SATURDAY 25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8, Luke 9:43-45
SERVE THE LORD NOW THAT YOU CAN
I was moved to tears recently when I saw a man who normally attends mass everyday could not move any longer due to old age. During my conversation with him, he said that what he misses most is the fact that he could not attend mass any longer. Nevertheless, he was very happy that he served God very well when he was still very active.
When I celebrate up to 3 masses on a Sunday, I usually hear the comment, you are still young na, you have all the energy.
The words of Qoheleth in the first reading of today is very touching as we gradually come to the end of the book. It will make many people especially the young, to think about their lives. He advises that young people should enjoy their lives and be happy now that they are still young, they should not live as if they are already old. At the same time, he reminds us that we should be conscious of the fact that whatever we do now that we are still strong and active in the name of enjoyment, will affect us in the future. Many people are suffering today because of the choices they made, the decisions they took and the lifestyle they lived when they were young.
Qoheleth reminds us that we often think that there is always time. We may be very young and active today, but before we know what is happening, we will become frail and weak. We should therefore remember to serve God very well in the days of our youth. We should not only think of pleasures when we are active.
If we serve God in our youthful and active days, God will understand with us when we are weak and old and can no longer actively serve him.
Many youths today have forgotten God, they are after pleasure and quick money. Many things they have engaged themselves in have led them away from God, Qoheleth is advising us all today to serve God better now.
Those who can still move, see, talk and smile should put the best of their energy in doing the work of God. God help us to serve him worthily today. God help us Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
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