Lenten Reflection: Not for the Faint of Heart
02 Apr 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
There are things that would need a little bit more strength, daring and willpower to try or witness for some of us such as particular exotic food, views from very high vantage points or activities like skydiving and bungee jumping. In most instances, not to experience these is not any loss for while they can provide a memorable escapade, we can go on with life not needing to have had them and we would not be any less for it.
There is one adventure, though, that every person must never let pass but which is not for the faint of heart: love. To allow ourself to love and be loved requires a different kind of courage, openness and vulnerability. There would be times when the joy is too much such that it is hard to explain and there would be moments when the pain can be overwhelming that time may take forever to heal. There are choices that may not be obviously rational and there are decisions that defy logical understanding. There can be actions too expansive we cannot even measure and there can be utterances too deep or sincere we are at a loss for words to respond. Even with all of these, we should never allow ourself to miss out on love’s attributes.
That love is difficult to capture or predict is the truth. Especially God’s love, made even more real by Jesus on the cross. It may not be for the faint of heart to accept or embrace, but nevertheless it is offered to each and every one of us. And while we may not be courageous or powerful enough to fully comprehend or surrender to it, the Lord is always more than magnanimous and compassionate to fill our gaps and shortcomings. It may also be helpful to ponder: how strong am I to permit love to reign in my life? Nowadays, we can ask in a special way that we may overcome our own faintness of heart to be more supple and submissive to love.
May mga bagay na nangangailangan ng higit na lakas, pangangahas at pagpapasya upang subukan o saksihan ng ilan sa atin tulad ng mga kakaibang pagkain, mga tanawin mula sa matataas na pook, o mga gawaing gaya ng skydiving at bungee jumping. Karaniwan, hindi kawalan ang hindi maranasan ang mga ito sapagkat kahit pa magkaloob ito ng di-malilimutang pagdanas, maaari tayong magpatuloy sa buhay na hindi ito naisasagawa at hindi naman ito kabawasan sa atin.
Subalit may isang pakikipagsapalaran na walang sinumang tao ang dapat magpalampas ngunit hindi para sa mahihina ang loob: pag-ibig. Ang tulutan ang sarili na umibig at ibigin ay nangangailangan ng kakaibang tapang, kabukasan at kahinaan. May mga panahong nag-uumapaw ang galak na hindi ito maipaliwanag at may mga pagkakataong napakalalim ng sakit na habambuhay ang paghilom. May mga pagpiling hindi mapanghawakan ang katwiran at may mga desisyong hindi maunawaan ng isip. May mga pagkilos na napakalawak na hindi natin masusukat at may mga pagsambit na ubod ng lalim at tapat na nauubusan tayo ng salita upang tumugon. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, hindi natin dapat hayaan ang sarili na pakawalan ang mga handog ng pag-ibig.
Na mahirap hulihin o hulaan ang pag-ibig ay isang katotohanan. Higit ang pag-ibig ng Diyos, na lalong napatunayan ni Hesus sa krus. Hindi ito para sa mga mahihina ang loob upang tanggapin at yakapin, subalit iniaalok ito sa bawat isa sa atin. At bagaman hindi sapat ang ating tapang at kapangyarihan upang lubusan itong maunawaan o magpangimbabaw rito, lagi at laging mapagkaloob at mapagmalasakit ang Panginoon na pinupunuan Niya ang ating mga puwang at pagkukulang. Maaaring makatulong na itanong: gaano ako katapang na tulutan ang pag-ibig na manguna sa aking buhay? Ngayong mga araw, maaari nating hilingin sa natatanging paraan na nawa mapagtagumpayan natin ang kahinaan ng loob upang higit tayong magpasailalim at magpahubog sa pag-ibig.
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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