Saturday, 14 June 2008
Hey EDs.
Recently, I had coffee with one of my priest friend, and would like to share his story with you. Do take a few minutes to read it.
When Fr. Bob (real identity not revealed) was in the seminary, studying is the bulk of his seminary formation. Day after day, he has to, together with his other fellow seminarians, attend many lessons and classes. The subjects that he was taking are subjects that are completely alien to him. Liturgy, Greek, Latin, Theology etc etc etc...
There are times when Fr Bob questioned about his vocation. "Am I really called to be a priest?" he wondered, looking at the many difficulties he faced in all his subjects.
After 8years of seminary formation, Fr Bob finally got ordained in 2003, and now an assistant priest in one of the pairsh in Singapore.
I asked him how did he managed to pull through the difficulties he faced in the seminary?
He answered.
"One must have the faith to know that God is in control of everything. Whatever we have belongs to the Lord. Our work, our studies, our talents, our gifts, our vocation, our laughters, our sadness, our joys etc... These belong to the Lord.
As such, I've never failed to spend time in prayer, even in times when I am rushing for my assignments and tests. While all my classmates are studying, I can be found in the chapel, spending my time with Jesus. It is not that I am in a desprate need, and thus, seeking God for help. Rather, I know that God shouldn't be rank 2nd or 3rd, then the 1st. He superceeds all the tests and assignments that I have. Since the first day of my seminary formation, spending time in prayer has always been my priority. In days when I am in doubt, or even in times when I felt that God wasn't there, God wasn't real, I just sat down in the chapel, or in the prayer room, and be silent. Each visit draws me closer to God, and allowed me to know that He is the one that I am looking for. Every other things come later."
Then, Fr Bob explained to me this scripture text.
Jesus asked Peter 3 times. "Simon Peter, do you love me more then these". Peter answered, "Yes Lord, you know I love you more then these." (Bearing in mind that Jesus asked Peter 3 times, and he could already be very irritated and annoyed with that same question)
What does Jesus mean by "love me more then these?"
the 'these' refers to our work, our studies, our ministry, our everything. Jesus is asking Peter if he loves Him more then his ministry, his work, his life, his everything. (Note that Peter was already actively spreading the Word of God) Even though Peter was doing God's work, Jesus still asked him if he loves his ministry more then Him.
Fr Bob continued.
"That is what Jesus is asking us. And that is, to love Him. It is not so much on what I do for God, but what God is doing for us. And because of what he has done for us in our lives, loving Him is the least we can do for him in return. All our successes, our works, our studies, our everything are given by God, and not created by ourseleves. However, sadly, many people today spent most of their time in their studies, works, ministries, rather then acknowledging the fact that all these comes from God. People depeneded on human intellect, human thinking to explain for their own success. Thus, God became 2nd, 3rd, or even, last."
"When God is the focus," Fr Bob explained, "there's nothing we should be worrying about, because God is in control. God wants the best for us. Then why do we need to worry, when God is taking care of everything?
EDs, how true is that. Many a times, we focus too much on our work that we put God aside. And we only turn to God when we are in need. God has became an ambulance, more then anything else. What Jesus is asking us is a very simple question, and that is, "Do you love me?"
How are we going to answer Jesus, truthfully, and honestly? And do we mean what we say?
"My ED, do you love me more then these?"
0 comments
XOXO
, 11:30 am
