Faith in Action: My MUKHA AD Journey

article written by: Joyce Gonzales

Faith is about doing. You are how you act, not just how you believe. 

For the longest time, I have thought that the mere act of going to church on Sundays and praying occasionally would suffice, for me to be called a true-blue Catholic. But as I continue to traverse this journey called life, I have come to realize that it is not enough to simply say I believe in God, and still inflict pain in others; to pray the rosary and still cling to my biases and prejudices; to say that I am a Christian and still find it so hard to forgive and show love without waiting for anything in return.

2010 had been a great turning point for me and my faith. It was then that I had started to devote so much time in praying and knowing myself and God at a deeper level. I joined a Catholic renewal community and even became a member of a “caring group” with people I spent Saturdays with, praying to and singing for God, as well as sharing my life’s highs and lows. Then came an invitation to spend my Sundays with MUKHA-AD, another church organization for the youth. It was an invitation I couldn’t resist and saw it as a chance to gain new friends and to learn something new (and later on, realize the need to remember what I’ve learned long ago). But there were times when my enthusiasm would fade and I’d ask myself “What happened to Sunday as a time of rest?” I would wonder at what I’d gain from Mukha-Ad, because at times, I would think that what I know is enough. These questions and false notion were obstacles and justifications for me not to attend. Nevertheless, I find myself thankful at the end of every session, every talk, every activity - silently uttering a prayer of gratitude, “Thank God I am here today”.

I am not the kind of person who easily blends in with the crowd, nor the type who initiates conversations unless I really have to. I stick with people I’m comfortable with. I had so much fun when I attended the opening program because I was surrounded with friends – one I invited to join and thought she’d stick around and two others I just asked to visit. But after the opening, my friend showed signs of not attending again so I was left alone – completing level one with just a couple of missed sessions and finally moving on to level two.

I am grateful to Mukha-Ad for taking me to the very core of my faith and devotion. For making me understand my value and worth as an individual. For making me realize the huge and significant role I play in my family, community, the church and in the world, for all of which would be lacking and incomplete without me or without you.

The Graduation and retreat was particularly remarkable for me because it was in those couple of days that I was able to prove that my efforts did not go in vain.  And that all the Sundays I spent in Sto. Domingo, refusing all other invitations to hang out somewhere else, were Sundays well spent. It was a time when I bravely shared my stories of pain and struggles, something I only share with people truly close to me.  It was also a time when I freely allowed my tears to flow and my fears and guilt to manifest, not minding whether others would see me weak. It was a moment when I have heard my fellow Mukha-Ad members talk about their own hardships, realizing that what we see from the outside can be totally different from what they keep hidden inside. That sometimes, a genuine concern to ask about how they are, is all it takes for us to get to know the real person behind the usual smile, the loud laughter and the casual “Ok lang” response. I have realized that there are people who are going through the same difficult situation I encountered years ago. And now, at this point in my life, I can honestly tell them that they can overcome their giants, because I did and I continue to fight them with courage. I can truly say words of encouragement because I believe that there is always hope and we have a big God behind us. It was a time I sincerely sent out prayers to God not only for myself but for the people I have come to love as my own brothers and sisters. 

Graduating from Mukha-Ad is a success after all the many temptations and “reasons” to quit. It is winning half of the battle. The greater challenge comes after it. Being a part of Mukha-Ad is an opportunity to bless and love others. It’s being in the position to reach out and bring more people closer to God. It is a responsibility as much as it is a privilege.

Being a part of the Mukha-Ad family has made me more grateful of the things I have and the people I love and who love me. I have seen abandoned children in Cottolengo who struggle to have normal lives despite their hurts, both physical and emotional. They may be physically imperfect but they are loved by God as much. With such an experience, I have become more grateful of my own life’s circumstance, though flawed in itself. I felt luckier. And I became more eager to try to see the face of Christ even in people who are unlovable or those who can’t love me back.

There are so much more to say. But I think it is better to let our actions speak. To let our deeds speak our faith. In Mukha-Ad we let go of apathy and indifference. We act justly. We love tenderly. We walk humbly with the Lord.