The Visitation
Yesterday, from the airport, i decided to drop by to see a young
friend, seven years in the priesthood and a former collegue who, by
mere chance, have been assigned in the same "mission". There was not
previous call to notify them. Luckily the former was around while the
latter was diligent in his weekly exercise of badminton elsewhere. I
learned that he was joinning a tournament and need to regularly
practice.
has an appointment elsewhere so I decided to wait for the other.
Anyway I have still some papers to check and some grades to to if i
may ask to use his room as an office. After some friendly updatings,
he left and and stayed in his room where he showed some gadgets I have
never imagined before: air ionizer, purifier, wireless line which I
heard but have not seen before. We agreed however to help me acquire
some things which I need before I go to a scheduled meeting for
three/four days with other formators in the Philippines: some pair of
socks, (I am getting forgetful to bring some things in travel), some
medicines, a book which was wanting and some batteries for a phone. We went to the Mall of Asia, aclaimed to be the biggest mall of Asia.
I told him, "This is my first time to go malling here." It was quite
enormous, for the needed reading material, we could not find the
bookstore, and we have to ask many times, we walked and walked, but
while feeling a little bit tired and I was convincing to please my
self since I did not have an exercise for days. After going to three
bookstores, we could not find the book we were looking for. The
walking and walking continued alon to find the socks, (thanks to my
forgetfulness in packing my things) and the medicines. These
important medicines, have been finally bought outside this famous
tiresome mall. We however found it easy to find some batteries while
we tried to look for some water filter of a pitcher which we could not
again find. What was worth remembering is that we drop by for window shopping
about new gadgets. Was asking some prices and my friend said that is
a good price encouraging me to buy it. It is about a lighweight very
small thing which, I found out already before, that I really need for
travelling. But I don't have yet the funds. Since I am from the
province and he is a friend, it occured to me that he might be telling
me out of love and I seldom have this chance to go out from my job. I
was using a credit cards for my plane tickets and when he knew the
"nothingness" of the amount I have to pay for six months he was
convinced to tell me, go ahead. I thought: maybe just for him I will
take it. Anyway he has been doing concrete acts of love for me.
After finalizing everything and after dropping in some stores to buy
some practical important electronic connections, we left for San
Carlos Seminary where the meeting is supposed to come. I will not tell you after how that trip was. It was like a communion
of souls, about how he sees his life now as a priest: realizations,
lessons, sufferings, big and small. I was listening and praying for
him, at the end we prayed the rosary together praying for his family,
especially the parents. We parted embracing one another feeling more
brothers as before in our Lord, fragile and weak yet strong and
persevering when we are faithful to our Lord. It is as if earth,
(commerce, business), met with heaven (oneness, brotherhood, sharing,
communion) After all to see him was not a chance. To accept his love, his
generousity and his suggestion to buy was a choice even if it costs
concretely. To be with a brother and even to visit in order to love is
the best way to go to God! That vist was never a waste of time nor
money.
