Lent is being free

40 Shades of Lent, Wednesday, Week-V, 10 April 2019

Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95///John 8:31-42

If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 8:31-32

Very often Lord Jesus, when you talk of us being set free, we feel like the people of your time bragging

…we have never been enslaved to anyone.
John 8:33

Very often, Lord, we feel so proud to claim being one with you, truly serving you when in fact we are enslaved by so many pleasures in life.

There are many ways of serving you, of being free for you, of being faithful to you.

But there is only one sure way of being enslaved: when we desire to please our very selves and others.

Like in the first reading, it is very easy to please King Nebuchadnezzar in serving false gods, thinking these would not harm us, that we can control ourselves, that we would not completely fall into it. There are many instances we think that with these modern times with the modern thoughts and modern ways of life sweeping all around us, just a little pleasure would not mean anything at all, would never have a control over us until we are trapped, enslaved, and have lost everything.

Knowing the truth is being one with you, O Lord: remaining in you, staying with you. Loving you, serving you. Through others. Not pleasing myself. Amen.

Lent is accepting, more than understanding

Numbers 21:4-9///John 8:21-30

Loving God our Father, make our hearts bigger to accept you and let our minds be contented when we can no longer understand you. So often we complain of so many things we do not have, failing to see what you have given us, because we always try to understand you and your ways, both beyond us.

From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road, to bypass the land of Edom. But with their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit then people so that many of them died.
Numbers 21:4-6

Forgive us O Lord for complaining so much, forgetting to be grateful for what we have received from you freely. Forgive us most of all for challenging you, questioning you, doubting you. Please forgive us when we forget you are our God, we are your creatures.

How amazing were the poor among those in the temple that day listening to Jesus. So humble, so open to your presence who accepted the Christ while speaking in mysterious ways as a Person that the learned could not understand. How amazing were those poor they recognized the Christ in his pronouncements of the “I AM”:

“For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins… When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me.”
John 8:24, 28

Remind us always, O God, that you are not a concept to be understood but a Person to be loved and accepted. Amen.

*Crucifix at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception Seminary by National Artist Erwin Castrillo, Guiguinto, Bulacan. Photo by ICS alumnus (Batch 82) Chester Ocampo, November 30, 2014.*

Lent is judgment day

40 Shades of Lent, Monday, Week-V, 08 April 2019

Daniel 13:14-62///John 8:12-20

It is the final week of our 40-day preparation for Easter, Lord, yet your readings today remind us of your coming judgment day. And you know how we feel whenever we hear those words, “judgment day”.

Fear always grips us because we always feel we are not ready.

But when do we really get ready to meet you and face your judgment, Lord?

He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
John 8:20

Unlike you, Lord Jesus, we are not God. We really do not know when that hour would come. But we are sure, O Lord, you will always give us the grace and the courage to face that hour that can be happening now. Right now.

Keep us rooted in you always, doing your holy will so that our works are verified in God.

Keep us faithful to your laws, let us practice justice especially among women and the disadvataged. Like the prophet Daniel in the first reading, let us never allow ourselves to be silent where there is injustice going on. Disturb us where people are maligned, rights are disregarded, lives are taken for granted.

O God, let us never allow evil to triumph by doing nothing, saying nothing because today is your judgment day. Amen.

*Batanes sunset after a storm. Photo by Mr. Raffy Tima of GMA7 News, October 2018.*

Lent is praying for the wicked among us

40 Shades of Lent, Friday, Week-IV, 05 April 2019

Wisdom 2:1, 12-22///John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

We know it deep in our hearts, Lord. We knew it all along because we have felt being the object of their evil thoughts and plans:

The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.”
These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent of souls’ reward.
Wisdom 2:1, 12,21-22

When will the evil people ever stop plotting all plans against us, O Lord? When will they realize their errors, their mistakes, their sins? When will they ever get tired with the unnecessary burdens of thinking evil against others?

On this first Friday of April, O God, we pray for those who persecute us, for those who malign us, for those who make life so difficult for us without realizing the goodwill we have for them. We pray for the wicked who are bent on crushing us but would never truly succeed because you would never allow evil to triumph over what is good.

So many times, they are all talk because they never have the guts and courage to be true and honest. They are always hiding. Like Jesus openly exposing Himself at the temple area, yet nobody could lay their hands on Him because it was not yet His hour.

Our merciful Father, grant us the courage and strength to endure every evil and lies when our time finally comes to stand up for you like Jesus. Amen.

Lent is “raising the bar”

40 Shades of Lent, Thursday, Week-IV, 04 April 2019

Exodus 32:7-14///John 5:31-47

So true, O God our Father, we are like your people in the desert – “stiff-necked” – who easily turned away from you to worship the golden calf while you conversed with Moses up on Mt. Sinai.

We are easily carried away and distracted by so many other “golden calves” we worship because for a moment have given us delight or answers to our needs and questions.

We doubt your love for us, we doubt your fidelity to your promises, and we doubt your powers despite the tremendous blessings you have showered upon us. Like the people led out of Egypt by Moses, we are always tempted not to believe we are your chosen people that we would rather get trapped with our daily worries in life.

We prefer to be second or even third rate people when in fact we are all your children, your beloved and forgiven children.

