The heart is burning out of service

Fray Genesis P. Labana, OSA A Holy Restlessness: A passion for Mission, this theme addresses various aspect of Augustinian religious life. Among the terms on the theme, restlessness is the center of attraction. Restlessness may be a clich concept for us Augustinians yet it still creates impact to anybody, if only one would thoroughly undergo an unfathomable reflection on the word. A lover of Augustinian thought would always embed in his heart and mind and act what would give him such identity as an Augustinian. Restlessness can also be attributed to as a character that a person must possess. Based on Augustinian traditions, restlessness is always depicted as the burning heart that Augustine always carries in most of his images. The burning in this sense means moving upward. Like for example lighting a candle, either pointing it upward or downward the fire is still pointing upward. It is always pointing at the sky. The direction is always towards heaven. How much effort and position we try, but still the fire points to what is above. Based from this concept of restlessness as a burning heart or lighted candle, we are then called to see our missionary endeavour in this manner as an unending movement towards God. However, here we dont just mean of an ordinary movement in the course of our mission but also of the necessity to become passionate to it. Our passion for mission in this sense must be a sanctified and unending motion towards God. To sustain this passion it must be inspired by the Holy Spirit. In missionary work, it is always the work of the Holy Spirit. (Evangelii Nuntiande, 94). However, this does not mean we just need to be complacent. We also need human effort in order for us to maintain our mission. The meaning of mission is already given out of the theme. Mission is like the equivalent sum of passion, holiness and restlessness. These are like characteristics required in being a missionary. I think, to possess and be given these to us would suffice our way of witnessing the gospel message to the people. With the call of the signs of the times, mission is not proselytizing but rather witnessing. The coercion of intellect and will is not anymore applicable in this globalized society. Our life in Burgos, where I had my summer exposure, would somehow give us a view of how life of witnessing there is exemplified by our friars and us who were there for forty days. Accounts also of people, whom I met would affirm and appreciate our presence in that small town with only 6 barangays. According to them, they are thankful that there are already priests assigned in their town. The church of Sta. Ana is only a sub-parish and their main parish is 45 minutes away. It is too far for them to attend mass there. They always tend to compare the present priests-assigned from the previous ones. More people had attended masses because they had seen the priests as responsible and caring to its people. When we go back to the parish after weekdays of staying in our foster parents, we were able to meet people from various sectors of the society by eating with them in

meals. In that way we were able to hear their concerns and care for the parish. For them for a priest or seminarian to visit their house is already a blessing because seldom only that people can see priests visiting to houses. Through, we were also able to attract people who are rarely attending mass every Sunday. In other words, all of these exemplary works are only manifestations of being a passionate missionary to the people of God. From an outward experience we can somehow tell what also the heart speaks. Their restlessness in making the people to be with them had inspired me to be also restless in my passion for mission. My heart is burning out of service.