The Rare Wielder of the Light

First Reading: 1 IS 58:7-10

Thus says the LORD: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am! If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Responsorial Psalm: PS 112:4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: 1 COR 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human  but on the power of God.

Gospel: MT 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a  and glorify your heavenly Father."

Reflection 
By Bernard M. Borja

I have “trust issues” when it comes to people I don’t really know. Not just strangers but people whom I met before but never really got to know personally. I can also be judgmental of them that I often look at their dark side by just how they talk to boast of something, or reading their posts and comments in social media. Though I only keep this dark side of mine to myself, God always sees and pricks through our hearts for us to go back to our true self that He has made.

I was in a mall in Makati sitting on a bench with other people waiting. It is the middle of the day and I already feel tired. I felt the day was just a neutral not-so-special day (na kakatamad, as we say). While I wait and try to read a book I brought with me, an old lady next to me asked what time is it. I answered, “It’s almost twelve o’clock po.” “I see,” said the old lady. She then asked me if Bicutan is still far from Makati. I told her it would take an hour or two from here going to Bicutan. As I was talking to her, I noticed how very neat and polite she was. I saw my grandmother in her, but older. She was the type that I can be comfortable to talk with. My trust issue was trying to “nudge” me but then, I felt peace talking to this lady. 

Then, she told me that she was waiting for a friend from Bicutan. She was in the mall for 3 hours already (Yes. Before the opening hours). I wondered why. She then proceeded with her story that day and I never thought a story heard from a stranger would make me feel a prick deep in my heart.“My name is Meme (pronounced as “Mimi”). I am from Bacolod. I flew from my hometown to Manila so I can go to Bataan because I would like to see my only brother one last time. He died days ago and the last time we saw each other was 8 years ago.” Hearing those first sentences, I assumed this is another person who wants to ask for money. She then continued…“I’m waiting for my friend in Bicutan who I called 2 hours ago from the security here. I want to borrow money from her because I got robbed in Baclaran.”

Made me think twice about my judgement. But as I listened more to her, I felt like I was being hit with a paddle several times.

“When I arrived at the airport, I went straight to Baclaran church to light a candle for my brother. I was then approached with a man who looks very decent… neat hair, wearing office barong, carrying a briefcase. You can tell he is someone of a good stature in life. We talked, exchanged stories, invited me for a meal. After a while, we parted ways and I really can’t remember what happened, but I lost all the money I brought with me, almost Php85,000. I also lost my wallet and phone. Why are there bad persons who do something like that. But I could not blame them.”

I was so ashamed of judging her motives. That moment, I felt like my heart was being crushed. An old lady travelling far just to see the last member of her family, but getting robbed near a church? I knew the story was true by just looking at her teary eyes as she speaks. “If my friend won’t be here by 12:30pm, I will have to go on and ask security for help. I need to go to the bus terminal or I won’t be able to make it to my brother’s funeral.” My eyes were ready to bring out a tear when she suddenly changed the subject of our conversation. She was now asking things about me. I introduced myself, told her my name, and what I do for a living. I told her I am a documentary filmmaker and I usually go to provinces for interesting and inspiring stories. What she told me next blew me away. “Oh you know, you can visit my hometown! You can visit me in Bacolod and do your work there.

You can find our place wonderful and I would love to share stories about my farm business.”

A farm??? I can only look at her with my eyes widely open and my jaw dropping as she

excitingly continued to tell me more.

“My family owns a 250 hectare sugar plantation in Bacolod. But ever since my brother left for Bataan when he got married 8 years ago, I was the only one who manage our family business. It was passed on to us from my grandmother to my mother and then to me and my brother. For a long time, we export refined sugar to Korea. I even invited one of my biggest clients from Korea to visit the farm and since then, they regularly come every time they spend vacation in the Philippines.” 

I was asking myself, why is she telling me things like these? I know it’s not to boast because I see how she joyfully shared it with me without any trace of pride. But how could she tell someone, whom she just met, things that revealed a lot about her and her family? That’s what amazed me. It was not because she have a big farm and she manages a big business, but how she still kept faith on people even after being robbed. How she kept that positive outlook in life to make someone glow without even knowing the person she talks to.

Astonished as I was especially when she repeatedly invited me to go to her hometown and visit her farm, that moment, I realized that a light was being shone upon me. A light from someone who still see the light in others even in dark times. A light that we also have which we can wield to shine to others, but oftentimes we choose not to. A light that Lola Meme uses in a very common (but hardest) way to see life in heaven’s eyes. After minutes of exchanging stories, she suddenly got up and told me that she had to go. I offered to drive her to the bus terminal but she insisted that she knows how to go there. I even offered some money she can use to go to Bataan but she politely refused. While she walks away, a tear struggling to go out moments ago has already reached my cheek.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, thank You for reminding us that we are the light of the world that You commissioned to shine to others. Thank You for people like Lola Meme who chose to see the light and shine it to others even when she’s caught in darkness. We pray for protection from all harm. We also pray for Lola Meme’s brother as You welcome Him in Your Kingdom. May we receive more of Your grace of shining Your light to let others overflow with Your inspiration. All these for Your Glory we pray, Amen.