Whenever, we have a task or project to carry out don't we always look for the most capable person to lead us? And if the task were supposed to follow a set pattern, don't we like to stick to time-tested methods that worked all the time?
But sometimes events happen so quickly that it takes our breath away. When things do not go as we planned, tempers flare up, moods become dampened, and we so quickly become irritated - especially if it was caused by last minute permission changes, which could so easily be overruled if only the person in authority would take a softer stand.
Yes, it happened to me recently.
My fellow facilitators and I had been conducting a 32-week "becoming disciples through bible study" program for the past year and now we had organized a year-end retreat as a climax of the study for the participants. It was so very important that we do it right. The retreat schedule was very carefully planned.
The culmination of the retreat will end with a mass, where the priest will give his blessing for those who wanted to become facilitators for the next year and so send forth to do the work.
However, this time, it was different from the previous years. In our first year, we had the retreat at Stella Maris, an old 3-storey building where tables, chairs, sound system, and many other essential items for holding the retreat were not in place. I could remember how the older participants would have to struggle up the staircase while the facilitators had to carry tables and chairs up and down the stairs. Setting up the sound system and OHP was also a struggle for the facilitators.
In the subsequent years, we had it in one of the beach hotels. It was excellent for the first time, but the cost went up the following year and it was not so affordable for many of the participants. However, everything went according to plan and the hotel staffs were able to accommodate any urgent requests that cropped up.
But the other hotel patrons and the general public were doing their own thing, organizing their own functions and making noises in and around the hotel area!
This year, somebody suggested to use a new building that was build on one of the church ground. This church is very well-known, large and grand. The church ground is spacious, contains lush greenery, hill slopes, and is so beautiful. For many of us, it was an ideal place for retreats. And it was relatively cheap.
All the facilities for the retreat were there - single-storey comfortable rooms, spacious function room, sound systems, short distances from our homes, plenty of open spaces for reflection and Taize, and low cost - it seem a perfect place.
But we found out that there were some difficulties too. Some of the older participants wanted to attend mass during the retreat. This would never have happen if the retreat were held away from church grounds. Anyway, this was not a big problem.
Our greatest blow came when we were told by the parish priest that we could not have a separate mass at the end of the retreat and that mass must be held together with the parish congregation. The reason - the chapel that we had intended to hold the mass was not blessed yet.
Immediately, there was uproar from amongst our facilitators, knowing that masses had been conducted before at homes of people that has not been blessed. Most of us could not see the validity of the reason given.
What did we do?
There were grumblings from the people, especially the older generation. They became agitated, lost their mood, and became discouraged. However, some of our more sober members came back to their senses and very quickly came out with an alternate plan.
The program for the retreat was very specific. The mass was the time for the disciples to be sent forth, to make disciples of all nations. It was planned to be the last event. We were now required to attend the mass before we could finish the other parts of the retreat. Obviously, this would upset the whole plan.
All the facilitators voiced out their concerns during our meeting that dragged on until the wee hours of the morning. Finally we came out with an idea for a community meal where we can still be sent forth by the attending priest. Some parts of the program were rescheduled.
The mass started at 8:00 a.m. All the participants for the retreat occupied the North wing of the church.
What happened during the mass made me completely speechless!
All the hymns and their messages, from the beginning to the end of the mass, were totally in line with what we had wanted the participants to experience.
The 1st reading was Is 49:3, 5-6. It talks about being Light to the Nations and being appointed to be a servant to bring back His people. "Because of you, people will praise me."
The psalms, Ps 40:2, 4, 7-10, talks about He making me secure when I trust in the Lord, and willingness to do God's will; "Here I am, and how I love to do Your will" and not keeping the news of Salvation to myself but sharing with others.
The 2nd reading, Cor 1:1-3, talks about being called to be God's holy people.
And finally, the Gospel was Jn 1:29-34, that talks about the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.
In the homily, the priest stated very clearly that the readings were about discipleship. He explained that St. John the Baptist, being such a well-known person would humble himself and was able to accept being placed in a lower position when Jesus Christ came.
