17
OCTOBER 2024
Life’s Not Fair
Nang siya‘y insultuhin, hindi siya gumanti. Nang siya‘y pahirapan, hindi siya nagbanta; sa halip, ipinaubaya niya ang lahat sa Diyos na makatarungan kung humatol. Sa kanyang pagkamatay sa krus, pinasan niya ang bigat ng ating mga kasalanan upang tayo‘y mamatay na sa kasalanan at mamuhay ayon sa kalooban ng Diyos. Kayo’y pinagaling na sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga sugat.
1 Pedro 2:23–24
Have you experienced being treated unfairly? Did you feel your parents favored your siblings over you? As a student, have you experienced unfair treatment from your teacher who favored other students? At work, were you overlooked for a promotion that you believed you deserved?
Life’s not fair! Why do some people have everything going for them when others are going through difficult times? Why do some people have so much money to throw lavish parties with overflowing food and alcoholic drinks when others are struggling to have food on the table? Why do some people charged with criminal offenses walk away from court scott-free when others who are innocent languish in court?
Life’s not fair? Think about the life of our Lord Jesus Christ here on earth. He was unfairly treated, reviled, trampled, rejected, and humiliated despite His love and care for the people and His miracles and wonders for the physical and spiritual healing of the people.
When we are insulted, our human instinct is to retaliate. But Jesus in human form endured extreme sufferings in dignified silence. As God, He could have asked the Father for help, katulad ng sinabi Niya kay Apostol Pedro, “Hindi mo ba alam na kung hihingi ako ng tulong sa aking Ama ay padadalhan agad niya ako ng labindalawang batalyon ng mga anghel? Ngunit paanong matutupad ang mga kasulatan na nagsasabing ito’y dapat mangyari?” (Mateo 26: 53–54). More than justice for Himself, Jesus considered His Father’s plan for humanity, the saving of souls.
When we are treated unfairly, let us rely on the grace of God so we can follow the example of Jesus and what God requires of us: “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
LET’S PRAY
Panginoon, inaamin ko na naging unfair ako sa treatment ko sa aking kapwa at hinangad kong gumanti sa mga nagmaltrato sa akin. Salamat sa Inyong kapatawaran na Inyong iginawad noon pa man sa krus ng kalbaryo. Tinatanggap ko ngayon ang kapatawaran Ninyo. Guide me, Lord, to always act justly and treat others fairly. Amen.
APPLICATION
Gumawa ng listahan ng mga taong nagawan mo ng hindi maganda, at hangga‘t maaari at kung posible, humingi ka ng tawad sa kanila.