Playing God

 By Fr. Jerry Orbos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:09:00 02/20/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The story is told about a psychiatrist who told his patient: “I am not aware about your problem, but I understand that you think you are God, so perhaps, we should start at the very beginning.”

And the patient responded: “Yes, Doctor. You know, in the beginning, I created the heavens and the earth…”

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In today’s Gospel (Lk. 4, 1-13), the devil tries to play God over Jesus by tempting Him in the desert while He is hungry, promising Him all the riches and power in this world and trying to make Him lose His trust in God the Father. Come to think of it, aren’t all the temptations we go through in life all about focusing on the sensual, the worldly and the temporary to the detriment of the spiritual, the eternal? Reflect on all the temptations (and the falls) you and I have encountered in this life. Weren’t they all temptations for us to play God?

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And so it is that we have and still do follow our own desires and ambitions, our selfish personal agenda, without much thought about God’s plan and agenda. Too engrossed in ourselves, we have often left out God, and thus played God, wanting to be in control and to be in charge.

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I don’t mind—in fact, I welcome—worldly success, but through what means, and for what? It pains me to see how many people, yes, good ones who started out with genuine and pure hearts but who, in the course of time, could not resist the temptations and ended up on the road of convenience and compromise. What happened? For survival perhaps? Or for greater heights? The point is that your soul is not for sale, nor is your God. Put simply: Don’t sell out!

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I am 56 years old now, and I have been through a lot, good and bad. You know what is my biggest concern now? That I make a meaningful exit from this life, and that I eventually, somehow, through God’s mercy, make it to eternal life. How? By living a life that is pleasing to God in the here and now.

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A text message put it so well: “Do not hold on to life that you cannot prolong, and forget eternity that is sure, certain and waiting.” So, when will you stop playing God? I ask this question especially to those who are so drunk with earthly power and success that they have forgotten that life is all about stewardship, and that life does not end in the grave. Please, especially in this season of Lent, let us be reminded once again that we are dust, and to dust we will return.

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What a lonely feeling it must be when, at the end of our lives, we realize that we have been living just for the money, and for the show. Praying, hoping, wishing that we all live meaningful lives beyond worldly temptations and, I repeat, that we make a meaningful exit from this life, and make an eventual entrance to eternal life. Do you have an exit plan? Do you have an eternal life plan?

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Today is Migrants’ Sunday. We recognize the sacrifices and difficulties of those involved in relocating millions of overseas contract workers, migrants and their families in other countries. We also take note of the various temptations of material gains and pleasures that go along with this phenomenon, as well as the potential of such people in “diaspora” for the spread of the Gospel and Gospel values.

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Last week, I succumbed to the temptation of going down memory lane, and it was something I felt good about, without regrets. I and my former classmates in high school watched the Chicago Band concert. Even Fr. Ric Dumas, SVD, who is recovering from a stroke, was with us. It was not only an entertaining but also a refreshing experience to listen and relive the songs of our adolescence. So what if half of the crowd in their 50s and 60s was asleep and the smell of “efficascent oil” was all around? It was a night of grateful remembering of God’s faithfulness and love!

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There is a big temptation these days to forget or take for granted the sick, the slow, the unknown and those on the sides. Not so for the family of Bishop Miguel Cinches, SVD, D.D., who served as bishop of Surigao for 28 years. It is so edifying to see the love and care of his siblings for him, now 70 years old and wheelchair-bound at our retirement house. His younger sister, Sr. Zenaida S.Sp.S., visits him every day. Ramy and Mila Cinches come all the way from Davao once every two months to do their share of caring for their older brother. Their parents Miguel and Eustaquia Cinches from Dauis, Bohol must be smiling from heaven to see the loving and caring family they have left behind.

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Bantay Matanda invites you to a lay forum on “How to Care for Terminally Ill Patients” on Feb. 27, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Janssen Hall. For inquiries, please call 373-2262/331-6846/0917-4167849 or email info@bantaymatanda.org.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, you alone are God. Remind us that we are not gods, and to stop playing God. Amen.