Lenten Reflection: Rights and Right
11 Mar 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
It is interesting, and in most cases justifiable, that in the English language, the word ‘rights’ which refers to what we are entitled to or what we deserve is the same as that which means what is proper or appropriate. For sure, rights have been decided or bestowed considering certain standards or values that we deem correct or worthy to uphold so there is, indeed, a connection. Sometimes, it may just be good to reflect where or how these two concepts and meanings of the same word intersect or what our response is to what is our due by right or because they’re right. This may be more meaningful or helpful when it comes to relationships where there are no clear laws or implementing rules and regulations and where lines may not be well-defined.
Is it the right of a person to expect or demand that a friend will allow the borrowing of money because of years of deep and intimate friendship and is it right for that friend not to lend it? Is it the right of those in a romantic relationship to know their partner’s whereabouts and is it right to withhold that information? Is it the right of a parent to set particular ideals for their child and is it right for the child to refuse those? Is it our right to choose whether we acknowledge or not that Jesus gave up His life for us and was it right for Him to make this sacrifice?
The deeper questions when it comes to that which we remember during this Lent may be: is it our right, our due, to be loved that much? Is it right for God to love us that intensely? For when it comes to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, only love was the law. And while there may be no clear answers, His choice to love us, rightful or unrightful that may be, has already been made clear. The rest of the answers depend on us, and how much we allow our truest heart to dictate the implementing rules and regulations of our path.
Interesante, at karaniwang makatwiran, na sa wikang Ingles, ang salitang ‘rights’ na tumutukoy sa ating mga karapatan ay pareho sa salitang ‘right’ na nangangahulugang wasto o akma. Tiyak na napagpasyahan ang mga karapatan batay sa mga pamantayan at pagpapahalagang tinitingnan natin bilang tama o karapat-dapat na itaguyod kung kaya may kaugnayan talaga ang mga ito. Minsan lamang, makabubuting pagnilayan saan o paano nagtatagpo itong dalawang konsepto at kahulugan ng iisang salita o ano ang tugon natin sa nararapat sa atin batay sa ating karapatan o kung tama ba ang mga ito. Maaaring maging mas makabuluhan at makatutulong ito pagdating sa mga ugnayan kung saan walang malinaw na batas o mga tuntunin at gabay sa pagkilos at kung saan mas hindi tukoy ang paraan ng pag-usad.
Karapatan ba ng isang tao na umasa o humiling na manghiram ng pera dahil sa mahaba at matalik na pagkakaibigan at tama ba na huwag magpautang ang isang kaibigan? Karapatan ba ng mga nasa isang romantikong pagsasama na mabatid ang kinaroroonan ng kanilang kapareha at tama bang hindi ito ipaalam? Karapatan ba ng isang magulang na magtakda ng mga partikular na mithiin para sa anak at tama bang tanggihan ito ng anak? Karapatan ba natin kung kikilalanin o hindi na isinuko ni Hesus ang Kanyang buhay para sa atin at tama bang ginawa Niya itong pagdurusa?
Pagdating dito sa ating ginugunita kapag Kuwaresma, marahil ito ang mas malalalim na tanong: karapatan ba nating ibigin nang lubos? Tama ba na mahalin tayo ng Diyos nang ganoon karubdob? Sapagkat pagdating sa pagkakaloob ni Kristo sa krus, tanging pag-ibig lamang ang naging batas. At bagaman walang malilinaw na sagot, ang Kanyang pagpili na ibigin tayo, tama man o mali, karapat-dapat man tayo o hindi, ay naging malinaw na. Nakasalalay na lamang sa atin ang pagtugon, at sa kung paano natin tutulutan ang pinakatunay nating puso na magdikta ng mga tuntunin at gabay sa pagkilos sa ating landas.
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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