August began in an awesome way. I witnessed the joyous wedding celebration of A, a former W2W sister, as well as the uplifting baptism of baby I, the latest addition to the Singapore community of ICPE Mission Companions.
During the baptismal mass, Father Tony spoke of symbols and how they communicated the profundity and gravity of special occasions and milestones, when words were simply inadequate.
Being a visual person I enjoy the bouquet and complexity of symbols. The exchange of gold rings at the wedding of A and J where they articulated what wearing the ring meant: avowed love and fidelity sealed in the sanctity of the Trinity.
For baby I, the water of baptism symbolized a life-giving cleansing that transformed him into a new creation (with the wearing of the white garment). The lighted candle he received represents the light of the resurrected Christ in his life.
He was also anointed with oil which represents healing and strength, along with joy and thanksgiving, for Christ now resides in him and he therefore inherits Christ's three-fold office of priest, prophet and king.
The symbols found in the other sacraments, plus those that adorn a church's walls, hold a wealth of meaning and power that we often trivialize due to familiarity.
G recently shared what seven-year-old H said after visiting one too many churches in Europe that typifies our response to symbols we are so exposed to that we barely award them a cursory glance: I am a bit over this Jesus guy.
In contrast, H was quite upset when he first saw a crucifix about a year ago and asked many questions about why Jesus was persecuted and nailed to the cross to die.
H's Jesus guy response is my response very frequently, if I stop to think about it, especially when I breeze through my prayers just so I have recited them, or when I behave like a thug who takes what she likes with no regard for others.
The crucifix* is one of the Church's most profound symbols and sacramentals. It is found in every Catholic church, on every rosary, and often, around peoples' necks.
Do I pause and give proper thanks whenever I see a crucifix, for the sacrifice Christ made for me and for the whole world? He died an excruciating death because He loves me and deems me worthy of affection. Do I honour His abounding, abiding love, or am I the one who drives the nails deeper into His extremities?
Father Tony also reminded all of us present of the charisms of the ICPE Mission: evangelization, worship and covenant. How is this lived out in our lives?
Do we each reflect a spirituality of worship that reverences the presence of God in each other? Are we mindful of our covenant and faithful? Do we evangelize with every thought, word and action to everyone we meet?
Today's Feast of the Transfiguration describes what happens to Jesus on the mountain top:
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
When I meet the Lord in prayer, it should be a mini transfiguration. Spending time with Him should transform me so much that my face shines with joy and peace and I am pure as driven snow in heart and action. Does my prayer life transfigure me? Not always, unfortunately.
I am inspired to redouble my efforts at prayer, as I am inspired to reflect more on the symbols of my Catholic faith, allowing these profound truths to permeate my being and my soul.
Perhaps then my word and actions, my life, will be an alluring symbol of Christian love that attracts all with its beauty, drawing them to Jesus.
* On August 18, during our study on the Gospel of John, Monsignor Vaz shared the reason why we venerate the crucified Christ figure most beautifully. The crucifix is the highest expression of love and it is the means through which Christ triumphed. It is the hour of glory that exemplifies John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. The crucifix conveys most powerfully what an empty cross cannot, that it is through the death and love of Jesus Christ that we have been redeemed. It also reminds us to expect no less for ourselves, that is to be crucified, if we love Him in return and follow Him.
During the baptismal mass, Father Tony spoke of symbols and how they communicated the profundity and gravity of special occasions and milestones, when words were simply inadequate.
Being a visual person I enjoy the bouquet and complexity of symbols. The exchange of gold rings at the wedding of A and J where they articulated what wearing the ring meant: avowed love and fidelity sealed in the sanctity of the Trinity.
For baby I, the water of baptism symbolized a life-giving cleansing that transformed him into a new creation (with the wearing of the white garment). The lighted candle he received represents the light of the resurrected Christ in his life.
He was also anointed with oil which represents healing and strength, along with joy and thanksgiving, for Christ now resides in him and he therefore inherits Christ's three-fold office of priest, prophet and king.
The symbols found in the other sacraments, plus those that adorn a church's walls, hold a wealth of meaning and power that we often trivialize due to familiarity.
In contrast, H was quite upset when he first saw a crucifix about a year ago and asked many questions about why Jesus was persecuted and nailed to the cross to die.
H's Jesus guy response is my response very frequently, if I stop to think about it, especially when I breeze through my prayers just so I have recited them, or when I behave like a thug who takes what she likes with no regard for others.
The crucifix* is one of the Church's most profound symbols and sacramentals. It is found in every Catholic church, on every rosary, and often, around peoples' necks.
Do I pause and give proper thanks whenever I see a crucifix, for the sacrifice Christ made for me and for the whole world? He died an excruciating death because He loves me and deems me worthy of affection. Do I honour His abounding, abiding love, or am I the one who drives the nails deeper into His extremities?
Father Tony also reminded all of us present of the charisms of the ICPE Mission: evangelization, worship and covenant. How is this lived out in our lives?
Do we each reflect a spirituality of worship that reverences the presence of God in each other? Are we mindful of our covenant and faithful? Do we evangelize with every thought, word and action to everyone we meet?
Today's Feast of the Transfiguration describes what happens to Jesus on the mountain top:
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
When I meet the Lord in prayer, it should be a mini transfiguration. Spending time with Him should transform me so much that my face shines with joy and peace and I am pure as driven snow in heart and action. Does my prayer life transfigure me? Not always, unfortunately.
I am inspired to redouble my efforts at prayer, as I am inspired to reflect more on the symbols of my Catholic faith, allowing these profound truths to permeate my being and my soul.
Perhaps then my word and actions, my life, will be an alluring symbol of Christian love that attracts all with its beauty, drawing them to Jesus.
* On August 18, during our study on the Gospel of John, Monsignor Vaz shared the reason why we venerate the crucified Christ figure most beautifully. The crucifix is the highest expression of love and it is the means through which Christ triumphed. It is the hour of glory that exemplifies John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. The crucifix conveys most powerfully what an empty cross cannot, that it is through the death and love of Jesus Christ that we have been redeemed. It also reminds us to expect no less for ourselves, that is to be crucified, if we love Him in return and follow Him.
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