Sis. Monina Tayamen
Divine Mercy Apostolate of the Phils.
June 29, 2008

     The last time I was here I talked about the theological meaning of mercy. We say mercy is more than literal. In the vernacular, we say it is “awa.” There are two entities in this affair.

     Again, in the vernacular, we say there is the “naawa” and the “kinakaawaan.” Are they on the same level? The one being merciful is up there and the one being pitied at is down there. This we can see between the rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy, the ugly and beautiful, etc.

     We think that is “awa.” How we like to use that during Christmas when we clean up our cabinet, pick all the old clothes and give them to the needy. When we do that, we think we are being “maunawain.” We give out 25 centavos or P1 to the poor and we think that's mercy.

     So, what's divine mercy? What are the guidelines for us to be closer to really being merciful like Jesus?

     Mercy is love given to someone who doesn't deserve it. It's more than giving old clothes or excess food that will get spoiled if we don't give them away. In the language of God, mercy is more than our understanding.

     Let's look at the story of the prodigal son. The son sought his inheritance but wasted it and soon turned poor. He repented of his sin, then decided to return to his father and ask for his mercy, albeit to be a slave rather than his son.

     This is justice. He knew he's lost his right as a son so he asked to be a servant because that's what he deserved.

     But from afar, the father caught sight of him and asked his servants to meet him and put a robe on him. He even put a ring on his finger. The father brought back that which the son didn't deserve.

     That's the extension of the greater love of God. Forgiving one who has sinned greatly, that's divine mercy.

     What power do we have to spread the divine mercy? What kind of apostles can give mercy? Who can give mercy to others like the father in the story? How do we become merciful?

     The only way is when we ask for mercy, acknowledge our need for God's mercy, His graciousness to forgive us of our sins. Then we become capable of giving what we receive.
Jesus said to St. Faustina, “the greater the sinner, the greater right he has for my mercy.”

     The first World Apostolic Congress on Mercy (Wacom) was just held on April 2-6 in Rome. Why April 2? It's the third death anniversary of Pope John Paul II. He had many contributions to the fulfillment of the mission the Lord Jesus entrusted to St. Faustina, the most important of which was the proclamation  of the second Sunday of Easter as Feast of Mercy.

     Here, it's proved that sin has no power over us.

     After the first Wacom, many things continue to happen, especially in the Philippines. Why? All of us are already witnesses of the Divine Mercy, a symbol of mercy in the world. All of us are ready to proclaim the way of the Divine Mercy. So, we will prove that God truly resides n our families and country no matter what the signs are.

     This is the empowerment given by the universal church. The fight is now on   a more intense level for the purification of souls in the world. Those secured in money will discover that that will not save them.

     We shall be ready for just one thing – the mercy we received from God and how we ought to let others experience that, too.

     We are blessed. I thank God because we have Bro. Rene Tumang. Now, we know why there's a community called the Friends of the Divine Mercy.

     The first time I met Bro. Rene was about 4-5 years ago. He is in the charismatic while I am with the Divine Mercy Apostolate of the Philippines. But why are we on the same path? After the Wacom, we met and he said the community's Divine Mercy on the Block (DMOB) has been very succesful. When he said that I was amazed because we are doing that also. We call our program the Home Visitation Program (HVP). The next time we met, I said we're making the standard program, the Home Evangelization Program (HEP).

     What's this and what are its similarities with your DMOB? With us, the rationale is Filipinos have a natural inclination to entrust their problems to Jesus manifested in faith experience when we say “kaawaan ka ng Diyos” (may the Lord's mercy be with you). When we do the “pagmamano” to our elders, they would say to us, “kaawaan ka ng Diyos.” That's natural of us so we have a natural relationship with the Divine Mercy.

     Again, when confronted with difficulties, we say, “may awa ang Diyos,” He won't forsake us. That faith flows in our blood.

     In the 80s more than 30 years ago, the Divine Mercy devotion began in the Philippines. It spread through radio and television through the 3 o'clock prayer habit. Many prayed although didn't understand the way of the Divine Mercy during that time.

     Proclaiming the Divine Mercy through seminars, workshops and retreats is not effective anymore. If it's a seminar, only very few will attend. Call for participants and they would rather attend to their usual worldly chores.

     After year 2000, Pope John Paul II made the Feast of Mercy a universal celebration – this is the only hope of the world, of humankind. The Divine Mercy will not fail us even if others fail us. This is the only way to fix broken relationships, the only way to peace.

     That's why after the first Wacom, it's been declared that it is urgent to proclaim in a fast way the message of the Divine Mercy. It is here where the  DMAP and DMOB converged – to proclaim the Divine Mercy.

     There will be no talks, just work and let God bring His mercy and love to homes, especially those who have problems. All of us have problems, all of us  are in need of God's mercy so  all of us should proclaim His mercy.

     You started first through DMOB. Now, DMAP is doing that with Msgr. Josefino  Ramirez (parish priest of Divine Mercy Parish in Mandaluyong City). He is also the Rome-appointed coordinator for Asia and Oceania of the Divine Mercy apostolate.

     So, we Filipinos are blessed; we were chosen to be used for His mercy to be proclaimed to every home.

     An American priest recently gave a retreat here to priests from all over Asia.
He said that HEP should be adopted by all parishes around the region and they should do it fast. He said the program should be put in the internet so the world will enjoy it.

     Because of your perseverance, you have given proof of God's presence here. He is present in the heart of everyone here present.

     The fire in your hearts and those of every Filipino, it's a commitment to Jesus' Divine Mercy.

     We can stand to fight the challenges in our country through our prayer of mercy. When we pray the chaplet, we say “for the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”

     The love of God is afire in our hearts. Let His mercy explode!