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Actually, we have so many superstitious beliefs that our great, great grandparents handed down to us. But we did not bother at all to investigate where those beliefs came from. Can they be compared to a musical composition, which was based on the notes? Of course, not!
There was one person who was supposed to leave his house when, all of a sudden, a dog howled. Immediately, he made a sign of the cross. When midnight came, he heard some commotion outside his house. Again, he made a sign of the cross. But let us find out how the making of a sign of the cross came about because there is no such thing in the Bible. What is it for? Let us go over p.1 of the book on Catechism (by Monsignor Hernando Antiporda, December 21, 1941, Nihil Obstat by JB Abriol, Imprimatur by Hernando Antiporda). It says: “Ang tanda ng Santa Krus, ang ipaadya
mo sa amin Panginoon naming Dios sa mga kaaway namin sa ngalan ng Ama, ng Anak, at ng Eapiritu Santo.” (The sign of the cross – that you deliver us, o Lord our God, from our enemies in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.)
What, according to them, is the significance of the sign of the cross? It will deliver them from their enemies. That is why, if there are evil creatures around, and whenever dogs howl, they make a sign of the cross. When lightning strikes, they make a sign of the cross. A driver is reckless, they make
sign of the cross to be spared from accidents and from their enemies. But, what I couldn’t comprehend is that, whenever they pass by a church they also make a sign of the cross! Perhaps, they have an enemy inside the church!
After a while, here comes a procession in honor of Mary. When Mary’s statue passed, they again made another sign of the cross. They prayed that, they be delivered from their enemy. So, Mary is also an enemy!
Prove to me that such a belief is in the Bible. It is not in the Bible; it is only in the book on Catechism, but it has no basis. And because it is not in the Bible, you could not really understand what is it for! Does it mean: “to be delivered from evil,” or “to enhance one’s power?” How come during masses, the priests make a bigger sign of the cross in front of their parishioners? Are they praying to be delivered from greater enemies? I really could not comprehend what the sign of the cross is all about. If we are going to relate it with music, we do not know if it is between Do and Re, or, if it is using an f-clef or a g-clef’, or, if it is in 7 minor or 7 major. Why? Because it is not based on the notes. If you will study music, your studies have to be guided by the notes. If you will study religion, your studies must also have a basis. And the basis of religion is the word of God in the Bible – and nothing more!
Do you want to be worthy in the eyes of God? There are Catholic bibles and Protestant bibles that you can refer to. The problem is, we are too lazy to read. What do you usually hear in masses? The first reading: “Then the people of the land took Josias the son of Juanias and make him king in his father’s tent in Jerusalem.” . . . That was the first reading. The priest just read a very short portion of the Scriptures. Then, they will sing “thanks be to God ...” After that, “Brethren, the Gospel from St. Mark.” “And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour: Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” That was the second reading. Thanks be to God. …” The priest just read without explaining what he has read. The result is that, you remain ignorant of the word of God! That is the reason why until now, we do not really know how to pray. The Catholic priest would say, “Let us pray. Please, rise.” “Bendito alabado, sayas sentisimos leyson, Cristi leyson, Cristio de nuz, Amen.” “Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ graciously hear us.” As if Christ was not paying attention to him, so he was repeating what he had just said.
God the Father in heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.
Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.
Mother of Christ, pray for us.
Mother of divine grace, pray for us.
Mother most pure, pray for us.
Mother most chaste, pray for us.
Mother inviolate, pray for us.
Mother undefiled, pray for us.
Mother immaculate, pray for us.
Mother most amiable, pray for us.
Mother most admirable, pray for us.
Mother of good counsel, pray for us.
Mother of our Creator, pray for us.
Mother of our Saviour, pray for us.
Virgin most prudent, pray for us.
Virgin most venerable, pray for us.
Virgin most renowned, pray for us.
Virgin most powerful, pray for us.
Virgin most merciful, pray for us.
Virgin most faithful pray for us.
Mirror of justice, pray for us.
Seat of wisdom, pray for us.
Cause of our joy, pray for us.
