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Pagkatapos po ng misa ngayong hapon ay magpa-picture po tayo kasi historical po itong nangyayari ngayon.
Pag nag-celebrate po ng golden jubilee ang parish ng Divine Mercy dito sa Parayaw, makikita nila si Monsignor Oliver, si Father Ayong, mga patay na. Siguro, si Father CJ a-attend, kalbo at saka naka-pustiso na. Pero 50 years from now, magpapasalamat pa rin sila sa ginagawa natin ngayong hapon. Yung Divine Mercy po dito sa ating lugar ay katulad ng ating simbahan, na babasbasan natin sa susunod na October. Ang simbahang ito ay konkreto…gawa sa bakal…gawa ng semento at konting kahoy.
Ganun po ang awa ng Diyos. Ang awa ng Diyos ay hindi malambot. Ang awa ng Diyos ay hindi malambot. Ang awa ng Diyos ay tigasin!
Tigasin ang awa ng Diyos sapagkat kung walang tigas iyong awa ng Diyos ay maliligaw tayo ng landas.
Anong ibig kong sabihin na matigas ang awa ng Diyos?
Ang awa ng Diyos ay hindi tahimik dahil naaawa kahit may nakikitang mali. Ang awa ng Diyos ay hindi kunsintidor sa mali.
Ang awa ng Diyos, una sa lahat, ay confrontational. Ibig sabihin – matapang…naninindigan…kung meron nakikitang laban sa awa ng Diyos ay haharapin ko ito, mata sa mata, makikipagbuno ako sa iyo. Maninindigan ako sapagkat ang awa ng Diyos ay kailangan nating panindigan.
Kapag tayo ay nakakakita ng kawalan ng awa… Kapag tayo ay nakakakita ng kaharasan sa halip ng kapatawaran… Kapag tayo nakakakita ng kasakiman sa halip na pagbibigay… Kapag tayo nakakakita ng katigasan ng puso sa halip na paglilingkod sa kapwa tao…
Kailangang panindigan ng awa ng Diyos para sabihing – Hindi tama ito. Hindi ito ang awa ng Diyos.
The mercy of God is confrontational. The mercy of God challenges. Niyayanig tayo ng awa ng Diyos. Kaya pag nakikita ng iba ang awa ng Diyos ay katulad ng ibang mga nakinig sa Kanya, dalawang libong taon na ang nakakalipas. Iniwanan nila ang Panginoon. Kasi sabi nila, hindi naming matatanggap yung ganyang uri ng turo.
Ang awa ng Diyos ay matigas kapag nakakakita ng kalaban ng awa ng Diyos.
Sa harap ng karahasan, naninindigan ang may awa. Sa harap ng kasalanan, naninindigan na – Naaawa ako sayo pero kailangan kang magbago. Naaawa ako sayo pero kailangan meron kang gawin. Sapagkat hindi ko papabayaan na hindi ka magbago. Kasi kapag hindi ka nagbago, hindi awa iyon. Kunsintidor iyon.
Ang pangalawa kung bakit mahirap ang awa ng Diyos at matigas ang awa ng Diyos…
Ang una ay confrontation. Pangalawa ay conversion.
Ang awa ng Diyos ay nag-aanyaya sa ating magbago. Madali ba ang pagbabago? Mahirap. Kaya nga iyong iba na ayaw magbago, iiwanan na lang ang Diyos. Pupunta na lang sa born-again. Kasi doon kahit ano, puwede. Pupunta na lang sa mga walang utos, puro utos…puro utos. Pupunta na lang doon…puro na lang – Praise the Lord; wala nang- Lord, have mercy. Pupunta na lang doon. Puro na lang – Glory to God, puro na lang – Alleluia. Pero hindi ka na magsasabing – Lord, forgive me. Magkasama palagi iyon.
Ang awa ng Diyos na ipinakita kay Saint Faustina ay nagaanyaya ng hindi ng malambot na buhay, kundi ng buhay na may paninindigan na handang magbago sa tulong at awa ng Diyos.
At ang sinumang hindi handang magbago ay hindi awa ng Diyos ang hinihintay. Katamaran iyon. Sapagkat ang tunay na awa ng Diyos, may tigas, may paninindigan na nagsasabi – Turn away from sin. Reform your life. Be sorry for your sins. Have mercy on us and the whole world.
Yes. Pero kailangan nating sabihin sa Panginoon – Panginoon, kami po ay makasalanan. Tulungan po ninyo kaming magbago.
