40 Days of Lent: Day 35
28 Feb 2023 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
40 Days of Lent: Day 35
When we are afraid, it can manifest in several ways. Our mind can go into overdrive, thinking about the worst. Our body can tremble. Our hands can shake or sweat. It may be quite an uncomfortable experience. And Jesus must have gone through the same especially during his last days. Despite being the son of God, he was human like us when he went through his passion. So when faced with death, we can imagine how there was fear in him, too.
It is quite normal to be fearful. Reasons to be so surround us. But unless we act out of fear, then it does not control us. In fact, better things can happen. When we are afraid, we can choose to have faith. This is what Christ did when he kept his belief in the Father. We can relate with others more, understanding the unfreedom that being afraid can cause, and become more compassionate. It is the same way that our Lord knew our very experience of unfreedom and fear because of sin, which led him to fight to the end to free us from it all. And fear can strengthen our will for a fuller life. Just like Jesus whose desire for what is better for us surpassed the fear he felt.
As the experience of fear is real, what causes this in you? What are you afraid of? What can lead you to worry? Make a list of thirty-five possible and actual reasons that can trigger this experience in you. Afterward, you may choose to talk with a trusted companion who can help you face these and move to have deeper faith, more compassion and stronger will despite what’s on your list. Also, you may spend some time with Jesus, to further know how fear was so real to him but in the end, was overcome with something much fiercer and greater: love. Love from the Father and love for us.
40 Araw ng Kuwaresma: Ika-35 Araw
Kapag nangangamba tayo, maaari itong magbunga sa iba-ibang paraan. Nagiging higit na aktibo ang ating isip, na gumagawa ng mga malulubhang posibilidad. Nangangatog ang katawan natin. Nanginginig at namamawis ang ating mga kamay. Maaaring hindi komportable ang karanasang ito. At marahil dumanas din si Hesus ng ganito lalo na sa mga huling araw niya. Sa kabila ng pagiging anak ng Diyos, tao rin siya tulad natin nang pinagdaanan niya ang kanyang pagdurusa. Kung kaya nang naharap siya sa kamatayan, mawawari natin na may takot din sa kanya.
Normal ang matakot. Maraming dahilan sa ating paligid upang makadama nito. Subalit hanggang hindi tayo kumikilos mula sa pangamba, hindi tayo nadadaig nito. Katunayan, maaaring magdulot ito ng mas mabubuting bagay. Kapag natatakot tayo, maaari nating piliing magkaroon ng pananampalataya. Ito ang ginawa ni Kristo nang pinanatili niya ang paniniwala sa Ama. Maaari tayong magkaroon ng mas malalim na ugnayan sa kapwa, mula sa pang-unawa ng hindi pagiging malaya dahil sa takot, na mag-uudyok ng higit ding pagmamalasakit. Ito ang naganap kay Hesus nang mabatid niya mismo ang ating karanasan ng pagkakasupil at pangamba dahil sa kasalanan, na nagbunga upang ipaglaban niya na mapalaya tayo mula sa lahat ng ito. At maaari ring patatagin ng takot ang ating pagpupursigi para sa isang buhay na mas lubos. Gaya ni Hesus na ang paghahangad ng mas mabuti para sa atin ay humigit sa kanyang pangamba.
Sapagkat tunay ang karanasan ng takot, ano ang nagdudulot nito sa iyo? Saan ka nangangamba? Ano ang mga dahilan ng iyong pag-aalala? Gumawa ng talaan ng tatlumpu’t limang aktwal at potensyal na dahilan na maaaring magbunsod nitong karanasan sa iyo. Pagkatapos, maaari mong piliing makipag-usap sa isang mapagkakatiwalaang kasama na makatutulong na harapin mo ang mga ito at maghihikayat sa iyo tungo sa mas malalim na pananampalataya, mas dakilang pagmamalasakit at mas malakas na pagpupunyagi sa kabila ng mga nasa talaan mo. Kaakibat nito, maaari ka ring maglaan ng oras kasama ni Hesus, upang higit na mabatid kung gaano katotoo ang naging pangamba niya na sa huli ay napangibabawan ng isang mas matapang at mas dakila pa: pag-ibig. Pag-ibig mula sa Ama at pag-ibig para sa atin.
#ateneoishome #aihfortydaysoflent #aihday35oflent
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