There are significant numbers in our Catholic faith Tradition like 3 (Trinity), 7 (a perfect number), 9 (novena), and 40 as this last number indicates the number of years that the Israelites supposedly wandered in the desert prior to reaching the land of milk and honey. The number 40 also indicates the period that Jesus was tempted in the desert. And finally, 40 is the day the Lord ascended after his resurrection.
It is in this background that we continue to observe a tradition to celebrate the 40th day of the passing of our loved one. One thing that I find significant for today's gathering pertains to the theme of desert. What are the images or things that come up to our minds when we hear the word "desert?"
Desert suggests dryness, aridity, and lifeless, among others. Such associations are not probably far from what you yourselves are undergoing especially during this mourning and grieving period. Questions continue to be raised; memories are fresh in terms of your own experiences with and about James. Yet together with this remembering, there lies a fervent hope that James is in a better condition and will be blessed with God's mercy and peace.
In this regard, the desert experience can actually be a time of grace in that we ourselves are purified. In our experience of emptiness, such void becomes an opportunity for God to fill us in/ Because we are so desolate and empty, we can allow God to be more real and present. In this regard, the desert which may initially be seen as dry and lifeless may actually be its opposite. One just has to recall how the desert fathers like Anthony the Monk was able to find meaning in like in his stay in the desert. It became an intense and profound experience of God.
I was not able to know James well though our common friend, Mary An, mentioned him and had only good things to say about him. It was only during the graduation party of Inigo that I finally met him and on one occasion at the parish. For those two occasions, I found him affable. It is then a happy coincidence that on his fortieth and birthday, the gospel reading is indeed something that he tried to fulfill, that is, to love God and others as himself which I am sure made him pleasing to God and to us. The mere fact that many people condole with you on his sudden passing away indicates the impact that he has done on others. And on this fortieth day, our fervent wish is that indeed, he now enjoys the company of our risen Lord who is happy with the way James celebrated his life with us.
We continue to offer this Eucharist in thanksgiving for James who made this world a better one particularly in his fidelity to his vocation as a father, husband, a friend, among others. May his legacy continue particularly through the efforts of those who were privileged to know him well and loved him deeply.
I came home April 25, the day my dad was put under Intensive Care over at Cardinal Santos. He passed away on Saturday, April 28, 2007. He was 58 years old, and like what everyone has said during the wake, he was a good man. On the first night of the wake, there were more than 300 people who gathered together to attend the mass for my dad. Thank you everyone for all your support. There are no words. Thanks everyone who visited. Lalo na sa mga galing sa work, those who went out of their way to visit, those who would visit kahit sobrang puyat, those who would stay kahit may trabaho the next day, those who went kahit hindi ko kayo napansin, those who wrote on the message board, those who visited us kahit walang ibang kilala doon, those who spared a couple of seconds to pray for my dad. Basta, sa inyong lahat, maraming maraming salamat.
I just want to share my dad's favorite bible passage.. it's this that has been keeping me strong: 1Cor 10:13 No testing has come to you that other people do not have. But God will not fail you. He will not allow the testing to be too hard for you. No. When the testing comes, God will make a way out for you, so that you can go through the testing.
Bye papa, see you soon! I'll miss you so much. Please keep us strong.
Dear kuya, kumusta ka na dyan? Anong balita, malamig ba dyan? Dito mainit pero kung bumagyo, para bang lahat ng tubig sa mundo ay nandito Matagal na rin, mula nang ika’y magpasyang subukan ang swerte, at abutin ang yong mga pangarap Sa ibang bansa kung saan ikaw ay lagging mag-isa kami tuloy dito, nag-aalala
[chorus] Nasan ka man ngayon, ano mang oras na ika’y may kailangan, tawag ka lang sa amin at parang nandito ka na rin
Oo nga pala, kung nasayo pa ang checkered na polo ko, sa yo na yan. Hanap kana rin ng maraming mapapaglibangan dahil balita ko mahal daw ang sine dyan Dambuha daw mga pinapakain dyan tataba ka malamang. Miss mo bang magtagalog? Kuya pag may kumausap sayo galingan mong mag-ingles, galingan mo kuya
[chorus ulit tapos]
Dear kuya, hinahanap ka ni mama at daddy sulat ka palagi. Miss ka namin, pati nga kapitbahay nagtatanong san ka raw nagpunta? san ka raw nagpunta? Nasan ka na… Kuyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Won't be making a detailed account of the party at my house last saturday. Too much to say.
It was one hellova surprise, I must say. Boyet was super dooper clueless. Tumulong pa siya sa preparations kasi inisip nyia, si mommy yung may party. Oh fun. We watched the Lord of the Rings til we were called to go down and then it was SURPRISE!!!
