Reflection # 7- Passion!

Learning more of the early church fathers just keep on amazing me. Indeed, to follow their footsteps is a lofty goal. Gratefulness and awe of what they have done filled me. This week the two of the outstanding lessons that I have learned goes around the lives of three great men in the past. First, I have learned that if you love what you are doing, you will never get tired of it. That is a lesson learned from Saint John Chrysostom. He said that, “Preaching improves me. When I begin to speak , weakness disappears, when I begin to teach, fatigue too disappears”. That speaks volume of passion for the task that he felt called to do in his lifetime. The second lesson that I have learned is about the greatness of God's grace. If we look at the life of Saint Jerome and Augustine, it is very evident that indeed, God's grace is transformative. God's grace could turn a person from a total mess to a changed person who would make a great impact to the world. These two Fathers experienced what it was like to go after the lust of this world and they too have concluded that God is more satisfying. Though their plight was never easy for there was a constant battle deep within, yet they triumphed because of God's wonderful grace.

Lately, I have been doing a spiritual check-up. I found out that somewhere in the journey I have been complacent with my faith and pursuit for excellence. I felt exhausted and dislike of my tasks. As I ponder about it, I figured out that my sins has hindered me in having a rich fellowship with God. I realized that I have wandered and I should return to my first love. I also realized that because of my inner struggle, I tend to be stingy in making margins for other people. I get irritated and insensitive towards other people. I am in a battle.

The lessons that I have learned came just perfect in time. So in application, I started to read my Bible again early in the morning just before my life gets busy. I also started writing my journals and prayers. This way, I could keep track of my devotions and be encourage to draw more closer to God. I will also think others as better than me and respect them. In the ministry, I will be more passionate and will give my best to the task that God has given me. Hopefully, I will be able to redeem myself for the rest of my time here.

Reflection # 6

This weeks lesson was short and yet it was insightful. I especially like the topic because it was a biography of a figure in history that I really like, that prominent figure is Martin Luther. From him I have learned this quote, “Whatever I learn, I preach, whatever I preach, I printed”. The second lesson that I have learned was about the impact of St. Ambrose of Milan's preaching that it thoroughly affected St. Augustine. That was just amazing.

Having made several reflections already has brought me to wonder of what is there for me to ponder. Looking at Luther's life, I feel grateful for his courage to do what he ought to do. I was not really fond of writing what I have learned and so sometimes it went away with the wind. I was like throwing away so many treasures in the past. Now, I thought of it as foolishness. I realized that I am too far from what Luther said. I know that almost always I preach what I learn but often I don't write them down. I m always quick to share the new things that I have learned. As I age, I realized that I could have done better because now I know that my pen has more reliable memories. With regards to the second lesson that I have learned, I realized that indeed our faithfulness to the work that God has given us is important so that we will be a blessing to our hearers. We will never know that someone who is randomly listening to us will be change dramatically for the glory of God.

In application, I will start taking down notes of the things that I have learned from reading, listening or just random thoughts. In so doing, I will have a hard copy which I could look on to when a need arise. That will be my source of information. Secondly, I will do my best to be careful with my testimony and with my words in order to save my hearers.