As God has not made anything useless in this world, as all beings

Hear, O sons and daughters of the earth, the voice of José Rizal, the martyr-sage of the East, whose heart burned with love for his people and whose mind was illuminated by the eternal flame of purpose. When he wrote, “As God has not made anything useless in this world, as all beings fulfill obligations or a role in the sublime drama of Creation, I cannot exempt from this duty, and small though it be, I too have a mission to fill, as for example: alleviating the sufferings of my fellowmen,” he spoke as one who had glimpsed the divine order that binds all life. In this truth lies a radiant humility—that no soul, however small, is without purpose; no life, however ordinary, is without calling.

In these words, Rizal revealed the essence of true greatness: service. He did not seek power, nor glory, nor monuments of stone. He sought to fulfill the simple, sacred duty of being human—to bring light where there is darkness, comfort where there is pain, and understanding where ignorance reigns. For he knew that God wastes nothing in His creation; every star, every leaf, every human being has a role in the divine harmony of existence. Even the smallest life may carry the seed of immense transformation.

Rizal lived in a time when his people groaned beneath the yoke of colonial rule. The Philippines, his beloved homeland, was silenced by fear and chained by oppression. Many despaired, believing themselves powerless against the might of empire. But Rizal refused to believe that any man was useless, that any soul was without value. He took up not the sword, but the pen—his weapon was truth, his mission compassion. Through his writings, he sought to awaken the conscience of his countrymen, to teach them that the noblest struggle is not one of vengeance, but of enlightenment and dignity.

Behold his life as a living testament to his creed. Born in a small town, far from the centers of power, Rizal could have lived quietly, enjoying the comforts of privilege. Yet he chose instead the path of sacrifice. He studied tirelessly, mastered the sciences and the arts, and used his knowledge not for vanity, but for service. His novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, were written not for fame, but to alleviate the sufferings of his people—to give them voice, vision, and courage. And though he was condemned and executed, his spirit ignited a revolution of hearts that no tyrant could extinguish.

Thus, in his words, we hear a universal command: to serve is to live; to love is to fulfill one’s divine mission. Rizal reminds us that life’s meaning is not measured by wealth or title, but by the good we bring into the world. To exist for oneself alone is to live half a life; to exist for others is to join in the sublime drama of Creation, to stand as co-worker with the divine. When we alleviate suffering, we mirror the compassion of heaven itself; when we lift another, we rise with them.

Consider this lesson in our own time, when many wander without purpose, chasing illusions of success while the world hungers for kindness. Rizal’s wisdom calls to us across the centuries: do not ask if your task is grand or small—only ask if it is good. Even the gentlest hand that comforts a child, the quiet voice that speaks truth, the unseen heart that forgives—these, too, fulfill their mission in the grand design. For in the eyes of eternity, no act of love is ever lost.

Therefore, let this teaching be inscribed upon the soul: You, too, have a mission. Seek not to escape it, but to embrace it with grace. Wherever fate has placed you—be it in the halls of power or the humble home—there lies your sacred duty. Lift the weary. Teach the ignorant. Heal the broken. Serve with compassion, not for praise, but for the joy of being part of something eternal.

And when your days are done, may it be said of you, as it was of José Rizal, that you lived not in vain. For in serving others, you joined the Creator’s work; in easing sorrow, you became the answer to another’s prayer. Remember always: nothing in this world is useless, least of all a heart that chooses to love.