Father
Gaston Hurtubise fell on his face and died on stage while preaching about the
love of Jesus at the Ottawa Civic Centre, Canada, during a Charismatic Congress
on June 26, 1992.
Denyoz who was right there sitting in the fifth row
with his parents had witnessed the incident, who thought this as so boring
considering that it was a charismatic congress, and rummaged around for his
charisma, who’s togged up in Jesus costume but here he is surrounded by people
whom he preached with to rescue him.[1]
Why
did God allow such a terror when in fact the Priest was there to proclaim His
love and mercy but where are His mercy and love if the one who preaches these
values is the one who could not get hold of it?
Why did He not just take another day to take His life instead of this
day where influx of people expect to hear more and absorb further from his
messages?
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Try
to reflect on this: If God (keep in mind that Jesus is God) allowed His own
mother to suffer, why not us? God, being God, could have prevented the Blessed
Mother from anguish, but He didn’t. She came into contact with one of the most unbearable
pains that a mother could endure - the death of her Child, on Good Friday. Why
did God permit this to take place? If He was going to stop anyone from torment
it would have been the Blessed Mother's. But He didn't. Why not?
There is meaning in suffering although humans may not fully fathom its significance during
her/his lifetime. Undergoing pain and seeing our loved ones suffer can be devastating.
One’s suffering could be physical, spiritual, psychological, or financial. It
can be so difficult and bloodcurdling for a loved one being left with the feeling
to be hopeless.
No
matter what kind of suffering it may be, everybody will all hurt during her/his
lifetime. The Blessed Mother suffered dreadfully, and, like Jesus, she had
faith in God's plan and took her cross. She had laid down her arms to the will
of God, and trusted in Him unreservedly.
No
one could insist her/his own thinking into a situation that looks mysterious by questioning God and pointing finger at Him, as
God says: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9). Instead of blaming God as
if He’s the culprit, why not a question like, “What causes his death?” Can it
be possible that the evil spirit uses this circumstance to put others' faith to
waver, as the serpent has been known for his cunning lies when he says to Eve,
“Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’? But the
serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die (Genesis 3:1,4).
Affliction
takes us back on the reality that everyone needs God greatly, and frequently on
top of things. It jogs to everyone’s memory how humans need devotion to God,
more attention, love Him, and love one another more. It prompts that everybody
needs to forgive more, pray more, listen more, talk less and be really present
in each others’ lives. Misfortune can make humans to be more compassionate and caring
with others, with a greater capacity to love, not through money but by spending
time just like how Fr. Gaston Hurtubise had sucessfully made even up to his last breath.
What
is impressive about Fr. Gaston Hurtubise is his zeal to incessantly proclaim
God’s love and gratefulness of Him, telling the congregation: “‘God is ready to
open His heart to us, to establish us in Him, to eternal bliss. Thank you Lord!” Is it not nice witnessing a priest who did
not quit of being appreciative of God’s love?
Meeting
his death in a seemingly awkward situation does not emphasize that God is cruel
but simply an indication that spending time and sincerest efforts to share God’s love have no boundaries,
whether in sickness or in health, in solace or in discomfort, Amen!
Posts
God created a contongent world.!
ReplyDeleteBut gratuitious evil is the most difficult question. God suffers agonies to defeat evil yet after 2000 years banies slowlyvdie in agony etc. Jesus defeated evil, hascall power, is present and witnesses, is a man, yet resists saving the baby. Such are the most difficult of all questions.No satisfactory answer yet. Such a mystery! ?
I would be happy to die suddenly whilst preaching of God's love or saying mass. What a lovely way to go!
ReplyDeleteI would too. What an awesome way to be called to God's love and thanking Him as he je does.
DeleteAtheists don’t under religion at all lol. Death to eternal life is not a punishment
ReplyDeleteThey will one day...
ReplyDeleteMy apologies for the very late reply as your comment was taken in 2017 and today is September 10, 2026 at 12:47PM (PH Time) already.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have been clueless which country are you from and your full name; but allow me to share what happened previously.
In September 8 to October 20, 2020, I was hospitalized and comatose, brought by bacterial infection and electrolyte imbalance, which lasted for almost two (2) months.
Whereas the recovery period lasted for over a year, as my whole body had been paralyzed in two (2) months and part of my memory was blotted out.
In fact, I could not recognize my younger siblings (Irvin Ecleo and Mylene Ecleo- Ybañez) anymore, who took care of me, removed my pampers and cleaned me everytime I pooped and urinated; and removed the abyss in my anus brought by bedsores for the latter sibling.
I miraculously survived the near-death encounter, despite the subsequent transfer from the first hospital to the fifth hospital; cause by the absence of SWAB Test for some of the hospitals and congested patients for others. This happened amidst pandemic.
At home, I could not sleep for almost six (6) hours. I asked my younger brother to buy sleeping pills but it did not work.
Subsequently, my younger sister suggested that I pray. Since I am well-versed of the Holy Rosary; given that we have been raised by this Prayer by our Mother, Julia Elutin Ecleo, during our childhood years, I did this. But later, my siblings grumbled as they could not sleep well.
In my entire life, it was only on this occasion that I prayed audibly (except if it is a group prayer/prayer leader); which I never did both at home and Church. Although the BLESSED VIRGIN MARY did not appear physically, obviously She helped me in my prayers, because at that time, I had a speech problem caused by my hospitalization.
Brought by the sleepless nights, my siblings hired an ambulance from the Local Government Unit (LGU) and carried my paralyzed whole body to the faith healer at Tanza, Cavite, Philippines. But nothing happened. Sleepless nights had been the same; which caused my hemoglobin to be compromised.
Supposedly, the Doctor prescribed injectable blood but it was expensive which was PHP1,500 per bag plus 20 bags of blood. As a result, I refused the prescription and suggested instead to my siblings to buy camote tops and a lot of vegetables. Lo and behold, the injection of 20 bags of blood was not pushed through anymore.
Later, when my younger brother brought me to the Doctor for check up, there was an abscess found in my kidney, based on ultrasound.
My siblings suggested that I should be admitted at the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) based on the Doctor's recommendation, so as to be catheterized again
However, I refused the suggestion, given that I had an online class at that time. I did not want to leave my profession again after more than one (1) year of struggles. Besides, I am also aware how the patients in this government hospital have been congested with patients. Hence, I did not want my life to be miserable, given the foreseen situation.
This unexpected ordeal had coincided with the death of our productive and generous Father who died normally at the age of 81 years old and by the hospitalization of our prayerful Mother who was discharged from the hospital ahead of me.
We, the 9 siblings, were very grateful, as during this misfortune, we were supported financially through God's instruments: colleagues, classmates; my siblings' officemates/classmates/friends, relatives and home-owners' association.
Indeed, GOD did some miraculous and mysterious ways during these unexpected encounters
Should you reach me out on Facebook, you may access the link below: https://www.facebook.com/share/1NVuvD5jBh/
Best regards.