Chain messages
According to many of my friends, they object to “chain messages” sent on Facebook and iPhone. I do too. Why? I do not agree that God will give us bad luck if we do not forward the messages with “threats” to as many people as we can. However, I am also guilty of having indulged in some chain messages to pray for sick persons. There is nothing wrong to pray for those who are suffering from illness, from abuse and cruelty; and to destitute and victims of poverty.
On my part, may I also say that in sending said “chain messages,” is also a way of saying hello to friends – not to burden them with sending said messages to 10, 15 or 20 persons or to “as many as you can” kasi nasa kanila na ‘yon.
A dear friend named Patricia I sent a chain message to reacted nicely naman and this is what she said: “Sorry Manoling… I do pray and commune with my God very often. But that is private. I do not forward chain messages.” I told Patricia that she really need not forward the chain messages for I just remembered her. In responding, we ended up having a long text messaging spree. We spent the whole morning text messaging each other. After all, it’s the prayer for all cancer patients I only wanted to impart to her, not the “forwarding” part of it.
Ignore chain messages with threats. As I said, that cannot be God-sent. Some evil o taong ligaw sa landas galing ‘yan at may banta. Out of desperation, many are victimized, not literally but “victimized” in some other way, one of which is the network’s ploy of increasing their revenues by sending messages to forward to 10 or more and to “all your friends” to which my friend Patricia agreed. She said: “I just always take my long held belief in what Jesus said – “if you want to pray, go inside your room; and when you come out fix yourself…” She further stated that “communing with God has always been private for me; and I do it quietly, in silence, in my private sanctuary which I bring everywhere and anywhere with me. Of course I know my God collects all our private prayers and know how many of us have exactly the same thoughts and pleas.”
On my part, when I come down from my penthouse on the elevator, I pray in my private chapel before going to my private office on the ground floor; and when I go up after my work, I pass by my private chapel again before going up to my apartment. I am and have been a devotee of the Santisima Virgen del Rosario de Manaoag in Pangasinan since the 2nd World War when I was 11 years old. The Dominican Spanish Friars hid my entire family in the Convento of Manaoag until the landing of MacArthur in Lingayen who had us fetched from the convent in Manaoag. General MacArthur was close to President Quezon and my father. They were even called “the trio” for when President Quezon ordered a grey flannel suit, MacArthur and my father would order the same suits.
There you are. God is not vindictive. He is all good. All those who send chain messages, please change your ways. Remove the threats “na mamalasin” for those do not come from God. Those come from the networks to attract more business – more income. Many are saying the same thing. Kaya huwag kayo magpa-biktima sa mga nagbabanta na kapag hindi ninyo ipinadala sa inyong mga kaibigan, mamalasin kayo. To counter such a threat, pray to God and for the person who needs help. Ipagdasal na lang ninyo ang nangangailangan ng dasal. Huwag na ninyong ipasa sa iba. Kayo/tayo mismo na lang ang magdasal.
‘Yong tungkol sa seswertehin, idasal na rin ninyo. Huwag na ninyo ipasa sa iba at ‘yong matatakaw aagawin pa ang swerte sa inyo. Kaya kapag kayo ay nakatanggap ng chain messages with threat na mamalasin kayo kapag hindi ninyo ipinasa, huwag na ninyo sagutin para siya ang malasin. Siya ang babalikan ng malas.
Always pray to God for something good for God is all good and will never allow bad things wished to happen to anyone; nor give anyone who pray for something wrong against others. Pagbabayaran ‘yan sa kabilang buhay. Basta masama ang hiniling ninyo at mali kontra sa ibang tao, hinding-hindi ibibigay ng Diyos ang hiling ninyo na makakasakit sa kapwa, o magnakaw sa kapwa. Pagbabayaran lahat ‘yang masamang gawain sa kabilang buhay for all eternity.
* * * * *
Gina Lopez †
Let us remember former DENR Secretary Gina Lopez who passed away a few days ago at age 65. Too young for a lady so vibrant and so deeply committed to the preservation and protection of the environment.
Gina had always been a happy person, always laughing that was contagious to those around her. She always saw to it that those who needed help must be helped. I’ve always admired persons who help the less fortunate.
May God keep her in His keeping through eternity. Gina, our Blessed Mother also awaits you in heaven. Today, Saturday, August 24, Gina will be laid to rest in the morning.
Gina, rest in peace forever and ever. God be with you. Amen
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com
