Another Test and Another Reward

Several months ago, I presided over a mass at Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish church in Gen. Santos City. I cannot now remember what the gospel passage was, but I remember that I mentioned in my homily that we should share our blessings with the less fortunate and that we should try to help the poor and the needy. I even said that the mark of a Christian is one who shares.

After the mass, some people asked me to bless their religious articles. Then a man approached me and asked for my help. He said he lost his job and that he does not have any money even just to buy rice. I told him to go to the parish office to ask for help, but he told me that he has already been there but did not receive any help. So I told him to wait for me while I remove my vestments in the sacristy. When I checked the contents of my wallet, there were about four pieces of twenty peso bills, a one hundred peso bill, and a fifty peso bill. I got one hundred fifty pesos and gave it to the man. Then I told myself how fast it was that God has tested me, in order to find out if I practice what I preach.

As I walked towards the parking lot, some people who attended the mass approached me to ask for my blessing. Suddenly a lady placed a bundle of money in my hand and told me it’s just a small amount for me to buy some snacks. I thanked the lady and when I looked at what she gave me, it was two pieces of one hundred peso bills, fifty pesos more that what I gave the man! Then I told myself how fast God has rewarded me for helping the needy!

The other Sunday, I presided over mass at St. Michael the Archangel Parish church in Gen. Santos City. It is the parish where our mission house belongs, and we have regular Sunday mass schedules there. This time the gospel passage mentioned something about “if someone strikes you on the left cheek, offer your right cheek as well. And if someone asks for your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. And if someone asks you to walk with him for one mile, walk with him for two miles. Give to those who beg and do not turn your back to one who wants to borrow from you.” And so I tried to expound on this passage in my homily.

After the mass, as I was going out of the sacristy, a lady approached me and told me that she needed money in order to go home to Davao City. She was with her son, a boy of about 7 years old, and she said they need to go back home that night because it’s the boy’s examination the following day. When I tried to look at the money in my wallet, it contained two five hundred peso bills. Left with no choice, I gave five hundred pesos to the lady, who thanked me for the help I extended to them. That evening, while having dinner, I told Fr. Ching, one of my companion priests that it was with a heavy heart that I gave the five hundred pesos to the lady, because I did not have a smaller bill. Fr. Ching told me maybe that lady was just a prankster and that she will not really go home to Davao City. (As if adding insult to injury!).

The following day, at breakfast, I told Fr. Ching I remembered, that a few days before that Sunday, I found money in a paper bag which I thought contained trash. I was cleaning my cabinet when I saw a paper bag that contained things I considered trash. And so one by one, I threw them in the waste basket.  Until I saw an envelope, and when I opened it, I was surprised to find out it contained several dollar bills, the amount I’m sure was much more than five hundred pesos! Then Fr. Ching told me that this time around my reward was much advanced, even before I was able to do a good deed!