Jesus on the ferry

By its very nature, Camiguin Island is quite remote and separated from the mainland. Our primary means of transportation to and from the island is by ferry boat. There is a gang of boys ranging from ages 6 to 14 whose livelihood consists of jumping off the tops of ferries and diving for coins that passengers toss into the water.

I spy two little ferry boys...

The smallest of the boys, Jun Jun, prefers to do this completely naked, and from time to time will even clamber onto the main deck of the ferry to cajole passengers into giving him a peso or two. On my last ferry trip, he came and sat on the row of chairs in front of me, evidently feeling rather friendly and wanting to chat.

“Hey Jun Jun, you know what? Si Hesus nahigugma kanimo.” [Jesus loves you.]

He nodded knowingly. “Oo, taas sa langit.” [Yes, up in heaven.]

“Ug salud sa imong kasing-kasing,” I had to add. [And inside your heart.]

Raising his eyebrows in agreement, Jun Jun proclaimed emphatically, “Nabanhaw Siya!” [He is risen!]

Earlier that morning, while meditating on the birth of Jesus, I found myself bewildered that the shepherds, knowing little of the Scriptures but having heard what prophets foretold of the coming Messiah, were the first to bear witness to His coming. Why did the heavenly host of angels not appear first to the learned scribes and Pharisees, to the priests of the house of Levi?

Because it is the simple, pure-hearted, trusting souls that Our Lord desires. Because it is the poor that He loves.

And so today. It is the uneducated, poorest ones who hold the strongest faith in His Resurrection. Theirs is a living faith that depends upon Him, from waking til sleeping, for their every need.

The engines are thrumming as the ferry begins to pull away from the dock. I give the few cookies I have to the boys, who in turn share them with each other. I wave goodbye to them as those still atop the ferry dive into the water and swim over to the next boat that has just arrived at the port. 

Johnver, the oldest of the group, calls out, “Rebecca, God bless you!”

And God bless you, all of you, heirs to His kingdom, children of the Most High God. May you seek Him and find Him, and may He abide forever in your hearts!