A Question Of Shepherds

‘Fatima – Shepherds’ by Ray Lehmann

A Question Of Poor

03 February – This is the pastoral text of Fr Reuter: The three little children of Fatima were poor. But the Virgin Mary loved them with a special love. The Filipinos are poor. But Mary loves them with a special love. The image I choose is that showing the poor little shepherds, who could have been Filipinos. The photograph captures their innocence. Only the poor could have seen the Lady of Fatima; only the poor have the humility to sense a wonder when it confronts them; only the poor have the faith to consider the unbelievable. Unencumbered by the trappings of modern living, the poor live in peace as much as possible. Those who wish for more must give up their peace, even their faith, even the Motherhood of Mary.

I am a loner, and I was never close to my mother or my father. We were not that poor. I’ll probably will never be close to Mother Mary, but I have felt the peace of the countryside when life was simpler, when all I had to do was pasture our carabao on the other side of the river on Saturdays and Sundays, days I spent quietly reading books and books and enjoying what I was doing while watching out for the animal at the same time. That must be a little of the peace that Mary has to offer.

Later on, when other dreams got hold of me, I lost that peace. I became poorer. It must be a little like losing the peace that Mary has to offer.

Simbang Gabi

Simbang Gabi/Mass At Dawn
09 December – The pastoral text of Fr Reuter is this: The shepherds heard the song of the angels, and went in search of God. During the Simbang Gabi our streets are filled with people, finding their way to God. Apt image by Aileron who captions it ‘Simbang Gabi’ (literally Night Mass, but it is really held at dawn) (flickr.com/). The scene is that inside a church that alive with the colors of love. The people = Filipinos, of course – are filled with their love for Jesus, and it is enough.