HOUSEHOLD TOPIC: READINGS AND GUIDE FOR PERSONAL JOURNALING

1. What have I ignored in my development?

GAL. 6:4 - “Each man should look to his conduct; if he has reason to boast of
anything, it will because the achievement is his and not another’s.

Before I retired, my concentration was more on my work in the community and the
office and I forgot to give quality time to my family and myself. It is only now after
my retirement that I started to make up for my lack of time for my family. Everyday,
me and my wife, Beny, is always together going to the Church daily, adoring Christ
in the Adoration Chapel, reciting five decades of the Holy Rosary and having
breakfast together on a daily basis. Now, I have more time for my children and
grandchildren.

However, my work as Sector Finance Head and Overseer for SAMO and the
Seniors Program still consume a large portion of my time.

The approval of my application for early retirement really solved my problem on

things that I ignored in the past. I praised the Lord for making it possible for me to
retire before the mandatory retirement age.

2. What have I postponed?

ECCL. 3 - Man cannot hit on the right time to act.

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the
heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the
plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stories, and time to gather them; to time to embrace, and a
time to be far from embraces.
H
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and time to speak.
A time to love, and time to hate; a time of war, and time of peace.

Ever since I joined the CFC, I noticed that there is no Bible study. There are Bible
readings and sharings but there are no formal Bible study lessons. I brought this up
to some of my former household heads but they said that it was not the charism of
 CFC or it was not yet the time. So I forgot about it although deep within me, I should
have shared my trainings in Bible study in the BSP, Mariology under Bro. Joe Rona,
and the “Joy of Discovery” conducted by the Institute of Pastoral Develpment (IPD).
I forgot about it for about 20 years.

However, when I assumed the role of an Overseer for the Seniors Program, this if
the wisdom of having some trainings on the Bible.

This leading was confirmed last year during the CFC Leaders Conference when the
Guest Bishop endorsed the new printed Bibles where the CFC was mentioned in the
introduction. This was again confirmed this year during the CFC MC Lenten
Recollection conducted by Bishop Pablo David.

We launched the “Appreciation of the Bible” under the Seniors Program just recently
on March 26, 2011. The response of those who attended was great. Many were
looking forward for the next session.

3. What have I decided prematurely?

GAL 5:25 – “Since we live by the spirit, let us follow the spirit’s lead.”

My work in the community as Sector Finance Head and Overseer of two operations
resulted in so many conflicts in my schedule as Extraordinary Minister of the Holy
Communion (EMHC). This year I decided to take a leave as an EMHC in the Mary,
Mother of the Church Parish. I miss my services as an EMHC. How I long to be
active again in my service as EMHC. Each time I see other lay ministers serving,
there is that guilt feeling within me.

However, if I renew my service again, conflicts in schedule will, I think, be there

again. I am having a hard time discerning whether to continue serving as EMHC
again or not. Should I just choose serving in the community only or be serving both
in CFC and in the Parish. I must pray harder to discern the leading of the Holy
Spirit.

4. How am I refusing to grow?

MARK 4:8 – “Some seed, finally, landed on good soil and yielded grain that
sprang up to produce at a rate of thirty – and sixty – and a hundredfold.”
 Frankly speaking, I am not refusing to grow. There are just apparently obstacles in
my spiritually growth. There are still some doubts and questions in my life as to how
I should grow more and accelerate my growth as a servant of the Lord.

5. What am I presently questioning in my life?

PROV. 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, on your own intelligence
rely not; In all your ways be mindful of Him; and He will make straight your
paths.”

Up to now, I am questioning why I was taken out from the mainstream and be given
a “less pastoral and more secular work” of handling the financial affairs of the
Sector. Ever since I joined the CFC as a member and as I rose up as a household
head, unit head, chapter head, cluster head and SGT member, my work were all
pastoral and focused much on evangelization and pastoral formation works. And all
of a sudden, I was given this finance works which are mostly paper works that are
practically the same type of work when I was still in active service in BSP.

But the worst part of this work are the following:

1. You have to tell the truth regardless of who are involved – whether they are the
closest of your friends, relatives, elders, household members, co-leaders, co-
workers, anybody. We made Nehemiah as our role model in courage.
Nehemiah did his mission without considering who are the persons involved.
2. Sometimes you gain enemies or detractors instead of additional friends.
3. Misinterpretation of your intention or even negative suspicion is not far-fetched.
4. The work is time-consuming sometimes getting the time allotted for your family
and personal activities.
5. A little delay in the work will elicit complaints and negative feedbacks.
Sometimes I have to work late at night after arriving home from a prayer meeting
or other CFC activity because it is already being followed up.
6. I am always involved in almost all areas of operations of the Sector since funds
are required.

Admittedly, I am already considering in my mind to step down as a Sector Finance

Head especially when I am tired after doing finance works

7. What am I resolving in my life?

PHIL 1:10 – “so that with a clear conscience and blameless conduct you may
learn to value the things that really matter, up to the very day of Christ.”

a. Whether to renew my service as an EMHC or not;

b. To confine myself to CFC services only to avoid conflicts in schedule.
c. To step down in my role as Sector Finance Head.
d. To devote my time on Bible Study lessons and trainings and the Seniors
Program.
e. To step down as a member of the SGT.