We are not made for material things but for the love of God

In the early morning of January 12, 2020, I went to the Parish where I am assigned for a regular weekend pastoral exposure. I left around at 5AM from Tagaytay to Cainta with the plan to come back in the afternoon. I have no bag with me because I have the things I needed in the Parish. I left without anything except my wallet, keys and cellphone. The travel was light obviously.

After lunch, the news broke out that the Taal volcano erupted and I was undecided whether to stay for the night or brave the night travel to Tagaytay. I opted to take the 5:00 PM bus from Buendia and arrived at the seminary 10:00PM. The trip was long and agonizing because everywhere we passed by was covered in ashes and the bus hardly go on because of the mud falling on the windshield.

What made me decide to come back that night was my gadgets, my valuables. I forgot that my own safety is more of unparalleled value.

What happened to me was an invitation for simplicity and minimalism; to identify what I need, what I can do without, and what is essential especially that I am preparing to the missions. Jesus reminds us all today the value of owning less and having more dependence on him and the power we have in us. The more that we own, the more that own us. We are not made for material things. We are made for the love of God.

Jesus speaks more than just traveling light. He is teaching us about dependency to God alone, and to recognize our values and abilities apart from the material things which do not at all define our worth as person nor as a child of God. Our worth is in the very fact that Christ came to save us, and have life and have it to the fullest. David in our first reading died, his greatness was remembered and he was honored but in deathbed, his wealth did not define him. In the eyes of God, material things do not count but our relationship with him do.

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FIRST READING

1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12

When the time of David’s death drew near,

   he gave these instructions to his son Solomon:

   “I am going the way of all flesh.

Take courage and be a man.

Keep the mandate of the Lord, your God, following his ways

   and observing his statutes, commands, ordinances, and decrees

   as they are written in the law of Moses,

   that you may succeed in whatever you do,

   wherever you turn, and the Lord may fulfill

   the promise he made on my behalf when he said,

   ‘If your sons so conduct themselves

   that they remain faithful to me with their whole heart

   and with their whole soul,

   you shall always have someone of your line

   on the throne of Israel.’”

David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David.

The length of David’s reign over Israel was forty years:

   he reigned seven years in Hebron

   and thirty-three years in Jerusalem.

Solomon was seated on the throne of his father David,

   with his sovereignty firmly established.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

1 Chr 29:10, 11ab, 11d-12a, 12bcd

R. (12b) Lord, you are exalted over all.

“Blessed may you be, O LORD,

   God of Israel our father,

   from eternity to eternity.”

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

“Yours, O LORD, are grandeur and power,

   majesty, splendor, and glory.”

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

“LORD, you are exalted over all.

   Yours, O Lord, is the sovereignty;

   you are exalted as head over all.

Riches and honor are from you.”

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

“In your hand are power and might;

   it is yours to give grandeur and strength to all.”

R. Lord, you are exalted over all.

GOSPEL

Mk 6:7-13

Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two

   and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick

   —no food, no sack, no money in their belts.

They were, however, to wear sandals but not a second tunic.

He said to them,

   “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave from there.

Whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you,

   leave there and shake the dust off your feet

   in testimony against them.”

So they went off and preached repentance.

The Twelve drove out many demons,

   and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.