A New Awareness This Epiphany...

“Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world.  If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15, Douay Rheims)

Christmas and New Year in Singapore this time round, brings with it much challenges...stalled MRT lines in dark tunnels, gallons of rainfall, less shoppers on Orchard Road, concrete roller coaster structures at Universal Studios, slower economics, higher jobless rate, a gloomy year ahead...

Many are aware that in Singapore these days, the current priorities in the lives of the majority still consists of the 5 Cs; Cash, Credit Card, Car, Condominium and Country Club Membership.  There is a minor group of a certain quarter, who believes that these 5 Cs should be redefined into good Career, living in Comfort surrounded by Children, be more Considerate and Charitable.  Those whom are more spiritual may even deem their 5 Cs to be, Compassion, Charity, Conscience, Contentment and Celebration.

Across the Causeway, in neighboring Malaysia, the 5 Cs (or even more) seems even worse and obvious from the daily media obsessive reporting...Corruption, Conspiracies, Cronyism, Controlled journalism, Court injustice, Changing history, Clowns in government...it goes on and on.  All seems doom and gloom for the good citizens of this once rich, peaceful and cosmopolitan country.

Whilst Singapore is still way ahead in the desperate pursuit of development to combat the dulling economy, it’s neighboring peninsular has not tire itself of what the general citizens deem as sex scandals, corruption, Christian and religious persecution, injustice, rigged elections, abuse of law, etc.  With the impending General Elections, the citizens must send the signal of a firm and clear "NO" to these and a "YES" to the power of the rakyat (people)!

Yes, the priorities we hold dear in our lives determine the quality of our life...our journey through life.  The priorities the leaders hold dear determines the future of a nation.  The wise-men of the Epiphany were rich, yet they are aware of their absolute poverty; they were wise but yet recognize more the infinite wisdom of God.

Even in families, we see extreme obsession, on the part of either spouse, with the empty pursuit of wealth, materialism, career, so much so....it costs the families their marriage, their solidarity for one another, their happiness.  Arguments however petty, within families generally originate from these aimless and blind pursuits.  At the end of the day...when we take our final breath...only then do we realize (hopefully) that all these simply does not really matter at all...our life...our journey has been totally wasted on such temporary pursuits!  The quiet night in the Bethlehem where we were born, continue to be drowned by the noise around us.

Often, we hear this saying...why worry about tomorrow...simply live in the present moment.  This seems to be easier said than done when the attitude of most people today is one that always wants to win...at any cost!  Any other priorities that are not society-driven would likely make one feel like at outcast.

Ah, the paradox of being a disciple of Jesus Christ...to be in the world, yet, not of this world.  To be poor, yet become rich.  To be empty, but at the same time, filled to the brim.  To become detached, yet to be fully attached.  To lose everything, yet to gain absolutely everything.  To recognize that we are one humanity...a single family built on the values of justice, equality and solidarity...a soul with meaning and direction...journeying back home to our one Source...our Creator...Our Father in Heaven...our eternal destiny.

St Augustine has shared with us that, “If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

As I reflect deeply of this, I understand that it cannot mean that we should not be fond of the world...that we are not to give ourselves solely to the building of the world.  We have a primary obligation, as disciples, to bring the love of Jesus Christ into the world...love all things in an “ordered” way...to see the world through the eyes of Christ.  Disciples do not conform to the values of the world but rather, we help transform the world by radiating forth the light of Christ to all the darkness we encounter along life’s journey.  Disciples love the world through Him, with Him and in Him...our Lord Jesus Christ.

St Augustine also said that, “Unless you believe, you will not understand.”  This Saint goes on to say that, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”  Even more profound in wisdom, St Augustine continues to enlighten us today through his writings to, “Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.”

As we enter the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord this week, the climax of the season of Advent and Christmas, let us open our hearts to realize this awesome insight and become aware to comprehend the meaning of the coming of Jesus Christ...the Son of God into the world.

What meaning will you allow for this Epiphany to have for you this time?

 

Thoughts of My Epiphany in Lent...

