Lenten Reflection: Not Without Fear
27 Mar 2024
None of us would probably choose to be afraid. Without fear, we could be more daring and explore farther horizons and more possibilities. Without fear, we may not be drawn to unnecessary and unhealthy luxuries, excesses and addictions. Without fear, we could be more free. But the experience of fear is quite usual. In fact, no person has ever walked this world without knowing what it’s like to be scared. That includes even the God who became man.
With Jesus, we do not see what it means to be without fear. Instead, we see what we can choose, what we can live and what we can be even with it. In the midst of fearsome pain and terrible mockery, He chose trust and interior strength. Even with threatening aloneness because of the heartbreaking abandonment of friends, He lived out forgiveness and kindness. Despite deep disappointment and foreboding death, He remained our God and stood by us. With Christ, it was not about being without fear. It was about being with love despite the fear.
We will never be as brave, as strong and as loving fear would be enough to give us meaningful moments of peace, compassion and joy. We are not to avoid fear but we are to allow ourself to feel loved and to believe in Love in spite of it. That will be sufficient. And so: What are you afraid of most these days? When have you experienced the Lord’s light and courage in moments of debilitating worry? How are you to proceed with more love than fear?
Marahil walang sinuman sa atin ang pipiliing matakot. Kung walang pangamba, maaaring maging mas mapangahas tayo at suungin ang mas malalayong hangganan at mas maraming posibilidad. Kung walang pangamba, malamang hindi tayo maaakit sa mga di-kinakailangan at di-nakabubuting mga luho,kalabisan at pagkapit. Kung walang pangamba, marahil mas malaya tayo. Subalit karaniwan naman ang karanasan ngtakot. Katunayan, walang taong dumaan sa mundong ito na hindi nakabatid kungpaano ang mangamba. Kabilang dito ang Diyos na nagkatawang-tao.
Kay Hesus, hindi natin nakita kung anong kahulugan nang hindi mangamba. Sa halip, nasilayan natin kung ano ang ating maaaring piliin, isabuhay at pairalin kahit pa mayroon nito. Sa gitna ng nakatatakot na sakit at malupit na panlilibak, pinili Niya ang pagtitiwala at kalakasan ng kalooban. Kahit pa nakapagbabanta ang kalungkutan dahil sa makabasag-pusong pag-iwan ng mga kaibigan, isinabuhay Niya ang pagpapatawad at pagigingmabuti. Sa kabila ng malalim na kabiguan at nagbabadyang kamatayan, pinairal Niyaang pagiging Diyos natin at nanindigan Siya para sa atin. Kay Kristo, hindi ito tungkol sa kawalan ng takot. Tungkol ito sa pagkiling sa pag-ibig sa kabila ngpangamba.
Hindi tayo kailanman magiging kasingtapang, kasinglakas at kasingmapagmahal ni Kristo. Subalit sa Kanyang ipinamalas at sahabag ng Ama at sa mga pamamaraan ng Espiritu, maliit na pakikibahagi lamang sakung paano Siya naglakbay at nagtagumpay sa takot ay sapat na upang pagkalooban tayo ng mga makabuluhang pagkakataon ng kapayapaan, malasakit at galak. Hindisa nararapat nating iwasan ang pangamba kung hindi hayaan nating makadama tayong pag-ibig at maniwala tayo sa Pag-ibig kahit pa umiiral ang takot. Tama naiyon. Kung kaya: Ano ang pinaka-kinatatakutan mo ngayong mga araw? Paano mo naranasan ang liwanag at lakas ng loob ng Panginoon sa mga oras ng nakapanghihinang pag-aalala? Paano ka magpapatuloy nang nakahihigit ang pag-ibig kaysa sa pangamba?
#aihlentenreflections #ateneoishome
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