KAPIHAN for STUDENTS: A Synthesis By Mr. Jan Paul S.

Lugtu I have heard all your insights and experiences describing how the Word of God has brought so much influence in your lives. Much has been said on how the Bibles importance in making our lives, our nation, and the world better. Hence, the challenge to make the regular reading, studying, and living out the lessons in the Bible a daily habit. I am not going to repeat what has been said about how important the reading of the Bible. The speakers and the panel of reactors have presented strong and convincing arguments in favor of the Bible. What I am going to do is to challenge you to internalize the theme Proclaim the Word, Profess the Faith, and motivate you to realize it into concrete action. Who among you has watched the movie The Book of Eli? This movie may not be as popular as the Twilight saga or the recently shown Life of Pi, but curiously enough, this movie has something to teach us about the importance of the Word and its power in our lives. It revolves around the mysterious stranger named Eli, who for so many years, have been wandering into desolate places in the aftermath of a nuclear holocaust, guided by an inner voice that tells him to bring a mysterious book into the west coast of the United States. Some people have learned that this mysterious but powerful book can be used to exploit and dominate people should they fall into wrong hands. Eli believes that this book has power to effect positive change, and that this book must be brought to the persons whose good intentions can bring what is best out of a world ravaged by war. Later, the book in possession of Eli will later be known as The King James Version of the Bible, the only existing printed copy available, as books were burned. Eli is able to accomplish his mission, but at the cost of his life. The Bible is taken from him; fortunately, he has been able to memorize the words of Scripture, as a result of many years of reading and meditating on the Word of God. Being blind, he has no difficulty reading the Bible in the Braille system. He dictates the Bible from memory, and the Bible is published and preserved for future use. Afterwards, he dies after being seriously wounded. Here we see a man who has not only read the Bible, but he has even known it by heart, and for the years spent in journeying through his earthly life consumed by the inner call to bring the Bible to its rightful place, with only Gods words to guide him. Here, we see Eli so passionate about preserving the Bible for posterity that will turn all of us present to shame. All of us, I believe, have Bibles in our homes, but how many of us can be honest enough to admit whether we bother to open and read the Bible? We would rather notifications in Facebook, but not the Bible. We must let ourselves be consumed by a passionate desire to know God and His love for us, so that we may be drawn towards the Word of God. The Word of God made fleshthe Word that serves as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119) . Let Gods Word take root in our hearts and transform our lives so that we who have heard the Word of God, may endeavor to have the message bear fruit in our lives, and in so doing, we communicate Gods Word to others. To end this synthesis, let me quote from the Rite of Ordination for Deacons. On the day the Bishop hands the Book of the Gospels to the candidate and says:

Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, Teach what you believe, and Practice what you teach.