Skepticism, Kindness and more...

Photo from Flickerhappy

I was at the House of Representatives earlier to attend a healing session and mass officiated by Fr. Fernando Suarez. As part of the HOR Week celebration, the Congressional Spouses Foundation (CSFI) invited the healing priest over. The south lobby was lined with chairs and an altar was set-up. Some congressmen like Speaker Nograles, and their spouses were present as well as the house employees and their families.

The organizers asked the attendees to stick-on color-coded cards (where we're also asked to write on our ailments/concerns). Color coding was based on the gravity of the ailment. I was given a red card which was the color assigned to the gravely ill and cancer patients. Technically, I am neither a cancer patient nor gravely ill. I was - then. But friends and organizers (who were privy to my condition) insisted that I get the red card - and so I did.

Red card holders were supposed to sit in front, especially since most were wheelchair-bound. I was too shy to seat in front so I stayed with my sister and her friends at the back. We only approached the front row when the healing session was about to begin. The space in front was too packed and we have no more chair to sit on. But since I was instructed to come in front, I had no choice but to squeeze in.

Only then did I notice that I was standing beside Cong. Teddy Boy Locsin of Makati. He was sitting on a wheelchair beside his wife. Apparently, they took notice of my red card and they were concerned of me just standing. Cong. Locsin even offered his wheelchair to me - an act I found very gentlemanly despite his stature and 'whatever his condition was then'. His wife was too concerned that she gave her chair to me (the staff were quick to replace the chair anyway). I thanked them a couple of times for their very kind deed.

I was touched by Fr. Suarez a few times. Once while seated and more than three times while standing - before I finally fell like a log. I woke up a few minutes after, not knowing what actually happened. I just felt cold and light-headed, my body became stiff and then I fell down.

Am I healed? If the healing is physical, then I don't know yet. I am sure that there are many others in that lobby who has greater faith than me but did not fall down. The old lady sitting on the wheelchair was able to walk after Fr. Suarez touched and prayed for her yet she did not fall down.

Is my being skeptical taking the best of my faith? I don't think so. I may not feel that I am healed physically right there and then but I know, that I was moved by the faith of the people around me. That I was touched by the goodwill that the people showed towards me. I believe those were enough to heal my soul.

 OT: Jokes were going around - Fr. Suarez should have said mass inside the session hall, and healed the spirits of our distinguished congressmen. I honestly feel he should have...really.