Feast of St. Benedict, 2021

Today when we are once more on lockdown, I find this image most appropriate. We are more than a year now in pandemic. And how I wish we could meet you, my dear students. All our endeavors in school have you in mind.

And I ask myself: how are our students? Does this pandemic make sense to them? Are they enjoying learning while being at home all the time? Do they see the pandemic as a time of blessedness? Do their parents see the situation as a challenge to hone their children in faith, discipline, and love?

As I recognize the efforts of our teachers to make onward learning interesting and relevant, I ask myself: are lessons enough? What have Catholic schools like St. Scholastica’s Academy, San Fernando to offer that parents invest their time and resources to afford our education?

St. Benedict saw the world in one ray of light. His world was no different from ours. It was a time of chaos, of uncertainty, of invasions. But the monks continued to live their lives of prayer and work— ORA ET LABORA. They did not think of making an impact on society. Theirs was a life of one yearning—to seek God, to love Him above all in the daily unfolding of life. They tilled the land, they prayed and studied and copied manuscripts (no printing press, no technology, etc.). And history saw them lay the foundations of Western Europe. St. Pope Paul VI proclaimed St. Benedict as Patron of Europe. He and his monks crafted and preserved Christian civilization.

You will remember my dear teachers, students and parents that we set as our vision and mission this year to BE LIGHT:

L isten with the ear of our hearts, to the God within me, to His Word, to our parents and teachers, to all of creation;

I nspire others through our lives of truth, honesty, and care;

G ive freely of what we are and have received and share;

H ope for a better world by contributing my share of skills, discipline, hard work, and acts of kindness;

T oday embrace differences and unite with Benedictine youth in Christ!

We are close to the end of the school year. It might be good to reflect on how each one of us has been a light casting out darkness wherever we are.

As Easter draws near, we can still ask the Lord during this Lenten season to help us cast out the darkness. Simple acts of kindness, of caring for one another, of helpfulness at home can still transform our little world. And if each one of us becomes a tiny point of light, altogether we can be that one ray of light St. Benedict was privileged to behold in his lifetime. He saw the whole world bathed in light.

This is also the year when we commemorate 500 years of Christianity in our land. The Lord has gifted us with the gift of faith. He has shown us Jesus. In the whole of Asia there are only two countries that are Christian—the Philippines and lately Timor.

Do we reflect the life of Jesus in our lives? Is Jesus real to us? Do we see that all our learning is vain if our life is not centered on Jesus? We can be the smartest person around, but if Jesus is not the reason for our being and striving, then we are nothing.

Henry Sy, Jr., reflecting on the death of his oldest child Jan Catherine who died at 29 years of age, said that during this pandemic the family was specially blessed to have Jan around. She took care of her parents, was solicitous about their well-being. And before her intubation she held her thumbs up—for Jesus. She was ready to meet Jesus.

On March 25, we shall be remembering a young girl giving her YES to God’s invitation. Her YES meant she was willing to be the virgin mother of God’s Son. She did not fully understand what was being asked of her, but she was willing to let God take charge of her life. The feast is called the Annunciation. Though it is Lent, this feast is a solemnity—a time for deep rejoicing! Through Mary, God could have a human face in Jesus.

As we celebrate the Sacred Triduum next week, let us enter into the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He invites us to live His life. This is our mission—to be His disciples, to be LIGHT that the world might be redeemed from darkness. May St. Benedict and our Blessed Mother teach us and show us the way of being disciples of Jesus today, especially during this 500th anniversary year of our faith.

Remember to Be LIGHT. Let your light shine out in darkness. Follow the way of Jesus. He gave His life that we may have life—everlasting life. If we die daily for love of Jesus and love for others, we can rejoice at Easter. Then truly the Lord can EASTER in us.