To my dear friends in Christ,
Greetings!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!!! I hope each and every one of you back there enjoyed the happiness that this season brings, but let us not forget the Reason for the season. We may have the tendency to concentrate only on the festivities – and forget the One who we should be celebrating for.
As for me, Christmas day here in Saudi was a regular working day. Actually, it is celebrated here in secret dahil bawal nga. So, we celebrated na lang on the 26th, Thursday, which is a weekend here. I joined my friends from another company, actually a former sister-company of my employer, before the brother-owners decided to call it quits after a feud, and finally separated.
The problem in that other company is that their salary has been delayed for 5 months now. And those who voiced out their complaints to the owner were unjustly thrown out of their jobs. Well okay, they were fired, so it is proper that they receive their salary balance, their benefits from their years of stay, and their plane ticket for home. But it’s been three months now since they were ejected, and they haven’t received a single Riyal, claiming that the company has no funds as of that time. Now, these three friends of mine sought the help of the Philippine Embassy, and their case is now at the Saudi Labor. It appears that they are on the winning side, but it would take time, maybe 6 months to one year, before the employer buckles and give them their due. So, all they could do right now is stay in their villa (mabuti nga hindi pa sila ejected sa villa nila e), and wait – without jobs, without money to support their family back home, and almost without hope.
They rely on us: me, from another company, and the rest of the Filipino group from their own company who were not ejected. We pool our resources, so that everybody could be supported, particularly on food. And this Christmas celebration, we pooled what little we have for a little celebration – to bring some joy to all our hearts. I can’t imagine how my friends could be feeling. Kung ako nga na wala namang masyadong problema sa trabaho, but far from my loved ones, feel sad because I’m so far away this Christmas, what more silang tatlo. What I can only do is pray for them, and give them encouragement in what little way I can, and hope that this New Year would give them a fresh start.
That is also what I’m praying for, not only for me and Mommy Jing, but for every one of you – a fresh start this New Year. This experience with my three friends reminded me that there are a lot of people in need out there: materially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. And as CFC Singles For Christ members or for any other Christian community members there as well, it is our Sacred Duty to help them – in any way we can. And I believe this duty is part of our SFC Covenant, particularly item#2:
“I will work towards the evangelization and transformation of my work place, my family and my community.”
SFC Covenant #2
Let us renew our lives and have this fresh start. Let’s begin with our own New Year’s resolution. If your planning one for the next year, choose one that focuses more on our Sacred Duty, and set aside our worldly ways for a while, or better, completely. And as in Paul’s letter to Timothy says, we must strive in performing our best in our Sacred Duty to God:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2: 15 NIV
As stipulated in our SFC Covenant, our Sacred Duty encompasses all major aspects of our lives: our work; our family; and our society. We must strive in excellence in all three and not just in one area. We cannot be overly active in our SFC activities, and then neglect our family duties. Nor can we cannot be totally engulfed in our career, and disregard our family and community. Ang hirap no? But with the help of God, we can do it!
Sabi Niya sa John 15 that He is the vine and we are the branches. As Christians, we have heard His word, and He in turn “prunes” us so that we become fruitful. That is the main focus of our Sacred Duty – to bear fruit, in all aspects of our lives.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned”
John 15: 1-6 NIV
This duty can be anything that He assigns to us : from being a spiritual encouragement at home and at work; or doing an active part in one of our CFC or Gawad Kalinga projects, like SAGIP or the Prison Ministry; inviting someone to the CLP and help him finish it; or just helping someone in need anyway we can. We can learn to discover His plans for us, and what He intends for us to do for Him (we’ll discuss this topic in Sacred Duty 2). But we can only do that if we remain in Him – through our prayers, personally and in community; and contemplating on His Word.
If we try to do things in our own way, we are bound to fail sooner or later – for we can do nothing without Him. It’s like this palm fruit here in the Middle East, the Dates. Pluck it from the tree and it grows so sweet for some time. But after a while, it withers and slowly rots. That would happen to us if we severe ourselves from Him. But if Christ is the center of what we do, then we can accomplish more of what He intends for us to finish, and bear much, much fruit.
So, my friends, I encourage you to stop for a while and ponder: Where is my life heading to? Am I doing the Sacred Duty God intends for me to perform? Is Christ the center of what I am busying myself in? Use the SFC Covenant as your guidebook – and check for yourself if you’re on the right track. Then make a decision and take this opportunity to have a brand new start in life.
May God supply you with all your needs. May He give you wisdom, knowledge and understanding to guide you in the Sacred Duty that He assigned to you. May this New Year bring you a fresh start in Life so you can strive for excellence, bear fruit, and reach the goal that’s waiting for us at the end of the race – the Crown of Eternal Life.
Please pray for me , as I’ve been praying for you. Pray for your elders, and share whatever blessings you receive from the Lord with other members of our community. And may the Lord bless you and keep you, this New Year, and in the years to come. In Jesus Name!
Yours in Christ,
Brod. Pete
“Letters from my Sojourn”
© 2008 by Peter Allan C. Mariano
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