Wednesday, February 24, 2021
What’s Blinding You from Seeing Jesus in Your Life?
If any one chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. John 7:17
There was something about the stranger who walked with those two men, which fascinated them. The location was a dusty road that led from Jerusalem to Emmaus. It happened almost 2000 years ago. Jesus of Nazareth had taught the multitudes for three years. He had done some fantastic things. He had healed the lame and the blind. He had taken a little boy’s lunch and then fed a multitude of more than 5,000 men, to say nothing of the number of women and children.
At first, everyone was skeptical. After all, the day of miracles had ceased, so when Jesus first began His work, people watched for the trick. Perhaps the blind man was not really blind, or it was just a big act. But as the skeptics watched, they became convinced, not only by what they saw, but by what they heard, as well. Jesus of Nazareth spoke as no other man had ever spoken. He said things no other would dare to say, and He did it with perfect authority. He made claims such as, “I came from God and now am here” (John 8:42). Again, He said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). All of those things together caused thousands of men and women to claim Him as the Messiah‑‑the long awaited deliverer.
The two men who walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus that day, long ago, were talking about all of the events that caused them to believe Jesus was the Savior. “Things were going so well,” they said. “Yes, we thought it had been He who would deliver Israel.” But on that Passover, public sentiment, fickle public opinion, turned, and they crucified this Jesus of Nazareth. That is when it all ended for those two. When Christ died, they were through, and with bitter remorse and confusion, they decided to call it quits.
As they walked and discussed these things, a stranger appeared to them and they poured out their hearts. They told how two women had gone to the grave and it was empty, but this they could not believe. The interesting twist to this story begins when Luke (who records the event) says, “As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him” (Luke 24:15,16). But as they walked and talked, the stranger began to explain what had happened in terms they could understand. They invited Him to dinner and suddenly the mystery was over.
Luke says, “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him” (Luke 24:30-31). It was the resurrected Christ who walked with them, and they knew Him not.
That was two thousand years ago, yet it is still true today. Sometimes it is the impact of 21st century materialism that blinds our eyes and keeps us from recognizing the resurrected Savior. Sometimes it is the aura of “intellectualism” that keeps us in the dark. Sometimes we are so preoccupied with ourselves that we never discover the resurrected Christ. A story so old, yet new every day.
How about your life? Have you discovered that Christ will reveal Himself to you and that He will walk with you through life? It may be that your eyes have been blinded by unbelief and that you have never discovered who He is and what He promises to you. Jesus challenged, “If any one chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17). “Prove it to your satisfaction,” invites the Savior. Start reading with the Gospel of John and, I can assure you, you will see who He really is.
Scripture reading: Luke 24
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/whats-blinding-you-from-seeing-jesus-in-your-life/
Palace prays for Doris Bigornia’s speedy recovery
By Azer Parrocha
Malacañang on Wednesday wished ABS-CBN veteran broadcaster Doris Bigornia a speedy recovery after she suffered a heart attack and is set to undergo open-heart surgery.
In a virtual Palace press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque extended prayers to Bigornia, recalling how he knew her long before he was appointed to the Duterte administration.
“Pinagdadasal po natin ang mabilis na recovery ng ating dating kasamahan dito po sa [Malacañang Press Corp.] Dati ko na po kasama ito kahit nung mga panahon na aktibista pa ako, si ABS-CBN reporter na si Doris Bigornia. Doris, pagaling ka (We are praying for the speedy recovery of our former colleague here at MPC. We used to see each other during the times I was still an activist, ABS-CBN reporter Doris Bigornia. Doris, get well soon) and we’re praying for your speedy recovery,” he said.
On Tuesday night, Bigornia’s co-host and fellow ABS-CBN reporter Alvin Elchico announced, with the permission of her family, that she suffered a heart attack and would need to undergo open-heart surgery.
Elchico said Bigornia suffered a heart attack on Sunday night and was rushed to the hospital. He said she is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU).
“Bago po tayo mag-umpisa dahil marami po kasi ang nagtatanong so, nagpaalam po ako sa pamilya ni Mutya ng Masa Doris Bigornia na sabihin po sa inyo, pinapasabi lang po, ang Mutya ng Masa, siya po’y inatake sa puso noong Linggo, papuntang Lunes (Before we start, because there are many of you asking, so I sought permission from Mutya ng Masa Doris Bigornia to tell you that she had a heart attack on late Sunday night),” Elchico said over their DZMM Teleradyo program “SRO”.
