Lenten Reflection: Pick-Up Lines
22 Feb 2024
Pick-up and kilig lines can be cheesy, corny and annoying. To be told something like ‘Are you the sun? Because when you smiled, you brightened my life.’ can make us smirk. Admittedly, though, there can be those that can put a little grin on our face such as ‘You must be loose change – it’s still very early but I already need you.’ Oftentimes, these lines do get our attention.
The story of Christ’s passion may be full of pick-up lines if we choose to see it in this way. And like the usual ones we hear, we can respond in different ways. ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’ – you are? ‘And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time’ – really? ‘Today, you will be with me in paradise’ – aww. Perhaps with these and all that He said, the main difference is this: they were not just lines casually uttered, they were not only meant to make us feel giddy, they were not empty words. Jesus spoke all that he spoke out of love.
Today, the Lord is still speaking to us, trying to get our attention, drawing us to Him not for His benefit but for ours. We can respond in disbelief, doubt or even anger and that would be alright with Him. Perhaps the invitation is to just simply begin talking with Him. If we are in a disposition to go deeper in conversation, certainly that would be very welcome with the Lover who has tried everything to gain our notice. And so this Lent, maybe you can go on a date with God and begin by answering: What do you want to say to Him? How can you allow Him to be closer to you? Where do you need His presence?
Marahil baduy, korny at nakakainis ang mga pick-up at kilig lines. Maaaringmapangiwi tayo kapag nasabihan ng mga gaya ng ‘Ikaw ba ang araw?Kasi nang ngumiti ka, umaliwalas ang buhay ko.’ Mayroon din namingnakapagdudulot ng maliit na ngiti sa atin tulad ng ‘Siguro barya ka– ang aga pa kasi pero kailangan na kita.’ Kadalasan naman,nakukuha nga ng mga ganitong linya ang ating pansin.
Kung titingnan natin sa ganyang paraan, tila maraming pick-up lines sa salaysay ng pagdurusa ni Kristo. At katulad sa iba nating naririnig, maaari tayong tumugon sa iba-ibang paraan. ‘Ako ang daan, katotohanan at buhay.’ – ikaw nga? ‘Tandaan ninyo: ako’y laging kasama ninyo hanggang sa katapusan ng panahon.’ – talaga? ‘Ngayon din ay makakasama kita sa Paraiso.’ – aww. Marahil sa lahat ng ito at sa iba pa Niyang sinabi, ito ang katangi-tanging kaibhan: hindi ito mga linyang basta sinambit lamang upang pakiligin tayo ngunit walang laman. Binigkas ni Hesus ang mga binigkas Niya mula sa pag-ibig.
Saaraw na ito, kinakausap pa rin tayo ng Panginoon, sinusubukan pa rinNiyang kunin ang ating atensyon, at tinatawag pa rin Niya tayo saKanyang piling para sa ating ikabubuti. Maaari tayong tumugon nangmay pagdududa, alinlangan o kahit galit at walang kaso sa Kanya.Marahil ang paanyaya ay simulan lamang na makipag-usap. Kung nasadisposisyon tayong makipag-usap nang mas malalim, tiyak na ikatutuwaiyon ng Mangingibig na ginawa na ang lahat upang hulihin ang atingpansin. Kung kaya ngayong Kuwaresma, maaari kang makipagtagpo saDiyos at simulan ito sa pamamagitan ng pagtugon sa: Ano ang nais mongsabihin sa Kanya? Paano mo Siya tutulutang higit na mapalapit sa iyo?Saan mo kinakailangan ang Kanyang presensya?
#aihlentenreflections #ateneoishome