The story is told about a priest who said in his homily: “I have good news and bad news. The good news is that there is enough money to complete our church. The bad news is that the money is still hidden deep in your pockets.”
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Today is the Feast of the Santo Niño. In today’s Gospel (Jn. 1, 35-42), we hear of how two disciples encountered Jesus, and stayed with Him all day. It must have been such an amazing experience for them, so much so that they joyfully shared the good news with others. In particular, John told his brother, Peter, that he had found the Messiah, and brought him to Jesus.
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Pope Francis is good news personified! His presence, his very person, and his message to us these past days have made us realize that we all can be good news, and that we, too, can be agents of good news. The “Francis effect” is simply the realization and acceptance that life has a purpose and meaning, that there is hope, and that there is a God filled with mercy and compassion.
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A lot has been said and a lot will be said about Pope Francis, but one thing that stands out is the child in him. He is cheerful, simple, humble, spontaneous and sincere because of his deep conviction that he is a child of God, and he wants us all to accept and spread that good news as well.
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A Santo Niño moment happened when Pope Francis started his homily at Manila Cathedral with “Do you love me?” and spontaneously the whole church reverberated with “Yes, we love you!”
And the Pope smiled and said, “Thank you very much!” But he went on to say that it was not he but Jesus who was asking that question. Here lies the strength of the Pope: He knows that it’s not all about him, that it’s all about his Master.
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How can one person affect so many? How can his presence, even if for only a few seconds, be such a religious experience? There are so many things we cannot explain, for how does one explain grace, for that matter? Yes, we have seen a glimpse of the divine, and we have been embraced by grace through this one person called Pope Francis.
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Sacrifice. The Pope’s visit involves a lot of sacrifice on his part, with 78 years behind him. But his is a joyful sacrifice, reaching out to the people, braving the wind and rain, going out of his way to make us feel the love of God. And our people also joyfully made a sacrifice just to catch a glimpse of him. And even held on to discipline! Yes, things fall into place when we all focus on God, and not on ourselves.
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As I write this column on Saturday, the papal plane has just landed in stormy Tacloban City. It’s a brave-hearted pope we have, risking life and limb to be with his people who have been through so much pain and suffering. We have still so much to learn from him about what true sacrifice and sincere love are all about…
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As of this writing, we don’t know how the Pope’s return trip to Manila would be in the afternoon. (The papal plane landed safely at Villamor Airbase shortly past 2 p.m.—ED.) His dedication and sense of mission are so strong, and his trust in God and the Blessed Mother is so inspiring. He donned a yellow raincoat just like the ones the people were wearing, and celebrated the Mass with it. The shepherd—one with his sheep, in mission and in worship. A new liturgical vestment is born!
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The Pope declined a state dinner with government officials and the high and the mighty of our society and chose to have lunch with the typhoon and earthquake survivors. His visit is primarily not a state but a pastoral visit, in solidarity with the poor and the needy—his priority, even while a tropical storm is raging. May the Holy Spirit blow into the country winds of change and conversion, and blow away greed and
corruption.
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Pope Francis taught us in his homily at Tacloban airport the power of speaking from the heart. He set aside his prepared homily, and asked the people that he be allowed to speak spontaneously, and in Spanish, his native language. He is one who speaks mula sa puso.
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The Pope also taught us the power of prayer, and the power of silence—when we can really listen to God and feel His presence, embrace, and love.
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One more thing we can say about Pope Francis is that he is not afraid to apologize, to ask permission, to obey, to be candid and witty! Mabuhay ka, mahal na Santo Papa!
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One image I will never forget is the euphoria of the people as Pope Francis passes by, and how they go home with smiles on their faces, joy in their hearts, and precious images in their gadgets. Yes, they go back renewed, ready to face the hard realities of everyday life, and braving the greedy wolves that continue to prey on them.
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A moment with the Lord:
Thank You, Lord, for bringing to us the good news through Pope Francis. By our very lives may we do the same. Amen.