MANILA, Philippines?The story is told about an old woman who started the stations of the cross on the wrong end. The priest noticed this and approached her and said: ?Grandma, I think you started on the 14th station where Jesus was laid in the tomb. You should have started on the first station where Jesus was condemned to die.?

?Oh, no wonder I got the feeling that Jesus was getting stronger as I went from station to station,? was her embarrassed reply.

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In today?s Gospel (Jn. 20, 19-31) we hear of the disciples getting stronger in their belief in the Resurrection. Their doubts and fears gradually gave way to commitment and courage. Whatever turbulence they were going through as individuals and as a group was calmed down by Christ?s assuring words ?Peace be with you.? Are you going through any problem, difficulty, fear or trial right now? Let Christ tell you again ?Peace be with you.?

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As it were, the Lord does not want us to wallow and stagnate in our personal miseries and misfortunes. The antidote to stagnation is mission. We have to see the ?big picture? and not be caught up with out little screens. ?As the Father has sent me, so I send you.? Remember, wherever you are, you are there, and God is there! In everything, in anything that happens in our lives, there is a reason, and, there is a mission. Instead of stagnating on the question ?Why,? move on with the question ?Where.? It is mission that leads us out of our miseries and prisons.

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Allow me to share an ?Easter Sunday moment? with you. After a long, hard week, I treated myself with a big bowl of hot chicken mami. Talk of comfort food! When it was time to pay, I found out that I had no money in my wallet. What to do? Leave my watch in the restaurant while I went to get money, or make a promissory note? Just then, the waiter walked up to me and said: ?Sir, the family over there had already paid for you.? I walked up to Jo and Mike and their son Miguel, and told them of my predicament, and praised the Risen Lord with them for making Himself so real to me that Easter day; and for the family too, especially for Jo whom I was able to bless before she checked into a hospital that afternoon for her myoma surgery the next day. Yes, our God is risen. He is alive. He is with us!

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Last Good Friday, I was asked to talk, over national television, on the third word of the Seven Last Words??Behold your mother.? I talked about mothers who are neglected by their loved ones. I also talked about our Mother Church and her role in these confusing times. And finally, I talked about our motherland, our beloved country the Philippines and our people who suffer because of so much graft and corruption. In the end, I asked the congregation to rise, and sing the song ?Bayan Ko,? not with clenched fists, nor with accusing fingers, but with heads bowed and with the right hand over the heart, to ask the Lord to forgive and help us during these trying times. It was a touching moment as we realized our need for God?s mercy, and our lack of love for our country.

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One thing I forgot to mention in that talk, and which we often forget is our Mother Earth. Let us take good care of nature. Let us not be selfish and careless. She provides for us. The least we can do is to care for her.

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Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. In the end, we can say and do so many things, but after everything has been said and done, we humbly go to the Lord, and say, ?Jesus I trust in you.? May we learn early enough that our achievements and plans come to nothing without God?s grace and approval. It is consoling too that our sins and mistakes are small compared to His unconditional mercy and love. Yes, the sooner we realize, and the sooner we live in God?s mercy, the better for all of us. Are you still living and pursuing your personal glory, or have you already surrendered to God?s will and mercy?

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We join the nation in praying for former President Cory Aquino who is a living reminder for us that we too can go through anything and come out strong if we know how to live in accordance with the divine will and trust in divine mercy. One with you in prayer.

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If for whatever reason you cannot sleep, try holding your rosary, and instead of tossing around or watching TV, start praying slowly. With every ?Hail Mary,? imagine the Blessed Mother watching over you and feel her motherly presence as she assures you with every bead: ?I am here. I?m your Mother. Do not fear. I am near you.? Try it.

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As the Risen Lord greets us with ?Peace be with you? today, we remember that it has been a year now since Fr. Francis Madhu, SVD, our Indonesian missionary to Kalinga was killed; and up to now, the killer/killers are still on the loose.

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The Garden of the Divine Word presents ?MY OFFERING Songs of Love,? a musical concert featuring Christopher de Leon, Jose Mari Chan, Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD, Fr. Erick Santos, Bro. Jun Banaag, OP (?Dr. Love?) and the Kerygma 5 (Alvin Barcelona, Arun Gogna, Jon Escoto, Obet Cabrillas and Adrian Panganiban) with other surprise special guests, on April 13, 2008 (Sunday) at 7 p.m. at the Meralco Theater.

The beneficiaries will be the 140 SVD missionaries working overseas and Fatima Soriano herself as she sets out to a foreign land.

Tickets are available at the Christ the King Mission Office and Seminary Store at 1101 E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon City; or call Nida at Tel. Nos. 721-7457/7271160.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me to get stronger and live better in your Divine Mercy and Will. Amen.