"The further I advance into solitude, the more clearly I see the goodness of all things."

 - Thomas Merton

I grew up in a poor family, my childhood, no less dull, routine and ‘anti-social’, as most of my friends would deem it.  Never could I afford much as most children do, the birds, insects, the stars and clouds became my source of amusement and companions during my leisure. 

My humble abode, a low-cost house in Transit Quarters (now demolished, no longer exist) faced a green hill and blankly staring at this distant hill became my favorite evening past time; or waste of time.  This small house was home to me.


My feet walked me to school through thick bushes, shrubs, long 'lallangs', muddy paths, bamboo trees and a small stream; rain or shine, I still must pass, even in the dark sometimes.  I often feared the quiet and loneliness, walking through this off beaten path...sometimes, out of this fear, I would simply run straight through.

I lived in a small town facing the sea; many, many years ago, home to Chinese tin miners - Kuantan, they call it, a tropical gateway to the East Coast of Malaysia.

Long walks on the virgin beach, listening to the beatings of the waves, smelling the salty sea breeze, the white sands warm my feet, swaying palms dance to the rhythm, soaking in the blue lagoon...continues to linger in my memory.

This town was also home to the air force base, rendering noisy combat support over the South China Sea; the latter, the source of the harsh monsoon storms, flooding the town.


My growing up years have often been a mystery to me, difficult to comprehend, feeling isolated many a times.  I always thought I never had enough as others did.  I neither had nor recall any Epiphany, or if ever there was one, I never did recognized it, although I am a cradle Catholic and served with absolute commitment as an altar boy in the Catholic Church for many a years; the initial calling having been, by the grace of God, forced upon me by sheer external pressure. 

Looking back, it seems that I allowed myself to be bullied by the seniors, having to serve the sunset mass and other mass that were not "high profile" almost weekly, some in languages that were even foreign to me!

Yes, my childhood life was simply simple, without much to worry about.  Moving to the hustle and bustle of the capital city to further my studies and later on, flying down-under for my tertiary education would form a reflection for another day.


As my adolescence youthful years passed and the middle ages crept up upon me, I somehow took courage and confronted that dreadful ‘silence’ at a retreat session conducted by the late M. Basil Pennington; Centering Prayer, the pilgrims would call it; waste of time, the world would deem it.  Why pay money to sit there doing nothing??  Well, this was to be a most enriching few days for me.

Looking back, this was one of the best investment I gifted upon myself for my spiritual life, for my relationship with God, for what truly matters in my life.


Amidst all those centering sessions, little did I know that what actually transpired during those times was a timely awakening of the seed of silence somehow embedded deep within my human being all my life; an encounter with ‘nothingness’ – I have finally come home.  All of a sudden, in the following weeks, all the pieces of my life's jig-saw pieced together...I began to see God's hand in every facet of my life; past and present. 

For this, I have to thank my humble parents for...though poor, they taught me a precious quietness that much of the restless world was searching for.  They conditioned me in the simplicity of life and the poverty of just being.  

My late father was strict but he would never fail to take me for simple rides on his faithful old bicycle...to school, to the river, to nowhere but enjoying each others' presence.  My mother, to me, is the most humble and generous person, trusting everything single decision and thing to God and Mother Mary; she was and still is the best cook ever - feeding both my soul and tummy!  Through both of them, God loved me.
 The later years had me completely drowned in scripture study, retreats and the writings of Trappists monks like Fr Basil and Fr Thomas Keating, especially Thomas Merton, which I never seem to have enough of.  Somehow, even if I did not find him, he (his books) would somehow miraculously find me.  The mystery of the hand of God.


Through my attraction to his writings, I came to understand, with much meaning and clarity, the ‘quiet’, the ‘nothingness’, and ‘silence’ which filled my growing up years; as being sacred and priceless, without which I would never had cultivated this sense of awareness, mindfulness and consciousness.

Now I realize that the blank staring into the faraway hill in front of my house...is what the mystics call ‘contemplation’.  The lens of silence embedded in me has now helped me see the equanimity in all humanity and creation.


