Novena Day 2:
Theme: Response to Grace
“Like is a feeling but Love is a decision and a choice” says Fr. Rene Javellana, SJ in his homily on September 4, 2021. It is indeed easier to respond when we have a good feeling of the other but Jesus reminded us “ ..if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? .. if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.” Thus, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” [luke 6]
In today’s Novena theme on RESPONSE TO GRACE, we pray for the grace of attentiveness to the hidden goodness that occur daily and generosity in our self-giving because we have a God who first loved us.
Reflection [from a retreatant]:
Every morning at 630am, I would hear noises from the ground floor of my apartment. It is the condo elderly male cleaner, pulling and clearing our 9 green 660 litres general waste bins. This year’s Lunar New Year, I decided to wake up early, dress up and look for “Uncle”. I entered the Condo Bin Chamber and found him there. Extending my right hand to Uncle , I said , “Good morning Uncle, I came to wish you Happy New Year and Good Health and give you a Ang Pow.” He looked at me horrified, “ You cannot come inside this bin chamber. It is dirty, smelly . .. no.. you cannot be here. I work here while you live upstairs ..” I looked at Uncle’s eyes and responded in Singlish, “You are a human being. I am a human being. Same same human beings . If you can come in to this place , why can’t I come in? “ His face changed. He walked 2 metres away, pulled off his dirty, bad stained, white & smelly gloves from both hands, washed his hands under the running tap, smelled his bare hands before reaching out to clasp my hand. He looked at me in the eyes and said, “ I have worked here for more than 17 years, everyday doing the same job. No one noticed me. No resident ever spoke to me. No one ever wished me Happy New Year. You are the first person who noticed me. You are the first person who wished me Happy New Year. So I want to wish you Happy, Healthy New Year.”
Tears rolled down my eyes. I clasped both his hands , and slipped the Ang Pow into his palms.
I had just met Jesus.