THE TIME IS NOW...
My dear young people I'm very sure you are all fimiliar with the acronym "MYOB" (MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS). Sometimes we find ourselves telling people we perceive to be meddling in our affairs to stay away. I guess it is something that we have been brought up with. We have been told several times to mind our own business, don't be nosy we have been told. It think it is good to really not poke our nose into anyone else's. Nevertheless we must also guard against being indifferent to our brothers and sisters. This past Sunday's Gospel from Luke 13.1-9 seems to bring a similiar idea for our reflection. Jesus is told about some people who suffered terrible tragedies as a result of their sins. Jesus takes a different approach. He tells us that we should look into our own life and see what is going on there. What kinds of fruits are we in our lives bearing? We should not assume that others suffer tragedies because they might have done terrible things in their life. Jesus wants us to understand that our brothers and sisters who experience tragedies are not worse sinners then any one else. There is always a tendency to have a sense of false security in our lives and think that we are doing alright. St. Paul cautions us in these words: "whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall" 1Cor 10-12). We all need repentance, a change in the way we live relative with other people. This is what the season of Lent is about; a time for conversion, a time for turning toward God and away from anything that would seperate us from God. This converstion is not something that is achieved once and for all, but involves a process of growth and development. It is an ongoing process.
Young people we may want to look at the way we relate with our friends, family; we may want to take another look at the way we preceive other people in our lives. Is there anything we need to work on to improve? I believe the call to repentance and change in attitude was the basic message that Jesus preached about 2000 years ago. This message has not changed and is very relevant for us today. Many have heard it but not all have reponded. We must carry this message to our peers, and let it resound in our world once again. That message you carry is the way you conduct yourself each day; it's the way you relate to others, it is the way you perceive them. Take advantage of each new day and strive to be a better person, strive to change what is not good in your life and you will experience real peace and happiness. God loves you and He gives you a chance each new day, don't let it go to waste; live in His grace and live fully. I will catch you again in the coming week. Till then stay blessed and be good.
Father Andrew
About Me
- Father Andrew Dunyo
- I am currently in ministry at St. Mark Roman Catholic Church in Brooklyn, New York. I'm very passionte about the life of our young people who are called "future leaders". That leadership, for me begins today with a sense of responsibility, direction and purpose, and these should be renewed each day. Young people should be offered a community where they can feel a sense of belonging, where they can be encouraged to bring out the best within them. They are a gift to the world and we should do all we can to protect, nurture and value them.