HIS eyes are upon us ...

"Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him,

on those who hope in his steadfast love."

- Hebrews 4:12-13

I witnessed something unusual yesterday morning at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua. I joined a small group of parishioners who routinely gather near the Tabernacle, after Mass, to pray the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and other prayers.

On the wall, behind and above the Tabernacle is a life-sized wooden crucifix, something I've become very familiar with.  In the past 30+ years that I've looked at it on countless occasions, I've never noticed anything unusual about it until yesterday ...

Shortly after the Rosary Prayer began, I looked up at the crucifix on the wall and saw that the figure of Jesus seemed to have opened its eyes (they are normally closed) ... then, towards the end of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, I saw the eyes were closed again.

I would've dismissed it as my imagination, but it was so obvious because the pupils were clearly visible.  Besides, I took several photos and managed to capture what I saw in-person ...

Now it may have been a trick of the light, but it sure looked eerily real in person, and I've never seen it like that before ... and look closely at the photo with the eyes open (right) - the gaze on that corpus is so expressively sorrowful and suffering, compared to its normal appearance (left) in which our Lord appears to be peacefully expired.  Plus, His expression on the right, despite being grieved, also somehow manages to convey love and compassion.  It's truly remarkable.

So does it have anything to do with the current state of the world? (Coincidentally, war justed erupted with Iran on the same day)

For this blogger, it makes perfect sense that Jesus is saddened by the general state of mankind - there is growing godlessness; narcissistic and hedonistic ideologies; blatant public displays of satanic and occult influences; ongoing multiple wars; persecution of Christians, etc. ... so it seems we are being given many extraordinary signs all over the world concerning Heaven's distress.

For those who discern these "signs of the times", perhaps we are being invited to step up with more intercessory prayers and voluntary sacrifices for the conversion of sinners, including ourselves.  With Lent in full swing, it's a good time to reflect and respond accordingly.  Our Jesus, whose eyes are ever upon us, is certainly listening ... and is consoled.  Great graces will follow!

"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous

and his ears toward their cry."

- Psalm 33:18

Monthly Message from the Queen of Peace of Medjugorje: February 2026

  "Dear Children, in this time of grace, anew, I am calling you to offer your lives to God that He may lead you towards the resurrection through your personal conversion.  Little Children, God is near to you and heeds your prayers, but you are lulled to sleep, and that is why He sent me to you to awaken you, and that you may shine holiness like a spring flower.  Thank you for having responded to my call."

Saints & Relics Presentation: Schofield Barracks Catholic Community, 2-24-2026

Last night, the Schofield Barracks Young Adult Group hosted a presentation that turned out to be as memorable for its message as for its unexpected challenges.  What was supposed to be a routine talk on Saints & Relics quickly transformed into a lesson on spiritual warfare when this author's laptop suddenly stopped working from the very start, along with a second one provided by a participant.  Instead of allowing the eerie occurrence to derail the evening, the presentation went on without the usual slideshow and it still turned out pretty well!

Among the relics present were hair clippings from, and

part of a compression sock worn by, the late Fr. Rookey,

whose sainthood this ministry is helping to promote.

Participants remained engaged throughout the hour-long talk, then asked thoughtful questions after; shared personal experiences about Saints; and displayed a genuine eagerness to understand the deep spiritual significance behind the sacred relics ... and what do you know - my laptop started working normally again after the presentation!  Seriously - how can people deny the existence of evil spirits?

Young men praying before relics of St. Bernadette of Lourdes;

Ven. Domenica Lazzeri; Bl. Carmen of the Child Jesus; St.

Damien of Molokai; Bl. Rolando Rivi; St. Maria Goretti; St.

Pier Giorgio Frassati; St. Louis & Zelie Martin; St. Therese the

Little Flower; St. Padre Pio; St. Peregrine Laziosi; Our Lady.

By the end of the night, the combination of unexpected obstacles, heartfelt engagement, and the recovery of the computer created an uplifting experience—one of those rare times where everything that goes “wrong” ends up making the message land even more powerfully.  All thanks and praises be to God!