Turning Back and Coming Back

Turning Back and Coming Back

By Tiffanie Bejar, JI

As humans, it is natural that we grow up. We are taught values and we learn how to act through being with other people. As years pass, problems become more serious and sometimes, we tend to turn away from the Lord. Even though this happens, God always helps us out. He helps through our friends and family comforting us or maybe through a kind gesture from a stranger even though we push these people away sometimes. In this Gospel reflection, I will talk about turning back and coming back as a better person.

“He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,

and went according to his custom

into the synagogue on the sabbath day.”

The first thing I think of when I hear the synagogue on sabbath day is Sunday Mass. All Catholics are accustomed to go to hear mass especially on Sundays. Recently, the IEC talked about Filipinos calling mass boring. In this context, we can say that less people pay actual attention to mass are the ones that turn back from the Lord. Also, I learned from the mass last Sunday that masses used to be sang all throughout. But, we always want the faster way; thus, the system of mass we have today. Going back to what I mentioned, we find it boring. But, we have to turn back from finding mass boring because the Lord made all these scriptures for us. He may come back anytime in all His glory so we better be prepared. Aside from paying attention to the scriptures, we have to spread it. In this gospel, the line, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” conveys a clear message. We are somehow Jesus through how we give compassion and love to others even though we don’t know them, they are our enemies, or they hate you. If we preach the good news (like this reflection), whoever hears this will learn a thing or two and we will fulfill our duty as God’s steward. Through preaching, we come back in the open arms of the Lord. Likewise, when we hear the good news, we turn back to God through our actions.

Again, we are humans. We are imperfect and sinful. We also tend to turn away from God. Yet, with a little more effort on making the Lord pleased could make us come back. Also, we could come back if we are worthy of being called a real steward of God. It is not too late to change our point of view on mass and preaching. It is also never too late to come back for good.