i just came home tonight from the wake of bro ogie reyes - one of our more regular speakers in the community. the mass was celebrated by our spiritual director, fr mario sobrejuanite.it's weird.. i don't know bro. ogie personally. i just know him to be a good speaker.. a servant-leader in their community.. a follower of God. but news of his death.. and the manner by which it happened.. really shocked me. it hurt me a lot. i felt betrayed. and it really hurt :(
i looked up to him. we all did. he always gave us funny anecdotes that gave insights about God. he was never boring.. and his lectures were peppered with witty comments and remarks. he talked about faith and trust in God. how we should trust the Lord especially during hard times. he talked about suffering.. and how God uses it for good. he inspired and enlightened.
and he died by his own hand.
when i heard the news, i was shocked. i went through denial, anger and pain. bro ogie, how could you?! i asked. if this happened to YOU.. one to whom many of us looked to for strength and guidance.. what would become of us?!
no, i did not know him personally. but since his death, i've offered up at least a dozen prayers for bro. ogie. because i have experienced despair too. and i know how dangerous it could be. how it can take the strongest person in its grip and suck out all hope. and i never want to go through that again. not on my own.
if there's anything bro. ogie's death has taught me, it is this: one life DOES cause ripples. just as one death affects the lives of countless others.
may the Lord be merciful to him.. and to all who are despairing. may He be, to all of us, a Refuge in times of sorrow.. a Rock in times of doubt.. and a Ray of Hope in times of darkest despair.
3 comments:
Thank you for this post. I'm a member of the Singles Ministry in the Community were Tito Ogie belonged, though from a different District. I was able to attend, I guess 2 or 3 talks given by him, and I was indeed very inspired and touched by the way he would give his talks...always with zeal and fervent faith in the Lord. I adopted one of the examples he used during one of his talks re. God's love, and to thank the Lord for the gift of Tito Ogie, whenever I use it (the water and jobos dyes), I would always offer it to the Lord for him, that the Lord would see past his shortcomings, whatever they may be and see the people whose lives have been blessed and changed through His instrument...Tito Ogie.
correction: were = where
Hi, Rain Lover.
I read your entry years ago. I want to ask you something.
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