When I was 17, something happened to me that marked me for life, and today I want to share it with you. It all started with a stomachache while I was in a college prep class. I didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but the pain kept getting worse and worse. Late that evening, my parents took me to the emergency room and I was diagnosed with appendicitis. They wheeled me into the operating room around midnight, and the doctors gave me a local anesthetic (epidural).
For the first few moments I could still hear the doctors speaking, but gradually my eyes began to close. Suddenly I saw the best moments of my life flash before me like photographs, until I perceived God’s presence and saw the silhouette of Jesus surrounded by an indescribable light. At that moment, I felt a peace that cannot be found in this world.
The first reading says, “If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now the testimony of God is this, that he has testified on behalf of his Son.” Almost 30 years have passed since this event, but I can give human testimony that God truly exists.
In the end, they brought me back to life using electrode paddles and cured me of my appendicitis. Like the leper who approached Jesus saying, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean,” God wanted to heal me.
Now that I have come back, I can tell all of you that God exists, He is real, and Heaven is real. Our hope for healing is in God. Doctors are God’s instruments to aid in physical recovery, but we must also be healed in spirit to reach Heaven and be with God. “Let us give thanks and praise to the Lord” (Responsorial Psalm) because in Him is the hope of eternal life.
Cuando tenía 17 años me ocurrió un hecho que me marcó para toda la vida y hoy quiero compartirles. Todo comenzó con un dolor estomacal cuando estaba en clases de preparación para ingresar a la universidad. No le presté mucha atención al comienzo, pero luego se fue haciendo peor el dolor. Llegando la noche mis padres me terminan llevando al hospital de emergencia y me diagnosticaron apendicitis. Entré a media noche a la sala de operaciones y los doctores pusieron anestesia local (epidural).
Mientras tanto, escuchaba a los médicos hablar pero luego mis ojos se comenzaron a cerrar hasta que vi cómo pasaban rápidamente los mejores momentos de mi vida cómo fotografías hasta sentir y ver la silueta de Jesús con una luz indescriptible. En este momento sentía una paz que no hay en este mundo.
En la primera lectura, dice “Si aceptamos el testimonio de los hombres, el testimonio de Dios vale mucho más y ese testimonio es el que Dios ha dado de su Hijo”. Han pasado casi 30 años desde este suceso, pero puedo dar testimonio humano de que Dios existe.
Al final me volvieron a la vida con unos paneles de electroshock y me curaron de la apendicitis. Cómo el leproso que se acercó a Jesus diciendo, “Señor, si quieres, puedes curarme” Dios quiso curarme.
Al devolverme ahora puedo decirles a todos ustedes que Dios sí existe, es real y el Cielo es real. La esperanza de sanación está en Dios. Los doctores son sólo instrumentos de Dios para llegar a la recuperación del cuerpo, pero también debemos curar nuestro espíritu para llegar al cielo y estar junto con Dios. “Demos gracias y alabemos al Señor” (Salmo Responsorial) porque en Él está la esperanza de la vida eterna.
Felix Urcia was born in Lima, Peru. He moved the U.S. to complete his college degree in Computer Science at Northern Kentucky University. He is passionate about his faith, his family, education and soccer. When he is not homeschooling and caring for his young children he enjoys personal programing projects and sports analysis. He and wife live in a small town in Western Michigan where they enjoy spending time with their five children.
Feature Image Credit: Danist Soh, unsplash.com/photos/aerial-photograph-of-clouds-5D47VsGV86c
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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