Sharing: Retreat at Girisonta

I went to “Pusat Spiritualitas Girisonta” (=Girisonta Spirituality Center http://puspitaprovindo.blogspot.com/)  for a retreat on July 8, 2015.  Before leaving for my come and see with Maryknoll Sisters Philippines in 2007, I wished to have a retreat with Fr. Darminto, SJ after the “come and see” with Maryknoll Sisters to discern which congregation should I apply as I visited several congregations in 2006. I decided  to apply  to Maryknoll Sisters during my “come and see” so I cancelled the planning to have retreat with him.  Since I am staying longer in Indonesia this year, I decided to ask Fr. Darminto to lead the retreat and he said he would be available.   

Fr. Darminto asked me to pray on Mat 28: 16-20, Ef 2: 11-12, Ef 4: 1-16, Kol 1: 3-23, Kol 2:6-15, Luk 1: 26-38, Luk 1: 39-56, Luk 2: 1-20, Mzm 33, II Kor, II Tes 3: 1-18 besides read the Declaration “Dominus Iesus” on the Unicity and Salvific Universality of Jesus Christ and the Church by Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20000806_dominus-iesus_en.html) and “Rejoice!” a letter from Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life to consecrated men and women from the teachings of Pope Francis (http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccscrlife/documents/rc_con_ccscrlife_doc_20140202_rallegratevi-lettera-consacrati_en.html)

I usually attended the daily Mass at Emmaus chapel with the retired community and attended Mass of the Novitiate and Emmaus Community on Thursday and adoration on Saturday evening at Primus Domus Chapel.

This year retreat helped me to be confirmed again in continueing my vocation journey with Maryknoll Sisters.  I was moved when I thought about the reason to stay.  It’s the memorial for Martyr Saints of China Leo Mangin, SJ, Paul Denn, SJ, Remy Isore, SJ and Modeste Andlauer, SJ for the Jesuits on July 9, 2015 (according to the liturgical calender, it’s an optional memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his 119 companions, Martyr Saints of China) and the main theme of the readings were“being called and sent.”   I didn’t checked the liturgical calender before setting the date for the retreat, what a holy coincidence! 

It’s a blessing that I can fulfill my wish to have a retreat with Fr. Darminto since 8 years ago before applying for reflection phase, visiting Marian Shrine at Ambarawa with the 42m Marian statue (http://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20150815214059-20-72411/di-semarang-patung-bunda-maria-tertinggi-se-asia-tenggara/), staying with Fransiscan sisters Ambarawa including going to a wake of a young Catholics, visiting Fransiscan sisters Salatiga, meeting Sr. Petra, SS.CC (whom I met in the Philippines in 2007), Fr. Cahyo, SJ, Fr. Nano, SJ, several JMJ sisters and three seminarians besides getting a blessing from Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja.     

Jombang, July 31, 2015

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Sharing: The First Volunteer Training of Holy Family Church

More than 40 volunteers came for the first volunteer training of Holy Family Church on June 6 morning.  Ms. Liang and Ms. Luo were responsible at the registration table.  Our praise and worship team taught the song “为主来梦想“（Wei Zhu Lai Meng Xiang = Make a Dream for God, http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNzk3NDM4Nzcy.html）.  Fr. Lu gave the welcome note and led the opening prayer by singing “为主来梦想”

I led the training with the theme “How to be an effective volunteer?” based on 8 Habits of Highly Effective People.   I edited a little bit the power point of the program prepared by Fr. Bruno for a Putonghua workshop in Maryknoll Stanley House Hong Kong.  There was an activity, Bible passage before mentioning each habit followed by small group discussion and group report.   My tutor helped me to add the details of the activities on the power point so that it will be easier to be understood than only listening to my instruction.  I also asked one of them to read the Bible passage.   I read the Indonesian version of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People more than 10 years ago and I still need to remind myself to practice the habits. Details of each habits can be read at http://www.slideshare.net/nsziszo/the-7habitsofhighlyeffectivepeople, http://www.slideshare.net/bright9977/the-8th-habit-by-stephen-r-covey-summary-13483021.

