AWESOME THREESOME

 

AWESOME THREESOME

They say goodness comes in threes. The Lord today has three “woes” addressed to Pharisees, and three more directed at lawyers. Who is to say that “woes” do not equate to good?

Back in the day, we used to have an old missionary priest who would repeat anything he wanted to say three times. Every time he gave us a talk, he would always do so in three parts. We forgot what those three items were, but we never forgot anything that he repeated thrice.

When I told my father I was entering the seminary decades ago, I clearly remember the three major lessons he imparted to me. The first is still crystal clear to me. He told me if I didn’t like it anymore, I was welcome back home anytime. The second was equally memorable. He counseled me never to become dependent on others, but to always fend for myself and be self-reliant. The third was related to the second. He made sure I understood the family honor code—never to take advantage of others for my personal gain. Interestingly, back then, my brothers and I would ordinarily get three belt lashes (palo) when caught breaking the same rules of the game.

Goodness comes in threes. I never forgot the lesson learned after being punished for sneaking out to the Pasig River to swim with neighborhood friends. And I definitely never forgot the lessons taught me prior to entering the seminary.

The Lord similarly dished it out to both Pharisees and lawyers in woeful threesomes. But the woes do not equate to harm but to the good. They were warnings against those who oppose the prophets and reject God’s will for them. They were like the threefold repetitions of the old missionary priest, like my father’s reminders bundled in threes, and like the thrice belt lashings we got.

Like the commandments themselves, like the rules we follow now, they were signposts along the way that lead to love. And God’s love, in any form, is never woeful, but awesome. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

----------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

What life lessons prove very helpful to you as you grew up? Who imparted them to you?

The best lessons I treasure in my heart are those that came from You, Lord God. Thank You. Amen.

Today, I pray for: __________________________