Dear friends,
On October 1, 2019, CPU will become 114 years old. Last September 28, 2019, I was given the privilege to give a reflection during CPU Alumni Homecoming. Let me share with you a portion of what I shared.
Reflecting on the theme of the U-Day and Alumni Homecoming which is “Central Spirit Leading Us Onward as One,” I read again 2 Corinthians 3:6 and what it can say in to what Centralians call the “Central Spirit” — “God has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant —not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
As Centralians we should be reminded that if the Central Spirit is convicted with the Holy Spirit:
First, our actions should give life.
In Genesis, it is written there that God breathed into us the breath of life and we became living beings.
Our actions then must follow the example of God. We must bring life wherever we go by giving words that give life, by thinking of ideas that give life, and by doing actions that affirm life.
We must also affirm life-giving initiatives of other people and other organizations. In this way, we make this world a better place to live in.
Second, our actions should lead us to check our policies, our plans, and our activities if it kills or not.
Paul said that the letter kills. Paul was referring to some laws in the Old Testament that Jesus changed. The famous is “an eye for an eye” in which Jesus changed to “love your enemies.”
This means that whatever policies we have is not written in stone. We have to check it with this criteria: does it gives life or not? If not, then we have to change it.
My challenge to you is when you go back to your own respective offices, businesses and organizations, check out your policies. Review it. If it is anti-life, then make your best effort to change it.
Third, our actions should give meaning to the life of others.
There is one Centralian who added meaning to my life. His name is Anatalio Viray. We became good friends when he was in his 80s up to his 90s. His life as a working student in the campus, and later as the Chairman of the CPU Board of Trustees left an imprint in my life.
Here is what he wrote in 1955 when he was President of the CPU Alumni Association: “Bethlehem has made its way to Central, so it was at Central that so many of us have found its way to Bethlehem.”
May the Central Spirit indeed be convicted by the Holy Spirit!
Sincerely,
Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on