OF FAITH and REPENTANCE: A Lenten Reflection

by Earlie Doriman
I have been brought up to a strong Christian faith and I believed that Jesus suffered and died for the sinfulness of humankind. As a believer, I know that I have a contribution to his death, being a sinner myself.

As a child I was taught to stay away from sins, pray everyday, be polite to the elders, respect parents and others, go to church every Sunday, do not steal, share what you have, read the bible, say the angelus, and many other sort of religious obligations attached to a Christian way of life. My religion teachers in my primary and secondary years taught me to memorize many prayers, which fortunately, some are still residing in my memory cells. The biblical stories and the parables that have further influenced my belief, have given so much foundation to my religious conviction. Yet, I am still a sinner and I continue to sin every day.

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I MEET THE POPE

by Earlie Doriman
It was a dream realized to find myself two-meters away from Pope Benedict XVI. I do not call it an ordinary day because that day I felt someone so close to my life has descended from above and bring forth that unexplainable joy. It was very comforting and warm, although he did not know me at all but my emotions were overflowing with satisfaction and had somehow resonated so deeply into my being. Then I realized I was teary-eyed.  At last, I meet the Pope.

I grew up in a home where the Pope’s picture is one you could find in a typical Filipino house’s prayer place. When Pope John Paul II visited the Philippines in 1981, I do not know if I truly understood the passion to see him. I was just seven then, I was only able to listen to him over our old AC/DC radio component. I could hear people shouting with joy and reverence, as the Pope spoke very softly and compassionately. He was one of the most important figures, if not the most adored pontificate, of the Roman Catholic Church.

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Growing up with his name a part of our prayers of the faithful, I learned to wish to see him face-to-face. In my young mind, I knew the Pope was so far away and I could not even imagine any possibility to meeting him. If I was left with a single ray of hope, it eventually died upon his death in 2005.