Lenten Reflection: Enter At Your Own Risk
07 Apr 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
Imagine a carnival with the many things it offers – a rollercoaster, Ferris wheel, carousel and a number of other colorful rides as well as stalls and activities. For sure, those that can be easily seen are a feast to our senses of sight and sound. But there would be those that are more hidden and less obvious – the horror house, enclosed rooms with 3D adventures, or even the fortune-telling booths. The nervousness and excitement for these are different for we have no idea what goes on inside. And so, we enter at our own risk.
Perhaps such is the spirit of anything unknown or unfamiliar: we go into it with trepidation and hope at the same time. For any mystery can turn out to be negative or wonderful and we can never tell unless we experience it for our self. The same is true with love which, cliché as it may be described, is the greatest mystery of all. And it is so not just because it is unpredictable or unknown, but more because it is unique and personal each and every time.
The invitation this Lent is to step into the mystery of God’s love. And we each enter at our own risk for while Jesus offered salvation to all, our individual histories, desires and choices make His sacrifice mean differently to every one of us. Same as with the rides and booths in a carnival, the experience and take-away may be different for every person. But perhaps we can reflect on this: am I willing to risk and see what His death truly means? How have I entered and allowed myself to encounter the Lord’s presence? And in the course of my life, what have been times when the mystery of that love was revealed to me and I have known it personally?
Isipin ang isang karnabal at ang marami nitong iniaalok – rollercoaster, tsubibo, carousel at samu’t saring mga rides at maging mga makukulay na stalls at activities. Tiyak na iyong mga madaling makita ay piyesta para sa ating paningin at pandinig. Subalit naroon din iyong mga mas kubli at hindi ganoong halata – horror house, mga silid na tila sine at 3D, o maging iyong may mga nanghuhula ng kapalaran. Iba ang kaba at pananabik para roon sa mga hindi natin alam kung ano ang nangyayari. Kung kaya pumapasok tayo nang mas may pagtataya.
Marahil iyon ang diwa ng kahit anong hindi natin batid o hindi natin mahulaan: sumusuot tayo nang may sabay na alinlangan at pag-asam. Sapagkat kahit anong misteryo ay maaaring maging negatibo o mainam subalit hindi natin masasabi hanggang hindi natin nararanasan. Ganoon din sa pag-ibig na, nakauumay mang ilarawan sa ganitong paraan, siyang pinakadakilang misteryo sa lahat. At hindi lamang dahil sa hindi ito mahulaan o mabatid, kung hindi dahil sa personal at natatangi ito sa bawat pagdanas.
Ang paanyaya ngayong Kuwaresma ay ang humakbang tayo sa misteryo ng pag-ibig ng Diyos. At pagtataya ang pagpasok natin sapagkat bagaman inihandog ni Hesus ang kaligtasan sa lahat, iba-iba ang kahulugan nito sa bawat isa sa atin dahil sa ating iba-ibang mga kasaysayan, hangad at pagpili. Tulad ng mga rides at booths sa karnabal, iba-iba ang karanasan at babaunin ng bawat tao. Kung kaya maaari natin itong pagnilayan: handa ba akong magtaya at sumubok na makita kung ano ang tunay na kahulugan ng Kanyang kamatayan? Paano ako pumapasok sa presensya ng Panginoon at hinahayaan ang sarili na maranasan ito? Sa paglalakbay ko sa buhay, anong mga pagkakataon na itong misteryo ng Kanyang pag-ibig ay nailantad sa akin at nabatid ko sa sariling pang-unawa at paggamay?
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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