December 30, 2024
9:26am Central Time
It has been quite a long time now since I have sat down and written anything considerably satisfying for my own need to be heard and be of value.
Consider this my attention seeking if you may. You are free to think whatever you wish.
For me, this is my armchair psychotherapy.
Too many things in my head finding release.
Today is my dad’s death anniversary. I prayed one Rosary earlier for all our dearly departed relatives and friends asking God’s mercy upon them and His Perpetual Light shine upon them and may their souls rest in peace.
Year end default thinking...endings and beginning.
When is my own expiration date here on this earth?
Would it be tragic or peaceful?
Would it be sudden or welcome?
All these anxious thoughts I surrender at the foot of the cross of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, asking Him to cover it with His Most Precious Blood to release and cut away anxiety and sadness from my memories in mind and body so I can be free to live a life in fullness and wholeness and holiness.
Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you.
Today’s gospel reading tells us about the prophetess Anna who pointed to Jesus as the future source of redemption for the people of Israel and the world.
I, Anne, will now likewise do the same in the context of my experiences.
For the last Friday of Christmas week, Ruel and I decided to watch one movie. I chose Kevin Sorbo’s Left Behind.
Towards the end of the movie, my first born, Marina showed me a clip of another movie. It kind of hooked me despite the fact that it was of the horror genre...something I avoid like the plague.
With some bit of curiosity and courage, we started watching the movie: Nefarious.
Ruel was bored to death.
I was on the edge of my seat.
Marina was nonchalantly glued as well while holding on to her cellphone busy multi tasking.
After we were done, she suggested checking out Matt Fradd’s commentary on the movie.
I further researched on the writer and the book it was based on.
It somehow blew me away.
It somehow gave me another understanding of mental health and demonic possession, oppression and infestation.
Topics I want to deal with with a ten-foot pole.
But, here I am wanting to shed light on my key take away.
The line separating mental health challenges, like Schizophrenia and demonic possession is most probably as thin as a strand of hair.
Western medicine would pursue medication while my faith belief would seek spiritual deliverances and the sacraments.
I once again recalled my first hand experience with a demonic attack on one sister in the community of Single’s for Christ back in the mid-1990’s.
I was half-heartedly attending the Growing in the Spirit talk of a 16 week Christian Life Program which will prepare you to be a member of the young adult organization.
The speaker was the late Paulette Lirio, a full time mission worker who was based in Singapore prior to her just recent death.
So, while she was giving the talk, she tells us later, she had an impression that the participants were like “ white washed tombs, beautiful on the outside, but rotting inside.”
She was telling herself, something is not right here, because the participants were expected to be on fire with the previous week’s baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Mid-way to her talk, one of the sister in the outer hall/ entrance of the Divine Mercy Shrine in Maysilo, Mandaluyong City, was having some sort of emotional breakdown.
My attention was caught, when someone was yelling for help, while a group were struggling to bring this sister whom we shall call MAHAL ( not her real name,) to the main church on the 2nd floor.
Confusion and chaos ensued.
I tried to figure out heads or tails of what was going on.
There was the nearby hospital, but these group thought it best to bring Mahal upstairs.
Later on, I learned MAHAL almost managed to PULL with her a handful of sisters and brothers to cross the busy street and almost got bumped by speeding vehicles away from the proper cross walk.
Fearfully I followed them.
Once there, I saw how MAHAL was like a crazy dog, lunging at people, 3 strong brothers were trying to hold her, but, they were failing miserably.
One sister would scream realizing rosary beads would be broken in the struggle.
I found myself leading the group in casting out the evil presence that was dominating MAHAL.
She leered at me. She attacked me. She called out to me in a manner of familiarity. As if she knew what I was thinking and that made me have a headache. As If she knew how unworthy, unprepared I was to battle with IT.
She behaved like a baby on another moment. As I screamed the script I picked up from movies. My hand almost touching her forehead.
She whimpered and curled up in a corner the next moment.
As she calmed down.
I told the group I was going to get more help downstairs.
With teeth chattering and my knees shaking, I met Paulette as she was quietly going upstairs to us.
Just out of the french doors, she hold both of my hands and says:
“The battle has been won. Have courage. Jesus has won this battle already. Gather some sisters, go infront of the tabernacle and keep praying. Not minding whatever you hear. Do not stop until I tell you to.”
Looking back as she finished her instructions, I saw MAHAL right behind the glass door, looking at us as if she was from a psycho movie and the rest of the sisters and brother’s once again attempting to restrain her because she had KILL & HATRED written in her expression.
After gathering some sisters to pray with me, I made sure, we used the opposite staircase.
The howling and screaming that we heard was something else.
Surreal.
After all the chaos, Paulette gathered all the service team and reminded us of our failures. Attempting to serve in the Lord’s work, while we forgot the basics of seeking the sacraments especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession prior to serving and empowering ourselves with the Eucharist.
The dreams I had prior to this event, what I saw right before I entered the Shrine’s perimeter wall were of the kind that warned me of things to come. Things that we already know as we attempt to remain children of the LIGHT, that the forces of DARKNESS will not give up without a FIGHT.
We are in a battle whether we like it or not.
We cannot remain lukewarm.
We have to choose sides and draw the line on the sand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5ydZO7yFUQ&ab_channel=NOMAD2
Gospel | Luke 2:36-40
Anna dedicated the remaining years of her life to serving God in prayer. May we follow her example as our situations permit. There are moments when we can call to mind the needs of the Church and intercede for God’s people. Let us pray that our hearts go out to praying for and serving our brothers and sisters.
Gospel Acclamation
A holy day has dawned upon us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. Today a great light has come upon the earth.
36 There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty four. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38 And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Reflect:
How has God brought along an “Anna” to confirm something in your life? How did this affect you?
( Kerygma Daily Bible Reading/Reflections)
