Lenten Reflection: Taking for Granted
05 Mar 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
As we go through life, there are certain things that are just there, whether we notice them or not – such as the air we breathe, the time we have, the people who love us. And while they exist, continuously and consistently, we may not always pay them enough attention. The blessing, though, is that their importance and contribution to us do not depend on whether we acknowledge or ignore them. But it may be for our good that we allow ourself to recognize these, to be moved and be humbled, to let our hearts swell with gratitude.
Ash Wednesday might be a good reminder that while it may be tempting to rush through our days without taking the time and effort to say ‘Hello’ or ‘Thank you’ or a simple ‘You’re here’ to such presences, there is gift and grace in not taking for granted those that make our life possible, meaningful, happy or perhaps easier. And if we are even inclined to do so, we can recognize as well the One who provides all that we need, even if we may not deserve them.
Today, as we remember that from ash we came and to ash we will return, may we make this journey more rife with humility, truth and courage. Perhaps ask: what might I have been taking for granted? And may we make that step to turn our head, and our heart, to let our gratitude and appreciation be more real. There is no better timing than today to bow down to the reality that we would not be where we are if not for those that we have been given, by Him who gave us even His very life.
Sa pagtahak natin sa buhay, may ilang mga bagay na nandyan lamang, napapansin man natin o hindi – kabilang na rito ang hanging nilalanghap, ang oras na mayroon tayo, ang mga taong nagmamahal sa atin. At samantalang umiiral sila, nang tuluy-tuloy at walang patid, hindi natin sila palagiang binibigyan ng sapat na tuon. Biyaya lamang na hindi nakaasa ang kanilang kahalagahan at ambag sa atin sa kung tinitingnan ba natin o tinatalikuran sila. Subalit marahil para sa ating ikabubuti ang kilalanin ang mga ito, na mabunsod sa kababaang-loob, at hayaan ang ating puso na mag-umapaw sa pagpapasalamat.
Tila magandang paalala itong Miyerkules ng Abo na bagaman nakakatuksong laging magmadali nang hindi nagbibigay ng oras at lakas na magsambit ng pagbati, pasasalamat o pagkilala sa mga ganyang presensya, may pagbabasbas at biyaya ang hindi pagwawalang-bahala sa mga nagdudulot para itong ating buhay ay maging posible, makabuluhan, masaya o marahil mas madali. At kung maaantig tayo, maaari rin nating kilalanin Siya na nagkakaloob ng lahat ng ating kailangan, karapat-dapat man tayo o hindi.
Ngayong araw, sa pagmamalay nating sa abo tayo nagmula at sa abo rin tayo manunumbalik, nawa gawin natin itong paglalakbay na mas hitik sa kababaang-loob, katotohanan at katapangan. Maaari nating itanong: ano kaya iyong mga napagwawalang-bahala ko? At nawa gawin natin itong paghakbang na ibaling ang ating pansin, at ang ating puso, upang higit na patotohanan ang ating pasasalamat at pagkilala. Walang higit na mabuting pagkakataon kung hindi ngayon upang yumukod sa realidad na hindi tayo aabot sa kung nasaan tayo kung hindi dahil sa mga ipinagkaloob sa atin, mula sa Kanya na ipinagkaloob maging ang sarili Niyang buhay.
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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