40 Days of Lent: Day 26
10 Mar 2023 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
40 Days of Lent: Day 26
It can be easier to look at others than ourself. This can happen in different situations such as when sacrificing for one’s family, assisting co-workers and delaying or denying own dreams so we can give more to others. While these are all very noble choices, there is value in what is advised in airplane emergency situations: put on your lifevest first before helping others with theirs. Because the best we can offer others depends much on how we sustain our own well-being.
Jesus is a good example of looking after himself so that he could minister to others. While what he practiced as ‘self-care’ may not be similar to how we can easily imagine it today, he fulfilled its proper ways. His anchor remained to be the best one of all, his Father, and he made sure to have sufficient time spent with this loved one. He had meaningful support and community in his family, friends and apostles. And his purpose was always clear, providing him reason, direction and clarity.
We are always called to be good companions to others. But we can only become so if we are in healthy shape physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. While people around us can help us in this journey of self-care, a great part of it depends on us. Today, what are invitations to your self-care? What do you need to start doing to nourish yourself more? What can you continue as positive practices that you do to yourself? And what should you stop because they hinder your own comfort, growth or goodness? Jesus offered us his life to care for our soul. God the Father provides for all our needs. And the Spirit permeates this world to look after us. The rest of what we can do for the good of our welfare depends on our choices.
40 Araw ng Kuwaresma: Ika-26 na Araw
Maaaring mas madali ang bumaling sa kapwa. Nangyayari ito sa ilang pagkakataon gaya ng pagsasakripisyo para sa pamilya, pagtulong sa mga katrabaho at pagpapaliban o pagtalikod sa mga sariling pangarap upang higit na makapagkaloob sa iba. Samantalang mga dakilang pagpili ang mga ito, may halaga rin ang payo sa mga agarang kalagayan sa eroplano: isuot muna ang sariling lifevest bago tulungan ang kasamang pasahero. Sapagkat ang pinakamainam nating maihahandog sa kapwa ay nakasalalay sa kung paano natin pinapanatili ang sarili.
Isang mabuting halimbawa ng pangangalaga sa sarili upang makapaglingkod sa iba si Hesus. Bagaman maaaring iba sa konseptong madali nating maisip ngayon ang ginawa niyang ‘self-care’, isinakatuparan niya ang mga tamang pamamaraan nito. Kumapit siya sa pinakamainam na sandigan, ang kanyang Ama, at tiniyak niyang lagi siyang may panahon para sa iniibig na ito. Nagkaroon siya ng makabuluhang kaagapay at komunidad sa pamilya, mga kaibigan at apostol. At malinaw ang kanyang misyon na nagkaloob sa kanya ng dahilan, patutunguhan at kalinawan.
Lagi tayong tinatawag na maging mabuting kasama ng kapwa. Subalit magagawa lamang natin ito kung malusog tayo sa mga aspektong pangkatawan, pangkaisipan, pangkalooban at pang-espiritwal. Samantalang maaari tayong tulungan ng mga taong malalapit sa atin sa paglalakbay ng pangangalaga ng sarili, nakasalalay ang malaking bahagi nito sa atin mismo. Ngayong araw, ano ang mga paanyaya upang kalingain ang sarili? Ano ang mga nararapat mong simulan upang higit na mapainam ang iyong kapakanan? Ano ang mga nararapat mong ipagpatuloy na mga positibong gawain? At ano ang mga kailangan mong ihinto sapagkat nakahahadlang sa iyong ginhawa, paglago at kabutihan? Inialay ni Hesus ang kanyang buhay upang pangalagaan ang ating kaluluwa. Tinutugunan ng Ama ang lahat ng ating pangangailangan. At umiiral ang Espiritu rito sa mundo upang arugahin tayo. Ang natitirang dapat nating gawin para sa sarili ay nakasalalay na sa ating mga pagpili.
#ateneoishome #aihfortydaysoflent #aihday26oflent
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