mercy

(Second week of Easter /Sunday of Divine Mercy) Among those whom I meet at the treatment center for tuberculosis is ‘Ate’.  Sometimes she sits next to me. During these times, I would hear her sing ‘God will make a way’ while she prepares herself to drink her medicines. And she would tell me ‘Diyos lamang… Siya nagbibigay buhay sa akin…’ before she pops some of her pills into her mouth and takes a gulp of water. Sometimes she would share with me how difficult it was for her when she began her treatment journey because she had to undergo the side effects of the medicines. She feels relieved now that she is so much better. She has been going to the treatment center everyday for the past 16 months to receive her medication. She has only 2 more months left to complete her treatment.   One day, as I arrived at the treatment center, Ate was already seated at the table with her medicines in front of her but her head was resting on her folded hands at the table. I could see she was having one of her difficult days. She turned to me and said, ‘Sis… mahirap…’ She looked forlorn and was not singing her favourite Don Moen’s song that day. All I could muster to say to her was ‘Opo, dahan dahan lang po tayo.’ I sat quietly feeling helpless, drank my medicines and left Ate at the table, head bowed, her medicines untouched. I went home feeling sad. I wondered whether perhaps I could have accompanied Ate a little while longer.   The following day, when I arrived at the treatment center, Ate had already finished her medicines and was looking more cheerful than the previous day! It was almost as if the difficulty she felt the day before had not happened. I felt moved and encouraged by the sight of her. ‘What resilience!’, I marveled and I felt so grateful.   Looking back now, I asked myself, ‘isn’t Ate’s perseverance and resilience an example of the grace and gift of Easter?’ A sense of hopefulness that grace is given and is sufficient for each moment; that we can move on despite the difficulties we encounter, the sufferings we endure, or the failures that we experience?  A trust that we can always begin anew each day, at each moment! For indeed, God’s steadfast love never ceases, His mercies never come to an end. God’s mercies are new every morning, great is God’s faithfulness! (cf. Lam 3:22-23) The question is not “will God will give me another chance?” rather, the question is often , “am I willing to give myself another chance?”   I imagined the disciples gathered in the room after Jesus was crucified feeling a sense of sorrow, guilt, fear or perhaps even disgust at themselves for their own helplessness. Yet, it was in the very midst of fear and confusion that the Risen Christ came and stood among them, without any reprimand, instead assuring them of His love and forgiveness, and giving them the promise of hope and renewal of faith as He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’. He breathed on them and gifted them with the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 20:19-23). Whether we think that we are in such a dire situation or we want to give up on ourselves, Jesus never gives up on us! Rather, the Risen One stands by us, with us – He loves us, no matter what!   The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus assure us that God’s offer of friendship will never be withdrawn, no matter what we do. – William Barry, S.J.   Reflection What is God’s invitation for me this Easter? Is there a situation or relationship in my life that I find difficult to accept or I want to seek healing and reconciliation? Can I speak with Jesus about it? Or perhaps it is an invitation to deepen my friendship with Jesus or to renew my faith in Him? How do I want to respond?     A reflection contributed by Sr. Li Xiao Wei, rc