Vocation Page

Keys to the Heart, a story of harmony and reconciliation

Jay sat in front of the piano and started playing a piece of music, and Joma,
his estranged brother, was once again stunned by the talent that his little brother displayed. His mother said, “Even though your brother is a PWD, he’s good at music. Once he hears a tune, he can play it exactly as it is.” Jayjay was, in fact, on the Autism Spectrum. (Keys to the Heart, a Netflix movie, 2023).

BY Fr Edgardo Vizcarra MCCJ

MUSIC IS a key to the soul. It penetrates the heart and mind, expressing the deepest emotions, wishes, and desires of an individual, whether for oneself or for the benefit of the whole community.

From the moment of creation, God expressed His desire for harmony among His created beings, which includes all of humanity. In the Book of Genesis, we see how God established order above the heavens and below the earth, in the sea and on the land. Throughout this, God, from the beginning, called Adam and Eve to cooperate with Him in maintaining the harmony that He desired for all His creation. 

Vocation or Call is an invitation to participate in the deepest desire of God – harmony. It is like a piece of music, with its rhythm, with all the notes, both high and low, with its corresponding measure, beats, and tempo. There is harmony despite the variation of tones. 

From the stories of our forefathers’ calls of faith to Jesus’ chosen twelve disciples, and also remembering Mary’s call, one can see the highs and lows of responding to such an invitation to participate not only in God’s desire but also in His life and work of salvation, which brings harmony to all creation. Struggle is a reality in the process of answering and living out God’s invitation, faced with many limitations and circumstances, including our own weaknesses and strengths. Still, through all of this, God’s grace transforms us, turning us into instruments of harmony and reconciliation. 

“Life is a challenge that makes you grow,” Joma said, …On the day of the competition, on stage searching for the presence of his family, and at the sight of his brother and Sylvia, his mother, wheelchair- bound and dying of cancer, Jayjay played his winning piece, and the hall was filled with soulful music. The crowds were on their feet, and all were filled with joy at Jayjay’s remarkable performance.