We had lunch break for around 45 minutes as there were still 6 habits in the afternoon season.  Fr. Lu gave the summary including expressing his gratitude, as usual, for my initiative in organizing this first training since the opening of the Church in July 31, 2011.  I led the prayer followed by final blessing by Fr. Lu.  There were more than 20 volunteers at the end of the training as several of them had something else to be done including going to work.

One of the activities was drawing their dream about the future of Holy Family Church so they were brought forward as one of the offering at the anticipated Sunday Mass.  Several volunteers were volunteering for the Mass while the rest went home.

Here is the link of the pictures: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2Sh

Hong Kong, June 10, 2015

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Sharing: The Seventh Youth Gathering of Holy Family Church

Thirty four married and single youth, five couples, a boy and I went from Holy Family Church to Maria Rosa Mystica Sanctuary 玫瑰山庄 (Mei Gui Shan Zhuang) Fuzhou on May 28 9.00 p.m. by bus.   Fr. Lu gave blessing before we left.  It took around 13.5 hours from Shenzhen to the sanctuary including three hours rest in a resting area because it was prohibited to drive at 2.00 – 5.00 a.m.  Upon arriving, Ms. Lin assigned everyone’s room.   I discussed the agenda with Sr. Zheng before lunch.

Fr. Chen, who is working in Fuqing, visited me before the group and I walked up for station of the cross led by Mr. Liu and Mrs. Zhang.  Two young women from Shantou came by high speed train to join our pilgrimage.    A group from Handan was praying when we arrived in the Church so we prayed together with them. Sr. Zheng gave explanation about the Sanctuary to both groups and then we walked to the statue of Our Lady of Rosa Mystica and then had dinner.  We gathered in the class after dinner for self-introduction and ice breaking games, followed by praying the rosary in the chapel led by Ms. Zhuo.  Several youth expressed their appreciation for this pilgrimage and wish there will be more youth gatherings in the future.

I asked Fr. Meng through Sr. Zheng to celebrate the Mass according to the Prayer book prepared by Hong Kong Diocese for World Day of Prayer for Church in China.  In a letter to Chinese Catholics in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his hope that the liturgical feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians on May 24, might “become an occasion for the Catholics of the whole world to be united in prayer with the Church which is in China.”

  I invited a youth group from Fuzhou to join our program on Saturday morning.  Ms. Lin of Fuzhou led our morning prayer according to Breviary, which is available on the application of cellphone and then Mr. Lin gave introduction about their group followed by introduction about our youth group by Mr. Wu.  Ms. Luo read the message of Pope Francis for the 49^th World Communications Day https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/communications/documents/papa-francesco_20150123_messaggio-comunicazioni-sociali.html, while showing the closing Mass of Asian Youth Day 2014 in mute mode.  I asked Br. Stephen to translate it to Putonghua as no Chinese version is available on the internet.  Then the group watched a Putonghua version of short video “Look Up” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY.             Mr. Liu led the small group sharing, followed by big group sharing including showing the drawing of their small group sharing.  I arranged their sitting arrangement upon entering the classroom so that couples would sit together and there would be one Fuzhou youth and four-five Shenzhen youth in one table and then two tables had the small group sharing together. I also gave short summary followed by praying together prayer to the Holy Family composed by Pope Francis.  Before having lunch, several of Shenzhen youth picked up holy water while several others and I had conversation with the youth from Fuzhou.  

It’s heavy rain around 11.30 a.m.  Thanks be to God it’s stopped around 12.30 p.m. and we left for Ningde, around 2 hours by bus, followed by 20-30 minutes on a van going up to mountain.  We prayed for a while in the Church and then walked up to pray and pick up holy water in one of the cave led by two sisters and a guide.  It’s known as Bishop Peter Sanz and Jorda’s cave (白主教洞 Bai Zhu Jiao Dong, http://translate.google.com.hk/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.santopedia.com/santos/san-pedro-sanz-y-jorda&prev=searcho, he was one of the 120 Martyr Saints of China canonized on 1 October 2000).   One of the sisters gave explanation about Bishop Peter Sanz and Jorda before going down for dinner.  We arrived in Xiamen around midnight.  

After breakfast, we left for the pier to go to Gulangyu Island http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulangyu_Island.  We were on the 10:30 a.m. ferry and had free time upon arriving on the island.  Several youth and I had lunch together and then went to the Church, which was closed.  We went back to Xiamen around 2.30 p.m.   We prayed the rosary and sung several praise and worship songs on the way to Shenzhen and arrived in Shenzhen around midnight.

