by Karyll Kristen Rain Templado
It is heart-warming to write my takeaways from the recent recollection we had last Friday, June 11, 2021. I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to Sir Blas Descallar and Ma’am Love Dorero of Jesuit Volunteer Philippines [JVP] for conducting a meaningful recollection. I was privileged to watch the movie clips of the film Mulanay and to hear the songs – Something More, Journey, and Reflection, all new to me and how they were explained with the testimonies of real-life experiences from Sir Blas helped me understand better the messages of the songs, the movie, and the scripture– On the road to Emmaus [Luke 24:13-35].
Like many of us today, the disciples on the road to Emmaus were at a loss and in despair and living in fear for their own lives. Yet, I firmly believe when Sir Blas said, “Christ walks beside us and breaks bread with us today. He opens our hearts with his Word today in exactly the same way he did on that road to Emmaus 2,000 years ago. Jesus’ teachings are the same, which is to Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Yes, I am sure I got the message that nothing has changed, except that today, we are the ones walking our own road to Emmaus.
As I listened and reflected, it reminded me to seriously discern the kind of life I want to have in the future. It has led me to ponder possible ways to overcome the challenges that come along as I journey in life. The line in the song Journey that says, “Forward, always forward, Onward, always up, catching every drop of hope in my empty cup,” really touched me. I like the message of positivity even in the darkest days, hoping that one day, everything’s going to be fine. This made me think that God prepares a way for each of us to become successful in life but it is our choice what direction we will take in our life’s journey.
Sir Blas shared with us, “The attributes of Professionalism,’ a good opportunity for me to prepare myself for the particular career I will decide on very soon. At the last part of the recollection, a question was raised – “What do you HOPE for as you are about to become a professional?” I simply hope to learn the attributes of professionalism and live them out in the profession I will take sooner or later. In the recollection, I learned that it is essential to develop the values of discernment, humility, and faith. It also made me value prayer and contentment. Moreover, the recollection is an eye-opener for me that it is not the amount of salary we receive that matters in our profession, but the relationship we’ve built in our workplace, community, and our heart for those who are in need of our service.
[The writer is a graduating student from the College of Teacher Education of Collegio de San Francisco Xavier in Rizal, Zamboanga del Norte]