Looking on Luther’s Positive Move

“For in it (in Christ) is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith.”(Romans 1:17) this was how Martin Luther, a German Augustinian Monk revealed and believed with. This was his disposition and the prudent way he held that man is saved by accepting and trusting Jesus alone and not by church sacraments or doing good works. 

With the doctrine and dogmas of the church that may seemingly unauthentic that time created speculations and confusions among believers. The misinterpretations of the Word of God was frightened the masses just to get good amount of indulgences top raise funds for Rome. Knowing such predicament will surely burst and arouse someone’s indignation. It is what had happened to Martin Luther that time. He was spiritually troubled and started to question the teaching of the church from the confusions and doubts he seized about salvation. The teaching of the church may somehow an opposite to what was written in the Bible and that was before. Subsequently, the insidious selling of indulgences for Rome was considered as haughty act and false belief of some early friars promising the people of salvation of soul in purgatory and forgiveness of their sins. It seemed to be ignominious way of teaching as what we lived as of today. The church before granted this in exchange for pious deed or sum of money in order to raise funds and to sustain the need of the Church. 

How implausible, isn’t it? But despite the power of majority, of the authority, Luther did not leave behind and did not let the people live in blind acceptance or in ignorance about that false teaching of the Church. His passion of reforming the Church was quite inspiring. It is the main impetus that pushed him to pursue his goal of proclaiming what is true and just to the people and true Word of God. That was why he posted “Ninety –five Theses” in the door of the church in Wittenberg, attacking the selling of indulgences. This seemed to be a musky remark and attack against Rome. His popularity came to be alarming against the Church. So, Pope Leo X ordered him to recant his anti-Catholic ideas or to be excommunicated. But Luther’s courage and optimism of reformation and counter-reformation really persevered, he refused to do so. The disparaging fortitude of Luther towards the real teaching of the Bible was treated as a slander against the Church. 

Personally, I found it so unusual to take a glimpse on the positive result of the urbane spirit that Luther bared to the masses. His piquant revolt using his wisdom and unfathomable faith in God served as an eye-opener for the Church. The compassion mettle he possessed may enliven the cognizance of what is true and what is right in the eyes of God. 

Basically, because of the experience, we must fine-tune our natural and spiritual ears to listen and learn – it is our faith. Faith is the force of a full life. The primary cause of unhappiness and discontentment in the world today is lack of faith. According to Corrie Ten Booin, “Faith is like radar that sees through the fog of reality of things at a distance that a human eye cannot see.” This axiom posits that faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible. So, we should walk with faith and not only by our sight as we journey our life, our beliefs and our religion in the complexities of reality in this world. It is our faith that is we believe, not what we know about it. It is faith not reason alone which inputs men to action for it has no limits that man possesses within himself. Nothing but faith can accurately guide our life. It gives us courage to face the questionable present with confidence and the undoubting future with expectancy. Based on the life of Luther, in his reformation of the Church, faith either moves mountains or it will travel through them. All the strength and the force of man come from his faith in things unseen. A cliché states that “he who believes us strong; he who doubts is weak.” Strong personal convictions precede great actions as what Luther did. 

The faith he had was very touching. The way he lived his life as a monk will surely expose the real servant of God. The opulent pearl of faith is worthy to emulate. It is indeed that the faith saved us the depths of sinfulness and foolishness. It is a lesson to be learned and past experience aided as a lesson. We know now that the Church has its vicissitudes being conquered and surpassed in the past. In faith, the Church brought a strong foundation that strengthened by its doctrine under the stewards of our pope.

In the end, knowing the ups and downs, mistakes and doubts of the past of our church is very significant for us in order to never commit the same mistakes again. Furthermore, what is right is right even though no one is doing it and wrong is always wrong albeit everybody is doing it. It is not about the quantity, the tradition alone but it is about what is true – the Truth. It is good realization that we should not go with the flow, we may try to check if we are in the right path, right way towards Him. The faith and veracity of purpose weaned from influences of majority may somehow a gallant demeanour to stand for in guiding our way to where we go – in Him. It is truly idyllic to reflect and ask ourselves, “Where are we now with our faith?” Qou Vadis?

Know Thyself

Change is constant in this universe. We should not be scared of its essence; instead we should be inspired to value its fecund purpose in ameliorating our civilization. Its significant role enlivens us to conquering more heights, reaching our dreams and fulfilling our destiny for the best thing in life. Change is called to be the evidence of life. We cannot grow as an individual if we will not undergo the process of change. It is not a clandestine for us to deny or deprived of because of its explicit goal which is to lead our way and hitch our wagon to the acme of success. Success brings our hopes for an impudence progress. It is our greatest ally to achieve it. To have such kind of determination for change, we must be open-minded to accept and recognize formidable reality around us. This acceptance opens many doors for opportunities. Let our flambouyant spirits grab it. Then, it will guide us in searching for the ultimate truth. This truth seems clairvoyant to the senses or a state of being. It is the primary goal of our existence – to find reason behind our life. Many philosophers give different views regarding this matter but until now no one can perfectly presented us its true meaning and essence. Its quiddity is still oblivious for our senses to seize it faithfully.