It’s a blessing to plan and join this youth pilgrimage to see their devotion, their youth spirit, their joy, and their care for one another.  Mr. Wu did a lot of things before and during the pilgrimage including making sure nobody will be left behind by dividing the group into small groups and set up a group chatting in we chat which is still continue till now.  Here is the link of the pictures (from several cameras and not in order): http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2Re

Here is sharing from two participants of the pilgrimage:

这次活动我觉得非常好！因为前几年一直工作的原因，错过了好多好多的教会一些活动，团体的交流。天主对我们每个人的召叫不同，然而天主用特别的方式召叫了我，让我又能重新认识祂；可是我的信仰并没有多坚强，也没有多深刻的认识，所以我需要更多的去聆听他人的分享，以及亲身的体验；朝圣就是最好的方式。因为朝圣能加深我们，或者更好的说能够让我们寻找到内心的信仰。我一直都希望能去朝圣，因为朝圣真的能坚固自己的信德，加深我们对主耶稣基督的认识；因为我的信仰一直都在原地，没进也没退，所以我更加渴望；我感谢天主，让我有了这一次，也是第一次亲身的体验这次朝圣之旅，是的，我的收获真的好多好多。而且在今年我也有了更多的机会参加教会的活动和跟其他弟兄姐妹交流分享，这就是天主美好的安排。当然也希望能参加更多的朝圣啦！ 下一次的朝圣之交流希望去看望麻风病人，在周六和周日。      

《爱的见证》

我曾经像一只小小飞鸟，飞跃在这蓝天海上，穿梭在这城市之中，我无时无刻彷徨无助，找不到可以倾诉的地方，在这里（玫瑰山莊，白主教洞）有一双慈爱的双手正等着我，来拥抱我，让我的内心一切得到释放，让我的心不在受外面的世界干扰，在这里安静，慈祥，柔和是一般人无法想象的，主我要走向你给我预备的地方…………………

 天主的恩典无处不在，天主的爱时时充满着我的心，来到玫瑰山莊已经是第二天的早上10点多， 经过800多公里的长途跋涉，坐了十多小时的路程终于到达我们第一站，山莊的美丽优雅的情景早已洗去我的疲惫和劳累。我们找到了修女，在修女的安排下我们各自找到房间暂时休息。玫瑰山莊的招待所，简朴，整洁，每个房间挂着天使塑像，安静，和谐接待我们远道而来的客人。吃过午饭后我们稍作休息，下午3点30分开始进入玫瑰山莊天主的圣殿，此时我心情很激动很期待也很敬畏。我们如约来到玫瑰山莊的大门口，出现在我眼前的先是一栋楼房，上面写着天主是爱的字样。门口旁边有个块石板记录着玫瑰山莊的发展史、

我们顺着门进去，开始拜苦路，一处，二处就这样一处一处往上走，我们要走向天主的圣殿，我们要重新纪念耶稣为我们受苦的历程。当我走到第四处时，我忽远忽近听到圣母温柔的声音，听似歌声非似歌声在这安静的山谷回荡着，小信德的我开始还不相信这个是不是真的，我又用心听，当我第二次听到这个声音时，我不在疑问了，只是在心里默存着继续往前走，走到第六处：圣妇为耶稣拭面时我的心很痛，不是因为我们顶着强烈的太阳照射而痛，而是想着耶稣为我们的罪过，情愿被钉死在十字架上，而我们还不知悔改，为了自己的私欲无情的一步一步逼着一个无罪的人走向死亡，走过每一处，我的心像荆条鞭打着一样痛，历历在目，深深伤痛，想想我们的耶稣何等的痛苦，罪人啊，悔改吧，这个强有力的声音一直触碰着我的灵魂深处…..悔改吧…….

