GOSPEL MEDITATION TODAY! 33rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME!

33rd Sunday in OT (C) - Being pure of mind and body like the angels.

33^rd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 

Luke 21:5-19

November 17, 2013

GOSPEL READING: The Poor Widow’s Contribution / The Destruction of the Temple Foretold / The Sign of the End / The Coming Persecution

The Proclamation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, “All that you see here—the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”

Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen? ”He answered, “See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and ‘The time has come.’Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.

 “Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives. 

The Gospel of St. Luke has three stories arranged starting from the aftermath, signs before the aftermath of all, and the beginning of all - persecutions of the people of God where strength and truth is God's holy name.

We are told that some people are speaking about how precious the temple is in its outward appearance. Jesus Christ told them that the days will come when this adorned temple will be destructed. We see here the connection of the first reading we read in Malachi 3:19-20. Malachi says that the days of the destruction of the wicked people who are like and are part of the temple who is good in outward appearance but evil inside will be burned wholly just as the Lord had said. Malachi also added that for those who fear the name of the Lord, "there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays", the righteous ones will be like calves who runs over or stampedes over the wicked, going back and forth, crushing the wicked with calves feet.

The destruction of the temple that was foretold by Jesus Christ may have a two-fold truth that is part also of the one and absolute truth. We know that Jesus Christ Body will be destructed, taking the corruption and wickedness in His Body that were actually made by sinners and evil doers. In order for us men to be saved, He let His Body to be destroyed in order for us to be destroyed from sin and death. To destroy the body that was inclined in doing wickedness and sin, Jesus Christ subjected His Body to destruction so that all of mankind will be destroyed, together with God, to the point of death. And in the Resurrection of God, Jesus Christ raises us from sin and death that was caused by bodily inclination to evil that Adam and Eve caused by subjecting the body in disobedience to God by being obedient to the devil, our bodies now is also part of God's Body which triumphed over sin and death - restores and promises an eternal life after the Resurrection of Christ' Body from death.

I said earlier that it is a two-fold truth. One pertains to the Resurrection of the Body of Christ which is the Temple or the Church and its connection to our bodies and a community of bodies that we call Church, the other one pertains to the Parousia or the Second Coming of Christ. We know that Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead. In His coming we know that He will judge everyone - those who constitutes His Body, those who are pain in His Body, those who works on the healing of His Body and the strengthening of It, those who are not yet part of His Body - all of us - will be judged by God. All of our bodies will be destroyed from sin and death, from impurity and imperfection, and God will judge us - according to our deeds and obedience to the Holy Will of the Father. He will raise the righteous and He will destroy the wicked in eternal damnation. He will restore the original goodness of the body of man on His Second Coming.

Then we are signalled by Christ to be vigilant and observant to the signs of the end times. Be on your guard against false prophets and false witnesses.

But before the manifestation of the end times becomes evident, Jesus Christ told us that we will be persecuted by all especially the authorities and the people of power because of God's name But don't ever worry says the Lord. For God will provide at that instant, at that moment, the defense we are about to say. The Infinite Wisdom Jesus Christ will give us "wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute."

We will be hated by all because of His name, "but not a hair on your head will be destroyed." Because God is all-knowing and in His Infinite Wisdom knows how many hairs we have in our heads, He knows what we are up to; He knows what is going on. God will not let us lose our identity - the identity of ours that God infinitely know by His Infinite Wisdom, He will not let death destroy the mark of God in us, the identity that we are in God's mind and His mind is full of the thought of us, every moment of our lives. Our hair on our heads are numbered, our identity to God is in God and will never be destroyed.

"By your perseverance you will secure your lives." In persevering in life, we must imitate St. Paul and his company who became examples how to live an orderly life which we read in the second reading of this very Sunday. St. Paul exhorts us to take sacrifices in order to be an example to others, "losing our lives for God's sake thus securing and saving our lives."

