point on Easter.

Here we find Jesus Christ truly human, truly Divine. Yes, he was perturbed and deeply troubled; he cried and wept not because of weakness but rather more of strength, of being true and determined in overcoming not only his coming Passion but most of all, our own setbacks and losses.

Have faith, my dear reader. Jesus is surely “perturbed and deeply troubled, weeping” again with us in this time of the corona pandemic. Step back and let him be himself in being one with us; then, wait and see what he is going to do next for us.

*Photo from theguardian.com, 19 March 2020 reporting how a “generation has died” in Bergamo, Italy struggling with 1959 deaths from corona virus that has overwhelmed the nation’s funeral sector.*

Jesus joins us in death so we can rise to life in him

Today is not a beautiful day to die, especially for victims of COVID-19. No wakes. No Masses. Just simple blessings after cremation. If ever possible.

The scenes from Italy are deeply disturbing that has become the new epicenter of corona pandemic. According to a report last Monday, the obituary page of a local newspaper had increased tenfold in a week, listing up to 150 deaths daily! More disturbing is the fact that “death and mourning happen in isolation”.

Our readings this Sunday speak a lot about death symbolized by graves.

But not on a morbid sense like a defeat or a loss; rather, as a victory, a raising to new life!

Thus says the Lord God: O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and have you rise from them, O my people! I will put my spirit in you that you may live.
Ezekiel 37:12-14

Ezekiel proclaimed these words of the Lord to the Israelites during their Babylonian Exile when they lost everything and everyone, including God as they thought have forsaken them for their sinfulness. This prophecy is finally fulfilled in Christ’s coming and victory over death on Easter.

In calling back Lazarus to life, Jesus shows us in this scene his tremendous power over death and defeat, agony and pain, sin and evil. It is a prefiguration to a grander scale of his own Resurrection on Easter after the Good Friday.

And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”
John 11:43-44

Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA-7 News. Used with permission. Seen here from atop the GMA Network Center in QC is Mt. Samat in Bataan with the Memorial Cross visible, across the Manila Bay, taken on 26 March 2020.

Do you believe this?

Jesus is calling us to have faith in him, to believe in him especially in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. And like his question to Martha which he repeated twice, the Lord is asking us the same question today:

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?
John 11:25-26

Do you believe in him, Jesus the Christ?

Good things have also been happening lately in this two-week old lockdown.

Families are again getting together, staying together. Finally we now have more time than ever to converse once again as husband and wife, children and parents, brothers and sisters.

Some people have rediscovered God and are back to praying again, to believing again.

Even Mother Nature is said to have taken a big break during this lockdown, giving us spectacular views never seen before due to cleaner air, less pollution and congestion in the cities.

These are all conversations going on – thanks to COVID-19!

Let us join the conversations with our loved ones, with nature, with our self, and with God.

Below is one of my favorite photos this week taken by GMA-7 reporter Mr. Raffy Tima. Again, another photo conversing with us, like Jesus in the story of the raising to life of Lazarus.

See the Memorial Cross on Mt. Samat in Bataan?

The raising of Lazarus is the “sign” or miracle as the other evangelists would say, that prefigures the definitive victory of Jesus on the cross.

Like the sisters of Lazarus, believe in Jesus who is awakening us today amid the threats or crosses of corona virus to bear all these sufferings, to passover like him to the life that bodily death cannot touch “through his Spirit dwelling in us” (Rom. 8:11). Amen.

That “Eureka!” moment of life – and death

The Lord Is My Chef Recipe for the Soul

Homily at the Funeral of Archimedes Lazaro (ICS ’97), 18 February 2020

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 ><)))> 0 <(((>< Luke 7:11-17

Soon afterward Jesus journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.”
Luke 7:11-16

Today, we are like at the city of Nain. Traffic is so heavy outside as many of us – family and friends, former classmates, colleagues at work from all over and neighbors – gather to pray and pay our last respects for Archie.

Celebrating a funeral Mass for a young person is always difficult for me. Like Jesus, I feel so sad for their parents. Normally, it is the children who bury their parents. It must be so painful for parents burying a son or a daughter. That is why in our gospel, Jesus was “moved with pity” with the widow of Nain.

But today, amid the pains and sorrows with the sudden death of Archie last week at a very young age, we actually celebrate life in Jesus Christ.

Photo by author of the hills of Galilee from the Walls of Jerusalem, May 2017.

Jesus comes to visit us always

Like in that scene at Nain, we remember and celebrate the life of Archie who had come to visit us even for a short time.

I love that part of the gospel where the people at Nain exclaimed at how “God has visited his people” when Jesus raised the dead young man.

Jesus continues to visit us everyday through one another like Archie.

Despite his many sins and imperfections, Archie made us experience Jesus Christ’s love and friendship, warmth and kindness, especially to his two sons, family, and friends.

Surely, Jesus must have visited Archie, too, during those dark moments of his life.

And the good news is, Archie visited Jesus so often especially these last two years when he started to pick up the pieces of his life.

Last time I saw Archie was last November when he came to celebrate Mass in our Parish. And I have heard how he had sought spiritual guidance from Fr. Carl, driving that far to Paco every month as he renewed his relationship with Christ, trying to follow anew the Lord he had served since elementary as a sacristan and later as a seminarian in our high school seminary.

It is Jesus who first finds us always

Photo by author at Mt. St. Paul Spirituality Center, Baguio, 04 February 2020.

We all know Archie’s tocayo is one of ancient Greece’s great scientist and inventor, Archimedes.

It is said that he discovered the principle of buoyancy – the “Archimedes’ principle” – while taking a bath.

When Archimedes sat onto his bathtub, he observed that “when a body is submerged in a fluid, it experiences an apparent loss in weight that is equal to the weight of fluid displaced by the immersed body.”

Archimedes was so ecstatic with his accidental discovery that he jumped naked from his bathtub out to the streets, shouting “eureka!” or “I have found” the solution to a problem he was trying to solve at that time.

Archimedes had not only enriched the field of mathematics and sciences with his discoveries but also the English language with the word “eureka” or “eureka moment”: when somebody discovers something very significant in business and economics, the sciences especially medicine, and practically in every field and subject.

Most especially in life.

Photo by author, Mt. St. Paul Spirituality Center, Baguio, 04 February 2020.

Archie had the same eureka moment in life: he had found Jesus Christ again that he went back to Mass and Confessions.

He had found meaning in life again after losing hope and directions.

Most of all, Archie had found love again.

Like his namesake of ancient Greece, Archie is now exclaiming “eureka” ecstatically into heaven – naked – with nothing but the love and mercy of Jesus Christ who first found him and brought him back to life a few years ago.

Today as we bring the remains of Archie into his final resting place, we thank God who never stops looking for us, finding us so that we can find him again and finally rest in him.

Today it is Jesus who is most ecstatic of all because he is the first to have found Archie and that is why, he had called him back to him, never to get lost again.

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. In the time of their visitation they shall shine.
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-3, 7

Amen.