What is your
priority in life? Many people nowadays make sure that by the end of the month
they would be bringing a hefty paycheck to sustain their modern lifestyle. They
do their best to fall on a profitable profession just so they may live their
dream life in their dream house, and ride on their dream car. How many of us
pay attention to our purpose in life? How many dare to ask an existential
question like: “Why am I here for?” This is a fundamental question on which all
our other priorities stand. Without asking and answering this inquiry all that
we do are simply a collection of aimless actions devoid of any direction and
end in mind. Thus when challenges and difficulties confront us, we find
ourselves fidgeting from them. We surrender and give-up easily. But as a wise
man once said: “He who has a why to live can bear almost anyhow. A person who
has found a purpose in life can overcome any obstacle in their path. If you
know why your life is important, and you know that your goal is a positive one,
you can suffer through almost any defeat without giving up or quitting."
What then is our priority in life?
In the gospel (Lk
10:38-42), Jesus encounters two women busying themselves on two different
things: Martha, who burdened herself with much serving (the needs of the
guests), and Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to him speak. Martha
complained to our Lord, probably because she lost sight of the reason why she
was doing all those preparation in the kitchen and at the table, and
consequently, she grew tired of what she was doing. Her sister Mary, however,
chose to listen to the Lord. Mary knew what is more important at that very
moment. More than the dishes and utensils to be prepared, Martha gave priority
to Jesus. She took time listening to the Lord.
On the complaint of Martha Jesus had this to say: “Martha, Martha, you
are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.
Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” And this is
the same counsel of Jesus to us who may have lost sight of the most significant
priority of our life. We have been anxious and worried about many things, and
we have forgotten Jesus in our life.
The Good News is
that even if we lose our way and revert to the trivial occupations in life, the
Lord sends someone or something that would lead us back to Him. When the
Ninevites heard the prophecy of Jonah (Jonah 3:1-10), they repented from their
sins against the Lord. As Jonah warned them of their impending destruction due
to their offense against God, they changed their way of life and chose to
return to the Lord. They proclaimed a fast and covered themselves with
sackcloth and ashes. Everyone turned from his evil ways and from the violence
they had in their hands. They hoped that God might relent and forgive, and
withhold his blazing wrath so that they would not perish. When God saw how they
turned from their evil ways, He relented of the evil He had threatened to do to
them; He did not carry it out. The Lord sends prophets among us who will remind
us of what is most important in life. He showed to us, through His Son, what is
our priority in life. That is to be with Him; to be in His presence.
Have you lost
track of your priority in life and just do things aimlessly and meaninglessly?
Know your purpose in life. Take some time to sit down and be in God's presence.
You will know better. But will you choose the better part? Will you be a Mary?
No comments:
Post a Comment