My dear brothers and sisters, magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat! As we gather on this Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, our readings be...
My dear brothers and sisters, magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat! As we gather on this Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, our readings beautifully weave together themes of divine mercy, our intimate relationship with God, and the unwavering trust that should characterize our prayer. Three words stand out, all beginning with the letter 'F': Forgiven, Father, and Faith. These words resonate deeply with the Filipino spirit, touching on aspects of our daily lives and our profound spirituality.
Forgiven: A Clean Slate, a New Beginning
First, let us consider Forgiven. In our Second Reading from Colossians, Paul reminds us of the profound transformation that occurs through Christ: "And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross."
Mga kapatid, think of the Filipino value of pakikipagkapwa-tao and the importance of reconciliation. When there's a misunderstanding or a wrong committed, how we yearn for forgiveness, for a chance to mend relationships and start anew. This passage speaks of a forgiveness far greater than any we can give or receive from each other. God doesn't just pardon us; He completely erases our debt, the very record of our sins. It's like having all our utang na loob (debts of gratitude) to sin completely cancelled by the ultimate Giver. This is a gift, freely given, allowing us to shed our burdens and live in the freedom of God's boundless mercy. It’s a clean slate, a chance to face each new day with a lighter heart, ready to embrace new beginnings.
Father: Our Ama, Our Provider
This brings us to the second word: Father. In the Gospel of Luke, when the disciples ask Jesus to teach them how to pray, He begins with "Father, hallowed be your name." Jesus invites us into an intimate relationship with God, addressing Him not as a distant, stern judge, but as a loving and providing Ama (Father).
In Filipino culture, the father figure is often seen as the head of the family, the provider, the protector. We see our earthly fathers working tirelessly to provide for their children, striving to give them good things, even if it means sacrificing their own needs. The entire Gospel passage, with its parable of the persistent friend and the assurance that an earthly father gives good gifts, underscores this parental love. If we, who are imperfect and sometimes pasaway, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will our heavenly Father, who is perfect in love, give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him? He is a God who listens to our every plea, who knows our every need, and who desires to give us what is truly good for us, even before we ask. He is our ultimate source of saklolo (help) and comfort.
Faith: The Puso that Perseveres
Finally, we have Faith. Abraham, in the First Reading, exemplifies a remarkable faith. He repeatedly approaches God, bargaining with Him, pleading for the innocent in Sodom. He starts with fifty, then forty-five, then forty, thirty, twenty, and finally, ten. This isn't a lack of trust; rather, it's a profound trust in God's justice and mercy, coupled with a persistent and bold appeal. Abraham's persistent questioning reveals a deep relationship and conviction that God is just and will respond.
This resonates with our Filipino spirit of perseverance, our puso that never gives up. Think of how we face challenges – natural calamities, personal struggles, economic hardships. We fall, but we stand up again, often with a smile, always with hope. We pray the rosary with fervor, attend novenas, and line up for Mass, even in the rain. This is our faith in action. Similarly, in the Gospel, Jesus encourages persistence in prayer: "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." This perseverance flows from faith—faith that God hears us, faith that He cares, and faith that He will act in His perfect timing and according to His perfect will. It’s the kind of faith that says, "Lord, bahala na po kayo (we leave it up to you), but we will keep on asking."
These three 'F' words—Forgiven, Father, Faith—are deeply interconnected. Because we are forgiven through Christ, we can approach our Father with faith. Our ability to pray with boldness and perseverance, like Abraham, or with childlike trust, as Jesus teaches, stems from the knowledge that our sins are wiped away and that we are deeply loved children of God.
So today, mga kapatid, let us hold these words in our hearts. Let us embrace the incredible gift of being forgiven, allowing us to truly experience new beginnings. Let us draw close to God, our loving Father, our Ama, who desires to fill us with His Spirit and provide for our every need. And let us approach Him always with unwavering faith, the kind of puso that perseveres, knowing that He hears our prayers and always acts for our good. Maging malakas nawa ang ating pananampalataya. Amen.
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