回忆耶稣的苦难，我们走完了十四处，经过耶稣受洗的约旦河（大水池）我们也像重新洗礼一样获得重生的感觉，迈向教堂，玫瑰山莊外形是欧式风格的形式，庄严，美丽，肃目在山的中间，门前布满各种花种的玫瑰花，迎面清香扑来，使人顿时清新精神。我们有序进入教堂，我首先看到的是头顶上的大十字架，它诉说多少爱，多少恩典，多少人间的沧桑，见证着这里一个又一个奇迹，主，我爱你，这是发自内心的声音。感恩赎罪的天主交流的工具（祭台）呈上我们一个个祈祷，呈上我们的喜怒哀乐，呈上我们的生命。见证着爱在这里，在这里你遇到主了吗？领受主的恩宠了吗，体会到圣母妈妈代祷的力量了吗？这时我献上的是：主，我在这里，你来指导我的一切，我要在你内生活，在你爱内生活。修女带着我们祈祷，天主，圣母，这时与我们同在，圣母显示了自己，祭台旁边的圣母塑像后面出现了一个似手的形态张开手臂护佑着整个教堂，我又开始小信德了。心想着这又是什么，我时不时抬头仰望着，不敢想太多。 修女开始讲解山莊的来历和经历着各种考验，发展成今天的规模，修女说她在等我们上来的时候，她感觉到有一股强大力量从下面上来，有圣神一直护佑着上来，而她在教堂里面等的时候，也有困惑，有个意向就是等一下，等一下，原来天主都有安排，人不能随便揣摩天主的意念。了解山莊的由来，深深感觉天主的伟大，圣母的伟大，耶稣为了我们的罪过死在十字架上，圣母不辞万里，历尽艰难来到我们中国，把救恩带到中国，把恩宠分给我们中华每个子民，我们却怀着各种心态来回应天主的爱，还继续着伤害天主的爱，何等罪过。当修女讲解结束后那双大能的手消失了。天主要与我们同在不需要太多的语言，用我们的心神来领受天主的恩宠。

爱不需要语言，用行动释全天主给我们的爱。万福玛利亚，你充满圣宠主与你同在……

愿主的名何其伟大，何其伟大。愿你的慈爱保佑中华大地，愿你大能手臂保佑我们信友

阿门！

Hong Kong, June 3, 2015

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Sharing: Charity Works of Holy Family Church

      

     Once a while, Fr. Lu invites parishioners to visit a leprocy center in Huidong, celebrate Masses, decorate their chapel for Christmas and give donation.  In the other occasions, the parishioners were also asked to give donation to help another parishioner, orphanage or Church including for the Church in Long Gang District Shenzhen which is still under construction. 

        As I mentioned in my 2015 Easter letter, I initiated a Lenten Campaign by inviting the parishioners to put their Lent sacrifice money in a plastic folder, returned it on Holy Friday and it will be used for our charity works.  I also prepare a suggestion form if the parishioners know someone who needs our help.

        One of the parishioners suggested giving donation to Mr. Zhang in Rao Ping – Shan Tou Diocese.  His wife Mrs. Liu and I went to their village Dong Shang on April 20 by bus around 6 hours from Shenzhen.  One of his nephews picked us up to his mother’s house around 15 minutes by car.  His mother, 84 yo and living alone, prepared the dinner for us.  It’s raining heavily so there was no electricity for a while only for this village because they have their own generator.  There are around 300-400 parishioners in their village, all of the residences has family name “Liu.”  The next morning, two elderly parishioners visited us and then we went to the Church.  The Church is usually locked and there is no regular Sunday Masses.  I asked them to pray morning prayer in their dialect.  Mrs. Liu showed me around the village and then she asked her brother in-law to send us to Mr. Zhang’s village Qi Xing Lou by his motorcycle. Several parishioners, Mrs. Liu and I visited the Church, a 90 yo women who lives alone, and then Mr. Zhang. He is feeling better after getting Chinese medicine treatment.  They don’t have enough income to pay the medicine and their living cost.  I gave the donation and reminded them to use it for the treatment.  He and his family are so grateful for the donation and my visit.  I invited them to pray together before we left.  After that, Mrs. Liu and I had lunch at one of their relatives’ house.  I prayed with the couples and their daughter in-law. We went to buy the train ticket and visited a ceramic factory belonged to Mr. Liu’s brother.  There are several ceramic factories in that area.  Mr.  Liu’s mother several times was so eager to talk with me and then she realized that I can’t understand her dialect and she can’t speak Putonghua.  She spent most of her time watching the DVD of the Masses in Shenzhen so she invited me to watch it too.  She didn’t watch television at all.     Here is the link of the trip: http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2QL

        We also donated part of our Lenten Campaign to the sisters in Daming – Hebei for their kitchen and their orphanage.

