Lenten Reflection: On The Way
20 Mar 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
The phrase ‘on the way’ is often used to update, placate or warn. ‘I’m on the way, give me five minutes to get there.’ ‘Your mom is on the way, sleep first and she’ll be here when you wake up.’ ‘Boss is on the way, he said we’re in trouble if we don’t fix this.’ There are times when to hear it is a good thing for it gives an assurance, a promise or hope. But there can be moments when it elicits feelings of impatience, helplessness or even fear. Whatever the case may be, the reality behind an on the way is not yet being there.
When Jesus came to us, and especially when He chose to go through His passion for us, God was telling us ‘I’m not far away, I’m not just on the way, I am actually here.’ All our waiting, hoping and perhaps even lamenting – voiced out or kept within – has been answered in a manner that was concrete and tangible. Our Creator, our Origin, our Home was not distant. He was within reach, so much so that we were able to hurt him physically.
When something or someone arrives, is no longer just on the way, and gets to where we actually are, we have several options. We can accept, we can ignore, we can refuse or we can even receive it but with a negative disposition. And so we can ask ourself: how have I responded to the Lord Himself getting to where I am? What’s getting in the way of my greater acceptance to be enfolded in His embrace? How close or far am I on the way to living His desires for me? Perhaps this is even more basic: how do I feel that He who is most powerful and who did not have to do what He did is not just on the way to me but has already arrived, endured much for me, and until the very end, chosen me over His very own life?
Madalas na ginagamit ang salitang ‘parating’ upang magbalita, magpagaan ng loob o magbabala. ‘Parating na ko, limang minuto na lang at nandyan na ko.’ ‘Parating na ang nanay mo, matulog ka muna tapos makikita mong nandito na siya paggising mo.’ ‘Parating na ang amo natin, lagot daw tayo kapag di natin ito naayos.’ May mga pagkakataong nakabubuti na marinig ito sapagkat nabibigyan tayo ng pagkatiyak, pangako o pag-asa. Subalit may mga sandali ring nagdudulot ito ng damdamin ng pagkabagot, kawalan ng kakayahan o maging takot. Anuman ang dulot, ang realidad ng parating ay wala pa ito.
Nang dumating si Hesus sa ating piling, lalo na nang pinili Niyang magdusa para sa atin, tila sinabi ng Diyos na ‘Hindi ako malayo, hindi ako parating pa lamang, nandito na talaga ako.’ Lahat ng ating paghihintay, pangungulila at maging panaghoy – nasambit man o kinikimkim – ay natugunan na sa isang konkreto at mapanghahawakang paraan. Ang ating Tagapaglikha, ang ating Pinagmulan, ang ating Tahanan ay hindi malayo. Abot-kamay natin Siya, hanggang sa puntong kaya nating saktan ang Kanya mismong katawan.
Kapag may dumating, hindi na lamang parating, at umabot sa kung nasaan tayo, may ilan tayong pagkilos na pagpipilian. Maaari natin itong tanggapin, hindi pansinin, tanggihan o salubungin subalit sa isang di-mabuting disposisyon. Kung kaya maaari nating tanungin ang sarili: paano ako tumutugon sa pagtungo ng mismong Panginoon sa kung nasaan ako? Ano ang humahadlang sa mas malalim na pagtanggap ko sa Kanyang yakap? Gaano ako kalapit o kalayo sa pagsasabuhay ng Kanyang mga hangad para sa akin? At marahil ito ang pinaka-pangunahin: ano ang nararamdaman ko na Siyang pinaka-makapangyarihan na hindi naman kinailangang gawin ang mga ginawa Niya ay hindi lamang parating kung hindi tunay na dumating nga, nagtiis nang lubos para sa akin, at sa huli, pinili ako higit pa sa Kanyang buhay?
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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