Lagura: Love and care will prevail

AT the “asilo” Juan remained unwanted and unclaimed by prospective foster parents. His sullen and sad looks were compounded by his being deaf and mute. One day, however, Cristina--who for several years had wished for a child but could unfortunately could bear any took Juan into her home.

Doctors who she approached for medical help and advise told her there was no hope for the little boy to develop normally. Yet Cristina continued to be a good adoptive mother.

She fed the child, bathed and dressed him like her own son. Still, no marked improvement could be noticed in the boy. No facial reaction could be seen, not a single sound came from his lips. One night, however, Cristina tenderly took the child into her arms, hugged him as closely yet gently to herself and, while doing so sang so softly yet sweetly Brahm’s “Lullaby.” The little boy slowly closed his eyes as he was rocked to sleep.

Deep into the night Cristina was awakened to hear a humming then a soft singing coming from Juan’s room. The child started to lisp, then to sing so sweetly the lullaby his foster mother had earlier that night sung to him so lovingly.

In the gospel for this Sunday we heard how the Lord took good care of his chosen disciples. He treated them, mostly a collection of fishermen, a tax-collector and a rebel, no longer as servants but as friends. True, he rebuked them when needed, but he always cared for them. He told them to rest for a while after their apostolic journey and, more importantly, to pray with him. Prayer, after all, is the vital link with the Heavenly Father. Prayer turned them into spiritual dynamos. At the same time, Jesus had pity and took good care of the people who hungered for his presence and help.

Even when his disciples had deserted him, Jesus still searched for them and invited them to go back to his friendship and love. The apostles’ response was their deep commitment to the Lord and loyalty even unto death.

Although throngs went away from him because they could not accept his teaching especially about his flesh as the bread for the life of the world(John 632ff), the Risen Lord later won them over by the thousands.(Acts of the Apostles 2:41)

As the whole world turns its eyes to the 2012 London Olympic Games we will have a chance to witness superbly trained and extremely talented athletes coming from all over the world to compete under the motto “Citius(faster), fortius(stronger), altius(higher)” It is a celebration of life at its physically best.

We are, indeed, grateful for the gift of life and grace given to these young athletes. At the same time, realizing that there are many more who are less gifted, even heavily handicapped, like little Juan, we try to open a corner of our hearts and keep a portion of our lives and talents for the less unfortunate in this world. Some loving and caring can do them wonders.

“He said to them, “come you by yourselves into a lonely place, and rest for w while.” For there were many coming and going, and they could not find time even to eat. So they went way in the boat to a lonely place all by themselves. Now many saw them going away and recognized them, and they ran together there on foot from all the towns and went on ahead of them. When Jesus disembarked, he saw a great crowd, and he was moved to the depths of his being with pity for them, because they were like sheep who had no shepherds; and he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:29-34