What things do you focus on? What are your priorities in life? Take time now to assess and realign your priorities - Daily Reflections August 4,2013

TO LIVE BEYOND TOMORROW

I will never forget this priest I once visited in his convent in the province. I did not know him personally; he was only referred to me by a priest friend. I went to their place because I needed a room in which to spend the night before my next trip to another island. I was surprised when I saw his room, which was just about five by five meters, with only one old wooden bed, a stool, and a toilet and washroom combined. I ventured to ask him where his other furniture and things were. He answered by asking me the same question. I said that I was just passing by. He said that he, too, was just passing by.

       This truth of “passing by” this life seems to be forgotten by many. Some live as if they are certain to stay here for a long while. And then, suddenly, they are gone, together with their dreams, wishes, plans and other future intents. The Lord Jesus in today’s Gospel reminds us of this important truth. A song says it well: “We may never pass this way again.” Whatever good we must do, we should do it now, for tomorrow may never come. Death comes like a thief in the night; it comes at a time when it is least expected.

       There is nothing wrong with acquiring riches. God gave us gifts to use to make our lives meaningful. But that is what gifts are for — they are to be used to achieve life’s ultimate goal of reaching the Kingdom. Anything we acquire and generate with those gifts are to be spent for that main purpose. Because when the time comes, we will leave them all behind. So we must use them to advance our spiritual life.

       We can go back to the words of Jesus, “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal” (Matthew 6:20). Our destiny is heaven. It is what we must prepare and live for. Let us not be enslaved by the world. Let heaven be our constant focus. There, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away”(Revelation 21:4). Fr. Benny Tuazon

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What things do you focus on? What are your priorities in life? Take time now to assess and realign your priorities.

Holy Spirit, grant me a sense of detachment from the present materialism in the world. Help me to focus more on what waits in the afterlife.