a personal reflection on Pentecost Sunday's Gospel John 20:19-23
"Can I have a glass of red wine?"
"Sorry sir, but I ran out of red wine. Can I offer you anything else?"
"Sorry sir, but I ran out of red wine. Can I offer you anything else?"
That was the conversation between the flight attendant (FA) and the elderly man seated a row ahead of me. The man said "no" as the FA pushed his food cart.
"Do you have Diet Coke?"
"Oh my apologies ma'am, but I only have regular Coke. I'll check the cabin if we have extra stocks."
"Oh my apologies ma'am, but I only have regular Coke. I'll check the cabin if we have extra stocks."
The FA replied to the mother who was trying to calm down her energizer-bunny young son.
Then the FA looked to his right and waited for the preferred drink of the young man beside me.
"Water with ice please"
"Sorry but I don't have ice anymore. Is it ok if I serve you water with no ice?"
"Sorry but I don't have ice anymore. Is it ok if I serve you water with no ice?"
The young man raise his hand, shook his head & went back to his book. It was "iced water" or "no water" for him.
Three consecutive orders which were all not available. That must be a bit frustrating. I know I would be if I experienced the same. I was seated at the rear section of the plane so I understood why his supply was scarce at this time. Now, it was my turn. He looked at me and asked, "can I offer you anything to drink, sir?"
"What do you have?"
He checked his cart. He lifted each fruit juice carton and shook them to check if still had enough. He frowned and replied - "Sorry sir. But I can't offer you many options. I only have maybe a quarter of a cup of apple & half carton of carrot juice."
Maybe he was desperate. Maybe he did not want to fail anymore so he explained his situation further. "Sir, if you don't like apple or carrot I can get another batch of drinks at the back cabin. It will take a few minutes. It's just....."
I smiled & interrupted him. "Carrot juice & a drop of apple juice is perfect! Thank you my friend!"
He gave me a blank look. There was a short pause before he asked me again.
"Are you sure sir?"
"Yup"
"Thank you sir! Thank you!"
"No, thank you! This carrot apple juice is exactly what I need in this flight."
"Yup"
"Thank you sir! Thank you!"
"No, thank you! This carrot apple juice is exactly what I need in this flight."
The FA smiled back. At that moment, it was "welcome happiness, goodbye frustration" for him. He handed me extra peanuts as he pushed his cart forward.
This world offers a lot of things. The temptation to choose power, pleasure or possessions is always there. They look good. They feel good. But then, when you pick what the world offers, you will be satisfied.......for a while. Because things of this world don't lasts. You will get frustrated if you pick what this world offers because #WalangForever
Only God can offer something that will lasts forever. Read John 3:16. So choose wisely. Choose Christ. Why? Because Jesus offers the best gift.
John 20:22 says "..he breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"
Jesus offers the Holy Spirit. He offers us something special. He offers us life to the fullest (John 10:10). If you want to change for the better, if you want to be renewed, if you want to live well then CHOOSE GOD every time. Receive His Holy Spirit.
May your choices be guided not by the world but by His WORD. Happy Pentecost Sunday and may you have a blessed week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com
PS Happy birthday Church!!!!
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