"Magalit Ka Pa Din!"

Feast of St. Martha

“Magalit Ka Pa Din!”

As we celebrate the feast of St Martha, I want to share with you a very important point. But allow me to digress a bit.

We are currently having a free education program in our parish for out of school youth who want to finish high school.
We have experienced an increasing number of enrollment as well as an increase in volunteer teachers.
We had however an ugly incident in which a student answered back to her teacher and since both cannot control their temper, things turned ugly.
Of course we have to intervene and point out that both are in the wrong.
After we were able to smooth things out, I had dinner with the teacher in the parish rectory.
I asked him, after that, do you have any resolution?
Yes father, he replied. Hindi na po ako magagalit.
Ha? Sabi ko. Wag! Magalit ka pa din!
Lito siyang tumingin sa akin.
Magalit? Eh nagkakagulo nga pag nagagalit ako!
Magalit ka pa din, regalo yan ng Diyos.
Pano magiging regalo ng Diyos to father?!? Mukhang malapit ng mamula at magalit ulit sya.
O, ayan, ginagamit mo na naman ang regalo ng Diyos!
Ganito kasi yan.
Di tama, di mali ang galit. Bigay sayo yan ng Diyos. Para gamitin mo.
Be angry for the right reasons and with the right reactions.
You have the right to be angry if the behaviors are not aligned with our vision as a parish/school.
Just make sure you will be able to point out to the student that you are angry towards her disrespect, not towards her person.
Just make sure that your response to her will bring out the best in both of you…
Anger is a gift. God gave you that for a reason.
Maybe that is what we Filipinos need - that seething anger towards corruption and poverty.
Pag pikon ka sa maling paraan - lagi kang talo.
Pag galit ka sa tamang paraan - panalo ang Diyos.

Now, let us move on to the student.
Let us say she is a good student. Only misguided.
She is spending her energy in disrespecting others.
Maybe you can ask her what is her goal in life.
And then allow her to list down things she will do everyday in order to attain her goal.
Then check with her every week.
She would then be a woman with a plan, a purpose, a vision.
And remind her - stick to the plan. Achieve her plan. Do not be envious of others and their plans.
What is important is that we accomplish God’s plan for us.

Once in a while we need to be reminded, like Martha, of the most important thing - choosing and fulfilling the plan he has for us.
And no matter what others say or do, it shall not be taken away from us.