TIME AND PERSONS: CHERISHED GIFTS!
As
I write these verses, I am in the midst of five families making their
Family Encounter Weekend (FEW) at the retreat house of the Oblates
Missionaries in Mapayapa Subdivision in Quezon City. During the morning
prayers, I was inspired to share: “Lord, we recognize two important
gifts we receive from You at the beginning of the day — the gift of
time, which when it passes can never be repeated; and the gift of
persons who are still with us now. Teach us to value these passing gifts
and enjoy them while they are with us — the gift of “now” and the gift
of “one another.”
Today’s
Gospel alerts us to this reality of our earthly existence: that all
things are indeed passing, and there are no hints and clues when things
will finally pass. We ought to use opportunities and we ought to do good
to loved ones that we may live without regrets.
Looking
at the faces of the sponsoring families and auxiliaries who have joined
us for the Family Encounter Weekend, I recognized two familiar faces —
that of a mother and her daughter who eagerly watched all the
proceedings, dialogues and exchanges of the participating five families.
During the summer of 2010, this mother and daughter were part of the
presenting family that helped me facilitate the Family Encounter. Little
did we know that that summer of 2010 would be their last time to be a
presenting family. They lost the father of their family to cancer. They
are now left with memories, albeit beautiful, because I know the father
had really
prepared himself and the family for the sad parting.
May
the ending of each liturgical year — like what we are anticipating this
month — remind us of the fragility and temporariness of even those that
we hold close and dear to our hearts. No matter how busy we are, let us
not allow this to cheat us out of making a most meaningful passage in
our lives. As time and persons fade away, we are left with memories and
legacies. Let us then focus on the building of memories and legacies. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP
REFLECTION QUESTION: Make
a list of persons close to you, and for each one of them, note down
what you wish to be able to tell them and resolve to tell them these
things the soonest.
I pray for the grace, Lord, to build meaningful memories and legacies.
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