Posted by The WORD in other words (2023) by Fr Fred Saniel SVD – Catholic Trade Manila
Friday 34th Week in Ordinary Time
We desire something that endures with the passing of time. When we buy appliances, gadgets, machines, etc., we look for the best quality, the best brand, and the cheapest one. Certainly, those things of better and higher quality come with a higher price. Nonetheless, we do not hesitate to pay more as long as the quality we desire comes with a guarantee.
In terms of relationships, we seek a stable relationship. Naghahanap din tayo ng ‘forever – yung nagtatagal, matibay, tapat – anuman ang mangyari di kaiiwanan (We look for relationships that last “forever” – long-lasting, enduring, honest…whatever happens).
Unfortunately, there is nothing in this world that lasts forever. Reality imposes on us the certainty of death, of expiration. Our parents, our loved ones, things we own, and even our own life would, one day, vanish into the realm of nothingness. Even heaven and earth will pass away, as Jesus proclaims.
Yet there is one that will always be there – eternally alive, eternally present, eternally joyful, eternally good, and beautiful. It is God — the God who is present in Jesus’ holy words.
God’s holy words are written in Sacred Scriptures. God’s own holy word that was made a human flesh is the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Word of God-made-flesh, the same holy Word that is now accessible to us through the Sacred Scriptures.
Reading and meditating on God’s holy words bring life that never ends. It is a life forever filled with joy the world cannot give. However, it does not come cheap. Though it is entirely free and accessible to all, the ‘price to pay’ is not about money but the love willing to sacrifice.
This love is given away and shared, the love that seeks to reconcile and facilitate peace, the love that seeks to find and experience God in every moment, place, and people. It is a love that does not come from us. It is the love of God that works in our human life as we endeavor to live God’s holy words.
