The Angelic Face

Seeing a face so beautiful is not an everyday encounter, a face that is angelic with kind, sparkling eyes that draw you into deep within his or her soul where you can experience the true beauty of innocence and with a smile so sweet and genuine that no one can doubt that it comes out a pure and loving heart.  These faces, as rare as they are, remind us that God exists and that they exist for God.

Africa - Satan's Earthly Cauldron?

Every human, regardless of skin color, is a creation of God but that does not mean than Satan will not interfere.  The majority of inhabitants in Africa happens to be black and it is in that continent that Satan has arguably established Its cauldron in which evil is manufactured.  The products that come out of Satan's cauldron warp God's creation in order to destroy it.  That is not to say that good does not ever come out of Africa, it does, but because of the concentration of Satan's power in that continent, the influence of evil overwhelms the good, and many things and people that have origins in Africa have not been good for the rest of the world.  Conversely, the fact that Satan may not have a strong presence in other continents does not mean that certain things and people that have originated from there are not evil, they are.

This entry, however, is limited to an examination of the effects upon the world that had origins in Africa:
1.  HIV - from the Congo [1], [2]
2.  Killer Bees - also known as Africanized honey bees [3], [4], [5]
3.  Ebola - originated in the Congo [6]
4.  Muhammad - Some have stated that the prophet Muhammad had a African mother and African ancestors [7]
5.  Can the reader think of any other virus, bacteria, insect, influential character and just plain folk (past and present) with African roots that has brought disaster to the rest of world?

While Asia has its share of deadly exports such as the Hong Kong flu, the avian flu and swine flu and so on, they are not quite as deadly as HIV or Ebola.  The Bubonic plague that hit Europe in the Middle Ages now has its origin established scientifically in Egypt and north Africa. [8]

These examples do not prove conclusively that Africa is the sole source of evil but they also do not exempt Africa from being a major contributor to the world's problems, notwithstanding the Virgin Mary's apparition in Kibeho, Rwanda [9].


[1] http://www.theaidsinstitute.org/node/259
[2]  http://www.avert.org/origin-hiv-aids.htm
[3] http://www.si.edu/Encyclopedia_SI/nmnh/buginfo/killbee.htm
[4] http://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-makes-killer-bees-so-deadly/
[5] http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/10/09/swarm-bees-attacks-four-people-kills-one/
[6] http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html
[7] http://www.africaresource.com/rasta/sesostris-the-great-the-egyptian-hercules/the-original-black-arabs-of-arabia-part-4-the-black-stone-the-black-tribe-of-koreysh-black-prophet-mohammed/
[8] http://www.africaresource.com/rasta/sesostris-the-great-the-egyptian-hercules/the-original-black-arabs-of-arabia-part-4-the-black-stone-the-black-tribe-of-koreysh-black-prophet-mohammed/
[9] http://www.michaeljournal.org/kibeho.htm

A Sword Cuts Both Ways

Once upon a time, in the not too distant past, a number of people with a lot power sitting in room were almost giddy seeing the toppling of certain leaders in the Mideast.  Whether or not Twitter played a major role maybe debatable [1] but the fact that it played a role is not in dispute.  This was a smart move except those who planned it were so arrogant that they thought it would not boomerang.  It did [2].  They are not laughing now.

They were proud.  They thought they were smart, smarter than anybody in the world.  They were full of themselves.  After all, they beat their political opponents and won elections, and they had their followers.  They were too blind to realize that a sword has two edges, and it cuts both ways.  They were blind too to the teachings of Christ.

Instead of loving thy enemy [3], they wanted to dominate the world by destabilizing the existing social order, to change regimes, so that they would appear  strong, not that they are strong.  The only way to become strong is to win an enemy's respect.  That, they have not done, nor have they decimated all their enemies, not even one of the least militarily equipped with modern weaponry.

Many will disagree that loving ISIL is not the answer because loving one's enemy is not easy to do, that Christ was wrong given what is occurring in Syria and Iraq [citations omitted], Egypt and Libya [4].  Looking at the same facts, they would have to agree that Satan is winning.

Satan has a plan to destroy humanity.  It uses those in power to cause death and destruction.  When one part of the world is chaotic, It creates another chaos in another part and turns it into an inferno.

God has not lost, however.  Heaven is bit by bit fulfilling the promises made in the Book of Revelations [5].   It seems like the fourth seal had already been broken, with killing by sword [6], famine in Somalia [7], plague in northern China and Colorado, United States [8], and while AIDS is not yet over, ebola [9] (the wild beast in this case is microscopic) is here.

Until everything that is happening gets much worse and picks up the pace as it worsens, nobody will believe that the end has begun.

It is not easy to repent and not relapse, but that does not mean repentance is a waste of time.  The cleaner the soul, the easier the path to Heaven.  Some souls maybe corrupted beyond salvation.  There is a place for them too.  Still, mercy is continuously hopeful until it is extinguished.

