PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

1. Household rules or guidelines are for everyone in the house to observe and act in
accordance with in order to keep a family working well. Just as these were formulated for
a good reason, so God’s law, the commandments, were established not just for us
Christians to simply know and obey but to cultivate our relationship with the Lord,
reinforcing our faith in Him. In our own time, however, there are some individuals or
groups who think that Christianity is all about rule-following that they tend to compare
their own sins to other people’s sins while in fact our wrongdoings and transgressions are
between a relationship of ourselves and God. Christian faith is not about embracing the
law for self-righteous ends but pointing our need for God and doing them with meaning
and love. Our faith is a living faith therefore, let us not weaken it to just following laws
and responsibilities but rather build it on a relationship with the Lord which prompts us to
do His works. Rules are important but our relationship with Him is and must be the core
of our faith.

2. Understanding the meaning of the Bible including the good news and truths of the gospel
requires proper assistance especially for a young believer like me. One of the people in
my life who can best assist me understand these matters is my grandmother as she had the
longest time of devoting her life in service with God. She may be old but her wisdom
regarding the Scriptures is everlasting that she never fails to communicate and pass on
her faith, telling stories out of the Bible and sharing her experiences so that I can reflect
and learn lessons I can apply as I walk with God through both the storms and sunny days
of my life. Father Martial Castaneda can also help me build a good knowledge of the
Bible because he knows well about God’s word and nature that he does not only let
believers understand it through the homilies he shares during worships, but he also shows
it by example. In my daily encounter with him, he always speaks to me without forgetting
to include precepts from the Bible and with encouragement to take it to heart and put it
into practice.

3. Among the prophets whom I can personally relate myself to is Jeremiah. Like how he
suffered inner doubts, objecting God’s call based on his age and ability to deliver a
message that is both difficult and unwelcome, I, too, often undergo uncertainties and
inner conflicts for I fear new challenges and responsibility which keeps me then from
taking the very actions that would help me and serve others. For instance, there once a
time wherein my math teacher in highschool chose me to be the school’s representative in
a math quiz contest but I declined as I lacked confident, thinking that I was not smart,
talented, capable and experienced enough to manage it. However, none of us are immune
to self-doubt and we all have the ability to keep it from directing our decisions.
Therefore, like how Jeremiah displayed courage and perseverance throughout his
faithfulness to his call despite experiencing physical sufferings, I also found courage with
the motivation and support that my teacher gave me. I trusted her just as Jeremiah trusted
God.