This same silence has enabled me to be in a crowded bookshop, yet feeling alone with a book in my hand, wanting to know more of God's love.  This silence has gifted me with the ability to listen to others when no words are yet spoken, transforming fear to courage and darkness into light, mystery to understanding.

The wisdom of Thomas Merton, and many other great Catholic writers, still continue to unveil layers towards the discovery of my true self deep within my being.

My journey continues into the simply quiet of this world as I contemplate more and more of the richness, sacredness and joy of embracing each day and each person I meet along this journey back home to God.


Because of this silence, my life has become more precious, because of this silence, I now begin hear, see and feel God everywhere.

This is my humble epiphany reflection during this day of Lent, from across the miles and today, hovering into my late forties, I continue to share the simple thoughts of my journey, into the world, hoping that this will reflect some light onto someone else's path; a drop of water, hopefully, by the grace of God, sending out small ripples...to touch lives.

In this holy season Lent, make time to ponder about your life, your growing up years...how God made you to become who you are today.

Epiphany...The Magi...God's Salvation for All...

“The first was called Melchior. He was an old man, with white hair and a long beard; he offered gold to the Lord as to his King. The second, Gaspar by name, young, beardless, of ruddy hue, offered to Jesus his gift of incense, the homage due to Divinity. The third, of black complexion, with heavy beard, was middle-aged and called Balthasar. The myrrh he held in his hand prefigured the death of the son of Man.”

- St. Bede the Venerable

Today many Christians the world over celebrate the feast of Epiphany, including Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, and Methodists.

Epiphany essentially means "to show" or "to make known" or even "to reveal." It remembers the coming of the Magi or Wise Men bringing gifts to visit the Christ child; who by so doing "reveal" Jesus to the world as Lord and King

"We have come to do him homage" (Matthew 2:2)

These Wise Men make only one single appearance in Holy Scriptures in St. Matthew's Gospel.  The wealthy, learned, alien Magi of St. Matthew's Gospel complement the poor, ignorant, local shepherds of St Luke's Gospel, as we recalled at the Christmas celebration. This foreshadows the universality of the Church, these Gentiles and Jews worship God Incarnate to show that salvation is offered to all men.

God fulfills his promises and sends his son, a little child, born by a Jewish woman, part of the Jewish people, descendent of the great king David. God’s love for Israel is great, but not restricted to them. Shepherds and foreigners come and worship Jesus first.

Today, the Epiphany, the climax of the Advent/Christmas season, commemorates the day when the Magi, followed the Star, travelled from the far East to pay homage to the newly born infant Jesus in the manger in Bethlehem.


The Magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to honor the newborn baby, whom they considered as the King of Kings.

St. Irenaeus of Lyons was the first Church Father to equate the Wise Men's gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh with Christ's roles as King, God, and Sacrifice.

O God

Who by a star

guided the wise men to the worship of your Son

we pray you to lead to yourself

the wise and great of every land

that unto you every knee may bow,

and every thought be brought into captivity

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Epiphany lifts our eyes from purely the family celebrations during Christmas and demands that we should include in our vision, sharing our light with "all the ends of the earth."  God’s plan of salvation is revealed to all, without any discrimination. God’s love is directed at all of humanity.

Today, we are invited, once again, to lay down our intellect, in the midst of such a mystery. Like the magi, we are called to give ourselves, our joys, our brokenness, our sufferings, our loneliness… as gifts to the Lord and give up all our fears. Let us therefore open our hearts and make this transformative journey like the magi… it is through the Magi that we set out towards the starlight of hope, of joy and of peace to come.

As we reflect on the Wise Men who saw the Star and responded to the call, let us ask ourselves how have we radiated to the rest of creation the light that Jesus has embedded in our souls since the day we were conceived in our mother's womb? How has our life been moments of epiphany to others?

The one bright star was shining in the sky, yet many others did not show up to pay homage to “the true Light of the world” in Bethlehem…ponder on that...

 “The more a man is at peace within himself and interiorly simple, the more and deeper things does he understand without labor; for he receives the light of understanding from on high.”

 - The Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis