WITNESSES OF GOD

Jecyrel B. Belga

“If we pray, we will believe; if we believe, we will love; if we love, we will serve.”
– Mother Teresa.

Beginning a relationship with Christ is the most important thing a person can do. It is important
to be in a right relationship with God as you talk to others about how they can know God. So that
means maintaining short accounts with God and others and confessing sin. Practice “Spiritual
Breathing” and being filled with the Spirit. We can also practice our faith by learning or studying
our own faith, like the Vatican II.

The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the Second Vatican
Council or Vatican II, addressed relations between the Catholic Church and the modern world.
The council, through the Holy See, was formally opened under the pontificate of Pope John
XXIII on 11 October 1962 and was closed under Pope Paul VI on the Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception on 8 December 1965. Several changes resulted from the council,
including the renewal of consecrated life with a revised charism, ecumenical efforts towards
dialogue with other religions, and the universal call to holiness, which according to Pope Paul VI
was "the most characteristic and ultimate purpose of the teachings of the Council".

As a Roman Catholic I didn’t even ask why we are singing some Latin songs, why we are
attending the mass, what is the origin of eating the bread of life, but studying and learning the
Vatican II, it was now more meaningful and appreciative on my part as a Christian especially
comparing the church before and now. Being in the youth ministry, the curiosity of the young
ones was very broad, so maybe, one day, they will ask me many whys about the church but by
this course I can explain it to them clearly and accurately.

The most significant that I have received was the film showing, the life of Pope John XXIII,
Father Damien of Molokai and of course, the life of Mother Teresa. Watching their stories/life
really touches my heart and soul and it was too heavy for me after watching. I asked myself,
“Jecy, can you do that for your mission?”, “Can you give your life to the leper or poorest among
the poor?”, “Can you give your whole self to other people?”, “How long can I obey, love and
sacrifice to God?”. I reflected on each movie that we’ve watched.

First was the life of Pope John XXIII, how he truly humbles thy self for the sake of other people,
how funny he was and how he truly trusts God. On his first few months being the Pope he said to
God, “It was not I who willed this, it was you and always be you”, and it was just the same
situation, no one force me to be in the ministry, no one forced me to be here and no one forced
me to serve and help other people, it was God and I know, he is the one who is working not me.
He is just using me to be his instrument. Pope also asked help from God he said, “I begged the
Lord to help me. So many things to do. So much!”. Being in the mission, I know I have lots to
do, but still I am asking God to give me strength and courage every day and if God could reign
into my body and blood every day.

Next would be the life of Father Damien of Molokai, how he volunteered himself for the Lepers.
But Father Damien said, “Sacrifice will have a royal soul”, if we will sacrifice ourselves, our
own happiness, own needs and wants for the sake of other people God will bless us with a royal
soul. And what he said to the dying old man, “I don’t know your pain but I feel it in my heart”, it
was truly in the heart that we are connected to be in this mission. I was so amazed that despite of
the situation and Bishop keeps telling him not to touch the lepers, but still he touches the lepers.
He was truly courageous.

Lastly, my Mother Teresa, was the founder of the Order of the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman
Catholic congregation of women dedicated to helping the poor. Considered one of the 20th
Century's greatest humanitarians, she was canonized as Saint Teresa of Calcutta in 2016. Since
her death, Mother Teresa has remained in the public spotlight. For her unwavering commitment
to aiding those most in need, Mother Teresa stands out as one of the greatest humanitarians of
the 20th century. She combined profound empathy and a fervent commitment to her cause with
incredible organizational and managerial skills that allowed her to develop a vast and effective
international organization of missionaries to help impoverished citizens all across the globe.

Despite the enormous scale of her charitable activities and the millions of lives she touched, to
her dying day she held only the humblest conception of her own achievements. Summing up her
life in characteristically self-effacing fashion, Mother Teresa said, "By blood, I am Albanian. By
citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As
to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus."

That’s why Mother Teresa is my idol and I really like and wanted to be like her. But watching
the movie, I asked myself, if I can do everything that what Mother Teresa did. She doesn’t
choose people, she doesn’t choose the place where to work for, she doesn’t choose her mission
but still she gave her all, her whole self, her heart and soul. Many things to say but rather I
choose to work on it instead of just saying it.

God is calling me to humble thy self, to be selfless and to become a witness of God’s love here
on earth because I am one of the carriers of God’s love. I will share it to my youth ministry, my
Diocese and to those people who are already forgotten, to the poorest among the poor, etc. I will
also try to smile more because peace begins with a smile.
“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful
thing.”
- Mother Teresa