Lenten Reflection: Leap Year
29 Feb 2024
Today is the end of the month but unlike most years, this is the 29th day of February, not the 28th. A leap year such as 2024 helps keep the 12-month calendar match the Earth’s movement around the sun. This can be very interesting as it reflects the careful and calculated watch we can keep on certain things, measuring and computing up to the last possible digit. In fact, the steps taken to make the calendar as accurate as possible included several shifts from ancient Rome to a Julian calendar to the current Gregorian calendar that we follow.
While it may be impossible to look into all things of life in such great detail, may we know which ones matter enough that they merit our full attention and best effort. At the same time, may we see how and where to look – through our mind, deep into our heart, based on our very experience. And if we use everything that we have, we may find that more important than anything is the realization of God’s love which was made more real by Christ and which remains steady and dependable until today.
If there were no leap years every four years and if adjustments were not made on how we count days, the calendar we use will no longer be in sync with the seasons. The same can be true when it comes to our life: we may be out of sync with our best self and our true Reason if we do not allow our mind, heart and experience to show us. For if we truly search ourself and look at our history, the providence and salvation we receive from the Lord is undeniable. So these days, may we ask: What adjustments do I need to make so I can include God more in my life? Where do I see differences between my movements and my Creator’s desires for me? How can I match, in my own unique ways, the love I have been bestowed?
Ngayon ang huling araw ng buwan subalit di tulad ng ibang taon, ika-29 ito ng Pebrero at hindi ika-28. Ang isang leap year tulad ng 2024 ay nakatutulong magtugma sa kalendaryong may labindalawang buwan sa pag-ikot ng mundo sa araw. Interesante sapagkat sinasalamin nito ang maingat at masusing pagtingin natin sa ilang mga bagay, na sinusukat at tinutuos hanggang sa huling bilang. Katunayan, ilang hakbang ang isinagawa upang iwasto ang kalendaryo mula sa panahon ng sinaunang Roma hanggang sa kalendaryong Julian at sa kasalukuyang kalendaryong Gregorian na sinusundan natin.
Bagaman hindi posibleng busisiin ang lahat ng bagay sa parehong paraan, nawa batid natin kung alin ang mga tunay na mahalaga na nangangailangan ng ating buong pansin at pinakamahusay na paggalaw. Kasabay nito, nawa makita natin kung paano at saan dapat tumingin – sa pamamagitan ng ating isip, sa kaibuturan ng ating puso, sa atin mismong mga karanasan. At kung gagamitin natin lahat ng ating tangan, mapagmamalayan natin na higit na mahalaga sa kahit anupaman ang pagkakatanto sa pag-ibig ng Diyos na lalong napatotohanan ni Kristo at nananatiling matatag at maaasahan hanggang sa ngayon.
Kung walang leap year tuwing apat na taon at kung hindi iwinasto ang pagbibilang ng mga araw, ang kalendaryong gamit natin ay hindi magtutugma sa pagpapalit ng mga panahon. Tulad din ito sa ating buhay: maaaring hindi tayo magtugma sa ating pinakamainam na sarili at sa tunay nating Dahilan kung hindi natin hahayaan ang isip, puso at karanasan na ipamalas ito. Sapagkat kung tunay nating titingnan ang sarili at ang ating kasaysayan, hindi natin maitatanggi ang pagkakaloob at pagliligtas ng Panginoon sa atin. Kung kaya ngayong mga araw, maaari nating pagnilayan ang mga ito: Anong mga pagwawasto ang kinakailangan kong gawin upang higit na maging bahagi ng aking buhay ang Diyos? Saan ko nakikita ang hindi pagtutugma ng aking mga pagkilos sa mga hangad ng aking Tagapaglikha? Paano ko tutumbasan, sa mga natatangi kong pamamaraan, ang pag-ibig na iginawad sa akin?
#aihlentenreflections #ateneoishome
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