40 Days of Lent: Day 18
20 Mar 2023 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
40 Days of Lent: Day 18
Love is perhaps one of the most commonly-used words. It is a central theme in most movies, songs, poems and art works. Countless people have written, discussed and reflected about it. With all of these, it can still be difficult to capture or understand. But in our very core, love is our greatest calling.
Jesus showed us what love truly compels us to do. He loved the Father so much that he spent time with this beloved in frequent moments of prayer and silence. He loved deeply the mission of salvation entrusted to him that he spent many hours preaching, healing and showing the way to the Kingdom. He loved us without limits that he spent his whole life for our sake. In Christ, we see and know that to love is to give meaningful time for those that we have such affection for.
Perhaps there is no better way to manifest love than to offer one of the best resources we have: time. So for what and for whom do you spend the time that you have? How do you use it for those you love? How do you make your days become opportunities to show importance to what you claim and actually hold dear? Love is never just about words. It is not just about watching it in movies, singing it in songs, reading or writing about it in poetry or seeing and making it in art works. Love is about commitment in lived ways. Love is about being there for and with the beloved. Like our Lord, love is about making those we love the focus, the reality and the reason of our life.
40 Araw ng Kuwaresma: Ika-18 Araw
Marahil isa sa pinakamadalas na ginagamit na salita ang pag-ibig. Paksa ito sa maraming pelikula, awit, tula at mga likhang-sining. Di na mabilang ang mga taong nagsulat, tumalakay at nagnilay tungkol dito. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, tila mahirap pa ring lubos na magamay o maunawaan ang tunay na kahulugan nito. Subalit sa kaibuturan natin, pag-ibig ang pinakadakila nating tawag.
Ipinakita ni Hesus ang tunay na ibinubunsod ng pag-ibig. Lubos niyang inibig ang Ama kung kaya naglaan siya ng panahon para sa maraming pagkakataon ng panalangin at katahimikan upang makasama itong minamahal. Malalim ang kanyang pag-ibig para sa misyon ng pagliligtas na ipinagkatiwala sa kanya kaya naglaan siya ng maraming oras sa pangangaral, paghilom at pagtuturo ng landas sa Kaharian. Walang hangganan ang pagmamahal niya sa atin kaya inilaan niya ang kanyang buong buhay para sa ating kapakanan. Kay Kristo, nasilayan at nabatid natin na ang magmahal ay nangangahulugang pagbibigay ng makabuluhang panahon para sa iniibig.
Maaaring walang mas mabuting pagpapatotoo ng pag-ibig kaysa sa paghahandog ng isa sa pinakamahalagang biyaya natin: ang panahon. Kung kaya para saan at para kanino mo ginugugol ang panahong mayroon ka? Paano mo ito ginagamit para sa mga minamahal mo? Paano mo ginagawang pagkakataon ang iyong mga araw upang bigyang-halaga ang mga sinasambit at tunay mong iniibig? Ang pag-ibig ay hindi kailanman sa salita lamang. Hindi ito para panoorin lamang sa mga pelikula, gawing titik sa mga awit, isulat sa mga tula, at ilarawan sa mga likhang-sining. Ang pagmamahal ay pagtataya sa pamamagitan ng tunay na pagsasabuhay. Ang pag-ibig ay tungkol sa pag-iral kapiling at kaugnay ng iniibig. Tulad ng pagpapakahulugan ng ating Panginoon, ang pag-ibig ay pagtatampok sa iniibig bilang tuon, katotohanan at dahilan ng ating buhay.
#ateneoishome #aihfortydaysoflent #aihday18oflent
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