        Several of our parishioners are also in financial difficulties.  A priest in Hebei is looking for donation for the construction of their Church in a village of 70-80 parishioners.  

Hong Kong, May 9, 2015

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Easter Letter 2015

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Love always involves responsibility, and love always involves sacrifice. And we do not really love Christ unless we are prepared to face His task

and to take up His Cross. ~ William Barclay

Happy Easter! Selamat Hari Raya Paskah! 复活节快乐!

May the Risen Christ continue to bless us with joy and peace!

           There was long procession from ground floor to Holy Family Church at third floor of the building on Palm Sunday morning mass.  I sat outside of the front Church as there were no more seats inside the Church.  All the statues were covered with purple garments after Sunday evening Mass.  There was movie “Passion of Christ” on Monday evening followed by a short reflection. 

            The Church was full for the Holy Thursday Mass.  After the Mass, there was time for private adoration in the Church for a while then the Blessed Sacrament was reserved at the temporary small chapel.  It was the office which was cleared up and decorated to reserve the Blessed Sacrament.  Several parishioners, young and old, stayed till the next morning.  A young woman and I talked and prayed together before I left almost midnight. 

            Several other parishioners come and go for adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament since early Friday morning.  It is a customs in mainland not to eat breakfast for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  The stations of the Cross was held at 3.00 p.m. followed by Liturgy of the Word, veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion.  The Blessed Sacrament was returned to the temporary small chapel after Holy Communion and the altar was stripped again.  Several parishioners still come and go for adoration till Saturday afternoon.  I just realized that several parishioners don’t eat meat on Holy Saturday.

            Twelve persons, adults and babies, were baptized during Easter Vigil Mass. When the Fr. Lu sprinkled the holy water, the parishioners hold the snacks or fruits or candies up to get the blessing.  Everyone got an Easter egg and every family can get a bottle of holy water as it’s the time to get a new holy water. It’s a solemn celebration even though the Church was very full including in front of the TV at the first floor. 

            The parishioners got another Easter egg during Easter Sunday Mass.  The Church: inside, outside, the stairs to 4^th floor and back sections were full.   

            Ten parishioners and I went to Xiao Du – Chaoyang, Guangdong after Easter Sunday Mass.  It’s around 4 hours drive from Shenzhen.  Ms. Lin invited me to attend the sacrament of matrimony of Ms. Zhuo.  Both of them are the volunteers of our youth gatherings.  Later on I knew that Ms. Lin didn’t tell Ms. Zhuo that I would go with them.  We had delicious牛肉丸汤(=meat ball soup) which is one of their specialty.  I stayed at Ms. Zhuo’s home while the rest stayed at the other two parishioners.  The house is similar to 岭南(=Lingnan) architecture, with 6 rooms, front

parlor, back parlor, part of the roof is open, 3D colorful paintings on the upper part of the room doors, long altar, bathroom outside the house next to the place of their two pigs, sign on the front door as a Catholics’ home.  We decorated the Holy Family Church Xiao Du on Monday morning followed by lunch.  There were 18 parishioners of Holy Family Shenzhen attended the Sacrament of Matrimony besides the local parishioners. After dinner, we went to Ms. Lin’s home around 30-45 minutes drive as we wanted to go back to Shenzhen around midnight to avoid the traffic jam at highway due to Qing Ming Festival.  We had 莲藕汤(=lotus root soup) and 肠粉(rice noodle roll), both are specialties of this area, before leaving for Shenzhen.  We arrived at Shenzhen around 6 a.m.   Fr. Lu, Fr. Shi, Sr. Qin, Sr. Guo, three parishioners, four non Catholics and I had lunch together and then I went back to Hong Kong.   Here is the link of the pictures of trip to Chaoyang:   share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EbuWrFm4ZM2Pi             

            That’s all about my Easter with parishioners of Holy Family Church Shenzhen.  It was a moving, peaceful and joyful Easter celebration.

            Now, short updates about the last four months of 2015.

