The last Community Celebration was one of the most "boisterous" we’ve had
so far. While we were left laughing every now and then, it was full of
reflection as well. For those who know our priest-celebrant Fr. Jerry Orbos,
SVD, it is his trademark to use humor to drive home a point and derive
profundity from examples of simple moments.

And that’s what he has been espousing all along. Our lives are filled with many blessed moments that we should recognize and bring us to prayer and gratitude. And these moments need not be grandiose or dramatic. The simple fact that we woke up and are now able to hear mass, "waste time with the Lord" (in Fr. Jerry’s words), should make us pause and give thanks to Him. More often than not, we take the fact that we’re alive for granted.

We at times have so many concerns that we tend to lose our focus on Christ. We should always see Christ in our family, in other people, in our work. We should always be aware of the big picture -- there is a God who loves us and will always be there for us. Fr. Jerry dares us to go back to being simple, to not always take ourselves too seriously. He dares us to be happy even in the face of trials. He proposes a prescription that may help us have peace in our lives: we need to have a HEART check-up.

Do you have a Humble heart? A humble heart is full of humility. When one’s heart is humble, one tends to be good not only to others but also to one’s own self. The ability to forgive is an offshoot of a humble heart. And the greatest act of forgiveness is to forgive one’s own enemies. This will not only lead to peace in one’s heart but peace to other people as well.

Do you have an Earnest heart? An earnest heart is full of sincerity and honesty, and many will agree with Fr. Jerry’s observation that lack of these traits, especially honesty, is the country’s biggest problem. It is easier for a person with an honest heart to find peace, contrary to the many negative feelings of a dishonest heart. Oftentimes, it is envy that leads to dishonesty, and an envious person will be hard-pressed to find peace.

Do you have an Affectionate heart? During the early part of the Mass, Fr. Jerry mentioned that married people will get priority in getting to heaven ... because they have already been in hell while on earth. This was Fr. Jerry’s humorous way of expressing admiration for married couples. He emphasized that being married is our mission from Christ, just as being a priest is his mission. We should not be afraid to always express our love to our spouses, children and parents, and also to other people who matter in our lives as well. Fr. Jerry then asked us to go around and express such love to other people in the congregation. In a simple test which led to some sheepish smiles, Fr. Jerry asked when was the last time the wives received flowers from their husbands.

Do you have a Rejoicing heart? We should be in the habit of giving joy, not killing joy. We should strive to create a happy atmosphere not only at home but in other places, such as at work. We should always have the courage to do good things to other people. It is ironic that people sometimes angrily shout at other people but lovingly talk to animals. In other cases, we love things and use people rather than the other way around. Life is too short not to rejoice over the many blessings that we have received and to surrender to God our concerns, rather than needlessly worrying ourselves to death over them. Remember the lilies of the fields and the birds in the air?

Do we have a Tender heart? Or do we have a heart that bears grudges or resentments? To a person without compassion, it is easy to find that everything is wrong. We should ease suffering, rather than be the cause of suffering to other people. We should promote peace rather than be the cause of discord, or, in Fr. Jerry’s words, be the cause of "rest in peace" to others. Among Koreans, the standard greeting is to ask, "Are you at peace?" or say "Go in peace" when bidding goodbye. We should do well to emulate this, but only with a tender heart can one give these wishes with sincerity.

Fr. Jerry’s talk was replete with other gems that go straight to the heart; not due to lack of knowledge but more because we have ignored obvious things.Fr. Jerry is known to be a devotee of Mama Mary and, in honoring her and the other Mama in his life, he calls his mother everyday. Who among us can say the same? Fr. Jerry further says we should receive the Eucharist not with a frown on our faces but with a smile. For don’t we say "happy are we who are called to His banquet?" And taking the Eucharist is both a "dine-in and a takeout" experience, in the sense that we should not leave the Mass in Church but bring it outside the Church as well. Only then can we have peace in our hearts and be the instruments of peace to others.
Lito & Jet Quimel, Exodus BCGG