Here are some points to consider:

1. We must be pure in mind and body like the angels.

2. Again, we must be vigilant and observant.

3. We must trust the Lord that He will send us wisdom to speak in defense against our persecutors.

4. We must lose our lives for the sake of God's name.

5. Our identity as God identify Himself in us should be our strength.

6. We must live an orderly life.

"Jesus, I trust in You." "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

Mary H. Distributist

GOSPEL MEDITATION TODAY! Persistence, Perseverance, Faith, Prayer (Luke 18:1-8)

Good News for the day of November 16, 2013 / The Parable of the Persistent Widow

The Proclamation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke :

And he spoke also a parable to them, that we ought always to pray, and not to faint, [2] Saying: There was a judge in a certain city, who feared not God, nor regarded man. [3] And there was a certain widow in that city, and she came to him, saying: Avenge me of my adversary. [4] And he would not for a long time. But afterwards he said within himself: Although I fear not God, nor regard man, [5] Yet because this widow is troublesome to me, I will avenge her, lest continually coming she weary me. And the Lord said: Hear what the unjust judge saith. [7] And will not God revenge his elect who cry to him day and night: and will he have patience in their regard? [8] I say to you, that he will quickly revenge them. But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?

The Gospel of St. Luke tells that Jesus Christ told the disciples a parable about the need for them to pray always without becoming weary. I remembered here the words of St. Teresa of Avila that I read in my YOUCAT book, "Do not pray for lighter burdens; pray for a stronger back."

We are told that there is a judge who neither feared God nor respected any human being. That just shows that this judge is detestable and should be condemned or better, to be punished severely or best, to be put to death. And there is also a persistent widow who wants this immoral judge to render a just decision for her against her opponent. It is very mysterious or peculiar for this widow knows who this judge is - an immoral person and maybe a dishonest judge. She still goes to him even there is a fact that this judge do not respect any human being! In this case, how much more in the case of the Lord! How much more and how much difference God will give to those persons who are persistent and persevere in their prayers to Him!  

The immoral judge, we can say, gave up. He was unwilling at first, but in his meditation of the matter he arrived at a decision in favor of the persistent widow. He was afraid that she will come and thought that she will become impatient, irritable, and flaming in wrath if he will not do as what is asked of him.

I recall what had happened to me just this October 31 of this year. I was attacked by Influenza virus that shut downed my whole system for days. I went to the Holy Mass that evening and received the Holy Communion. The sickness of mine became grave when I attended the Mass. That is the beginning of my suffering. I used my long umbrella as a cane when I walked back home. I cannot speed my walking. My body and my whole legs hurt as I walk. Funny thing here is I am like a turtle while walking - so many grannies and old people just seemed fast and left me at a great distance. Then started the hours when my body temperature hit 39 degrees celsius! And it played on 38 and higher. I prayed to God and Mama Mary while I also had my medicines.

Then Sunday came, November 3, when I arrived at one of the evening Masses in my parish. Out of desperation when I received the Body of the Lord, I prayed to God, "God! One last chance! I'm giving you one last chance! Heal me!" I prayed this in my mind. Then I returned home. Still desperately hoping that in a snap, I will be totally healed. Now, I really thank God and Mama Mary, I'm free now from my affliction! The sickness dissipated and is healed as the days have passed after that Sunday Mass. It also dawned on me whether I sinned against God because it may seem that my prayer is rude and I said it with confidence, strength, solidness, and roughness. By the way, I was thinking of a character in the movie Men in Black 3 who was the young agent K who said some of the words I prayed that Sunday. I was, at that moment, talking to God as I think of that guy in the movie while saying his line. Then I used it as a prayer, and there.

My Mommy also told me when I was a young boy that Jesus Christ wants to be bothered. She told me that God likes to be pestered or disturbed. "Gusto ng Diyos na kinukulit S'ya," she said. The words of Mommy is very similar to what St. Jean-Marie Baptiste Vianney said that I read on my YOUCAT book, "Our dear God loves to be bothered."