Pray for all, and be at peace.


[1] http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/twitters-role-in-arab-spring-exaggerated-experts-find
[2] https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1657610732707026689#editor/target=post;postID=2623727758744860517;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=0;src=link, paragraph 6/
[3] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5:43-48
[4] http://www.worldtribune.com/2014/10/06/report-ansar-beit-maqdis-increases-attacks-egypt-assist-isil-palestinain-groups/
[5] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%206
[6] http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.aspx?nn=13921107000872
[7] http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/08/somalia-famine-only-days-live-2014830113012260245.html
[8] http://www.npr.org/blogs/goatsandsoda/2014/07/24/334440738/shades-of-the-middle-ages-the-plague-popped-up-in-china-and-colorado
[9] http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/

Rest In Peace, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.

Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., a Franciscan Friar, passed away yesterday, on the eve of the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi [1], [2].  Pray for me from Heaven, Fr. Benedict Groeschel.

I do not know Fr. Benedict Groeschel other than listening to him speak on EWTN.  I missed him when he was forced to step down as host of EWTN's Sunday Night Prime [3].  In my opinion, he was one who spoke his mind without deceit and guile, unlike Judas and politicians of all stripes.

Whether Fr. Benedict Groeschel was right or wrong when he stated that in many molestation cases involving the clergy, the minor was the one who seduced the priest [4] is not for people to judge because his statement cannot be disproved, or proved, without a scintilla of doubt.  He later apologized stating that the priest was always to blame.  I agree, since the priest is an older adult and in a position of power who must adhere to his vow of chastity and must refuse and reject such advances by a minor when they occur.


[1] http://franciscanfriars.com/father-benedict/
[2] "St. Francis died about sunset on Saturday, October 3, 1226."  See The Roman Catholic Daily Missal, 1962, with Kyriale In Gregorian Notation, compiled from The Missale Romanum, October 4, St. Francis of Assisi, Confessor, p. 1437 (Kansas City, Missouri:  Angelus Press, June, 2014).
[3] http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/09/04/1127740/-Fr-Benedict-Groeschel-will-no-longer-host-on-EWTN#  Below is the reason:

In a National Catholic Register interview published Aug. 27, Fr. Groeschel suggested that a minor is “the seducer” in “a lot” of sexual abuse cases. He said he was inclined to think that abusers on their first offense should not go to jail “because their intention was not committing a crime.”
Fr. Groeschel apologized for the remarks last week, saying he did not intend to “blame the victim.” He affirmed that a priest or anyone else who abuses a minor is “always always wrong” and “always responsible.”

[4] Ibid.

A Word On Climate Change

A little over a week ago, I posted photographs of Leonardo DiCaprio as the United Nations Messenger of Peace looking almost like Asian.  He is actually the UN Messenger of Peace on Climate Change [1].  I suppose this planet has sufficient evidence showing that it has become warmer and that its ice is melting, but whether these conditions are a result of man's carbon footprint or a part of a normal cycle for this planet is not the subject of this entry.

This entry assumes that changes in climate around the world are linked to carbon emissions.  In this regard, my wish for Leonardo DiCaprio as a UN speaker for climate change is to focus less on political solutions but more on personal responsibility.  In other words, he ought to talk more about the climate changer (every single person on this planet) and less about the solutions government and industries can come up with [2].  Specifically, he should show that one ought to use less energy [3], [4] and live more like Christ.

In addition, he ought to suggest that manufacturers of electronic gadgets that changes almost every season to label their products, showing a greenhouse gas factor used to produce it, hopefully to deter environmentalists (from ordinary folks to presidents and prime ministers) to stop clamoring for the next new cell phone, laptop, television, electronically-equipped vehicle, yacht, submarine, fighter jet, drone and so on.

This blogger must be dreaming, but that is the nature of a dreamer.  Hypocrisy is here to stay, and so is climate change, and the example that Christ had set for all is but a faded memory for most (if it is even on their minds), and a concept to admire and worship but not practiced for some.

In reality, sad is the truth and its ugliness simply denied.


[1] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11116036/Leonardo-DiCaprio-tells-UN-Climate-Change-conference-make-history-or-be-vilified-by-it.html
[2] Ibid.
[3] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656850/Leonardo-DiCaprio-borrows-one-largest-superyachts-earth-treat-pals-World-Cup-style.html
[4] http://www.socialitelife.com/photos/shirtless-leonardo-dicaprio-spends-another-day-on-a-yacht-in-st-tropez-with-toni-garrn/leonardo-dicaprio-toni-garrn-enjoy-an-afternoon-of-fun-sun-4 (click on arrow to view all the photos)  Wealth, and people who enjoy yachting and living lavishly do not bother me in the least, hypocrisy does.

