A Year of Favour
Tags: Advent, Catholic

Gaudete. Rejoice.

“… He has sent me to bring the news to the afflicted, to soothe the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, release to those in prison, to proclaim a year of favour from Yahweh…” — from Isaiah 61:1–2, 10–11 (First Reading for Gaudete Sunday)

When the year started, I did not have a concrete vision for the year — all I had in mind was to push for my visa application moving towards Permanent Residency here in Australia. I had no clue whether I would have any job related to social work but I took my time because as I had learned over the years, the most important thing was to be able to have a relationship with God and to follow where He would lead me. My only non-negotiable was to maintain a relationship with God and to love Him in whatever way I was called to do. To love and to serve. Amare et servire.

The year then slowly unfolded, and of course the rest is history as COVID-19 happened. It has definitely been tough for most people in the world. My mother’s mother passed away and she could not even say Goodbye. I am heartbroken for her and I pray every day for my parents’ good health so that we can be reunited once again as a family.

I was able to spend Christmas 2019 with my parents and sister, KZ. Our youngest sister (Photoshopped on the right-most HAHA) was in Spain, then.

Despite all of this, I believe that my 2020 has been a year of favour. Early in the year, on the 26th of January, I went to attend mass at Sacred Heart Church in Broken Hill. As I prayed, I was affirmed that indeed God has answered my long-time prayer for a partner that would allow me to love more, someone who would bring me closer to Christ. Moreover, I was reminded that several of my prayers have been answered within Sacred Heart Churches (especially the one in Makati where I used to live), including discernment back in 2016, a scholarship in 2017. Numerous “impossibles” have been given to me, but the best has always been hearing God’s voice so clearly in prayer: “This is for you.”

A year of adventure with Chay

Hearing Father Arnel’s homily about our True North in life, I could not help but be reminded of my own journey. Most of the time, I have no idea where I am going in concrete terms, but I always ask God where He wants me to go.

Since January, I have always sought for God’s voice in prayer, especially during the most difficult transition of moving to another state. When it seemed like what I was doing was illogical, I had nothing but God’s promise as the basis of my action. I wondered if I had to do it and why I had to do it even when I had no idea what would come my way. Through it all, God has been patient and has often offered me options rather than directives. I kept myself open to hearing what He wanted to say, rather than what people around me were saying. I searched for peace. I searched for the loving act to do. I listened to my heart, and I took a leap of faith.

Chikka The Cat!

As the year ends, I am contentedly taking each day at a time as I recover from the past years’ traumatic challenges. I spend each day praying, painting, creating, giving, caring, and serving through simple household chores and playing with Chikka The Cat. Each day is simple and meaningful. It might not be society’s ideal day, but to me it is mostly perfect.

Gaudete, indeed. Rejoice! It has been a year of favour, and the coming one shall be another year of favour.