Just looking

The story is told about a man who joined a support group for procrastinators. Guess what? They haven’t met yet.

In today’s Gospel (Jn. 6:24-35), Jesus sounded disappointed at the crowd that could not understand His real message, because they were so caught up with signs and material things and kept postponing their conversion into living for more spiritual and lasting things. They were following Him not because He was the Bread of Life, but simply because they wanted bread.

Many of us spend a whole lifetime just looking, or just looking around, and set aside our looking for Jesus. And so it is that many people spend so much time and effort for hanap-buhay (looking for a living), or hanap-bahay (looking for a place to stay), or hanap- pangalan (looking for a name or a measure of fame). Worse, there are those who get involved in hanap-away (looking for quarrels), or hanap-sarap (looking for pleasures).

What are you looking for? When will you start really looking for Jesus?

Sickness and accidents teach and remind us that life is fragile and short, and that death is certain and can come at any moment. When we come to life’s end, may we have little or no regrets that we pursued vain and selfish dreams, and ended up accumulating useless and meaningless things.

While waiting at the holding area before my surgery, I could hear the chatter of the medical staff talking about the latest gadgets, fashion, rumors. I wanted to tell them: “Hello! I’m here fighting for my life, and all you talk about are those that don’t really matter at all!”

Lord, deliver us from shallow talk, useless chatter and selfish concerns. And help us to graduate from craving for perishable bread to life-giving bread.

Two weeks after my lung surgery, I finally was able to yawn! What a great feeling just to be able to make a simple, glorious yawn, fill my lungs with air and release it to the max. It is nature’s way of reminding us to breathe in, relax and let go. It is nature’s way to remind us to be grateful that we are still breathing and alive.

These past two weeks were spent just sleeping, eating, and praying—something I haven’t done for so many years because of “miles to go” and “promises to keep.” I am grateful for this time of my life. Sickness has its own reward. It is a special time with oneself and with God, away from the maddening crowd. Having said that, I know that there are people who do not have the luxury of rest and reflection because, due to poverty, they have no access to medical assistance.

Today is the mission sending of our young missionaries to their mission assignments: Fr. Jay de Leon, SVD (South Africa); Fr. Reyann Orlandez, SVD (Argentina), and Fr. Guddie Abaya, SVD (Germany).

They are our gift to the world. Yes, the mission goes on, whether to a foreign land or here at home. Let us not procrastinate in our mission. “If today you hear His voice, harden not your heart.” (Heb 3:7-8)

Think about this: “Sometimes we come to life’s crossroads and we think it’s the end… When in fact, it is just a bend; after some rest and reflection, a path that is hidden or unnoticed by us is revealed by God, and joyfully, gratefully, we move on; Yes, the journey goes on, and we are not, and never alone.”

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us not to postpone our conversion, and our mission. Amen.

jorbos@inquirer.com.ph