Confrontation at saka Conversion.
Ano iyong una? Confrontation. (audience) Pangalawa mas malakas? Conversion. (audience)
Ang pangatlo kung bakit mahirap ang mercy, ang awa ay – Communication.
Kailangan nating ipahayag ito. At dahil mahiyain daw. Dahil mababang loob daw. Dahil ayaw ko ng kalaban ay tatahimik na lang ako para wala ng away. But we have to communicate the gospel of mercy to a culture that is killing people. We have to communicate the gospel of mercy to a culture that is killing babies. We have to proclaim the gospel of mercy to a culture that abuses women, abuses children. Meron tayong paninindigan. At sa communication, hindi lang basta daldal lang nang daldal. Sa communication, ang ibig sabihin, marunong din makinig. Pero mahirap makinig lalo na kung marami kang gusting sabihin.
Ang ibig sabihin ng awa ng Diyos …kahit mapaos na ang boses ko …kahit wala ng nakikinig sa akin ay ipagpapatuloy ko pa rin ang pagsasabing – …Ang Diyos ay may awa …na ang karahasan ay hindi awa …na ang pambabastos ay hindi awa …na ang pagpatay sa kapwa tao ay hindi awa.
Ang awa ng Diyos ay nagsasabi sa atin na ang pagbabago ay nagsisimula sa atin. Na ang pagbabago ay kailangan nating ipahayag sa ating kapwa tao. At iyong pagpapahayag na iyon, maaaring mabawasan tayo ng kaibigan. Maaaring may mag-fake news sa atin. Maaaring may mag-bash sa atin. Maaaring hindi na tayo pautangin. O maaaring takbuhan na tayo. Pero paninindigan ko ito kasi ang kalikasan ko ay maging kristiyan ng awa. Confrontational against un-mercy. Conversion against sin. And communication always of the gospel of mercy, in season and out of season. Popular or unpopular. Kapag tinignan natin itong magandang simbahan ng Divine Mercy – tigasin diba? Hindi lang siya tigasin, maganda rin, di po ba? Hindi tayo nakatungtong sa putik. Nakatungtong tayo sa tiles, kongkreto. Hindi tayo nasa ilalim ng cardboard. Nasa ilalim tayo ng bakal. Hindi tayo napapaligiran ng manila paper. Napapaligiran tayo ng semento.
Iyon ang awa ng Diyos. Tigasin. May paninindigan. At hindi basta tatahimik kung kailangan nating ipahayag ang awa, ang ma-bathala, ang maka-Diyos na awa na ating Panginoong Hesukristo. Masaya tayo kasi may history ngayon hapon. Pero sa bawat history, meron tayong pananagutan.
Kapag nakakita kayo ng walang awa, panindigan ang awa ng Diyos. Kapag nakita natin ang ating sarili na gustong maghiganti, magbago tayo sa awa ng Diyos. At kapag nakita nating litong-lito ang tao… ano ba ang solusyon sa ating problema? Ipahayag natin ang solusyon sa lahat ng ating problema ay ang awa ng Diyos. Sapagkat kung ilalaglag tayo ng Diyos, wala na talaga tayong pupuntahan.
Salamat sa Diyos sa bagong chaplaincy! Subalit sabihin natin sa Panginoon – Panginoon, susunod po kami. Kung papaanong tigasin ang ating simbahan, sana tigasin naming ang aming paninindigan upang ang awa ng Diyos ay lumaganap. Amen.
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After mass, may I invite everyone to have group picture to capture today’s historical event.
In the future, when the parish of Divine Mercy here in Parayaw celebrates their golden jubilee, they will see Monsignor Oliver, Father Ayong, they’re all probably dead by then <laughter>. Maybe, Father CJ will also attend, he’ll probably be bald and wearing dentures. But 50 years from now, they will all be thankful for what we did this afternoon. The Divine Mercy here in our place is much like our church that we will also hold a blessing in October. This church is made of concrete…made of steel…made of cement and some wood.
Which is much like the mercy of God. The mercy of God is not soft. The mercy of God is not soft. The mercy of God is firm.
Firm is the mercy of God because if there is no firmness in the mercy of God, we will lose our way.
What is the meaning of – Firm is the mercy of God?
The mercy of God is not silent because it is merciful even if a wrong-doing has been witnessed. The mercy of God does not condone wrong doings.
