Pray Like a Child

 

 

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” - Matthew 18:3 NIV

 

Today, on the Memorial of the Guardian Angels, allow me to share the reflection I wrote for Didache. I am including my Angel Orchids painting which I made as another tribute to our family’s Guardian Angels. This was inspired by Radyo Katipunan’s Keeping the Faith flower arrangement for the mass on September 21, 2023. The arrangement was of white orchids with barbed wire to commemorate the declaration of Martial Law. I incorporated Angel Orchids to remind me that no matter what barbed wires are looped around our lives, our Guardian Angels are always around to guide us through these difficult times.

 

Below is my unedited Didache reflection:

 

Praying is part of my daily habit but sometimes I’d fall into formulaic prayers. Once, I asked, “How can I deepen it?” God answered this through my writing assignment for Secret Shares.

 

In her youth, our interviewee asked her newfound community friends, “How do I pray?” Through their guidance and her own openness to God, she developed a way of praying that was child-like and candid. Her prayer attitude towards God reminded me of a photo I saw of the child Jesus looking up at St. Joseph with so much love and trust for a parent and St. Joseph looking down at Him with loving indulgence.

 

This was what I pictured when our interviewee described the way she prays. It was with this father-child dynamics that God talked her through the break-up of her month-old marriage, led her to migrate abroad, and assured her of her healing from a dreaded disease.

 

Still needing more insight for myself, I kept asking, “How do I pray?”. I was led to read what Jesus said to St. Faustina in their Divine Mercy conversations: “Talk to me simply, as a friend to a friend.”

Leftover Sharons

 

“And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.” – Matthew 14:20

 

In The Feast app, the reflection question for today’s reading was: “Why do you think there was more food left over after the feeding of the crowd?” In my quiet time after my usual morning prayers, I was intrigued by this question. It was not something that is usually highlighted in the story about the Feeding of the 5000.

 

I was clueless. I couldn’t figure out why the Lord would multiply more than what was needed. I wondered what they did with the leftovers. The bible didn’t say.

 

Then I had a funny thought. If the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes happened in the Philippines, I know what will happen to the leftovers. They would immediately be “sharon”-ed, all twelve baskets of them.

 

Last year, at a family party, I was amused when my sister-in-law said she just found out what “sharon” meant. She said this when I asked for some plastic tubs to pack food for Papa and my son who were left at home. For those who are still clueless about what “sharon” means, it’s a term for wrapping leftover food from parties. It was coined from the line “balutin mo ako" from the hit single “Bituing Walang Ningning” sung by Sharon Cuneta.

 

Then it hit me. Maybe that’s why there were leftovers. Maybe it was so people can take some for their journey back home. After all, people had come from far away to follow Jesus to that deserted place. Maybe they also took some home to the families they left behind – not just to feed them but to share the miracle.  

 

Knowing that our God is a God of abundance and overflowing grace, the twelve baskets of leftovers made more sense to me. It’s comforting to know that when we are in need, God can and will give us more than we ask for or imagine.

 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think...” – Ephesians 3:20

Guardian Angels Among Us

 

Confederate Rose: A Tribute to Our Guardian Angels

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” – Psalm 34:7

 

Several weeks ago, my 93-year-old father had a fall which, for someone his age, could’ve have been grave or even fatal. But that day, I firmly believe our guardian angels intervened.

 

My elder son Jaffy and I made plans to take Papa out so he can exercise. Jaffy suggested for us to walk along the streets near our house. We would then walk back home to get the car and head off to our favorite coffee shop for breakfast.

 

But I had been experiencing pain on my foot on and off, so I suggested we walk in our village park instead so I can sit on the benches if my foot acts up. Besides, it was almost Holy Week and the Stations of the Cross were set up in the park. Papa and I can meander along the path and reflect while Jaffy takes a brisker walk around. That was my plan.

 

But Papa had walked just several steps from the car into the park when he declared he was tired. Jaffy decided to just push him in his rollator while I take my walk. I hadn’t gone far when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Papa being thrown from his rollator! The wheel had hit a crack in the cemented walkway and his rollator folded hurling him headlong on the path.

 

Checking on his condition, I immediately envisioned our guardian angels cushioning his fall, gently setting him down on the ground and preventing him from hitting the cement. What else could it have been aside from divine intervention? Papa had no concussion, no broken bones, just some bruises, a few minor cuts, and shallow gashes on his knees. Of course, we had quite a scare and he looked banged-up for a couple of weeks but all in all, we felt so blessed and protected.

 

By coincidence, or I’d rather call it God-incidence, I had just started a painting as a tribute to our guardian angels. I have a small booklet (Prayers to My Guardian Angel) under my pillow which I include in my morning prayers. With it I pray not only to my angel but also to my children’s as well as the whole family’s guardians. Since my children were small there have been quite a number of times, as a solo mom, I was made aware of their guidance and protection. Thus my special connection to them.

Then, several Sundays ago, a guest priest spoke to the congregation about guardian angels. It inspired me to paint angels in a flower as a tribute to our heavenly friends. I feel Papa’s being saved from great harm in the park was them saying, “Yes, we’re always here. You’re welcome.”