God's good made visible thru you - 4th Sunday Lent A

The word lent comes from German word lenz which literally means spring.  The root from which the word lenz is derived means long, malaba.  This is because in spring the days become longer.  Have you noticed that – the days are becoming longer.  Kag kon ma-notice pa gid ninyo, as the days become longer in the season of lent the gospel is also becoming longer and longer until we reach the longest in Palm Sunday and also in Good Friday.  Our gospel today is supposedly very long because it is a story full of details.  But I know you are busy people so I just got an excerpt which is the first part of the gospel.  In this first encounter the disciples were asking Jesus, What is the cause of this man’s blindness, was it his own personal sin or was it the sins of his parents?

The Jews at the time of Jesus believed that sickness and even disabilities were caused by either our personal sins or the sins of their ancestors.  And so the question sin-o ang may sala?  Sin-o bala ang kabangdanan sang iya pagkabulag, ang iya bala personal nga sala ukon ang sala sang iya ginikanan?

And how did Jesus answer the question?  He did not choose from the two options presented.  Multiple choice ang question but he answered, none of the above.  So how did Jesus answer?  Jesus presented another option.  Jesus said, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; rather it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.”

This is a most beautiful reply, isn’t it?  No, it was not his sins, no, it was not caused by the sins of his parents, “it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.” 

Can we also answer the same thing to life’s challenges?  When things fail in your life is it possible that this is happening so that the works of God might be made visible through you?  Is God using you so and your present difficulty so that his works might be made manifest through you?

Most often like the disciples we examine life’s difficulties as to who or what causes them.  Pero this time sa baylo nga mamangkot ako kon sino ang ginhalinan sini, mamangkot ako kon ano ayhan ang luyag sang Dios nga ipahayag, ano ayhan ang luyag niya ipakita kag ipabutyag paagi sa akon tungod sining akon kahimtangan. 

Na-failure ako, indi na ako kapadayon, nagamasakit ako, tigulang na ako, may cancer ako - how can God use this so that his works may be made manifest in me?  Nagpigado kami, nagguba ang amon relasyon, napierdi akon negosyo, nag-irinaway ang amon pamilya - Ano ayhan nga mga kaayo, ano ayhan ang mga grasya ang luyag ipakita kag ipaambit sang Dios paagi sa akon sa sining akon situwasyon?  Are we permitting God to use our difficulties today, our disabilities perhaps, our inabilities even, in order to show his goodness, his constant love, his forgiveness, his tenderness to others?

Many times when bombarded with hardships, we tend to isolate ourselves and become more elf-absorbed, thinking only of ourselves, mapakuribong lang in depression and self pity.  Well that is one of your many choices.  But again Jesus presents another, a different option. 

Mother Teresa used to call herself the pencil of God.  A pencil when placed in the hand can be used for writing.  We are God’s pencil which he can use to write and reveal his goodness to others.  Remember, your life in whatever circumstance can very well reveal the qualities of God.

Today is seminary Sunday.  Today we are in need of people who are willing to give their lives and their persons to become instruments of God’s mercy.  We are in dire need of priests who can offer their lives so that the works of God might be made visible in their lives.  The work is hard, the pay in most places may not be enough.  But you are given the joy of making yourself a pencil in God’s hand and at his disposal.  Should you know anybody who is interested please do your part to encourage him and to support him.  If you want to support a seminarian in his studies please don’t hesitate to approach us in the seminary. 

Let us pray that we will become willing instruments whom God can use to show and manifest his work.