You have no idea what your life will
be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then
disappears. – James 4:14
THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT
A wake has a way of making you reflect on your life. Especially if the person you’re visiting died young.
The other day, I came from two wakes. One was for a 50-year-old
businesswoman who had left behind a husband, their five-year-old son,
and their barely one-year-old dream house. The other was for a
95-year-old grandma who had left behind three children, 14 grandkids and
16 great grandkids.
Comparing the two women, it’s easy to think that my friend who died in
her 50s had her life cut short. She could have had so many other
experiences and accomplished many other dreams. I couldn’t help but
think of the plans she had made with her husband that will remain
unfulfilled. I also thought of the many years her son will grow up
missing his mother. But knowing how my friend lived and died, I can say
that she faithfully stewarded the years that the Lord had entrusted to
her.
In the end, it’s not how many years we lived but how we lived those
years. Whether we live long or not, we want to leave behind a legacy of
faithfulness for those who will come after us. Rissa Singson-Kawpeng
1ST READING
What
really matters in life? Is it the amount of money we hope to make in a
lifetime? Is it the acclaim of the world regarding how brilliant we are
at a particular sport or intellectual pursuit? Is it whether or not we
gain eternal life? The former things are for this world only — we cannot
take any of it with us when we die. Eternal life is forever. This is
what James reminds us of in the reading today. He is not saying that we
should not work hard at our jobs but he is encouraging us to keep things
in their proper perspective.
James 4:13-17
13 Beloved:
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and
such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit — 14 you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. 15 Instead you should say, “If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.” 16 But now you are boasting in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.
P S A L M
Psalm 49:2-3, 6-7, 8-10, 11
R: Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!
1 [2] Hear this, all you peoples; hearken, all who dwell in the world, 2 [3] of lowly birth or high degree, rich and poor alike. (R) 5 [6] Why should I fear in evil days when my wicked ensnarers ring me round? 6 [7] They trust in their wealth; the abundance of their riches is their boast. (R) 7 [8] Yet in no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God; 8 [9] too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough 9 [10] to remain alive always and not see destruction. (R) 10 [11] For he can see that wise men die, and likewise the senseless and the stupid pass away, leaving to others their wealth. (R)
GOSPEL
Jesus
is not worried about competition if it is about the truth. If someone
is truly working for the Kingdom of God, we should help them and not
hinder them, even if we may
not totally agree with them in every aspect of doctrine and belief. If
the basis is there for a healthy relationship, it does not matter that
the relationship is not yet perfect.
Mark 9:38-40
38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” think: If someone is truly working for the Kingdom of God, we should help them and not hinder them. 39 Jesus
replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty
deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us.”
REFLECTION
HE WILLS
In
high school, groups of seminarians would go to our school to conduct
vocation campaigns and awareness seminars. But I particularly remember
the leaders of Youth Marian Crusade, especially Aloy Aliño (now a priest
of the Diocese of Cubao) who quoted today’s First Reading: “You have no
idea what your life will be like tomorrow. Instead, say, ‘If the Lord
wills it.’”
It lingered with me for some time but made a shallow impact on me then,
until Jesus manifested His personal call to me to the priesthood. At
that time, when I was seriously considering priesthood, it was clear to
me that I wanted to be a missionary, without fully realizing what it
meant or what it would require. Growing up, I had a fascination to be in
mission. I enjoyed participating in immersion and outreach programs. I
was attracted to the immense possibility of the world outside my comfort
zone.
I eventually entered the Our Lady of the Angels Franciscan Seminary
where, inspired by the missionary heart of St. Francis and his
followers, I was introduced to the fascinating challenge of foreign
missions.
But the Lord had another plan. I did not become a missionary in a
foreign land. Instead, my assignments as a priest were in Pasig,
Malabon, and eventually in Tondo, where I was pastor of different
parishes for almost 19 years. I had no idea how I would turn out; I only
knew that whoever and whatever I am today, it is because of the Lord.
Because He willed it. He wills it.
Looking back, most people who knew me then said that my decision to
enter the seminary was radical. I thought so, too. In fact, I considered
myself anything but priestly. But that is precisely how Jesus called
His first disciples. He chose, and
made them worthy, no matter how radical it all seemed. And like how I
was inspired years ago to take the first step to respond
to His call to the priesthood, may I also be a testimony to others, now
as a priest, in following Him concretely through active witnessing to
His love — to always be for Him, and Him alone. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS
"Lord Jesus, may I always be ready to obey Your will."
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