*REFLECTION FOR THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME* *YEAR II* 

Frustration and confusion in our life journey can be overcome when we make, seeking, understanding and committing to the will of God priority in our life. 

   In the first reading (Eccl 1: 2-11), the author of the Wisdom Literature reminds us that without God in our lives we live in total ignorance and inevitable misery. It is only in God that the vanity of life can become meaningful. In all the vanity of life, what makes a difference is that God has a personal interest in me and wishes to have a relationship with me. That, is the essence of life, and death cannot upturn it. "Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart... in the morning, fill us with your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days" (Ps 90: 12, 14). 

   In the gospel (Luke 9: 7-9), the passage presents both Herod's interest in Jesus and his confusion about who Jesus truly is. Remember, he beheaded John the Baptist, and now Jesus is doing even more work and prophetic preaching than John the Baptist. Herod's action now hunts him!  

   Dear friends, the life of a true disciple is not one bereft of challenges and storms of life. However, such life situations can be overcome by reclining on the will of God and putting our trust in God's ability to lead us to safety. Do you really trust God to make meaning out of life? 

   I pray as we journey in life today, let us not be discouraged by the vanity of life, rather as true disciples, let us follow our Lord and Master in whose life we are alive. May our curiosity about who Jesus is in our life, unlike Herod, lead us to encounter Jesus, be convinced of our mission in life and be committed to following Jesus unto victory. May we rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4: 4), for we can do all things in Him that strenghtens us (Phil. 4: 13). Have a trust-full day!