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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Of Lent, love, life and lessons

Of Lent, love, life and lessons

Published Mar 7, 2025 04:07 pm

IT'S THE SMALL THINGS

alex eduque.jpeg

I write this on Ash Wednesday – the beginning of Lent. To Christians, it is the beginning of a forty-day period of prayer, charity and sacrifice. It is a time when we remember the events leading up to the death of Jesus Christ, our savior, who died on the cross and saved us all from sin. While there are customs governing lent – the likes of meatless Fridays, fasting on certain days, an act of sacrifice or extra act of charity to name a few – like many other aspects in life, there is no right or wrong way to celebrate the Lenten season. Much like practicing your own religion, it is a choice of what you adhere to. At the end of the day, it is about your personal relationship with God.


I remember exactly where I was last year on Ash Wednesday. It was the day I was being discharged from the hospital after giving birth, and a minister was coming around to give ashes to Christian and Catholic patients. Although I was happy to be discharged, I was not completely leaving, and my heart was still heavy as my baby was still in the neonatal intensive care unit. When I see him today, a year later with so much that has happened since, I am reminded more than ever of God’s mercy to those who are faithful. How faithfulness does not mean that your faith will not be tested. Rather, it is how you strengthen that faith further that truly matters. Miracles happen everyday, and there is beauty in the unknown for as long as you believe. Truly, “He makes all things beautiful in His time.”


And when I think about all these life episodes, it brings me back to that ever famous Corinthians verse we all choose as a reading in our weddings, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” Truly, God is love, and we can only try to emulate how we love by the greatest example in which he loves us all. The Lord forgives, and His love gives us an allowance for mistakes so that we too can learn. And for as long as we trust, and have enough faith to surrender to his will and plans, He will reward us with the most beautiful blessings when we least expect it.


To me, the Lenten season is a time for further reflection and almsgiving. It is a time as well for thanksgiving. It is a time to make a conscious effort to seek more peace and quiet to clear ones’ mind. It is a season for pruning, and thinking about who and what really matter in life. It is a time to reflect on one’s faith – what it truly means, and what its role has been, and will continue to be in life.

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Alex Eduque IT'S THE SMALL THINGS
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