A Song For Ascension Thursday

"Forty days after the Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ, attended by Angels, ascended into heaven, in the sight of His most holy Mother, His Apostles, and disciples, to the great wonder of them all." [1]

Ascension Thursday is both a day of joy when the Lord Jesus Christ after a life full of disappointments and sufferings finally goes home and a day of sadness when a people exiled from the Garden of Eden can no longer be in the company of Jesus who loves them and who teaches and shows them in Person the path to Heaven.

The song Aloha 'Oe  from Hawai'i [2] seems appropriate for Ascension Thursday.  It has these two phrases in its lyrics [3] (quoted in part below) - "One firm embrace" and "Until we meet again".  The song has a number of uploads on YouTube [4]:

Haʻaheo ka ua i nā pali

Ke nihi aʻela i ka nahele

E hahai (uhai) ana paha i ka liko

Pua ʻāhihi lehua o uka

Hui: 

Aloha ʻoe, aloha ʻoe

E ke onaona noho i ka lipo

One fond embrace,

A hoʻi aʻe au

Until we meet again

 English Translation:

Proudly swept the rain by the cliffs
As it glided through the trees
Still following ever the bud
The ʻahihi lehua of the vale

Chorus: 

Farewell to you, farewell to you
The charming one who dwells in the shaded bowers
One fond embrace,
'Ere I depart
Until we meet again

[1] The Roman Catholic Daily Missal 1962 (p. 653). Angelus Press.
[2] "[T]o pronounce Hawai’i like a native Hawaiian, say: ha-VAI-ee—and don’t forget that glottal stop before the last i."  See
https://www.royalhawaiianmovers.com/understanding-the-hawaiian-okina/
[3] https://www.huapala.org/Aloha/Aloha_Oe.html
[4] Here are two of the uploads:
Tia Carrere - Aloha 'Oe Full Version [Lilo & Stitch Soundtrack]--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6cYHXcWAN0
for those who want to play along with their ukuleles--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONFMei_PpNQ

The Last Post Has An Answer: Candida Auris, A Drug Resistant Yeast - More Pestilences Likely To Surface

Seeker  has a video on Candida Auris entitled Meet Candida Auris, the Superbug That's Taking Over the World. [1]  The video, dated May 12, 2020, can be assessed via msn.com: https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/watch/meet-candida-auris-the-superbug-thats-taking-over-the-world/vp-BB13ZcGa.

Jesus said this in Luke 21:10-11, quoted without references [2]:

Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 

And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. [Emphasis  added.]

[1] https://www.seeker.com/videos/health/meet-candida-auris-the-superbug-thats-taking-over-the-world
[2] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+21%3A10-11&version=KJV

Locusts, COVID-19, Murder Hornets, Rabbit Virus -- What's Next?

COVID-19 is still the headline news these days.

Articles on locusts are published more often now than months ago when the swarms started.  A recent one was published May 13, 2020, entitled Scientists create tool to forecast where East Africa’s devastating locusts will land next. [2]

Giant hornets have arrived in the US.  Here is an article that reported on it: ‘Murder Hornets’ in the U.S.: The Rush to Stop the Asian Giant Hornet. [3]  Here is another: "Murder hornets" have now entered the U.S. — and they could decimate the honeybee population. [4]

Rabbits In The U.S. Are Facing A Deadly New Virus Outbreak Of Their Own  is the title of the article on the Type 2 (RHDV2) rabbit virus [2] .  Quoted below are from the article cited [5]:

The virus could significantly affect wild rabbit populations, especially species already imperiled, such as the endangered riparian brush rabbit or the pygmy rabbit, according to CDFW Senior Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Deana Clifford.

“Unfortunately, we may also see impacts to species that depend on rabbits for food, as rabbits are a common prey species for many predators,” Clifford noted.

As Dr. Clifford had noted, when one of nature's food chain is broken, it is a concern, impacting other species especially when robots cannot be used as a substitute, as in solar-powered robotic bees, see NewBees  on YouTube [6].

