A Healing Story

    

Fourth Sunday of Lent

19 March 2023

 

First Reading: 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Second Reading: Eph 5:8-14

Gospel: Jn 9:1-41

 

Reflection

By: Ma. Rosalina S. Flores

Our Gospel this Sunday narrates how Jesus healed a man, blind from birth. It was written that when Jesus saw the man, he did not think twice of healing him, saying "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him."

Regaining sight, the man, even if questioned many times by the Pharisees, ridiculed until he was thrown out, the man has sticked to his belief that the one who healed him is a good man. So grateful for the gift of healing, when Jesus introduced Himself to the man, he undoubtedly believed and worshiped Jesus in return.

How many times did we hear stories of healing miracles? Isn't it that those who experienced healing miracles have actually become followers and promoters of Jesus? In their gratefulness for their regained health, they sing praise to the Lord and promise to love Him with all their hearts.

I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy last year. It was sudden and it happened two days after my 32nd birthday, on August 19, 2022 at 11AM. What a gift from God, getting sick after my birthday, huh. I was just scrolling on my phone when I felt that the right side of my upper lip weakened. Feeling that something was not right, I tried to drink water and there, it was dripping. I didn't have full control of my drinking and eating when we had our lunch. I looked at myself in the mirror and the right side of my face from right eyebrow down to the right side of my lips had difficulty moving. My symptoms also worsened overnight.

Before Bell's Palsy hit me, I was never hospitalized and fever was the severe sickness I had. The cause of Bell's Palsy is unknown but may be triggered by viral infection, lack of sleep, weakened immunity, or stress. My case was due to weakened immunity, therefore, I was told to constantly boost my immune system, avoid stressors, sleep well, and limit screen time to prevent the possibility of Bell's Palsy to recur.

Because of my health condition, I was not able to serve as a lector and commentator for one month as I had difficulty speaking too. I could not clearly pronounce the words with letters P, B, and F. While still recovering from Bell's Palsy, another unfortunate incident happened to me. My bag with Php15,000.00 and all IDs got snatched. I was already sick Lord, and then the money I could use for my medication was taken just like that. I got depressed to the point that I questioned God why those things happened to me.

Four doctors (family medicine, neuro-surgeon, neurologist, rehabilitation) and four Physical Therapists have helped me to recover. I was declared Bell's Palsy resolved in less than two months of seeking medical attention. Thanks be to God and to the people He used as instruments as my recovery was way faster than the usual cases. Yes, I got sick but God did not let me wait any longer to be healed.

A month after my diagnosis, having noticed my fast recovery, I immediately went back to serving the Lord, as it is my little way to show Him my sincerest thanks and appreciation for His gift of healing.

Being sick and having been healed, I always wanted to share how God has touched me with His healing hand, that I appreciate Him more now, because at my lowest, He was there, He did not let me down, but instead, He has lifted me up.

Grace after grace, I was also assigned during Special Masses presided over by His Eminence, Jose F. Cardinal Advincula last December 8 and 24, 2022 and this January 6, 2023 after my Bell's Palsy Journey. See how faithful is Our Lord, Our Savior, Jesus. I was once had difficulty speaking but it is also through speech that He redeemed me and I serve Him.

It is when we are blind that we see clearly, when mute that we can speak well, when deaf that we can listen carefully, when numb that we actually feel God's presence.

Prayer

Thank You Lord for the gift of healing, for not leaving us alone during the challeging times, and for showing Your faithfulness toward us. May we sing forever of Your Love, O Lord and celebrate the wonder of Your Name, to the ends of the earth. Amen.

Give Thanks

   

  Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

09 October 2022 

 

First Reading: 2 Kgs 5:14-17

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4

Second Reading: 2 Tm 2:8-13

Gospel: Lk 17:11-19

 

Reflection

By: Theresa Ballo-Manio

 

As the saying goes, there is always, and always, and always, something to be thankful for. No matter how bad our day has been, only when silence becomes intentional, when we look deeper, feel deeper, and think deeper, then we realize that we are still blessed. The Jesuits call this practice, “examen”, typically done on a daily basis, a moral evaluation and reflection of our thoughts and actions. It leads us and can already be part of our prayer. This Sunday we are invited to look deeper into ourselves, our relationships, our life, and appreciate all the graces we are receiving. Appreciation leads to gratitude. Gratitude leads to happiness. All the grateful people I met are happy people. 

The Gospel is about the ten lepers Jesus healed and only one came back to express thanksgiving. We may be like the ten lepers, desperately and sincerely we ask God for something we want, may it be healing, financial abundance, provision of something, or even forgiveness. We spend so much effort in praying during these moments, completing novena masses, asking for blessings of the Holy water, and regularly we pray. As a student way back then, I usually attended the Thursday novena masses in St. Jude. I am amazed by how the Church and even the parking area is filled with students especially before board or bar examinations. In silence also, I wonder how many will come back when they receive the results of the examination, regardless if they pass or not. Will they be thankful? Will they still hold on to their faith if they didn’t? Will they still be hopeful? 

Let us spend some time looking into our blessings and see how God has been very faithful to us in providing us what we need at the right moment. This month, we also celebrated the International Teachers Day. Students show their appreciation to the people in school who teach them, keep them safe, encourage them, and make them feel loved. Let us look at our great teacher and our perfect teacher, Jesus. He spent all His life teaching us how to live a good life. Let us continue learning, practice His teachings, and feel that we are all loved by a merciful and loving God, and that I think is already enough to be happy and to pay it forward.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You so much for teaching us how to love and showing us the secret to happiness. Thank you for this life, for the people who care for us, for all the provisions, no matter how little it is. There is always something that inspires us to continue and be a blessing to others. May we always be that one healed leper who sought you just to give thanks. Amen.