Juan Paolo Patac

2E-MT

January 27, 2015

A BLESSED VISIT THROUGH THE WINDOWS OF MY TV

January 15-19, 2015 were no days ordinary for any Filipino. These were among the most
blessed and humbling things that happened to our nation. Christianity has been the religion of
majority of Filipinos and knowing that the Philippines comprises of more than 80% of Catholics, its no
surprise that a visit by the pope would really cause the whole nation to go crazy. Yes, the highest of
the highest leaders of the church, the physical representation of our Lord Jesus Christ came over and
visited our country! Its truly a surreal experience for each and everyone of us. Obviously, the pope
was the center of all our attentions that day. He was treated like a rockstar.
So a popes visit wouldnt just be about him waving at millions of people while riding his
uniquely made pope mobile. It isnt just about posing at the camera and getting millions of attentions
all over the country and eventually the whole world. The pope had something to tell us. He wanted us
to passionately and more fervently commit ourselves to renewing our society and help build a better
world. Basically, he wants us to be better Christians hoping that through each and everyone of us,
collectively, we could change our world into a better place to live in. With all this in mind, the pope
was heard.
Its a rainy day when the pope went to my future alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas,
and as they say, when it rains, we get to receive blessings from the heavens. Blessings we did
receive when the pope had his encounter with the youth. Its truly an amazing experience for me
despite only witnessing the whole event on TV. Lets just say watching on TV also has its perks. I get
to listen to whatever the pope wanted to say more clearly with clear audio and visuals of our local TV
network. The pope did have things to say and for me, those dont apply only to the youth but to the
elders as well. What he said chooses no age. Its timeless. There are a lot of things he said but there
are these 2 lines that struck me the most and may even be my future mantras. Theyre about God
being a God of surprises and about reality being superior to ideas.
God is a God of surprise because He loved us first. God awaits us to surprise us. Let us allow
ourselves to be surprised by God. Let us not have a computer psychology that makes us think we
know it all. All answers on computers - but no surprises. The challenge of love. God reveals himself
through surprises. We are truly blessed that someone as supreme as our God could love sinners like
us. I mean despite being lost and getting farther and farther away from Him, He still manages to
surprise us and pulls us back in his arms. We may doubt all the time and think we may have already
known it all, but let us give God a chance to surprise us with His embrace. With all the obstacles and
difficult problems were going through, let us not overthink and anticipate too much of things for God
knows whats next and whats best for us. After all, a father wouldnt just let his children fail, right?
Sorry if I havent read what I prepared for you but there is a phrase that consoles me: that
reality is superior to ideas. The reality that you have is superior to the paper I have in front of me.
Things may not go always as planned but these shouldnt hinder us to do the things were actually
supposed to do. Also, we could always adjust and focus on the more pressing issues. Well, thats
what the pope did. What he said is telling us to be realistic. He didnt say his actual prepared speech
because he knew more pressing issues were placed right in front of his face. He just had to answer
and console these youth gathered around him. Its just the better thing to do. I guess what hes just
trying to say is to remember to open our eyes and realize the problems we have in front of us and not

Juan Paolo Patac

2E-MT

January 27, 2015

merely think of concepts and ideas, but to act and respond on the matter at hand as well. Truly, reality
is way more superior to ideas.
5 days were all it took to unite the Filipino people. From the poorest of the poor to the richest of
the richest gathered to see the blessed pope. Together, with hands held high, they heard the good
news. Its again back to the usual as the pope already have left but I really do hope that the Filipino
unity I saw and what Papa Francisco said in those 5 days would continue to live on.