#caleruega

Caleruega

Lavender fields

Burgos

Iturrate

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Caleruega Church, Nasugbu, Batangas, Philippines

Had our retreats here at this place. Yes, retreat with s. Haha. We had our first retreat during our third year at college. And of course, the other one on our graduating year. I don’t know why we had two. Maybe because our college was so stressed that we need that? Hahahaha jk.

The first retreat was very very uncomfortable. I swear, my friend saw ghosts and all and they didn’t let us sleep at peace. I literally slept between two single beds (beds of my friends, we’re just three you know) just because I don’t want to sleep beside someone I’m not close with. Hehe. I woke up with my back aching because of my sleep position. 😪

The next and the last one retreat we had was good. Very very, good. Hehe. Fortunately, the ghosts weren’t disturbing us anymore. But yeah, they’re still there. I guess, they will never leave that place tho. But it’s nice. They’re kind of good that time hahahaha. And! The class of my crush that time had the same schedule of retreat like us. Hihihi. So we’re kind of together in that 3 days 2 nights, hihihi 🤭☺️

Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 4:7-15, we contemplated St. Paul’s image of ourselves as earthen vessels. Like clay jars, we are fragile, limited, and often marked by cracks. Yet it is precisely within this fragile humanity that God entrusts the priceless treasure of the Gospel. St. Paul does not conceal his struggles. He openly speaks of being afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. Through these experiences, he reminds us that we carry the life of Jesus in our mortal bodies so that Jesus’ life may be revealed through us.

Our frailty, therefore, is not an obstacle to God’s work. Rather, it becomes the very place where His grace shines most clearly. The greater danger is not our weakness itself, but pretending to be strong. When we pretend, we cease to depend on God. It is in our emptiness rather, that God pours out His fullness.

On the Feast of St. James, we also reflected on the Gospel according to Matthew, particularly the request of the mother of the sons of Zebedee for places of honor at Jesus’ right and left. Her request was deeply human, reflecting our own desire for recognition and greatness. Yet Jesus did not reject or shame her request. Instead, as St. John Chrysostom explains in his homily on Matthew from the Office of Readings, Jesus transformed it by asking, “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”

Rather than belittling the brothers, Jesus lifted their minds to a higher calling. The chalice symbolizes participation in Christ’s own self-emptying, His kenosis. To drink from this chalice is to embrace a life of humble service, quiet obedience when it is difficult, and faithful perseverance when the path becomes tedious.

Deo tantum notus — known by God alone.

En el yacimiento arqueológico de La Pudia hay algunas estructuras exentas de una pequeña aldea altomedieval que se desenvolvió entre los siglos IX y X. La población se instala en un pequeño espigón fluvial con inmejorables condiciones de visibilidad sobre el entorno y en las cercanías de la antigua vía romana que conduce desde la ciudad de Clunia a la de Sasamón. Recreación del poblado de La…