A Cheerful Giver, a True Jesus lover On the first Sunday, five Junes ago, I met Sis. Linda Margate, the vice-chairperson of the Immaculate Conception Parish Pastoral Council at the Church’s patio. She was with a skinny male teenager. So excited, she blurted to the young man-to-be, “Ay, Edward (name changed), ang bait talaga ni Lord. Tignan mo, of all people, si Bro. Ves pa ang nasalubong natin!” “Bakit po, anong racket natin?” I responded in a joking manner. She then, tugged along Edward near me, introduced the guy, told me why they were together. “Etong si Edward, taga Kidapawan pero dito sya nag-aaral kasi sinasamahan niya ang lola niya….” was her supposedly introduction to a tele-serye, but after being induced to continue, she proceeded, “….hehehe, sori, ha, ang batang ito ay kagagraduate lang nya last April dyan sa Compre (Mintal Comprehensive High School). Ngayon Bro., gustong gusto niyang magpari.” Then she declared the reason for her joy: “Kagagaling lang namin kahapon sa St. Francis Xavier College Seminary para kumuha ng prospectus duon.” “Eto, Bro. Ves, tignan mo” handing over the sheet of legal size bond paper to me. Pointing at the end figure which was about Php14k, she continued, “Eh, hindi kaya ng magulang nyang tostosan ang kalaking iyan. Kaya kami lumapit sa iyo baka pwede mo pang idagdag si Edward sa mga scholars mo?” Though I knew that it would be too heavy for me to help two seminarians, I did not refuse Sis. Linda at all. In a jubilant voice, copying Anchorwoman Amy’ voice at her program Face to Face, I said, “O, sigue, Edward, …pasok!” In a more serious tone, I advised Sis. Linda to accompany Edward in checking-in at the Seminary the next day, exhorting the guy, “Sigue anak, kahit hindi ako ang magpapaaral sa iyo, sabihin ko sa iyo, I will do the best that I can so that all you have to do is to study as seriously as you can.” Tapping Edward’s shoulder, exhorting him, I again repeated the Face to Face expression: “Sigue, Edward, congratulations for your decision,….pasok!” After reaching home that evening, I opened my internet passed on the “gift of burden” to Dindo, (not his real name), one of my illegitimate son in the Middle East. Without much introduction, I keyed in to Dindo, “Son, I have good news for you. The Lord have given you a way of thanking Him for all the good things He has given you……” Without a lengthy explanation, I told him, “….so his semestral need for his tuition fee is P11K. Please send me, through my BDO account, alam mo naman ‘yun P2,500 on a monthly basis.” The following evening, Dindo replied, Sigue, Ninong, please check your bank balance next week.” Then, he concluded, “Ninong, thank you for giving me another opportunity to pay back to Kuya Jesus again.” Dindo had been supporting Edward in his two years of Pre-College studies and three years in the College level. He only stopped giving in money when Edward was advised out at the Seminary because they observed that habit was not his vocation. But, again, Dindo continued with his apostolate. Today, he is one of the academic benefactors of one of The Feast Tacunan SACS Scholars. One of my favorite evangelist, the late George Mueller, ca 1800, once wrote: The Christian should never worry about tomorrow or give sparingly because of a possible future need.” He wrote this in the year where he was praying for benefactors to help him provide a home for orphaned children. Within three years, he opened a home, without ever soliciting money from anyone. In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he exhorted them to sow abundantly by generously give to the needy in Jerusalem, in the same manner that a farmer makes an investment by sowing a certain amount of seed. To us Christians today, this seed is in the form, not only of money, but also time, loving services and our possessions to care for the needy. St. Paul also guaranteed to his followers that if they follow his advice to this regard, God will certainly “multiply the seed for you and also increase the interest of your good works” (2Cor. 9:10b). Not all of the core-servants of Feast Tacunan are exceedingly abundant, financially. However, all of them are 2nd Corinthian niners. They are very generous and cheerful givers and on site servers for the needy in their area, at the remote places in Brgy. Tacunan. No wonder, recently, they celebrated the best Feast. And definitely, like Dindo, they are experiencing sufficiency from God in their lives today!
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 02:01:11 +0000
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