“JESUS breathes the Holy Spirit into the disciples and by doing so he re-creates them. The life-giving breath poured forth at the dawn of creation is now the Spirit-breath, the very indwelling of God. Only because of this divine indwelling do we have the power to forgive and thus continue Jesus’ saving mission. We are the incarnation of the risen Lord in our world today. We are re-created by the Holy Spirit.” – Center for Liturgy, St. Louis University
A grace-filled Pentecost to all of you!
I write to you today convinced more strongly of the Power of God in our lives through the Holy Spirit. After all, I consider this time of my life as my second life.
Last Friday, I underwent a medical procedure called endovascular coiling after my doctors found an unruptured aneurysm on the anterior part of my brain through MRA (magnetic resonance angiogram). The procedure was a less invasive one that did not require craniotomy. The neurosurgeon inserted a microcatheter into my groin through my aorta to coil the unruptured aneurysm on my brain with titanium in order to permanently stop imminent rupture and bleeding.
You can just imagine my tremendous fear and anxiety when I discovered this serious illness and when I underwent the medical procedure. Thank God for my family and close friends who were with me during this ordeal to shower me with affection, love, prayers, and support.
I prayed so hard to God, asking him to heal me and to guide the hands and minds of the neurosurgeon and the surgical staff. Like any person in danger of death, I bargained with him. I asked him to give me more years of life on earth in order to serve him. I promised him that I would dedicate the rest of my life preparing future priests for good, holy, and effective ministry.
At first, I did not want other people to learn about my illness and my medical procedure because I was afraid that some people would misconstrue my health situation. I was also hesitant to show my vulnerability. But I realized that I needed all the prayers I can ask for, and so I humbly shared the news of my illness and my medical procedure with my relatives, friends, colleagues, and former parishioners. “There is power in collective prayers, please pray for me,” I told them.
I woke up from the two-hour medical procedure stunned by God’s goodness and power. I was alert, talking and breathing well. My blood pressure and oxygen level were normal. I didn’t have headache or severe pain in my body. “I’m alive!” I told myself. I could not believe that the procedure was successful. I thank God for his intervention, for answering my prayers. I felt a profound gratitude to the neurosurgeon, his surgical staff, the nurses, the other medical aides of the hospital, and my primary doctor. I experienced a deep sense of the power of God through the miracles of science, technology, and prayers.
I’m now at home recovering well. The cut on my groin has healed and I’m now able to walk and go out. In a few more days I will be back to work and to resume my duties.
I’ve asked people to continue their prayers for my complete recovery. Many of them have told me that I still have a further mission in life. I believe them. But more than anything else, I’m astonished by the hand of God working in my life and by the power that he has shown through the miracles of science, technology, and collective prayers! Indeed, the Holy Spirit dwelling in us is very much alive to heal and resurrect us!
I ask you to appreciate the work of doctors, surgeons, researchers, nurses, medical technologists and all those involved in medical field. May the Holy Spirit empower them to bring healing and hope in the lives of people around the world! Amen.
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
