“Realise the areas of dissipation in our lives; seek for restoration, by rooting ourselves in the Lord!”

(Based on Dan 7:15-27 and Lk 21:34-36 – Saturday of the 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

Have you ever noticed how a brand-new phone behaves in the first few weeks?

Swift. Sharp. Smooth.
You touch it, and it responds instantly.

But after a few months, this experience changes.
Suddenly, the same phone looks tired.

Apps take longer to open…
The screen freezes at the worst moments…
The battery drains faster than your morning energy.

And we ask: “Why? I didn’t drop it. I didn’t damage it. What went wrong?”

Then the technician smiles and says,
“It’s not usually one big problem.

It’s the small, silent things that weakened it over time.”

And then he lists them…

Too many apps running quietly in the background…
…filling up memory, stealing processing power.”

Overcharging the phone…
… slowly heating the battery, reducing its long-term health.

Running the brightness at maximum all the time…
… faulty chargers…
… letting storage remain full, leaving no room for the system to breathe
… the bluetooth, the location services, both the mobile and WiFi networks being on at all times, increasing the load on the system.

And the technician ends by saying:
“None of these causes are dramatic.
None of them crash the phone in a day.

But together, slowly… silently… they dissipate the phone’s strength!”

Well…
… If a phone can lose power through tiny, unnoticed leaks,

Imagine what can happen to our spiritual lives…

When distractions run in the background of our prayer life
When hidden fears drain away energy from our hearts,
When unrepented sins quietly heat and damage our conscience
When small compromises in our daily choices increase the load on our wills

Suddenly we realise:
“I’m not as prayerful… not as focused… not as passionate as before.”

Not because we fell dramatically
But because we dissipated gradually.

“And that’s why Jesus cautions us today:
“But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation…” (Lk 21:34)

We are called to make amends, to revive and revitalise.

Dissipation is strong word which could have several parallel understandings…

With respect to morality:
Dissipation refers to an overindulgence in sensual pleasures.

With respect to behaviour:
Dissipation refers to a conduct that shows one is interested only in pleasure, money, etc.

With respect to economics:
Dissipation refers to an act of using all or a lot of money, time, etc., in a foolish way.

With respect to physics:
Dissipation refers to a physical process by which energy becomes not only unavailable but irrecoverable in any form.

Dissipation is a tendency…
… to squander away enthusiasm because of allowing monotony to creep into life.
… to lose vitality as a result of being indulged in continuous immoral behaviours
… to leak-out the energy and vigour in oneself, in small amounts and thus become lifeless
… to become disinterested and dispirited due to constant exposure to luxury and comforts

Dissipation is a terrible malady that has badly affected many people in the Bible…

The people during Noah’s time were dissipated with eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage…
… although God had sent out a warning of their destruction through Noah.

The citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah were dissipated with extremely immoral and corrupt practices…
… even though the people were given a forewarning of their possible.

The people of Israel were dissipated with frustration and dissatisfaction while travelling in the desert…
… and failed to understand the providential hand of God.

The disciples of Jesus were dissipated with sadness, shattering of hopes and brokenness after the death of Jesus…
… and failed to believe and trust in His great promises.

Let us examine our lives and check whether we too have fallen into a state of “dissipation”…

Maybe my prayer life is “dissipated” due to various distractions, excuses of lack of time, complaints of being tired or just simply a lack of interest…

Maybe my personal intimacy with God is “dissipated” since I don’t experience any joyful or experiential feelings or because some of my expectations of God are not met…

Maybe my relationships with people is “dissipated” due to some friction or misunderstanding or an indifference that has sneaked in without any particular reason.

Maybe my family/community life is “dissipated” because I feel disinterested or not so enthusiastic in going beyond some of my personal comforts or I feel lonely in not feeling accepted or loved.

In the book of Revelations, the Lord has this complaint, ” … I have this against you: you have lost the love you had at first.

Realize how far you have fallen. Repent and do the works you did at first” (Rev 2:4-5)

Dissipation begins when we live drifted…

Restoration begins when we live rooted!
In our daily busy lives, let us…
… pause for prayer and reset our priorities
… cut down the noise, and return to the Sacraments (esp Confession)
… allow the Lord to close the unnecessary ‘background apps’ draining your souls.

Let us seek to renew our initial fervour and zeal.

The Lord deserves not “dissipated” people, but “spirited” and “passionate” people!

Today we are concluding this Liturgical Year…
… and stepping into the New Liturgical Year – with ‘Year A’ Readings on Sundays and ‘Cycle 1’ for the Weekdays

This Liturgical Year has taken us through various phases in our life of faith…
… with the Readings constantly reminding us that, that “God’s Mercy is for all. You too, be so!”

Let us thank the Lord for this Liturgical Year – for all His Blessings, Graces, Protection…
… and as we start a New Year in our Liturgical Life – with the Season of Advent – let us surrender ourselves totally to the Providence of our Loving Lord, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother and St Joseph
… as we continually give heed to the words of our Lord, “And behold, I am coming soon!” (Rev 22:7)

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Sixth Commandment – You shall not commit adultery – Male and Female He created them

The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible.
This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial.
They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.
Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.

These persons are called to fulfill God’s will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition. (CCC # 2358)