Today begins the long weekend. And I must say, I was looking forward to longer hours of sleep and more time for my favorite television series.
I have noted the DVD stores get crowded at this time of the year just like during Christmas and the groceries also fill up with people stacking their refrigerators in anticipation of the closed stores on Good Friday. More fish are being sold as abstinence for meat is a tradition. I say tradition because there really is no fasting there which is supposedly the reason why people should abstain from eating meat. Some faiths emphasize on deprivation in order to share in the sacrifice of Christ for our salvation. My personal belief is that there really is no way we can share in His sacrifice. For one thing, we are not God, and therefore, we do not have the feeling of being able to stop something and yet having to be obedient to one’s calling.
This thought made me reflect on the word “calling”. What is our calling as people in business? Is it to make money? Is it to make money so others can also make money? Is it to make money so that the others whom we have provided jobs for can also provide for their families and be of good service to their communities? Is service part of the equation when we think of how we want to grow our business? Does giving glory to God in fact come into our minds when we consider our corporate social responsibility or do we grab the glory for ourselves?
Recently, San Miguel Brewery Inc. and the Sportswriters Association of Cebu had their 33rd All Cebu Sports Awards at Ayala Center. It was enlightening to hear Dr. Jose ‘Dodong” Gullas, the Sportswriters Association of Cebu Presidential Awardee speak about the need for the athletes to pray before anything. To be grateful for the blessing of health and protection and to strive for humility in the midst of achievements.
From a man of experience and affluence, the wisdom of acknowledging that the outpouring of blessing comes from God is true wisdom.
We have a holy God. And no self-flagellation or nailing on the cross can compare to the ultimate sacrifice of the dying of one so pure and sinless. It is an insult to God to think, we can even share in His pain. But to give Him glory for all He has done for us, through prayer and obedience, is I think, what we should strive to pursue. For obedience to God is better than sacrifice.
So we have to better our scales, be honest in our deals and give glory to God in whatever we do. It would be nice to find in our hearts the smile of God when we struggle to do what is right. Not just this Holy Week.