True and lasting conversion

SOMEONE once said that accountants never die, they just lose their balance. Old photographers never die, they just stop developing. Old lawyers never die, they just lose their appeal. And, if we may add, old habits also never die, they just fade away, or come again some other day or in some other way.

* * *

The Gospel today (Mk. 2, 18-22) reminds us that "no one pours new wine into old wineskins." Real conversion, not just observance of rules and practices, is the heart of Jesus' message. In other words, religious practices like fasting and other forms of penance will not suffice. What is needed for true and lasting conversion is a real change of heart. Conversion is not just skin-deep. It has to happen in the heart. It's not just for show. It's for life.

* * *

Some people think they can manipulate God by trying to appease Him with their petty observances and practices while they go on living lives that are not pleasing to Him. And so we have cases of government officials raking in the people's money, while they go on with their charitable works kuno, with press releases pa. I know of a person who goes religiously to Baclaran every Wednesday, but the rest of the week, he goes to his different queridas. Charitable works are okay, going to Baclaran is okay, but these are not the heart of true conversion, for the heart of true conversion is the heart itself. A humble, contrite heart is what is pleasing to God.

* * *

Recently, I revived a "love of my life" when I was a little boy: having an aquarium. It was my boyhood fascination. As I grew up, I became busier and forgot all about it. But the heart never, never really forgets. So when I shared with my friends my desire to put a little aquarium in my room, one said he was giving me an old aquarium he was no longer using. One Saturday morning, I set it up, filled it with water and put two gold fishes, two black mollies and two sword tails. It really brought back many memories. I was all smiles when I left my room to go to my appointments for the day.

When I came back at night, the floor in my room was flooded, the aquarium was empty, and the fish were dead. Why? There was a leak in the aquarium. Everything I set up was new and alive, except the aquarium which was old and defective.

It's the same with our spiritual life: we cannot put new wine into old wineskins. It is not enough to go for a face-lift or makeup. What is needed is a change of heart.

* * *

When it comes to maintaining and growing in our spiritual life, we would do well to remember that prevention is better than cure. We have to learn to avoid sin and occasions of sin. It is not easy to quit our bad habits. All it takes is one shot, or one puff or one fix, and we're back to our old ways. In such cases, it is better to be a coward and flee from your foes, fast and far.

* * *

There was one day last week when I felt so tired and lonely that I almost pitied myself. Driving down alone from Tagaytay, I had to visit a sick person. Then, I had to talk to a problematic person who was questioning the love of God because of her many trials. Then I had to pass by the morgue to bless the father of an ex-seminarian. After all this, I drove myself late at night to Lourdes Hospital for my check-up. Being alone in a hospital room, preparing for proctoscopy and barium-enema the next day was really a depressing moment. What sustained me through it all was a heart that is grateful and humble because it has been forgiven and blessed much. The wineskin must be strong. Then it can survive any wine.

* * *

March 5 is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It is that time of the year when we are reminded again that we are dust, and to dust we will return. On a more positive note, we are reminded to repent and to believe in the Gospel.

Lenten practices of penance and Lenten devotions should lead us to deeper conversion, and not to naive complacency that we are fulfilling what is required. We are all asked to go beyond what is required and what is "obligatory."

Do more, especially for the poor and marginalized this Lenten season.

* * *

One sure way of conquering our temptations is to think of sin as a snake. You wouldn't want to go to a place where there's a snake, would you? Neither would you want to have a snake right in your very room. Nor would you want to be in the company of snakes. How about a snake in your pocket? Flee from sin as you would flee from a snake. Avoid sin as you would avoid a snake.

* * *

Speaking of avoiding, someone said: Avoid fats, internal organs, salt and beans especially because this is the year of the gout!

* * *

A moment with the Lord:

Lord, let my conversion be true, sincere, constant and lasting. Amen.