BE CAREFUL WHO YOU ASK FOR HELP

​“Hi Kuya Jeff, I'm one of the regulars sa Friday night Bible Study mo. Super enjoy ako learning about The Royal Kingdom—lalo na ‘yung part na nagkaisa na ang tribes of Israel under King Saul. Pero nakakalungkot kasi kahit God na nga ang tunay na Hari, at kahit may warning na si Prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 8:6-22), gusto pa rin ng mga tao ng earthly king… at pinayagan ni Lord. One part that really caught my attention: 'yung desperate moment ni Saul na kinonsulta niya ‘yung mangkukulam to summon Samuel’s spirit—tapos boom! Parang naka-Bluetooth connection lang sila ni Prophet Samuel! Naka-download nga siya ng info… pero bad news ang dumating. Kuya, tanong lang—okay lang ba ‘yon? I mean, he got results naman. Does that mean it’s not that bad to consult mediums? Alam kong weekend na and baka nagpapahinga ka, pero hope you could share some wisdom soon. Thanks po ulit for the Bible Study! Kita kits next Friday. God bless!” —Allan N.

​1. When people are scared, sick, or desperate, they sometimes make choices they know are wrong just to feel better or get quick answers. That’s what happened to King Saul in the Bible. He once obeyed God faithfully and even banned all mediums and spiritists, knowing God found such practices detestable. But when the Philistines threatened him and God didn’t respond to his prayers right away, Saul panicked. Instead of waiting and trusting, he went to a medium—something he himself had forbidden. Disguised, he asked her to summon the spirit of the prophet Samuel. And Samuel did appear, but not with good news. He told Saul that God had left him and that he and his sons would die in battle the next day (1 Samuel 28:19). Saul got the answer he was desperate for, but not the help he hoped. Turning away from God was his real downfall.

2. Andrea had been sick for a long time, and after countless doctor visits with no improvement, someone suggested she visit an albularyo, a folk healer. Though she was Catholic, desperation got the best of her. The healer used herbs, chants, dances, and called on spirits. Surprisingly, Andrea’s pain eased, her tests improved, and her family rejoiced—but she couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling inside. That’s because God doesn’t just care about the outcome; He cares about how we seek it. Healing that comes from a source outside God—or worse, from something opposed to Him—can never bring true peace. As the Catechism teaches (CCC 2117), “All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one's service and have a supernatural power over others—even if this were for the sake of restoring their health—are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. These practices are even more to be condemned when accompanied by the intention of harming someone, or when they have recourse to the intervention of demons. Wearing charms is also reprehensible. Spiritism often implies divination or magical practices; the Church for her part warns the faithful against it. Recourse to so-called traditional cures does not justify either the invocation of evil powers or the exploitation of another's credulity.”

3. The lesson here is clear: God loves us and truly wants to help us—but He wants us to seek help from Him, not from spirits, fortune-tellers, or superstition. Even if something makes us feel better or seems to work, it’s not worth it if it means disobeying God. That’s why the Church teaches us to pray, receive the sacraments, use sacramentals, and seek help through holy means. How we receive something is just as important as what we receive. Like the song says, “I did it my way” might sound bold, but if it means turning our backs on God, then it’s not the right way. Andrea is slowly learning that true healing comes from full trust in the Lord, and Saul’s tragic story reminds us what happens when we go looking for answers apart from Him.

4. Hindi naman sa nananakot ako… pero tatakutin na rin kita kasi kailangan mo marinig ito: be careful who you turn to for help. If you go to the occult or make a deal with the devil—even if it seems like you’re getting exactly what you asked for—you’re not getting it for free. The enemy always takes something in return: your peace, your joy, your loved ones, or your very soul. What looks like a blessing might actually be a trap. God gives freely because of His love and mercy. The devil, on the other hand, offers fake blessings—temporary relief wrapped in spiritual chains. As exorcist Fr. José Antonio Fortea warns, “The devil will give you what you want… but he will always take more than he gives.” So, if the help isn’t from God, don’t accept it—it’s never worth the price (John 10:10, CCC 2116).

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