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anak pertama yang perlu diingatkan dan mengingatkan
diri akan komitmen-komitmen mereka
yang telah
mereka buat ketika menerima Baptis.
Diharapkan
agar pembaruan janji Baptis semacam
itu bukan
sekadar basa-basi dan rutinitas, yang
setiap
tahun diucapkan. Melainkan perlu dijadikan
bahan untuk berefleksi dan berinstrospeksi.
Bahkan sebagai pemicu untuk secara
konsekuen
menghayati dan melaksanakan komitmen
sebagai
orang yang percaya.
Bahkan setiap merayakan perjamuan Ekaristi,
imam mengajak umat untuk memohon ampun
atas
segala dosa, kesalahan, kegagalan dalam
melaksanakan
komitmen, disertai niat tulus untuk
bertobat
dan memperbaiki diri. Sayang, kesempatan
semacam ini seringkali tidak dimanfaatkan
dengan baik. Orang tenggelam dalam
kerutinan,
menganggap bahwa segalanya mesti dilakukan
karena rubrik (peraturan). Misa memang
mengharuskan
demikian. Tidak menyadari bahwa bila
dimanfaatkan
dengan baik dapat menyadarkan dan menggugah
seseorang untuk selalu hidup dalam
keadaan
beres, dengan Tuhan dan dengan sesama.
Mungkin baik melihat ke dalam diri masing-masing,
seperti siapakah kita-kita ini? Seperti
anak
pertama, yang menjanjikan kesetiaan
kepada
Allah dalam hidup, tetapi ternyata
ingkar
dan memilih benda-benda lain sebagai
“allah”,
sebagai yang layak disembah dan diperebutkan?
Atau seperti anak kedua yang pada mulanya
acuh dan cuek terhadap-Nya, tetapi
kemudian
bertobat? Atau seperti “anak ketiga”,
yang
menyatakan kesanggupan mengasihi Allah
dan
menepatinya sebaik mungkin?
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with
a look of defeat on her face, walked
into
a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in
a most humble manner and asked if he
would
let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was
very ill and unable to work, they had
seven
children and they needed food. John
Longhouse,
the grocer scoffed at her and requested
that
she leave his store.
Visualizing the family needs, she said:
“Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as
I can." John told her he could not give her credit,
as she did not have a charge account at his
store.
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Standing beside the counter was a customer
who overheard the conversation between
the
two. The customer walked forward and told the
grocer that he would stand good for
whatever
she needed for her family.
The grocer said in a very reluctant voice,
"Do you have a grocery list?
Louise replied, "Yes sir"
“O.K." he said, "put your grocery
list on the scales and whatever your
grocery
list weighs, I will give you that amount
in groceries."
Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head,
then she reached into her purse and
took
out a piece of paper and scribbled
something
on it. She then laid the piece of paper
on
the scale carefully with her head still
bowed.
The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed
amazement when the scales went down
and stayed
down. The grocer, staring at the scales, turned
slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly,
"I can't believe it."
The customer smiled and the grocer started
putting the groceries on the other
side of
the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued
to put more and more groceries on them until
the scales ould hold no more.
The grocer stood there in utter disgust.
Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from
the scales and looked at it with greater
amazement. It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer,
which said: "Dear Lord, you know
my
Needs and I am leaving this in your
hands".
The grocer gave her the groceries that he
had gathered and stood in stunned silence.
Louise thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to
the grocer and said, "It was worth
every
penny of it." Only God knows how much a prayer weighs.
POWER OF PRAYER: When you read this, say a prayer. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.
There is no cost but a lot of rewards.
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