As smart as man can be, man cannot be God but like Eve thinks he can be like God.  Man can only make a robotic bee that can pollinate but it cannot make honey nor can it make natural wax.  When bees die, they decompose over time.  When robotic bees malfunction, they become trash.  The world needs millions and millions of robotic bees to pollinate and when they need to be replaced, there will be tons and tons more trash as if there is not enough of it already.

Man needs to reflect on his existence on earth and on his relationship with Mother Nature.  This reflection is secondary.  What comes first is his desire to marry, to raise his family without ever giving much thought of what kind of world he will leave behind for his descendants born generations after his death, and the kind of sufferings they could encounter.  He sees the present, and maybe a generation or two thereafter, but not much farther beyond that.  It is not that he cannot see the future of this world clearly, it is because his greed and selfish ambitions have blinded him.

Man made in God's image knows how to do God's will on earth as it is in Heaven, borrowing words from the Our Father  (Pater Noster) prayer [7], yet he stubbornly refuses to and continues to welcome and embrace all of Satan's temptations.


[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/05/13/east-africa-locust-forecast-tool/
[2] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rabbit-hemorrhagic-disease-virus_n_5ec304b0c5b6e7a7cb8f9148
[3] Ibid.
[4] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGTNjPow3LM
[5] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/02/us/asian-giant-hornet-washington.html
[6] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/murder-hornets-us-honeybees-washington/
[7] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A9-13&version=NIV

St. Peter's Basilica To Open After Lockdown On 18 May 2020 Without The Pope Being Physically Present

According to wantedinrome.com, "St Peter's Basilica is to reopen to the public on Monday 18 May, following a two-month closure, after undergoing an intensive sanification programme." [1]

Selected paragraphs quoted below are from afp.com [2]:

"I share the joy of those communities who can finally reunite as liturgical assemblies, a sign of hope for all society," Francis said on Sunday during his live-streamed prayer.

Bergoglio may be sharing the joy but he would not be sharing it in person.  Apparently he is still scared of getting infected by the the coronavirus, COVID-19, but it appears to be fine by him if other people are physically present [3]:

Francis has been livestreaming mass from a chapel at his residence inside the Vatican City.

The Argentine pontiff is not yet expected  to lead any public religious ceremonies either in the basilica, which can accommodate 60,000 people, or in Saint Peter's Square, as the Vatican seeks to avoid crowds. [Emphasis  added.]

Francis will, however, celebrate a private mass on Monday, broadcast by video, in front of the tomb of John Paul II, on the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Polish-born pontiff.

Disinfecting St. Peter's and limiting attendees are not providing Bergoglio with any assurance that he would be safe from contracting the virus, assuming that he would be far away from the audience [4]:

In preparation for the reopening of Saint Peter's, the largest Catholic church in the world was disinfected on Friday, with workers in full protective suits and masks spraying down the surface of the 23,000-square metre (250,000-square foot) site.

...

The basilica, as well as three other papal basilicas, is expected to follow a recommendation from Italy's interior ministry limiting attendance at religious celebrations in enclosed places of worship to 200 people.

Imagine if Bergoglio were to be given a choice to step down as Pope or to walk the steps taken by Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross of Christ while being stoned, reviled and spat on, what would he choose?  Probably neither and would instead refuse to leave his papal residence where he is safe, pampered and being served by others, as opposed to being like Christ who came to serve, not to be served.  In the word of Christ Himself: "'the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.'" [5]


[1] https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/vatican-to-reopen-st-peters-basilica-on-18-may.html, quoted without hyperlink.
[2] https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/reopening-saint-peters-marks-first-step-italys-catholics-doc-1rr6j02
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] http://www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/20, 28.

Is COVID-19 A Message Of Change From God?

Religion News Service  published an article entitled  Poll: US believers see message of change from God in virus.  The following paragraph is quoted from the article [1]:

The poll found that 31% of Americans who believe in God feel strongly that the virus is a sign of God telling humanity to change, with the same number feeling that somewhat. Evangelical Protestants are more likely than others to believe that strongly, at 43%, compared with 28% of Catholics and mainline Protestants.

