United in Christ

Over the past few weeks since February, our web was busy preparing for its annual Holy Week special The Seven Last Words. Priests, nuns, members of religious congregations were invited to write the reflections this year because it's the Year of the Clergy and Consecrated Persons. Members were tapped to do this or that task. As the weeks gradually led to Holy Week, preparations were taking shape and people who knew about it looked forward when it becomes 'live'.

Last week saw us all focused on a lot of religious activities. For our web, it was this time of year again to hold The Seven Last Words. It is heartwarming to see people coming together, contributing in their own special way to make our online devotion a success. Way back in 2005, when this devotion begun in our web, we started with our own members. Over the years, more people from outside have been involved. This, in spite of our distances.

What brought us all together? Perhaps it is our Lenten panata. Or our desire to share the Gospel with others. It could be our way to be more 'online' during Holy Week, For me, what brought us together is actually a 'Who'. It is Christ. As St Paul writes: "But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:13).

As we celebrate the great feast of Easter, join us in offering praise to our Risen Lord for making all these happen, for uniting us all. Together, let us bear in mind how Jesus joined us together this Holy Week. Together, let us bring further His Good News to all, Holy Week or not.

Thank you for your unrelenting support. God bless you all.

Happy Easter!

Feedback Wednesday

A few Wednesdays back, I returned students' assignments and asked them to have a look at their results. I told them too to read my feedback which was written on some parts of their assignment. Not long after, a student raised his hand to say "I do not understand your handwriting!" I must admit that my handwriting isn't really good and so I sat next to the student to read for him what I wrote and to explain further. Later, I saw myself moving from one table to another to talk to students. 

After lunch break, I had another lesson, but this time with two colleagues observing me. Everything has been planned beforehand: register, experiment handouts, etc. However, the technician was absent. Hence, no experiment was prepared. Just the same, "the show must go on". I have to rejig the lesson plan and made it more interactive. A group of students have to complete the missing words in the experiment handout, another group have to put the experiment method in logical order, and another group have to design the experiment. I felt as though my plan won't work, that students would complain, etc. I was amazed, especially with the last two groups, for being proactive. As I move around the classroom, I was able to see how they work, ask questions, and give feedback based on their answers.

After those two sessions, tiring as it may be talking to students one by one and oftentimes repeating myself, I felt satisfied. I may not have taught the students principles and theories, but having that conversation with them was truly a learning experience.

Feedback is a useful tool in teaching because it allows teachers to guide their students and prepare them for their summative assessment. In other fields it is also necessary. Customers feedback a company on the service they provide. Managers feedback staff on their performance. I remember our Faith Section Editor Ana Balla, during the early years of my editorship, to give feedback to our writers because, according to her, it was a way to further develop them. Indeed, it is a useful tool to highlight a writer's strengths and areas for development. For sure, they have appreciated it.

As the Teacher Himself, Jesus gave feedback to people. Remember His conversation with the rich man who wanted to gain eternal life? Or perhaps His comments on His apostles who argued as who is the greatest in God's kingdom? Or how about that exchange of words between Him and the Syro-phoenician woman? 

Some took His feedback to heart, while others scoffed at it. Worse, those not satisfied with it plotted His death. Indeed, not all feedback would be heeded. Lazy students won't be bothered to shape up. Companies may not care about clients' views. Workers might take their boss for granted.  

Holy Week is dawning upon us! I think, Jesus' best feedback was delivered as He was crucified. If you want to know more about it, then please join us in our online devotion The Seven Last Words starting 25 March, Palm Sunday. 

A Decade of Sharing the Good News

Happy New Year! I hope you and your loved ones had a great celebration of the Lord's Birth and welcoming 2015.

2015 is a special year for all of us in anluwage.com for it marks our 10th anniversary. It seems it was just yesterday when Art Reyes and Mike Flores created the web as an online ministry of Tanghalang Anluwage, Inc. Among its first items were "Before Sundays", the forerunner of what is now "God-speak", a regular feature of the web containing  reflections on the Sunday Mass readings are shared. 

