Once upon a time, there was a teacher who posed a question to her student named Maria. The teacher asked Maria to locate North America on the map, and Maria successfully pointed to the correct location. The teacher then asked the class who discovered North America, and to everyone’s surprise, the entire class responded with “Maria!”
In today’s Gospel passage from Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus engaged in a similar questioning with his disciples. He asked them who the people say he is, and after hearing their responses, he further inquired, “But who do you say that I am?” Today, the Lord poses the same question to each one of us — “Who am I to you? Do we share a personal relationship? Am I of importance in your life?”
Beyond the opinions of others and the practices of our respective religious affiliations, what truly matters is our personal understanding and dedication to the person and mission of Jesus Christ. Often, we become so engrossed in our financial pursuits, careers, and pursuit of fame. But what about our personal journey towards God’s heart? What about our mission for Him? What about our personal relationship and commitment to Him? When we ultimately come face to face with Him, may we humbly proclaim, “Lord, mission accomplished.”
From a young age, we learn in our catechism that our purpose in life is to know, love, and serve God. Let us reflect and ensure that we are still on this path. It’s essential to reassess our route and remain steadfast on this significant journey, our most crucial journey.
We mourn the passing of Secretary Susan “Toots” Ople, the Department of Migrant Workers Secretary. She departed at the age of 61, leaving behind a legacy of a fulfilled mission. She made a deliberate choice to dedicate her life, the best of her life, to serving the Filipino people. She willingly sacrificed personal comfort and wealth due to her commitment to continuing her father Blas Ople’s legacy and her mission to serve God by being a public servant for Filipino migrant workers.
It’s important to recognize that there are public servants who aren’t politicians and politicians who are not public servants. What lies at the core is the importance of living for something or someone greater than ourselves. Ople’s life and death serve as a reminder that life extends beyond accumulating wealth and fame. It’s about making a difference.
A priest cousin, Fr. Roberto Mejia, living a humble life in the Archdiocese of Lingayen-Dagupan, exemplified a life that made a difference. He dedicated his life to serving his flock until his final breath. His daily activities revolved around hearing confessions, ministering to the sick, offering spiritual teachings and guidance, and spending significant time in prayer. He didn’t own a car, relied on public transportation, never traveled abroad, and didn’t possess a cellphone. Thank you, Insan, for reminding us about life’s priorities and what truly matters in the end.
Take a moment to reflect on your personal journey towards God’s heart. Are you drawing closer to Him? Are you becoming a better person? Remember, our life journey is not solely about traveling far and fast. It’s about embarking on a journey towards the heart – God’s heart, the hearts of others, and our very own heart.
I invite you to join our online Mass every Friday at 10 a.m. via YouTube and Facebook (jerryorbos), as well as our Saturday Mass at 9 a.m. at the Sanctuary of the Divine Word, located at the back of the Christ the King Mission Seminary in Quezon City.
Let us take a moment with the Lord. Lord, may you remind us that our most important journey in life is the journey to the heart – your heart, the hearts of others, and our very own heart. Amen.
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𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗱.
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