Lenten Reflection: Vital Signs, Viral Lines
11 Apr 2025 | Office for Mission and Identity (OMI)
Whenever we go for medical check-ups, one of the first things that a nurse or medical practitioner does is to check for our vital signs such as temperature and pulse rate. These indicate our over-all health and can help the doctor assess our condition. Aside from those that reflect our physical state, perhaps there are also vital signs that we can look at to see how we are as a person and maybe even as a community or society. We may just have to sift between what’s real and what’s just popular but maybe untrue or unnecessary for these days, we can be easily swayed and shaped by what’s viral.
To be confused between those that are truly meaningful and what is obvious or loud but inconsequential may just be the story of our life. We fall victim to fashion trends that easily pass, election candidates who are entertaining but useless in their role, majority beliefs that can just be a result of bandwagon but not really reflected upon. Inside and outside of us, there is turmoil and we can be misled if we don’t anchor at the true indicators of our well-being and meaning such as peace, joy and hope.
Even Jesus had voices in and around Him that could have led Him away from the love of the Father and His love for us. This Lent is a reminder that such temptations will always exist but in the midst of our personal and communal chaos, despite the viral lines that can convince us to turn away from our better self, there are vital signs that lead us to light’s path. Perhaps we can check: what insights and convictions am I holding on to which are results of deep moments of reflection and mindful choosing? With the many mumbles and murmurs within and around me, which are my truths? And what tells me that I care for those that are truly good and lasting rather than what’s easy and fleeting?
Kapag nagpapatingin tayo sa ospital o klinika, isa sa mga unang kinukuha ang ating vital signs gaya ng temperatura at pulso. Ipinapakita ng mga ito ang ating kabuuang kalusugan at nakatutulong sa doktor upang suriin ang ating kondisyon. Bukod sa mga sumasalamin sa ating pisikal na kalagayan, marahil mayroon ding mga vital sign na maaaring tingnan upang kumustahin ang ating pagkatao at maging ang ating komunidad at lipunan. Maaaring mangailangan lamang na salain natin kung ano ang tunay at kung ano ang sikat ngunit di totoo o kailangan sapagkat ngayong mga araw, madali tayong matangay at mahubog ng kung ano ang viral o nangingibabaw.
Ang malito sa pagitan ng tunay na makabuluhan at iyong halata o maingay subalit walang halaga ay maaaring kuwento ng ating buhay. Nahuhulog tayo sa mga uso sa pananamit na madaling lumipas, mga kandidatong nakakaaliw ngunit walang silbi sa kanilang ginagampanan, paniniwala ng nakararami na bunga lamang ng hawa subalit di napagnilayan. Sa loob at labas natin, may kaguluhan at kung hindi tayo kakapit sa tunay na tunghay ng ating kabutihan at kahulugan tulad ng kapayapaan, galak at pag-asa, maaari tayong maligaw.
Maging si Hesus ay nakaranas ng mga tinig sa Kanyang kalooban at kapaligiran na maaaring naglayo sa Kanya sa pag-ibig ng Ama at sa pag-ibig Niya sa atin. Paalaala itong Kuwaresma na laging umiiral ang mga ganyang tukso subalit sa gitna ng ating mga pagkaligalig na personal at komunal, bagaman may mga viral o sikat na pangungusap na nag-aanyayang tumalikod tayo sa mas mabuting sarili, may mga vital sign o tunay na pananda na maghahatid sa atin sa landas ng liwanag. Marahil maaari nating suriin: anong mga saloobin at paniniwala ang pinanghahawakan ko na bunga ng malalalim na panahon ng pagninilay at pagpili nang may pagmamalay? Sa maraming boses at bulong sa loob at labas ko, alin ang aking mga katotohanan? At ano ang nagsasabi sa akin na nagmamalasakit ako sa tunay na mabuti at pangmatagalan sa halip na iyong madali at lumilipas lamang?
#ateneoishome #aihlentenreflections
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