What’s it all About, Alfie?

NORBERTO C. NAZARENO

“Alfie.”  It’s Burt Bacharach’s favorite song. The question and the answers in a beautiful rendition of both lyrics and melody are all in there.   (See LINK)

He asked: “What’s it all about, Alfie?  Is it just for the moment we live?” 

We can ask the same question in prayer. What’s it all about? You created and put us on an earthly journey back to you. You said to trust you, as you will always be with us, for you are our Alpha and our Omega. You will guide and protect us as a Good Shepherd would –  for we are dumb sheep with poor eye-sight in your fold.

What is it all about? We are like our latest addition to the family: baby Theo with Lolo Bear and Lola Bear.  He is showered with love and attention from all of us.  We happily watch him respond, trying to say something, but inaudible, with his brain and vocal cords not yet attuned. We give him “A” for efforts as we see the loving potentials in him. It is a glimpse of how you look at us.

We continue to ask: “What’s it all about?”  We learn more as our lives get unfolded. “Is it just for the moment we live?”  St. Augustine had to conclude: “Late have I loved thee.”  It takes us time to focus, given the free will you have endowed us with.  St. Augustine also had to say: “ I plunged into those lovely created things which you made.” (Kasalanan mo pa!) [It is your fault].  You allowed too many temptations. “Are we meant to take more than we give, or are we meant to be kind? And if only fools are kind, Alfie, then I guess it is wise to be cruel.  And, if life belongs only to the strong.”

It is an apple we were tempted to bite, even to taste.  A small bite, a simple taste.  But it was enough to make our ego the center of our lives.    Enough for us to ask: “Sino ka ba, Diyos?”   [Who are you who call yourself God?]. Thank you for, despite our brokenness, you have redeemed us and brought us back to the right path.  Yes, with your rod and staff, which you sometimes use when we are too hard-headed, too self-centered.   You have to wake us up.  

Matthew 12:20

But “a bruised reed (you) will not break, a smoldering wick (you) will not snuff out.”  

Lord, you are too kind with your unconditional love with no other intention but to bring us home safely back to you.  What else can we say beyond the beautiful words aptly expressed by one of your great sinner-saint Augustine:  “The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness. You were radiant and resplendent; you put to flight my blindness. You were fragrant, and I drew in my breath and now pant after you.  I tasted you, and I feel but hunger and thirst for you.  You touched me, and I am set on fire to attain the peace which is yours.”

We must be faithful first to serve you even though we have just come back from a whole day’s work in the field.  Remind us and give us the grace to fully understand that we are nothing but unworthy servants:

Luke 17:7-10 World English Bible

“But who is there among you, having a servant ploughing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, “Come immediately and sit down at the table,” and will not rather tell him, “Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterwards, you shall eat and drink”? Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not. Even so, you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, “We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.”   

Let us not be complacent with your divine providence, with your loving care.  Yes, we cannot do anything good without you.  You are the vine, and we are the branches.  Our nourishment and eventual fruits come from the flow of your grace, the nourishment of your love.  Without you, we wither; bound for the fire.  What we are need not be.  Everything is a pure gift!   And the song concluded:  “ I believe in love, Alfie.   Without true love, we just exist, Alfie.  Until you find the love you’ve missed you’re nothing, Alfie.  When you walk, let your heart lead the way.  And, you’ll find love any day, Alfie.”

Thank you for keeping us in your fold, Lord.  Our consciousness of where we are, what we are… of who you are… slowly develops but only with your enlightening grace.  We say this now after learning and confirming through our experience that everything is pure grace, pure gift.  Thank you, Lord, for your loving providence.  We know you will never stop your loving care until we rest in you!

See “What’s it all About, Alfie, Discover – Links

https://www.whitebutterfly.ph/2021/02/01/whats-it-all-about-alfie-2/ ‎