Peace

The story is told about a grandfather who frantically told his grandson: “You better hide! The maid told me that your teacher is here looking for you because you are not in class.” The grandson replied: “Grandpa, you better hide because I told her yesterday that I will be absent today because you died!”

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In today’s Gospel (Jn. 20, 19-23), the disciples were hiding behind closed doors because of fear and insecurity. They were afraid, lost, and had many uncertainties. And then, the Lord appeared to them and assured them with His presence and message of peace. The absence or presence of the Lord in people’s lives does make a difference and does matter!

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Today is Pentecost Sunday. At Pentecost, the Lord not only assured His disciples with His presence but empowered them as well with His gift of the Holy Spirit. “I am with you always!” Yes, He is with us still, and He continues to be in our hearts. Alone and unaided, we are weak. With the Holy Spirit, we are strong, and we are aided in our mission and apostolate.

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“As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We have received a mandate and a mission to make all things new and help renew the face of the earth by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are not just cynical, disinterested bystanders but disciples called and empowered by the Lord.

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On a trip to Madrid recently, I met Fr. Jun Castro, SVD, and Fr. Ronnie Crisostomo, SVD, and joined them in their Sunday Mass with our overseas Filipino workers. Sent by the Lord and empowered by the Holy Spirit, these two Filipino SVD missionaries continue the work of shepherding the flock in a foreign land, and proclaiming the Gospel to a nation that brought Christianity to our shores in 1521. Yes, Pentecost goes on, and should go on whoever we are, wherever we go, whatever we do. Not only our missionaries but also our OFWs are a big factor in spreading our mission to the whole world.

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The youngest member of our pilgrimage group to Fatima and Lourdes is 11-year-old Meggy Pe. We adults have learned a lot from her simplicity and humility. In one of our Masses, I asked everyone their special requests and intentions, and there were a lot mentioned. When Meggy’s turn came, she said: “I have nothing to ask for myself. I just pray for my family to be healthy, so they can take care of me.” There we were, with all our cares and concerns, and here was a child that reminded us to be trusting and not to worry. Pentecost becomes a reality when we trust more in God’s grace rather than in our own efforts and abilities.

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In Fatima, as we walked to the Little Chapel of the Apparitions, I saw Meggy holding flowers she had bought from a flower shop. We got curious, and Meggy told us she was going to give it to Mama Mary! Not one of us in our group of 45 thought of that. Again, there we were, with all sorts of agenda, from the sacred to the profane, and a little child reminded us of purity of heart, clarity of purpose, and the simplicity of love. Let us not block a new Pentecost in our days with our grownup pride and self-sufficiency, all in the name of efficiency.

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From a distance, our group continues to pray for peace and stability in our country, especially with our fragile relations with China. It was here in Fatima where the Blessed Mother promised to “banish war and fears.” Let us continue to pray, and work for peace!

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Also, we earnestly pray for, and follow with much concern, the developments of the impeachment case against Chief Justice Renato Corona. In so far as we hide the truth, promote lies and injustice, we block Pentecost. In so far as we work for justice, peace, and integrity of government and creation, we are agents of Pentecost.

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Speaking of empowerment at Pentecost, our government leaders should remember that their empowerment comes from the people. The way I see it, they only remember this reality of people power when election time comes. Once they are already in power, they not only lord over but abuse the very people who gave them the power. Power is from the people and for the people! Let us pray and work for a new Pentecost in our land where power will reside in and stay with the people, and not with some few selfish politicians, clans, and companies.

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Let St. Teresa of Avila remind us to aspire for that peace which the world cannot give or take away, with her prayer: “Let nothing disturb you; let nothing frighten you; all things pass away, God never changes; patience obtains all things; he who has God finds he lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”

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Worth sharing is this beautiful prayer to the Holy Spirit: “Come, Holy Spirit, replace the tension within me with a holy relaxation. Replace the turbulence within me with a sacred calm. Replace the anxiety within me with a quiet confidence. Replace the fear within me with a strong faith. Replace the bitterness within me with the sweetness of grace. Replace the darkness within me with a gentle light. Replace the coldness within me with a loving warmth. Fill my emptiness. Dull the edge of my pride. Sharpen the edge of my humility. Let me see myself as You see me, that I may see You as You have promised. Amen.”

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, give us that peace which the world cannot give or take away. Amen.