Doc Joy's mom, Mely, outside the St. Francis Xavier Church, Bali, Indonesia
DAY 20 - MERCY
Whenever I go on an out of town trip, whether it be a local travel or an international one, I always look for a Catholic Church to attend Sunday mass so I can feel God's mercy and love. Hence, when we arrived in Bali, Indonesia, my mom and I took a cab from The Ark Hotel in Ubud to go to St. Francis Xavier Church even if we only had about 3-4 hours of sleep. I wanted to start my training on naturopathy with the right disposition which meant spending time with the Lord.
As cancer patients, some of you may just be at the initial steps in finding out your exact diagnosis. You may be at the start of your healing process and may be looking for the best management option for your disease. You may also be like the others who have undergone tailor-made treatments, specific to your type of cancer, based on physical examination findings, laboratory results, imaging studies, and even biopsy reports. The rest of you probably finished your medical treatment and are exploring other means to ensure your survival and prevent the recurrence of cancer.
In whatever stage or process you may be in your journey towards the healing of your cancer, you felt love and comfort because people have been gracious and merciful. Despite feeling grumpy, moody and ultra-sensitive because of the pain that you experienced, be it physical, mental or emotional, people choose to understand where you are coming from. You also spend time to feel God's mercy and love when you go to Him and feel His presence in the Holy Mass, whether on- site or online. You can extend your unconditional love and support to your fellow cancer patients because you choose to be merciful, just like the Lord, Jesus Christ.
PAUSE
From Isaiah 49:13,"...For the Lord comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted."
PRAY
Lord, Jesus Christ, thank You for being gracious and merciful even when I have offended You. Let me show mercy to others who are suffering so that they may see Your face in me. AMEN
PERFORM
Write about the times you have received grace and mercy and share the same to others around you today.
Doc Joy's mom, Mely, inside the St. Francis Xavier Church, Bali, Indonesia