Spiritual vessel, pray for us.
Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.
Mystical rose, pray for us.
Tower of David, pray for us.
Tower of Ivory, pray for us.
House of gold, pray for us.
Ark of the covenant, pray for us.
Gate of heaven, pray for us. . . .
Even towers, which are without tongues, are petitioned to pray for them. Even the house of gold, even the tower of ivory, even the Ark of the Covenant, even the tower of David! Could they pray? Where did you get those ideas? Why are you also urging the gate of heaven to pray for you? Can they pray? They could perhaps produce a squeaking sound, but to pray to . . . that is impossible! The gate of heaven could not pray! That is not found in the Bible. Why are you calling on so many things to pray for you?
“Hail Mary full of grace!” So what? Are you envious of her because she is “full of grace”? “Blessed art thou amongst women.” She was blessed and you were not! If you were a woman, how would you feel about being addressed as “ginoo” (mister)? Wasn’t she the wife of Joseph? Why don’t you call her “Ginang Maria” instead? Just try to think of it, brothers and sisters. In prayers alone, we are already mistaken! Let us ask the Bible, “Lord Jesus, how must we pray?”
This is what Matthew 6:7 says--
“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.” .”
Christ doesn’t want you to be repetitious in your prayer. But what are you doing? You are repetitious!
“Hail Mary full of grace
The Lord is with thee
Blessed art thou among women
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Pray for us sinners
Until the hour of our death. Amen.”
It is being recited very hastily, and it will be repeated again and again. I have a Chinese friend, who does not speak Tagalog fluently. So, he couldn’t be at pace with the others as they say the rosary. So, what he used to do, then, was to say “pale-paleho” (they are all the same) after each prayer. Please, do not get offended, but let us read Mat 6:7-8 from a Catholic bible. “Sa inyong mga panalangin ay huwag kang magsalita ng paulit-ulit katulad ng mga Gentil na akala ay didinggin sila dahil sa dami ng kanilang sinasabi, Kaya huwag ninyo silang tutularan sapagka’t nababatid ng inyong Ama kung ano ang kailangan ninyo bago ninyo pa hingin sa kanya.”
They are practically the same. Do not use vain repetitions. That is why from this point alone we can already say that we are wrong. I am ready to confront any priest, and I will prove to him, and to all, that your prayer is wrong! We have to be definite in matters that concern salvation! Salvation is not a matter of fate! That is why there is a need for us to know everything that we have to observe, in its entirety. From prayer to food . . . to apparel . . . to marriage . . . to courtship . . . to child-bearing and child-rearing . . . to the right way of dealing with one’s neighbors, with one’s husband or wife, with one’s parents, and with the rest of the society. Everything that we must do is contained in the Bible. The Bible will serve as our guide to salvation. We are not teaching anything which is not taught by the Bible. If you want to find out for yourself that salvation is exact and definite and complete, then, try! You may think of any question that pertains to salvation, and by using the Bible, I will give an answer to your question. I am not bragging! The Bible is not wanting. The Bible provides everything that will do good to men, and everything about godliness. The Bible has them all. We really have nothing to brag about; we are not like the others, who are being addressed as “Reverend” because they claim that they are honorable pastors. We are not like them; we are mere rugs. We do not have titles of ourselves. The only thing that we take pride of is, we were made little instruments of God to reach out to our fellowmen. Our major goal is to teach you salvation! But, how? For example, somebody is looking for the house of Peter. And the one who knew Peter replied, “Which Peter are you looking for? Peter the molester, or Peter the cock fighter?” Then, the stranger answered, “Peter the cock fighter!” After hearing that, he gave the stranger instructions on how to find the house of Peter the cock fighter. That is also what we are going to do. We will teach you the way to salvation. But the question is “How?”
When asked of the house of Peter, I do not actually have to build him another house and tell the stranger that it is Peter’s house. Why, because he already has a house of his own. All that I have to do is stretch my arm and point my finger to where Peter’s house is standing. That is exactly what I am going to do in teaching you salvation. You want me to teach you salvation; we are ready to do that.
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