            Several parishioners and I attended the sacrament of Matrimony of Ms. Yue at Kuitan - Jieyang, Guangdong.  Here is the link:  http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.hk/2015/01/sharing-trip-to-jieyang-and-shanwei.html

            There were two youth gatherings at Holy Family Church on January – March, here are the links: http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.hk/2015/01/sharing-fifth-youth-gathering-of-holy.html and http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.hk/2015/03/sharing-sixth-youth-gathering-of-holy.html

            I initiated a Lenten Campaign at Holy Family Church Shenzhen by inviting the parishioners to donate their Lent saving money in a plastic folder for our charity works.  I also translated several of Free Daily Lent Reflections by Fr. Robert Barron to Indonesian language and uploaded to my blog with their permission. 

            Ms. Dawn Araujo interviewed me for “Q&A of Global Sisters Report” regarding my cyber ministry last January, here is the link: http://anastasialindawatimm.blogspot.hk/2015/01/q-with-sr-anastasia-lindawati-global.html

            Our Maryknoll Family gathering was held on March 18.  It’s an annual gathering for all Maryknoll Sisters and Society members in China region.  Fr. Charlie, Fr. Isaac, Fr. Jude, Seminarian Andrew and 11 Maryknoll Society members attended the gathering.  

            I helped two workshops at Maryknoll Society House Stanley including accompanying one of the groups to Trappist Monastery and the other group to Holy Cross Church besides continuing to visit inmates both in Lowu Correctional Institution and Tailam Center for Women in Hong Kong.   

            While in Hong Kong, I also attended the New Year Mass and Barbeque with the Indonesian Community, open lecture on Pastoral Care of Persons with Same Sex Attraction in the Catholic Church, seminar on Consecrated Life, Final Profession of two Sisters of Congregation of the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres, Synod Questionnaire Q&A Sessions, Mass of 90^th Anniversary of MCS, SVD Mission Day, Lunar New Year celebration with the Indonesian Community, and Farewell party of Jane.

   

Hong Kong, April 8, 2015
with love and prayer,

Sr. Anastasia B. Lindawati, M.M.

Let’s do simple things with simple love to make God’s love visible

Renungan 2015: Kamis Putih

Renungan di bawah ini merupakan terjemahan dari "FREE daily Lent Reflections from Fr. Robert Barron" ( http://www.lentreflections.com/)

Tubuh dan Darah Kristus

Pusat dan pengakuan yang masih mengejutkan dalam Gereja Katolik adalah bahwa Yesus hadir secara real and substansial dalam rupa roti dan anggur.  KehadiranNya tidak hanya sekedar evokatif dan simbolik, tidak hanya sekedar hasil pemikiran ataupengharapan kita, tetapi real dan substansial.

Kalau Anda ingin membuktikan hal ini secara Biblis, cobalah melihat pada kisah Perjamuan Terakhir dalam Injil Matius, Markus dan Lukas – dan juga dalam surat St. Paulus.  Cobalah melihat secara khusus pada Injil Yohanes bab VI.  Yesus mengidentifikasikan diriNya sebagai “roti hidup yang telah turun dari Surga,” (Yoh 6: 51) dan kemudian Dia mengatakan, “Sesungguhnya jikalau kamu tidak makan daging Anak Manusia dan minum darahNya, kamu tidak mempunyai hidup di dalam dirimu.” (Yoh 6: 53).  

Ini adalah ungkapan yang sangat tidak bisa diterima orang Yahudi di masa Yesus.  Makan daging seseorang adalah istilah yang sangat tidak dapat diterima.  Lebih dari itu, minum darah binatang dilarang dalam Perjanjian Lama – apalagi minum darah manusia.  Tetapi ketika mereka menyampaikan keberatannya, Yesus tidak menghaluskan bahasaNya, Dia lebih menekankannya.  “DagingKu adalah benar-benar makanan dan darahKu adalah benar-benar minuman.” (Yoh 6: 55).

Bagaimana kita membuatnya masuk akal?  Semuanya ada hubungannya dengan siapa Yesus itu.  Kalau Dia hanya orang biasa, kata-katanya hanya merupakan kata-kata simbolik.  Saya dapat mengatakan, “Cincin ini adalah lambang cintaku kepadamu.”  Tetapi Yesus adalah Tuhan, dan apa yang dikatakan Tuhan, demikianlah adanya.

