Black Angel

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But after that the kindness and love of
God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done,
but according to his mercy he saved us,
by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace,
we should be made heirs
according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7

No luck... the weather did not permit the launching of the space shuttle...
but not the picture taking. (Jellus is in green & white shirt beside me)

Orlando, Florida... our summer getaway! Together with our friends, the Madrids, the Aspirases, the Espinosas and the Doromals, vacation was made more fun. One day, we decided to make a side trip to Titusville, home to the Kennedy Space Center, to watch the launching of a space shuttle. I really did not care too much about it, but since everyone else thought that this might be the only chance to witness an event like this, then off we went... packed lunches and all, we drove a little over an hour. Parking was not easy to find, people scurried towards the water's edge for a perfect spot to watch that shuttle leave earth. Even in the humid summer heat, everyone, young and old, was eagerly waiting... waiting... waiting... until the announcement came off a loudspeaker from somewhere.... "NASA has canceled the launch because of the bad weather..." Suddenly, rain poured so hard, everyone was rushing to their vehicles... and so ended our launch watch, in vain. But the reflection to this blog's passage from the the Holy Book is not the failed shuttle launch...

In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, an older man, dressed in a shiny black gown and wings, pretending to be a 'black angel', was busy telling passers by how Christians are like cannibals... eating Jesus' body and drinking His blood. And Jellus (Espinosa) being Jellus, who could not just keep still, spoke his mind. He reminded the guy, "it's not real body nor real blood..." until one of the other kids started pulling him away lest a big debate might ensue. I walked away from the guy mumbling how stupid he was. Jellus, as young as he might be, was trying to defend his faith... why didn't I, and the rest of the other Christians who were there?

According to Father Bill, eating His body and drinking His blood, is a "metaphor of something bigger". When Jesus referred to the bread and wine as His flesh and blood, He was also referring to the reality of Himself. He is real, as significant as the bread being broken and the wine being poured, He gave His body and blood so that you and I might live. We repay Jesus with our good deeds... but is this enough?... or is standing up for our faith the better payment?

Only by His MERCY and GRACE are we all saved!... I have HOPE!

- no angel -