Worldly life does not fully satisfy us

WORD ALIVE

Many from our older generation might still remember the Hollywood rock-and-roll star Elvis Presley who went on to make dozens of gold records, sent millions of hysterical fans into ululations of delight, and grossed US$1 billion in earnings — before he died at the young age of 42, in August, 1977. He died of an excess of drugs and junk food. \* \* \* Modern  psychiatry’s files are loaded with cases of  persons  who have  managed to acquire everything they thought they  needed  to make them happy, except peace of soul. \* \* \* In this Third Sunday of Lent, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman coming to the well to draw water. Jesus asks her for water to drink. Then he went on, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you ‘Give me to drink,” he would have given you living water” (Jn 4,10). Jesus added, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst” (Jn 4,13). \* \* \* Jesus was talking about water of the Spirit that quenches human thirst that lasts to eternal life with God. Celebrities, like Elvis Presley, tried looking for that water but unfortunately, could not find it in worldly pleasures, fame, wealth, sex, and drugs. \* \* \* Talking of Elvis Presley, did you know that his partner in many record-breaking movies was an attractive, talented actress, Dolores Hart, who turned her back on Hollywood for a higher calling? She now lives in solitude at the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in rural Connecticut, USA away from the glitter of the silver screen, where she spends her cloistered life in prayer and contemplation. Once in a while she leaves the convent and gives inspirational talks about peace of soul and spiritual conversion. \* \* \* I have known of certain professionals who, because they felt empty deep down, searching for something missing in their lives, opted to enter the religious life. One was a doctor, a gynecologist, who became a priest. “Perhaps you did it,” I kidded, “because you ran out of clients since you’re a male!” He laughed, “No, it’s because I had always wanted to become a priest. It was my parents who ‘pushed’ me to become a doctor. But I did not find happiness in that work.” \* \* \* Drinking of God’s “living water” does not mean embracing only the religious life or joining a life in the spirit seminar. It can mean drinking the water of Jesus’ word in the Scriptures; the water of his spirit in the sacraments, the water of his presence in prayer; the water of joy in serving people, especially the least of Christ’s brethren.” \* \* \* In his book, The Secret of Happiness, American author D. Prager puts it similarly, “Things that lead to happiness involve some pain like professional achievement,  religious commitment, civic or charitable work, self-improvement." \* \* \* Only God can satisfy our material, physical, and spiritual needs.  This is what St. Augustine discovered after a long and tortuous search for true satisfaction. In the end, he said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” \* \* \* “Seven Last Words” will be telecast on ABS-CBN, Channel 2 on Good Friday, April 10 at 12-3 p.m. Watch it. By the way…we sent out letters soliciting ad placements and donations for the TV program. May we hear from you? Call Brian Deguito at tel. 87258981 local 223 or e-mail me: Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD at [belsvd@gmail.com](mailto:belsvd@gmail.com).