“It’s not just a matter of competing and winning and playing as much as you can, but you should keep in mind that these are the moments you’re playing and you compete, these are the opportunities, these are the ocassions that you tell God, ‘Thank you, Lord for my strength, for my abilities and I want to praise you, I want to offer to you this game.”
On the newly constructed covered court on the 26th day of November 2018, a tradition was then celebrated. As a Catholic school, the Saint Joseph College started their Intramurals Day with an opening mass presided by their very own president, Bishop Precioso D. Cantillas, SDB DD. It was an event where the Josephinians were like little children, sitting on the floor, with their hearts being wrapped with excitement and glee, who are very eager to know and to listen to a story being narrated by their father.
The president talked about the parable of an old man, who went to a temple to offer his everything. He wasn’t the type of man who possessed every material things in the world. Instead, he was a man who only has a single peso in his pocket. Of all the believers who constantly visited the temple, he was different. Not because of his age or his status in the society but because God noticed him. Upon seeing the old man, God realized that there were too many wealthy beings around the corners of the world who offered an ample amount of their treasures yet, those only came from their dirty jobs and there’s this man, with a peso that could mean a single meal to him who voluntarily and whole-heartedly offered it in the temple.
It was in this parable that the president has gotten his words, as his way of reminding the Josephinians that it is not just about how expensive your trophy is but it is about how you play your game with the purpose of dedicating it to God. It is about knowing that whatever the outcome may be, win or lose, you know that you did it with God, because of God and for God. And most especially, it is about recognizing Him as someone who provided your skills and your expertise in that certain area of sports.
So as the celebration of the Intramurals continues, may the Josephinians instill in their hearts and mind the beauty of a real well-played game. May they play in their respective games with much confidence, passion and love. And may they remember that what they have, what they are capable of doing is given to them by God. May they be like the old man who offers his everything to God. For whatever battles that you might encounter, no matter what amount of perseverance and concentration you give in the game when you face it with God, everything will be possible.
-Jelian Timkang, JMAG Writer
Photos by John Lloyd Sibunga
