Lenten Reflection: So What...
15 Apr 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
There are certain things, experiences and even information that can make us ask ‘So what?’. That happened, so what? This exists, so what? The truth is such, so what? To ask those two words may show inquiring about relevance, feigning indifference, or seeking understanding.
The phrase can be very useful, albeit it can sound snobbish, to use as reflection. You were born into this world, so what? You do the work that you do, so what? You love those that you love, so what? Perhaps in these questions we can get a glimpse of what difference we make by our presence, positions and passions. This Holy Week, we can also even ask: Jesus went through His sacrifice, so what? He suffered for me, so what? He gave up His life to save me, so what? And these latter ones may then lead us to see what difference it makes that we have been loved so much.
Perhaps to God and when it comes to His heart for us, ‘so what’ becomes a promise, a choice, a decisive act. So what if we’re sinners, He embraces us anyway. So what if we don’t deserve His commitment, He still remains on our side. So what if we can forget who He is and what He’s given us, His faithfulness does not require anything in return. And then it stops being a question for our Lord makes it a statement, highlighted on the cross, that we are His own. Really, we can allow that to seep deep into our being: so what that we have put much distance and several barriers between us and our Home, we remain precious to Him and so it is that He never counts, weighs or measures what we’ve done for where we lack, His love always fills the gaps.
May mga bagay, karanasan maging kaalaman na maaari nating tanungin ng ‘Ano ngayon?’. Nangyari iyon, ano ngayon? Mayroong ganito, ano ngayon? Ito ang katotohanan, ano ngayon? Maaaring sumalamin ng pag-alam sa kabuluhan, pagkilos ng walang pakialam o paghahanap ng pag-unawa ang paggamit nitong dalawang salita.
Marahil may silbi rin iyang parirala, kahit pa mukhang mataray o masungit, na gamitin sa pagninilay. Ipinanganak ka sa mundo, ano ngayon? Ginagawa mo ang iyong hanapbuhay at trabaho, ano ngayon? Minamahal mo ang mga pinili mong mahalin, ano ngayon? Sa mga tanong na ito, nawa masumpungan natin ang bisa ng ating pag-iral, pagkilos at pagkiling. Ngayong Mahal na Araw, maaari rin nating isipin: pinagdaanan ni Hesus ang Kanyang sakripisyo, ano ngayon? Nagdusa Siya para sa akin, ano ngayon? Isinuko Niya ang Kanyang buhay upang iligtas ako, ano ngayon? At itong mga huling katanungan ay maaaring magdulot upang makita natin ang kaibhan na may umiibig sa atin nang ganoon kalubos.
Marahil sa Diyos at pagdating sa Kanyang pusong nakalaan sa atin, nagiging isang pangako, pagpili, at tiyak na pagkilos ang ‘ano ngayon’. Ano ngayon kung makasalanan tayo, niyayakap Niya pa rin tayo. Ano ngayon kung hindi tayo karapatdapat sa Kanyang pagtataya, narito pa rin Siya sa ating piling. Ano ngayon kung nalilimot natin kung sino Siya at ano ang Kanyang kaloob sa atin, hindi naghihintay ng kapalit ang Kanyang katapatan. At humihinto itong maging tanong sapagkat ginawang tiyak ng Panginoon na Siya ang ating hantungan, at itinampok Niya ito sa krus. Tunay ngang maaari nating hayaang tumagos ito sa ating kaibuturan: ano ngayon kung lumayo tayo at tumalikod sa ating Tahanan, nananatili tayong mahalaga sa Kanya at hindi Siya kailanman nagbibilang, nanunukat at naninimbang ng ating mga ginawa sapagkat kung saan tayo nagkukulang, naroon Siya upang punuan ang puwang.
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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