Lenten Reflection: Mysterious Merit
17 Apr 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
Our life, the systems and structures we employ, many ways by which we abide are built on accomplishing and earning what we want to get. In school, we study hard so we can receive awards, even competing against one another for honors. At work, promotion happens when we establish what we can do. And there are many documents, memberships and statuses that we only acquire once we prove what we have or who we are. Looking at all these, it can be tiring and difficult. It seems we always have to show or insist that we are worth something.
That’s why the most peaceful moments may be when we’re just being ourself – perhaps lying down on the grass or the sand with the sun shining on us, or sitting down in a café watching people walk by, or being in a church with nothing else to stay with but the most sincere desires and fervent prayers in our heart. Try and recall: when was the last time you had such a moment? And perhaps even our most valued and trusted relationships are those where we know we are loved whether we achieve much or we fall apart, we are accepted with both our sanities and insanities, we are cherished regardless of our state or what we can give. Allow yourself then to see and acknowledge: who are the people with whom you have this kind of assurance?
When we look at what we commemorate these days, we can find consolation in the reality that God never required us to be anything in order for Jesus to choose us up until His death. We have never had to deserve it before salvation and love were offered to us. In fact, it may even be that our Lord was the one trying to earn our trust, making such an effort to draw us to His side. It’s so mysterious why we are so important to Him, how is it that we have been awarded such a place in His heart, where our status of being His most treasured came from. And perhaps it is not for us to untangle this mystery – we never could because our merit is not from us but emanates from the kind of Lover we have. Our response is the only thing we can offer, and if we do answer in kind, we shall find that being His beloved may not be what we deserve but it remains our greatest identity.
Ang buhay natin, mga sistema at istrukturang umiiral, iba-ibang pamamaraan na ating sinusunod ay nakasandig sa pagtatagumpay at pagpapatunay para makamit ang mga nais nating matanggap. Sa paaralan, nag-aaral tayo nang mabuti upang makakuha ng mga pagkilala, nagpapaligsahan pa nga tayo laban sa isa’t isa para sa mga medalya. Sa trabaho, tumataas ang ating posisyon kapag naipapakita natin ano ang ating kakayahan. At maraming dokumento, pagiging bahagi ng isang pangkat at karangalang naipagkakaloob lamang kapag napatotohanan natin ano ang ating katayuan o sino tayo. Kung titingnan ang lahat ng ito, tila napakahirap at nakakapagod. Para bang lagi nating kailangang ipagpilitan na may halaga tayo.
Kung kaya ang pinakatahimik nating sandali ay iyong hindi tayo nagpapatunay ng sarili – maaaring kapag nakahiga tayo sa damo o buhangin habang sinisikatan ng araw, o nakaupo tayo at umiinom ng kape habang pinapanood ang mga dumadaan, o samantalang nasa simbahan na walang ibang taglay kung hindi ang mga pinakamalalim nating hangad at pinakamarubdob na panalangin sa ating puso. Subukang tukuyin ito: kailan ka huling nakaranas ng ganitong pagkakataon? At marahil ang pinakamahalaga at pinagkakatiwalaan nating ugnayan ay iyong batid natin na minamahal tayo alinman sa nagtatagumpay o nalulugmok tayo, iyong tanggap tayo kasama ang ating mga pagkabiyaya at pagkabaliw, iyong inaaruga tayo kahit pa ano ang ating kalagayan o kayang maibahagi. Tulutan ang sariling makita at kilalanin: sino ang mga taong nagkakaloob sa iyo ng mga ganyang katiyakan?
Kung titingnan natin itong ating ginugunita ngayong mga araw, makakasumpong tayo ng kapanatagan sa realidad na hindi kailanman nagpataw ang Diyos ng kung ano dapat tayo upang piliin tayo ni Hesus hanggang sa Kanyang kamatayan. Kahit kailan, hindi natin kinailangang patunayan ang sarili bago tayo paghandugan ng kaligtasan at pagmamahal. Maaari ngang ang Panginoon pa ang nagsumikap upang makuha ang ating tiwala, na Siya pa ang nagpatunay sino Siya upang hayaan nating mayakap Niya tayo. Isang kababalaghan bakit napakahalaga natin sa Kanya, paanong ginawaran tayo ng pinakamalaking puwang sa Kanyang puso, saan nagmula ang ating katayuan bilang Kanyang tinatangi. At marahil hindi para sa atin na himayin itong misteryo – hindi natin ito magagawa dahil ang halaga natin ay hindi mula sa atin bagkus isang katotohanan sa anong uri ng Mangingibig ang nagmamahal sa atin. Maaari lamang nating ialok ang ating tugon, at kapag gawin natin ito, mapapagtanto nating ang pagiging Kanyang minamahal ay hindi karapatdapat sa atin subalit siyang pinakadakila nating katauhan.
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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