He also sought for prayers for his co-host’s recovery.
“Siya po’y sinugod sa ospital at ngayon po’y nasa ICU. Kakailanganin po ng ano, open-heart surgery. So ang pamilya po ay humihingi po ng panalangin, so sa ngalan po ng pamilya ni Doris Bigornia, ang Mutya ng Masa, kami po sa DZMM Teleradyo ay humihingi po ng inyong panalangin (She was rushed to the hospital and is now in ICU. She will need to undergo open-heart surgery. So her family is asking for your prayers. We at DZMM Teleradyo are also asking for your prayers),” he added.
Elchico said Bigornia is conscious and has talked to him through the phone.
Bigornia, known as ABS-CBN’s Mutya ng Masa, just celebrated her 55th birthday last Feb. 17.
COVID-19 vaccine procurement bill up for Duterte signature
Congress has approved a bill that seeks to expedite the procurement of COVID 19 vaccines.
The House of Representatives approved adopted Senate Bill 2057 for that purpose, paving the way for the bill to go straight to President Duterte for signature.
The Senate’s version was adopted during the plenary session Wednesday. This avoids a potentially contentious bicameral conference committee which could further delay vaccine procurement.
The House previously approved House Bill 8648 as its version of the bill.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/24/21/covid-19-vaccine-procurement-bill-up-for-duterte-signature
‘Palawan plebiscite test run for 2022 polls’
The plebiscite in Palawan on March 13 will serve as a test run of the health protocols to be implemented by the Commission on Elections in the May 2022 polls amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Comelec Chairman Sheriff Abas said yesterday.
“Through this plebiscite, we want to see if the policies that we will formulate are effective. Among these protocols are the wearing of face mask and face shield and maintaining physical distancing,” Abas said.
He said they are considering allowing only five voters in polling precincts.
Abas said the poll body is also looking at extending the voting hours to prevent crowding.
The plebiscite to ratify a law dividing Palawan into three provinces – Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur – may be held for two days.
Around 500,000 voters have registered for the political exercise.
Abas said the Comelec would regulate the number of watchers that candidates and parties are allowed to dispatch on election day as well as the counting and canvassing of votes during the 2022 polls.
“If the pandemic is not over by the time we hold our elections, we will certainly be implementing health and safety protocols,” he said.
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2021/02/24/2079920/palawan-plebiscite-test-run-2022-polls
Pagbuo ng bagong distrito sa Caloocan City, suportado ng ilang senador
Jeffrey Hernaez, ABS-CBN News
Suportado ng ilang senador ang panukalang hatiin sa dalawang legislative district ang unang distrito ng Caloocan City.
Ayon kay Senator Cynthia Villar, makatutulong ang House Bill 7700 o “Act Reapportioning the First and Second Legislative District of the City of Caloocan into Four Legislative Districts” na mabigyan ng patas at sapat na representasyon ang lungsod sa Kamara.
“I am in full support of this legislative measure that seeks to reapportion the first and second legislative district of Caloocan City into four districts," ani Villar.
Nagpahayag din ng pagsuporta si Senator Joel Villanueva na co-sponsor at co-author ng panukala.
Ayon sa may akda ng panukala na si Senator Francis Tolentino, mas matitiyak na maibibigay ang mga pangangailangan ng mga residente kung madadagdagan ng isa pang distrito ang lungsod.
"The population of Caloocan City is projected to increase to 1,699,908 in 2021, yet the number of legislative district in Caloocan remains at constant 2 representatives, Mr.President, which poses major challenges in the delivery of public services. Reapportioning the city will ensure that the voice of our constituents in Caloocan is heard and their needs are addressed," aniya.
Sa kasalukuyan, sa dalawang distrito lamang nahahati ang Caloocan City. May 70 barangay sa unang distrito habang 118 na barangay sa pangalawang distrito. Sa mahigit isa at kalahating milyong populasyon ng lungsod,75 porsyento nito ay nasa unang distrito.
Kung maisasabatas ang panukala, hahatiin ang unang distrito sa dalawa, 11 sa mga barangay nito ay ililipat sa mabubuong ikatlong distrito.
Dahil dito, magiging apat rin ang kinatawan ng Caloocan City sa Kongreso.