Sharing with you This is about the talk of Fr.

Anton Pascual last April 21, 2011 Holy Thursday during the annual Lenten recollection. Just want to share with you the enlightening and meaningful message I got from the recollection while most people were busy for vacation and tend to forget the true essence of Holy week. Recollection is very much important especially during Lent because it is the most appropriate time to learn, to unlearn (because not all the things we learn were correct) and to relearn instead of having vacation in resorts or somewhere else. Sickness of the World 1. Narcissism- being selfish; self obsession; self want; my wealth; excessive orientation; excessive self pre-occupation; excessive privacy. I-ME-MINE ALONE. 2. Pragmatism- (pragma means business) What is true is what works ; Focus is doing not being ; too much focus on efficiency, being too much practical. 3. Unbridled Restlessness- lost of restfulness It is one activity after another. In order to appreciate life we have to deepen our relationship with God. Unbridled restlessness is tantamount to the saying of one famous philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, who once said, God is dead. If God is dead to us, we have no connection with God. (e.g. after attending Mass or when we are no longer in Church, we felt that there is no God) In order to cure the sickness of the world, what must we do? How can we appreciate God so we can appreciate life? There are 5 ways in order we appreciate God and appreciate life. 1. Gratitude or thanksgiving To be holy is to be grateful no more no less because life is a gift from God. Everything is God s presence. I am what I am because of God s grace. 1 Cor. 2. Appreciate daily miracles- Everything is God s graciousness. I rely on miracles everyday. To be a Christian is to be mystic. Attribute everything as miracle. Nothing comes by accident. 3. We must be willing to offer our life- self-emptying; obedience; life that is full of offering and of service to others (buhay ng paghahandog); Kenosis- life of God, life of self-emptying. Our greatest enemy- EGO (our pride and selfishness) To be with God is to let go of ego. 4. Time for prayer and contemplation- time to be silent; interior discipline because God speaks in silence; develop inner discipline and strength. 5. Kiss the leper by St. Francis In order to be with God, work with the poor and be friends with the poor.

The way to salvation is to be with the poor.