Always and in all ways

Question: Do birds have hands?

Answer: No.

Question: How come the song says that birds suddenly “appear” every time you are near?

In today’s Gospel (John 20: 19-31), Jesus suddenly appeared to the disciples who locked their doors for fear of the Jews, and said to them: “Peace be with you.” The presence of the Risen Lord turned their fear and mourning into joy. May we humbly and joyfully receive the Lord’s peace and joy this Easter season.

Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. We are all sinners, and the Lord tells each one of us today: “Peace be with you.” Let us humbly and gratefully accept this blessing, and not focus so much on our sinfulness, as on God’s infinite and unconditional love, mercy, and faithfulness.

“Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.” This is the best prayer. Once we accept our sinfulness, we are on our way to conversion. What completes our conversion is when we humbly and gratefully say: “Thank you, Lord, for forgiving me. You are so good, loving, and merciful.”

God’s mercy and forgiveness should lead us to a new life. God’s grace must bear fruit in our lives. “Dasal nang dasal, pareho pa rin ang asal.” (Praying and praying, but character is still the same.) May this not be told of us who keep praying, but go on sinning.

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you” (John 20:21). A person who has been healed or forgiven must take the road of gratitude. Gratitude is the best attitude! Remember the Lord’s comment after He healed the 10 lepers and only one came back to thank Him? “Where are the other nine?” (Luke 17:17) Where are you who have received so many blessings, forgiveness, and healing from the Lord? Where are you? Report for duty! The rest of our lives, the best of our lives. Sana. Sana all. Sana now.

I am cancer-free for five years now by the grace of God. My cancer is in remission, and I am in re-mission. Healed of my sickness, I try to renew and redirect my life and mission again, to share the story of God’s real presence and power in my life, and His tremendous love. Any physical, emotional, or spiritual remission should lead to joyful and grateful re-mission, for the Lord.

Sharing with you a prayer that Mama treasured and prayed so much. She gave us, her children, a handwritten copy of this prayer: “Lord Jesus, enlighten what is dark in me; strengthen what is weak in me; mend what is broken in me; bind what is bruised in me; heal what is sick in me; and lastly, revive whatever peace and love that has died in me. Amen.”

The more I meditate on the Holy Week, the more I see the significance of Black Saturday. Unlike the Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday, we see the Lord so present, and we find ourselves involved in the unfolding of His love and sacrifice for us. But Black Saturday is silent. No activities. Even God is silent. And that is when we realize that He is present with us especially on our “Black Saturdays” when we do not know what’s going to happen, how long a pain will last. There are many things we do not know in life. No explanations. No answers. All we know is that He is with us. And in the silence, we continue to just believe, trust and surrender. If you are in “Black Saturday” mode, just be silent, and find God in silence. “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). May I add: “Be silent, and know that I am God.”

A moment with the Lord.Lord, thank you for loving us always, and in all ways. Amen.