THE season of Lent is a season of
conversion. It is asking
us for another conversion in an endless series of conversions which
our life here on earth is meant for.
Let’s never forget that we are on a journey toward our
heavenly and eternal destination. We can only make progress and
approach our goal every time we have a conversion.
Conversion is a necessity for us, since no matter how good
we feel we are or how good we have been doing so far, we cannot deny
the fact that deep in our heart there is always a fundamental choice
we have to make every step of our life between good and evil, between
God and us.
It is a choice, nay, a battle that can only be resolved
and won if with God’s grace, we decide on another conversion, a change
of heart, or at least a renewal, a purification, a strengthening of
the heart that is constantly assailed by threats and dangers.
We should never take this fact of life for granted, even
if we have to regard it also with a lot of naturalness, without making
strange or outlandish efforts that can only aggravate instead of
mitigate our predicament.
These days, with all the absorbing and entertaining
distractions we have, and with all our tricks to cover up our
mistakes, faults, sins, etc., it’s very easy to ignore this need for
conversion.
But we should know how to handle these distractions. If
handled well, these distractions can actually serve as aids, as
reminders and spurs, rather than deterrents, to make another
conversion.
In the first place, these distractions are unavoidable and
also necessary for us to have some rest from our usual work. But if we
hurdle the test of how to use them judiciously and prudently, not
letting them to dominate us but rather using them for us to attain our
proper goal, then they have a very positive value.
Thus, instead of desensitizing us in our relation with God
and with others, these distractions can afford us rest that sharpens
our piety and love for others. They become the very vehicles where we
put to life what Christ himself said about where to find our rest:
“Come to me...and I will give you rest.”
We should not allow our rest and recreation to be an
activity that can only be pursued outside our relation with God and
with others. That would be improper to us, and would expose us to a
lot of dangers. Everything in our life, whether it is working or
resting, should be done in the permanent context of loving God and
others.
Precisely, the Lenten season, with its emphasis on
self-denial, discipline, penance and purification, can help us to rein
in the potential dangers of these distractions so we can put them in
the proper conditions to help us love and serve God and others.
For this, conversion is necessary, since our wounded human
condition tends to pursue our rest and recreation, our recourse to
legitimate distractions as an exercise in pure self-indulgence and
self-centeredness. In fact, the mainstream understanding of rest and
recreation goes along this line.
It is this kind of mentality that can explain to a large
extent why many people also often complain why they cannot seem to
overcome some ugly personal falls like those sins of the flesh
committed with one’s own self or with others. They seem incapable of
resisting temptations.
It’s precisely because they are imprisoned in their own
world, they have been relying simply on their own resources that can
only go so far, they have failed to go the source of truth, joy and
strength.
Conversion is the path to take to have the necessary
changes in our life. Let us imitate those characters in the gospel
who, aware of their helplessness, went through some conversion by
going back to God.
This is the example of the prodigal son who, after
dissipating his inheritance and starting to suffer a lot of
privations, came to his senses and decided to go back to his father
who received him with great joy.
We need to humble ourselves to acknowledge our sinfulness
and go to where we are assured not only of mercy but also of
everything else that would put us back to our original dignity as
children of God.
Conversion should be an active part of our vocabulary. We
have to learn to feel the need for it just like we need air, water and
food. God will always welcome us back!
our life here on earth is meant for.
Let’s never forget that we are on a journey toward our
heavenly and eternal destination. We can only make progress and
approach our goal every time we have a conversion.
Conversion is a necessity for us, since no matter how good
we feel we are or how good we have been doing so far, we cannot deny
the fact that deep in our heart there is always a fundamental choice
we have to make every step of our life between good and evil, between
God and us.
It is a choice, nay, a battle that can only be resolved
and won if with God’s grace, we decide on another conversion, a change
of heart, or at least a renewal, a purification, a strengthening of
the heart that is constantly assailed by threats and dangers.
We should never take this fact of life for granted, even
if we have to regard it also with a lot of naturalness, without making
strange or outlandish efforts that can only aggravate instead of
mitigate our predicament.
These days, with all the absorbing and entertaining
distractions we have, and with all our tricks to cover up our
mistakes, faults, sins, etc., it’s very easy to ignore this need for
conversion.
But we should know how to handle these distractions. If
handled well, these distractions can actually serve as aids, as
reminders and spurs, rather than deterrents, to make another
conversion.
In the first place, these distractions are unavoidable and
also necessary for us to have some rest from our usual work. But if we
hurdle the test of how to use them judiciously and prudently, not
letting them to dominate us but rather using them for us to attain our
proper goal, then they have a very positive value.
Thus, instead of desensitizing us in our relation with God
and with others, these distractions can afford us rest that sharpens
our piety and love for others. They become the very vehicles where we
put to life what Christ himself said about where to find our rest:
“Come to me...and I will give you rest.”
We should not allow our rest and recreation to be an
activity that can only be pursued outside our relation with God and
with others. That would be improper to us, and would expose us to a
lot of dangers. Everything in our life, whether it is working or
resting, should be done in the permanent context of loving God and
others.
Precisely, the Lenten season, with its emphasis on
self-denial, discipline, penance and purification, can help us to rein
in the potential dangers of these distractions so we can put them in
the proper conditions to help us love and serve God and others.
For this, conversion is necessary, since our wounded human
condition tends to pursue our rest and recreation, our recourse to
legitimate distractions as an exercise in pure self-indulgence and
self-centeredness. In fact, the mainstream understanding of rest and
recreation goes along this line.
It is this kind of mentality that can explain to a large
extent why many people also often complain why they cannot seem to
overcome some ugly personal falls like those sins of the flesh
committed with one’s own self or with others. They seem incapable of
resisting temptations.
It’s precisely because they are imprisoned in their own
world, they have been relying simply on their own resources that can
only go so far, they have failed to go the source of truth, joy and
strength.
Conversion is the path to take to have the necessary
changes in our life. Let us imitate those characters in the gospel
who, aware of their helplessness, went through some conversion by
going back to God.
This is the example of the prodigal son who, after
dissipating his inheritance and starting to suffer a lot of
privations, came to his senses and decided to go back to his father
who received him with great joy.
We need to humble ourselves to acknowledge our sinfulness
and go to where we are assured not only of mercy but also of
everything else that would put us back to our original dignity as
children of God.
Conversion should be an active part of our vocabulary. We
have to learn to feel the need for it just like we need air, water and
food. God will always welcome us back!
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