“So Jesus is a great model of how to live, pray, and relate to people. But remember that if Jesus is only a model for us, then he is no encouragement – for he is too good. No one could live up to his standard. Jesus came not just to be a model but a savior.”
— Timothy Keller
Have you encountered Jesus personally in your life?
Normally, our life seems difficult at times due to some pressing needs in our family, finances, works, and service in the community. We didn’t realize that as we walked in this very challenging life, God is constantly watching by our side.
We might not see Him or felt His presence in our midst but truly He is always at our side sharing, tapping our shoulders and embracing us in times of joy, happiness and success through His mighty deeds to reach and achieve our goals and dreams in life.
No one is also spared from trials, tribulations, and temptations. What we need is to have faith in God. He is much bigger compared to our problems and challenges in life. In the scriptures, Jesus said, … Truly I tell you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
May we also remind ourselves that when we go through some of these problems, let us not forget that He is near and carrying us to lighten up the burden that we are experiencing. And He won’t give us problems that we cannot bear.
On April 22, 2018, on a very sunny Sunday morning when I was driving my car going to the Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church (Ormoc City, PH) to attend the 10:00 o’clock holy mass (Eucharistic celebration) together with my grandson seated beside me, my wife and daughter seated at the back.
As we traveled, I heard my wife and my daughter took pictures after each other. Along the way, I made a stopped in a water refilling station and left the empty containers and decided to pick up the same after attending the mass.
As I entered the car, I saw their faces looked very amazed of what they had seen in the cellphone of my daughter. My wife gave the phone to me and said, what did you saw in the picture at the side of our daughter? I felt mum and cannot can not speak because in my mind, I can’t believe that Jesus manifested and showed His face with us. His face was very clear and perfect in the picture together with my daughter.
He miraculously appeared to us on that very day, with His face lively lodged and reflected at the window of our car. I said to myself, Oh my God! What is Your message to us? Why You appeared to us? In that very moment, I didn’t have a grasp on His message and amazing appearance to us.
Jesus was very silent. But in my heart and mind, there were another two questions that entertained me. First, Lord, is this our last day? Second, what is Your message and purpose of appearing to us? These questions were hounding me and the members of my family. Scriptures says that “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for ever more” (Rv 1:17-18)
His miraculous appearance brought a very surprising message to us:
(1) that He is always on our side – whether you are a sinner or not. In scripture, He said that, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5);
(2) that He wants us to have faith in Him in all circumstances despite not seeing and encountered Him personally. Jesus told us, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” (John 11:25).
On April 22, 2018, after attending the mass, however, we came to realized that it coincided the day Pope St. John Paul II celebrated the first anniversary of the Divine Mercy Sunday in April 22, 2001. And was the first who canonized St. Faustina and designated the Sunday after Easter as the Sunday of the Divine Mercy.
In our home, we had a big image of the Divine Mercy of Jesus displayed at the altar but we’re neither a devotee nor praying the Divine Mercy of Chaplet or the Novena of the Divine Mercy of Jesus. It was because I am a Marian devotee and that we used to pray and recite the holy rosary together with the family. (To be continued…)
Thank you very much for reading my blog. Have a great day and God bless you and your family.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endures for ever!” (Psalm 117:1)