Stated another way, the poll showed that 72% of American Catholics apparently believed that the status quo before the pandemic was satisfactory and that it was acceptable and did not feel strongly that humanity needed changing.  Hopefully, there was a sampling error resulting in an understatement of the percentage of American Catholics (28%) who "feel strongly that the virus is a sign of God telling humanity to change." [2]

People ought to change to return this world to its beginning when the air was unpolluted and the oceans were free of non-biodegradable trash, and where all living things coexisted in peace to benefit each other.

Yet, there are proud and egoistical maniacs in power who want to outdo their predecessors in order to show how powerful they are in every conceivable way, who are satisfied with the established trajectory going forward, likely leading to Mutual Assured Destruction ("MAD"), a term borrowed from the past.

God through Christ wants people to live in peace and later through San Francesco d'Assisi who preached to the birds that in turn "stretch[ed] their necks, extend[ed] their wings, open[ed] their beaks and gaze[d] at him attentively [3], wants people to live in harmony with nature.

Perhaps the virus is  God's way of telling people that they are not more powerful than God, even though some people think that they are and can overcome all calamities until they are proven wrong by the arrival of the end times.

The article cited above stated this in its first paragraph [4]:

The coronavirus has prompted almost two-thirds of American believers of all faiths to feel that God is telling humanity to change how it lives, a new poll finds.

Unfortunately, there are a lot more people who have no faith in this secular world that form a vast majority which means that no meaningful change for the better will soon take place and humanity will likely continue on its path to destruction environmentally and militarily.


[1] https://religionnews.com/2020/05/15/poll-us-believers-see-message-of-change-from-god-in-virus/
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-francis-and-the-birds/
[4] https://religionnews.com/2020/05/15/poll-us-believers-see-message-of-change-from-god-in-virus/

The Vatican Sees Deficits But Not Treasure In Heaven

Reuters  published an article dated May 13, 2020, entitled  Coronavirus drains Vatican coffers as income falls, deficits loom [1].  "[T]op administrators held an emergency meeting in late March.  They ordered a freeze on promotions and hirings and a ban on overtime, travel and large events." [2]

This does not look good from a secular perspective but it is just the opposite from Christ's standpoint: "'Go and sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, and follow me.'" [3]

Can anyone imagine the pope, the bishops, archbishops and cardinals abandoning their comfortable surroundings and lifestyle to follow Christ by preaching from door to door and begging for alms like Saint Francis of Assisi?


[1] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-vatican-finances-idUSKBN22P1OR
[2] Ibid.
[3] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A21&version=NIV

Humans Are Being Given Lessons In Humility

Man has always been in charge of the world as he towers over other species that share it.  For months and months man has faced an enemy he truly fears.  It has devastated the world economy but the environment has benefitted.

COVID-19 has a small contingent of friends and relatives.  They are mentioned in an articled entitled  As if Covid-19 was not enough, other virus outbreaks are erupting around the world: https://dnyuz.com/2020/05/10/as-if-covid-19-was-not-enough-other-virus-outbreaks-are-erupting-around-the-world/

COVID-19 is still the king of viruses, being able to attack the body in ways its friends and relatives are incapable of doing.  This article explains how: Doctors keep discovering new ways the coronavirus attacks the body: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/doctors-keep-discovering-new-ways-the-coronavirus-attacks-the-body/ar-BB13SoPn?ocid=spartan-ntp-feeds

It is natural to be concerned, and it is prudent to take precautions but it is not necessary to fear what different kinds of viruses may bring.

Those who trust in God ought not to fear.  God never promised man that he will live without fear, pain and suffering.  God's promise of death was made in the Garden of Eden [1] but "it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." [2]

It is also said that "[t]reasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death." [3]  Similarly, "[w]ealth won't help in the time of judgment, but righteousness will deliver from death." [4]  Now is time for the wicked egoistical hoarders of power and wealth as well as every citizen of the world to heed these words of wisdom and learn to be meek and humble in the ways Christ had lived, taught, suffered and died.


[1] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+3%3A3&version=ESV
[2] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1:10
[3] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+10%3A2&version=ESV
[4] https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+11%3A4&version=ISV