Lenten Reflection: Remember
04 Mar 2024
March is considered Women’s Month and Fire Prevention Month. Whether intended or just coincidence, it seems there is a congruence in having these two themes in the same period of time. Both can be an invitation to remember: remember the women in our lives who have made a difference and remember to be careful and to always stay safe. ‘Remember’ can be a very beautiful word for it calls us to look back and never forget. The Tagalog word for old, ‘matanda’, even seems to connote that as we progress more in this life, there are more things to look back to and thus, there is greater need to be able to remember. In another way, the word remember can also be seen as to re-member or to be part again.
Most of Lent’s days also fall within the month of March. And perhaps, we can use these two meanings of the word remember to have a profound journey during this period. May we look back to and remember what God has done. At the same time, may we allow ourself to be part of this narrative once again – to be active in letting God love and save us by opening our heart and our life to His invitations.
Looking back, what do you remember as times when you felt the Lord’s consoling presence? How can you move yourself to never forget all the graces and goodness you have received? How can you stay a part of Jesus’ story of salvation as a receiver of such gift and as its instrument to others? March is a time to remember several things. As we honor the women in our life and as we continue to keep safe from accidents involving fire, may we also choose to honor our Savior and allow Him to keep us safe in His embrace.
Tinuturing na Buwan ng mga Kababaihan at Buwan ng Pag-iwas sa Sunog ang Marso. Sinadya man o hindi, tila may pagtutugma itong dalawang temang ito. Parehong may paanyaya sa pag-alaala: alalahanin ang mga babaeng nagdulot ng pagpapanibago at alalahaning maging maingat at manatiling ligtas. Napakagandang salita nitong pag-alaala sapagkat paanyaya itong magbalik-tanaw at huwag makalimot. Ang salitang ‘matanda’ ay tumutukoy nga rinna sa patuloy nating paglalakbay sa buhay, mas marami na tayong maaaring balikan at mas lumalalim ang paanyayang makaalala. Sa isa pang paraan, ang salitang Ingles na ‘remember’ ay maaaring tingnan bilang ‘re-member’ o maging bahagi muli.
Nasa Marso ang karamihan ng mga araw ng Kuwaresma. At marahil maaari nating gamitin ang dalawang kahulugan ng salitang ‘remember’ upang magkaroon ng malalim na paglalakbay sa panahong ito. Nawa balikan at alalahanin natin ang ginawa ng Diyos. Kasabay nito, nawa tulutan natin ang sarili na muling maging bahagi nitong salaysay – na may pagmamalay na hayaan ang Diyos na ibigin at iligtas tayo sa pamamagitan ng pagbubukas ng ating puso at buhay sa Kanyang mga paanyaya.
Bilang pagbabalik-tanaw, ano ang mga naalalamong pagkakataong nadama mo ang nakapapanatag na presensya ng Panginoon? Paano mo mabubunsod ang sarili na huwag kalimutan ang lahat ng kabiyayaan at kabutihang iyong natanggap? Paano ka mananatiling bahagi ng kuwento ng pagliligtas ni Hesus bilang tagatanggap nito at bilang instrumento nito sa iyong kapwa? Marami tayong inaalala sa buwan ng Marso. Samantalang kinikilala natin ang mga babae sa ating buhay at patuloy tayong nag-iingat sa mga aksidenteng dulot ng apoy, nawa piliin din nating kilalanin ang ating Tagapagligtas at hayaan Siyang patuloy tayong ingatan sa Kanyang yakap.
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