I am so thankful that this year we go deeper in our prayer life.
In the morning when I wake up, I try to say my morning prayers and offer my day to Jesus, offering my tasks of that day to Him.
My phone could be a distraction at times. When I look at my phone to check the time, I start looking at my messages. Before I realize it, I’ve forgotten to say my morning prayers. So to improve, I make it a point not to look at messages before saying my prayers.
Frank and I start our day with daily Mass. It can be challenging at times since, each day, we only have one Mass at 5:30 a.m. Making this extra effort, we say, “For you, Jesus.”
Our life can be truly “prayer” when we love every person we meet during the day. My husband and I try to do this, seeing Jesus in each other and with other people.
Christine, the fish vendor, has become a friend. When I don’t buy fish from her, I assure her of my prayers that she sells all her fish soon. On some occasions, I give her some groceries to take back to her six children.
When Christine was expecting her sixth child, I gave her recycled flour sacks for diapers. The owner of the bakery gave it for free when he found out it was going to Christine. The material was then sown by the lady who takes care of my plants when I am out of town. It was indeed a chain of acts of love.
A family in our neighborhood lives in a shack right behind our fence. The mother of the five children had left them for another man. Frank and I started to bring them food, and we have become friends with the children and their father. The kids now come to the house regularly to have snacks and lunch that Frank and I prepare. When one has a wound or toothache, they come too. One day, one of the kids had minor burns, and a sibling came to get me.
On a Sunday afternoon, they usually come to the house with their friends. I have shared with them the Cube of Love1 and suggested ways by which we can love one another. We also read the Word of Life,2 and they color the illustrations. When quarrels happen, they would tell me. We try to talk about it and help them reconcile and start again. Sometimes, we also play together using a balloon as our ball. They enjoy it so much and would keep saying how happy they were.
Margaret Karam, the current president of the Focolare Movement, shared how she was struck while looking at the statue of Mary crying and holding a handkerchief. She felt as though Mary was telling her to go out to others, to dry their tears and bind their wounds.
Each time I try to love by listening to a person sharing his or her problems, or by helping someone in need, like treating a child’s scraped knee, I think of this
Augie Rillera
1 A cube that has, on each of its six sides, a point of the Art of Loving, namely, “Love everyone.” “Be the first to love,” “Make yourself one with others,” “Love your enemy,” and “Love one another.”
2 A monthly Scripture passage proposed to members and friends of the Focolare Movement for reflection and practice.
