27/04/2025
MAY AWA ANG DIYOS
Homiliya para sa Divine Mercy Sunday, 26 Abril 2025, Jn 20:19-31
(With English version below)
Idineklara ng yumaong Santo Papa ang taon na 2025 bilang Jubilee Year of Hope. Taon ng Pag-asa. Ano ba ang pinagmumulan ng tunay na pag-asa? Wala akong maisip na sagot sa tanong na ito kundi ang ipinagdiriwang nating Kapistahan sa Araw na ito sa ikalawang Linggo ng Pagkabuhay: ang Divine Mercy Sunday. Ano ba ang Divine Mercy sa simpleng Tagalog? Awa ng Diyos.
Sa isang teleserye, may eksena na bumibili ng gamot si ang yumaong si Ate Guy. Pero sabay na bumibili ng gamot ang isang matandang ale na kulang ang pambayad. Dahil sa awa, isinoli ang gamot at sinabi: “Miss, di ko na kukunin ang gamot. Yung pera ko, ipandagdag mo na lang sa pambili ng ale. Mukhang mas kailangan niya.” Sabi ng babae: “Kailangan nyo rin po ito. E paano naman kayo?” Sagot ni Ate Guy: “May awa ang Diyos.” Sa bandang huli, binigay na lang ng tindera ang gamot at sinabi, “Sige ho, kunin na nyo ito, ako na ang bahala, ibabawas ko na lang sa sweldo ko.” Sabi ni Ate Guy, “Naku, e ikaw, paano ka naman?” Sagot ng babae, “Naniniwala po kasi ako sa sinabi ninyo: May awa ang Diyos.” Ang nakakaranas ng awa ng Diyos, nagiging maawain.
Malakas ang dating ng kasabihang MAY AWA ANG DIYOS sa ating mga Pilipino. Ito ang madalas kong marinig na bukambibig ng mga taong malakas ang pananampalataya. Nasasabi nila ito lalo na sa mga nasa gitna ng madilim na sitwasyon—na huwag masiraan ng loob. May pinaghuhugutan kasi silang maraming karanasan sa nakaraan na muntik din silang bumigay sa hinagpis at ngayon sila mismo ang tumatayong parang saksi para magbigay patotoo batay sa karanasan nila: “MAY AWA ANG DIYOS, HUWAG KANG MASIRAAN NG LOOB.” Kung importante ang pananampalataya sa buhay, importante rin ang pag-asa. Kaya siguro nasasabi ng matatanda—“Masira na ang lahat sa buhay mo, huwag lang ang loob mo.”
Ang pumapasok na image sa isip ko ay ang anay. Alam nyo ba na meron daw dalawang klaseng anay? Anay na p**a at anay na puti. Yung p**a, iyun yung malalaki at nagkakapakpak at nagiging gamu-gamo. Nakikita natin silang gumagawa ng parang tunnel sa mga puno ng mangga. Pero ang sabi sa akin ng mga magsasaka, balat lang ang kinakain ng anay na p**a. Mas delikado ang anay na puti. Mas maliit pero mas matindi. Sumusuot kahit sa simyento. Di mo nakikita dahil ang type nilang kainin ay ang loob ng kahoy. Kaya tuloy minsan, kahit mukhang buo ang poste ng bahay pwede palang gumuho ito kapag nginatngat ng anay na puti. Katukin mo at malalaman mong balat na lang pala ang iniwan, parang sitsaron—buo sa labas, sira na pala sa loob. Ang dimonyo parang anay na puti. Hindi labas ang kinakain kundi ang loob.
