Rejoice, O young man, while you are young and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes; Yet understand that as regards all this, God will bring you to judgment… Remember your Creator in the days of your youth before the evil days come. And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them. Eccl. 11:9-12:1
Friends, God is good, all the time.
"World history is the world's court," says the German thinker, Friedrich Schiller. History is a great judge of human actions. It is not the final judge of all events and activities associated with humanity as we believe in the Christian tradition. Still, the judgment of joy or sorrow, happiness or misery, success or failure, love or hate, right action or regret that it offers for our learning is evident. For this reason, we must make it an essential part of our day to do the following: rejoice, reflect, and remember the totality of life’s meaning, origin, and end so that we can live well with a purpose.
To rejoice and let your heart be glad. The book of Ecclesiastes recognizes that young age is a beautiful thing because while we are young and bubbling, we can do things that we may not be able to do when we get older. The world has been blessed with many opportunities and occasions for the younger generation to pursue their heart desires. So, while you are young, pursue your potentials and dreams and rejoice while doing so; don't postpone your happiness to tomorrow. Create for yourself good health, position, reputation, and character, and rejoice in them. God wants us to be happy today, so St. Paul says, “rejoice in the Lord always.”
To reflect on life. There is something unique about life, and it is that no matter where we live or the age we live in, and whether we are younger or older, we all face the same fundamental truth: what we sow is what we will reap. If we take time to reflect on life, we learn that actions that spring from kindness, love, hard work, and purity of heart are mostly rewarded favorably, and the opposite is also true. From biblical to contemporary history, we learn that God favors those who obey his commands and produce deeds that manifest the love of God and neighbor. History has a lot to show us where we should not venture and the things we should do or not do. Follow the advice of St. Paul in 1 Cor 10:23, "I have the right to do anything," you say--but not everything is beneficial. "I have the right to do anything"--but not everything is constructive,”
To remember God. It was Friedrich Schiller again, who said, "Live with your century, but do not be its creature." There is only one Creator who transcends time, culture, and age. It is God. Therefore, understand, whether you are young or older, that while we are free to pursue, accumulate and enjoy the things that bring joy to our hearts, we do well to heed the words of the sacred writer, "Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come. And the years approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them. Therefore, let us seek God; let us love Jesus and put your trust in him. Remember, serving the Lord and walking with him will be the only way to make us rejoice permanently. Prayer blessings: Keep me Lord, by your side. Amen.