Something More

Eyes

Ascension Sunday

Imee Therese's POV:

Everybody is amazed by what happened today: when my prayer to me, Anthony and everybody from the tornado; and miraculously restored my eyesight...

"How do I look, Imee? Hehehe!" Catherine giggles and reveals her girlish instincts. "Do I look beautiful? Hehehe!"

"Pffft...why...of course, sis. Everyone is beautiful in the eyes of God! Hehehe!" I replied and giggled.

"But I wonder how do you restore your eyesight so quickly without any medical help?" Joshua, who has some medical expertise, asked me.

"Well, that's how powerful God is!" I smiled in return. It's like what is said in the Scriptures...prayer will do the impossible, it will even move mountains, you know?"

As the conversation goes on and on, I glanced into everywhere my eyes could see...there I saw Anthony, staring at the altar.

"Anthony! Anthony!" I called his attention. "Why are you staring? Is there something you wanna show me?"

"Well...actually, there is."

Anthony then pointed his finger towards the altar...specifically towards the statue of the famous Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage. I take a closer look on it...and I noticed...that the statue's eyes are as clear as white. Devotees and visitors alike glances in astonishment...

"The eyes of Our Lady...it has turned into white, as if it She is now blind." Father Jean tells me.

"Oh, I see. Perhaps that my dream is true after all."

"Hmm? What are you talking about?" Father Jean and Anthony asked me the same question.

"Well, I have this dream earlier where I met the Blessed Virgin Mary. There, She has gave me Her eyes so I could able to see once more...so I could do more with my mission with God."

Upon hearing this, Anthony and Father Jean smiled at me...asif they are telling me...that it is a reward for all the things that I've done to bring hope and belief among the faithful of the church. Well...I believe that even I can't still move my arms and legs, my eyes are already enough for me to continue my mission...

And as I stare into the widely revered image of the Blessed Virgin, I saw a middle-aged man approaching towards me. He waters a uniform that fits through his entire body, with a violet sash tucked around his waist, a little cape over his shoulders, and a skull cap.

"Hello, milady. You must be Imee Therese Villaflor, right?" That middle-aged man asked me.

"Why, yes. Yes, I am." I smiled at him in reply. "What can I do for you, sir?"

"Well, milady, you have been relatively known in this diocese because of the miracles you have done in your place. Archbishop Tiroda tells me all about it." The bishop explains to me. "I wonder if I could have some conversation with you."

"Why, yes. Certainly."

Anthony and I followed the bishop as he leads the way towards his office adjacent to the cathedral. It was a simple room, with a desk and two four seats in front of it. The only thing that makes his office special is the picture of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage above the desk.

"Tell us then, Your Excellency, what do you want to talk about today?"

"Well, I wanna talk about how devout is your faith." The bishop explains. "Based from what I know, miracles depends on how deep the faith wonder workers like you do have."

"Your Excellency, all of us have faith in God, right? But it shouldn't be judged that only has deep faith can make miracles. Miracles will happen to everybody...not only with those who has rich faith, but also for those who have lost it...and doubt the existence of hope in believing in Him. It's not like we're the ones who actually make it for miracles came from God, miracles happen when we accept His invitation to let this extraordinary revelation pass through us as His instrument..."

I explained my side to the bishop. "For me, miracles are not meant to become popular like a superstar, they're meant to make people believe more to God...that He has something more in store for us...they're meant for people to return to the loving arms of God. I'm saying this from the perspective of the those whose faith is lost over the course of time."

In the looks of his face, the bishop seems impressed by my explanation....

"I am amazed by your words, Imee." The bishop smiles at me. "I have no doubt now about what Archbishop Tiroda is telling about you. You're special...you're indeed the child of God."

"Well, everybody's a child of God. Hehehe!" I replied and giggled.

The conversation went on and on, explaining about their widely revered image of Our Blessed Virgin Mary...the bishop told me that this image was once mysteriously disappeared several times when the church dedicated for Her is being built...it's so mysterious that that people at that time mysteriously found it atop of a breadfruit tree...which in local terms is a Tipolo tree. Interpreting it as a divine omen, the church dedicated for Her was built near that tree, the pedestal of the image was made from its trunk...and that tree was the origin of the name of the city....Antipolo.

We spent the whole day with Catherine, Joshua, Evangeline, Father Jean and Anthony touring around this great cathedral, praying the rosary and taking pictures of this destination alternately.

It's already sundown when we left Antipolo as Catherine is driving us home. Everyone else is exhausted and fall asleep, except for me and Anthony...

"It's good that God has restored your eyesight, Imee." Anthony smiles at me as he pats my head. "Now, you can see how beautiful the world is."

"Yes, it is. Even you are beautiful...well...in manly terms. Hehehe!" I replied to him and giggled as my love's face blushed at bit.

"Imee, you're so childish! Hehehe!" Anthony refutes back and chuckles. "Well, my love. You should sleep now, it's a very long ride home."

"Yes, certainly. Thank you, Anthony."

I closed my eyes and started to lean my head over Anthony's shoulder. Before I fell into slumber, I felt his hands once more as if it combing my hair...making me more comfortable...

O Good Lord....O Mary, thank you for the reward you have gave to me. I promise...I will use this great gift of Yours...to improve myself in fulfilling my mission...to proclaim the Good News to all...and lead those who lost back into Your arms. Amen.