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FMM Lay Associates Day of Prayer
FMM Lay Associates Day of Prayer
by Ginnie Ang
I was really looking forward to the discernment retreat that Sr Marjorie was arranging for our FMM Lay Associate group that meet once a month. It would be good to be able to 'get away' from the busyness of everyday life and be able to just concentrate on my relationship with my God for a few hours instead of just fitting Him into my daily schedule amidst the things I needed to do.
What stumped me was when Sr announced that it would be a silent retreat !?!
I squirmed uncomfortably at the thought that I would not be able to utter anything for a few hours!?! Surely, that would be next to impossible for someone as chatty as myself and not at all comfortable with the sound of silence. But I surprised and delighted myself that I was able to persevere and yes, it proved that nothing is impossible with God and for God if you only say yes and allow things to happen.
The retreat started off with Sr Enid explaining the FMM Spirituality, it's prayer styles and it's values so that our relationship is not only that our love of Christ will allow us to serve Him humbly and generously so that whatever we do to everyone He puts in our path becomes a lovely offering. And because it is so easy to say, love your enemies - yet not be able to do it, we really must make mama Mary our role model so that we will be able to be like her, living simply and being available whenever the need arises.
Sr Enid introduced several interactive exercises to help us be more willing to cooperate:
We finally did some sharing when we all got back together after lunch. I shared about how I should let the sculptor in the guided imaginative exercise do what He intended to do. Let the creature be moulded by the Creator. After all, the Creator will not create junk!
Eucharistic Adoration followed and this was another eye opener. From reflecting on Jesus' statements from the Cross, I learned Jesus' total commitment, obedience even unto death. And so, just as I contemplate on my own cross - the vertical beam, my relationship with my God, I also need to be mindful of the horizontal beam, my relationship with others. After all, I am a creature among many, a sister to all my brothers and sisters in God's kingdom here on earth. We
are all going towards our journey back to our heavenly home which was beautifully portrayed in some slides from St Francis' Canticle of the Creatures.
The retreat was like a breath of fresh air - to be able to be still and realize that God has been with me throughout my life - whether I was conscious of it or not. He was, is and will always be there for me. It is up to me, how much I make Him a part of my life. May I retain what I learned that I should not segregate Him only when I am in prayer – that whatever I do, say and think, reflect My Creator for I am made in His likeness and image.
by Ginnie Ang
I was really looking forward to the discernment retreat that Sr Marjorie was arranging for our FMM Lay Associate group that meet once a month. It would be good to be able to 'get away' from the busyness of everyday life and be able to just concentrate on my relationship with my God for a few hours instead of just fitting Him into my daily schedule amidst the things I needed to do.
What stumped me was when Sr announced that it would be a silent retreat !?!
I squirmed uncomfortably at the thought that I would not be able to utter anything for a few hours!?! Surely, that would be next to impossible for someone as chatty as myself and not at all comfortable with the sound of silence. But I surprised and delighted myself that I was able to persevere and yes, it proved that nothing is impossible with God and for God if you only say yes and allow things to happen.
The retreat started off with Sr Enid explaining the FMM Spirituality, it's prayer styles and it's values so that our relationship is not only that our love of Christ will allow us to serve Him humbly and generously so that whatever we do to everyone He puts in our path becomes a lovely offering. And because it is so easy to say, love your enemies - yet not be able to do it, we really must make mama Mary our role model so that we will be able to be like her, living simply and being available whenever the need arises.
Sr Enid introduced several interactive exercises to help us be more willing to cooperate:
- In an imaginative exercise, we were guided to relax and with our eyes closed, to imagine a guided scene ...
- We were taught Centering Prayer, where we emptied our minds and say Ma-ra-na-tha which meant Come Lord Jesus, come...
- The Annunciation in Lk 1: 26 - 38 was read ... and for me, what was striking was that Mary responded with a resounding 'Let it be done according to Your Will. To be available whenever, wherever, whatever. Such simplicity, with no assumptions and ever so humble proving that everything is possible when it is God's Will. Of course everything will be possible. He will make a way. What is only needed is one's total surrender.
- We were encouraged to make a graphic representation of the highs and low points of our faith story so that we would be conscious which key incidents made us aware when God loved us. This made me pause and reflect how much I have taken for granted the many blessings God has showered throughout my life.
- What I realized from the silent lunch was on how much I actually savoured what and how I was eating. The silence was also starting to be soothing...Lunch was over in half an hour and I even had time to pay a short visit to the chapel where it was comforting to just sit and be in His Presence.
We finally did some sharing when we all got back together after lunch. I shared about how I should let the sculptor in the guided imaginative exercise do what He intended to do. Let the creature be moulded by the Creator. After all, the Creator will not create junk!
Eucharistic Adoration followed and this was another eye opener. From reflecting on Jesus' statements from the Cross, I learned Jesus' total commitment, obedience even unto death. And so, just as I contemplate on my own cross - the vertical beam, my relationship with my God, I also need to be mindful of the horizontal beam, my relationship with others. After all, I am a creature among many, a sister to all my brothers and sisters in God's kingdom here on earth. We
are all going towards our journey back to our heavenly home which was beautifully portrayed in some slides from St Francis' Canticle of the Creatures.
The retreat was like a breath of fresh air - to be able to be still and realize that God has been with me throughout my life - whether I was conscious of it or not. He was, is and will always be there for me. It is up to me, how much I make Him a part of my life. May I retain what I learned that I should not segregate Him only when I am in prayer – that whatever I do, say and think, reflect My Creator for I am made in His likeness and image.
"We are women of different nations and cultures, choosing to live together in a fragmented world. Revealing the face of Christ by being a humanizing presence among people who suffer and are on the margins.Committing ourselves, with others to the care of creation and to the service of peace, justice and healing, where is most needed."
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