Faith In Action

My first Baptism of the Spirit was with the Crusaders of Jesus, La Milagrosa , Cursillo Class No. 25, Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City, August 23-26, 1972. The name speaks for itself of what is to come. I was the Vice President of Batch 25 and the Leader of my Decuria Sta. Catalina, the Saint whom the Miraculous Medal was revealed. It was also the fulfillment of my obedience to the Lord of bringing back a lost soul to the fold. I learned how to give up power in replacement of act of salvation. For the whole class, we have one candidate who was a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, a well known sect who are against the Catholic religion. Their belief is that Jesus is a plain Man and is not a Son of God. They also believed that their founder Felix Manalo was an angel and a prophet. One day we had some discussion on matters about faith and she was challenging me about Jesus being the Son of God. I explained to her about the Trinity but if she wants to challenged me between Manalo and Jesus, I told her that I would not put the name of God in vain. But I did challenged her on matters of being “man” telling her that we will just compare Manalo to Rizal, at least they are both man. I told her that there were allegations among the Rizalistas that Rizal is alive, now, if she can prove to me that Manalo lived again after he died, then I will embrace her religion of being an INK, but if not, she has to be baptized as a Catholic before we leave this Cursillo Class. She told me that she will do it if she becomes the President of the Class. So when the election of officers came, I did not cast my vote, instead I voted her, giving her a 1 vote lead against me. So she became the President and I was her Vice President. After this election, she made true of her words and had her Baptism to the Catholic religion. I was so thankful because I was able to bring a lost soul to the Catholic church. It was my 3rd invitation in this Cursillo class, the first time was when I was 18 yrs old but it did not push through because I ran away from home. The same with the 2nd time, I also run away from home for reasons that I don’t want to be blamed and accused of spending money to enter the church formation, because the place was to be held in a province, and my foster parents especially my auntie would blame all the expenses that she will incurr in supporting me. I told them that if ever I would enter the Cursillo, I will see to it that it will be free in my behalf and out of my own conviction and freewill. And it happened, one day before I entered the Cursillo, I dreamed of my soul being taken by the devil, but I prayed and cast the devil away, at the same time, our house helper woke me up because she heard me shouting. No one knows that I was leaving to enter the Cursillo, I just took my things put it inside the bag and told them that I will be away, because I will enter the Cursillo and my office mate was the one who sponsored for my spiritual formation. They were all shocked with my decision, they do not know where I was going. The formation inside the Cursillo was just in time of God’s calling me, because it fulfilled the long awaited message that I received when I was 12 years old. I learned of what God planned for me and it was His plan of giving me a task to “bring back the lost soul to His fold – the Catholic Church.” It was a tough assignment, I cannot just do this alone, I need the Holy Spirit of God, the presence of the Blessed Virgin and Jesus to help me tackle on such an assignment. Nevertheless, I submitted to His Will, and there below the Cross of Jesus, I made my promise to do in humility and obedience, His task, even if it will cause my life, the way Rizal offered his life for the country…just be with me Lord and in me always, because without You I am nothing, let You Will be done according to Your words. During the lessons about the faith and all exams, I got good grades, nobody made me cry even the thought of not receiving any love letters from loved ones. Even the Mañanita, I just watched the system on how the class was being performed and how my fellow classmates are doing. Until graduation, the Heads of the Class were so amazed with me but when they serenaded my friend and me at their house, that was when I started to cry pitying myself that no one loved me after all except the people who accepted me as I am. When I went home, the good neighborhood was there waiting for me to arrive, they are the Cursillo members of the community. Since I know that they are waiting for me at the front door, I entered my way at the back door. And they were all caught by surprised, my childish attitude attacked me again of trying to play with them. They welcomed me, I accepted their presence and grateful enough to thanked them. And then I made my first trance, in front of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with hands stretched out I prayed and asked the Holy Spirit to enter my body and give the message to the members of the family. They were all surprised with my message because I know I was not the one talking but the Spirit within me and the Spirit was asking my relatives from the sins that they have committed against God and telling them to repent of their wickedness and evil ways. And I overheard my auntie shouting at me: Why, are you God?” Even the friendly neighborhood were surprised at my actions and they cannot say anything because what they heard from me are true and cannot be contested. Because of this incident, my auntie told me to leave the house, which I followed. I went back to my friend’s house in Caloocan and stayed with them for more than 1 month. I began my prayer and fasting because God told me that I have to prepare myself for the task that I have to do. My office mate friend Norma was very much concerned of my health because she can see that I devoted myself in prayer, reading the Bible and fasting. Even in the office, they were so concerned with me but they cannot do anything because they really find me weird. There was a time that my foster father visited me in the office and beg me to come home, but I declined the offer, because I know that if I go back home I will not be able to do what God wanted me to do, and since I have committed myself, I need to finish the task that was given to me. Until one day September 21, 1972, Martial Law was declared at the same time, God woke me up in a dream and told me to write the letter of prophecy for President Marcos. It was a handwritten note that I made and which I brought to Malacañang all alone, with only my Sacred Heart image as my companion. My friend Norma do not know what I have written but all the messages are kept in my mind and heart. They were trying to stop me from doing it but hey cannot do anything because I am a stubborn person and a fighter. And when I finally delivered the letter I thanked God and said It is now finished Lord, thy will be done…and waited the result of such an act of fighting in a peaceful way the President of the country and hoping to carry the consequences of being put to prison for such an offense, which I have already conditioned myself that will happen in the future, in exchange for the fulfillment of the prophecy. And what I have written as a prophecy for the country during Marcos time came to fulfillment after 12 years up to the present…and is about to end. FAITH - is not a body ofconcepts but a life of obedience to the voice of God. It means YES, AMEN to the God who is full ofwisdom and love. The Amen is said not with the mind but with one's whole life. Applications: The understanding of the close connection between revelation and history has repercussions and consequences in our theological studies and pastoral actions. If revelation is historical, then theology, which is the reflection of the data of Divine Revelation, must also be historical. God of biblical revelation not only speaks but also acts. God reveals Himself not only by speaking but also by acting. Characteristics of Biblical Revelation (Is not myths, philosophy,not vision, not only creation but History) Revelation assumes credibility through some events. **Acts 2, 22...John 5,36-37 My testimony is greater than John's: the works my Father has given me to carry out, these same works of mine testify that the Father has sent me. **John 10, 37-38 If I am not doing my Father's work, there is no need to believe me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the Father. In this world of men, I have chosen Rizal as my inspiration in following an example of sacrificing oneself for the country. Though the tasked for me is of Divine reasons, men will find it impossible to believe since God is God and Jesus is the Son of God, though made Man to set an example for the people of His time, that until now the same words in the Bible is still happening. Rizal prefer to do changes in writing by the 2 books he has written to expose the anomalies and traditions of the old days, and still is happening today because of the colonial mentality of Filipinos who are rich and powerful, leaving behind the poor and those who live in poverty. Though I may not be as intelligent as Rizal but the actions of Rizal is worth dying for. This is my Sta. Catalina group. The lady beside me was the President who converted to Catholicism before we graduated. It's worth following the wish of the Lord. Soul uplifting indeed. In the end, it is always my Jesus, the Son of God who is my Master, my beloved Lord and God forever.