Hindi lang kasi mga bahay natin ang inaanay. Mga tao din; mga pamilya din natin. Minsan parang ayos lang sa panlabas pero sira na pala ang loob. Katulad ng kuwentong narinig natin sa ebanghelyo. Na-trauma sila sa mga nangyaring karahasan sa Jerusalem na natapos sa pagbitay kay Hesus sa krus. Kaya sila nagkulong, nagtatago dahil sa takot na baka sila na ang susunod. Akala nila tapos na ang lahat. Ang magagandang pangarap na nabuo sa loob nila dahil sa pagsunod at pakikinig sa Mabuting Balitang pahayag ni Hesus ay parang nauwi sa masamang panaginig, isang bangungot. Sa ganyang sitwasyon biglang nagpakita sa kanila ang Panginoon. Siya ang Larawan ng Divine Mercy—ang Walang Hanggang Awa ng Diyos na pinagmumulan ng pag-asa. At ang mensahe niya ay—hindi pa tapos ang lahat. Ang Kuwento ng Diyos ay Kasaysayan ng Kaligtasan. Hindi pwedeng matapos sa trahedya.
May binuo akong grupo. Ang tawag namin sa sarili namin ay “The Storytellers’ Society Incorporated.” Nagsusulat ng mga Kuwentong galing sa tunay na buhay. At ang huwaran namin ay si Hesus mismo, na mahilig magkuwento. Ang nagbigay sa amin ng inspirasyon ay ang yumaong direktor ng pelikula na si Marilou Diaz Abaya na isang propesyunal na kwentista, gamit ang medium ng pelikula. Inoffer niya sa amin ang serbisyo niya bilang director na walang bayad, dahil ang main script ng talk show namin ay mga Sunday Gospel readings—laging galing sa Bibliya. Minsan naikwento niya sa amin ang pinagdaanan niya, na dumanas pala siya ng depression at anxiety disorder, nagpa-psychiatrist, pero pinayuhan na humugot ng lakas sa pananampalataya, at iyon ang naging daan ng kanyang paghilom.
Sabi niya, kaya siya nagvolunteer sa amin ay dahil ibig niyang mag-aral ng Bibliya na para sa kanya ay nagtataglay ng pinakadakilang kuwento sa mundo. Wala daw kuwentong masarap isalaysay kaysa sa kuwento ng kaligtasan, kuwento ng Katubusan. Masakit, marahas, masaklap, may pagdurusa at kamatayan pero hindi doon nagtatapos. Dahil merong pagkabuhay. Ang tawag niya sa Kasaysayan ng Kaligtasan ay Kuwentong may Happy Ending. Ginawa niyang motto: “I believe in happy endings; if it is not happy, then it’s not yet the end.”
Ito ang mensahe ng pagkabuhay—na kung kasama mo ang Diyos, hindi niya hahayaang tuldukan ng trahedya ang kuwento ng buhay mo, dahil Mabuting Balita ito. Kuwento ng Kaligtasan. Minsan akala mo tapos na,hindi pa pala. Nagpapatuloy pa ang kuwento. At ang susi ay hindi pagtatago kundi pagsalubong, paghawi sa belong itim ng takot at pangamba upang masilayan ang mukha ng Diyos ng Awa. Kung ibig mong magkaroon ng happy ending ang buhay, kung ibig mong mapalitan ng kapayapaan ang pagkabalisa, kailangang hayaang pumasok ang Panginoon sa ating mga puso at isip na madalas nagsasara kapag nasaktan, nasugatan at pinangunahan ng takot. Gusto ko ang paglalarawan ng ebanghelyo sa ginawa ng Panginoon nang binulaga niya ang mga alagad na nagtatago sa takot. Hinipan daw sila. Ang nanay ko noon, pag nasusugatan ako at natatakot na palagyan ng gamot ang sugat, sinasabayan niya ng ihip ng bibig niya para mabawasan ang hapdi. Paano nga naman gagaling ang sugat kung itatago mo ito? Magnanaknak lang ito sa infection. Ipahaplos mo sa nanay, para gumaling.
