I have always been open to being a fan of John Lloyd Cruz and it’s no surprise that like most Filipino moviegoers, I have watched his latest film, “It Takes A Man and a Woman”, the third installment in the romantic comedy series where he stars opposite Sarah Geronimo. Of course, I laughed heartily, smiled with nostalgia, and bawled my eyes out along with the packed crowd. It was a movie made for the fans – those who have watched “A Very Special Love” and “You Changed My Life” and have empathized for Laida and Miggy, Sarah’s and John Lloyd’s characters in the films. Reflecting on the movie, as I am always inclined to do with every film I watch, I realized why I got hooked with their story. It wasn’t just because of a superficial admiration for the talent of John Lloyd, or the obvious chemistry between the two, or the superb directing by Cathy Garcia-Molina; but it was because of the intelligence and wisdom behind the story and the characters.
On another plane, my internal struggle towards personal growth has led me to a realization, more of an epiphany, about happiness, love and forgiveness --- the underlying themes in the movie I found relevant to me. I believe that happiness is a choice, as much as Laida’s mother, played by the brilliant Irma Adlawan, believed that love is a choice and forgiveness is a choice. I was crying because I felt the wisdom revealed to me is right there on the big screen, like a banquet open to anyone willing to see it and partake of it.
Now, I was surprised when the Gospel reading for today was from John 3:16-21 --- a verse from which has been used as the founding principle for the Christian faith: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) If I may endow God with human qualities, I would say that it was God’s choice to love us. It was his happiness to do so. And, if we have sinned against him and hurt him, it has always been God’s choice to forgive us, not just seven times but seventy-seven times seven --- a number not be taken literally, but in the context of the Hebrew language, means “infinitely”. This message recurs throughout the whole Gospel --- this message about God’s love.
Dear Lord, thank you for helping me acknowledge your presence with me this moment. Thank you for choosing to love me. Thank you for choosing to forgive me. Thank you for wanting to share your happiness with me. I am sorry for hardening my heart and looking away from you and hiding myself in the dark. I was ashamed and I did not want the light to expose my faults. But you love me and you forgive me and you want me to be happy, so I ask you now, my Lord, to help me seek You every moment of my life. Help me to return to you and bask in your loving light. I choose to be happy. I choose love. I choose You. Amen.
Now, I was surprised when the Gospel reading for today was from John 3:16-21 --- a verse from which has been used as the founding principle for the Christian faith: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) If I may endow God with human qualities, I would say that it was God’s choice to love us. It was his happiness to do so. And, if we have sinned against him and hurt him, it has always been God’s choice to forgive us, not just seven times but seventy-seven times seven --- a number not be taken literally, but in the context of the Hebrew language, means “infinitely”. This message recurs throughout the whole Gospel --- this message about God’s love.
Dear Lord, thank you for helping me acknowledge your presence with me this moment. Thank you for choosing to love me. Thank you for choosing to forgive me. Thank you for wanting to share your happiness with me. I am sorry for hardening my heart and looking away from you and hiding myself in the dark. I was ashamed and I did not want the light to expose my faults. But you love me and you forgive me and you want me to be happy, so I ask you now, my Lord, to help me seek You every moment of my life. Help me to return to you and bask in your loving light. I choose to be happy. I choose love. I choose You. Amen.