Young Roots
Our Three Missions
By Johanne Margarette R. Macob
I AM not a church-goer. I haven’t read the bible in its entirety. I haven’t been praying the novena regularly. I’ve attended just a few Holy processions. If these were the standards of what makes a person religious, then I must admit I’m not the religious type. I’m not an atheist, though. I do believe in God. I have faith in Him. I also adhere to the basics of morality teachings. I just feel like praying my own prayers whenever, wherever I feel like doing so.
However, I was at the solemn, formal proclamation of The Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, along side thousands of religious men and women. Well, duty called. It was a big event I had to cover and write about. Surprisingly, amidst all my prejudices, I enjoyed the event. Or ‘enjoyed’ was an understatement, I fell in love with it. The ten-hour coverage may be physically exhausting but there’s something about it that made me feel great. As the mass’s main celebrant, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle put it, I felt really lucky to be part of the historical event. Perhaps, seeing a glimpse of the faith in the thousands of people’s eyes was rewarding by itself. Perhaps, having heard a Homily after a long while felt refreshing. Perhaps, having set myself in the only Minor Basilica in the province, not to mention, on its proclamation, made an indelible impression on me. Or perhaps, it was simply my deep faith, I never knew I had. In the end, I felt humbled knowing I have been blessed with a human heart.
So if there’s anything I would like to share to others who were unable to attend the “big day,” it’s the Homily of Cardinal Tagle. More than the presence of thousands fellows, or the presence of hundreds of clergymen, the event was more about opening your heart to God’s words. In the same way that the Cardinal said, the elevation of the Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag church into a Minor Basilica comes not only with grace but also a mission.
The Cardinal mentioned of three things, three missions, which I couldn’t disagree with, in spite of my personal diffferences with other religious activities. First, he mentioned the Church’s mission to provide a ‘home’ to the people. The mission is not only the church’s but ours, as well. We have to serve as ‘home’ to those needing one. We must assure that no one is ever alone. Second mission is to pray for others more than we pray for ourselves. Ironically, the people we have interviewed in the event shared on answered personal prayers. No one said anything about praying for others, except for their family. I, too, usually only pray for myself and my family. We have been reminded to pray for others, more because we are not living for ourselves. Lastly, Cardinal Tagle urged us flock to “experience our moments of visitation.” By visitation, he meant welcoming the visit of God in our lives and conversely, visiting or relaying God’s message to others.
I may not be a frequent church-goer for the rest of my life. I may still not finish reading the whole Bible by the time I die. I may still not pray the Rosary. I still may not attend any procession. But I’ll keep on praying my own prayers, anywhere, anytime I want. And, I’ll keep my values and add the three missions to my life’s bucket list. May God bless us all!
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