Ganyan din sa mga sugat ng kaluluwa. Minsan matagal nang nangyari matindi pa rin ang galit at hinanakit. Pinananatili lang natin ang pagiging biktima. Kaya matapos mahipan ng Panginoon ang mga alagad, isinugo sila—at ang pangunahing misyon ay: maging alagad ng Awa, matuto at magturo sa halaga ng pagpapatawad sa buhay—ang pagpupuno sa pagkukulang, ang pagtatali ng mga napatid na relasyon, at pagkakalag ng mga buhol sa buhay natin. Tingnan mo ang ginawa kahapon ni Pope Francis—kamatayan pa niya ang nag-ugnay sa mga world leaders para mag-usap na walang media. Kaya ang title ng Pope ay PONTIFEX MAXIMUS: supreme bridge-builder. Dakilang Tagapag-ugnay.
Gawin nating conclusion ang huling bahagi ng ebanghelyo tungkol sa apostol na si Tomas. Hindi daw nakita o naranasan ni Tomas ang biyaya ng pagkabuhay noong una dahil wala siya roon noong nagpakita sa kanila ang Panginoong Muling Nabuhay. Sa tingin ko wala siya dahil may tampo sa mga kasama. Pag may sama ng loob tayo, ang tendency, hihiwalay tayo, lalayo, mang-iisnab. Pero pag wala namang nakakapansin, mapapagod ka rin, lalabas at babalik.
Kumbaga sa siga, ano ba ang mangyayari kapag hinugot mo ang isang nagliliyab na kahoy na panggatong at itinabi? Edi mamamatay. Pero pag ibinalik sa apoy muling magniningas. Ganyan din sa pamayanang Kristiyano. Hindi mo mararanasan ang pagkabuhay kung lumalayo ka, humihiwalay, nagtatago ng sugat. Naganap lang ang salubong para kay Tomas nang haplusin niya ang sugat ni Hesus at isinantabi ang pag-aalinlangan. Noon niya naisigaw: Panginoon ko at Diyos ko.
Ilang beses nyo nang naranasan ang Awa ng Diyos sa buhay ninyo at napasigaw rin kayo ng “Panginoon ko at Diyos ko?” Sana pag nangyari sa inyo iyon, kayo naman ang maging saksi at magbigay patotoo sa iba—lalo na sa mga nasisiraan ng loob: MAY AWA ANG DIYOS.
English version:
GOD IS MERCIFUL
Homily for Divine Mercy Sunday, April 26, 2025, John 20:19–31
The late Holy Father had declared the year 2025 as the Jubilee Year of Hope. A Year of Hope. But what is the true source of hope? I can think of no better answer to this question than what we celebrate today, on the Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday. What is Divine Mercy in simple Filipino? It is God’s Mercy—Awa ng Diyos.
In a local TV series, there was a scene where the character played by the late actress and national artist, Nora Aunor, who Filipinos fondly call Ate Guy, was buying medicine. At the same time, an elderly woman was also at the pharmacy, trying to buy medicine but lacking enough money. Moved by compassion, Ate Guy said, “Miss, I won’t take my medicine anymore. Please add my money to what the old lady needs. She seems to need it more.”
The woman answered, “But you also need it! What about you?”
Ate Guy replied, “God is merciful.” In the end, the pharmacist gave both of them their medicines, saying, “It’s alright, take it. I’ll just deduct it from my salary.” When Ate Guy asked, “But what about you?” the pharmacist answered, “I believe in what you said: God is merciful.”
When one experiences God’s mercy, one also learns to be merciful. The expression “God is merciful” resonates deeply with us Filipinos. It is often on the lips of people who have a strong faith. They especially say it in the midst of dark and desperate situations—as if to say, do not lose heart. They say it because they draw strength from past experiences when they themselves almost gave in to despair, but survived. They now stand as witnesses, encouraging others with their own story: “God is merciful; do not lose hope.”
If faith is important in life, so too is hope. That’s why elders often say: “You may lose everything in life, but never lose your spirit.” An image that comes to mind is that of termites. Did you know there are two kinds of termites—the red and the white? The red termites are bigger and develop wings, becoming flying insects. They build visible tunnels, like those we see on mango trees. But farmers tell us that the red termites only eat the surface.
