The Table of Life

A likely comparison to our world perspective is looking at it as if it were a table wherein humans participate. In the first pages of the Bible where creation is narrated, God decreed that man “be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it” (Gen. 1:28). It would not be right therefore that our focus be controlling the guests to the table of life rather than multiplying the food and other resources for the good of man, to make him or her exemplary citizens of the earth and future citizens of God’s eternal kingdom in heaven.

In fact in the Bible’s New Testament, the Savior constantly talks of putting our trust in God, saying: “Why keep on worrying about food to eat or clothes to wear; life is more important than food and the body, more than clothing. Look at the birds of the air or the flowers in the field; the birds do not sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father takes care of them. Even of the flowers which never have to work or spin, God takes care of them and they are more beautiful than the best regalia of king Solomon. If that is how God takes care of the birds in the sky and the flowers in the fields, how much more of you, you people of little faith? Rather seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be given you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Mt. 6:25-34). St Teresa talks of actual facts when she comments thus: ‘The Lord took care of us in the past, up to now He cares for us, therefore there is no reason to doubt He will take care of us in the future.’

The reason for the comparison is because I heard from a Bishop talking about situations in our world where they did not heed the voice of the Church against the use of artificial contraceptives and abortion, he observed that in the big gatherings of the people, instead of hearing the usual cries of babies, mostly it was the coughing of the old, men or women. In the Tagalog song – Hiram sa Diyos ang aking Buhay, part of the text says: “Ligaya ko nang ako’y isilang ‘pagkat tao ay mayroong dangal” (My joy to be born because I was given a chance to live and to be loved). So Jesus tells us, as we give chance to guests of life’s table: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:25).