Are you sleeping?

THE STORY is told about a Sunday school teacher who asked her children on their way to church: "Now children, why is it necessary for us to be quiet in church?" After some moments, one bright little girl replied: "Because people are sleeping"!

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Today, All Souls' Day, we commemorate those who are asleep in the Lord. We are reminded in today's Gospel (Mt. 25, 31-46), to be up and about, and to be awake and busy doing good. Are you sleeping on your job of doing good for others? The time will come when we will run out of time. You and I can say anything we want about the lives we are living, and come up with a thousand and one reasons why we are living the way we are living, but the bottom line is what Jesus tells us today: "Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." Sad to say, for some, money is the bottom line and nothing follows. Right, with money, nothing follows. But with love, eternity follows.

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Are you preparing for eternity? Reminds me of the story of a little girl who came home from Sunday school and said to her mother: "Mom, the teacher told us today that God put people in this world so that they can get ready for heaven. Why don't we see anybody getting ready?" How true. We see a lot of people getting ready for their careers, or for their retirement, and definitely, for next year's elections, but very few are really preparing for heaven. Are you?

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Even now we can distinguish who are the goats and the sheep among us. For one who experienced raising goats, I can only say that goats have an insatiable appetite. They will eat anything and everything. They never stop chewing and eating. Don't goats remind you of some people in our country who are so greedy and won't stop at anything and won't stop for anyone (our Filipino people) in their search for more wealth and power.?

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Got this text message: "Time was when you met a politician, you'd proudly shake his/her hand. Now, when you meet one, you shake your head." Amen.

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Travel light. This is the thumb rule for all of us who are on the way. We are all pilgrims in this world. We are not immigrants here! There are people who claim that they need provisions along the way, that's why they have to keep money and wealth in their pockets. May I ask: how much money do you need in this life? When is enough really enough? May I remind you too that when your pockets get too heavy, you will find the journey difficult and cumbersome. And, if you are too laden, you may not be able to reach your final destination. Sige. Ikaw rin. Bukod sa mahihirapan ka sa biyahe, baka hindi ka makarating (Careful, aside from making the journey difficult, you may not reach your destination).

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As we visit the tombs and the graves of people who have gone ahead of us, let us be reminded again that we carry nothing with us when we leave this world, except the love we have given when we were still alive.

It is unfortunate that some people continue to fill their pockets with lots of cash, and lots of trash as they travel on. What are you carrying in your pocket now? Remember, the heavier the pocket, the heavier the heart, the lighter the pocket, the lighter the heart. Gets mo?

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When you think about it, the saddest moments of our lives were the moments when we did not let go because of greed and pleasures. On the other hand, the most gratifying moments of our lives were when we gave and sacrificed. At the end of our lives, may we have no regrets that we hurt, cheated or used people. In the end, the greatest regret is that we did not love enough.

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This is a beautiful time of the year. The fields are ready for harvest. Christmas is just round the corner. Even the weather is milder. Yes, we expect more pleasant times ahead. We hope also for better times ahead for our country and for our people. Let us continue to pray to the Lord of the harvest that we will have more good leaders in our land. Lord, kung puede lang, please don't give us more goats to lead us. All they know is to eat and to chew, and will devour everything, including us.

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How does love look like? St. Augustine of Hippo gives us description of love: "It has the hands to help others; it has the feet to hasten to the poor and the needy; it has the eyes to see misery and want; it has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." As we journey on, may people see a clearer picture of what love is because they encountered them. May we all radiate God's love wherever we go, whatever we do.

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Don't miss to read the obituary section in this newspaper. It is an opportunity to pray for and ask the help of those who have gone ahead of us.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, instead of pursuing my elusive dreams of personal wealth and beauty, help me to wake up and live a life of love, now. Amen.