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40 Days of Lent: Day 8

40 Days of Lent: Day 8

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

40 Days of Lent: Day 8

Every person wants to have a good reputation. We work hard to build our careers. We aim for accomplishments. We are careful not to tarnish our name. That is why when embarrassing things happen to us or when we do anything that is disreputable, it may be difficult to get over it. We can carry it with us as heavy emotional baggage, not able to fully forgive ourself or others, never totally moving on from the embarrassment.

And as it turns out, nobody can be spared from such moments because we and life are not perfect. In fact, even the God who became one of us went through this human experience. Perhaps a significant thing to take note of, though, is that he never did anything to destroy his reputation. He did nothing wrong. He simply lived up to his mission and name of being our savior and his Father’s son.

Lent and Holy Week are invitations to self-awareness. But not just awareness of our self but awareness of the self that is wounded yet loved by God. Today, can you share with Jesus your woundedness from being embarrassed for small or big reasons? At the same time, can you ask him about his own experience of having been embarrassed – stripped off his clothes, mocked and taunted with shameful names, falsely accused of crimes to the point of being convicted to death? Have this conversation with Christ. Listen to yourself and to him. Open your heart to the truth that you are imperfect but perfectly loved by him who suffered unjust and undeserved embarrassment for your sake.

40 Araw ng Kuwaresma: Ika-8 Araw

Lahat ay naghahangad ng karangalan. Nagsusumikap tayong itaguyod ang sarili sa ating larangan. Nais nating magtagumpay. Iniiwasan nating masira ang ating pangalan. Kung kaya kapag may nangyaring kahiya-hiya o may nagawang sakdal hamak, napakahirap malampasan ito. Iniinda natin ito sa kalooban, pinarurusahan ang sarili o kapwa, at paulit-ulit na kinakatkat na tila hindi makawala sa lagay na ito.

At walang sinuman ang hindi nakararanas nito sapagkat walang lubos na dalisay sa atin. Katunayan, dumaan nga rin sa ganitong karanasn maging ang Diyos na nagkatawang tao. Ngunit mahalagang malamang hindi siya kailanman kumilos upang dungisan ang kanyang dangal. Wala siyang ginawang mali. Isinabuhay lamang niya ang kanyang misyon at pangalan bilang tagapagligtas natin at anak ng kanyang Ama.

Paanyaya sa pagmamalay sa sarili ang Kuwaresma at Mahal na Araw. Subalit hindi lamang ito pagmamalay sa sarili kung hindi pagmamalay sa sariling sugatan ngunit iniibig ng Diyos. Ngayong araw, maaari mo bang ibahagi kay Hesus ang iyong pagkakasugat mula sa maliliit o malalaking kahihiyan? Dagdag dito, maaari mo rin ba siyang tanungin sa kanyang sariling karanasan ng pagkapahiya – nahubdan ng damit, kinutya at tinuya ng mga kahiya-hiyang pangalan, pinagbintangan ng mga maling krimen hanggang sa mahatulan ng kamatayan? Makipag-usap kay Kristo. Makinig sa sarili at sa kanya. Buksan ang puso sa katotohanang hindi ka dalisay subalit iniibig ka niya nang buong ganap, at nagdusa siya sa kawalang katarungan at hindi marapat na kahihiyan para sa iyong kapakanan.