40 Days of Lent: Day 17
21 Mar 2023 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
40 Days of Lent: Day 17
It can be easy to show it when we’re happy. We often cannot wait to speak about why we are feeling so. And in most instances, the light in our eyes, the smile on our lips and the little bounce to our step may be difficult to hide. Given this usual reality to happiness, when was the last time you expressed its opposite of being sad?
Perhaps there is discomfort in admitting sadness. Like many of the negative emotions we feel, we may find ourself wanting to deny it or skip over it. And it is understandable especially if the reason weighs heavily on us or it seems that we do not have control over the situation. But sadness, like any other feeling, is something that we should not deny. In fact, it is healthier that we allow ourself to go through its experience, acknowledging and honoring how we are.
God felt deeply sad about our condition of sin that Jesus was sent to be with us. Christ in his passion surely knew sadness because of pain and betrayal. So this feeling is not something foreign to our Lord. This gives us reason to openly express it, especially to our Creator. What brings you sadness these days? What weighs heavily on your heart? What clouds your day? Be assured that when you approach our God with these, you have a parent, a friend and a companion who listens without judgment and who loves you unconditionally even with your tears, scars and hurts. While our Greatest Consoler wants us to be happy, He remains close and embraces us tightly when we are sad.
40 Araw ng Kuwaresma: Ika-17 Araw
Madaling maipakita kapag masaya tayo. Nananabik na tayong magkuwento o magpahayag ng saloobin. At mahirap maikubli ang ningning ng ating mata, ang ngiti sa labi at gana sa mga hakbang. Kung ganito ang realidad ng kasiyahan, kailan mo naman ipinamalas ang kabaligtaran na lugmok?
Marahil asiwa ang umamin sa lungkot. Gaya ng maraming nakababalisang damdamin, nais na lamang itanggi o lampasan agad ito. At kauna-unawa ito lalo na kung napakabigat ng dahilan o tila wala tayong kinakatigan. Subalit ang lungkot, gaya ng iba pang damdamin, ay nararapat na tanggapin. Katunayan, mas nakabubuti nang tulutang mapagdaanan ang saklap ng karanasan, na kinikilala at iginagalang ang sarili.
Lubos na nalungkot ang Diyos sa pagkakasala kaya ipinadala si Hesus sa ating piling. Tiyak na nalumbay si Kristo dahil sa sakit at pagtataksil. Kung kaya hindi kaiba itong damdamin sa Panginoon. Ito ang dahilan upang maging tapat sa ganitong nadarama, lalo na sa Tagapaglikha natin. Ano ang nagdudulot sa iyo ng lungkot ngayon? Ano ang nagpapabigat ng iyong kalooban? Ano ang nagpapadilim ng iyong araw? Umasa ka na kung sasambitin mo ang mga ito sa Diyos, may magulang, kaibigan at kasama na sadyang makikinig nang walang husga at umiibig sa iyo nang lubos sa kabila ng iyong mga luha, pilat at pait. Samantalang ninanais ng ating Dakilang Tagapagpanatag na maging masaya tayo, nananatili Siyang malapit at yumayakap sa atin nang mahigpit kapag nalulungkot tayo.
#ateneoishome #aihfortydaysoflent #aihday17oflent
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