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40 Days of Lent: Day 29

40 Days of Lent: Day 29

07 Mar 2023 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)

40 Days of Lent: Day 29

Some years ago, an image of the Laughing Christ began circulating. It seemed a relatively new depiction of the Lord whom we may more easily imagine as formal and somber – preaching, healing the sick and saving us from the very serious matter of sin. There aren’t many parts about laughing and smiling in the bible, probably much less in relation to Jesus.

But the Son of God was raised well and so he must have had a good and happy family life. Wouldn’t that mean they had times of laughter? He was human like us who suffered and cried. Wouldn’t it be possible that he also smiled? He shared meaningful moments with friends and companions and especially with the Father. Wouldn’t these have brought him glee and mirth at times?

It may be easy to dwell on the dire, the dark and the difficult. While we are not called to deny these, we see in many parts of the Scripture that we have been created for joy and gladness. So as we get closer to the end of Jesus’ passion narrative which ushered in a new time for all of us, we can also move our hearts to turn to those that are lovely, light and uplifting. What are reasons to smile today? What are your memories, experiences and encounters that brought genuine laughter? If possible, perhaps make a list of 29 or more of these to give your soul much-needed reprieve from the heavy things in life. And as you go through and recall each, allow yourself to smile and laugh. After all, God has given us the best reason to do so for we have been saved by His love.

40 Araw ng Kuwaresma: Ika-29 na Araw

May kumalat noon na larawan ng Kristong Tumatawa. Kakaiba ito sa nakasanayang larawan ng Panginoon na pormal at malungkot – nangangaral, nagpapagaling ng may sakit at nagliligtas sa atin sa malubhang kalagayan ng pagkakasala. Bihirang mababasa sa bibliya ang pagtawa at pagngiti, lalo pa kay Hesus mismo.

Subalit pinalaki ang Anak ng Diyos nang mabuti kung kaya mahihinuhang naging maganda at masaya ang kanyang buhay-pamilya. Hindi ba mangangahulugan ito na may mga sandali na nagtatawanan sila? Tao siya gaya natin na nagdusa at lumuha. Hindi ba posibleng ngumiti rin siya? Nagkaroon siya ng mga makabuluhang panahon sa piling ng mga kaibigan at kasama at higit pa sa Ama. Hindi ba ito naghatid ng kasiyahan at katuwaan?

Maaaring madaling ipako ang isip sa masama, madilim at mahirap. Samantalang hindi naman hinihimok na itanggi ang mga ito, makikita natin sa maraming bahagi ng Banal na Kasulatan na nilikha tayo para sa kaligayahan at kagalakan. Kung kaya sa pagdako natin sa huling bahagi ng salaysay ng pagdurusa ni Hesus na nagbunga sa panibagong pagkakataon para sa ating lahat, maaaring tulutan ang sarili na bumaling sa mga marikit, magaan at makapagpapasigla. Ano ang mga dahilan upang ngumiti ngayong araw? Ano ang mga alaala, karanasan at pakikisalamuha na nagdulot sa iyo ng tunay na kagalakan? Kung maaari, gumawa ka ng talaan ng dalawampu’t siyam o higit pa ng mga ito upang gawaran mo ang iyong kalooban ng kinakailangang pahinga mula sa mabibigat na bagay ng buhay. At sa pagtukoy at pagbabalik-tanaw mo sa bawat isang ito, pahintulutan mo ang sarili na ngumiti at tumawa. Tutal, ipinagkaloob sa atin ng Diyos ang pinakamabuting dahilang gawin ito sapagkat iniligtas tayo ng Kanyang pagmamahal.