7/27/2019 God's Wisdom

1/3

Gods wisdomByFr. Jerry M. Orbos SVD

Philippine Daily Inquirer

10:57 pm | Saturday, July 6th, 20136 77 55

The story is told about a man who questioned Gods wisdom thus: Why did God make a loftymango tree bear such small fruits, and why did God make a crawling squash vine bear such big

fruits? Just as he was feeling so happy about his imagined wisdom and insight, a mango fell on

his head. Then he understood and knew that indeed, God is all-knowing and wise.

* * *

In todays Gospel (Lk. 10, 1-9), we hear of Jesus marching orders and instructions to His

disciples whom He had sent ahead of Him. They were to go by pairs, carry no extra provisions,stay in the same house, and proclaim the message of peace and reconciliation. By worldlywisdom, these are not effective strategies at all, and would be rated as amateur, if not nave. Ah,

but Gods wisdom is not mans wisdom, and Gods ways are not mans ways!

* * *

Ask any person involved in networking or marketing a product, and he/she will tell you the

importance and necessity of planning and monitoring every step of the way to achieve maximum

results. The Kingdom of God should be treated thus, too, but not quite, for there is the factor of

grace which cannot be controlled, manipulated, or disregarded. By all means, we should work as

if everything depended upon us, but also pray as though everything depended upon God.

* * *

How one becomes a member of Jesus advance party itself is a matter of grace. Many of us

were called to the priestly and religious life and continue to be called not so much because ofourselves. Indeed we are earthen vessels that carry a treasure, unworthy messengers that

proclaim a tremendous message.

* * *

Fr. Redz Domino, SVD, was a first year engineering student of Mapua Institute of Technology,and all set to become a pilot someday. How did God catch up with him? Through a foot injury

which made him discontinue his studies, and eventually led him to Christ the King Seminary in

Quezon City. He took the entrance exams on Sept. 8, 1986. Unknown to him then, Sept. 8 is thebirthday of Mama Mary and of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). He was ordained priest

on Dec. 12, 1996 (the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe). He worked for four years as a

missionary in the Congo in Africa, and is now the vocation director of our SVD PhilippineCentral Province. A foot injury that did not make sense then led him to a walking ministry now

http://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/fr-jerry-m-orbos-svdhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/fr-jerry-m-orbos-svdhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/fr-jerry-m-orbos-svdhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirerhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirerhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/source/philippine-daily-inquirerhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/byline/fr-jerry-m-orbos-svd

7/27/2019 God's Wisdom

2/3

in search of possible candidates for the priestly and religious life. For possible candidates, please

call Father Redz at 7265002/04 or e-mail him at bokasyonsvd@yahoo.com.

* * *

Father Redz points to the family as the rich ground for vocations. He himself admits that he oweshis vocation to his parents, Alfeo and Justina Domino, who taught him and his seven siblings at

an early age the value of prayer and good deeds. Indeed, the family that prays together stays

together, and by Gods grace, produces vocations together.

* * *

A tale of two brothers. Fr. Loi Ebisa, SVD, and Fr. Bobby Ebisa, SVD, were ordained priests

together on Dec. 8, 1993. These brothers grew up serving as sacristans of the Pink Sisters in

Cebu City. Father Bobby remembers growing up in Tuyon, Carcar City, in a prayerful and lovinghome with their parents, Crisanto and Lorenza Ebisa. He worked for nine years in Brazil and six

years as director of Radio Veritas Asia. Father Loi has worked in remote mountain parishes inAbra, Kalinga, and Ifugao. Now 53, he has advanced colon cancer, and Father Bobby, 49, takescare of him at our retirement house. It is so inspiring and edifying to see the love and care for

each other of these two brothers, two priest-brothers.

* * *

Recently, I saw a man in a restaurant who looked like our Papa, who passed away in 1987. I just

sat there looking at the man, remembering Papa and praying for him, and asking him to pray for

us all. For me, it was a moment of grace, a beautiful reminder from God that our loved ones are

never really gone. And guess what? That evening, an old friend and coworker of Papa called me

from out of the blue to tell me that he was sending some fruits for me and for our missionaries.Just like that.

Yes, there are many things we cannot explain or understand in this life, except through Gods

wisdom.

* * *

For those candidates who lost in the last elections and still cannot accept their present situation,

remember, God in His wisdom and love has a plan. In everything that happens in our lives, there

is a reason, there is a mission. Trust, surrender, and believe in Gods wisdom.

* * *

Pray for the grace of faith. More than something we work for or earn, grace is something given

to us. Its all about Him, not us! May we have the humility to see that God has a master plan, and

the trust that He makes all things beautiful in His time.

* * *

7/27/2019 God's Wisdom

3/3

Think about this: I do not understand the mystery of grace, only that it meets us where we are,

and does not leave us where it found us.

* * *

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, teach me to rely more on Your understanding and wisdom. Amen.

Read more:http://opinion.inquirer.net/56021/gods-wisdom#ixzz2YMqwEcjqFollow us:@inquirerdotnet on Twitter|inquirerdotnet on Facebook

http://opinion.inquirer.net/56021/gods-wisdom#ixzz2YMqwEcjqhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/56021/gods-wisdom#ixzz2YMqwEcjqhttp://opinion.inquirer.net/56021/gods-wisdom#ixzz2YMqwEcjqhttp://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnethttp://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnethttp://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnethttp://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnethttp://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnethttp://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnethttp://ec.tynt.com/b/rf?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnethttp://ec.tynt.com/b/rw?id=bSAw-mF-0r4Q-4acwqm_6r&u=inquirerdotnethttp://opinion.inquirer.net/56021/gods-wisdom#ixzz2YMqwEcjq