Lenten Reflection: Regrets, What-Ifs, Could-Have-Beens
23 Feb 2024
There is a short Tagalog song speaking of aballoon that flew up to the sky and was never seen again because it already popped. The last lines say that it was a waste of money which could have beenspent on food instead. It is interesting that this can be often heard beingsung by children. It seems that even at an early age, the reality of regrets, what-ifs and could-have-beens is already being learned or taught.
All of us would, indeed, have an experience of feeling sad or sorry about something that we could have done or could have happened. And as we know from the passion narrative that Jesus was Himself man, we cannot help but imagine that He, too, may have had His own regrets and what-ifs. While we cannot be sure what these were, one thing is certain: with how He loved us and how God continues to love us, the sacrifice Christ made for us would never be one He would regret. As we are constantly cared and provided for by the Lord, deep in our hearts we can believe that our joy and salvation are something He strives for over and over again.
There is a lot to say and share about regrets, what-ifs and could-have-beens. At the same time, there is much to accept and embrace in what is. And what is here, what is real, what is true is that we are sustained by a love so kind, strong and willful. May we accept even more the One who chose, who is choosing, and who will always choose loving us without regret or holding back. We can begin by opening up to Him about these: What regrets do you hold in your heart? What graces do you need to move well from such heaviness? What can the Lord show you especially during Lent that may be helpful in your journey?
May maikling awit sa Tagalog na nagsasalaysay tungkol sa isang lobo na lumipad sa langit at di na nakita dahil pumutok napala. Sinasabi ng mga huling linya nito na sayang lang ang pera na maaari sanang pinangbili ng pagkain. Kapansin-pansin na kadalasang maririnig itong inaawit ng mga bata. Tila kahit sa murang edad, natututunan o itinuturo na ang realidad ng panghihinayang, mga posibilidad na hindi naisakatuparan at mga napakawalang pagkakataon.
Lahat tayo ay may karanasang malungkot o magsisi dahil sa mga maaari sana nating naisagawa o sa mga maaari sanang nangyari. At sapagkat batid natin ang buhay ni Hesus na Siya mismo ay naging tao rin, maaari nating mahinuha na mayroon din Siyang mga ganitong saloobin. Bagaman hindi natin malalaman nang lubos ang mga ito, may isang tiyak: sa kung paano Niya tayo inibig at sa paano tayo patuloy na iniibig ng Diyos, hindi Niya kailanman pagsisisihan o panghihinayangan ang pagsasakripisyo para sa atin. Sa araw-araw na pagkalinga at pagkakaloob sa atin ng Panginoon, maaari tayong maniwala sa kaibuturan ng puso na ang ating kagalakan at kaligtasan ay lagi at lagi at paulit-ulit Niyang pinagsusumikapan.
Maraming maaaring sabihin at ibahagi tungkol sa panghihinayang, mga posibilidad na hindi naisakatuparan at mga napakawalang pagkakataon. Kasabay nito, marami ring maaaring tanggapin at yakapin sa kung ano ang nasa kasalukuyan. At ang nasa kasalukuyan, ang tunay, ang totoo ay pinapanatili tayo ng isang pag-ibig na ubod nang buti, lakas at sadya. Nawa higit pa nating tanggapin Siya na pinili, pinipili at pipiliing mahalin tayo nang walang pagsisisi o pagtitimpi. Maaari nating simulan sa pamamagitan ng pagbubukas sa Kanya tungkol sa mga ito: Anong mga panghihinayang ang nasa iyong puso? Anong mga biyaya ang kailangan mo upang makausad mula sa mga dalahing ito? Ano ang maaaring ipakita at ipadama sa iyo ng Panginoon lalo na ngayong Kuwaresmana makatutulong sa iyong paglalakbay?
#aihlentenreflections #ateneoishome
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