PACEM MISSIONARIES NOVITIATE FORMATION HOUSE

# 0722 Ynares St, San Carlos Heights Subdivision,

Brgy. Tagpos, Binangonan, Rizal

Mark Loui R. Casipong, PACEM March 03, 2023

2nd REFLECTION PAPER

(Facing the Giants)
The movie is all about facing sufferings and challenges in life that only requires faith, strong
faith in God which enables us to face any challenges that life may bring, for with God everything is
possible. It revolves within a Christian couple which in the early part of the movie struggling to have
children, they have financial instability and since the husband is a coach of a football team,
struggling to win even a single game. Eventually in God’s grace, all of their adversities were
eventually overcome in God’s perfect time and all are being settled and provided by the Lord. The
Lord indeed is gracious and will reign in the end, he is mightier and powerful above all other things
in this world.

The movie is so inspiring, especially because it talks about our faith to the Lord, How is our
faith to God when we are being challenged, its message is in a form of question addressed to all of us
“how strong is your faith in God?” if we are facing challenges in life, what is our disposition, how do
we see the situation that we are in? Many people say that it is just easy to complain and even too lost
hope, quit and surrender, especially when we see that our struggles and pains are seems so difficult,
but the reality is that God does not fall asleep, he is always observing all our struggles, sees all our
efforts, always ready to administer and help us in his perfect time and that requires our faith to him.
Sometimes God allows all these struggles, in order for him to see our sincerity and prove our
dedication towards him. It doesn’t mean that God is punishing us or he wants us to suffer, but we
need to see the beauty of suffering and to have that proper disposition in facing such circumstances,
let’s take it as our opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ, our little share of his passion.

As to myself, I am also guilty of acting such, I easily fall prostrate and discouraged during
difficult moments of life, and I easily plunge to the negativity of life, not seeing the real essence of
life and struggles. I admit that I easily blame the Lord whenever I face defeats and difficulties. I need
to always remind myself that my existence in this world is always being accompanied with such
struggles and difficulties, I just need that extra boost of my faith so that I can truly conquer and face
all of it (the challenges, struggles and pains of life). Life will becomes easy if one is conscious that
he is in the presence of the Lord.
 In the context of me being a seminarian, my struggles and pains comes from different
sources, from my longing and yearning of my previous way of life, from my previous work my
longing to my family. Even within the community some struggles occurs, from my relationship with
my fellow brother seminarians, to the priest’s formators and even with some lay collaborators. I see,
that in every corner of my life, indeed there are always struggles, the pressure of pleasing everyone
and the challenge of being true to myself while at the same time always be sincere to others, in short
how to strike the balance in every aspect of my life. And I see the necessity of facing them all, I have
no time to run or hide, but to face them with firm faith and trust in God. As I made the decision of
entering this community, it is not I who made this decision but I believe God leads me here, and as I
continue this journey I will not fall short in seeing his presence in everything that has happen so far. I
see the Lords intervention and guidance always, and most of all I feel loved as I continue to live this
kind of life.

I believe that if I start to loose God in my life, especially now that I am a seminarian, I will
easily fall to the temptations and allurements of the enemies. The option of returning home and
coming back to my previous way of life becomes easy, I’m not saying that to return home and go
back to my previous work is a bad thing, but I must put always into consideration the efforts that I
have given, and that enormous feeling when I first hear and heed the call. Just like in the movie
persistent prayer life is needed for me to sustain till the end, even if now I am facing such challenges
and uncertainties, as well as discouragement and struggles. For it is the most important above all,
that one will endure till the end, it is not about the journey but the destination that matters most. I
need to continue to hope in the Lord, all of these efforts of mine will not be wasted, but in the end
sooner or later I will see the result. I just need to continue striving and doing all my best in every
way, not really minding the comments and resentments from other people. For us long as I am doing
all that I can and I am just being true to myself, there is always help and the grace of God allotted for
me.

So from now on if I am confronted by discouragement and pains of life, I will never become
weary anymore for I know that God is always their helping and loving me. All of us has our own
Giants that we need to face, just like in the bible in the story of David and Goliath, to face such trials
is the only way, we can only finish and be able to win the battle if God is always on our part. Instead
of being discouraged I must take charge always to face such difficulties that life may bring. God is so
good and ever gracious, I know that he sees all that I am doing and even the weaknesses of mine. I
am just hopeful that in the end I will be overwhelmed for all the things that the Lord has reserved for
me. All the pains will be gone, no more crying and time for loneliness, all will be happy and be loved
for God is love itself.