Welcomed home by Papa Francis
“Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land” (Luke 15:13)
Oct 04, 2024
Word Made Fresh - Nicholas Lye
“Some days later, the younger son gathered all his belongings and started off for a distant land” (Luke 15:13)
For some time, it has been difficult for me to feel like I still belonged to the Church. Given some rather painful experiences that left me feeling rejected, unwanted, unseen, it was easy to just wander off and fade in the background, and not want to have any part in what was once home for me. Even going for Mass could sometimes be difficult and painful, for it reminded me of the rejection and pain, and made it difficult to even celebrate God’s love with a family whom I was not sure could really accept me for who I truly am.
Still, God continues to be faithful in healing me and calling me home. When I was asked to be a part of the recent Papal Mass in Singapore, to provide spiritual guidance for the multimedia team in charge of creating the beautiful visuals and animation to accompany the prayers, Mass and songs for the event, I felt God affirming me of my special and unique role in His Church. Through the monthly spiritual preparation sessions where I used different creative activities to help the team own their uniqueness, and listen to the Spirit bringing everyone together for a common purpose, I felt seen and appreciated for the unique gifts I could offer, and celebrated for the unique person that I am without needing to conform to what others expect of me, or ‘fit in’ in order to be welcomed.
“This is not where we would choose to be,” said Big Panda, “but it is where we are… And if we try to forget about what has happened, just for a moment, and look around, you might see that this is one of the most beautiful moments we have ever experienced.” (‘Big Panda and Tiny Dragon’, James Norbury)
Indeed, it was such a great delight for me to have had the chance to be in the national stadium during the Papal Mass, and witness the efforts of the multimedia team bring so much depth, beauty and meaning to the celebration, as well as see members of the Church coming together as one to experience God’s love, presence and beauty. I may not have been up on stage, or in the limelight, but I was very much content with being in the background, marvelling at God’s greater work in and through each of our unique gifts and personhood.
Where I am in life at the moment may not have been what I might have chosen for myself in the past, but as I learn to accept all that has happened, both the good and the challenges, and be open to where God had planned to lead me to all along, then I can better appreciate and embrace the beauty of where He has brought me to in this season of my life, and even praise and thank Him for choosing something for me that I would now actually choose for myself as well.
“He was still a long way off when his father caught sight of him. His father was so deeply moved with compassion that he ran out to meet him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)
But what I did not expect to experience at the Papal Mass was a powerful healing moment through the coming and presence of Papa Francis. At his appearance, I felt him calling me home to the Church, assuring me that I do belong, and that the Church is family to me too, even if people do hurt one another unintentionally as in any family. Seeing Papa Francis in person allowed me to also see the larger family of God as my real and true family. Even if people misunderstand me, or struggle to appreciate my own uniqueness, I can still learn to accept and embrace them for where they are and who they are, for they too are special and unique in God’s eyes, and also serve a special and unique role in His Church.
Through this experience, I can truly marvel at the greater beauty of what it means to be one Church and one family of God, despite the hurts and wounds we experience from one another, for God’s healing and fruitful love is greater, if only we allow Him to work in His time and purpose. At this point in time, I would not say that I am fully healed of the hurt and pain, but I am learning to keep choosing every day to claim the truth that I still do belong, that I am of value and worth, and that I do have a special and unique place in this Church and family. And so do you, my fellow brother and sister in Christ.
(Nicholas is a lay missionary and creative evangelist who loves to use creativity and various art forms to share the faith and help people encounter God’s truths in a fun and meaningful way. Check out his upcoming Rosary Made Fresh workshop via tinyurl.com/rosarymadefresh.)
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