Iniaalay nila ang kanilang korona sa harap ng trono, at sinasabi, “Aming Panginoon at Diyos! Karapat-dapat kang tumanggap ng papuri, karangalan at kapangyarihan; Sapagkat ikaw ang lumalang sa lahat ng bagay, At ayon sa iyong kagustuhan, sila’y nilalang mo at pinapanatili.”

Pahayag 4:10b-11

Kilala ang Pilipinas sa magaganda at matatalinong winners ng Ms. Universe na nag-uuwi ng korona. Naalala nyo pa ba ang sagot ni Gloria Diaz to the question, “If a man from the moon landed in your hometown, what would you do to entertain him?” She said, “Oh, just the same things I do.” Margie Moran gave a practical answer and said that she will buy a house and lot if given a million dollars. Kumabog naman si Pia Wurtzbach with her line, “I am confidently beautiful with a heart.” And the most recent winner, Catriona Gray, spoke about the beauty of seeing “[dire] situations with a silver lining.”

Let’s talk about another crown: the crown of shame. Sa John 19:2-5b, mababasa natin na pinutungan si Jesus ng koronang tinik o crown of thorns. Puwersahang inilagay ito sa Kanyang ulo. Na-imagine ba ninyo kung gaano kasakit iyon?

Inako ni Jesus ang kaparusahan na dapat ay para sa atin. Dahil sa laki ng pagmamahal ng Diyos sa atin ay hindi Niya hinayaang maranasan natin ang ganitong kahihiyan at kahirapan. Pero hindi ito nauwi sa wala. In Hebrews 2:9, we read that Jesus is crowned with glory and honor because He tasted death for everyone. One day the entire universe will bow down to Him as “King of Kings and Lords of Lords (Revelation 19:16).

What should our response be? Magsisi, talikuran natin ang kasalanan, at maniwala. Crowns also await believers in heaven. In fact, may crown of righteousness (2 Timothy 4:8), incorruptible crown (1 Corinthians 9:26-27), crown of life (Revelation 2:10), crown of glory (1 Peter 5:4), at crown of every saint (Revelation 21:4). And someday, when we come to the throne of God, we will lay these crowns at His feet.