Nowadays, people are becoming more interested in various modes of investments such as the stock market, bitcoins, mutual funds, insurance policies, life plans, and other similar financial ventures. I remember a good friend of mine who opened up an investment account in the bank and availed of a retirement plan from a well-known insurance company. He shared with me that his primary motivation was financial security, so that when the retirement comes, he would have a continuous financial resource of his own.

In our daily lives, whether or not we are conscious about it, we are investing. It may come as an investment in a relationship, in our careers, in our hobbies, and whatever affairs we choose to spend our time and efforts on. Jesus, in His public ministry, chose to invest His time and energy in following the will of the Father and in preaching the Gospel of love. Because of this “good investment”, at the end of His earthly life, He returned gloriously to the Father, and the Father welcomed Him to sit at His right hand.

As Christians, it is good to ask ourselves where and how we spend our time and efforts. By doing so, we would be more aware of our priorities, and would also give us the opportunity to assess whether these are attuned with our identity as Christ’s follower.

Today, we commemorate St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers and laborers. His life is a testimony of investing on and deepening one’s prayer life. He faithfully attended Mass daily, gave “ayuda” (help) to the poor, and had this reverent attitude towards his work as a farmer. May his life serve as an invitation for us to invest our life on earth doing works that would secure us a place in heaven.

By: Sem. John Paul T. Toting

Today’s Gospel

Jn 16:23b-28

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

“I have told you this in figures of speech.
The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures
but I will tell you clearly about the Father.
On that day you will ask in my name,
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me
and have come to believe that I came from God.
I came from the Father and have come into the world.
Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”