Jesus images found in a tree, a crab, and other unexpected places
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Reflections
Some time before Holy Week last year, 58-year-old housekeeper Remy Heneralo was grilling fish beneath an acacia tree. At first, there was nothing out of the ordinary. But as she watched the smoke curl up toward the sky, her eyes fell on what appeared to be the image of Jesus on a stump where a branch had been cut.
"Sabi ko, ‘Ma’m halika, tingnan mo ‘yung puno. ‘Yung drawing,’ 'ka ko. Tapos sabi niya, ‘Si Nazareno, si Nazareno ‘yun, Jesus!’" Remy recalled excitedly in an episode of “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” aired last March 24.
Believing that Jesus Christ's face was on the tree, they called it the "Holy Face of Jesus Christ." Since then, devotees would visit that area of Subic Bay Freeport, where they say the image is still recognizable even after more than a year.
Biologist Dr. Mudjekeewis Santos explained that as the image is found where the branch was cut, it may have been formed by the sap which blackens when it is exposed.
"Kasi nandoon siya doon sa naputol na part nung acacia. And may dagta ‘yun. And ‘yung dagta na ‘yun ‘pag na-expose nangingitim and tumutulo ‘yun. So maaaring dahil doon sa pagtulo ng dagta doon na-form ‘yung image," he said.
In everyday objects
This is only one of many instances around the world where people have claimed to have found the image of Jesus on everyday objects, from irons to potato chips.
On Ash Wednesday this year, a man in New Mexico claimed to have seen the image of the Lord on a tortilla, the Daily Mail reported.
It seems even living creatures can be "miracle-bringers," as housewife Lilian Antiquerra experienced last August in Barangay San Roque in Legazpi City, Albay.
Her brother was preparing a dozen fresh crabs for their lunch when he noticed one crab was unlike the others. The mysterious crab appeared to have the image of their patron saint, San Roque, on its belly. Instead of cooking the crab in coconut milk, Lilian preserved it in a glass box.
"’Yung mga pinakitaan ko ng time na ‘yun talagang lahat parang kinilabutan daw sila. Ang kinakatakutan talaga namin ‘yung dagat, parang pahiwatig na ibig sabihin ililigtas," said Lilian.
The box was placed in the family grotto, where they would pray together. They said that because of the crab, the family has become closer.
Despite Lilian's painstaking efforts to preserve the image, they said it began to fade after almost seven months.
"Lahat naman nagsasabi na darating din ang panahon na parang mag-aagnas. Sabi ko, 'Okay lang basta hindi namin siya itatapon.' Siguro kung sa amin, 'yan ang tanda ng talagang hindi kami maghihiwahiwalay," said Lilian.
Reminders
According to Bishop Deogracia Iñiquez of the Diocese of Caloocan, these sightings may be the Lord's way of reminding His followers of His presence. But the bishop said such sightings must be taken in the context of faith.
"Ito ay mga pamamaraan na maaaring ginagamit ng Panginoon upang paalalahanan tayo upang ipakilala Siya. Pero dapat ito'y ating ituring, ito ay ating laging tinatanggap, sa konteksto ng ating pananampalataya," he said. –KG, GMA News
source : http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/253944/lifestyle/culture/jesus-images-found-in-a-tree-a-crab-and-other-unexpected-places
