Endangering health, life against God’s command

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.

Harmful foods and unhealthy lifestyle do not only cause early aging but shorten one’s life. We should fast from or avoid these foodstuffs because they are bad for the health.

The Fifth Commandment , “You Shall Not Kill,” does not refer only to killing or taking one’s life (suicide) or another’s but includes the proper care of one’s health

and life.

In this connection, the Fifth Commandment includes the sin of drunkenness, a common vice 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. Not a few backslide and return 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 commit 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).

HEROIC DEATH. 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 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 is Jesus Christ himself. Christ 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.

‘7 LAST WORDS.’ The SVD Mission Communications Foundation, Inc., will telecast live on ABS-CBN Channel 2 the “7 Last Words” on Good Friday, April 3, 2015, at 12noon-3 p.m.

Everybody is invited to attend the televised Service at the Shrine of the Divine Word, E. Rodriguez Blvd., QC.

We appeal to our readers to help defray the cost of airtime and production cost. We will acknowledge in the credit billboards the names of the sponsors, donors and advertisers.

BY THE WAY… we sent out solicitation letters to request advertisement placements and donations for the TV program. May we hear from you?

Call Brian Deguito at tel. 723- 3343 or CP 09178547584.