Lenten Reflection: Who We Are, What We Are
20 Mar 2024
Name. Nickname. Role or position at work.Birth order. Civil status. Level of education. Tired. Happy. Fulfilled.Searching. There are many ways that we can describe ourself. And there areseveral possibilities as to how we view who we are. In all of these, how oftenhave we considered, accepted and even captured by stating the truestdescription of our essence and the reason for why we are here?
Cared for. Kept and sustained. Loved. Theseare the most important realities that we bear, that we have, that we are. Forthe fact is: we will not be here if the Father did not care enough for us tobreathe life into us. We would not be here if the Spirit has not kept andsustained us with the many gifts of creation and the small and great miraclesthat provide for our needs and dreams. We would not be here if Jesus did notoffer Himself to save us from sin and darkness. Cared for. Kept and sustained.Loved. That is what each one of us is.
This world can define us in many ways. And wecan choose from a wide array of options as to how we identify ourself. Evenwith all of these, may we always remember and go back to the most essential andfoundational. This Lent is actually a reminder of the love and the Lover that isour starting point, continuing reason and final cause. What names, descriptionsand identities do you embrace for yourself? Where do you anchor who you are andwhat you do? How can you be more closely connected with the Lord?
Pangalan. Palayaw. Papel o posisyon sa trabaho. Pang-ilan sa pamilya. Katayuang sibil. Antas ng pinag-aralan. Pagod. Masaya. Kuntento at panatag. Naghahanap. Maraming paraan ng paglalarawan sa ating sarili. At may ilang posibilidad kung paano natin maaaring tingnan kung sino tayo. Sa lahat ng ito, gaano kadalas nating isinasaalang-alang, tinatanggap at inaako sa pagpapahayag ang pinakatunay na pagtatampok ng ating diwa at ang dahilan kung bakit tayo naririto?
Pinagmamalasakitan. Pinapanatili atinaantabayanan. Minamahal. Ito ang mga pinakamahalagang realidad na atingtangan, na ating taglay, na ating isinasakatawan. Sapagkat ito ang katotohanan:wala tayo rito kung hindi tayo pinagmalasakitan nang sapat ng Ama atbinigyang-hininga upang mabuhay. Wala tayo rito kung hindi sa Espiritu nanagpapanatili at umaantabay sa atin sa pamamagitan ng napakaraming biyaya ngkalikasan at sa maliliit at malalaking himala na nagkakaloob para sa ating mgapangangailangan at pangarap. Wala tayo rito kung hindi inihandog ni Hesus angKanyang sarili upang iligtas tayo mula sa kasalanan at karimlan.Pinagmamalasakitan. Pinapanatili at inaantabayanan. Minamahal. Ito ang bawatisa sa atin.
Maaari tayong tukuyin nitong mundo saiba-ibang paraan. At maaari tayong magpasya sa napakaraming pagpipilian kungpaano natin kikilalanin ang sarili. Sa kabila ng lahat ng ito, nawa lagi natingmaalala at balikan ang pinakamahalaga at pinakabatayan. Paalala itong Kuwaresmasa pag-ibig at Mangingibig na ating pinagmulan, patuloy na dahilan athantungan. Anong mga pangalan, paglalarawan at pagkakilanlan ang niyayakap mopara sa sarili? Saan mo iniuugat kung sino ka at ano ang iyong mga ginagawa?Paano ka higit na magiging malapit sa Panginoon?
Recent News
You may also like these articles
[Hot Off the Press] Arkipelago
New book from the Ateneo Press Arkipelago provides a fascinating and fantastical twist on Philippine politics and history Our country is an archipelago of stories
Protecting Creativity: AIPO and Rizal Library Host Copyright Awareness Session for the Ateneo Community
On March 18, 2026, the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), in collaboration with the Rizal Library, successfully conducted a Copyright Awareness Session held on the
Holy Week 2026 Holidays (Memo # UHR2526-038)
Memo # UHR2526-038 31 March 2026 TO: All Employees FROM: [Sgd] Maria Victoria T Cortez, PhD Vice President for University Human Resources SUBJECT: Holy Week
ASOG’s Tobacco Control initiatives spotlighted in DOH National Technical Working Group for Tobacco Prevention and Control
On March 10 to 12, 2026, the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), through its research and public policy unit, the Ateneo Policy Center, participated in
Things You Wanted to Say But Never Did: Geloy Concepcion’s six-year project makes Its exhibition debut at the Ateneo Art Gallery
Geloy Concepcion’s Things You Wanted To Say But Never Did comes to the Ateneo Art Gallery this 18 April 2026. After receiving almost 300,000 messages
[Hot Off the Press] Love If I'm Pretty
New YA Release from the Ateneo Press Love If I’m Pretty tackles the nuances of growing up through complex characters and straightforward prose What do