Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco

 Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-11

Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34

1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

John 20:19-23 

“Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.” 

WE PRAY in today's response to renew us from the old normal to a new normal. The pandemic is very much present and more deadly. We can only dream of the past, but we can never bring it back. Our world today requires face masks, face shield and social distancing. No more hugging and the “beso-beso” and the shaking of hands that politicians are expected to do. 

We are brought to our knees in tears mourning the loss of loved ones. Helpless for those infected who have difficulty breathing and trying our best to help the families on lockdown and quarantine. Todo este mientras ta tiene miedo na di aton mismo cuerpo contagia na Covid! 

Today is a great feast of the Church: “The Descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.” Este el promesa de Hesus, imbia con el quien guia co su decipolo el Espiritu de Verdad, Amor y Fuerza. Desde maga “cubarde” que tiene miedo, ya abaja el Espiritu Santo como lengua de fuego que ya dale animo para conversa y proclama aserca del Cristo Resusitao! 

Sequence 

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!

And from your celestial home

Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!

Come, source of all our store!

Come, within our bosoms shine. 

You, of comforters the best;

You, the soul’s most welcome guest;

Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labor, rest most sweet;

Grateful coolness in the heat;

Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,

Shine within these hearts of yours,

And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, we have naught,

Nothing good in deed or thought,

Nothing free from taint of ill. 

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;

On our dryness pour your dew;

Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will;

Melt the frozen, warm the chill;

Guide the steps that go astray. 

On the faithful, who adore

And confess you, evermore

In your sevenfold gift descend;

Give them virtue’s sure reward;

Give them your salvation, Lord;

Give them joys that never end. Amen. 

This is the Great Prayer before the Gospel. In the world plagued by the Pandemic we echo: “Heal our wounds, our strength renew!” ⁃ We reported 2,439 active cases and more than 367 deaths and among them was a dear Mother, Mentor and Guide: Sr. Mary Agnes Xavier, of the Holy Spirit, OCD. Indeed her life reflected the great missionary St. Francis Xavier guided by the Holy Spirit. She led many souls to Jesus and Mary. 

Sr. Agnes was the third mortality together with Sr. Mary Bernard, of the Sacred Passion, OCD; and Sr. Ann, of the Mother of God, OCD. The Carmelites have been our prayer warriors, contemplative nuns dedicated in prayer for us all. The Convent in R. T. Lim Boulevard in Cawa-Cawa was a place of peace. People sought guidance and made prayer requests whether giving eggs for good weather or for general intercessions. 

Sr. Ann, a Zamboangueña, was very gracious, when I was on retreat. She chose a special meal for us, being in-charge of the kitchen. Sr. Bernie was the composure of the cloistered nuns, prayerful and observant, always there to minister to all who sought help. Their deaths reflect true discipleship to Jesus to the very end. Fue extraño, they were inside the convent, pero no hay escapada na Covid. I cannot fully comprehend their deaths, the danger of Covid and our City in crisis with critical challenges. 

When I faced confusion, Sr. Agnes told me to say: “Mary show yourself, a Mother to us!” She also taught me to “catch the gaze of Jesus!” Bien duele y triste perde vida porcausa na enfermedad. Mucho familia afectado and I carry all these weight on my shoulders. “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!” 

I commend all these to the Holy Spirit to grant me wisdom to navigate and overcome the pandemic for our people and our City. The recent visit of the NIATF (National Government’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases) team guided us with needed isolation, granular lockdown and analytic data. Health Assistant Secretary Romy Ong, our dear Zamboangueño awardee, whispered an assurance: “Kaya lang se!” 

We work hard and unite to lower cases and stop the mortality. Jesus tells us: “Peace be with you! We believe and have faith in Jesus!” (MBC)

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