Basta Basista!

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B Sunday Reflection

READINGS: AM 7:12-15 PS 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14 EPH 1:3-14 OR 1:3-10 MK 6:7-13

REFLECTION:

“Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave.” (Mark 6:10)

I could still remember the first time I went to parish of Mary Help of Christians in Basista, Pangasinan for my summer apostolate. I question myself, “Wala akong kakilala doon… Pero let’s see…” I did not feel afraid of going to a very far place from my town in Lingayen to a simple town in Basista. Excitement and joy are the feelings that stir my heart when I was travelling there along with brother Levy.

The parish welcome us not as visitors but as a new member of the community in the parish. To be honest, I usually count the days of my summer apostolates. But it was the opposite when we stayed in the parish of Mary Help of Christians. “Ay… Last day na pala? Mag extend kaya tayo?” It is a feeling that I do not want to leave on that place because of the people who have made us feel in our home-away-from-home.

Last Sunday’s Gospel points out the rejection of Jesus in His hometown. On today’s Gospel reading the disciples were sent to a mission. But, I reflected on the disciples’ feelings when they are leaving to the houses whom they are welcomed. Nalulungkot ba rin sila nung paalis na sila? Gusto rin ba nila na mag extend sa bahay na nagpatuloy sakanila?

I left the parish physically but my heart still stays even up to now in that community. Indeed, Kim Min-kyu[From the South-Korean Television Drama I am Not a Robot] is correct when he said, “A relationship is to take roots in someone's heart.” Although I left the parish for me to be back on my ‘Usual Life’, they also left something for me too. They left a mark which it imprinted a special space in my heart…

“It seems so dark… But we are leaving with a smile in our hearts…” This is what I posted when I was travelling back at my home. Yes, they leave something in my heart. The memories being with them and all the lessons that helped me grow as a holy person. This Gospel reading reminded me, “Do I also leave something to someone when I am being welcomed? When others open not only the doors of their home but also their hearts to me?” I hope and pray that I left something to them, specifically the love of God who usie my presence to them.

On the evening before I will leave the parish, I made this simple poem dedicated on those people who welcomed me… Cherished me… And treated me not only as a visitor but a member in the family…

Basta... Basista!

Basista...

Simpleng bayang naming napunta...

Malayo sa aming lugar na aking kinagisnan nga...

Namalagi dito ng halos isang buwan o may ilang araw na higit pa.

Para sa "summer apostolate" na tawag naming mga semimarista.

Payapa...

Sobrang iba sa'ming lugar na'di naming alam kung may katahimikan pa nga ba.

Malayo sa ingay, di lang sa tunog at ano mang kantang walang kwenta...

Pero apektado pa rin sa mga kaguluhang nangyayari sa bansa...

Kakaiba...

Di lang dahil sa payak na pamumuhay nila...

O sa mga bagay-bagay o lugar na aming nakita

Pero sa mga iba't-ibang taong aming nakasalamuha at nakasama...

Kahanga-hanga...

Hindi lang sa lugar na aming nakita...

Pero sa mga Iba't-ibang taong naming nakilala...

Kuntento at sobrang saya sa payak lang na pamumuhay nila...

Malayo sa siyudad na nagnanais ng sobra pa

Pamilya...

Oo nga't di naming nakasama ang sarili naming pamilya.

Pero di ko aakalaing nagkaroon ako ng mga kapatid mga ading man o Kuya..

Mga kakulitan, kwela, at di Malilimutang alaalang naming ginawa.

kung Kaya't, marami kaming natutunan sa kanila...

Ang bilis nga...

Di ko namalayang tapos na pala...

Di ko aakalaing ganitong oras ang lumipas na.

Kay bilis ang mga araw na nagdaan nga.

Maibabagal ko ang mga lumipas na pagkakataon, sana...

"Paalam na"

Yan ang lagi nating sinasabi sa iba

Pag tayo'y lilisan sa lugar tayo'y napamahal ng sobra...

Patawad, maraming salamat sa lahat, at tandaan niyo po'y lagi namin kayong ipagdadasal mga ate't kuya.

Pero ang tanong ay: Paalam na nga ba?

Wag mag alala dahil wika nila'y 'May next time pa'

Kaya... Ang masasabi ko ay, "Hanggang sa muli, bayan ng Basista!"

Date Written: July 13, 2018