September 13th 2021 is a day that will long live in my collection of infamy. My heaven came crashing down on that day. My hopes were dashed and I sunk to the very low. Our daughter consoled me by saying that Satan is a liar. 

He indeed is. 

As happened way back in 1995, whenever I am in my low moments, I find time to reflect deeply, cogitate and strategize. I tend to read a lot and consult with friends on pathways for coping. I also pray to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

In these past days, I have reflected on Matthew 7:15, the fifteenth verse of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament, part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse begins the section warning against false prophets. In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s

clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

October is the month of horror movies. DSTV and Netflix have lined all manner of goodies for the month. During my reflective and pensive mood, my good friend Chairman, suggested I watch the Netflix original 2021 miniseries `Midnight Mass’.  The series is an American supernatural horror streaming television miniseries created and directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Zach GilfordKate SiegelHamish LinklaterRahul Kohli and Henry Thomas. The plot centers on an isolated island community that experiences supernatural events after the arrival of a mysterious priest. It was released on Netflix on September 24, 2021and has so far received positive reviews, with particular praise given to Hamish Linklater and Samantha Sloyan‘s performances, along with Flanagan’s direction https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2762261273.

Legendary horror writer Stephen King gives a plus. I discover that Flanagan was born in Salem. The same town as King’s horror `Salem’s Lot’ is cast.

The script is crafted to follow Bible styling broken into seven books, namely: “Book I: Genesis”, “Book II: Psalms”, “Book III: Proverbs”, “Book IV: Lamentations”, “Book V: Gospels”, “Book VI: Act of The Apostles” and “Book VII: Revelation”. 

The plot is out of this world, the subject matter macabre at its best, and the acting is fantastic. For me, it is Hamish Linklater who steals the day. He acts as Father Paul Hill, the enigmatic new priest at St. Patrick’s Church, who arrives to replace the aging Monsignor Pruitt temporarily. The man preaches with passion, intellect, and oratory that is most appealing and imaginative. It is within these sermons that we are spellbound momentarily believing in the faith. 

The musical score by the Newton Brothers weaves rhythm to the drama. The all-time favorite hymn ‘Holy God, We Praise Your Name’ fortifies the fateful midnight street march of the ‘faithful’ to the mass. The music accelerates our pulsating pulse to an all-time high.

But therein lies the deception. A false prophet in sheep’s clothing!

Watch the show folks!

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