In the Gospel, the Lord Jesus told them to "pay attention what the dishonest judge says." Unlike the Honest Judge God who is fast in responding to His persevering and persistent chosen ones, Jesus Christ told them to be vigilant in listening what the dishonest judge says for what he says may bring fast destruction and injustice to them.

"But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" These words of the Lord are very alarming, greatly to be feared against, and a prophetic one. Jesus Christ will be in search of the people of persistence and perseverance in clinging and crying to the Lord. God will be in search for those people whose confidence is on God alone (anawim or poor in spirit) when He comes again. He is giving prophesy that in His coming, will He still find faith and hope that solidly relies on Him. We are called to be persons of great faith and hope - relying solidly and completely to God alone. Will God find faith on earth when He comes again?

Here are some points to consider:

1. We must pray persistently and perseveringly all the days of our life and not becoming weary nor tired (even when experiencing spiritual desolation).

2. "Prayer is a man's strength and God's weakness." - Jaime Cardinal Sin (+)

3. We must be persons of unceasing prayer like Mama Mary (making everything of us as prayer that connects ourselves to God).

4. Be always vigilant and on guard especially against persons who will bring destruction and injustice to us.

5. We must be anawim or poor in spirit.

6. Let us make every breath of us as prayer.

7. We must be persons of great faith and of great hope.

"Jesus, I trust in You." "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

Mary H. Distributist

The Second Coming and The Destruction of All (Luke 17:26-37 The Days of the Son of Man)

The Proclamation of the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke (Luke 17:26-37)

26 'As it was in Noah's day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of man.

27 People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the Flood came and destroyed them all.

28 It will be the same as it was in Lot's day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building,

29 but the day Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all.

30 It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of man to be revealed.

31 'When that Day comes, no one on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must come down tocollect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back.

32 Remember Lot's wife.

33 Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe.

34 I tell you, on that night, when two are in one bed, one will be taken, the other left;

35 when two women are grinding corn together, one will be taken, the other left.'

36

37 The disciples spoke up and asked, 'Where, Lord?' He said, 'Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.'

The Gospel of St. Luke tells us how the Son of Man will come, the Parousia, or the Second Coming of Christ. It will be like in the days of Noah, where the people live in sin, wickedness, corruption of mind and heart, and full of lawlessness. God will come like a great flood, destroying everyone and everything that is wicked.

It is like a baptism. That's why we are called to live the baptismal promises we made - the baptism which we are baptized. We should live blameless in the sight of God by living the "great flood in the days of Noah" that was poured in us when we are baptized - with water and the Holy Spirit. That's how important our living the baptismal promises that we made. Because in the end, we do not know exactly when the Son of Man will come, and we do not even know when our earthly life will will end.

It is very fitting here to add the words of a saint who said, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling." But we must balance it with the words of St. Francis de Sales: "We should fear God out of love; not love Him out of fear."

The coming of the Son of Man is similar in the days of Lot where the people are full and busy of themselves. The great problem also was sin is reigning in them where immorality and homosexuality was a way of living. Again, God will come and His revelation of self will be like a raining sulphurous fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Here, we see how to live the fire, the sulphurous fire-like grace that we received in the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Holy Spirit will help us now to be in flames burning, dedicated to God and His Gospel. Just like the Sacrament of Baptism, we are much more called here to boost our all to live the baptismal promises we made more fully.

The Gospel tells also that we must not be attached to material possessions and the things that seems important to us. We are called to a total detachment from things - everything that has no concern with the coming of the Lord. We must not be like Lot's wife, who looked back, and was turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). Again, we are called to a total detachment from all and a total attachment to God alone.

Like the salt, we must be preserved in sanctity and righteousness. Unlike the wife of Lot who looked back or turned back in the sight of destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, we must not look or turn back from sin, wickedness, corruption, and lawlessness once we dedicate ourselves to God, because if we do so, we will be like the wife of Lot who became a pillar of salt. Again, we must be like salt.

Let us live lives pleasing to the Lord so that we will be taken by Him and not be left for destruction.

