A magnitude of 6.9 earthquake hit the central part of the Philippines, leaving over a dozen dead. Pictures of the aftermath quickly circulated in social network sites attracting sympathy and concern for the victims. While many responded with prayerful thoughts, one ill mannered human being articulated the pitiable and stinking condition of his (her) soul when he (she) wrote:
“Let us all pray….na matuloy ang tsunami para maraming bisaya ang mamatay, para mabawasan ang mga baduy sa pilipinas.” - (Ahcee Flores)This shows how tragic the condition of human beings is. Such words are evil, a curse. St Thomas, in his commentary on the book of Job said that one is said to curse when he (she) speaks of evil, which can be said in several senses:
1. 1. Someone speaks evil to another which causes evil as in a judge condemning someone is the cause of penalty of the one who is condemned. It demonstrates the true evil of someone in an orderly way. (This is a valid argument. On the contrary, the other two are not)
2. 2. Someone curses another by calling down evil upon the person, or wishing that person evil.
3. 3. Someone speaks evil simply by disclosing an evil, either in the past, future or present, whether true or false.
St. Paul said, “Bless, and curse not.” (Rm 12.14) How can this man truly “pray” when his (her) prayer is a curse? In the same manner, how can we praise God if we are sinning, when to sin is to ‘curse’ God and is a contradiction of to ‘praise’ God? How can we bless God if we speak evil of God through our brethren or ourselves?
As we pray for the victims of this recent tragedy, let us also pray for the conversion of human beings who ‘curse, and bless not.’
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