We May Say NO Now, But...

September 25, 2011

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ez 18,25-28 . Phil 2,1-11

Mt 21, 28-32

===

I have heard this saying before, In life, we have many choices. We have the utmost freedom to decide on something. It only leads us to two options: YES and NO. If we decide, there's no turning back!

Come to think of it, we usually encounter moments when we are given options. Like when we decide to study or visit our FB account, like going to school or going to the mall, like caring for our parents or thinking of ourselves first. We are challenged to pick between two opposing choices.

If we see something important, or a priority perhaps, we easily say YES. But if it does not fit our standards, if we see that we are not benefited from something, we easily say NO. Sometimes we say maybe, but still it leads us to the  crossroads; we still need to choose between yes and no. And if we decide on it, we certainly mean it. Otherwise, we are to be considered as taong walang isang salita.

But does it apply at all times? How certain are we when it comes to our decisions?

Take for instance the parable of Our Lord in today's Gospel: The father goes to his two sons to work in his vineyard. One says NO, but after reflecting decides to go to work. Another says YES, but did not go to do his father's will. 

Like the father in today's Gospel, we see how the Lord calls us in our everyday life: at home, in work, at school, even through the most timid moment of our lives. He always whispers in the ears of our heart:  Come, follow me. 

Many say YES, and joyfully follow his path at the start, knowing that he feels safe and no harm would come his way. They are those who say promptly, Naku! Ang galing-galing ko! Nagse-serve ako sa Simbahan! Kilalang-kilala ako! Lahat ng bagay sa Parokya, ako ang nakakaalam, higit pa sa alam ng pari! Di tulad ni  ... at ni ...! Yet when problems arise along the way, he comes to ask, Kala ko ba walang ganito? Walang gulong darating sa buhay ko? Eh bakit ganito? Bakit ganiyan? Bakit? It continues until such time the person realizes that he can't take it anymore. He gives up at the end. 

On the other hand, some say NO, and says it for aplenty of reasons, like there's no time, it's a waste of time, or it will not suit his interests. But just when he is about to leave the trail, divine inspiration comes and he just can't take it but burst out to the top of his lungs: JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!!! (Second Reading) He later sees himself serving God through the Church, proclaiming the Gospel through words and deeds, ever ready to defend it to the point of his death.

And speaking of people saying NO, there would be no perfect example among our common folk like St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino Saint, and whose feast we shall celebrate this week. Living in a simple family life with good Christian and Marian ideals, he was falsely accused of killing a Spaniard. Instead of facing the brute of the authorities, he opted to go to Taiwan to spare his life. But instead of saving it, fate took him to Japan where he would preach the Gospel. 

For Lorenzo, this was not a part of the plan since he only wished to save his life. Tatakas lang ako, pero di naman ibig sabihin noon ay magpapakamatay ako sa pamamagitan ng Pagpapahayag ng Salita ng Diyos! Mahal ko pa ang buhay ko, ang pamilya ko, gusto ko pa silang balikan! Ayaw ko! AYAW KO!!! 

But later, he saw himself in front of the Japanese authorities giving him the offer: Say NO to your faith, you will be spared; continue saying YES to your Jesus, you will die. It was the turning point for him. In front of the brutal men, he professed the faith he loved and believed for so long his life:  Isa akong Kristiyano, at handa akong mamatay para sa Diyos. Kahit na isanlibo pa ang buhay na taglay ko, ibibigay ko para sa kanya. Gawin ninyo ang ninanais ninyo sa akin.

That meant Lorenzo's death by hanging on a pit, and yet it brought him the crown of martyrdom and glory of sainthood. He said NO at first, yet God's providence led him to saying the great YES. He never feared even death, since this would grant him the everlasting bliss of heaven.

In modern times, we can also see the experiences of many friends who said no yesterday because before God tapped them, they actually were doing other things: business, sex, money, fame, and other worldly ideals. Yet when the 'turning point' came, they realized their mistakes, repented before God and began serving Him in the Church. There is no going back.

And this may also happen in our own lives. Just when we thought we are refusing to God's offer to serve him, we continue with our lives and then we come to this certain point where one thing led to another, and this leads us to saying,  Yes, Lord. I will serve you! Without fear nor guilt, we open ourselves to God's will and cry the Gospel with our life. This comes better than saying yes in the first place but just for the sake of pride.

In life, we have many choices. We have the utmost freedom to decide on something. It only leads us to two options: YES and NO. If we decide, there's no turning back...

But When God calls us, he waits for us to come to him. Learn from the example of St. Lorenzo Ruiz: We may say NO now, but just wait, let God move little by little in our lives, and we can clearly see ourselves later following the trail of our Lord Jesus, even to the point of dying for the glory of His name!

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: 

> When God called me, did I say no, only realizing that I would be later called to His will in my life?

> Like Lorenzo Ruiz, am I prepared to die for my faith if God's will leads me to it?