Email Messages

From a GomBurZa Priest... a Jesuit


Dear Friends, peace!

Ruby (a professor at U.P.), Diane (also from U.P.) and I were able to visit Fr. Robert and Ed Castro in Camp Crame this morning. Some TV station had stationed a camera on the sidewalk just across the gate of the compount where the Manila Pen "rebels" were being held; they were filming the people going in and out of the compound. The security check was strict but not overly so, and the guards were all cordial (Pinoy pa rin, kahit papaano). We had to sign in, surrender IDs and cellphones, and had to be body-checked. Before entering the receiving area, we had to sign in again, and I had to surrender my medicines (my simvastatin, aspirin, and my rehydration salts). Ed was waiting for us. Guests, many of them parents, wives, children, family and friends, were there already, visiting such as JV Bautista, RJ Guevarra (an Atenean), and some of the soldiers. We saw Senator Trillanes with his own guests. General Lim we did not see at all.

Ed and Fr. Robert looked fine. Robert is bunked with General Lim, right next to the room of Trillanes. He has been a comforting presence it seems among the inmates there. I even kidded him that that was perhaps part of God's plan, that he should be there to give comfort and to listen to the stories of the people held there, including to their confessions.

The earliest that the civilians in the group could be set free may be Wednesday. Their lawyers are working overtime to get them released (while the cases are going on). Unless the charges are really the most serious so that they could not be granted liberty.

RJ Guevarra, who if I am not mistaken is a lawyer and used to write a column for Business World, asked whether the Jesuits or the Ateneo were releasing a statement.

Robert seemed in fine spirits. He missed his plane for Hong Kong. He was set to celebrate mass with the inmates at 12:30 this afternoon. We left at around 11:30. People were still streaming in for visits. We met Eta Rosales and company on our way out.

We may quibble about the circumstances that brought Robert and Ed to where they are now. But it is laughable that they would be charged with rebellion or with trying to bring this government down.

Visitors are most welcome. Visiting hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily.

We should continue to be vigilant. We may not agree with the Manila Pen affair, but we should not forget the underlying causes and reasons for the continuing frustration many people feel about how this government is performing.

Fr. Tony

Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word Guidance,
I kept seeing 'dance' at the end of the word
And I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music,
And everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead,
Both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back
Or by pressing Lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness,
And attentiveness from one person
And gentle guidance and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word Guidance.
When I saw 'G': I thought of God, followed by 'u' and 'i'.
'God, 'u' and 'i' dance.'
God, you, and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance about my life and once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that God's blessings
And mercies are upon you on this day and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides in you.
Dance together with God,
Trusting God to lead and to guide you through each season of your life.

in fairness.. sinubukan ko talaga.. heheh

ganun pala meaning ng mga fingers..

thanks dhayan