{"id":140878,"date":"2024-08-09T11:57:01","date_gmt":"2024-08-09T11:57:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xs.edu.ph\/?p=140878"},"modified":"2024-08-09T11:57:04","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T11:57:04","slug":"gifts-gratitude-generosity-homily-of-fr-arnel-t-ong-sj-on-the-mass-in-honor-of-st-ignatius","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xs.edu.ph\/index.php\/gifts-gratitude-generosity-homily-of-fr-arnel-t-ong-sj-on-the-mass-in-honor-of-st-ignatius\/","title":{"rendered":"Gifts. Gratitude. Generosity. Homily of Fr. Arnel T. Ong, SJ on the Mass in Honor of St. Ignatius"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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During the super-typhoon Carina, we saw many heartwarming acts of generosity that restored our faith in humanity. Some Xavier School Alumni and parents selflessly provided <\/span>financial aid and essential supplies to support ongoing relief efforts. Some Xavier School students, <\/span>teachers, and staff volunteered their time to pack relief goods for the affected communities. A <\/span>touching story involved a cancer survivor who organized a feeding program for her impoverished <\/span>neighbors affected by the flood. A heroic man rescued a dog trapped near the roof of a <\/span>submerged hut. Several establishments, including malls, schools, and churches, opened their <\/span>doors to provide shelter for those in need. Many restaurants initiated relief operations in response <\/span>to the calamity. These remarkable acts of kindness and compassion serve as poignant reminders <\/span>of the essence of St. Ignatius’ prayer, urging individuals to give without counting the cost, to labor <\/span>without seeking rest, and to toil without expecting rewards. Reflecting on the motivations behind <\/span>this prayer, one can’t help but ponder where he derived such profound inner freedom to give <\/span>unconditionally and to labor tirelessly without yearning for recognition and reward. For all of us, we <\/span>ask, WHY ARE WE DOING THIS? What motivates us to give and serve? Let me suggest three <\/span>points for reflection: GIFTS<\/b>, GRATITUDE<\/b>, and GENEROSITY<\/b>.
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GIFTS<\/b>. St. Ignatius ardently believed that everything we possess are gifts bestowed upon <\/span>us by God. According to him, materials, possessions, talents, skills, and even relationships are all <\/span>divine gifts that we cannot claim as our own. Even our accomplishments, accolades, and honors <\/span>are regarded as gifts from the Divine. From St. Ignatius’ perspective, we are like humble beggars <\/span>standing before our Creator, recognizing that all we have are graciously bestowed upon us. As we <\/span>say, beggars can\u2019t be choosers. Just like beggars who rely on the generosity of others, we are <\/span>unable to dictate or demand what is given to us. Similarly, we cannot dictate or impose conditions <\/span>God\u2019s benevolence. We humbly accept these gifts, despite our unworthiness, and utilize them to <\/span>praise, serve, and reverence our Creator. This notion is prominently reflected in St. Ignatius’ First <\/span>Principle and Foundation. Perhaps, St Ignatius realized this when he became a pilgrim. He <\/span>begged for food and shelter. He relied on the kindness and generosity of those around him for <\/span>sustenance and shelter.
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Part of our Jesuit formation is the pilgrimage experiment. Though it was not obligatory <\/span>during my time, I took it upon myself for spiritual growth. We walked, by pair, for 169 km from <\/span>Bocaue, Bulacan to Manaoag, Pangasinan. We had 5 days to accomplish it. We only had our bags <\/span>containing our clothes, water tumbler, and P500 pocket money for our transportation in going <\/span>home. We hid our identity as Jesuits to avoid special treatment. We begged for food and shelter <\/span>along the way. We experienced rejection several times. Families and even religious houses and <\/span>churches rejected us for security reasons. We found comfort in every Barangay Hall, sleeping <\/span>through makeshift cardboard mats. Perhaps St Ignatius also experienced this during his <\/span>pilgrimage. When you have nothing, you feel grateful for anything you received.
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GRATITUDE<\/b>. A beggar is grateful because he is dependent on the Giver. He does not feel <\/span>entitled because everything is a gift. He cannot demand or pressure the giver because everything <\/span>depends on the giver. He feels grateful if somebody gives him food for the day. The poorer and <\/span>more beggarly he becomes, the more he trusts in God\u2019s providence. St Ignatius\u2019 gratitude can be <\/span>felt in his book, The Spiritual Exercises (SpEx) and the Constitution of the Society of Jesus. On the <\/span>fourth week of the SpEx, we beg for the grace of profound gratitude so that we can love and serve <\/span>the Lord better. Our way of loving and serving God and neighbors must be grounded on gratitude. <\/span>I believe this is the dominant emotion in his life. St. Ignatius was always grateful for God\u2019s love and <\/span>mercy towards him.
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Gratitude can take three forms: we feel it in our hearts, express it in words by saying \u201cthank <\/span>you.\u201d But this is not enough because gratitude compels us to give in return. For example, when <\/span>you receive a precious and unexpected gift. You are overwhelmed. The heart overflows with <\/span>gratitude for this unexpected gift. Even when you say \u201cthank you\u201d, it doesn\u2019t seem enough. You <\/span>want to do more. You want to share or give to others.
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GENEROSITY<\/b> is the result of gratitude. We give because we are grateful, which is different <\/span>from giving out of necessity or obligation. A generous person gives not from one\u2019s surplus, but <\/span>from a deep sense of gratitude. Generosity is ingrained in the history of St Ignatius’ family as seen <\/span>in the seal of the House of Loyola which features “two gray wolves with their paws resting on the <\/span>handles of a cauldron suspended by black pot hooks\u201d. The representations of the wolves (lobo) <\/span>and cauldron (olla) evolved into the name Loyola (Lobo y olla). These symbolize the generosity of <\/span>the Loyola family, who, during feudal war, “provided their soldiers with so much food that the <\/span>wolves always found something to eat even after the men had been fed.” That’s why Ignatius can <\/span>pray the lines “to give and not to count the cost, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not ask <\/span>for reward.” He is grateful for God\u2019s love and mercy towards him, and his gratitude translates into <\/span>action. The more he gives, the more he receives, because he trusts God. The opposite is also <\/span>true: \u201cthe more you keep, the more will be taken away\u201d.
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Gifts. Gratitude. Generosity.<\/b> St. Ignatius encouraged us to &quot;go forth and set the world aflame.\u201d <\/span>However, our pursuit of excellence must be rooted in our mission. We should always question why <\/span>we do what we do. Every plan, activity, and initiative should stem from our purpose. Why are you <\/span>helping others? Why do we contribute to relief operations? Why? While we love our school and <\/span>love God, love sometimes requires us to make sacrifices. We need to understand love from a <\/span>place of gratitude. Gratitude fills our hearts and moves us to give and share. Generosity is how we <\/span>express gratitude to God and others. It’s not enough to just say THANK YOU. “For love ought to <\/b><\/span>manifest itself more in deeds than words.<\/b>” How do you take care of the gifts you’ve been <\/span>given? How do you practice gratitude every day? How do you show generosity to your classmates <\/span>and colleagues?<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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