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40 Days of Lent: Day 10

40 Days of Lent: Day 10

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

40 Days of Lent: Day 10

We do not see any drastic changes around us even if Lent is supposed to be a special time in our faith. Work is still work. Our routines remain our routines. What we have to do for family and loved ones still have to be done. But perhaps, we can make this Wednesday, the midpoint of the week, a little bit different as we get closer to Holy Week.

A unique invitation of Ignatian Spirituality is the use of our imagination in prayer. This does not just mean the mind, but all of our senses. While this may need some preparation, perhaps we can appropriate some part of it to something we usually do. On this Wednesday, as we still continue with our work, routines and what needs to be done, can we incorporate Jesus in our regular life? When we walk to go somewhere, can we imagine ourself walking with him who marked his every step with love and sacrifice for us?

God knows we are busy and while He never stops trying to make us notice Him, He will never force Himself on us. That is why it is up to us to give even just a short time of our day or a small part of our efforts to let Him in. Today in the middle of the week when we may be pulled to different directions, let’s imagine Christ walking with us to wherever we may be going. Let’s allow our senses to feel his presence beside us, perhaps quietly being with us, and watching over us. Nothing has drastically changed during this Lenten season in the same way that nothing has changed since that time Jesus offered his life on the cross. He is still walking with us, standing by us, loving us.

40 Araw ng Kuwaresma: Ika-10 Araw

Wala talagang kakaiba kahit na ngayong Kuwaresma na dapat ituring ngang natatanging panahon ng ating pananampalataya. Ang trabaho ay trabaho pa rin. Hindi nag-iiba ang ating mga nakagawian. May mga obligasyon pa rin sa ating pamilya at mga minamahal na dapat tupdin. Subalit marahil maaaring gawin itong Miyerkules, na gitna ng linggo, na itangi nang kaunti ang papalapit na Mahal na Araw.

Namumukod na paanyaya ng Ignacianong espiritwalidad ang paggamit ng hiraya sa panalangin. Hindi ito diwa lamang, kundi danas at paggalugad sa lahat ng ating pandama. Bagaman nangangailangan ito ng paghahanda, marahil maaari natin itong iangkop sa isang bagay na madalas nating ginagawa. Ngayong Miyerkules, sa ating trabaho, sa mga nakagawian at sa mga gawain, maaari ba nating isama si Hesus sa ating pang-araw-araw na buhay? Sa paglalakad natin, maaari ba nating gamitin ang hiraya upang maglakad kasama siya na iniadya ang kanyang bawat hakbang sa pag-ibig at pagsasakripisyo para sa atin?

Batid ng Diyos na abala tayo at kahit hindi Siya humihinto sa pagtawag ng ating pansin, hindi rin Siya namimilit. Kung kaya nasa atin ang pagkakaloob ng kahit maikling panahon sa ating araw o maliit na bahagi ng ating pagsisikap upang mapalapit sa kanya. Ngayong araw, sa kalagitnaan nitong linggo kung kailan hinahatak tayo sa iba-ibang tunguhin, maghiraya tayo na naglalakad si Kristo kasama natin saan man tayo patungo. Hayaan natin ang mga pandama na damhin siya sa ating tabi, marahil tahimik tayong sinasamahan, at inaalagaan. Walang kakaiba sa panahong ito ng Kuwaresma sa parehong paraan na walang nagbago simula noong inialay ni Hesus ang kanyang sarili sa krus. Kapiling pa rin natin siya, pinaninindigan pa rin niya tayo, at patuloy pa rin siyang umiibig sa atin.