WIDE-EYED

WIDE-EyED

“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’” – Matthew 11:19

The first time I heard his voice, he definitely annoyed me. His voice sounded whiny and irritating. It made the hairs of my skin stand up. When he approached us and started talking, all I wanted to do was run away. I mentally told myself to shut up so I wouldn’t say anything bad. Thank God my best friend saved me from talking to him that night. The next day, I was talking to my best friend, laughing about the guy when she said, “Don’t you think you’re being a little bit harsh? He is still made after God’s image, you know.” That definitely shut me up. Jesus must have experienced the same kind of ridicule back in His time. He was called a glutton, a drunkard and a friend of the enemies of the people just because He loved to talk and hang out with them. And here I am, judging someone by his voice. For all I know, the Lord may even have the same whiny voice the annoying guy had.

This Christmas season, may we learn to see Jesus in every person we meet and avoid passing harsh judgments on him or her. May we remember that everyone we encounter is made in the image of God. Tina matanguihan

REFLECTION:

If I had lived in Jesus’ time, would I follow Him? Or would I turn away from Him and dismiss Him as a fraud?

Dear Jesus, help me see You in every person I encounter.

is it gOd OR is it me?

A glimpse into the life in a parish: Sunday Mass was scheduled at 9am, but people would always come around 9:30am, just after the homily. The parish priest asked his parishioners the cause of their tardiness. They work till late at night even on Saturdays, they said. So the priest moved the Mass to 9:30am. But then, the community would come at 10am.

“Ano ba talaga, kuya?” Thus, goes a famous advertisement line in the past. It captures the sentiment of Jesus towards the Jews of his time. John the Baptist came with his message of repentance and lived a frugal and holy life, but the people dismissed him as a demon. Then came Jesus who rejoiced with them and celebrated life with them but they branded him as a glutton and a drunkard.

Jesus compares them to errant children who are difficult to please. You tell them something and they do another thing. They practice a religion that satisfies their personal whims. Hence, even if God is already trying to work in their lives, they still insist on doing what for them satisfies their caprice.

Despite God’s efforts, we sometimes still refuse to notice God’s initiative and try to play around. Jesus’ desire is really to reach out to us. So He uses all possible ways to realize this. He uses the saints, He uses His mother. He channels His grace through the church. He uses priests and even our next-door neighbor. Now what remains is for us to finally act how we are expected to. Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes

Reflection Question:

How sensitive am I to God’s work in my life? Do I allow Him to do what He wants with my life? Or do I insist on following my own will and desires?

Lord Jesus, grant me openness of heart that I may be able to accept and follow how You are trying to lead me to Your plan for my life.

St. Damasus, Priest, pray for us.