To Search is to Find
1. Do I understand correctly that bahala na is trust?
‘Bahala na’ can mean trust in the Lord when we recognize our own limitations and helplessness. But it can also be a refusal to take responsibility for our own actions and their consequences.
2. I always hear from people that they are very happy and at peace because they have a very special relationship with the Lord. They claimed that they are even happier than before BUT they don’t go to Mass every Sunday. They only go there if they have time. Is it really possible to have a fulfilling relationship with the Lord without attending Masses? Because I feel that the Mass is a very integral part of your relationship with Him. But these people seemed more fulfilled and happier than anyone I know who religiously attend Mass.
Antoine de St Exupery, author of ‘The Little Prince’ wrote, ‘The only rally important time in our lives is the time we waste with those we love’. Can those with a ‘special relationship with the Lord’ but aren’t prepared to ‘waste time’ on Sundays with the Lord and the Lord’s brothers and sisters their own brothers and sisters claim to love the Lord’s brother and sisters?
3. It was stated in the Bible that to worship idols and images is a sin, so why did our church allow people to visit and kiss the statue of Jesus Christ who is crucified every lent.
Many thanks for your two recent emails. It’s particularly nice to hear from someone who, like myself, is ‘Irish’! Dose the presence of Irish Columban priests and Irish Presentation Sisters in Binalbagan have anything to do with your name? I was asking Anne, our secretary what the ‘DP’ in ‘BSC-DP’ means. She didn’t know. We won’t able to sleep until you tell us!
I’m delighted to know that you’ve been reading MISYON for so long and that you find it interesting and helpful.
About your question. When I came to the Philippines in 1971 I discovered that the quickest way to find out how many children lived in a barrio was to take out my camera. They were all there in ten seconds flat! In my room here in Bacolod I have photos of my deceased parents, of my brother and his family, with me in it, and of a dear friend who died when she was only 29. I also have an ikon of Jesus given me by a Filipino Trappist monk in the USA many years ago and a statue of our Blessed Mother carved by a man who lives in the mountains of Negros. He makes beautiful statues from wood using very primitive tools.
These pictures and the statue remind me of those I love. When I look at the photos of my parents-one I took myself- I think of them with love. When I look at the statue of the Blessed Mother I’m reminded that I HAVE a Blessed Mother. All her other children are my brothers and sisters, including you, Salmae, even though I don’t know you. (I used to celebrate Mass often in Binalbagan from 1997 to 2000 when I was living in the Columban house in Batang, Himamaylan. I was vocation director then. Maybe you know me to see.)
When Filipinos touch statues they’re not worshipping the statues, they’re expressing in a tangible way their love for Jesus, for our Blessed Mother, for the saints. Philippines culture is one where people touch one another a lot compared to some other cultures where people are more reserved, though just as loving. So it’s a normal human thing to touch something that reminds us of God’s love, to look at a photo of someone we love, whether that person is living or dead. Sometimes we may even kiss the photo of someone who is absent through death or distance. We know we’re not kissing the person but our action symbolizes our love.
In the May-June issue there’s a question about worshipping saints. It’s similar in some ways to your question, though not specifically about images.
The Church has always encouraged the human expression of our love for God. That’s why we have the Veneration of the Cross included in the Good Friday liturgy, when we’re invited to kiss the image of Jesus crucified. We have something similar at Christmas when we kiss the image of the baby Jesus. The crucifix and the image of the baby Jesus are not idols. They’re just reminders of the fact that God became Man, was born like each one of us and died an awful death out of love for us.
I hope that this answers your question. Don’t forget to answer mine-what does ‘DP’ mean?!
4. On Palm Sunday people bring palms and coconut leaves, with various designs, to have them blessed. After the Mass, they bring them home and put some of them on theirs doors. They believe that these leaves which have been blessed will drive evil spirits away. Is their belief correct?
The palms are to remind us of the entrance of Jesus to Jerusalem, warmly welcomed by the people who turned on him less than a week later. The ashes we use on Ash Wednesday are the burned palms of the previous Palm Sunday. I wasn't aware of the belief you mention but that is not the purpose of the palms. putting the palms on our door should be a sign of our faith in Jesus the Risen lord, God who became man, not an expression of fear of evil spirits.
5. Why is it that we use our right hand when we make the sign of the Cross?
The only reason I can think of is that most people are right-handed. Unfortunately, some teachers used to force left-handed children to use their right for writing. The word 'sinister' is the Latin for 'left hand'. Very negative superstitious grew over the centuries about the use of the left hand.
6. Friends say that I am a very generous person because every time a needy person comes to me, I always help them. They also tell me that some of the people I help talk behind my back. Despite this I still help them. Am I on the right track?
You are what we call in Ireland 'a soft touch'. It's not always helpful to give money to people, especially if you have evidence that they are using it irresponsibly and taking advantage of you. I have experienced this far too often.