What an announcement! Here we were trying so hard to bring the message to the participants and now the whole church was reinforcing the message we wanted to proclaim. All the songs were sung to reinforce the message and it was sung by the whole church congregation, and choir complete with music, visuals and all!
Each time the priest mentioned about discipleship, we sitting at the pews would nod our heads and smile to each other. Tears came upon some of us, realizing how God's ways are so different from our ways, and that He will provide more and accomplish more than what we can do by our own efforts.
On reflecting on the whole sequence of events that took place, it dawn upon me that one of the things mentioned in the priest's homily was obedience - it was one of the marks of discipleship. Was he trying to test our spirit? If he did, I think we had passed the test by submitting to his authority and not opposing him.
When the mass was over, we came out of it in awe. God has provided more than what we had hoped for.
The book of Proverbs from the Bible provides wisdom on right living. Our compilation of "becoming disciples through bible study" might help bring people to study scripture. Done in pictorial form it is a lighthearted way of looking at Bible Proverbs. Perhaps that might just open up people's hearts...
Many years of working experience in Marine, Facilities, Construction has given the author material for writing e-books and articles related to engineering, and management. "becoming disciples through bible study". More information at "becoming disciples through bible study" and "becoming disciples through bible study"
eco-friendly cleaning service Buffalo Grove ..Attract and hold your family at home with some unique... Read More
Not a Failure!Those of you who are unemployed, or desire... Read More
Paul's encouragement to the Philippians is also our encouragement. Consider... Read More
In the game of billiards there are two things you... Read More
My lady Lydia was a Hawkins of the ancestry of... Read More
"I learned I was not, as most Africans believed, the... Read More
We all sin. To avoid using the "s" word, we... Read More
Most Tarot decks consist of 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana,... Read More
1. Life is a precious gift given to us by... Read More
The magic of the tarot was obvious to me the... Read More
The term spirituality is a confusing term. Usually, when one... Read More
'Jesus answered, are there not twelve hours in a day?... Read More
Remember me! It's me! Joseph here in touch with you... Read More
"Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for... Read More
I'm at that place in life many refer to as... Read More
Walls as a blockade seem to be an integral part... Read More
My name is Had. You may know me, but you... Read More
Feeling restless? Is part of you calling out for change,... Read More
In the golfing world, yesterday may have been one of... Read More
Burn out, it can happen to anyone. Some of the... Read More
In the year 2000, I went on a mission trip... Read More
After first seeing my photography, people... Read More
The question, "Is God Dead?", first entered my consciousness when... Read More
One thing that Jesus was NOT - was flashy. When... Read More
Heaven is a place of abundance and earth is a... Read More
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..One important factor in how we go through life is... Read More
After more than three decades of church ministry, I have... Read More
Charity isn't the easiest virtue to master. And with St.... Read More
Although spring is just around the corner, there have been... Read More
For the last 35 years, I have been working with... Read More
My lady Lydia was a Hawkins of the ancestry of... Read More
We are all here on this plane, thinking to ourselves... Read More
I finally went to the dentist today. I had been... Read More
An angel can be your best friend. Angels have been... Read More
In the year 2000, I went on a mission trip... Read More
Jack Nicholson (Col. Jessup) (marine cornel) YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE... Read More
Did you ever get a feeling or gain notion of... Read More
Most of us know that the universe - God's universe... Read More
Do you ever wonder about the other "YOU ?"The one... Read More
Angels, those divine beings of love and light, are here... Read More
Carl Jung, 20th century psycho analyst and dream researcher, said:... Read More
As more and more alternative and spiritual healings are being... Read More
Your guardian angel is your link to the divine. The... Read More
Natural laws exist that serve to maintain order in the... Read More
An interesting question arose within a poetry workshop I attended... Read More
Judgement; What does this mean? The encyclopedia definition is, "The... Read More
Lately In my email newsletters (available for FREE at http://www.ChristThroughMe.com... Read More
An Illuminatus Speaks:You will have to decide if this Illuminatus... Read More
Rabbi Kushner in his book "When Bad Things Happen to... Read More
Does this ever happen to you? You ask God for... Read More
Spirituality |