As a Spinola
educator, the 51st International Congress in Cebu City had taught me many things. I’m pretty sure that
with God’s grace, I can share it to my families and the rest. I came to realize
that in order for me to bring Christ to my family, students and community, I
must have Him first. Another is that, Jesus in the Eucharist makes Himself
always present to us; therefore I must make myself available for Him in my way
of attending the Mass and in engaging myself into deep prayer and contemplation
so as to make Him the center of my life. I must speak about him, confess my
sins to Him and come to Him in every way.
Making Jesus a
part of my life is a call, especially in my being, a Spinola Educator. This is
a call that I need to pursue and persevere so students could see me as a model
that even in little ways, they could learn that the world they are in today is
all temporary and that only their relationship with Jesus is eternal. This is
only possible if I show or teach them in words and deeds the way to live as
real Christians using my own gifts and realities. Yes, I am broken, so wounded,
yet Christ surely fills it and makes me worth it.
I always tell my
students that whatever they do is a reflection of what is in their hearts. So
if Jesus is in their hearts, they would also see, act and love like Him.
Believing that
nothing is impossible in Christ, I know that one day, these dreams I have will
become a reality. No matter how hopeless is the world today, I have hope in
Christ that He will fill the hearts of all people with His grace and love so
they can make a difference, stand for truths, risk for others’ good, conquer
their fears without sacrificing their learned values, and deliver anything that
is asked of them in a more Christian way.
The challenge
left in me now after the Congress is how to live a life where I can be with
others, be it my students, family and communities, for Christ lived and died
for all not for Himself. I am on a continuous process of responding the call of
bringing Him to others, a hope to them especially to those whom I constantly
encounter. As long as I have Christ in me, there is always a hope that this
dream of mine will become possible.
