God has constantly been revealing His profound love and goodness to us. For six days (February 8-13, 2008), we were privileged to have with us the miraculous Pilgrim Relics of St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy face. She visited many parishes. People experienced the inspiration and example of her life, vocation, mission and spirituality not to mention the blessings they received from God through their devotion, veneration and vigil. Everybody was grateful.

Last February 18, 2008, the clergy of Lipa had their monthly recollection and listened to the actual experience of a diocesan priest, Fr. Arnel Lagman, of the Prelature of Basilan in doing mission in the midst of a predominantly Muslim population. More than that, he shared the deep, painful and violent experiences they had witnessed with the Muslims especially with the Abu Sayyaf group and even with military. The priests were left in awe and wonder listening to an extreme situation of doing mission in Basilan.

St. Therese has a special way of bringing people together everywhere she goes. People flock to her relics, touching, holding, wiping while silently praying for special graces from God through her intercession. She lived only for 24 years and did not actually work for mission. But her spirituality and love for mission inspired so many people and missionaries all over the world. We come face to face with what we have in terms of the quality and depth of our own spirituality. Her age reveals that anybody can be holy at any given period of our lives. It is never the length of life we stay on this world. It is about the meaning and holiness we put into our lives.

The videos, power point presentations, prayers and talks about her inspired and challenged people to love God in doing little ways with extraordinary love. It is not how big or great the things we do, but rather how much love we put in every act, every thought and every speech that comes from us. Looking at her, we witness a simple and holy woman with great and deep spirituality. Her person alone is enough to bring about mission of telling the story of Jesus to others. This is so because Jesus is experienced, felt and owned in her life. Her life, her words and her simple behavior became mission itself that let people know, believe and love Jesus. Truly she is a model of doing mission of telling the story of Jesus to others.

Listening to the sharing of Fr. Arnel about their ministry and mission in Basilan makes us shiver in fear regarding the difficulties, pains and violence they went through and are continuously experiencing there. At the same time, you cannot but admire their courage, faith and hope while continuing their work as priests and servants of the Lord even with the constant fear for their lives. Comparing our experiences of priestly life and ministry here, we have easier and much more convenient lives here in the Archdiocese of Lipa. As such, it would be a shame if, one, we complain too much of the pains and difficulties in our ministry here and two, we don’t work hard enough for the sake of God’s kingdom. As Jesus said, “When much is given, much will be expected.”