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Homily - FEATI. Founder's Day. March 6,2012. Fr. Serafin F. Peralta, CM

In his book, PROMISES KEPT, Fr. Fred Julien, M.S., an American La Salette priest, a very good friend of the Aranetas, describes the founders of FEATI: SaIvador and Victoria Araneta "had a deep, down-to-­earth interior faith which had sustained them through the wretched war years and the Japanese occupation of their country. They had the moral courage to fight for what they reasoned to be right, regardless of popular opinion or possible consequences from dissenters."(p.251). In another part of his book, Fr. Julien speaks of the political beliefs of Dr. Salvador Araneta (pp. 244-245). He was a lawyer and a highly acclaimed author of books. Four parts of his political doctrine were:

I believe that all these beliefs of Don Salvador Araneta have deeply been planted in FEATI University, carefully nurtured by those who have followed him, and still continue to make a difference in the academic community. FEATl's famous motto: "LOOK UP, YOUNG MAN!” is but a synthesis of these beliefs.

And what can we say of Victoria Araneta? Again, Fr. Julien has this to say: '"Victoria Araneta was President of FEATI University and a female of many facets. - fashionable, formidable and unforgettable. She came from money, married money, and created additional affluence as a doer and a thinker, a reflective and perceptive observer of the world around her. She was shrewed and creative business woman ... More than that, she was hard-working and humorous; a true individualist whose idiosyncracies flourished unabated."(p. 245).

These stories about the Aranetas greatly inspire us to be more than what we usually are or do. They are so different from the lives of the Scribes and the Pharisees as we hear in today's gospel reading. Even Jesus Christ rejects them by saying: "'The Scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens that are hard to carry and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,.greetings in market places and the salutation Rabbi."

Let me share with you this story. A farmer gifted his king with a chessboard. The king was so touched by this gesture of the poor farmer that he asked him what he wanted. The farmer said he wanted nothing. It was out of deep affection and loyalty to the king that he gave the chessboard. But the king insisted. So the farmer said that whatever rice he would receive from the king, he'd share this with his fellow poor farmers. Please, give me then a grain of rice and double it for each square in the chessboard. The king thought that the request was simple enough and very reasonable. So, he ordered his soldiers to begin putting a grain of rice and double it in each square. Square no. 1, 1 grain. Square no. 2, 2 grains. Square no. 3, 4 grains. Square no.4, 8 gains. Square no. 5, 16 grains. Square no..6, 32 grains, and so on. By the time the soldiers reached square no. 25, they needed 33,554,432 grains. Square no. 30, 1 billion grains. Square no. 37, 130,000,000,000 grains. Soon the king's granary ran out of its rice supply!

I hope you now get the idea from this story and from the Araneta story. A good deed goes a long way. A passionate belief can infect the thoughts of people and so many lives are affected in a positive way. A kind word touches the hearts of so many people. A word of encouragement inspires so many souls along the way.

Last Feb. 22, Ash Wednesday, we started the season of LENT. We subjected ourselves to the ritual of imposition of ashes on our foreheads, to remind us of our humble beginnings and of our ultimate destination, that we are dust and unto dust we shall return. But more than this rather grim reminder is the challenge to us all, to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel. This season of LENT should be a joyful period of 40 days of prayer so that we can talk to God and listen to him; of fasting so that we can let go of our self-interests and look after the interests. of others; and of almsgiving so that we can let go of our selfishness and greed, live simply so that others may simply live.

Our founder, St. Vincent de Paul used to say that ingratitude is the crime of all crimes. The more you think about this, the more truthful this saying becomes. For indeed, when we are grateful we go back to God and acknowledge his wonderful works for us. But when we are ungrateful, pride begins to show its ugly head, self-sufficiency asserts itself, envy and jealousy start to destroy relationships, independence from God begins to destroy our relationship with him and with each other. And so, today, as we celebrate another Founder's Day, let us be grateful to God for the gift of the Aranetas, Don Salvador and Dona Victoria whose powerful vision made FEATI possible. Let us thank God for the gift of FEATI beneath whose wind so many thousands of alumni were able to fly high and reach the peak of success. Let us praise God for the gift of persons who are responsible now for the well-being and interests of the University. Gratitude comes from the Latin word “gratia", meaning grace. And so, the more grateful we are, the more full of grace we become!

Last Sunday, 2nd Sunday of LENT, the gospel reading was about the transfiguration of Jesus in Mt. TABOR. You know the mountains in sacred scriptures are considered a holy place, a place of encounter with God. The climb up the mountain is difficult, but when we reach the top we meet God. There are many mountains for us to climb. There is Mt. Pain, Mt. Injustice, Mt. Poverty, Mt. Ignorance, Mt. Betrayal, Mt. lmpeachment, Mt. Scandal, Mt. Corruption, and so many more, each is difficult to climb. But when we keep climbing and when we reach the top, we meet God. We feel his presence. Like Jesus on Mt. Tabor, we are transfigured, we are transformed. So I say as the nun sings in the Sound of Music: climb every mountain. Like the Aranetas, search high and low. Follow every highway, every path you know. Climb every mountain. Like the Founders, ford every stream. Follow the rainbow, till you find your dream. A dream that will need all the love you can give, every day of your life, for as long as you live. AMEN.

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