Growing old physically but not spiritually?

BECAUSE they had no reservation at a busy restaurant, an elderly man and his wife were told there would be a 45-minute wait for a table. “Young man, we’re both 90 years old,” the husband said. “We may not have 45 minutes left.”

They were seated immediately.

* * * A small boy asked his friend why his 80-year-old lola (grandma) was always reading the Bible.

He replied: Because she’s cramming for her Final Exam!

* * * Gerontologists say that there are three ages in life: chronological, biological, and psychological. The first is calculated based on our date of birth and measured by years, months, and days; the second is determined by the health conditions; and the third is how old you feel you are.

* * * While we don’t have control over our degenerating body, we can take care of our health with good diet, exercise, and nowadays “age-defying” lotions and gluthations. In the third age, a positive and cheerful attitude and optimistic thinking can reverse it. That’s why we often say: “Some are already old before they reach 40. That means, they’re psychologically old!” But some are still young even when they’re in their 70’s or older.

* * * But there’s a fourth age — that’s the SPIRITUAL age or aging of the soul in the Lord. St. Paul say’s in his letter to the Corinthians:“Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16).

* * * That was true of the apostle Paul. During his years of service for the Lord, he faced many hardships. He recognized his human frailty and that “death is working in us.” But even as his body became weaker, his spirit became stronger. As he grew older physically, he grew more vibrant spiritually.

* * * Inevitably we will grow in age, but we will strive not to grow old. For as Samuel Ullman said: “Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.”

If I may add, we grow old by if we desert our faith in God and worse, if we are living in sin.

* * *

Are you growing “in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ”? (2 Pet. 3:18). The psalmist wrote, “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord…shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing.”

So let’s strive to grow old but not retiring. Let’s go on without relenting until we’ve reached the final glory.

* * *

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS AT PINK SISTERS. The public is invited to the 30th Eucharistic Congress on November 25, Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Venue: St. Joseph’s Adoration Convent, 71 Hemady Avenue corner 11th St. New Manila, Quezon City.

* * *

This year’s theme is: “The Holy Eucharist and the Joy of Love.” Speakers are: Fr. Raymun Festin, SVD, Msgr. Pedro Gerardo Santos, His Excellency Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Papal Nuncio.

* * *

Registration which starts at 6:30 a.m. is FREE. The Congress will culminate with a Holy Mass.For inquiries, call Pink Sisters, at 722-8828 or Mia Acuna, Secretariat, at 0923 1448040 or 0927 3664116.

* * * GOD BLESS — the latest donors to our Adopt-A-Seminarian scholarship program: SEMIRARA MINING CO. THRU VICTOR CONSUNJI, MARIE ROSE NAVARRO.

* * *

Others who want to help may e-mail me at: belsvd@gmail.com.