Alexander the Great, the great Greek King of Macedon, wished three things before he died. As a military commander, he was undefeated and the most successful warrior throughout history. On his way home from conquering many countries, he contacted an illness. At that moment, his captured territories, his powerful army and his wealth had no more meaning to him. He realized that death would soon arrive. He told his officers: “I would soon leave this world. I have three final wishes. You need to carry out what I tell you.” His generals, in tears, agreed. “My first wish is to have my physician bring my coffin home alone.” After gasping for air, Alexander continued, “My second wish is scatter the gold, silver, and gems from my treasure-house along the path to the tomb when you bring my coffin to the grave.” After wrapping in a woolen blanket and resting for a while, he said: “My final wish is to put my hands outside the coffin.” People sorrounding him were all curious, but no one dared to ask the reason. Alexander’s most favored general kissed his hand and asked: “My Majesty, we will follow your instructions. But can you tell us why you want us to do this way?” After taking a deep breath, Alexander said: “I want everyone to understand the three lessons I have learned. To let my physician carry my coffin alone is to let people realize that a physician cannot really cure people’s illness. Especially when they face death, the physicians are powerless. I hope people will learn to treasure their lives. My second wish is to tell people not to be like me in pursuing wealth. I spent my whole life pursuing wealth, but I was wasting my time most of the time. My third wish is to let people understand that I came to this world in empty hands and I will leave this world also in empty hands.” He closed his eyes after speaking and stopped breathing. In the Gospel today, our Lord Jesus reminded the rich fool man that hoarding wealth was not a guarantee of a happy life. What if “this night his life will be demanded of him?” The tragedy that the earthquake 7.2 magnitude has brought the Visayan people and some people of Mindanao to their knees. Until now as of this writing, aftershocks with magnitude between 4 to 5 occur from time to time, making people nervous and unable to sleep. The question is, “Are riches have meaning in this ordeal?” I believe NO! Uncertainties are in the faces of our brothers and sisters in the Visayas! Just a wink of an eye, God forbid, everything will be gone! What is the message of God in this tribulation? I believe that we are purified by the Lord through this calamity! Maybe because we become so materialistic that we forget the essence of having which is sharing. We become too selfish so as not to share anything to our unfortunate brethren. I believe that this a soul-searching moments for all of us! C. S. Lewis has this very prophetic pronouncement: “We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” (The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis). It is time for us to wake from sleep. All of us are reminded that what happens in Bohol, Cebu, the rest of the Visayas and other parts of Mindanao, will happen to us! God forbid! That is why we have to pray hard! Today is the 1st Anniversary of the Canonization of San Pedro Calungsod of the Visayas! Let us exhort his powerful intercession now and always! He knows our worries and anxieties! Together with him, let us storm the Heavens with our prayers! Let us pray: Saint Pedro Calungsod, student, cathechist, young migrant, missionary, faithful friend, martyr, you inspire us by your fidelity in times of adversity; by your courage in teaching the Faith in the midst of hostility; and by your love in shedding your blood for the sake of the Gospel. Make our troubles your own (mention your requests) and intercede for us before the throne of Mercy and Grace so that, as we experience the help of heaven, we may be encouraged to live and proclaim the Gospel here on earth. Amen! Print Friendly Version of this pagePrint Get a PDF version of this webpagePDF
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 02:51:09 +0000
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