The real danger comes from the white termites—smaller but more destructive. They pe*****te even cement foundations. You don’t see them, because they prefer eating the inside of wood. Thus, even if a post looks strong on the outside, it can collapse, hollowed out by termites. It looks whole, but it’s empty inside—like a crisp pork rind (chicharrón): whole outside, hollow inside. The devil works like the white termite. It doesn’t just destroy the external; it gnaws at the inside.
It’s not just our houses that are infested by termites—sometimes, our lives, our families too. Outwardly, everything seems fine, but inside, decay has begun. This is exactly the story from today’s Gospel. The disciples were traumatized by the violence they witnessed in Jerusalem—the brutal crucifixion of Jesus. Out of fear, they locked themselves away, hiding, believing that it was all over. The beautiful dreams born in them from following and listening to Jesus now seemed shattered—turned into a nightmare.
And it is precisely into that situation that Jesus appeared to them. He became the image of Divine Mercy—the source of undying hope. And His message was simple but powerful:
It’s not over yet. The story of God is always a story of salvation, and it cannot end in tragedy.
I once organized a group called “The Storytellers’ Society Incorporated,” where we write stories based on real life. Our model was Jesus Himself—the great storyteller.One of our inspirations was the late movie director Marilou Diaz-Abaya, a professional storyteller through film. She offered her services to us free of charge because our main script was the Sunday Gospel readings—always from the Bible.
She once shared with us that she had gone through depression and anxiety disorder, and was advised by a psychiatrist to draw strength from her faith. That, she said, was what helped her heal. She told us that she volunteered with us because she wanted to study the Bible, which, for her, contained the greatest story ever told: the story of salvation—a story filled with suffering, violence, and death—but not ending there. Because beyond death, there is resurrection.
Marilou called the Bible the “story with the ultimate happy ending.” Her motto was: “I believe in happy endings; if it’s not happy yet, then it’s not yet the end.”
This is the message of Easter:
That with God, He will never allow your life story to end in tragedy.
Because His Good News is a story of redemption. Often you are tempted to think it’s over—but it’s not. The story continues.
The key is not to hide, but to step forward—to lift the dark veil of fear and sorrow so that we may once again see the face of the merciful God. If you long for a happy ending, if you seek peace instead of anxiety, you must let Christ enter your heart and mind—especially when it has shut itself due to pain, injury, or fear.
I love the Gospel image of what Jesus did when He appeared to the frightened disciples: He breathed on them.When I was a child, and I would get wounded, my mother would apply medicine while blowing gently on the wound to lessen the sting. How can a wound heal if you hide it? It will only fester with infection. Expose it—let it be touched by someone who cares—so it can heal.
The same is true for the wounds of the soul.Sometimes, a wound from long ago still bleeds with bitterness and anger. We remain prisoners of victimhood. That is why, after breathing on the disciples, Jesus sent them forth with a mission: To be apostles of mercy, to learn and teach the value of forgiveness, to mend what has been broken, to restore torn relationships, to untangle the knots of life.
Look at what happened just yesterday during Pope Francis’ funeral— Even in death, he became a bridge that brought world leaders together for a moment of dialogue— without the noise of the media. That’s why the title of the Pope is “Pontifex Maximus”—supreme bridge-builder.
Finally, let’s conclude with the story of Thomas the apostle.
Thomas missed the first appearance of the risen Jesus because he wasn’t there. I suspect he wasn’t there because he was hurt or angry at his companions.When we are hurt, our tendency is to separate ourselves, to isolate, to avoid people. But what happens when you take a burning ember away from the fire? It gets extinguished. But if you put it back to the fire, it will ignite again. It’s the same in the Christian community. You cannot experience the Resurrection if you choose to isolate yourself, if you hide your wounds.
Thomas only encountered the Risen Lord when he rejoined the community, when he dared to touch the wounds of Jesus, setting aside his doubts.
Only then could he cry out: “My Lord and my God!” How many times have you yourselves experienced the mercy of God in your life—and found yourself crying, “My Lord and my God!”
When that moment comes to your life, please go forth and bear witness to others—especially to those who are discouraged: May awa ang Diyos. GOD IS MERCIFUL.