There were also "The Nine Gifts" and "The Seven Last Words" special online devotions for Advent and Holy Week respectively. There were also columns such "Bits and Bobs" and "Tanggero".

Since then, more people and more items were added into the web. The vision and mission statements were drawn up. An editorial board was organized.  We also created a group page in Facebook to reach out for more people.

It is through your generous support that we have achieved such blessings. I could not thank you enough for all the help that you have given the web. 

Our 10th anniversary coincides with 2 important events: the Year of Consecrated Life in the Universal and the Year of the Poor in the Philippine Church. I hope our web would be able to contribute in promoting and supporting religious life and also in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to the poor.  Sharing in Facebook of articles featured in the web would be a simple way of proclaiming that Good News to others. Another suggestion is to get to know more about our very own Fr. Shay Cullen who apart from being a religious, is also involved in reaching out to the poor via the PREDA Foundation. Finally, we would welcome more writers and other supporters to help us keep the fire of the Spirit burning.  

May Jesus, the Word-made-Flesh, continue to be THE source of inspiration in our ministry. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of God and ours, and St. Joseph, our patron, intercede for us for a fruitful 2015.

God bless us all! God bless anluwage.com!

Old Twigs Must Go

I mowed the lawn a few hours ago, grabbing the opportunity while the weather is fine.  I watered our hydrangeas. Months ago, during the dead of winter, I pity how these plants looked like. Their green leaves have been soggy like spinach leaves being cooked.  Later on, these leaves wither. So too the flowers.  

Then came spring.  The once 'dead' plants started to come alive. The once lifeless hydrangeas (and other plants) have begun to show their leaves.  However, I noticed that there were still old twigs which we haven't cut in late winter.  Strangely, from the same branch where the twigs are, I've seen new green leaves.  To allow the new leaves to flourish, I cut the old twigs (without touching the areas where there are new leaves).  

In a few hours it's already Easter Sunday, that momentous day when Jesus triumphed over sin and death. When Jesus gave a new meaning to our lives. 

I guess we're like those hydrangeas - once dead in the winter of sin and now alive in the spring of Jesus' Resurrection. I guess we too have those old twigs in us - be it those old habits that won't easily die, events in the past that we couldn't get over with, wounds that seem difficult to heal, or sins.  And yet God, in His mysterious plans and unfathomable wisdom, drew new life, drew new beginning, new opportunities, new us out of the bad and unpleasant in us.

The apostles - Peter especially - felt ashamed when the Risen Lord appeared before them.  Just three days ago, they deserted Him. They felt undeserving of such a kind gesture from their Master.  I'm sure we too have the same feeling.  And yet, Jesus tells us "But be brave! I have defeated the world" (John 16:33).

As we celebrate this great feast of the Church, let us take to heart the Lord's words. Let us get rid of the old unnecessary twigs in our lives to give way to new life, new life in Jesus.

Happy Easter!

***

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you, dear readers for supporting our Holy Week special, The Seven Last Words (TSLW). Way back in 2005, when we begun this online devotion, we never thought we would reach this year.  Next year, God willing,will be TSLW 10th anniversary. Ditto the web's.  

Special thanks go to our 7 reflection writers: Rene Paguntalan, Chris Sumague, Carlo Alexis Malaluan, Anabelle Payod-Balla, Nexus-Renaissance Mina, Fidji Rivera-Sarmiento, and Kristine Tangco. Thank you to Archbishop Socrates Villegas and Grace Madrinan for writing the Prologue and Epilogue respectively;  Allan Dabu for designing our poster; Marou Pahati-Sarne and Beth Eguia for helping us in inviting writers; and last but not least Mike Flores for designing our layout. May God bless you all!

Next year, as it's the Year for Consecrated Life, we're looking for religious men and women to be part of our writers. I know this is too early to ask, but if you know someone who could be of help please let us know. Thanks.