GOD'S MESSAGE

I have always believed in Divine Intervention.

For me it's God's way of letting us know that he is aware of what goes on in our minds and everything that is happening to us. It is also His way of answering our prayers.

For the past years come Christmas time, I had always shared my blessings with the less fortunate members of society. Lately, I had been feeling depressed because with only a few days to go before Christmas I have not yet fulfilled my wish of being able to make others happy during this season. There is no greater joy and fulfillment than in making others happy.

Last year I was not able to push thru with my original plan of giving gifts to the lolos and lolas at Golden Acres, a Home for the Aged, for certain reasons. But God made up for it and made me realize my Christmas wish by giving me the chance to provide the much needed medication to some retired priests and bishops who were residing in a retirement home. My wish was granted on Dec.8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

This year I was pre-occupied with so many things that I forgot all about my Christmas wish. I only remembered it about two weeks ago and up to this day I still could not think of whom I could share my blessings with. I had requested Jesus and Mama Mary again to guide me in choosing those who need assistance badly and lead me to them, something they did last year, because they know better than I do.

This afternoon as the 3:00 o'clock prayer was being recited on television, my phone rang. A guy was on the other end and wished to talk to me. He introduced himself as Father Mike from the Blessed Sacrament Congregation of the Sta. Cruz church in Manila. He said he just called to greet me a Merry Christmas and to extend their gratitude for the help I had been extending to their congregation over the years. He also told me that they are always praying for me. I was misty eyed as I was talking to him. I remember a year ago I also received a similar phone call from another priest from this congregation.

As I put the receiver down, I realized that God was probably sending a message across. Maybe He was telling me not to worry if I cannot help some people at this particular time, after all I had been extending help in various occassions in the past years. And extending assistance to our less fortunate brothers and sisters need not happen only at Christmas but at anytime of the year. Maybe he also wants me to know that He appreciates what I'm doing and just used Father Mike as a messenger.

Thank you Jesus for making me see things from a bigger perspective. Thank you for taking away my anxiety, worries and helplessness and making me accept things the way they are.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS. You are God's greatest gift to mankind.

JUSTICE STILL AWAITS MR. VIZCONDE

With the recent acquittal of Hubert Webb et al, a lot of dissenting opinions had been heard. There are those who agree with the Supreme Court's decision, while others do not.

I have no way of knowing if indeed they are really innocent, but I guess my opinion will not really matter. I am not a lawyer so I am not familiar on how they go about evaluating and resolving heinous crimes. I am just on the outside looking in, so to speak.

But if there's one thing I'm sure of, it's that everything happens for a reason. Maybe they are really innocent that is why God allowed the Court to rule in their favor. But then again, maybe they are not. At this point, no one really knows if Webb, et al did commit the crime or otherwise. Maybe the Supreme Court followed the dictum, to which I agree, that it is better to set free a criminal than to sentence an innocent man to death.

As I was watching the proceedings on television the other day, I could not help but feel compassion for Mr. Lauro Vizconde as I saw him break down in tears and nearly collapsed. We saw how the families of the seven acquitted prisoners rejoiced, while Mr. Vizconde almost fainted when he heard the verdict. I know how hard it must have been for him. It even came to a point when he asked God why He had forsaken him. It must have been too much for him to bear because in his heart, he probably knew that they were guilty. But how can a powerless man go up against the rich and mighty? He asked forgiveness from his wife and daughters for not being able to fight for them and give justive to their death. But pray tell me, how can you fight City Hall?

While these guys will undoubtedly be having a great Christmas with their families after 15 years, Mr. Vizconde will be spending Christmas alone in misery. He had been spending Christmas in grief for the past 15 years, but this year will be the saddest. While in the past years he still had hope that the case will be solved and justice will be accorded his family, this year he no longer has something to look forward to.

But don't worry Mr. Vizconde, the guilty will have their day in court. If not in this lifetime definitely in the next, where there will be no need for witnesses for nothing escapes the eyes of God. Justice will prevail and victory will still be yours in the end.