The January 2, 2022 Issue of Our Sunday Visitor Catholic
newspaper had a number of well-written articles, but I noticed they seemed to
be asking a question: What are your
priorities, and should you consider a re-focusing this new year --- although
none of the articles actually asked that question.
With the January 2nd’s Feast of the Epiphany, an
article spoke to the Magi --- the three kings of the Orient, and their visit to
another king, Jesus. They saw Jesus as
the Messiah, the long-awaited king of the Jews, and the world. They longed to see and pay homage to Him, a
greater king than themselves. But there
was also Herod, who also saw Jesus as a greater king than himself, and so tried
to kill Him. The Magi were concerned
about God and the world, and Herod, himself.
The newspaper also had an article about families. It quoted a survey which said 44% of adults
18-49 don’t intend to have children, and half of them cited “not interested” as
the reason. The article spoke to the
many blessings of family, and the author gleefully noted: “I can’t imagine life
without mine.” She also wrote “we have
had the privilege of co-creating with God.”
She notes that the world is a better place because of their family,
although admits that sometimes family concerns are challenging. But she sees that as a good purpose for her
life, versus getting more things for herself.
And there is an article titled: You Don’t Have to Prove
Yourself to God. In effect, those first
two articles were comparing our priorities, the world or self. This third article brings in God as a major
factor in our lives. The first two
articles said what do we prioritize, world or self, while this article
asks: What does God prioritize? God looks at our lives as “beautiful in their
existence. It can be tempting to call
our lives mundane. We can slip into
daydreams of how we wish life would happen (the author cites Walter Mitty’s
daydreams), but it can take us away from encountering the people and
opportunities that are right in front of us – seeing the graces already present
in our lives. Each moment is an
opportunity to encounter God in the present…. I think we can all agree 2020 and
2021 didn’t go as anyone planned, but that doesn’t mean we can’t take a step back
and recognize that every moment is a gift.
This upcoming year can be good, if only we would have the eyes to see
it.”
God died on the cross for us, but that doesn’t mean He died
for every whim of ours. He wants us happy
in eternal life with Him, not happy here on earth like some little puppy that
He pets. He came as a baby, and grew up,
and lived for the really important things, love of God and love of
neighbor. As God, He could have done all
kinds of things for love of Himself, but those are things like Herod did, or
the people who don’t believe children or marriage important did. Jesus lived humility, but He also lived love.
He didn’t become a man to try to act
like a god. That shouldn’t be our
priority either. Perhaps as we begin a
new year we might consider priorities, as they are, and as they should be. It’s never too late to change.
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Almost as an “Oh, by the way …” I just thought of how my
priorities HAVE changed. I once was the
person who put self as my highest priority.
Oh, I did lots of things for other people, but behind everything, job,
marriage, charity work, was a driving force that said “You’re supposed to do
this; this will make you a better person; this will make you happy.” I was doing many right things, often in the
right way, but for the wrong reason. I
needed to change who I was, and I DID change my priorities. It started with a little prayer, “Lord, let
me live not as I want, but as You want.”
Nothing changed overnight, but I began to like myself more. I was becoming who I was meant to be. I didn’t perceive it most of my life, but I
had a priority on what I thought, or the world (other people) thought, but I’ve
gradually been growing in a concern for what God thinks. And I’ve got a long way to go. But I think I’m looking in the right
direction.
