Franciscan Aspirants - OFM

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A stick to the bigger fool

Once a certain village king was called to make a journey to another kingdom. The journey required traveling through a vast forest, so he requested several of his subjects to accompany him. He put one of them in charge preparing everyone for the trip, and soon they were on their way.

As the sojourners were making their way through the forest, they suddenly encountered a tiger. The king requested a gun from the subject he put in charge. His subject told him that he hadn’t thought to bring a gun. The king became very enraged and told him – “You are such a fool! How could you have forgotten to prepare for any such possibility on our journey?” Then handing him over a stick he said, “Here – take this stick and lead us on to our destination. And then carry it always with you until you find someone who is a bigger fool than you, and then you can pass it on to him.”

The subject went on to keep the stick the king gave him for many years. As the time passed the king became old and ill. The end of his life neared and so he began receiving visits from his subjects at his bedside.

One day, the man whom he had rewarded with the stick for being ‘such a fool’ arrived to see the king. He was still carrying the stick. He came to the king and said to him – “Your Majesty, if you allow me, may I ask you a question?” And after permission was granted, he gently asked the king – “My Lord, have you prepared well for this important journey you are about to take?”

The king looked at him with surprise and then he said – “Prepared for this journey? I’m ill and near death. How would I have prepared for such a journey?” “Then,” said the subject, gently handing him the stick, “you have this stick and keep it with you.” And then he walked away quietly. (ccto)

The Season of Advent remind us to prepare and to do it without delay.

Ready or not, here I come

One of the most memorable games from filipino childhood days is the game of hide-and-seek.

On many occasions throughout the year, the family would gather at grandparents’ home. The children would usually start a game of hide-and-seek.

When the game started, someone was chosen to be “it”. A spot was chosen to be “base”. Whoever was “it” would stand at “base” with closed eyes and count to 10. The other players ran and hid.

Then it was “its” job to find them before they could return to “base”. The game ended when everyone made it back to “base”, or when “it” found someone who was hiding. In the next game, the person who was caught became “it”.

The part of that game echoes in the mind is what “it” would say before he or she came looking for those who were hiding. “It” would always say, “Ready or not, here I come.”

When “it” said that, you had better be ready, or you were going to be in trouble. (ccto)

Our readings today echoes our experience of our old childhood game which we can relate to Jesus' words to his listener then and now... A time will come of his return. That day will arrive whether people are ready or not. Will you be ready? Or handa ka na ba? Anytime?

❝We cannot demand God's forgiveness for ourselves if we in turn do not grant forgiveness to our neighbour. If we do not strive to forgive and to love, we will not be forgiven and loved either. ❞

✍︎ : jpadz | The Friar's Notebook
07/07/2021

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