HAPPY V

Imitation of Christ
by Thomas A. Kempis, translated by Stephen Mitchell.

Love is a great thing, a great good in every way; it alone lightens what is heavy, and leads smoothly over all roughness. For it carries a burden without being burdened, and makes every bitter thing sweet and tasty. Love wants to be lifted up, not held up by anything low. Love wants to be free, and far from all wordly desires, so that it's inner vision may not be dimmed and good fortune bind it or misfortune cast it down. Nothing is sweeter than love; nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider; nothing happier, nothing fuller; nothing better in heaven and earth; for love is born of God.

Love keeps watch and is never unaware, even when it sleeps; tired, it is never exhausted; hindred, it is never defeated; alarmed, it is never afraid; but like a long flame and a burning torch it bursts upward and blazes forth. Love is quick, sincere, dutiful, joyous and pleasant; brave, patient, faithful, prudent, serene, and vigorous, and it never seeks itself. For whenever we seek ourselves, we fall away from love. Love is watchful, humble, and upright; not weak or frivolous, or directed towards vain things; temperate, pure, steady, calm and alert in all the senses. Love is devoted and thankful to God, always trusting and hoping in him, even when it doesn't taste his sweetness, for without pain no one can live in love.


Ang Panunulad Kay Kristo
salin ni cbs

Ang pag-ibig ay maringal na bagay, kahanga-hanga sa anumang hanay; anumang bigat ay napagagaang, napakikinis ang magaspang. Pangko nito ang pasanin at 'wag alalahanin, pinatatamis ang mapait, pinasasarap din. Ninanais ng pag-ibig ang kanyang pag-angat, nawa'y di pigilin ng sa taas ay salat. Hangad ng pag-ibig ang maging malaya, maging malayo sa makamundong pagnanasa, kung kaya't ang saloobing pananaw ay di adyang mapalamlam sa kapit ng kapalaran kundi'y maitutumba ng kamalasan. Walang kasing-tamis ang pag-ibig; walang kasing-lakas, walang kasing-taas, walang kasing-lawak, walang kasing-saya, walang kasing-buo, walang kasing-buti sa langit man o sa lupa; anupaba't bunga ito ng dakilang Maylikha.

Sagad sa pagtanod ang pag-ibig, walang humpay, tulog man ay 'di mawawalang-malay; hapo man ay 'di mapapata; hadlangan man ay 'di magugupi; balaan man ay 'di matatakot; may dingas itong pumapaimbulog, pumapaitaas, paris ng buhay na apoy sa nagningning na tanglaw. Ang pag-ibig ay maliksi, matapat, matugon, masayahin at malugod; matapang, matiyaga, mapanalig, maingat, mapayapa, malakas at di-makasarili. Sa tuwinang may pagpapakasarili, nawawala ang pag-ibig. Ito ay mapagmasid, mapagkumbaba, at matayog; hindi mahina o hangal, o mapaturiran sa anumang kayabangan; ito'y mainam, matimyas, matatag, payapa at alisto sa bawat angking sentido. Ang pag-ibig ay mairugin at mapagpasalamat sa Diyos, pirming mapagtiwala at umaasa sa Kanya, kahipa't kapos sa tamis, dahil kung salat sa kirot, walang buhay ang mamumuhay sa pag-ibig.