My Mantra

A Reflection on the Second Reading for March 10th, 2019:
First Sunday of Lent

Romans 10.8-13

Brothers and sisters, what does Scripture say?

“The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.

The Scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

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"Jesus is Lord; God raised Him from the dead and I will be saved.”

This is my mantra.

The Oxford dictionary defines “mantra” as, “a statement or slogan repeated frequently”. A mantra aids in meditation, directing one’s mind toward the statement. When I recite my mantra, my thoughts and deeds are influenced by it. When I am in doubt, this statement dissolves my doubts as I realize God is there to guide me. I trust that He will help resolve my conflicts. Is His solution in accordance with what I want? Most of the time, no. However, He helps me understand and makes me realize that what I wanted in the first place is not what is best for me.  

"He helps me understand and makes me realize that what I wanted in the first place is not what is best for me."

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When I came to Canada, and since joining Saint Benedict Parish, my heart always sought to serve the Lord. There were many opportunities to serve as there were so many ministries to choose from. If I had my way, I would join them all. I would usually lift up in prayer a desire to serve in a particular ministry and then I would come to the realization that I do not have the skill set for it, or that the service would be too stressful for me.

When I was asked to write for the Ora Ministry, I had second and third thoughts about it. Me? Baring my heart and soul online? I felt too vulnerable. I went to the Lord again to ask for guidance and to pray to give me a good reason why I should not do it. Of course the answer was, “Why not give it a try?”

All these months that I have been writing reflections, there were good times and there were bad times for me. When I thought I did not know how to write the reflection, the Lord would always answer my prayer and I would come up with something. While I try to prepare by reading the passage at least a week before it is due, the final piece that I write would oftentimes be so different from what I had in mind in the beginning. One thing I realized is that I will not be put to shame, because as the passage above says, “No one who believes in Him will be put to shame.” I know that the Lord will take care of the reader’s mind to see the message behind my measly attempt to put my thoughts on paper as I try to proclaim Him as my Lord Who died and was raised from the dead to save me.

Liz Venezuela

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