[REFLECTION] Siyam na Salita sa Christmas: T

(Ang 9-na-bahaging serye ng pagninilay na ito ay handog ng Office for Mission and Identity ng Ateneo de Manila University. Ito ay ibinabahagi ng Rappler bilang paghahanda sa Kapaskuhan. Nasa ikalawang bahagi ng artikulo ang English translation ng pagninilay na ito.)

Napagtanto na ng sinumang lumahok sa isang pangkatang gawain, laro o paligsahan na hindi maaaring malayo ang ating kalooban sa mga kagrupo natin. Kinakailangang kilala natin ang ating mga kasama, na may pakikiisa sa kanila at may pagtataya sa kanilang kabutihan. Kung kaya, mahalaga na sinusuri nating mabuti kung sino ang pipiliing kapangkat.

Nang isinilang si Hesus sa mundo ng gabing iyon, tila sinabi ng Diyos na kapangkat natin siya. Tunay ngang marami siyang isinagawa upang maging mabuting kakampi natin. Dumating siya rito upang makilala tayo at ang ating paglalakbay. Pinili niyang maglakbay kasama natin upang makibahagi at makiisa sa ating kaligtasan. At hinahangad niya ang ating kaligtasan sapagkat nagmamalasakit siya sa ating kapakanan.

Wala na tayong mahihiling na mas mainam at mas mabuti pang kapangkat kaysa sa Diyos. Ang mapagkalinga niyang presensya ay nagkakaloob sa atin ng tahanan, manalo o matalo man tayo sa mga hamong kinakaharap natin. Tinitiyak ng kanyang dakilang puso na taglay natin ang lahat ng pangangailangan natin upang mapagtagumpayan ang ating mga kahinaan, pangamba at karimlan. Ang pag-ibig niya ay nagkakaloob ng sanhi at dahilan upang mapalakas tayo hanggang sa huli. Nasa piling natin ang Tagapagligtas. Pinili niya tayo bilang mga kaagapay at kakampi. Hinihikayat niya tayo. Kung kaya habang palapit ang Pasko, maaari nating tanungin ang sarili: mula sa panig natin, paano tayo nakikibahagi bilang ka-pangkat ng Panginoon?

Nine Words for Christmas: T

Anyone who has ever participated in a group activity, game or competition would realize that one cannot, should not, be detached from your teammates. It is a requirement to know them, cooperate with them and even be invested in their welfare. And thus, it is crucial that we choose well whom we team up with.

When Jesus was born into this world on that fateful night, it seemed that God was telling us he is our teammate. He indeed went to great lengths to be a good partner to us. He came here to know us and our human journey. He chose to be in this journey so he can work with us and cooperate with us for our salvation. And he desires our salvation because he cares for us and is invested in our welfare.

We cannot ask for a better teammate than God. His nourishing presence gives us a home, whether we win or lose the battles we face. His magnanimity ensures we have everything we truly need to triumph over our weaknesses, fears and darkness. His love gives us cause and reason to make it through until the finish. The Messiah is on our side. He has chosen to ally with us. He is rooting for us. As Christmas approaches, we can ask ourself: in turn, how are we participating as part of the Lord’s team?

– OMI Ateneo de Manila University/Rappler.com

This article was first published on the Ateneo de Manila University website.

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