LENTEN SEASON'S MESSAGE

By: Fr. Gerry Orbos, SVD

B  A  G
 E  T  S

BACK in 1990, when my brother, Manong Oscar, was the
secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), I
also introduced myself as the Secretary of Transformation and Communion!
 

 

       
Come to think of it, the whole Lenten Season is simply the call toward real
conversion and transformation of one’s heart and character, and, toward a
deeper, more personal communion with God and others, especially the less
fortunate in our midst. It’s the time to be renewed and vibrant, to be BAGETS (not bakets - Ilocano word for
old woman) in our spiritual life once again.  

 

        So, let’s go  B - A - G - E - T - S  for Lent!

B
A L I K    P A N G I N O O N

Let us bring back God into our hearts by making a good
confession. When was the last time you really humbled yourself and asked to
be forgiven by your God? Right away, the evil one will tell you that you
have no real sins (denial), that it’s really not that bad so there’s no
need to go to confession (rationalization) and that you go to confession
“tsaka na lang"  (postponement) .  

A
L I S   G A L I T

Look into your heart and dispose all the useless junk you’ve
been carrying in your heart all these years. You are not obliged to be
miserable in this life! Forgive and you are free. Continue to be angry and
resentful and you are miserable. You have been forgiven much. Be grateful.
Be forgiving. End your private wars and battles. In the end, nobody wins if
nobody forgives. Forget your favorite refrain that says "Me and me
against the world." And stop being calculating and exacting in your
relationships. Dapat give na give ka, huwag lang one-give, two gives, three
gives!    

G
A W A    M A B U T I

Share naman. You who have much in life, please help the many
people suffering around. I raise again the question: How much money do you
really need in this life to be happy?  How much of that money you are
accumulating and holding on so can you take along with you  when you
leave this world? Remember, to whom much is given, much is also required.
Again, be reminded that the riches (time, talent, and treasure) that you
give away are the only riches you bring with you to eternity.  Use
your money for your salvation, not for your condemnation.  

E
X P R E S S    Y O U R    L O V E

Slow down and take time for God and people, and also for
yourself. A very good practice is to kneel down as soon as you wake up and
before you sleep to express your adoration, contrition, thanksgiving,
supplication (ACTS)  to
your God. Another doable and very renewing practice is to drop by a church
just to spend some moments of quiet and prayer — the candle glow once more!
On the human level, it is amazing how we can “starve" other
people of our love. We give only the comfortable installment, as it were,
with a plan to give the lump sum when the person is dead or dying already.
When it comes to loving, regular daily shower is better than a long drought
with a final big downpour.              
 Little things mean a lot, and it takes very little to make our loved
ones happy. A phone call. A smile. A pat on the back. A hug.. Very doable.
Just do it now.

T
A N G G A L    B I S Y O

Someone once told me that he had no temptations. Why? Because
as soon as temptation comes, he’d give in right away! We must not give up
fighting our vices and weaknesses. We must continue to try and avoid the
occasions and persons that lead us to sin. It would be a good idea to chart
once the stages and steps that led you to a particular sinful moment. Once
you know that road, avoid it. That’s right: take the "road less
traveled." It leads to
peace. It leads to Heaven.  

S
A C R I F I C E

The "mardi-gras" and the carnival started as
pre-Lenten celebrations to accentuate the spirit of sacrifice, the spirit
of fasting and abstinence of cuaresma (40 days). Carnival comes from the
Latin word carne (meat) and vale (goodbye).        
Lent is the time to say goodbye to whatever or whoever is dragging you down
in your spiritual life. So, what would it be? Goodbye girls? Goodbye
gambling? Goodbye kurakot? Take your pick.  

S
M I L E

Whatever sacrifice or good deeds you do, do it with a smile.
God loves a cheerful giver, and God blesses a generous grateful (not
resentful) heart. Take away that "Good Friday look" from your
face and that "far-away look" in your eyes.  

S
E C R E T

If you want to experience real joy, do all of the above in
secret.

        Let it be something just between
you and your God, and you’ll experience a joy which the world cannot give
or take away. Come to think of it, maybe this is the reason I started this
with a note about being a secretary — a reminder to keep our Lenten project
of transformation and communion a secret.  

Lord, you are calling me
again

towards deeper  conversion.

Today, this moment, I hear
your voice.

Help me not to harden my
heart.

Amen.