Eirene.....The Christic Peace!

Recently, I have attended the Peace Forum here in Davao City organized by the BISHOP-ULAMA Conference in Mindanao (Christian-Muslim Ecumenical Dialogue) sponsored by the Ignatian Institute of Religious Education, Foundation. During the talk, it was brought into discussion the conflict in the Philippines, particularly in Mindanao between the Pseudo Muslim (as I described this group) and the government which caused division and war in the Western areas of the Island. As of now, almost thousands of people being displaced in their homes just to bring them out of the problem. The most affected are those innocent civilians who don't deserve in all of these miseries. It led me to realize, that the call to go beyond the peripheries must be executed not only by the Church leaders but also with the whole congregation - the people of God. We must extend ourselves to serve the least of our brothers and sisters who have suffered a lot of today's reality. This situation in Mindanao can be similar to the scenario happening around the globe.

Suffering causes something that burdens the innocent people. This is the emphasis of St. Paul on his account about the reality of God to suffer and die in this world in order to give us the concrete example of overcoming suffering and death as shown by Jesus three days after His death - His Resurrection. This made me to ponder that suffering is part in our ongoing process of growth. It must not become a block in fulfilling our ultimate purpose in life. Suffering may always be associated with pain but this must not be the perfect reason of giving up life. We must go beyond with it whatever it may cause and take us. For it is in the suffering of Jesus that we find perfect consolation and perseverance to love more, even the radical call of loving those who have inflicted/caused the pain to us (enemies). In the end, life's meaning can't be measured on how many sufferings we have withdrawn but on how did we overcome it with much joy and peace deep within us.

On this Lenten season, I'm asking God to continuously give me the grace in order for me to prepare myself, to fast in whatever that is against God and my nature, to offer my self to my least brothers and sisters, and to develop an intimate relationship with Jesus through prayer. May we always choose God for us to see the light. The light that illumines our eyes to focus to what is important and necessary in our journey with Him.

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