{"id":264,"date":"2009-06-04T23:32:11","date_gmt":"2009-06-04T13:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/?p=264"},"modified":"2009-06-04T23:32:11","modified_gmt":"2009-06-04T13:32:11","slug":"hoping-we-will-be-one-forever-by-fr-james-reuter-sj","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/?p=264","title":{"rendered":"Hoping we will be one, forever   by Fr. James Reuter, S.J."},"content":{"rendered":"<p><meta http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" \/><meta name=\"ProgId\" content=\"Word.Document\" \/><meta name=\"Generator\" content=\"Microsoft Word 11\" \/><meta name=\"Originator\" content=\"Microsoft Word 11\" \/>\n<link href=\"file:\/\/\/C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cdino%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml\" rel=\"File-List\" \/><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" name=\"Street\"><\/o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" name=\"address\"><\/o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" name=\"country-region\" downloadurl=\"http:\/\/www.5iantlavalamp.com\/\"><\/o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" name=\"City\" downloadurl=\"http:\/\/www.5iamas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\"><\/o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri=\"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags\" name=\"place\" downloadurl=\"http:\/\/www.5iantlavalamp.com\/\"><\/o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:PunctuationKerning\/>   <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas\/>   <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:Compatibility>    <w:BreakWrappedTables\/>    <w:SnapToGridInCell\/>    <w:WrapTextWithPunct\/>    <w:UseAsianBreakRules\/>    <w:DontGrowAutofit\/>   <\/w:Compatibility>   <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4<\/w:BrowserLevel>  <\/w:WordDocument> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState=\"false\" LatentStyleCount=\"156\">  <\/w:LatentStyles> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object  classid=\"clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D\" id=ieooui><\/object> \n\n<style> st1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<style> <!--  \/* Font Definitions *\/  @font-face \t{font-family:\"Arial Narrow\"; \tpanose-1:2 11 5 6 2 2 2 3 2 4; \tmso-font-charset:0; \tmso-generic-font-family:swiss; \tmso-font-pitch:variable; \tmso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}  \/* Style Definitions *\/  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal \t{mso-style-parent:\"\"; \tmargin:0cm; \tmargin-bottom:.0001pt; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:12.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";} @page Section1 \t{size:595.3pt 841.9pt; \tmargin:14.2pt 17.0pt 14.2pt 17.0pt; \tmso-header-margin:35.45pt; \tmso-footer-margin:35.45pt; \tmso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 \t{page:Section1;} @page Section2 \t{size:612.0pt 792.0pt; \tmargin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; \tmso-header-margin:36.0pt; \tmso-footer-margin:36.0pt; \tmso-paper-source:0;} div.Section2 \t{page:Section2;} --> <\/style>\n<p><!--[if gte mso 10]> \n\n<style>  \/* Style Definitions *\/  table.MsoNormalTable \t{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\"; \tmso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; \tmso-tstyle-colband-size:0; \tmso-style-noshow:yes; \tmso-style-parent:\"\"; \tmso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; \tmso-para-margin:0cm; \tmso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:10.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-ansi-language:#0400; \tmso-fareast-language:#0400; \tmso-bidi-language:#0400;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]--><\/p>\n<p class=\"Section1\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">I am in Our Lady of Peace Hospital, on the <st1:street w:st=\"on\"><st1:address w:st=\"on\">Coastal Road<\/st1:address><\/st1:street>, and it is really 3:00 a.m. The planes coming and going from the airport are roaring over my head. Everything is peaceful and quiet. Even the roaring planes add to the feeling of peace and quiet. I am ten days away from my 93rd birthday on May 26, 2009. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">God has been kinder to me than I deserve, giving me such a rich life, in such a beautiful country, among such gentle people. He has blessed me with so many kind, affectionate, generous, loving friends. I found that the best time for me to write was at 3:00 a.m. My mind is clearer, my heart is warmer, and I am overwhelmed with the goodness of the people God sends to me.<\/span><!--more--><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">In this column I have always tried to be positive &#8211; presenting the goodness of people, and the wisdom of God\u2019s <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:city w:st=\"on\">Providence<\/st1:city><\/st1:place> as I saw it. I have tried to give. To give the only thing I have to give, Myself. I have tried to share my thoughts, my feelings, the wonderful holiness that I see in the simple, gentle people that God sends to me.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">As soon as I came to the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Philippines<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place> I realized that the Filipinos were the loveliest people in the world. It was a gift of God, a special blessing, that He sent me here. I have been thanked for giving my life to the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Philippines<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">But whenever you give, you always get back more than you have given. Thank you<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">\u2022 for your gift of friendship through these many long <span>\u00a0<\/span><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><span>\u00a0 <\/span>years;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">\u2022 for reading \u201cAt 3:00 A.M.\u201d from the time I started writing<span>\u00a0 <\/span><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><span>\u00a0 <\/span>my column;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">\u2022 for your reactions through letters and phone calls when <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><span>\u00a0 <\/span>you liked or did not like what I wrote;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">\u2022 for sharing your stories which inspired me to write them <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><span>\u00a0 <\/span>so that they could inspire others;<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">\u2022 for your love and concern<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">\u2022 for your prayers which comfort me and which I need.<\/span><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">I have tried to be a priest. A priest is a bridge, a bridge between God and man, a channel of God\u2019s love, peace and joy.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">What I have found in the <st1:place w:st=\"on\"><st1:country-region w:st=\"on\">Philippines<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place> is union, union of hearts and minds. It is marked by sharing. The simple, <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><br style=\"page-break-before: always\" clear=\"all\" \/> <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">gentle Filipino is willing to share all he has, with everyone. That is holiness. That is sanctity. That is being like God. In heaven we will all be one \u2013 united in heart and soul \u2013 loving each other. In this column written at 3:00 a.m. that was my only message \u2013 give, give yourself. Love.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">And when I presented this, I discovered what it meant, myself. Being strong, sometimes, means being able to let go. I know that now is the time to \u201clet go\u201d. <o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">I have been up at 3:00 a.m. to write my column for many, many years. It is now time for me to stay in bed until the sun comes up and the birds start to sing.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">This is not goodbye. Wherever I am, whatever I do, you are always in my heart and in my prayers. To all of you, God bless! <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">The song is ended, but the melody lingers on, and on, and on.<br \/>\nI love those who have read this column. And I hope that they love me.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">For those who are interested, here is my prayer that I would like to share with you.<o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 1pt 4pt\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"border: medium none ; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\">Lord God, Look down upon us, this day, this hour. Regardless of what has gone before, or what will come after, give us the grace to consecrate this time entirely to You \u2014 all the actions of our body and soul. May all the thoughts that come to us be true. May all the things to which our hearts go out be beautiful, with the beauty of God. May all the things we want be good. Give us the light to see Your Will, the grace to love it and the courage and strength to do it. We ask you this through Christ Our Lord. Amen. \u2013 ?<\/span><\/strong><strong><span style=\"font-size: 3pt; font-family: 'Arial Narrow'\"><o:p><\/o:p><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I am in Our Lady of Peace Hospital, on the Coastal Road, and it is really 3:00 a.m. The planes coming and going from the airport are roaring over my head. Everything is peaceful and quiet. Even the roaring planes add to the feeling of peace and quiet. I am ten days away from my [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.philippinesentinel.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}