Inside the church hall three boys were bragging to each other. One boy said, my uncle is an excellent Archbishop, everybody admires him, just then he entered the hall and everyone greeted him with; “Good evening your Excellency.” The second boy said; my uncle ranks eminently higher, he is a Cardinal! Coming in the hall everybody greeted him with; “Good evening your Eminence.” The third boy said, that’s nothing. My uncle is God. Then a six hundred-pounder man standing seven feet tall appeared walking down the hall and was met with thunderous exclaiming audience saying; “ Oh, My God ”!
Facebook and other social media outlets are like global stage for people to impress on others about almost anything either related or not to their lives. Some spend hours adoring themselves with fashion-enhancing cosmetics and outfits to exude an aura of elegance or vibes of lasting glamor? Others show versatility and impressive verbiage articulation. The list of self-projection regiments can be endless. But the silver-lining question is; How have you affected other people’s lives? Does your life center only around yourself, your family, your interest and self-serving agenda such that you become alienated from the rest. Do you realize that selfishness, pride and greed create a lonely world and self-isolation? How do other people’s lives affect you? Are you moved with compassion to feed the hungry, help the destitute or heal the wounds and pains of the suffering? We exist for a reason and reason to exist?
Jesus challenges us to make a difference in people’s lives being a light of the world and salt of the earth. That means, giving good example to others with righteous living, being fair with people, true to our words, faithful to God and the church. Forget your impression-making business, but be expressive of what’s in your mind and heart. It’s not enough to feel pity for the poor, express it with charitable deeds. It’s not enough to feel sorry for a hurt done, humbly ask for forgiveness. Love is not just to be felt, but to be expressed and lived. Jesus said, let your light shine before men that they see your good works and give glory to God. Your good works are not for your vain glory, but for the honor of God.
On the flip side, someone said that when they can’t find anything wrong with you, they create it. Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love. A beautiful day begins with a beautiful mindset. Happy are those who take life day by day, complain very little, and are thankful for the little things in life. Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them.
St. Faustina wrote Jesus’ words; “You’re not alone, My heart watches you.” (Diary 799).
Pray the Divine Mercy prayer every 3 p.m. Daily pray the Chaplet and the Holy Rosary for peace.