Lenten Reflection: Take the Time
13 Mar 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
Maybe it is not as popular as other observances we have like Valentine’s Day, Hero’s Day or feasts of saints but in some places, today is actually considered as National Good Samaritan Day. Based on the bible story where a samaritan took the time and stopped to help a suffering man, this day is meant to recognize and celebrate those who offer a caring hand. More importantly, it is perhaps desired to encourage behaviors of unselfishness and self-giving, to move us out of our busyness and preoccupation with concerns and goals that matter to or benefit only the self.
We know the story that Jesus told, most of us probably heard it as early as when we were children. For sure, we have had experiences when we were offered help. And chances are, we have made certain choices to be kind or giving to others. Being a good samaritan, therefore, is not a foreign concept. We can just then wonder, with its familiarity, how come the world around us can seem like a place lacking in compassion, inclusivity and empathy? Why are there still persons wounded, suffering and deprived of those that should reflect their dignity? Are there not enough or sustained good samaritan actions around?
Together with the story, we can also look at the story-teller – the God who took the time to be with us, to offer us help and salvation, to show us not just in words or narratives what it means to be compassionate, generous and loving in His giving. We can never be the perfect benefactor that He was but people and this world will never be lacking in the need for us to share whatever offer of goodness we can make. These days of Lent when we go back to the truth that He plunged right into the depths of our woundedness and offered us His redeeming hand, may we not take time to take the time to do our own saving of each other. Like in the parable, the actions we choose might be the difference between life and death for someone, maybe even for us and our very own heart whose inclination for good needs to be practiced if we do not want it to atrophy towards indifference.
Marahil hindi ito kasing-sikat gaya ng iba nating mga paggunita kabilang ang Araw ng mga Puso, Araw ng mga Bayani o ng mga kapistahan ng mga santo subalit sa ilang pook, iniatas ang araw na ito bilang Pambansang Araw ng Mabuting Samaritano. Batay sa kuwento sa bibliya kung saan naglaan ng oras at huminto ang isang samaritano upang tulungan ang isang nagdurusang lalaki, kinikilala at ipinagdiriwang ngayong araw iyong mga naghahandog ng mapagkalingang tulong. Higit pa rito, marahil hangad ding hikayatin ang mga pagkilos na hindi maramot at nagkakaloob ng sarili, upang mabunsod tayo mula sa pagiging abala at pagkatuon sa mga alalahanin at mithiing mahalaga o para lamang sa ating kapakanan.
Batid natin ang salaysay na ibinahagi ni Hesus, maaaring narinig ito ng karamihan sa atin kahit pa noong mga bata tayo. Tiyak na may mga karanasan tayo na may nag-alok sa atin ng tulong. At malamang, may mga pagpili na rin tayong ginawa upang maging mabuti at magkaloob sa kapwa. Kung kaya, hindi malayo sa atin ang konsepto ng pagiging isang mabuting samaritano. Nakapagtataka lamang na sa pamilyaridad nito, paanong tila nagkukulang itong mundo sa pagmamalasakit, pagtanggap at pakikiramay? Bakit may mga tao pa ring nasusugatan, nagdurusa at napagkakaitan niyong mga dapat sumasalamin sa kanilang dignidad? Wala bang sapat o tuluy-tuloy na mga gawaing nagpapatotoo sa pagiging mabuting samaritano?
Kasama ng kuwento, maaari rin nating tingnan ang tagapagsalaysay – ang Diyos na naglaan ng oras upang makapiling tayo, upang handugan tayo ng tulong at kaligtasan, upang ipakita sa atin hindi lamang sa mga salita at salaysay kung anong kahulugan ng pagkakaloob na may pagmamalasakit, pagbubukas-palad at pagmamahal. Hindi tayo kailanman magiging lubos na katulad Niya sa paghahandog subalit ang ating kapwa at itong mundo ay hindi magkukulang ng pangangailan para sa kung anumang maaari nating ibahaging kabutihan. Ngayong mga araw ng Kuwaresma kung kailan bumabalik tayo sa katotohanang sinuong Niya ang lalim ng ating pagkakasugat at nag-abot ng kamay na nagliligtas, nawa huwag din tayong mag-atubiling maglaan ng oras upang sagipin ang bawat isa. Tulad sa parabula, ang mga pinipili nating pagkilos ay maaaring makagawa sa kapwa ng kaibhan sa pagitan ng buhay at kamatayan, maging para rin sa atin at sa ating puso na nangangailangan ng pagsasanay sa mabuting paggawa kung hindi natin nais na masayang ito sa pagwawalang-bahala.
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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