Heeding the Call

Today's Readings:
First Reading: Jeremiah 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13
Psalm 36
Gospel: Matthew 13: 10-17


The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speakto them in parables, because 'they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.' Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says, 'You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is theheart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted, and I heal them.' But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."


"But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear." Matthew 13:16

In the Bukidnon province of Mindanao is a small school for Indigenous children. This small school is supported and funded bythe Cartwheel Foundation. It is a non-religious, non-stock and non-profit organization which believes that education is the key to economic development. I have many friends in this organization because I, too, believe in their mission of bringing education where it is needed the most.

One of Cartwheel's programs is the construction and operation of preschools in Miarayon, Bukidnon. These preschools aim at providing indigenouschildren ages 2.5-7 years the venue for learning in preparation to elementary. Why preschools? This is "to ensure a proper learning environment that will develop children into life-long learners capable of being self-sufficient in the future."

I know the great need of these children for free education and basic services and I am hopeful that one day I will be able tohelp in the sustainability of their preschools by sponsoring an indigenous child to school. For the meantime, I try to support some of their programs by buying Cartwheel merchandise. I especially love their desktop calendars and their Christmas and everyday cards, which are artworks made by the IP children themselves.

If you would like to learn more about this organization and would like to help out these children, visit the Cartwheel Foundation website at http://www.cartwheelfoundation.org/

May God bless those who have eyes and were able to see, have ears and were able to hear. And may these IP children know in their hearts that they will always be special in the eyes of God.

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