Progress in Change

Looking at our world today, there are a lot of changes that have already occurred and they continue to unfold to us as days pass by. Just observe our surroundings. Many trees are being cut and replaced by tall buildings.

Technology has advanced so rapidly. In our country, there are new laws being introduced, one of which is the RH bill. Such changes and many others transform our daily lives. Thus, we are faced with the question: are all these changes a sign of progress in building a moral and virtuous life?  Where do these changes lead us? Is it in fulfilment of our person or in falling into desolation?  

 All of us want not merely to experience progress but literally to progress in life. No man has ever thought of having a life that is so static. Every one of us wants success, wants change and progress. That is why we strive to work hard to be able to earn something in view of having a good and comfortable life. For this reason, we realize that all our efforts will tend toward our progress in life. 

 

 This is also the reason why Jesus came to the world, became man, suffered and died with shame on the cross (Luke 24:46). He lived with us and carried our burdens for us to be freed from the state of sin so that we can make a spiritual progress. As long as we are in the state of sin, we cannot possibly progress in our spiritual life. That is probably the mission of Jesus which he had successfully completed in today’s reading before he ascended unto heaven (Luke 24:51). And this mission of His is “in order for us to be given a chance to become perfect, just as our Heavenly Father is an exemplar of true perfection” (Matthew 5: 48).

 

Truly, we are in a world full of changes. As we can see, things around us are changing fast and we are already facing them and their consequences. But this does not mean that our world and our life are distorted because of these changes. However the big question is, where do these changes lead us in view of our spiritual life? Is it to progress or to decline? We cannot manage to control change as we would like it to happen. But we can manage changes that happen to us, if only we are willing to progress.

Being Catholic

Malimit nagtatalo ang mga grupo ng Kristiyano sa maraming bagay. Kesyo sabi ng Bibliya, hindi dapat magkaroon ng mga imahe. Kesyo, sabi ng Bibliya, hindi dapat kumain ng may dugo. Maraming mga pinagtatalunan, na para bagang may paligsahan kung sino ang pinakamaraming na-memorize na mga bersikulo na panghambalos sa katunggali. “Mas magaling akong magquote ng Bibliya; samakatwid, sa akin ang tamang relihiyon.”  

Pero nakapagtataka lang, sa mga bagay na kung saan buhay ang nakataya, hindi pinagtatalunan. Halimbawa, sabi ng Panginoon: “Kung ibig mong maging ganap, ipagbili mo ang lahat ng iyong ari-arian at ipamahagi sa mga mahihirap ang pinagbilhan.” (Mat 19:21);  “…nang gawin ninyo ito sa isa sa mga alagad ko, siya man ang pinakahamak, ginawa ninyo ito sa akin…” (Mat 25:40).

   Ba’t di natin ito pinagtatalunan? Ba’t di natin sabihin sa isa’t -isa: “Hoy, kung tunay kang Kristiyano, ano na ang nagawa mo para sa mga taong nangangailangan ng tulong?” Sa Orthopedic Hospital ngayon, madami sa mga pasyente ang namomroblema dahil wala silang pambayad; sa Golden Acres ngayon, may mga lolo at lola na umiiyak dahil nakalimutan na sila ng mundo; sa paligid ng Santo Domingo, may mga taong walang masilungan.

 Ba’t di natin ito ginagawang sumbat? Kay ganda sigurong pakinggan: “Ipinagbili namin ang ilan sa aming ari-arian, ibinigay sa mga mahihirap, at ngayon, nandito kami sa simbahan.” “Nagpunta kami kanina sa ospital, binisita ang mga may sakit, at ngayon, nandito kami sa simbahan.”  “Kinausap ko kanina ang aking katulong, tiningnan kung paano ko mapag-aral ang kanyang anak, at ngayon nandito ako sa simbahan.”  Nakakatakot hindi ba, kung seseryosohin natin ang ating pananampalataya?

 Pero hindi ba ito ang pagiging Kristiyano—ang madama ang sakit na nararamdaman ng bawat isa, na ang kakulangan ng pagkain, damit, trabaho, kaibigan ng kahit sinuman ay sumbat sa lahat ng mga taga-sunod ni Kristo? Sabi ni Chesterton, isang manunulat: “It is not that Christianity had been tried and it failed; rather, Christianity failed because it has never been tried.”  Hindi sinubukan ang pagiging Kristiyano at ito’y pumalpak; ito’y pumalpak, sapagka’t hindi ito kailanman sinubukan.

Panginoon, tulungan mo kami na isabuhay ang aming pananampalataya, na makita Ka sa mga aba at nangangailangan ng kalinga, at ibigay ang sarili namin upang maibsan ang kalungkutan at kahirapan ng bawat isa.