sanctuary of our own lives

As the sun goes down let us raise an altar. The Bible has examples of building new altars or rebuilding the fallen altar. We find the graciousness of our life as life longs for its fruition in offering itself. Gather the life events, build an altar. “What can I offer? What can I bring to God, hoping for continued guidance and grace?” Let us offer whatever we are. It is acceptable. A sincere and wholehearted giving is what is important. This willingness to engage honestly with our inner selves, to confront our struggles and embrace our capacity for love and compassion, this is the true sacrifice laid upon the altar of our lives. They are precious, and approach them as so sacred that they reveal to us the heart of God. Here the altar turns to be a sincere conversation with the divine. Then there is a sanctuary of our own lives. As the night deepens, let this closeness with ourselves and with God be our evening offering.

🎬

sacramentality in human living

 As evening is near and we feel the weight of the day, of our life, we may have asked why God does not just fix our struggles and sufferings.  At times thoughts about God bring more questions than answers. We expect goodness and sweetness everywhere, but we do not always find them. The night can feel bitter as we struggle with our own pain or witness the deep sufferings of others. It can seem like God stands far away when he is most needed, as silent observer of our loneliness and injustice.

Every injured living creature looks miserably and helplessly for mercy and empathy. We don’t find God coming to fix these griefs. God is present not only in beauty and glory, but also in our ugliness and failures, not as victorious but as a sufferer. God the giver of life and full of goodness seem to be a useless God. God suffers in our pains; God also brings consolation into them by our compassion. There is a sacramentality in human living. When we live mercy, kindness, or forgiveness, we are not just being good people; we are revealing a divine presence. Our empathy and shared experiences are not just natural traits; they are the very way God’s love becomes truly visible in the world. Being near to a sick person, we offer a sacramental presence of God to the sick, giving an experiential reality of mercy of God when we show mercy. Sincere living of beatitudes becomes real brightness in the dark when the grace begins to extend to where the frailty of God appears. God’s revelation happens in reality as the grace in us turns to be a blessedness even when God seems to be absent and useless.

🎬

ailing body into a river of grace

Evenings have a way of taking us inward, our thoughts, and feelings. As the day is over, we often become more aware of our pains and the quiet struggles within us; hidden shames and silent battles. Time seems moving slow.  We long for a gentle hand to hold ours, for a comforting presence, for healing, and for renewed strength. Sometimes, the approaching night can increase our anxieties, our disappointments, loneliness, and pain. Perhaps, the stillness of the evening can help us to leave them into further depths.

Let us ask God to help us immerse our ailing body into a river of grace. Healing is not just about medicine and rest; it is also about a deep, inner peace, grace through pass over the moments of pain and suffering. In moments of pain, let us trust in a love that holds us close. Let us find the courage to forgive ourselves and the world, and to hold onto hope even when we are still in the dark, daring to walk ahead. At times we may be attached to our sickness or emotional pain. It is important that we permit ourselves to be healed. It is okay to let go of our hurt and allow ourselves to be healed. Even in our deepest loneliness and pain, there is a grace that doesn't demand a perfect surrender and devotion, but a warm love that simply settles over us. This love might gradually give us the freedom to permit to let go of our hurt and allow ourselves to be healed. It is the grace that helps us to endure our hurts and death, but to find them as holy grounds in our pilgrim journey. Let us gather strength and courage to descend to the depths of self-emptying moments. This is not a distant light of a dream, but a comforting presence that walks with us into the night, making a home in our hearts.

🎬