WIR? Is that the name of your favorite radio station?
Is "Kailangan ba i-memorize iyan?" its tagline?
Actually, DWIR is just an acronym I coined as a reminder to keep to heart, in a sharing with over 50 attendees at one of the regular monthly meetings of the Baguio City Parole and Probation Office held at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Baguio City Hall.
Special thanks to Architect Brother Bo Gragasin of the Sacred Heart Catholic Charismatic Community, who led the singing of songs, which were well received and participated in by the probationers and parolees.
Here is a summary of my sharing and talk last Feb. 9, 2017:
“The only difference between you and me is that I have not been caught”, was quoted from the famous lines of Archbishop Fulton Sheen when he once spoke before a group of prisoners.
Truly, we are all sinners and it is clearly stated so in Romans 4:6 “All of us have sinned and have fallen short of the Glory of God.”
Are we going to continue willingly and consciously committing sins? Or do we strive to lead better lives and fulfill our purposes in life? If we do, fulfilling the conditions of our parole, should pose no concern.
We would not even have to be concerned about them. We will surely transition well into society.
We can change when we realize that it is possible, with the help of the Lord. Why? Because “everyone was born free, but everyone is in chains”
What are we chained to?
4 P’s. What are they?
1. Pleasures
2. Possessions
3. Power
4. Prestige
Examples of pleasures would be an addiction to drinking, gambling, drugs, gaming, illicit sex, and other sins and frailties of the body.
Possessions would refer to an insatiable desire to own and accumulate things of this world, to the extent that they become our “idols” and purpose for living. 1 Timothy 6:10 says, “for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Power. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We see it in our midst. We see it in our country. We have people acting and killing with impunity. We have people acting like God, believing they can control the lives and destiny of others. We see evil behavior and perverse speech. We are made to live in a climate of fear and death.
Prestige. We like to be popular. We like to be set high on a pedestal and like to sit in positions of honor.
Romans 11:36 would remind us to be grounded, to know that nothing is ours, and that everthing is borrowed from Him: “Everything comes from God alone, everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory.”
A layman’s reminder would help: “Achievements will be surpassed. Records will be broken. Tributes will be forgotten. Wealth will be lost”. In the end, what remains, is God.
So what would take away our chains of bondage? The truth.
John 8:31-32 says, “If you hold on to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”
To move on to a new life, and leave the past behind, we must learn to forgive others and to forgive ourselves. Why forgive? Because it cleanses. It allows a new beginning. It opens a new chapter in our lives and that of others.
To love ourselves, we must first forgive ourselves of all our wrongdoings, and ask the forgiveness from those we have sinned against, from fellow human beings and from our Creator, who made us in His image and likeness. For us Catholics, we are blessed to have the Sacrament of Penance, where we can confess to a priest and hear the Lord forgive us, thru the power Christ has given them.
Move on, move forward, thru the narrow path and conquer the 4 P’S that chain us.
My Dearest Fellow Sinners,
Why DWIR? What does it stand for? Do What Is Right!
That is the music that should resound in our hearts and minds if we want to live in peace. We will be rewarded here and in the life to come.
For it is promised in Psalm 84:11 “No good thing will He withhold from those who do what is right” (DWIR)