Do not be afraid, persevere
Reflection 
Today, Thursday of the last week in ordinary time, we are reminded with these words written on the wall of King Belshazar's palace as they desecrated the vessels of our Lord with their worldly pleasures.
These words might just be for us as we continue to make compromises with the world in order for the world to accept us or in order to save our skins instead of living our lives as living martyrs in a very self-centered world.
Mene, our days are numbered. This is a reality, we are not immortals who would live forever, but our life on earth is actually a preparation in meeting the eternal bridegroom. That is why everyday of our life is a challenge for us to faithfully live out God’s desire for us, to make sure that we are prepared like the five wise virgins who made sure that they have everything they need so that they would not miss the arrival of the bridegroom (See Matthew 25:1-13). We should not be wasting our time in enriching ourselves or preserving our looks, but let us use our limited time here in earth to accumulate treasures in heaven (See Matthew 6:19-21).
Tekel. We are always wanting because we will always be sinners as long as we are in this world. We are always wanting because of the emptiness and the incompleteness that we, as human beings, constantly feel. This is an incompleteness caused by our separation from God. There is always that desire to experience the love that only God could provide, could give. And so what do we do? We try to fill that emptiness, that hole with worldly things and we know that it could not fill that hole. Our efforts won’t even make a difference, in fact, everytime we resort to worldly things to fill this feeling of emptiness, we end up digging a deeper hole, adding to the emptiness that we already feel, and so we feel even more sad, and for some of us, would instead resort to more sinful decisions and actions. We know what would happen after that, regardless, the important thing is for us to recognize our sinfulness, our incompleteness and this recognition would give us the drive to strive to faithfully follow God's will, God's desire for us.
Peres, our kingdoms will be divided. What is our kingdom? Our life, every aspect of our life. That is our kingdom. Sometimes our families, our work, our class, these can be our kingdoms. In every circle we are in, that can be our kingdom, and if we choose to follow Christ, not to conform with the world, as Christ warns in our Gospel reading, we could be put in a disadvantage and for some even lose their life? Why? Because the world does not want to live as Christ lived, because the way Christ lived is all about self-giving, sacrifice, suffering for the sake of the other and the Other. The world could not understand that and so we find opposition in our desire to live as Christ lived. The world only wants to take. What's in it for me? Our kingdoms will be divided, but have faith in God, have faith in Christ.
The last days are coming, maybe not in our lifetime, but the day for us to meet God will definitely come. Do not be afraid but persevere and strive to live according to God's will, even if it means losing a few friends here or there, or even if it means facing opposition from people you love. Just pray, pray that God would use you to help others to see the wisdom of God.
Photo: Cristina Gottardi on Unsplash
Jesus said to the crowd:
"They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."
Mene, tekel, peres.
Today, Thursday of the last week in ordinary time, we are reminded with these words written on the wall of King Belshazar's palace as they desecrated the vessels of our Lord with their worldly pleasures.
These words might just be for us as we continue to make compromises with the world in order for the world to accept us or in order to save our skins instead of living our lives as living martyrs in a very self-centered world.
Mene, our days are numbered. This is a reality, we are not immortals who would live forever, but our life on earth is actually a preparation in meeting the eternal bridegroom. That is why everyday of our life is a challenge for us to faithfully live out God’s desire for us, to make sure that we are prepared like the five wise virgins who made sure that they have everything they need so that they would not miss the arrival of the bridegroom (See Matthew 25:1-13). We should not be wasting our time in enriching ourselves or preserving our looks, but let us use our limited time here in earth to accumulate treasures in heaven (See Matthew 6:19-21).
Tekel. We are always wanting because we will always be sinners as long as we are in this world. We are always wanting because of the emptiness and the incompleteness that we, as human beings, constantly feel. This is an incompleteness caused by our separation from God. There is always that desire to experience the love that only God could provide, could give. And so what do we do? We try to fill that emptiness, that hole with worldly things and we know that it could not fill that hole. Our efforts won’t even make a difference, in fact, everytime we resort to worldly things to fill this feeling of emptiness, we end up digging a deeper hole, adding to the emptiness that we already feel, and so we feel even more sad, and for some of us, would instead resort to more sinful decisions and actions. We know what would happen after that, regardless, the important thing is for us to recognize our sinfulness, our incompleteness and this recognition would give us the drive to strive to faithfully follow God's will, God's desire for us.
Peres, our kingdoms will be divided. What is our kingdom? Our life, every aspect of our life. That is our kingdom. Sometimes our families, our work, our class, these can be our kingdoms. In every circle we are in, that can be our kingdom, and if we choose to follow Christ, not to conform with the world, as Christ warns in our Gospel reading, we could be put in a disadvantage and for some even lose their life? Why? Because the world does not want to live as Christ lived, because the way Christ lived is all about self-giving, sacrifice, suffering for the sake of the other and the Other. The world could not understand that and so we find opposition in our desire to live as Christ lived. The world only wants to take. What's in it for me? Our kingdoms will be divided, but have faith in God, have faith in Christ.
The last days are coming, maybe not in our lifetime, but the day for us to meet God will definitely come. Do not be afraid but persevere and strive to live according to God's will, even if it means losing a few friends here or there, or even if it means facing opposition from people you love. Just pray, pray that God would use you to help others to see the wisdom of God.
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