Good Deed

FR. MARIO DORADO is a survivor. He went through a scary cancer episode last year but his strong faith overcame the disease. In a mass he officiated, he told the organizers that they need not any more pray for his healing and instead say thanks for he is totally healed.

In the Eucharistic celebration last Sunday, he told of a different danger he underwent as a missionary in Papua New Guinea. He said that during that time, tribal wars were common and there were times when one tribe would raid a rival community.

To ensure that their enemies won’t be able to retaliate, they would cut the arms and legs of the males so that they will be totally incapacitated.

In one of such raids, the village where he was assigned in the aftermath found a life-size image of Jesus with both arms and legs cut.

The villagers were shocked, and many offered to restore the image to its original state. Fr Mario told them instead to keep the image in its damaged state.

He explained that, as Christ no longer lives amongst us, He is like one who is without legs and without arms.

Those who believe in Him, we who are Christians, are the legs, and the arms, and the lips and the ears of Christ. We are the ones who do the work that He did when He once walked on this earth. Truly we are all His disciples.

In the aftermath Typhoon Yolanda, one of the worst disasters to hit the Philippines and which has caused more than 5,000 deaths and left millions homeless or with damaged abodes, we can see the goodness of people. We have become channels of help, of hope and of healing.

While there may be those who do not care or take advantage of the misery of people, they are so few compared to the multitude that come forward to donate their resources, their time and their efforts.

The good thing about doing a good deed is that it is contagious. We can see this around us, so much help not just from within the community but from abroad as well.

Like last Monday, when we were trying to persuade a group of people to support GigAlive-Thank You New Zealand. We came across Fr. Mario and without hesitation he asked and paid for 60 tickets that he said he would distribute among his friends and parishioners.

I was moved by his gesture. A few days later, an individual who witnessed Fr. Mario’s generosity paid for 100 tickets that she intended to distribute to friends.

It is rather sad that at times it is the wicked and the wrongdoers who get attention, while the good and the kind are left unnoticed. As Earth Wind and Fire would sing, “That’s the way of the world.”

But that shouldn’t deter us from continuing to help those in need, especially during desperate times. Not only does it feel good inside, but it also makes the world better outside.