Date: May 5, 2020 ()

Bible Text: First Reading ACTS 11:19-26; Gospel: JN 10:22-30 |

Series:

Indeed, there is always great providence in every worse situation.

Amidst COVID-19, Jesus and the devil had a conversation. The devil was laughing: “Hey, you see, with the COVID-19 scourge, they close the church.” Jesus was laughing too: “No!” Jesus responded, “they bring the church at home.”

The same thing happens in our local churches in the Philippines. Every day, the people in our diocese get to hear the message of the bishop because he is on TV every morning celebrating Mass. And I’m happy that’s how his message spreads across the diocese because I know how the bishop speaks to the heart of every faithful. I heard many say: “When the bishop speaks, they can’t help but cry and are encouraged to be better and holier.” And, how do we call this nice turn out from a disaster? In the words of Fr. John - "It’s not a coincidence; it’s providence.”

Our first reading today opens with an encouraging turn of events as the persecution of Christ’s followers began. Persecution per se is never a good thing but those who were converted to the faith and transformed by the greatness of Christ’s love started to look at the difficult situation as an opportunity to evangelize. “Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but Jews (Acts 11:19).” As they were forced to scatter, they found an opportunity to spread the gospel.

The videos produced by Fr. John in OSM are fantastic. They enriched our faith; they are inspirational and consoling and the next best thing about it is that they are readily available on our phones and computers - something that we did not have as much as we do today. Indeed, there is always great providence in every worse situation.

P. S. Let me encourage you to sit back for a while and watch this YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppv2f1yfwMM