"In the sweet by and by, we shall meet on that beautiful shore" - A tribute to Bro. Martin Mbende.

Yesterday we celebrated the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Today November 03 is the Feast day of St. Martin de Porres and tomorrow is the 1st day of my second semester in my 3rd year of theology. One person that comes to my mind on these 3 different occasions this year is none other than my friend, a brother, a fellow classmate, and a companion in this journey towards the priesthood. He is Bro. Martin Mbende, SX from Cameroon. He belongs to a religious congregation called Xaverian Missionaries. He passed away on October 21, 2013. I used to fondly call him 'Cardinal'.
 
I'm sure going to miss not having him around especially as I begin my new semester tomorrow. I first met him on June 06, 2012 when we both registered for our course, and since then we have been closed and use to hang out together in between classes. We sat next to each other for some subjects and I found him very intelligent and attentive at all the classes. In his simple little ways, he does some pranks too at class but this is only known by very few of us, his friends. Another friend, Berry from Indonesia can testify to this. 

Just 10days before he died, during the School 1st Semester End Party which coincidentally was also my Birthday, we had a great time chatting and joking and making fun of each other. He was asking Berry to repeat all the jokes to me. We had so much fun that never did I imagined that it would be the last time. In the period of our friendship we had made many plans together. Such plans were to visit each ones country, trying to be present for each ones ordination, celebrating the Eucharist together as priests and constantly keeping in touch especially when we leave for our own missions. This was one of his reason to activate his Facebook account which he kept dormant for sometime before.       

Haizzz Martin, we had plans but God holds the greater plan for each one of us. Your 'mission' has started bro, and I know you are now praying for us.
Ohh bro, I have two regrets, one for not taking the picture we took together from you and secondly for not being able to pay my last respects and attend your sending off to that 'beautiful shore'.
So bro, was Fr. Mario Francisco right about heaven?? Is his dog there? hehe. Bro, I'm sure you now have all the answers from the questions and doubts raised during our class on Eschatology. I will miss u bro, you are a good friend.
Here is a song for you till we meet again in paradise:

    In the sweet by and by

There’s a land that is fairer than day,
And by faith we can see it afar;
For the Father waits over the way
To prepare us a dwelling place there.
Refrain:
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore;
In the sweet by and by,
We shall meet on that beautiful shore.

To our bountiful Father above,
We will offer our tribute of praise
For the glorious gift of His love
And the blessings that hallow our days. 

We shall sing on that beautiful shore
The melodious songs of the blessed;
And our spirits shall sorrow no more,
Not a sigh for the blessing of rest.

2013 Retreat: “Behold, I make all things new." - Rev. 21:5.

I had my annual retreat this year which was a directed retreat by a Religious Sister (Sr. Zeny) from the Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary (RVM) at Betania Retreat House Baguio, Philippines. During my retreat the constant theme or message I receive was  “Behold, I make all things new." This phrase can be found in the Bible, from the Book of Revelation 21: 5.
Here are some of my reflections during my retreat that I would like to share:-


- Yes, there are times that I am pressured with my own actions and at the same time I'm guilty of my sinfulness.
- I want to change, to be better and a worthy minister of the Lord.
- Motivation: to serve as a Catholic priest.
-Gen 1: 27-31 - The past 1 month, I've been looking very close
ly to God's creations. The beauty, animals & plants. Reflecting on the scripture text and looking at the nature, i was just enjoying in God's love & peace. At that time there was this sense of joy, being loved and feeling of uniqueness.A sense of 'NEW'. (A repetition, reoccurring  theme - 'I will make all things new'.
- Question: Where is God inviting me to?
Response based on giftedness, personal capacity. For every situation that happens, there is an invitation.

- Feeling privileged to have this moment of prayer and reflection.
- As I sat at the garden looking around on what to ponder, I saw a bunch of flowers just swaying and moving along with the wind and I thought I'd just focus on it. At that time something fell n the floor near where I was sitting. It was a caterpillar. It just stood still at first and I thought it was dead due to the fall. But then it started to move slowly and went towards a direction of a pole. I thought it would just go towards some greens to eat some leaves! It then climbed upon the pole. Then I realized it actually fell from the top of the pole. Along it's way some ants came and disturbed it, but it just climb. I went near it then to have a closer look. It was ugly, black with a brown shade in the middle and it was furry. It was just climbing and climbing while coming in contact with ants that was disturbing it until it reached a beam and went on it. I then could not see it anymore.
Reflection
I noticed that I was getting excited as I saw the caterpillar going higher and higher up on the pole. I did not want it to fall again. Each time it met an ant, I would tell it to fight the ant. It kept on climbing as it faced challenges. I was happy when it reached the beam.
I felt, I was the caterpillar. The falling down reminded me of my own falling down during the vocation crisis in 2008. When the caterpillar was just still after it fell, it was like me not knowing what to do during my crisis. The caterpillar climbing and moving up again is for me starting all over again my priestly studies. As the caterpillar faced the ants, it was for me to press-on even when I face struggles.
A caterpillar would eventually turns into a beautiful butterfly ('make all things new'), so for me is my call to priesthood, and all the more becoming a better person.  
Me cheering and supporting the caterpillar was basically what God would do for me.

- God who is love should be affective (feelings).
- When we embrace God in the dark, we can find God in it. Difficulty we face is a way God cleansing, making anew.
- Goodness starts now!