Connecting home

It has been nearly a year since I have been assigned to further studies in San Francisco. And there has not been a day that I am not reminded of home. I remember friends and family. I pray for my country. And even during this moment in time when we can communicate more readily with the technologies and applications that we have; missing home is still part of the human experience of being away.

When moments of homesickness do come in, people usually cope by looking for an object that reminds them of home. What I do during these times is to walk westward until I reach the ocean. I walk toward the water to touch it knowing that it is the closest that I can be to home for the meantime. And when I do this, I feel connected even if I know that I am on the other side of the Pacific.

Our readings for this Sunday talk about the vines and the branches. It talks about connection. It talks about what gives us life. It talks about what brings us close to home. Jesus even invites us to make our home in Him as He makes His home in us. He gives us this blessing freely so that we may also experience life to the full. Just like the branches which can only remain alive if they are part of the vine, we also bear fruit when we find ourselves remaining in God.

How many times do we find ourselves trying to do “our own thing” or “minding our own business,” when we suddenly realize that we are drifting away and losing the freedom that we used to enjoy? How many times have we turned a blind eye on the hurtful actions of people only to realize that we ourselves begin to lose the humanity that we commonly share? To examine our consciences regularly would help us to be connected and be authentically human.

St. John says, “our love is not just words or mere talk, it is something which is real and active!” It is by this that we find ourselves certain of our connection to God. It is by this connection that

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