And "where the body is, the vultures will gather." For people who are concerned with the satisfaction of the body, succumb into concupiscence and irascible passions, like vultures, they will gather into a body - left in corruption and full of filth, all of them will be destroyed.

Here are some points to consider:

1. Live your own vocation vigilantly.

2. Live your baptismal promises faithfully, honestly, with loyalty and fidelity.

3. Be a "living Gospel."

4. Be prepared always. (For you don't know when you will be killed! Joke!)

5. We must embrace a life of total detachment from everything (even human attachments) and live a life of total attachment to God alone.

6. We must be holy as the Heavenly Father is holy.

7. We must remember that there are times of feasting, and there are times of fasting.

8. We must give our spiritual faculties (soul) a lot more attention than bodily faculties.

"Jesus, I trust in You." "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

Mary H. Distributist

Pharisees Not Damned! And the Parousia (Luke 17:20-25)

20 Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, he gave them this answer, 'The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation

21 and there will be no one to say, "Look, it is here! Look, it is there!" For look, the kingdom of God is among you.'

22 He said to the disciples, 'A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of man andwill not see it.

23 They will say to you, "Look, it is there!" or, "Look, it is here!" Make no move; do not set off in pursuit;

24 for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of man when his Day comes.

25 But first he is destined to suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.

In this Gospel story of St. Luke, we were told that the Pharisees asked the Lord when the Kingdom of God would come. This question of the Pharisees is very peculiar or mysterious for it seems that they do not know what the Kingdom of God is, they are asking the Lord when it would come. I think the Lord Jesus is laughing interiorly in this question of the Pharisees. We can imagine that Jesus Christ thought to Himself: "What an unintelligible question from you, Pharisees! Do not you know that the Kingdom of God existed before and still exists, and the Kingdom of God is within you? Among you? Existing in the midst of you? Reigning among you?" Jesus Christ may seem taken aback and lowered His eyebrows because, of the Pharisees' question. The Lord can't believe what was asked of Him! He can't imagine that such "holy" persons like the Pharisees will ask Him that question! Maybe Jesus Christ thought that the Pharisees were joking, for the Lord seemed read their minds that they are imagining that the Kingdom of God will be sent from heaven like a descending palace, like a descending helicopter, landing on earth. The Pharisees were looking and in search of the manifestation of the Kingdom of God. They are in search of something that will tell to them that, "Ah! Here is the Kingdom of God! Here it is! It is now here! It came! Let us rush and welcome and receive the Kingdom of God!

But they are completely wrong for the Lord replied that the coming of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of heaven, and the Kingdom of the Lord cannot be observed. Why? Because the Kingdom is here already! The Kingdom existed and still exists before the Pharisees eyes and senses! Why? Because the Kingdom of God is within you! Among you! 

Don't search for it! All you have to do is to be sensitive enough that the Kingdom of God is now here! It is within you! 

It is very peculiar and mysterious also that the Lord Jesus Christ did not become angry to the Pharisees. The Lord was somewhat in good mood towards them. The Gospel is indeed a funny one! The Lord Jesus is gentle indeed. He answered them calmly and peacefully and in a very friendly way: "For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you." What a mystery! What a miracle! We know that the Pharisees were the Lord Jesus "hated" in His time. They are also the "suki" or receiver of the Lord's wrath and anger and sermons and thundering words that makes their faces turn to red of shame and disgust from the "arrogance" of the Lord. But in the Gospel story, what a contrast! He answered them that the Kingdom of God is among or within the Pharisees! Wow! I can't believe it! What is the meaning of this?

We know that the Pharisees are the priests of the Lord that time. We know that they are the Church authorities before. But still, despite their hardness of heart, they are still the priest of God. They are still the one who works for God. They are still the priests of God - Whom God also loves. God loves them also. God loves the Pharisees despite of their stubbornness. They are still God's priests! It is indeed true, that the Kingdom of God is within us and among us! The Kingdom of God - of Love and Mercy is among us!

