I thought of my newly found friend, Prosy de la Cruz, when I reflected on the Gospel this Sunday, the Parable of the Fig Tree. Prosy has honestly shared with me that for a long, long time, she had not been going to church because of one reason: she didn’t like the unhealthy guilt that some priests would instill in her during Mass. Her attitude changed not too long ago during the Simbang Gabi Masses at our parish, Immaculate Heart of Mary. She started coming to Mass again; and gradually she became drawn to it day after day, week after week.

The welcoming spirit, the uplifting music, the inspiring homilies, and yes, the fellowship and breakfast delicacies after Mass awakened her Catholic faith. Now, indeed, she can’t wait to come church on Sundays.

I learned one lesson from Prosy’s story: God never gives up on us; he waits and waits until our hearts turn to Him again. Isn’t this the same lesson we hear from the Parable of the Fig tree? The master patiently waits for it to bear fruits before he decides to cut it completely.

Prosy’s come-back-story never stops with regular attendance at Mass. She shares her faith through her writing in newspapers and in Facebook; she brings her other friends to Church; she’s involved in social justice issues around the world, particularly in the Philippines; she promotes culture, music, cooking, all for the glory of God. Prosy has become a new and even a more productive person!

Truly, we and other people can give up on our selves but God would never do it. That’s always been God’s love story with us. After all he didn’t wait for our response; he sent his only Son and became a human being like us so that the Son of Man would become the new Adam—the one that will reconcile man and woman back to God.

Let this Lent be an exciting time of renewal for us. Let it awaken our dead spirit and motivate us to come closer to God. Let it allow us to bear fruits. Let Lent fill our hearts with repentance, joy, and love for the God who has loved us first!