Selfie Tayo

Listening to the Spirit

Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word
so that all your people may know and love You more
and understand You better.

As I go about my day may I not forget
the scriptures you have opened up for me.

Help me to recognize how You want for me
to apply Your Word to my daily life.

Holy Spirit, guided by Your Word,
may You enlighten my mind
and enkindle in my heart
a greater love for You and for others
in my family and in the world.

Amen.

Listening to the Word

Lk 12:13-21

Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” He replied to him, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?”

Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” ’ But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’

Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves but are not rich in what matters to God.”

Reflection

“Selfie Tayo.”
All of us are a little addicted to pictures. We run like desperate just to join the group picture. We love to see ourselves part of a group in the school, in the parish, in the office, during a celebration, and especially with our “barkada.” Sometimes it is too much because we become obsessed with this thing, but at least in our minds and hearts, there is a “WE” and not an “I.”

But then some of us start posting pictures and videos (Tik-Tok) of them alone. Is it wrong? Not really, but it depends on what is happening in the hearts. Some girls and boys are aware that they are pretty and “gwapo”; therefore, they start a sort of competition posting pictures and waiting for the “Likes.” In the beginning, the expectations are low; thus, even a few likes can satisfy them. But if the machine starts working at that point, within the person also starts a sort of search, desperate hunting for likes. They make us feel important, good, powerful, and cool. They make us feel somebody. Am I sure of that?

We can answer with conviction that that is only VANITY. See the First Reading of today’s Word of God. It means that it is only an illusion and does not make me happy, but very much weak because it is not those things that GIVE MEANING TO OUR LIVES. And so, the difficult question: WHAT DOES GIVE MEANING TO OUR LIVES? Is it a picture? Is it money, as it is pointed out by Jesus in the Gospel?

The answer to the question is: TO BE WITH, TO RELATE WITH.

First, with God. My relationship with Him is not so immediate, so spontaneous, but it does really give meaning to our lives! I often invite people to have 10 minutes with the Lord, remaining silent and listening to what He wants to communicate to us. Yes Lord, “You have the message of eternal life.” (Jn 6,69).

Second, the relationships with others. Even this one is not simple. There are people struggling to build friendships, but we are done growing relationships with others. I am, when I relate with HIM and with the many people with whom I share my time, feelings, dreams, and passions, and with whom I can be an INSTRUMENT of peace, serenity, support, care, well-being, and spiritual and physical healing. Those things remain in my heart, in the hearts of the people I encounter, and forever in the heart of God.

THIS IS NOT VANITY! THIS IS DEEP AND CONSISTENT JOY!