Then we are told of St. Luke that the Lord turned and said to His disciples that the days will come when they will remember the Lord Jesus' days here on this earth. They will longingly hope for the Lord - for His coming and His glory. 

In here He warned them that they must be on guard and vigilant against those false persons that tell that the Son of Man is here and came already - that is the Parousia - the Second coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ showed them how frightening and majestic fear He would come in glory. The day of the Lord will indeed come, but it will not be determined by false prophets and false witnesses. But the Lord Jesus Christ also added that before these things will happen, "first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation." He will suffer greatly from the Pharisees He answered with gentleness in the first story of the Gospel, he will also suffer from His disciples - all of them will be the cause of God's great suffering. Jesus Christ will be rejected so that the prophesy might be fulfilled: "The Lord rejected by the builder has become the cornerstone."

Here are some points to consider:

1. The Kingdom of God is among us. If it is so, and truly is, then it is up to us if we will surrender to God ourselves for His Kingdom and to serve Him. Let us live righteous lives in order to be called worthily indeed the Kingdom of God is among us.

2. We must be sensitive enough that the Kingdom of God is among us. 

3. Let us be on guard and vigilant against the false prophets and false witnesses.

4. Let us go to the Sacrament of Confession (confess your mortal sins!) and solidly live not to sin mortal sins again - this will strengthen the Kingdom of God and will mitigate the hurts the Lord Jesus receives from all of us - the sins that hurts Him and His Body, the Church.

5. Let us not reject Jesus Christ. Let us allow him to live in us because He is for us. "If God is with us, who can be against us?"

6. Let us longingly hope for the glorious coming of the Lord! Let us do it with vigilance.

"Jesus, I trust in You." "O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee."

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

Mary H. Distributist

What An Attitude of a Servant! (Luke 17:7-10 Attitude of a Servant)

Attitude of a Servant

But which of you having a servant ploughing, or feeding cattle, will say to him, when he is come from the field: Immediately go, sit down to meat: [8] And will not rather say to him: Make ready my supper, and gird thyself, and serve me, whilst I eat and drink, and afterwards thou shalt eat and drink? [9] Doth he thank that servant, for doing the things which he commanded him? [10] I think not. So you also, when you shall have done all these things that are commanded you, say: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which we ought to do.

Jesus Christ gives his apostles a story giving them a right to be "masters" of a servant that He chose to be an example for them - even if it just a story - I believe there is a hidden humor in this Gospel - at least Lord Jesus let the apostles feel and experience how to be masters, to be masters even if it is just in a story made by the Lord.

"Who among you would say to your servant who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here immediately and take your place at table'?

These words let the apostles imagine they are the masters. They were thinking that how lucky the servant if he will be treated just like that - even after the servant is surely exhausted or dead tired returning from plowing or tending sheep in the field which is a very tiring work to do - laborious in "bloody" terms.

Imagine the apostles’ reaction after hearing these words from the Lord. Surely you will think that the apostles will get angry to the servant Jesus Christ portrays to them - in a story.

"Feeling lucky, punk!", says the apostles to the servant - of the story.

But in reality, although it may seem that the Gospel do not show compassion, mercy, love, care, humane or brotherly love, nor warmth the master have toward his servant, actually it is really how a master treats his servant.

We must know the analogy - when the story applies to God as master and the apostles as His servants. That's how God will treat His servants. It may seem inhumane or "capitalistic", but that Gospel story shows how it is really to be a master, and how it is really to be a servant. Different from this world who some aspires to establish a communist ideology which will imaginary lead to brotherhood and equality.

Jesus Christ added, "Would he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished'?

So humorously, the apostles who became masters of the servant had high hopes to be boastful, for Jesus Christ provided words for them that they will use as command to the servant - in the imaginary story.