When confronted with the issue of change, when faced with questions as to the way we formulated or organized it, when in a quandary of what the future will bring, we always take a pause; think and re-think; and look back at how things have been going lately. There were so many questions that bother us of what we must have to do which requires us in accepting reality. Have we really taken the right path to progress or change? Have we really moved towards a common direction? Have we really made sure that in all that we do, we think of the best future for ourselves or for everyone? In my own little voice, I claim to the world that we are doing well and we actually have such mind set - submitting ourselves for the holistic conviction of accepting to undergo examination of our own self.

The unexamined life is not worth living for. These are words from the mind of philosopher who being sentenced to death because of his vocation and mission in life. What does this dictum tell us about? It reveals the reality of life. It depicts liberation from the slavery of ignorance. It upholds the culture of intellect. A revolt against the deception of stupidity makes it impossible to seek its contemplation as an eye-opener for the masses living in blind acceptance. For us to understand in maximum capacity the mystery of life that we have, we need to examine it. It will enable us to grasp answers to the questions that tickling in our minds. It will distort our senses in flexibility and astonishing realization. By examining our life, we will understand what we are, what we are doing and why we are doing such. 

Examining or understanding is a revelling activity. It is a stupendous way of searching for the ultimate truth. That is I wanted to discover later on in my journey to fully grasp my existence living with Christ and like Christ.

An act of questioning is the evidence that convinces me that a person is thinking. I asked questions because I wanted to have answers. As if I was in a deep sleep, I was arisen by the clamour of perilous world. This perplexed reality leads my sight to wake up from my hasty sound sleep and challenge myself to scrutinize its existence. 

Out of the juvenile world full of complexities, I am looking forward to think and search what is within me and ahead of me. So, I asked questions. I examined my well-being. I wondered for my existence. Who am I? What am I to do? What is its meaning? Who created that meaning? Does the meaning exist? I searched for the answers of these questions, until now. Answers I gained are indefinite for it continuous to evolve. It seemed to be unfathomable. Identifying my primary matter and of being my substantial form is not enough to attain its main or focal point. Recognizing my strengths and weaknesses as well as my positive or pluses and negative or minuses attributes can be an aid to deepen my understanding. These are my guides to consider conscientiously searching for interminable happiness and life worth living of knowing myself. 

This act of questioning with confidence, grants me to hear a spasmodic perpetual voice of my soul. It speaks of my existence. Henceforth, I am liberating from the chains of unquestioning acceptance of whatever is at hand. I am resisting with those truths that hold me back in the thoughtless conformity. So, I can say, I am free to live the life and lead the world, my world in a vintage deftness of my philosophy in life guided by the methodological and philosophical vehicle body of knowledge. 

From accepting the reality of change to the sense of wonder processed through submission for life examination to liberation may lead to identify my personhood. It entails or necessitates me to know and to do something about myself. That is what I am doing now. With my personal conviction and own creativity. I am aiming for the highest intensity for the quest of my identity and purpose. It is a kind of determination in examining one’s life worthy to stand for and worth living for.

When I was a Sudent...

I believed that we entrusted the school to provide quality education to the whole studentry. The presence of the quality teachers will be their first goal in order to produce and mould quality students.

Teachers? Who and where are they? In different scenario and predicament, we are able to recognize who really they are and where we usually find them. In newspapers, their names are printed and exposed in the headlines and in the television reporting their unenthusiastic behaviour concerning to their profession. Another thing, I can still remember the situation inside the classroom wherein I was a bystander of condemning teacher in their work.  From the clothes, shoes and accessories he wears, in the teaching strategies he applies in the class up to the little mistakes he committed. Most of the time, students are complaining that they do not understand the lesson well because the teacher does not know how to teach. All these things are the real scenario in the life of a teacher.

How merciful! Is it true? In this manner, we were trying to obliterate their dignity a s a teacher without considering their sensitivity. They are just human beings who experienced that they were degraded when they accused of calumny. Rather than blaming the teachers alone, let us try to ask ourselves. Did we do our part as students? Maybe they had shortcomings but we have no right to judge them in the way that could hurt them. We should not surmise their work without considering their effort to give their best in slaking our eagerness for learning. They did their part in a way that they thought we could learn from them best.

From the ponderous preparations in providing learning activities, they exerted time and pressure. However, it was insufficient on the part of the students. Consequently, they never falter to continue believing that it is their duty to live and secure the life of the youngster for the future. Still with vehemence, pride and optimistic attitude serving conscientiously with the young ones is their priority. Smiles and confidence are really in their heart to show that they really foster the dedication that a teacher should be.

 The teacher who developed critical thinking and values in an age bombarded with influences that depreciate sound works is a formidable task. The future lies on their hands in nurturing and motivating young ones to move forward for their dreams. As a teacher combines his good example, the finest service, commitment and dedication to his confidence, he will be able to develop men with resolute, unyielding characters who are able to seize with the challenges and issues of life, men who will stand for the right despite the differences from the majority. Since then, the love and concern that they showed to the students will in return worthy to gain respect with great appreciation. For that characteristic considered as one of the noblest profession truly to hold a title of being a hero.

