Greenbelt Chapel | Credit: Silkenhut.com

This is my second straight Sunday that I heard a mass at the Sto. Niño de Paz Community Greenbelt Chapel. I'm starting to feel at home here. Rev. Fr. Jun Sescon, Jr. is becoming a family to me even though we haven't been introduced personally yet.

These past few weeks, I've been struggling a lot in almost all aspects of my life. I'm so stressed at work due to an on-going project. I don't know where to get more money just so I could pay all my bills and help my family back at home. I can't find time to serve in SFC Loreto, my Christian community. I've lost interest in going through courtship just to search for my future partner. I don't even go out to meet new people and socialize. I am so lost.

In his homily, Fr. Jun said that we should check on the things that we give and accept in life. Life has a lot to offer and we should not accept all of it as is. If someone bullies you, ignore him. Don't let his negativity consumed you. If someone makes you feel uncomfortable, ignore him. Look for people who can appreciate who you are. Do not let negative things control you. Learn to reject things and just accept those that would help you grow.

Fr. Jun Sescon Jr. | Credit: GreenbeltChapel.org

Back at work, there were times that I feel like I'm not worthy of all the tasks that I'm handling. It feels like I'm incapable to do such responsibilities. I've lost count all those times that I've wanted to quit. In times like these, Fr. Jun said, "shake it off!"

If you're too stressed and is unable to think straight, shake it off! This would allow you to see what's important versus those that are just there to challenge you. Sometimes, all we need is for someone to lead us back to our track.

Yes, I have a lot of concerns. I can't resolve all of them by quitting and starting all over. While starting anew feels like more convenient, unresolved problems in the past will continue to haunt you in the future. I should know that. I've got a lot of them that they bother me at night as I go to sleep.

Fr. Jun also reminded us of the material possessions that we have. That it should not dictate who we are.

More than the titles that we have, the money in our bank accounts, the business and investments we may have built up throughout the years, the cars that we drive, the house that we go to at the end of the day, the phones that we use, more than every single thing that we have acquired on earth, our characters should still be intact. Our character is who we are. And that should not change even when we start dressing up with all the branded clothes that we have.

Fr. Jun said "Be careful. The things you own may actually own you."

We should not let our material things dictate who we are. It should not, in anyway, control our lives. We should be the one controlling them. We should be in control of our lives.

I've got a lot of work to do. I learned a lot tonight. While this may not help me resolve my current problems, it gave me another reason to believe that I will be able to conquer these.