The mercy of God, first of all, is confrontational. It means – it is courageous…it stands for what is right…if something goes against the mercy of God, I will face this head on, eye for an eye, I will confront this. I will stand my ground because we must stand up for the mercy of God.
When we witness the absence of mercy … When we witness violence instead of forgiveness… When we witness greed instead of giving… When we witness hearts that have become hardened instead of serving others in need…
We must stand up for the mercy of God and say – That is not right. That goes against the mercy of God.
The mercy of God is confrontational. The mercy of God challenges. The mercy of God has shaken us. When others witness the mercy of God is likened to those who witnessed and listened to His teachings, two thousand years ago. They abandoned the Lord. Back then they said we cannot accept His kind of teachings.
The mercy of God is firm in the face of everything that goes against the mercy of God.
In the face of violence, he who has mercy stands up… In the face of transgressions, he stands up and says – I pity you but you must find a way to change your ways. I pity you but you must do something. Because I will not allow you to go on without changing for the better. Because if you do not change then it is not mercy. It is condoning.
The second reason why the mercy of god is firm is…
The first is confrontation. Second is conversion.
The mercy of God invites us to change. Is it easy to change? It is difficult. That is why there are those who refuse to change, they choose to abandon God. They choose to become born-again. Because there everything is permitted. They choose to go where there not much rules to live by. They choose a path where everything is – Praise the Lord; but no – Lord, have mercy. They choose to go that way…that is all – Glory to God, all – Alleluia. But it is never said – Lord, forgive me. They always go together.
The mercy of God as witnessed by Saint Faustina is an invitation to a life that is not easy nor comfortable, but a life that stand for what is right and there is willingness to change through the help and mercy of God.
And whomever is not ready to change is waiting not for the mercy of God. That is simply laziness. Because the mercy of God is firm and with strong conviction says – Turn away from sin. Reform your life. Be sorry for your sins. Have mercy on us and the whole world.
Yes. But we must also respond to the Lord – Lord, we are all sinners. We need Your help to be able to change.
Confrontation and Conversion.
What is the first one? Confrontation. (audience) The second (and say it louder)? Conversion. (audience)
The third reason why the mercy of God is firm is – Communication.
We must declare this to the world. But because we are shy… because we feel unworthy…or do not wish to offend anyone…so I will just keep my silence to avoid conflict. But we have to communicate the gospel of mercy to a culture that is killing people. We have to communicate the gospel of mercy to a culture that is killing babies. We have to proclaim the gospel of mercy to a culture that abuses women, abuses children. We must stand our ground. And in communication, it is not just about talking non-stop. In communication, it also means that one must know how to listen. But it is difficult to listen especially when you have a lot to say.
What is truly meant by the mercy of God is …even if my voice becomes course …even if no one is listening, I will continue to share to others – …that God is a merciful God …that violence is not mercy …that disrespect is not mercy … that killing others is not mercy.
The mercy of God tells us that change begins in ourselves. And this change is something we must declare and communicate to others. And in declaring this, there is a possibility that we might lose some friends. We may fall victim to fake news. Others might bash us. There’s a chance that we lose the confidence of people. Or there might be those will leave our side. But I will stand my ground because it is in my nature as a Christian to show mercy. Confrontational against un-mercy. Conversion against sin. And communication always of the gospel of mercy, in season and out of season. Popular or unpopular. As we look around this beautiful church of the Divine Mercy– isn’t it firm/solid? Not just firm, but also beautiful, isn’t it? We are not standing on muddy ground. We are standing on smooth, concrete tiles. We are not standing under a flimsy cardboard. We are standing under steel roofing. We are not surrounded by manila paper. Surrounding us are solid, concrete walls.
This is the mercy of God. Firm. It stands for what is right. It is does not remain silent in situations that calls for mercy, the God-given mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us rejoice and celebrate the history that unfolds this afternoon. But do remember that with every history, we carry a responsibility.
When we witness unmercy, we must stand for the mercy of God. When we witness ourselves desiring to exact revenge on others, let us change through the mercy of God. And when we witness confusion in others…scrambling for solution to their problems. Let us declare that finding the solution to all our problems is through the mercy of God. Because if God were to abandon us, then we really have no where to go.
Thanks be to God for this blessing of a new chaplaincy! But we must say unto the Lord – Lord, we shall follow you. As firm as the church is, we hope to be as firm in our stand so that the mercy of God shall reach far and wide. Amen.
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