A few years ago, The Economic Times came out with a survey on the most admired people in the world. The results were that the most admired people were a combination of materially rich, popular, powerful, intelligent, strong, talented and handsome/beautiful. Hence, people who are able to acquire these things are considered learned and wise. Yet being learned and wise in the eyes of the world is very different from the eyes of eternity.

• Whatever we have in this world, one day it is going to fade away
• Whatever we have in this world, one day we will just leave behind
• Whatever we have in this world, one day, someone else will have more

On the other hand, Jesus talks about things hidden. In other words, we remember the saying: “What can be counted in this world really do not count. On the other hand, what cannot be counted, these are the ones that really count.”

Three things that count in life:

• Faith – Faith is believing that there is a greater power that created the world, created you and me and has a plan for you and me. Each step of the way in this life, He is always there. At the end, the desire is for us to have eternal life. Hence, we only passing by in this world and there is life eternal.
• Hope – While life can be complicated, somebody is in control. His ways are different from our ways; His plan is different from our plan and His wisdom is different from our wisdom. Yet in all of these, never lose Hope because God is in control.
• Love – more than attraction and emotion, love is a commitment. People who love our willing to do sacrifice for others; give without counting the cost and to forgive even when it hurts. These is something that material thing cannot buy and will never equal.

In this Mass, we remember: All of us have our own stories; All of us have our own seasons in life; All of us have own blessings and crosses. Yet, as we journey may we be wise in the eyes of God: Holding on to faith, always having hope, and thinking less of oneself and more of others due to love.