Lenten Reflection: Vague and Vivid
26 Mar 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
There are some things that are only captured by two descriptions which can seemingly not go together but actually make sense once it is experienced. For example, there are dishes that are tasty but not pungent, tiring yet fulfilling moments, bittersweet memories. Perhaps in their complexity, the mixture of traits, lies the truth of their essence.
When we look at the passion of Jesus, we can probably ask: how did You save me by being there on the cross?. And it’s understandable to wonder because there is a vagueness to the narrative simply because we weren’t actually there. But then we encounter certain ‘proofs’ of His presence from centuries ago through the repeated narration of the story with much vividness of even the small details. So in a way, what happened there in Calvary many, many years ago is both vague and vivid at the same time – and it’s alright.
At the end of it all, how we see Christ’s story especially as connected with us may just depend on how much we allow ourself to be open to Him who never insists, demands or expects. We can choose to have faith even if things are unclear and we can still doubt even if proofs are staring us in the face. We can take a step towards Him despite our human uncertainties, and just rely fully on His divine assurances. We can shun love because of its surprising and vague ways or we can let Him who’s patient and vivid in His love for us enfold us in His embrace. After all, it is a friendship with Him that God is inviting us to which means we are free to decide what it can mean to us. And these days might be a good time to look more into this relationship: what is vague and what is vivid for me when it comes to the Lord?
May mga bagay na maitatampok lamang ng dalawang paglalarawang tila hindi nagtutugma subalit may katotohanan kapag naranasan na. Halimbawa: may mga pagkaing malasa ngunit hindi nakakaumay, mga nakakapagod subalit nakapupunong sandali, mga alaalang masayang-malungkot. Sa kanilang hindi pagkapayak, sa paghahalo ng mga katangian, naroon ang katotohanan ng kanilang diwa.
Sa pagmalas natin sa kuwento ni Hesus, maaari nating tanungin: paano Mo ako niligtas dahil nandyan Ka sa krus?. At kauna-unawa ang magtaka sapagkat may kalabuan ang kuwento dahil wala tayo mismo nang maganap ito. Subalit may mga ‘patunay’ ng Kanyang presensya ilang siglo na ang nakalipas sa pamamagitan ng paulit-ulit na pagsasalaysay nito na may malinaw pang mga detalye. Kung kaya sa isang banda, sabay na malabo at malinaw ang nangyari sa Kalbaryo maraming taon na ang nakaraan – at ayos lamang ito.
Sa huli, nakasalalay ang kung paano natin nakikita ang kuwento ni Kristo lalo na kaugnay sa atin sa kung gaano nating binubuksan ang ating sarili sa Kanya na hindi kailanman nanggigiit, humihingi o namimilit. Maaari nating piliing maniwala kahit pa hindi malinaw ang mga bagay-bagay at maaari rin tayong magduda kahit pa nariyan na sa ating harapan ang mga patunay. Maaari tayong humakbang patungo sa Kanya sa kabila ng ating pantaong pag-aalinlangan, at sumandig na lamang sa Kanyang banal na katiyakan. Maaari nating iwaksi ang pag-ibig dahil sa nakagugulat at di-maunawaang mga pamamaraan nito o maaari nating hayaan Siya na mapagpasensya at buhay na buhay sa Kanyang pag-ibig para sa atin na hagkan tayo sa Kanyang yakap. Isang pakikipagkaibigan sa Kanya ang paanyaya sa atin ng Diyos kung kaya malaya tayong piliin kung ano ang kahalagahan nito sa atin. At maaaring mabuting panahon ngayong mga araw upang higit na tingnan itong ugnayan: ano ang malabo at alin ang malinaw sa akin pagdating sa Panginoon?
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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