The Servant Song

14Sep08

Last Saturday morning found Lex and I at the Gesu, at the ordination to the Diaconate of his good friend and mentor, (now Reverend) Frank (he’s the one to the far right in the photo above c/o Bro. Ceci).

It was my first time to witness an ordination, and the atmosphere was one of celebration–rather different from that of a graduation.  The joy that permeated the place, I felt, came more from the open embrace of the people present there to these nine young men who have chosen these extraordinary lives.  Finding out bits and pieces about them, left me pretty amazed at just how much love they have, and at their desire to share this with as many as possible.  What amazes me even more is how they have chosen to live these lives, and as such, (I’m assuming) derive happiness from self-offering in this manner.

I suppose it was quite fitting then, that it was the first time I noticed the crucifix at the Gesu, the one that hangs above the altar.  As crucifixes go, Jesus is nailed to the cross.  But instead of his head hanging down, this one’s had Jesus’ face looking up to the heavens.  The first thing that came to mind for me was the Oblation, and the same pose of arms outstretched, eyes to the heavens.  The complete offering of the self.

I kept the missalette of the ordination, because there was this one song whose lyrics resonates for me.

The Servant Song (R. Gillard)

Will you let me be your servant?
Let me be as Christ to you.
Pray that I may have the grace to let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on this journey.
We are trav’llers on the road.
We are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ light for you in the night-time of your fear.
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping.
When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you.
I will share your joy and sorrow ’til we’ve seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven, we shall find such harmony,
borne of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony.

I was also surprised to see a lone religious in a forest-green sutana, snapping away at the whole affair.  The lone Lasallian Brother in the midst of Jesuits was Brother Ceci Hojilla!    Even if he didn’t remember me, I do have fond, grade five memories of hanging out at his office, and the stories he shared during our recollection that year.  He was there as a guest of one of the newly-ordained dudes, Robbie Sian, a La Salle graduate, turned UP Med doctor, turned Jesuit deacon.  It was amusing to see a spot of (very) deep green that morning, I wonder how he felt entering the Ateneo campus, greeted by the larger than life-sized standees of the Ateneo basketball team.  Hehe.  There was an even more amusing exchange when I introduced him to Lex.

Bro. Ceci: Is she (being) good?

Lex: Surprised (I think), just smiles and nods his head (you did nod, didn’t you, hon? ).

Bro. Ceci: (laughs) Kung hindi, isauli mo na sa La Salle! (more laughter)

Well, I found it funny (within the whole context of the Ateneo-La Salle dichotomy).  But whatever school-loyalty differences that existed that morning served only to make the affair more interesting, and more remarkable, in fact.  Vocation definitely falls far greater, and beyond school rivalry lines. 

To view more photos from that morning, hop over to Brother Ceci’s Multiply site!

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Tags: ateneo, la salle, ordination