Managers or Abusers?
Actively Waiting in Love
October 20, 2020
Set the Word on Fire!
October 22, 2020PITIK-BULAG: Managers or Abusers?
We don’t like the end of a movie when we are enjoying it. We hate it when a good party is about to end. We love to extend anything in this life. But since everything in this world is temporal, endings will always be part of our life.
Sad to say, when someone is young, rich, powerful, greedy, and attached to material things, we tend to forget that everything will end sometime, especially our life. Time flies. And when that final moment comes, God will take everything that he loaned and invested in us and will expect returns. As managers or caretakers of His blessings, God will seek a detailed account of every single blessing we received from Him. Are you ready? Are you a good manager of God’s blessings?
Our gospel today is not all about the impending coming of our Lord. It is also about the accounting of every single blessing God entrusted to us. We are liable for everything God has given, especially our life. He will check all his investments, including time, treasure, and talents.
Reality bites. Everything has its endings. We need to be prepared for the moment of accounting with the Lord. Consider the following points for your prayer:
1. NO DATES OF HIS COMING. No one knows the day of our death or His coming. We are invited to be more vigilant and be prepared anytime. For those who are ready, death is a friend, not an enemy.
“You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.” (Luke 12:40).
2. THE CALL TO BECOME A GOOD STEWARD OF GOD’S BLESSINGS.
“Who then is the faithful and prudent manager whom his master will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time?” (Luke 12:42).
We don’t own anything in this world. Everything is a gift and entrusted to us. We are expected to manage all these blessings, including our loved ones, time, treasure, and talents. Are you a good manager of your life? Any profit?
3. BEWARE OF THREE TEMPTATIONS.
a. Becoming unkind and disrespectful to co-workers.
” He begins to beat the other slaves, men, and women.” (Luke 12:45)
b. Excessive indulgence to human pleasures.
“He begins to eat and drink.” (Luke 12:45).
c. Intoxication to worldly things like wealth, power, and honor.
“He gets drunk.” (Luke 12:45).
The Lord invites us to be more vigilant against these temptations. They are like thieves too. No one knows when is their vicious attack by enticing us to their traps of lies and deceits. We don’t want our enemies to steal our inner joy, tranquility, and righteousness.
But what really constitutes our downfall from grace to sin? What makes us forget our obligations as stewards of God? Here are some possible reasons:
a. LACK OF CHARITY. Never forget what the Lord said to his servants: “He will put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time.” (Luke 12:42). The antidote is cura personalis or personal care.
b. LACK OF SPIRITUAL FOCUS. Prayer counts a lot to maintain our eyes on God. Prayer helps to resist temptations and keep us from falling into the devil’s trap. The antidote is to name our inordinate attachments.
c. LACK OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. We are perpetually inclined to satisfy our human desires. Thus, we are always invited to discipline ourselves from the temptations of the flesh. The antidote is agere contra (going against our will).
d. LACK OF SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. We don’t own anything in this world. Everything is a pure gift. Thus, we are just caretakers of everything we possess. We are asked to protect, propagate, and multiply the gifts and blessings entrusted to us. The antidote is knowing our sense of purposefulness or mission.
Are you a good manager of your life? What are your gains or losses? If the Lord will come now, are you ready to face Him with plenty or nothing? Are you a steward or abuser of God’s blessings?
If you’re a good manager, to reach the end of your life is a huge blessing. You will hear the Lord telling you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:31).
– Fr. Willy M. Samson, SJ
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October 21, 2020
