Finally after busy weeks, since my companions are either sent for another assignment in the parish or/and are having a vacation, I had this time only now to write in this journal.  "Be kind to one another, compassionate and forgiving" seems to be the word that I should live and I tried to live.  It is the so-called word of life for the month of August.

Immediately when I was alone some weeks three seminarians from the military ordinariate in the Philippines came to stay with us. Their bishop wanted them, before their ordination to the priesthood wished that they could have experience a communitarian life offered in this school of communion for Asia, concentrating on the spirituality of unity characteristic of the Focolare Movement.  One was asked to stay for six months while the other two for two weeks.  After these two weeks even the two wanted to stay but out of obedience to their bishop they have to do immediate preparations for their ordination.  For sure, it is not good  to disobey their bishop at the eve of their ordination.  They were first timers to this kind of not so easy life of communion, but much to our surprise, they have all positive attitude and even beautiful impressions.

Life is like heaven where there is good unity.  But when things are not quite well, like the pump is not turned off when the tank is full, or some are late for the time for classes and inputs, when the expenses exceeds the budget, when extra errands are not done because someone got sick, when repairs are done in the house because of improper use, when the telephone is not working, when there are still other requests even if they know that you are alone, when some masses are said of out of the schedulted time since communication falls, when you lack sleep or you need one to be fresh in preparing the giving the class, I became super sensitive, and highly irritable and expect things to be done.  In other words when my heart is tired of loving, I resort and defend myself through a technique quite unique and effective: irritability, and fail to love my neighbor under the guise that I need to keep things going around here.  Oh what pride, as if things depend on me.  Things, all things are going one because of the love of God and neighbor and how we do concretely things out of love!  In love, I realize there is the Holy Spirit, without love, then the "evil" spirit comes.

Bad "spirits" and bad athomosphere comes from the heart when I do not love. Without love of God, the universe would collide with one another.  Love supports the whole world.  In love there is the light.  Without love, the world is not supposed to be what it is and I become unkind, unforgiving, not compassionate.  It is then that this word of life helped me.

To be kind: when one or came to this "school" without informing us first, words of welcome and hospitiality expressed coudl be that kindness that is needed of me.

Mutually forgiving: when one does not agree with what I think, to look at him with love and understand why he is acting that way lead me to the light of some of his unresolved problems which I forgot to address.

Compassionate: when one spends more because he needs to sustain his body, instead of thinking about the expenses, I could be one with his weakness and understand since our seminarians are also woking physically.  To even listen more to his physical needs of food makes me feel better.

Be kind to one another, compassionate and forgiving as God has forgiven us in Christ!  How beautiful it is to live these words even for life.  It regains my equilibrium and it reminds me that I myself is a loved and forgiven sinner.

Now, we have good chinese priest and seminarian who opted to stay with us for some days.  They have given us fresh inspiration.  Due to their suffering experienced as catholics from mainland China, we have models of kindness, forgiveness and compassion.  They encourage us to be faithful to our Lord on the cross, for the cross is their life everyday.  We thank God for the gift of their presence for in these past days they have given us the light of love!

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