Stay with us, Lord

Someone observed that before, people from the province were excited and happy to welcome people from Metro Manila who might be bringing gifts and goodies. Not anymore. They are afraid and they stay away, as they might be bringing the virus so deadly.

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In today’s gospel (Jn. 20, 19-31), the Risen Lord appeared to His disciples who were in a lockdown for fear of the Jews, and He brought to them peace and assurance. How we need the loving and assuring presence of our Risen Lord in these difficult and uncertain times!

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“Peace be with you.” Let this greeting of our Risen Lord be our constant mantra. When fear of the virus, fear of what will happen, fear of death itself grip us, let us hold on tight to our Lord’s powerful Easter greeting: “Peace be with you.”

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Let us ask ourselves today: What presence do I give to people around me? Do I give a loving presence? Do I give a humble and welcoming presence? Do I give an uncaring, proud presence?

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Today is Divine Mercy Sunday . A lot of people are dying around us. We call on the Lord: “Have mercy on us and the whole world!” Together, we humbly plead and pray to the Lord to help us, heal us, and to be merciful upon us.

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Many of us have become so focused on the solution to the COVID-19 problem, and rightly so. But let us not forget the big picture in all that is happening—that of purification of mankind, starting with each one of us. May we come out of this pandemic better persons who have been humbled, tried, and purified. What lessons can we bring along? What excess and unnecessary baggage can we leave behind?

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The experience of a loved one, or oneself, being infected by the virus is not only a medical, but a spiritual journey as well. A lot of lessons are realized, and hopefully learned when we go through sickness or helplessness of any kind. God speaks loudly and clearly when we are down. I hope we really listen, and keep on listening when we are up again.

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Please remember that along with changing the situations outside should come the changing of oneself inside. Let the pandemic teach us to focus more on the love in our hearts, and less on the work, the money, the power, and the connections in our hands.

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The problem with some people is that they are so focused on their altitude and they forget their attitudes. And so it is that there are people who are high and mighty, and end up living lives so vain, rotten, and empty.

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“God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.” (2 Tim, 1,7)

Please hold on to these words as we go through the dark night of sin and COVID-19. Let the loving presence, and the living Word of God keep us afloat.

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Please don’t forget that God is a God of surprises. Who knows? Who are we to say that the night of COVID-19 is still long, and the night of COVID-19 is still strong? God can, and God will find a way to help us in His own way, in His own time, according to His plan.

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We need a new “David.” We are so focused on the army of vaccines to defend us, but perhaps we should ask the Lord more to give to us a new “David”—something unknown or unlikely to get the job done. Let us be open to possibilities and surprises from God. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Ps. 20,7)

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A moment with the Lord:Lord, stay with us especially this time. Amen.

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