I STILL remember an incident when a parishioner confronted me after Mass to tell me how delighted she was to see me change. “Father, you’ve grown so much, you’ve changed,” she told me.
Upon hearing her words, two things flashed in my mind: something that was wrong with me needed to change, and something that was remarkable about my personality had shined. Honestly, it was baffling to hear this person’s comment. It was also humbling because I had to accept that the fact that I also have shortcomings as a priest.
We’re all called to change in the ways that we live our lives, conduct ourselves and relate with others, especially during this season of Lent. This may be hard to digest, but it’s the truth that we need to hear. In the seminary, this admonition comes in our need for fraternal correction. We’re reflecting on how to correct one another in fraternal charity and respect.
It takes a great deal of humility to change. It means that we need to look at ourselves seriously and to reflect on the aspects of our lives that need to change. Do we take the time to pray and to go to Church? Are we generous to others? Do we share our time, talents and treasures? Are we taking care of our health? Are we self-righteous and judgmental? Do we have the habit of saying foul languages? Do we treat others with respect? These are just a few of the questions that we can reflect on as we heed the call of Lent to change.
Oftentimes, there is a lack of connection between our beliefs and the way we put them into practice. It’s one thing to praise God and to quote bible passages, and it’s another thing to treat a neighbor with understanding, mercy and compassion. It’s one thing to finish college at a Catholic university, and it’s another thing to put into practice the Catholic values that a person learned at this university in his or her profession.
To change one’s life according to the truth of Gospel is difficult. First, it involves genuine remorse for one’s failures; second, it involves the willingness to change; and third, it calls for the reparation of one’s wrongdoings. Hence, changing one’s life is not just speaking words of promises. It’s about actions and setting concrete goals and strategies to make radical changes in one’s life and behaviors.
In this Sunday’s Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent, we hear the words, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” Are we really listening to the voice of God within our hearts that calls us to change our ways? Or are we listening to the competing values of the world that make us selfish, greedy, self-righteous, complacent, cold and indifferent?
Let’s be serious about our desire for change. Let’s take away our pride and put into practice the faith that we profess! Amen.
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From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
