A MAN who goes to the gym, where I work out , would flaunt a t-shirt with bold lettering, IT’S ALL ABOUT ME. “Hmmm,” I would often muse, “what message is he trying to say?”
Definitely, the message sounds narcissistic, but I wonder what leads this man to walk around wearing this t-shirt. Is he full of himself? Has he given a lot of himself, his time and money to others? Did he realize now that it is time to take care of himself?
I remember hearing these words, “it’s all about me,” from a young woman. After coming out of a painful relationship, she was telling her family and friends that it’s all about her now. Beneath her words were pain, anger, and a seeming feeling of betrayal.
This “it’s all about me” business is not what Jesus and his disciples manifested in this Sunday’s Gospel. As they were on the way by boat to a deserted place to have some “me” time after long days of curing sick people, expulsing demons, teaching and preaching, a multitude of people followed them on foot and met them again on the other side of the lake. One would think that Jesus would ask the people to go away. No, the Gospel tells us that he was moved with pity on seeing them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd. This meant that he had to sacrifice his personal needs again to attend to these people.
This incident does not mean, however, that Jesus is against finding time for one ’s self to rest, play, and pray. The fact that he asked his disciples to go to a deserted place meant that he valued time for one’s self. Moreover, one finds incidents in the Gospel where Jesus is seen praying alone or spending time with close friends such as Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
Certainly, God wants us to lead a balanced life. We can’t be spending all our lives working without time for personal rest, leisure, and prayer. This is why going on vacation is essential to one’s health. As we often hear from people, we need time “to recharge our batteries.”
Indeed, as we lead our lives taking care of our families, earning a living or doing volunteer work, we can experience running out of “fuel.” That’s the valid time to say, “it’s all about me.” For to care of one’s needs would allow us to take care of others more efficiently and productively.
This “it’s all about me” attitude is not bad after all, if one sees it from the vantage point of being a better leader, worker, student, father, or mother. Let’s take some relaxing “me time” this summer alone, with a partner, with family or friends!
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