Grabe, ang daming pumunta rin sa party. Magic word yata, sabihin mo, it's for boyet, e. Hahahaha! It was nice, clean and very substantial. I like parties like these, no one gets hammered so hard. No one makes a mess and embarrasses himself all over the place. Everyone talks about anything under the sun and we have very nice conversations. Lots of catching up to do rin, e. Wala lang, iba yung high the next day instead of a freaking hangover. Plus, you are for some reason, overwhelmed with gratitude.
And now, the thank you's.
Kris, my wingman/woman.. hahahaha i love you, thanks for being there early to greet everyone and for taking the video and for the fondue and everything! you are the bestest best ever! kung anu man pinagusapan ninyo ni kenneth, amazing siya, noh? i got a deck of my own na rin. i'll learn muna! hahahaha! no words can ever express how thankful i am. i loff you!!!
Fort, my sounds and my chat buddy almost most of the night. hahaha! narealize ko na i kept on migling with you, instead of the people i hardly see. tapos ikaw, for the past how many months, ikaw kasama ko every day! nyahahahaha! hope you had fun playign with my friends though. hahahaha! congrats on your DS lite! i'm really so happy for you! tama yan, spoil yourself silly while youre single. hahaha!
Minnie: The cake was absolutely yummy! *drool* thaaanks so much. everyone, BUY MINNIE'S CAKES! They're sooooo good!
yon, yon ang special mention sa party ko. hahahahaha! tetext ko na lang kayong isa isa when i get the chance to sit down and text you all. Wala naman kasi kayong mga LJ, e.
lastly, my dear dear dear family who really made everything possible. Kuya, super accomodating, teaching me how to treat my guests, papa and kuya charlie for the barbeque. aling naty and joy for helping out and cooking and everything, mom for EVERYTHING! as in.. LAHAT.. the tacos, she cooked them, the lumpia, she cooked them.. hands down ako sa nanay ko. grabe... i love my family...
thanks everyone for all your gifts.. minsan lang din mag open ng gifts si boyet.. he usually just gets roughly 10 gifts a year, kasama na doon yung christmas, so this really meant a lot.. we opened the gifts in the morning, February 4.. para naman 5 months sakto from july 4. haha!
Ah well, must move on.. Thanks so much for coming... it was so fun.. and memorable.
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boyet stayed the night na rin kasi we dropped off kris then dorpped by gians despedida who is going to HK for JP Morgan. ANG GANDA NG APARTMENT NIYA!!! sponsored by JP morgan, of course and he even has all those living allowances and stuff. he even has a DH to help him at home.. dapat lang, diba? if you're making more than $1000 a month... or is it $100,000 a year? I forget. basta, malaki na. Hahahah! He can retire at 30. Hahahaha! Hope he'll be happy there. Good luck to you, gian!
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day after that, we had lunch at boyet's because tita carol is back. wow, record.. recently lang din ako nasa kanila, then pumunta ako ulit. RECORD!!! hahha! dati, once a year lang ako nasa bahay non eh! It was fun though. we brought over some barbeque and lumpia from the party. then, boyet and i made fondue for his family. BIG HIT. thanks kris for the recipe. hahaha!
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went over to rockwell, ikot ikot and realize we are so NOT healthy. konting lakad lang, pagod na kami. bwahahaha! got myself a little happy item, reward for the whole party thing and then we heard mass, picked up my dad and had a nice family dinner at home. and then it's monday... i hope i didnt miss out on anything. it was fun..
It's the first stage... My heart is breaking. We'll miss you Aims... Spending all your money Ain’t it funny how the time goes by? First you start believing Then you’re leaving for no reason And you’re wondering why So till the morning breaks Go and make your mistakes Don’t be surprised if your head hurts Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Whisper in the ways Watching days and moving on You wake up every Monday then suddenly it’s Sunday And the week is gone So till the morning breaks Go and make your mistakes Don’t be surprised at the sunrise Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Oh, do you wonder where it starts Where it ends What you find around the bend Oh, do you wonder where she’s from Where she goes No one knows Now and then you wonder Why you’re spending all your money Ain’t it funny how she walks on by? She had you all believing Now she’s leaving for no reason And you’re wondering why
So till the morning breaks Go and make your mistakes Don’t be surprised if your heart hurts Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
Oh, do you wonder where it starts Where it ends What you find around the bend And oh, do you wonder where she’s from Where she goes No one knows Now and then
Oh, do you wonder where it starts Where it ends What you find around the bend And do you wonder where she’s from Where she goes No one knows Now and then you wonder
Why life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive Life is for the living, the forgiven and for leaving town alive
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