Here, we see how a master treats his servant. The master commands. The servant has an obligation - to be obedient to the master and his command. The servant is still a servant of the master. He does what is commanded of him. He serves the

master even if his stomach is revolting against itself - even if he is dead tired from laborious work. He puts on the apron, that is, the working clothes that shows his servant hood and his readiness to do the commands demanded of him by the

master. He waits for the master. The servant is prepared and on standby as part of his servant hood. And after the master is finished from his eating and drinking, here goes the reward for his fidelity, faithfulness, and loyalty to the master and his

commands or master's words. He can eat and drink as commanded; the servant undeservingly receives his food and drink! He is undeserving of these things.

"Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded? So should it be with you." Here, humorously, ends the "master hood" of the apostles when our Lord Jesus Christ said the words, "So should it be with you." The apostles

sighed for they are really servants, and Jesus Christ is their Master - and there is no other.

God and the master of the Gospel story shows gratitude and thankfulness towards the servant, for the servant did what was commanded of him.

But still, the servant is nothing and deserves nothing.

"When you have done all you have commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.'"

The master will be more grateful or thankful to the servant if this is his attitude - because he is really nothing and deserves nothing, and the servant knows this. That is also a command from the Lord Jesus, to say those words He said!

Here are some points worth considering:

1. We are not masters. We all have but only one Master and that is Jesus Christ.

2. We are all servants. Therefore we must have a proper attitude a servant has.

3. We must have the attitude of self-emptiness, self-nothingness, and self-forgetfulness as servants. We must be obedient, humble, prepared, and careful in listening.

4. We must not be assuming. Remember we are servants.

5. We should say always as what was commanded of us by Jesus Christ, "We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do."

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

Mary H. Distributist

Sensitivity, Gratefulness, Knowledge, Faith (Luke 17:11-19 The Cleansing of the Ten Lepers)

The Cleansing of the Ten Lepers (Luke 17: 11-19)

And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. [12] And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off; [13] And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us. [14] Whom when he saw, he said: Go, show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. [15] And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.

[16] And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan. [17] And Jesus answering, said, Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine? [18] There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger. [19] And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.

"17 This led Jesus to say, 'Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they?

18 It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.'"

According to St. Luke the evangelist, Our Lord Jesus Christ continued his journey to Jerusalem, travelled between Samaria and Galilee.

We may firmly believe here that our Lord met many people and graced them by His presence.

As He was entering a village, we are told, that ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him for they bear leprosy in their own selves. But their condition did not became a hindrance on crying out to God, to our Lord Jesus who hears the cry of the poor and the afflicted ones who were abandoned, deprived of love, mercy, and compassion from the rest of the world, those who are cast out from the rest.

They raised their voice saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!" They know that God will pity them and by faith knows that God will save them from their condition.

Lord Jesus in turn listened, heard their cry and pitied them, gave them a mysterious command to go and show themselves to the priests. They did go and as they are going, they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, sensed that God saved him from his affliction, the Eternal High Priest healed him from

his leprosy, understood that God is the priest - the only priest that heals and saves. In realizing that God healed him (even without the assurance of the healing words of God but in obedience to the Lord they left Him to present themselves to the priests), it shows that he is sensitive enough to know to whom he must be thankful for. He knew to whom he should give glory - to God alone. He intensified his

voice much louder than the first cry he made when he is pleading to God for mercy. He returned the healing he received from God by returning himself - his whole self to God giving the Lord the homage He deserves and, he did this with humility, self-emptiness, and gratitude.

The Lord is merciful and loving even to those people whose identity and race is detestable - just like this Samaritan leper. He acknowledges the fact Jesus is the Lord, God, and Master and he knew by faith that he will be healed by this Eternal High Priest who is a Jew. The Samaritan leper became a Jew - for he returned to God and acknowledged Him who is the One True God - the Only Healer and Savior - the One and the Only Priest - the Eternal High Priest.

Jesus Christ seemed amazed by the return of the Samaritan leper where in fact, He healed ten lepers. He is inquiring for the nine who were insensitive and ungrateful to God. But the Samaritan just did what he ought to do - he stayed at the feet of Jesus Christ giving homage and gratefulness, not minding the other nine - he is enjoying the moment with Him.

