The unstoppable power of love

Genuine love is contagious.

It is a feel-good, refreshing virtue that brings out the best in hearts that have love in them.

And unlike the harmful COVID virus, unlike this life-threatening virus, the virtue of love is life-giving and healing. Love shares life, shares hope. Love begets love.

In the midst of the spread of the COVID virus and variants, this April, another type of contagion was born in the small street of Maginhawa, providing the much-needed life-giving breath of hope and care for all, especially the needy.

The virtue of love resurrected, replicated, and widely spreading slowly but surely all throughout our country.

One kind act, one act of love. Items simply but sincerely gathered in a bamboo cart with this unpretentious request: “magbigay ayon sa kakayahan, kumuha batay sa pangangailangan.”

The message resonates with Filipinos --those who can share, those who are in need.

The line between the two is often blurred though as the needy themselves started to share as well and some of those who shared receiving non-material rewards in turn.

No one is poor enough not to share, no one is rich enough not to receive.

Amidst COVID, what a beautiful miracle to behold.

Still unfolding, and expectedly with birth pangs, what is unstoppable is the love, the care, the bayanihan, the community, the mutual aid, and more.

If you want to brighten your day with inspiring news of good works and love, see the Community Pantry Ph Facebook link. So many genuine narratives that will tug at your heart. So many wonderful doses of much needed life-nourishing medicine, of food for the heart, for the soul.

Started by a kind heart, by a person full of love for the poor, for our people, her kindness, love, and care has gone viral, infecting so many others whose hearts are just as full of kindness, love, and care.

Gratefully, they are legion and worldwide! Gratefully, there is good in every heart, awaiting the opportunity to be released, to be unleashed.

There is hope in our midst. There is hope for our world. There is hope for today and tomorrow.

Beyond the mountain where the multiplication of the fish and loaves took place, the miracle of love continues in Maginhawa, in other communities all throughout our country, and even the world!

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s mission, of proclaiming God’s love with oneself and neighbors, lives on. There is no stopping love. There is no stopping God and his love.

Despite the COVID, despite the pandemic still around, with the love nurturing the Community Pantry to multiply all throughout, there is so much positivity in the air, so much inspired collective will to move on, to continue to spread, practice and share love especially with the needy. Again, they are legion.

Thank God and thank you all for the hope-and love-filled month of April!

Looking forward to more sharing of love this May, the merry month of Mama Mary! Padayon everyone!

The first day of May starts with the Feast of St. Joseph, the patron saint of laborers. We join the whole world celebrate and salute all our workers and laborers, locally and globally!

Although a day late, together with the Apostleship of the Sea (AOS-Cebu) that celebrated their 30 years of being gifted to give yesterday, April 30, we honor and celebrate the peoples of the sea --the seafarers, fisherfolks, port workers, and their families.

May the power of love overcome the abusive, unjust structures and systems oppressing workers and laborers. May love lighten their heavy load and honor them with just compensation and rewards!