by Bro. Eric Wee
 
     The Friends of the Divine Mercy held its Lenten retreat last March 13, 2009 at the Jansen Hall, Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City. Fifty members from the different chapters attended the activity.

     The program started with joyful song numbers, followed by a lecture of Fr. James McTavish, FMVD, who was the retreat director. Fr. James discussed the relationship  between "mercy" and "mission."

     According to him, to make the mission a matter of consequence, we have to first experience the mercy and compassion of God. He likened the love of God to that of the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son, where the father unconditionally welcomed his prodical son back to his fold  despite his squadering the family's wealth and committing other misdeeds.

     Similarly, we are undeserving of God's love, but if we seek Him, He will accept us back to His fold.

     Fr. James also said that a purpose-driven life is anchored on finding  our own mission and calling in life. This entails sacrifices because we have to spend our time and efforts attending to someone else's needs. The verse in Jn. 21:15 is an example where the Lord told Simon Peter that "if you love me then you have to tender my sheep."

     Fr. James also stressed the importance of having a prayer life. He said that the life of a missionary is like that of a cellphone. When a cellphone turns "low batt," it has to be recharged. similarly, when a missionary gets tired in his mission, he needs to pray to be energized and motivated again.

     After the lecture, Fr. James gave the participants a time for silence. Later, some of the participants shared their reflections on the retreat's theme.

     Bro. Jojo David, a full-time missionary, shared his own story of discovering God and how he found true happiness in being with Him.

     The afternoon session was an avenue for the participants, who are either ministry heads or chapter leaders, to re-commit to their mission in the community.