Jesus Christ in turn said to the thankful man, "Be my rejoicing disciple who will be my witness of healing and life. Your faith has saved you from your iniquities."

We must consider the following:

We must return to God with rejoicing and thankfulness for He saved us from sin and death and from the fruits of these.

We must acknowledge Him as the One and Only Eternal High Priest and there's no other.

We must know and realize that God is the Only Healer and Savior and there is no other.

We must be sensitive and grateful enough to realize whom we must be thankful for - God alone.

We must be solid in our faith in God.

We must empty ourselves from ourselves to be humble enough and grateful enough to God

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

Mary H. Distributist

Fortune-Tellers Indeed Defile! (A True Story)

"Do not go to mediums or consult fortune-tellers, for you will be defiled by them. I, the Lord, am your God." (Leviticus 19:31)

"Should anyone turn to mediums and fortune-tellers and follow their wanton ways, I will turn against such a one and cut him of from his people." (Leviticus 20:6)

"When you come into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of the peoples there. Let there not be found among you anyone who immolates his son or daughter in the fire, nor a fortune-teller, soothsayer, charmer, diviner, or caster of spells, nor one who consults ghost and spirits or seeks oracles from the dead. Anyone who does such things is an abomination to the Lord, and because such abominations the Lord, your God, is driving these nations out of your way." (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

This account is a true story.

She told me that her mother with a companion was once consulted a fortune-teller who uses cards. The fortune-teller told her mother that she will die before she celebrates her birthday that year. To the mother's companion the fortune-teller predicted that on that year of a certain month, one of her loved ones or close to her will die.

Then the day of misfortune came. The mother's companion had a great horror and the prediction became real when her daughter died alone in a building. The daughter was left in a room who does not know at that time that the building she is in is in flames. But when she's trying to save her life, she choose to escape by riding an elevator. In this elevator she died. When the authorities found her inside the elevator, she was found petrified, burned to death. Her own arms was stretched out as if she's pushing something in front of her. She is the only one who did not survived the tragedy. The fortune-teller was right.

But not in the case of her mother. Her daughter is the one who recounted this story to me. Because the prediction of the fortune-teller did not worked. Because the mother on that same year celebrated her birthday - contrary to the fortune-teller's prediction that she will die one month before the day of her birthday.

So the family became at rest for the prediction did not happened. They were relaxed that the mother celebrated her birthday that year. But they did not expected that on that year, this mother will die.

The mother died on a plane accident. The airplane was shattered into pieces while on air and so its passengers. They were really shocked that this mother , this member of their family died - she died after one month after her birthday celebration.

On asking further the sharer whom I know personally, also told me that the fortune-teller was not only using cards or tarot cards, she also held or examined the palm of the two who consulter her.

I asked her if there was a thing they brought with them that was given by the fortune-teller and she said their was nothing.

I asked her if aside from palm examination and card reading, do the fortune-teller did strange things beside these and she said no, there's none.

And I asked her a few more questions. Then she and I came into conclusion (an opinion perhaps for we are not persons in authority when it comes to extraordinary phenomena) that the fortune-teller has a demon who is powerful in sending curses to those persons who consults this fortune-teller. Just the words or predictions of her can take away a person's life, how is this fortune-teller now?

According to the sharer, her relatives also knew the fortune-tellers name. Her name is Baby Resma. Resma is the surname. I do not know if the "Baby" is her first name or just the nick name.

For study and catechetics :

Commission on Extraordinary Phenomena / Ministry of Exorcism 

G/F Lay Formation Center

San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex
EDSA, Guadalupe, Makati City
E-mail: amoe.request@yahoo.com
Tel:  899-4971 Telefax: 896-7595
Minister/Assistant Exorcist: Rev. Fr. Jose Francisco C. Syquia
Exorcist: Rev. Fr. Mateo Goldaraz, OFMCap
Deliverance Minister: Rev. Fr. Roberto D. De la Cruz
Coordinator: Ms. Rowena Delos Reyes

ADMG

Mary H. Distributist