About 5,000 military men went up the mountain to destroy a rebel's camp. The troop surrounded the area. Then the captain, using his megaphone, spoke, "YOU ARE BEING SURROUNDED! SURRENDER OR FACE DEATH!" Hearing the threat of the captain, the leader of the rebels replied, "WE WILL ONLY SURRENDER IF YOU CAN SPELL CHRYSANTHEMUM CORRECTLY!" The captain replied, "K-R-I-S. UHMMM. CAN I SPELL OUT ROSE INSTEAD?"
Whenever we think of surrender, we make it equivalent to weakness. Weakness is never an attractive thing because the world only loves the richest, brightest, strongest; those who never give up. However, this "never-give-up" mindset poses another tendency of overestimating ourselves to the point that our will places superior above the rest.
On the contrary, the leper in today's gospel (Lk. 5:12-16) made a humble gesture of bowing down and more importantly surrendering his fate to the will of Jesus. The move of the leper was revolutionary. How many of us will follow the likings of others over our own aspirations? How many of us will show vulnerability to the person whom we barely know? Or worse ask healing from him? The leper reminds us that surrendering is also a trait of the strong. Furthermore, when we entrust our entire will, mind, and memory to God, then, God becomes our healing, restoration, and life. Amen.
TGIFY-Reflection #24
(Thank God It's Fri Yey!)
January 10, 2020
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Fridays with Jesus
SpiritualA Friday reflection on the value of Jesus in the gospels.
