Keep pointing to God
The story is told about a teacher who said: “Maria, go to the map and find North America.” Maria obliged and pointed to North America. The teacher said: “Correct! Now, class, who discovered North America?” And the whole class said: “Maria!”
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In today’s Gospel (Matthew 16: 13-20), Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do people say that the Son of man is?” After hearing their answers, He went on to ask: “But who do you say that I am?” Today, the Lord asks each one of us: “Who am I to you? Do we have a personal relationship with each other? Am I important to you?”
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Today is the Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. These two great men of the Church could not have done what they did if they had not personally encountered the Lord, and if they had not had a personal relationship with Him. We marvel at their great deeds for the sake of the Kingdom, but more so, we honor them because we know that they did it all with hearts full of love and gratitude for their personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They were not just functionaries, but disciples who had been deeply touched personally by their Master.
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The other day, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The deepest relationship with the Lord emanates from the heart, and not so much from the head. Let us be reminded that the greatest journey in our lives is the journey to God’s heart. May we not be so focused on our financial journey, popularity journey, or fame journey so as to forget or belittle, our journey with the Lord in this life, and to the Lord in the next life.
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The road less traveled is the road best traveled, but many shun or avoid it because it is the road that leads to hiddenness and oblivion. Furthermore, it is the way of the cross and sacrifice. But sooner or later, we all have to travel that lonely stretch in our life’s journey, when we experience trials, sickness, persecution, deprivation, humiliation, and loneliness. We take consolation and inspiration in Jesus’ words today, that He will be with us every step of the way.
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The key to a peaceful and happy life is to joyfully trust the Lord. Instead of focusing mostly on hurts and problems and their solutions, let us learn to joyfully entrust everything and everyone unto the Lord. It is perhaps naive, simplistic, or maybe foolish, but a person who joyfully trusts in the Lord is a person who has found a great treasure.
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Look at trials as moments of tremendous grace. Mama always reminded us that when we experience pain, hurt, disappointment, sickness, and persecution, we are already doing our purgatory here on earth, and when we die, we will go straight to heaven. Simple words of wisdom and inspiration from a prayerful, humble, simple and loving heart.
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Ask yourself today: How is my journey to God’s heart? Am I closer to God now? Am I a better person now? Remember, our journey in life is not so much about going far and fast. It is about journeying to the heart—to God’s heart, to other people’s hearts, and to our very own heart. Remember, the journey is not about yourself. It is about someone or something greater than yourself. All of us can become witnesses of God’s presence and love. Let us all become GEMs—God Encounter Makers! May people encounter God when they encounter us, and this happens if we know how to fade away and keep pointing to Him, not to ourselves. “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:30)
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I had a mass with the Magsino family in Lipa City to celebrate the 100th birthday of Mommy Lilian Magsino, matriarch of the Our Lady of Mediatrix Medical Center. What an inspiration to see a woman who is so full of joy and so loved by so many, especially by her children whom she raised to become not only successful, but helpful to so many people.
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Last June 24, I went to pray for Eggan, a 10-year-old boy who was going to have a brain tumor operation. Such faith he had! How little and fragile we all are, but how big our God is! All of us, old or young, big or small, can become GEMs—God Encounter Makers in our own way. We may not be a Peter or a Paul, but we all can become God’s witness, every day.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to keep pointing to You, not to ourselves. Amen.