Sabda Tuhan mempengaruhi kenyataan pada level yang paling fundamental.  Jadi, ketika kata-kata Yesus atas roti dan anggur diucapkan, mereka berubah sesuai kata-kata itu.  Mereka menjadi tubuh dan darah Tuhan secara real dan susbstansial. 

Kenyataan dari sakramen ini sangat penting karena, “Barangsiapa makan dagingKu dan minum darahKu, ia mempunyai hidup yang kekal.” (Yoh 6: 54a)  Sakramen Ekaristi, sebagai kehadiran Allah yang kekal, mengekalkan siapa yang memakannya, membuat kita siap untuk kekekalan.  Kita berpartisipasi dalam Yesus Kristus melalui sakramen ini.

Itulah sebabnya kita harus sangat hati-hati, bahkan sedikit waspada, ketika kita menuju meja perjamuan.  Apakah kita mengetahui apa yang kita masuki?

Kutipan: Kita disatukan dengan Yesus Kristus, menjadi serupa dengan Kristus

Renungan 2015: Hari Minggu Palma

Renungan di bawah ini merupakan terjemahan dari "FREE daily Lent Reflections from Fr. Robert Barron" ( http://www.lentreflections.com/)

Seorang Raja dan Seekor Keledai

Pada hari Minggu Palma ini, saya ingin merefleksikan seorang raja dan seekor keledai.  Pada jaman Yesus, seekor keledai lebih dari apa yang ada saat ini: seekor binatang kecil yang rendah hati, sederhana, tidak berlagak, yang dipakai oleh orang yang sederhana untuk membantu pekerjaan mereka.  Orang kaya dan berkuasa mungkin mempunyai banyak kuda atau sekelompok lembu jantan, sedangkan pemimpin politik mungkin menunggang kuda kenegaraan, tetapi tidak ada seorangpun dari mereka yang memakai keledai.

Selama pelayanan publik-nya, Yesus menolak ketika dipanggil sebagai Mesias.   Yesus dengan tegas meminta mereka untuk diam.  Ketika orang-orang membawa dan menjadikanNya sebagai raja, Dia menyingkir.  Tetapi pada saat menunggang keledai menuju Yerusalem, Dia bersedia untuk diakui sebagai raja. Pesan dalam Injil sangat jelas bahwa itu bukan hanya seekor keledai, itu adalah anak keledai jantan, yang belum pernah ditunggangi orang.  Itu adalah seekor keledai muda, yang tidak berpengalaman dan tidak mengesankan.  Binatang inilah yang ditunggangi Yesus menuju ke kota dalam kemenangan.  Dia bukan seorang raja biasa, Dia bukan Mesias yang mereka harapkan..

Marilah kita sekarang melihat lebih dekat pada keledai itu.  Yesus meminta dua orang muridNya untuk pergi ke kampung sebelah dan menemukan beban ini.  “Jika ada orang mengatakan kepadamu: Mengapa kamu lakukan itu, jawablah: Tuhan memerlukannya.” Keledai yang rendah hati, yang dipaksa untuk melayani, adalah model pemuridan.  Tujuan hidup kita bukanlah untuk menarik perhatian pada diri sendiri, untuk memiliki karir yang hebat, untuk memperbesar ego kita, tetapi tujuan hidup kita adalah untuk melayani kebutuhan majikan, dimana ketika ada kecocokan, bersedia bekerjasama dalam pekerjaannya.

Apa tugas keledai?  Dia adalah Christopher, pembawa Kristus.  Dia membawa Tuhan menuju Yerusalem, menyiapkan jalan untuk sengsara dan penebusan dunia.  Apakah ada orang yang secara khusus memperhatikannya?  Mungkin tidak, kecuali mungkin menertawakan binatang yang lucu ini.

Apa tugas seorang murid?  Sama seperti keledai: menjadi seorang Christopher, pembawa Kristus kepada dunia.  Mungkinkah kita tidak memperhatikan hal ini?  Ya.  Mungkinkah kita menertawakannya?  Pasti.  Tetapi Tuhan membutuhkan kita, jadi kita melakukan tugas yang penting.

Kutipan: Hidupmu bukan tentang kamu.