Help us to raise our bar, so to speak, O Lord, of not simply being contented with the prophets or with John who was like a “burning and shining lamp” for many when he was merely your precursor.

Help us, O Lord, to desire you and nothing less for we are all special in your eyes. Amen.

*Another snapshot from the painting exhibit we saw at the Davao Museum last August 2018.*

Lent is embracing God’s truth

40 Shades of Lent, Wednesday, Week-IV, 03 April 2019

Isaiah 49:8-15///John 5:17-30

How lovely are your words for us today, O God our loving Father! So refreshing, so reassuring especially at times when dark clouds loom above us, when we are in deep turmoils or when our pains hurt so much.

Thus says the Lord: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you, and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, saying to prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness, Show yourselves! Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.
Isaiah 49:8-9, 15

What an amazing God indeed! So close, so personal like anyone.

Yet, O God, how unfortunate that so often we are tempted to doubt your love, your truth, your presence! So often we choose not to believe that we are loved by you or by those closest to us.

We keep on denying you have chosen to love us, preferring to live trapped in the many worries of this life.

Give us the grace of faith to embrace your truth, your love, especially Jesus Christ your Son who had come to make you closest to us as our breath. Let us see your work continuing in Christ that may eventually continue them in us and among us. Amen.

*A snapshot from the painting exhibit we viewed at the Davao City Museum, August 2018. Too bad never had the chance to get artists and title of artworks.*

Lent is preparing for Baptism

40 Shades of Lent, Tuesday, Week IV, 02 April 2019

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12///John 5:1-16

Dearest Jesus: Last night as I prayed amid the heat of summer, I realized that since the start of our 40-day journey of Lent, it is only now I have been reminded of one of the highlights of this Season, the sacrament of Baptism symbolized by water in the two readings today.

So often, Lord Jesus, we take water for granted, not realizing its value until it is gone.

Just like you, Lord.

Cleanse us, O Jesus, with your purifying waters of Baptism, keep us nourished like the trees seen in Ezekiel’s vision planted near the rivers, always filled with life, always green, always bearing fruits of good works.

Most of all, come to us Lord Jesus like in the pool at Bethesda or “house of mercy”.

Quench our thirsts for life’s meaning. Without you as our water, we are dehydrated, weakened, dried up by life’s so many demands and concerns. May you always refresh us, awaken us to many possibilities of life especially when the well runs dry. Amen.

Lent is always a fresh start, a coming home

40 Shades of Lent, Monday, Week IV, 01 April 2019

Isaiah 65:17-21///John 4:43-54

Good morning, Lord! Thank you very much for this Monday, the first day of the brand new month of April. A new beginning, a fresh start. Help us to make it a good one.

Make true your promise to us, O God, through your prophet that…

“…no longer shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does round out his full lifetime; he dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years, and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed.”
Isaiah 65:20

Our lives have no meaning at all without you, when we are separated from you. Without you, O God, life is measured in time as an age that is merely a number; but, with you, life is about finding meaning, having its fullness in you regardless we lead short or long lives.

When Jesus Christ healed the son of a royal official from Capernaum while in Cana, Galilee with the words “your son will live”, it was more than escaping death and living for more years in his life. It was more of living meaningfully, of finding you in our lives.

It has been four weeks since we started this Lenten journey. Continue to lead me back home into you, O God. Help me find my way back home to you especially in those moments I am lost and separated from you. Most especially, help me find your Holy Will O Lord that I may always fulfill it because of love and nothing else. Amen.

*Early morning at the Assumption Sabbath Retreat House in Baguio City, January 2019.*

Our lists and God’s only wish

40 Shades of Lent, Friday, Week III, 29 March 2019

Hosea 14:2-10///Mark 12:28-34

Dear God: This may sound funny but really, there is no doubt that you are indeed God. And a very loving and patient Father at that!

Like in the gospel today, I really can’t imagine how we would always talk to you, asking you so many things that preoccupy us most of the time like our endless lists.

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Mark 12:28

Everything has to be categorized with us, from the first to the last, from the biggest to the smallest, from the shortest to the longest, and so forth and so on.

But you, O Lord, never asked us with any lists. You simply ask us to live which is to love.

All these things you have asked through the prophet Hosea mean one thing which is to go back to you in love. Sometimes, the most basic and ordinary thing to do becomes the most difficult and complicated like love when we try to rank everything and even every one among us.

Teach us, O God, to simply love, love, and love.

Because where there is love, you are surely there. Amen.

Lent is confronting evil

40 Shades of Lent, Thursday, Week III, 28 March 2019

Jeremiah 7:23-28///Luke 11:14-23

What a shame, dear God, to read in the gospel today your Son Jesus Christ busy confronting evil, driving out a demon that was mute from a man while we in this age deny its very existence.

In the name of modernity and keeping up with the time, we have taken sin and evil for granted, short of imitating the contemporaries of Jesus of accusing Him of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.

How true were the words of your prophet Jeremiah that “we have walked in the hardness of our hearts and turned our back, not our faces, to you. Faithfulness has disappeared, even the very word from our speech.” (Jer.7:24,28)

Let us heed today’s responsorial psalm, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Give us the courage, O God, to be like your Son Jesus Christ fighting evil and sin by being firm in keeping your commandments. Amen.