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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Look up to the Lord

Look up to the Lord

Published Mar 9, 2024 04:12 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

Gospel • John 3:14-21 

The Oratory in Turin, Italy is the motherhouse of the Salesians of Don Bosco, whose mission is geared towards young people. In the 19th century, it was here where St. John Bosco (“Don Bosco” to his spiritual children) began his work; it was here where he lived and died. 


At the courtyard of the Oratory, there is a sculpture of Mamma Margherita, Don Bosco’s mother, with one of the boys at that time. She spent the last 10 years of her life with her son in the Oratory, being mother to the boys. There was, however, one time when she wanted to call it quits—to leave the Oratory and go back to their home in the countryside. Everything had become too stressful: the boys mindlessly trampling to the ground her vegetable garden, misplacing clothes, taking pots and pans from the kitchen, mischiefs here and there. She presented her laments to her son who looked at her and was deeply moved. Don Bosco pointed to the crucifix hanging on the wall. Then the mother, in tears, replied, “You’re right! Quite right!” She went back to her chores and never said a word of complaint. Is it because Jesus suffered that we have no more right to complain? 


The crucifix gave Mamma Margherita strength. Her sufferings were, after all, a share in those of Jesus. In the same way, the figure of the crucifix assures us that through our sufferings, we share in the suffering of Christ. The crucifix has become for us a source of comfort, healing, and hope as was the bronze serpent in the days of Moses. I am reminded of Look Up to the Lord, a beautiful Lenten song that we were singing at Mass when I was a young student. In more recent years, it was reintroduced to our students, and they loved it. 


The lyrics go: “When we see the troubles in our life, we wonder why things are this way? Why is there pain? Why is there loneliness? Is there one who can help us in our need? Look up to the Lord! Put your hope in the Savior! He showed us that to live we first must die… The darkness of his death has turned to light!” The consolation comes not in seeing Jesus’ suffering, but in knowing that he suffered and died because of love. It is love that gives us the strength to suffer what life gives us.


Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024.” E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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