Encountering God
Question: How do you say in English, “Ikaw ba yan?” Answer: Statue?
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The Gospel for today (Matthew 17:1-9) is about Jesus’ transfiguration, when His appearance changed, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. For a while, His disciples did not recognize Him, till from a cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” Today, ask ourselves these questions: Would the Lord still recognize me after all these years? Am I pleasing in God’s eyes? What happened to my original beauty and innocence? How about my dreams, my values, my idealism?
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During this season of Lent, it is good to go back to the basics and allow ourselves to be questioned by life itself: Am I a better person now than last year? What are the things I need to change in my life, my lifestyle, and my relationship? Am I willing to accept changes and be open to the possibility of changes in my life? The transfiguration of Jesus should make us reflect more deeply on the chances and the changes in our lives.
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Have you become a cold, unfeeling, unbending, heartless piece of stone? Statue? Is that you?! Some of us, maybe because of our past or maybe just for survival, have become statues. Not wanting to be hurt, we hold back our loving and calculate our expressions of love. We settle for surface relationships and just skim the water for the functional and practical, never immersing ourselves in deep relationships. We’d rather operate on the level of the head or the pocket, and become cynical or belittle matters of the heart. And, so, after some time, many of us end up as smooth operators and functional geniuses, without a feel for what is truly human and what is undeniably divine in us. In other words, a cold, heartless statue. Once again, “Is that you?”
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“Rise, and do not be afraid.” These words of Jesus are so consoling. If you have fallen, listen to these words of hope. If you are in a mess, listen to these words of encouragement. If you are burdened by anything or by anyone, listen to these words of upliftment. If you are sick, listen to these words of healing. In effect, what Jesus is saying is that we can rise up, no matter what situation we make or find ourselves in. His message is that we must not stay down. The only way to go is up. Don’t stay in the dark. Keep going to the light.
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For so long, we have been fooled, intimidated, and even violated by our so-called government leaders. Shall we continue being deaf, mute, and blind to all the abuses, to the blatant, and even arrogant, lying and stealing so rampant? The call of the transfiguration is for all of us to rise from our comfort zones and not be afraid to take a risk for truth and for goodness. We need a real transfiguration in our country, so many Filipinos are suffering because of a few who continue to steal from them.
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Like the disciples. We all need a religious experience, an intimate encounter with the divine to help us on, especially when we go through dark valleys. Have you had a religious experience, a moment when God became so real in your life? If you’ve had it, thank God, and keep going back to it. If you haven’t been listening enough, or maybe you didn’t give it much of a value or importance. Do you value, do you cherish, do you appreciate God and your experience of God?
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Remember that story of the dog that saw a rabbit? As the dog pursues the rabbit, many other dogs join in the chase, barking with passion. But soon after, when they experience fatigue, they drop out one by one, except the dog that saw the rabbit. He continues the pursuit and perseveres because he has seen the rabbit. A religious experience is something like that. Once a person experiences God, he/she will never be the same again. But without a religious experience, a person could end up with cold religion, empty rituals and practices, and legalistic dogma.
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Instead of saying “tao po,” it is interesting to note that the Ivatans of Batanes say “Dios” to announce their presence. Isn’t that a wonderful reminder that it is God who is present in every person? It is God who comes knocking at our door to visit us or to ask for our help. May we become more aware of God’s presence in our midst. May we, who have encountered God, in turn make Him present to others because of their encounter with us.
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, because I have encountered You, may others encounter You in me also. Amen.
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