tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post1155626892789968222..comments2024-03-22T04:12:44.008+08:00Comments on Breaking the Word: Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24383995.post-5867360352089047602007-02-05T08:50:00.000+08:002007-02-05T08:50:00.000+08:00The presentation of the LORD in the Temple never f...The presentation of the LORD in the Temple never fails to remind me of the engaging TV serial of years gone by - Roots, which traced the history of African Americans from the time they were deported as slaves from Africa to the New Land. The lead actor of the series, when his first son was born, held him up to the heavens in some native African ritual to "present" him to the gods.<br /><br />The presentation of Jesus in the Temple also kind of pre-figures our Eucharist where God offers Himself to God Himself, the one true, perfect sacrifice of all time.<br /><br />The Archdiocese of Singapore is famed for its impressive monumental churches. In a sense, rightly so because it signifies that we spare no effort to show our respect for the Divine. This is the easy part. The difficult part is to build a faith community. At the dedication of the Franciscan Church of St Mary of the Angels in 2004, Friar Steve Bliss, Superior, had this to say: " Now that the building the church is completed, let us start to build the church". Oxy-moronic?<br /><br />The building of a faith community is a, well, community effort. It requires the active participation of the least no less than the great. Sadly, there are so many obstacles and divisions in our way: socio-economic status, those who are active/ not active in parish activities, the age gap, etc. May those of us who pray for and look to the building of a strong faith community in St Ignatius' be edified by Anna and Simeon who waited patiently for the Promised One to appear.<br /><br />May the Promised One bring to fruition our prayers for the Parish of St Ignatius.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com