Riza Fortuna

The reflection in today’s Word Among Us guide encourages us to be generous evangelizers. I felt this speaks right to my gut and heart, and I want to share this with you. Pls. read on. God bless you all! - Riza

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The sower sows the word. (Mark 4:14)

Perhaps when you read or hear this parable, you focus on the different kinds of soils, or the environments on which the seeds fall. Maybe you even wonder which one of these soils best fits you, and you hope that you are like the good soil that produces abundantly. But how about seeing yourself as the sower instead? Maybe it’s worth considering how much God may want you to sow the seed of his word.

If there is one word that characterizes the sower in this parable, it is generous. This fellow spreads his seeds everywhere. He doesn’t seem all that concerned about where the seed will fall. He simply casts it to and fro.

Isn’t this a great image for how we should view evangelization? Shouldn’t we be generous, almost indiscriminate, in the way we share God’s word and his promises? We really shouldn’t worry about where the seeds may fall or the soil quality of those with whom we share the word. Whether, in our judgment, the ground is hard, weedy, thorny, or fertile shouldn’t matter. After all, it is the Lord who gives the growth, not us (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). All we have to worry about is imitating the generosity of the sower.

Think for a moment how many other seeds the world, the flesh, and the devil are sowing all around us. There’s nothing stingy in their tactics. How much more, then, should we counter all these poisonous seeds with the seeds of the gospel! The need is great, so don’t be intimidated! And by all means, don’t feel defeated or outnumbered! God has promised to be with you always as you spread his word.

So how are you going to sow today? What opportunities will you seize to spread the seeds of the gospel? They’re all around, after all. Keep your eyes open, as you ask the Lord to help you see ways you can creatively witness to his love. Who knows? He may even give you brothers and sisters in Christ who are just as zealous as you to proclaim the word, in season and out!

Lord Jesus, make me a generous evangelizer and sower of your word in all kinds of soil. Fill me with zeal and courage, Lord, to go forth and spread your seeds all over the world!

I attended a retreat for leaders in my Christian community last weekend. It was a great time of facing my fears before the Lord as well as getting support from sisters and brothers who are fellow servants in community. What I would like to capture here is the key learning I got from the retreat: that a storm is different from a cross. Many times, we interchange a cross for a storm and a storm for a cross, but really one is different from the other.

A storm happens beyond our control. It comes and it goes; it is passing. Just like one of my favorite lines when facing a difficulty, when a storm comes we can certainly say "this too shall pass". A cross on the other hand is choice. We choose to pick it up and carry it. Sometimes it is a quick carrying of the cross, in some cases it may take a lifetime.

When facing a storm, we should keep two important lessons: (1) Believe that Jesus is with us. Don’t focus on the storm, look for Him. (2) Believe that He can change things. He is in control. However, do what is necessary that is within your means to survive the storm. As our retreat master Tito Ed Mendoza said "Sometimes, it is in the very act of wrestling with the storm that we find joy". In a storm, we should hang on to our core, our soul. It is important then that such core, the soul within us is nurtured to always be in God’s presence and anchored on Him so we are full of grace when a storm suddenly hits.

A cross signifies death. When we choose to pick up a cross, we choose for our ego to die. Anything that tames our ego, pride, sense of self-worth is a cross. We make room for the Holy Spirit by crucifying our ego on the cross.

I am currently facing a storm. It breaks my heart knowing that one of my closest friends, a most dear sister in community is suddenly battling cancer. I surrendered the situation before God and asked for more faith during the retreat. Up to today I continue to surrender. As I pray for my sister that God may have mercy on her and heal her completely, I continue to die to my weaknesses and imperfections. I am blessed to have the privilege to take up the cross of facing this situation with my dear sister and helping her in whatever way I can. As I pray for her, my own doubts and lack of faith are undergoing their series of deaths. I am blessed because I am dying to what is not of God and being purified to become worthy to carry such a cross. I pray that the storms that hit me and the crosses I choose to carry including this situation of my friend shall magnify and glorify Jesus who saved us by literally dying on the cross.