“I will refresh you” (Mt. 11:28)

Jesus extends his assuring words to us in this time of turbulence to give us hope, as He gently beckons all those worn-out from daily struggles for peace and better living: ‘Come to me.’ Countless are the victims of the war in Marawi City, Mindanao, and only God knows when the bloodshed will end, and when there will be a reconciliatory understanding between Muslim extremists/jihadists and true followers of Islam and non-Muslim believers or Christians. Jesus the Prince of Peace offers himself to lead us in becoming channels of God’s relief and comfort for those languishing in need of bodily comfort and psycho-spiritual solace.

May the song “One More Gift” asking the Lord for the gift of peace and serenity within come true, for the “confusions around are mere reflections of what’s within me.” The way to bring peace is to change the idea of hatred to that of love, pride to that of humility, mistrust to that of trust in God, revenge to that of forgiveness. An expression has shown its veracity: “The offender never pardons. An unforgiving world is replete with murder and destruction.”

Let us turn to Mary, the Queen of Peace, of Apostles and Martyrs, to help us stay close to Jesus who will refresh us and make our “yoke easy and our burden light” (Mt 11:30). We invoke her to welcome under her mantle all those tired and worn-out from the ‘good fight for peace and unity’ as volunteers or as those directly burdened in the affected area. Ours is the ‘good fight’ to help in the mission of humanitarian intervention for our marginalized brothers and sisters through the generous sharing of resources, reaching out to them through education, social media and dialogue of friendship, and through continuous communal prayer.