5th commandment includes endangering health, life
By
AWOMAN walking down a residential street, noticed a little old man rocking in a chair on his porch. She called out to him as she passed. “Hello there!
I couldn’t help but notice how happy you look. What’s your secret for a happy life?”
* * * “I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day,” he replied. “I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat nothing but fast food, and never exercise.”
“Wow!” The woman was amazed. “How old are you?” she asked. “26,” he replied. The woman gasped; more amazed that the guy looked chronologically young but physically aged.
* * * LESSON? Harmful foods and unhealthy lifestyle do not only cause early aging but shorten one’s life.
The Fifth Commandment, “You Shall Not Kill,” does not refer only to taking one’s own or another’s life but includes TAKING CARE of our health and life.
* * * Included under the Fifth Commandment is the sin of drunkenness which is common today. It is a sin because it injures the health, and often leads to other sins. What’s even more detrimental is that drinking is addictive. There are people who have been hooked on drinking, some of whom are priests, and had to undergo rehabilitation. Some of them backslid and returned to the harmful vice.
* * * The alcoholic benumbs his reason, weakens his will, and emboldens him to do acts of violence like fights and even murder or commits acts of lasciviousness or rape.
St. Paul writes: “The works of the flesh are manifest, which are drunkenness, carousing…I warn you that they who do such things will not attain the kingdom of God” (Read Galatians 5,19-21).
* * * In this season of Lent and in the spirit of penance, let’s reflect on our way of life and give up our unhealthy lifestyle and harmful eating habits.
It may be difficult but it’s not impossible.
* * * HEROIC DEATHS. How about police and soldiers who endanger their lives in fighting against criminals, terrorists, and enemies of the State, as well as doctors and nurses exposing their health and lives to rescue the sick and wounded? The Catholic Church’s teaching is that this is not wrong but rather highly meritorious since it is done for the good of the country and their fellowmen.
* * * Martyrs, priest and missionaries do the same for the faith and charity. Some models are St. Damien the leper, a missionary priest who in caring for the lepers in Molokai Island contracted the disease. St. Maximilian Kolbe exchanged place with a family man about to be executed in the gas chamber of Auschwitz.
* * * The greatest example, of course, is Jesus Christ. He willingly gave his life on the cross in order to redeem mankind from sin.
“Greater love than this no man has that he lays down his life for his friends” (Jn 15,13). Jesus said this — and did it.
* * * ST. JUDE. Today join our novena to St. Jude, Saint of the Impossible, at the Divine Word Shrine, Christ the King Seminary on E. Rodriguez Boulevard, Quezon City after the 6 p.m. Mass.
A healing prayer and anointing of the sick will follow.
* * * INDIGENT SICK. You cannot bring your wealth to the next life. Why don’t you leave behind some to alleviate the sufferings of poor and less fortunate.
* * * I am appealing on behalf of some indigent sick we are helping like Dante Cabansag and Fr. Ruben Mamuad who are undergoing hemodialysis. Also M. Maranga, J. Lopez, Rosanna Cayunda sick of pulmonary ailments and a cancer patient, stage 3.
* * * The little amount contributed can mean the survival of a sick indigent. For inquiries, e-mail me at: belsvd@ gmail.com.