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- CONSISTENT
OBEDIENCE
- By Ramon
Martillano
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Road signs
such as “No Parking,” “Do Not Enter,” “No Left Turn” (bawal
kumaliwa in Tagalog), “No U-turn,” etc. are consistently
followed by most drivers/car owners. Why? Because a traffic
violation in Manila could mean a thousand pesos (US$ 20) in
penalty plus a week-long seminar on traffic rules and
regulations. If you are lucky though, you may be able to
“negotiate” with the arresting police officer for a lesser pena
 lty.
But that would be bribery, which compounds your traffic violation.
In our workplace, why do we follow company rules and regulations?
Are we afraid that we will be reprimanded by our boss and /or we
lose our job?
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The other
question is: Should we follow these man-made rules and regulations
because of the “material consequences” or because we want to be
law-abiding citizens?
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Now, if we
can follow traffic laws or company rules and regulations to the
letter, why can we not follow God’s commandments to the letter?
And what would be our motive in following God’s commandments? Is
it because we are afraid of going to hell or because we love God?
If you ask me, I would honestly say, my answer is both. I am
trying and praying though that I will be consistently obedient
to Jesus more and more because I love Him. As Fr. Steve Tynan
emphasized in his January 26, 2003 reflection in the Sabbath,
he said, “Obedience is both a grace and a discipline. The first
requires surrendering our wills to the will of God. The second is
just a lot of sweat and tears.” If I may add, discipline in this
case could also mean consistency. We need to consistently love and
serve our Lord and Savior.
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However,
even if we sin, we should never doubt that God would not forgive
us. Because the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever (Psalm
100:5). There’s a catch though. In Sirach 5:4-5, it is written,
“Don’t think that you can sin and get away with it; the Lord
does not mind waiting to punish you. Don’t be so certain of the
Lord’s forgiveness that you go on committing one sin after
another.”
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Talking
about forgiveness, there’s a story that goes: Satan was
complaining to the Lord, “You are unfair, so many sinners do wrong
and you take them back. In fact, some come back half a dozen times
and you always welcome them. I make one big mistake and you
condemn me forever. It is not fair!” Said the Lord, “Did you ever
ask for forgiveness or repent?”
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Can you
imagine that? Even Satan, if only he asks for forgiveness and
repent, could be forgiven. What more if we, His own children, ask
for forgiveness and repent?
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- Let us
pray then that from hereon, we will consistently obey God’s
commandments not because we are afraid to go to hell but because
we love Him! And let us not forget that God’s love and mercy are
as high as the heavens are above the earth and as far as the east
is from the west (Psalm 103: 11-12). However, let us not also
forget Sirach 5:4-5! Amen.
(Bro. Ramon is the Head Servant of Genesis in Surabaya)
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TELL US
LIKE IT IS!
- Has
something wonderful and unique happened in your life lately? Did
God answer your prayer in a very unexpected way? Did you, like
Isaiah, meet God’s whisper?
- Have
you felt His powerful hand working in your life recently?
-
Everyday, people are experiencing God’s mighty Word in their
lives and it is a pity that very few know about it. Do you have
a story to tell? Some Good News to share?
- E-mail
us (genesis@catholic.org)
or fax us (021-6627384), and tell us about it. That’s right! You
don’t have to be a great writer to do this. We can help you
write it – just tell us like it is!
- Don’t
forget to write the subject: “Let Me Tell You A Story”
For comments, suggestions
or ideas:
Write us: Jl. Bacang No. 20
Kebayoran Baru, Jakarta Selatan, Indonesia
Call us: (6221) 720-3824
Fax us: (6221) 662-7384
Genesis
Catholic Community
- All
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IN THIS ISSUE:
HIS Servant
by Bro. Pete Lapid
The Father Speaks
By Fr. S. Binzler, SJ
Our Faith
By Fr. KJ Veeger, MSC
Place of Refuge
By Philip Yuson
Surabaya Corner
By Ramon Martillano
Community Life
By Tintin Magbitang
Reflection
By Fr. Agustinus Belo,
PR
Straight from the Heart
By Carolle Bautista
Catholic News Service
On Focus
By Sansu Garin
Saint for the Month
 |