Pure Evil And Pure Good

The goal of Pure Evil is to ruin everything that comes from Pure Good, including all the living things on this planet, the planet itself and the universe it is in.  Pure Evil wants to bring death and destruction to all of God's creations.

Satan which embodies all that is evil has been destroying mankind and all of its natural surroundings by infiltrating the thrones of power.  Each person sits in the throne of power.  Adam had his throne, Eve had hers [1].  They both had the power of free choice, and so did (and does) each and every one of their descendants.

Given Satan's extraordinary power of temptation, the choice of Adam and of Eve were warped, and so were (and are) the choices of all of their descendants in one way or another, warped.  In other words, every person who had/has ever made a choice had/has made a contribution to the destruction of creation, fulfilling Satan's goal.



[1] Thrones with tremendous power have wielded it with disastrous consequences.  A man-made catastrophe is never fully healed and forgotten; one merely builds on top of another because men of Sin do not forgive and forget.  Over time, they arm themselves with better and more deadly weapons while sacrificing the environment they and their descendants depend on for existence, not to mention the extinguishing of lives indiscriminately when they were (and are) being unleashed with shock and awe.  Indeed, it shocks Pure Good that man can be so evil and awes Pure Evil that man can be so cunning and barbaric, regardless of the degree of sophistication of the weapons that kill.

The Parable Of Unfair Wages

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard [1]

20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. ² He agreed to pay them a denarius^[a] for the day and sent them into his vineyard.

³ “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. ⁴ He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ ⁵ So they went.
“He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. ⁶ About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’
⁷ “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.
“He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’
⁸ “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’
⁹ “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. ¹⁰ So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. ¹² ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’
¹³ “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. ¹⁵ Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’

Fr. Joseph Illo's homily follows [2]:

Everyone that hears this parable thinks how unfair life is. Jesus defends himself for giving equal pay for unequal work, and we listen with quiet resignation. Yes, God has been unfair to me many times in my life. I’ve been misunderstood by my best friends; I’ve been punished for doing good things; I’ve been cheated out of what should have been mine. I should be happier, I should be living a better life, I should be more respected in my community, I deserve a higher standing of living. Life just isn’t fair, and God’s responsible for life’s injustice.

Jesus does not disagree. In fact, he seems to bait us in this parable: “You think I’ve been unfair with you?” I won’t deny it, He says, and I’ll even chastise you for pointing it out. “Friend, take what is yours and go,” the Landowner says to the complaining worker. “What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?” Go, and do not question me.

God doesn't owe us anything, but He gives us everything anyway

I’d like to point out two things about this Scripture.

The first point is that God is God, and really, we have no right to question him. Does a gnat question the man who brushes him off? We are really nothing before God, and can stand on no authority of our own to challenge his judgments. We delude ourselves if we think we can demand anything of God. God is God, and we are not God.

There is a second point, however, and it is even more important than the first. God loves us. He loves us poor, trembling, insecure, complaining and whining gnats. I might think he is unfair with me, and that he loves that guy more than me, and that he has forgotten me. But this parable actually says quite the opposite. Everyone gets equal pay. Jesus is telling us that he gives each of us the same amount of his providence. He goes out five times during the day—at daybreak, at nine, at noon, at three, and at five o’clock—looking for unemployed people. He wanted to give honest work, and honest pay, to men that were without work or pay. Is it the fault of those hired at 5 o’clock that they did not get hired sooner? “No one has hired us,” they say. No one valued their work enough to hire them until the Landowner finds them. The worst experience is to be unwanted, and not valued, by others. Personally, I would much rather be the man hired at daybreak, working for someone who appreciates me, than that lonely guy kicking stones all day, hoping someone would hire him.

In the end, all get the same daily age. And in Scripture, that wage is eternal life. All the workers make it to heaven, because all responded to the Landowner. All came to the land of everlasting rest, owned by God, which we call heaven.

Getting to Heaven

The next time you feel that life is unfair, remind yourself that God gives each of us all that we need to be eternally happy. The next time your stomach gets sour over the fact that you’ve tried to honor God all your life but don’t feel the rewards—the next time you feel cheated—ask yourself: would I want anyone to be shut out of heaven forever? I think all of us would say that what we really want is bad men to become good men, and for everyone to go to heaven. This life is so brief, nothing really compares to the life of the world to come. So what if I have a little more grief than the next guy? The main thing is for us all to get safely to heaven.

Let us count on the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary to keep us steady in our resolve to work in just the way God wants us to, and to work for the salvation of all souls, that we may all be in heaven one day with her, and the Blessed Trinity, and all the angels and saints forever.

I agree 100 percent.


[1] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+20
[2] http://www.frilloblog.com/, search under 2014, then look for 9/21/2014.