Be charitable (esp this Christmas)

This is a transcript of the video below:

Makipagkapwa ngayong Pasko. Para sa mabungang-buhay, tayo na po’t magkape’t pandasal.

Madaling pumaroon si Maria sa Juda upang dalawin si Isabel. Nais niyang samahan at alalayan ang kanyang pinsan sa kanyang pagbubuntis. Alam ni Maria na hindi madaling magdalangtao kapag matanda na. Kaya nang marinig ni Isabel ang bati ni Maria, napasigaw siya, at lumukso sa tuwa ang sanggol sa kanyang sinapupunan.

Pagkakawanggawa ang bumisita sa kapwa.

Ayon sa Carnegie Mellon University, nakakatanggal ito ng stress. Sa halip na bumaling sa negative coping mechanisms, ang pagmamahal ng pamilya’t kaibigan ang pinakamahusay na gamot sa matinding pangungulila. Nakakatulong din ito sa ating psycho-emotional at spiritual well-being. Ang pagdalaw ay isang pagpapakita ng kahalagahan sa taong dinadalaw. At tulad ni Maria at Isabel, nagbibigay ng saya ang pakikisama at pagbabahagi ng biyaya ng Diyos sa isa’t isa. Pinagpala silang dalawa ng Diyos.

Kailangang “dalawin” ang mga nasalanta ng bagyong Odette. Walang kuryente, internet at tubig. Mahirap makakuha ng impormasyon sa mga malalayong lugar dahil ipinasara ang ABSCBN at ang Project NOAH. At dahil sa pandemiya, marami ang balakid sa ating pakikipagkapwa, nguni’t hinahamon pa rin tayo na tumulong sa abot ng ating makakaya.

Manalangin tayo: O Diyos, buksan nawa ang aming puso para sa mga kapatid naming nangangailangan. Amen.  


Be charitable to others this Christmas. For a fruitful life, join me in another episode of “Coffee and Prayer.” Kape’t Pandasal [Coffee and Prayer]

Mary went in haste to the hill country of Judah to visit Elizabeth. She wanted to accompany and serve her cousin in her pregnancy. She knew too well that it was not easy to carry a child in her womb at her old age. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, she cried out in a loud voice and the infant leaped in her womb. (Luke 1:39-45)

Visiting one’s neighbor is charitable.

According to a study done by the Carnegie Mellon University, visiting a loved one relieves stress. Instead of seeking negative coping mechanisms, the love from family and friends is the best way to cope with loneliness. Moreover, visitations help our psycho-emotional and spiritual wellbeing. When we visit someone, we demonstrate the value of those we visit. Like Mary and Elizabeth, sharing their God’s blessing gives them joy. God blessed both.

We need to “visit” those who have been gravely affected by the typhoon Odette. In affected areas, there is no electricity, internet, and water. Information about far-flung areas is difficult to come by because of the closer of ABSCBN and Project NOAH (research program for natural disasters). Aggravated by the pandemic, helping others becomes very difficult. But we are challenged to help according to what we can.

Let us pray: Lord, open our hearts for our brothers and sisters in need. Amen.

Published by Jboy Gonzales SJ

TV/Digital host: Kape't Pandasal. Vlog: YT On the Line. Environment, Youth Formation. Music. Leadership. Always dancing to a different drum.

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