Looking in All the Wrong Places

ORO TI WONYI NIPA IKA KA
fun January 18th, 2014

Awọn ọrọ Liturgical Nibi

WE nigbagbogbo ma ni idunnu nitori a n wa imuṣẹ ni gbogbo awọn aaye ti ko tọ. Stin Justin wa ninu awọn imọ-imọ-jinlẹ, Augustine ni ohun-elo-ọrọ, Teresa ti Avila ninu awọn iwe itan-ọrọ, Faustina ni ijó, Bartolo Longo ni satanism, Adam ati Efa ni agbara…. Nibo ni o wa?

In today’s first reading, Saul and his servant go in search of his father’s missing “asses”—perhaps a fitting symbol of all those little things we endlessly search for during our day to give comfort, security, and happiness: food, entertainment, frivolous pleasures, excessive sports, television, video games, the internet….

Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals.

They were looking in all the wrong places. In fact, God had more mimu plans for Saul. It took a “prophetic word” to get him pointed in the right direction after he encountered “the seer,” Samuel. He sends Saul off to the “high place.” It is there that Saul finds more than he could have ever imagined—he is anointed a king.

So many Christians today go to church on Sundays, but chase “asses” throughout the rest of the week. And so we become joyless, empty, depressed…

Nigbakugba ti igbesi aye inu wa di mimu ninu awọn ifẹ ti ara rẹ ati awọn ifiyesi rẹ, aye ko si fun awọn miiran, ko si aye fun awọn talaka. A ko gbọ ohun Ọlọrun mọ, ayọ idakẹjẹ ti ifẹ rẹ ko ni riro mọ, ati ifẹ lati ṣe rere n rẹwẹsi. -POPE FRANCIS, Evangelii Gaudium, n. Odun 2

And the world around us loses its light, because Jesus said “o wa the light of the world.” ^[1]cf. Mát 5:14 Oh restless heart! What am I to do?

The first thing is to acknowledge that you are alaini; second, recognize the “asses” for what they are—ibùgbé things, passing moments or material molecules that cannot give you lasting joy; third, admit that you are alaini iranlọwọ in overcoming your flesh. That last one carries good news:

Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners. (Today’s Gospel)

The fourth thing is to search, like Saul, in “the high place.” After all, you are a “king” by virtue of your baptism. So, here is your “prophetic word” to send you off in the right direction:

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth… For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does ifẹ Ọlọrun remains forever. (Col 3:1-2; 1 Jn 2:16-17)

There, my friend, is the right place to be looking.

Lati ri gba awọn Bayi Ọrọ,
tẹ lori asia ni isalẹ lati alabapin.
Imeeli rẹ kii yoo pin pẹlu ẹnikẹni.