Salvation Sunday: I believe not in coincidences

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A lesson about pearls. A simple enough analogy that is good enough to push me for this semester (or at least for the early part of this semester hihi). Things to know about pearls:

1. It is created due to a hypersensitivity reaction brought about by a parasite or a foreign material to the oyster.
2. The "oyster reaction": secrete "saliva" aka calcium carbonate to enclose the foreign object.
3. After some time, layers and layers of this calcium carbonate becomes the lustrous pearl!
4. Fun fact: pearls can't be made outside of oysters!

According to today's service, we are just like pearls.

1. Problems or our "dark moments" = irritants / foreign material
2. The "human reaction": we could either see this as an opportunity to toughen up or give up but if we opt the latter, we will not be able to see the pearl that we are destined to be. 
3. How would we toughen up? Always remember to turn to the One who has designed our path. Remember the Church, your family, your friends. Turn to these for strength and most probably they'll help you, layer by layer, overcome the "irritant" and realize the pearl that you are.
4. Fun fact: pearls can't be made outside of oysters! Well I really don't know how to interpret this but as of now this is how I understand it: I believe not in coincidences! God has laid out a master plan (hence, our oyster is the plan that has been set out for us). We experience things according to His plan for us. We are just given options on whether we would like to follow or not. God has planned when, where, how, and why we meet the people we meet.