Paenitentia | Repent

"…I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too." - Luke 13:5  (NLT)

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Have you ever been grateful for your arms and legs? Recently, I saw a video in my YouTube profile. It's about a community of handicapped people who help one another. One has no arms but capable of using his legs as a substitute, one has one leg and one arm, and the other has no arms but is able to use his mouth to help him survive. I was stunned seeing how they manage to deal with everyday life including cooking delicious food but also their struggle to do what we consider as simple things. These people have sort of bad destiny while others seem not. But the way they smile and conquer life makes me praise the Lord, and ashamed of how I often fail to be grateful over so many blessings in my life.

The passage today warns us about our perspective on seeing sufferings other people go through. We tend to think that sufferings come to the sinners, not us. Because we are good people. Some people came with bad news of those who were murdered by Pilate when they were offering sacrifices in the temple. Jesus reminded everyone not to think that those who died were worse sinners compared to others. "Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God," said Jesus (v.2-3). He insisted that the same attitude should also be applied for the case where some people died because the tower of Siloam fell on them. It was not because they sinned more than other people.

Let's think of our lives, start counting our blessings and have a deep self-assessment. We need to repent from any rebellions we might have towards God and other people such as our close family etc. Why? Because maybe God has given us chances after chances. Lord Jesus told a story of a fig tree owner who could not find any fruit from the tree despite many years it had taken some space in his garden. He wanted to cut it down. But the gardener pleaded with the owner to give the tree one more chance. He said he would take care of it more and give it more fertilizer. If that also didn't work, then the owner was allowed to cut it as his wish.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Gardener is our Lord Jesus Christ. He does everything for us even died to redeem our souls from the wrath of God, and right now He is the Mediator on behalf of us to God the Father (Hebrew 7:25). He keeps working on us. Are we growing more and more in Christ? Or are we just comfortable being served at church without any significant changes of our bad behaviours, and yet no intention to know God in more personal way? 

We have read the very strong warning about repentance. It is actually an invitation to protect us. Let's use the chance we have carefully to be more fruitful for the glory of God. Amen.

Reflection on Luke 13:1-9 by Desire Litaay

(Listen to podcast here)

Passiones | Sufferings

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,…” – 2 Timothy 3: 12

My dear brothers and sisters, it is undeniable that all of us have suffered any time in our life and perhaps we are still suffering right now. We do not like to suffer for anything, nor can we resist it to come into our lives. We cannot run away from it.  Moreover, as God's people, suffering is our cross of life.

The suffering can be illustrated by two sides of a coin. On one side, the suffering could weaken our body and soul but on the other side, it could help us realize our infirmities and weaknesses then improve it. At this point, we are asked to endure the suffering and try to find a way of bringing peace into our suffering.

Saint Paul said, "Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted". Becoming a faithful Christian, we have to suffer and be persecuted as a part of our faith experience. Saint Paul also wrote about our attitudes when we face various kinds of suffering in our faith life. He emphasized that we must be consistent in the righteousness. How difficult it is to stride in faith, when we are suffering because of the faith itself. 

For surviving on our faith, Saint Paul invites us to be more and more faithful in reading the Holy Scripture and doing a reflection afterwards. In the Holy Scripture, we will find the wisdom of God which will lead us to God's salvation. God's wisdom helps us to correct ourselves and lead us to a repentance. Therefore, we try keener to read and to live God's Word accordingly in our daily lives. Those are the Christian's power in facing up sufferings.

My dear brothers and sisters, sufferings have great values in our lives as God's people. It can purify us and help us grow up in faith to God. By sticking to the faith and God's blessing, we can endure the sufferings in our lives. One certain thing which we have to remind is that God never gives us any unbearable sufferings. Also, His Love always accompanies us in our journey for His steadfast love endures forever. Accept your problems and sufferings and turn them into smiles. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Timothy 3:10-17 by Fr. Victory D. Lianain, SVD

 (Listen to the Podcast here)