What is Benediction? Benediction means blessing or miracle. During the 5th Day of Misyong Pilipino with Fr. Arlo, the St. Joseph grounds were prepared for the great blessing and healing that we will have. The pathways going to the altar were covered with white linen cloth. The altar was full of lighted candles where the Blessed Sacrament is located. The place served as a venue where we can receive healing, forgiveness and give thanks to the Lord.
Three images were depicted during the night of Benediction. These are the image of healing, image of thanksgiving and the image of forgiveness and cleansing.
The first image is HEALING. It comes from the book of Mark and about the Woman Who touched Jesus’ Cloak.
The first image is HEALING. It comes from the book of Mark and about the Woman Who touched Jesus’ Cloak.
There was a woman who suffered terribly from severe bleeding for twelve years, even though she had been treated by many doctors. She had spent all her money, but instead of getting better she got worse all the time. She had heard about Jesus so she came in the crowd behind him, saying to herself "If I just touch his clothes, I will get well."
She touched his cloak, and her bleeding stopped at once; and she had the feeling inside herself that she was healed of her trouble. At once Jesus knew that power had gone out of him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
His disciples answered, "You see how the people are crowding you; why do you ask who touched you?"
But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. The woman realized what had happened to her, so she came, trembling with fear, knelt at his feet, and told him the whole truth. Jesus said to her, "My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed of your trouble." - Mark 5:25-34
You may be suffering from physical sickness, emotional sickness, spiritual sickness or may be financial sickness but by just touching the clothes of Jesus you will be healed. The white linen signifies the cloak of Jesus that is connected to the altar where Jesus body is placed. If you have relatives and love ones who are sick, you can pray for their healing.
After reading the Gospel, a song was played entitled When You Believe by Mariah Carey. Here are the lyrics:
When You Believe
by Mariah Carey
Many nights we've prayed
With no proof anyone could hear
In our hearts a hopeful song
We barely understood
Now we are not afraid
Although we know there's much to fear
We were moving mountains long
Before we knew we could
There can be miracles, when you believe
Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe
In this time of fear
When prayers so often prove(s) in vain
Hope seems like the summer birds
Too swiftly flown away
Yet now I'm standing here
My heart's so full I can't explain
Seeking faith and speaking words
I never thought I'd say
There can be miracles, when you believe
Though hope is frail, it's hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe
They don't (always happen) when you ask
(Oh)
And it's easy to give in to your fears
(Oh...Ohhhh)
But when you're blinded by your pain
Can't see your way straight through the rain
(A small but )still resilient voice
Says (hope is very near)
(Ohhh)
There can be miracles
(Miracles)
When you believe
(Lord, when you believe)
Though hope is frail
(Though hope is frail)
It's hard to kill
(Hard to kill, Ohhh)
Who knows what miracles, you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will(somehow, somehow, somehow)
somehow you will
You will when you believe
You will when you
You will when you believe
Just believe...in your heart
Just believe
You will when you believe~
The second image is THANKSGIVING. The reading is from the Book of Luke and entitled The 10 Lepers Jesus Healed.
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” And when he saw them, he said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” As they were going they were cleansed. And one of them, realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus said in reply, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” - Luke 17:11-19
During the time of Jesus if you have a major ailment like leprosy, you will be separated from the common people. You will be treated as out cast and isolated from others. The priests will decide if you are capable to interact with people. According to the Gospel, there is one haunting question Christ asked, “Ten were cleansed, were they not? Where are the other nine?" This is very conscientious, it makes us reflect all the blessings we have received and ask ourselves, “Have we thanked God for all these blessings?” Only one of the ten lepers thinks that is why he went back to Jesus and give thanks. Consider this, if you have received 10 blessings this week, you might be just thanking the Lord 1 out of the 10. Through gratitude, you will receive more blessings.
When the disciples of Jesus ask Him to teach them how to pray, Jesus told them to pray like this, “Our father, who art in heaven, holy be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread….” You will notice that He teach them to first acknowledge God before they ask their needs and intentions. This illustrates thinking. Because anyone who thinks, thanks, we do not just ask and ask to God to give us our requests, but instead it is necessary to give Him thanks first before anything else. These are for our answered prayers, the job that you asked, the healing of your sick child. If you say thank you, you acknowledge the giver. Try to recall all the blessings you received in your life.
After reading the Gospel, a song was played which is entitled Give Thanks. Here are the lyrics:
Give Thanks
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"
And now let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us"
The third image is FORGIVENESS. It is the image of God’s understanding. The reflection comes from the Old Testament, in the Book of Prophet Isaiah.
One morning, when Isaiah was walking barefooted, Yahweh approached him. Yahweh told Isaiah that He wants him to be His prophet. Isaiah, without hesitation, refused the plan of Yahweh. He said, “I am not worthy to be your prophet because I have many sins. Let my neighbors be your prophet instead of me”. So Yahweh asked him to just walk with Him. And as they are walking along a damp grassland, Yahweh asked Isaiah, “Do you feel the wet grasses below us? Do you believe that the dampness of these grasses will be removed when the sun rays radiate on them?” Isaiah agreed. Yahweh continued, “Isaiah, just like the wet grasses, if you just allow yourself to get the heat of my Love, I will remove all your sins”. Realizing this Isaiah responded, “Lord here I am, I come to do your will”.
If you allow yourself to feel the heat of His love, if you allow yourself to get the radiance of His love, all your weaknesses will be strengthened by God. When you are exposed from the radiation of the Lord, He will thaw all your sins. Despite of your unfaithfulness, He will still embrace you and give you a new life. If you are suffering because of sins, you can ask for second chance, you can ask for a new direction in life and no matter how big your sins are, in front of the Lord and His love, He will forgive and clean you.
Here are the chorus lyrics of the song Sa Kabila ng Lahat:
Sa Kabila ng Lahat
Sa kabila ng lahat, yayakapin mo pa rin ako.
Sa kabila ng lahat, aakayin mo pa rin ako.
Sa kabila ng lahat, buhay mo’y inialay mo.
Sa kabila ng lahat, pinatawad mo ako.
During the Benediction, we were encouraged to touch and kneel on the cloth, lowering and humbling ourselves. Everyone experienced healing, thanksgiving and cleansing.
That night was really a wonderful experience. It let us have a flashback moment in our life. It allowed us to recall our past doings, reflected on it, and contemplated on it. It permitted us to stop for a while, think and give thanks for all the blessings we have received. We realized that there are so many things that happened to us that we should be grateful of. Our emotional and physical sufferings were healed. The feeling was overwhelming and the love of God let us experience the event that we have never felt before.
I will share the experience I had during the Benediction on a separate blog. Share your experience too and let it inspire others. =)
Reflection: What are my sufferings? What are the things that I should be thankful of? What are the things that are stopping me to become closer to God?
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