Lenten reflection

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

LENT, for the Christian world, is usually a time for reflection on the passion and death of Jesus Christ. A century or so ago in this country, it was time to be quiet, to talk softly, to go about one’s work with as little noise as possible. Those days are gone. But in the hurly-burly hi-tech world of today, there is still space and quiet for some reflection; for some gesture of being one with Christ’s passion.

Whether one gives up anything for Lent, or does something or nothing at all to mark the season, may this be a time of serenity, of peace with the rest of humanity and above all, of peace with ones conscience, one’s soul, one’s God.

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Isabel Neri, a grade schooler, will give up hanging out with her friends after school which she really enjoys. So for Lent, instead of being picked up from school at 5:30 p.m., she will ask to be fetched at 4:30 p.m.

PR girl Jaja C. Rama has never had any plans of giving anything up for Lent. But, she says, she will follow the church mandate on Friday abstinence from meat. She says: “I am a carnivore. I don’t eat fish or vegetables. So giving up meat is really haaard to do.”

Tere Manguerra, a rural banker, says she belongs to a bible study group under a nun (Sr. Sonia) who does not believe in making sacrifices for Lent but who advocates continuing to do good. Which is what Tere always does, to be the way she is, helping people: she has scholars in Dalaguete and is in charge of helping some indigent children in Inayawan. Lent is also a time for her to go in retreat.

For Dr. Henry L. Yu, “Lent is a time to slow down and look back at (my) life, to make an inventory of the things that I’ve said and done, that I may continue doing the good things and become the better person that God has always wanted and designed me to be. “