Heroes are not only those personalities that we often read as we turn the pages of history book but also those fearless people who put forth enormous efforts and confer oneself wholly to a worthy purpose just to justify and sustain their big vision to reality and that are the roles of a teacher. Many individuals were enlightened and guided from their ideals to create a sturdy world with peaceful life. Further, they encountered struggles with courage in order to attain such ideals. For is it the urgent necessitate of our time?

To our dearest teachers, we would like to extend our sincere appreciation in inspiring us in the way to success. We salute your chosen vocation.

Save Water, Save Life

By Lo Ivan R. Castillon

 

                Give me peace; give me the right to live. My dear opponents, co-promoters of tranquil environment, judges, guests, ladies and gentlemen I am craving for my right to live.

                I am at peace as if I were in a deep sleep but I was aroused by the clamor of perilous world. This perplexed reality challenges me to scrutinize its existence. Barely out of my innocent world, the mystery of life mesmerizes me. But young as I am, I am ready to appeal to you to preserve your world, our world from environmental destruction.

                These concerns grant me to hear a spasmodic perpetual voice of flowing water that scream for help and show me the reproach destiny of our degrading environment. Yet, I have no regret of being here, alive.

                I would like to tell you this, to all of you here – water is life. I cannot conquer life without water. For it beats my thirst when I am parched, freshen me up with its droplets during rainy days, gives strength to swollen with pride, hope to fight for and life to live with. For without water I am nothing for it depletes my existence.

                Subsequently, water is one of the most precious gifts that God gave us. As to surmise its presence, considered to be our means to survive. A vintage characteristic that only water possessed as the world needs it for life. Most of us don’t really notice how significant it is. Our beautiful rainforests which host of the ferocious and to the tiniest animals need water in order to survive. Our sky, which holds many birds and the beautiful rainbow, the brown fertile soil, which we use to grow delicious food and unusual plants, water, has an enormous part for them to exist in this world. Likewise, water holds whole marine life which serves as one of the sources of the food we eat. Therefore, water is distinctively significant.

                I would like to ask you all. Do we value it? I think we’re not.

We are now in the New Age, Modern or Postmodern World as they said. Do you think it could help to our problem? Or it is one way of throwing away our desired future by degrading our environment. As of today, I do not know when and where I can drink safe water. There is now misconception whether – water is life or water is a threat.

One of the serious ecological problems that we Filipinos are facing is water supply. The Philippines has a total of 384 major river systems, 59 lakes and more than 10,000 hectares of fresh water swamps for domestics, industrial, agricultural and power generation purposes. But because of increasing contamination of river system due to destruction of watersheds and consequent soil erosion as well as the dumping of mine tailings, water flow has been greatly reduced such that fresh water shortage, especially potable water will become major concern in the very near future. In major urban areas, this problem has come.

As urbanization proliferates, water solution problems have expanded. These problems are particularly deep-rooted in increasing of more concentrated amounts of solid waste and sewage containing our water resources. That is why; our access to clean water is becoming an acute problem. Untreated wastewater spreads disease. Bacteria and viruses make water not suitable for drinking and recreational use, constitute an admonition of jeopardy against biodiversity, diminishes economic stability and household productivity and deteriorates overall essential characteristics of human life. In addition to that, be tantamount to higher incidence of infectious and parasitic diseases. This is a cause for alarm because of its rapid existence so as the causes and consequences of water pollution will warrant even greater attention.

Given this scenario, the country realizes that the quality of life of the future Filipinos may be compromised by how past and present generations consume and use limited critical life-containing resources. It is believed that the only rational way for us to preserve our water resources for the life of today and for the future generation is by taking action through upholding development without excruciating the right of water to breathe. To do that, let us start with ourselves. In deftness way, we can find out some ways to obliterate water pollution albeit not just in a click but little by little.

Our future relies on our hands as we are the painter of our dreams and an architect or our desired future. We all know that polluting our water resources could affect our life, still we continue doing it. We are the victims of or own crime. We are the serial killer of our own life. Let us save water now. We will not wait for tomorrow. We will perform our sense of duty as rational being. Water gives us life, now it is our time to act in response to give water the fullest life again.

Despite the fact that I am still young, my simple way of preserving water could greatly help in changing the world for her greatness. From now on, I do commit myself to take good care, save and conserve water. I would like to perform my duty as the hope my country. I will start it today since I know we deserve to be in peace and it’s our right to live in peace. We shouldn’t be blinded. Let’s open our eyes to reality that our country needs healthy Filipinos who will build and lead the Philippines, Filipinos that soar high with clean water in peaceful living. It would not be impossible if we work hand in hand in preserving water as we save life.

I challenge you now to do your part by taking action in preserving your life by preserving water. It’s your own prerogative whether you will be one of me or not. You have still enough time to do it, now. Can you?

 

Delivered by: Precious Hope Morante

Edited by:  Celia Suganob

(My first oratorical piece…)