Novena Day 5
Apostolic Spirit
James Hanvey, SJ, said in his reflection, “In times of darkness”: “Covid-19 has exposed the fragilities and the illusions, the inequalities and the failures of our systems.
It has also revealed the many faces of generosity; humble and heroic faces of service and self-sacrifice even to the point of death. Lives put at the service of others barely known except in their desperation and need.”
The Maginhawa Community Pantry which started last April in Manila has inspired many other communities and even provinces to put up their own to provide free food supply for the poor because the government failed to provide for them. One taho (Filipino sweet tofu) vendor who carries everyday about 50 kilos of taho in two aluminum buckets, which can make up to about Php400-500 worth of profit daily, chipped in free cups of taho for one community pantry in Cavite. This “epidemic” of generosity and apostolic spirit is nothing else but a continuous descent of the Holy Spirit in this day and age. The ripple effect is just amazing. We can only be grateful that in these very trying times, Jesus is still breathing his Spirit upon us again and again and urges us to mission!
We pray with Saint Thérèse in today’s novena to beg God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for courage to be inspired to the heartful life in mission in whatever means and form.
Link to the story: https://www.goodnewspilipinas.com/cavite-community-pantry-inspires-taho-vendor-to-donate/
Link to James Hanvey’s article: https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/times-darkness