The WORD in other words (2009) by Fr. Carlos Lariosa, – Binucayan, Loreto, Agusan del Sur
Saturday 3rd Week of Easter
Jack is a businessman and a good Catholic. He often goes in and out of the country for his business. Every time he comes home, it saddens him to see so many children in his neighborhood who look so thin and hungry. He started a lugaw (porridge) project for the children every Monday morning. Some parents did not like it for they were suspicious of his motives. But the children kept coming and even told him of their parents’ order not to come, yet they still came because they were hungry. Eventually even the parents also came to ask for some lugaw.
The story did not end there. The last time I met Jack, he was all smiles. He told me that he managed to convince some of his business associates to observe him as he carried out his project one Monday morning. Jack said: “There are now five men, putting money together, preparing five big pots of lugaw every Monday morning, and they enjoy sharing out lugaw to the children, the parents, and to anyone who comes.”
When the word of Christ moves us, it continues to move us to do more. We could be very busy and tired, volunteering and serving, but the strange thing is that we do not seem to run out of steam and ideas. The more our hearts will be on fire, happy and peaceful. Only those who dare to put the words of Christ to life can experience its effect and can understand better the words of Christ. How true indeed are his words when he said: “My words are spirit and life.” (John 6,63) And those who experienced the power of the word will respond like St. Peter, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6,68)
