tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post5326122764912983453..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: The Magi(c) of a real God experienceFr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-36991432935454028502012-01-10T20:23:10.773+08:002012-01-10T20:23:10.773+08:00Your post beautifully summarizes the essence of th...Your post beautifully summarizes the essence of the teaching we experienced at a recent Retreat – “Living the mystery of Christ” – whereby I was left with the following implications of the Incarnation:- it was the expression of God’s self-emptying love for us – kenosis; and the wonder of it all – that identification with Christ demands His incarnation in us !<br />In the story of the 4th Wise Men, Ataman, (shown in short video-clips) we were introduced to a passionate searcher for the truth ( like the other 3 Wise Men), who sold all that he had, so that he could arm himself with many precious gifts for the Saviour he quested but he was always a ‘’Johnny –come-lately” and every time he missed encountering the Messiah because he was delayed by his detouring to help many who crossed his path. In the final clip, old, sick and worn out by his failures and reduced to only one more gift – the pearl of great price – he managed to make it to Calvary, hoping he could ransom for the Messiah’s life with the pearl. It was not meant to be and in a heart-wrenching scene, even this last treasure had to be surrendered to the soldiers to free a young girl from their clutches. However, as he lay dying, Ataman had his Magi(c) moment when Christ came to him re-assuring him that they had already ‘met’ innumerable times when he attended to the poor, the weak, the unloved throughout his interrupted quest!<br /><br />This story, coupled with the exhortation by the Retreat Master –to- not be just ‘beggars ‘ always asking for things but rather to make sure we bring gifts to the Altar of Sacrifice - gave much food for reflection. On reading your words, “how much we need to learn from this kenotic act.......’’ I was made to realize that it was not just making a gift of self to the Lord at mass that was needed – yes - it is of course commendable and right to come and humbly offer our services but what He would rather have is our impoverishedness, our poverty of spirit – an emptying of self (the ego) so that He could better use us for His purpose. For like you said, if we come still strapped with our baggage and all, how can there be room in us for His gifts of grace that He wants to give us ?<br /><br /> Another thing of note was that Ataman was able to be faithful in his quest because the star he followed was within him – he was guided by the star of his heart. In so doing, he experienced The Epiphany ( as you have said it) and in turn reflected ‘God in man made manifest’<br /><br />Happy Epiphany and God bless you, Fr.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com