Redoble Family

A friend’s friend requested me to preside the funeral mass of a mother of their classmate at the Sanctuario de San Antonio, Forbes Park, Makati early today, December 1, 2010.  I said, yes, to the request, even though I knew I  have to celebrate the morning mass, at 6:15 O’clock, in my parish of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (Multinational Vill, Paranaque City).  I was confident though that I could reach the place before the 8:00 O’clock schedule.

6:45 AM, I finished the morning mass and was going to the convent and getting ready to go when a lady came and wanted to confess .. I had to oblige to the request.  I was in a rush, but how can I not minister to this lady?  At the back of my mind, though, were the minutes lost precious to the travel  going to the church.  I joked to her that she confess only the “serious sins” this time as I have a funeral mass in Makati.  Finally, 7:45 AM, I was on my way, driving fast … passing through the streets of moonwalk village … and Merville Park … and to the West service Road of the Expressway.

Viola! (Lo and behold),  I was greeted by a massive traffic jam there!  I could not believe it but the road is unpredictable this time of the year.  (Later on, I learned that a broken jeepney on the expressway caused the morning traffic). I eased my way here and there .. driving like crazy … much like a taxi driver trying to catch up the boundary than a priest going to celebrate a funeral mass!  Who knows how many cursed me there on the road this morning.

After much manuever, I found myself at the crossroad of Villamor AirBase.  I turned left towards the rotonda which led me to the ramp of the Skyway… Whew!  I made it.  I cannot hide my joy .. so I said loudly:  “O God, you are great!”  The clock read 7:45.  I could have sung the Magnificat that moment!

But jubilation was premature … as I was going down from the skyway towards de la Rosa St, there was in front of me a build up of traffic!  Haha .. bad luck!  I knew I wont make it at 8:00 AM nor even at 9:00 AM.  Hopeless, I said this time very loudly, “Lord, I have done my best, now, it’s your turn!  After all, this is for you that I am going there.”

Suffice it to say, from that street towards Ayala Ave in Makati to the Church, the ride was smooth and easy.  Dramatic as the “parting of the Red Sea”? No, not at all but I arrived at the Church at 8:05AM.  Not so bad a late given the traffic!

As I was going to the Cemetery for the final prayers of the dead, I thought God really cares. Sometimes, we forget that the real Master of our plans and destiny is God.  Sometimes we can do our best, and yet our best are not yet enough .. Only when we let God take charge of our life .. we arrive smooth and easy to where we want to go or rather, to where God wants us to be.  When we surrender to Him everything, even our will .. then only can we understand that His WILL is much more than what we can think of:  He can take care of us in this pilgrimage of LIFE!

When God takes charge … miracles do happen in our LIFE!!

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