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Word Alive–Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD February 13, 2022/6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Can fame and money buy happiness? Those who lived in the 70s might remember the rock-and-roll superstar Elvis Presley who went on to make dozens of Gold Records, sent millions of hysterical fans into ululations of delight, and grossed US$1 billion in earnings—before he died at the young age of 42, in August, 1977. He died of an excess of drugs and junk food.
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Modern psychiatry’s files are loaded with cases of persons who have managed to acquire everything they thought they needed to make them happy, except peace of soul.
Do you know that Elvis Presley’s attractive and talented actress and partner, Dolores Hart, in many record-breaking movies turned her back on Hollywood and huge wealth for a “higher calling”? She now lives in solitude at the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in rural Connecticut, USA away from the glitter of the silver screen. She spends her cloistered life in peace, prayer and contemplation.
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When Christ came, he taught a blueprint or guideline for living which turned upside down the prescriptions for happiness the world offers. That prescription is contained in this 6th Sunday’s gospel on “Beatitudes” (Be-Happy Attitudes) according to St. Luke (6,28-38).
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Jesus declares, “Happy are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.”
What Jesus meant by “being poor” was not just material poverty. Jesus never intended to approve of the grinding poverty that we see in the slums of our cities.
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In the first Beatitude, Jesus does not mean that only the poor will enter Heaven. Poverty is not necessarily a virtue. A poor man who curses his lot, whose sole obsession in life is to be as rich as his wealthy neighbor and does it by illegal means is very poor, indeed. But if, despite poverty, one can turn to God and help his fellowmen, then poverty is a Christian virtue.
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On the other hand, the rich are “poor” if they have the spirit of DETACHMENT from their wealth or don’t forget God as the source of their blessings. Also, they are poor when they are charitable, not just enjoying life in lavish and luxurious living. They are rich but also spiritually poor.
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Is your life on earth guided by Jesus’ prescription in achieving a true and lasting happiness? What motivates you in life? Is it only worldly riches or the heavenly riches?
Jesus said, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffers the loss of his own soul?” (Mt 16, 24). For his part, St. Augustine who, after a life lived in worldly pleasures, said in the end: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
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THE LIGHTER SIDE. Three kids are bragging to each other. The first says, “Our house is worth P20 million.” The second countered, “Our garage alone costs P15 million.” Unimpressed, the third says, “That’s nothing. Our roof alone is worth P500 million.” The two kids were dumbfounded. “Why so expensive?” they said. He replied: “Our roof is the flyover!”
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I asked God to alleviate world hunger. He replied, “No, that’s very difficult.” I asked God to make me handsome. He looked at me and said, “Let’s go back to world hunger!”
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SUPPORT SEMINARIANS. Seminarians are very important in the Church. Without them, we cannot have priests, missionaries, and bishops since they all start as seminarians.
Donate any amount or sponsor a seminarian’s schooling good for one year. For inquiry, e-mail me at: belsvd@gmail.com or send donation through BDO savings account–Fr. Isabelo San Luis, # 00022 0051623.
