MATHEMATICS MADE EASY

Minsan may isang bata na nakatuwaan ang sasakyan ng pari. It’s a four-wheel drive vehicle. At the side of the vehicle is etchecd : 4X4. Nilapitan ito ng bata.Pagkabasaay kumuha ng batong matigas at matulis at sinagot ang 4X4. Pilit niyang inukit ang sagot : =8 (equals eight). Later on nakita ng pari ang sasakyan niya na nagalusan. Pinakinis niya ito sa repair shop. Nang muling makita ng bata na wala na ang sinulat niya,nag-isip siya. Baka nga = 12 (equals 12).  Nang Makita ng pari na may sulat na naman ang sasakyan niya, dinala niya ito sa repair shop. Minabutti na niyang lagyan ng sago tang 4X4. Kaya sinadya na sa repair shop sulatan ito ng “4X4=16… ”Kumuha ng bato ang bata at sinulatan ng check sign ang sasakyan sabay sigaw ng "Korek!”

Christian Mathematics is a lot simpler. When God speaks of forgiving a brethren, you just stop counting. It sound simple but demands a great deal of patience and understanding. “Ilang ulit kop o patatawarin ang aking kapatid na pauli-ulit na nagkasala sa akin? Makapito po ba? Sa Diyos, masyadong kaunti at mallit ang pito.” Hindi ko sinasabing makapito kundi pitumpung ulit pa nito.”

Just how God untiringly waits for the lost one to come home to Him, we are also being challenged to practice patience in dealing with one another. There are people who keep on committing the same mistakes, who repeatedly wrong us Jesus asks us to forgive. To forgive untiringly. To forgive always.

This could be one of the heaviest crosses that we need to bear. Some people tend to be abusive of our kindness; repeatedly hurting us we would forgive and understand any way. But God wants us to enjoy of living the spirit if the Gospel. It was possible with Jesus. Mahatma Gandhi did it.

God finds meaningful and grace-filled every occasion when we seek to be reconciled with Him. He grants forgiveness to those who humbly ask for His healing grace. And every time we are forgiven, we are also given the grace to share the same with others. A person can only be healed completely when he is able to forgive others also. No matter how often we reconcile with God yet fail to understand and forgive others, we will continue to be hurting inside.

God teaches as to be patience and make the mathematics for forgiveness a lot simpler. We stop counting.

Fr. Erick Y. Santos

Grace Park Cross September  15, 2001