There seems to be an anomaly between marble floors and an impoverished flock. May I be forgiven, if this is wrong to say.
God for all His blessings and love for us must be glorified and adored. However, He surely would not desire to have His creatures go hungry and suffer.
It reminds me of the hungry disciples who pluck grain in a farm on Sabbath Day and was questioned by the Pharisees for the correctness of such act on such a holy day. Jesus intervened and brought up the case of King David who entered the House of God with his hungry men and ate the food only the priests should partake.
It also reminds me of a church in a subdivision surrounded by poor people. Some were even in the subdivision. It was one the likeness of which I have never seen in any place, but i am sure exists in some unvisited forgotten, perhaps forsaken place ---- the roof was that of a nipa hut, the altar of bamboo, the posts of some wood not comparable to narra or any mahogany species, there were no decorative tiles, but surrounding thick bushes and swaying trees joined in every religious celebration, and the floor, simple, simple hardened mud! The flock came every Sabbath Day, overflowing the corners of the church, singing, praying and most of all, praising the Lord.
For the most part, the purposes/principles of what makes and characterizes royalties, billionaires, leaders and presidents are a far cry from the purposes/principles or dogma that is behind God or His very Being. He knows if we adore Him or not, tangible, physical manifestations or otherwise. This is another contrast to note.
Surely, beautiful, great churches are most deserving of our adoration, but, shouldn’t there be a more appropriate time? God is forever. Humans have a timeframe. With all the love and mercy He has for us, He will understand if tangible, physical manifestations of glorifying and adoring Him would come a later, though not ever, provided, deep in our hearts we love, thank and adore Him sincerely.
True Londoner, in richness and in poverty we should manifest our love and adoration to God. Sincere, simple prayers are most welcomed by our merciful God. Obeying Him is another manifestation of glorifying and respecting Him.
In desperate times beyond our control we also turn to God for mercy and assistance and for immediate physical needs, His representatives on earth, the priests. Priests from poor countries have gone to wealthy nations to request for financial and spiritual assistance from the parishioners of these fortunate countries. These priests spoke during the homily, of their predicaments in trying to help their impoverished flock. They gave details of heart-breaking challenges they witness -- deprivation and other degrading human struggles, and for lack of resources, even requests to heal the sick, as would doctors. They give whatever they could to needy families, depriving them to build grand churches.
It is one balancing act --- not to offend God, should not building great churches be, and to love our neighbors by helping them in their hour of need. In my opinion, I am guided by the Ten Commandments which I find quite simplistic in how to respect, love and adore God (great, beautiful churches is not the only way). The Ten Commandments after all consists mainly of two things: Love of God and love of neighbor and both must be served.
Thank you, Mr. Manduriao for the update you sent. We do need well-intending Bacongnons to help us renew our relationship with Bacon, assess its needs and the path it is treading………and hopefully assist in whatever way, towards its improvement.
8 comments:
So lovely! I really like the marble.
There seems to be an anomaly between marble floors and an impoverished flock. May I be forgiven, if this is wrong to say.
God for all His blessings and love for us must be glorified and adored. However, He surely would not desire to have His creatures go hungry and suffer.
It reminds me of the hungry disciples who pluck grain in a farm on Sabbath Day and was questioned by the Pharisees for the correctness of such act on such a holy day. Jesus intervened and brought up the case of King David who entered the House of God with his hungry men and ate the food only the priests should partake.
It also reminds me of a church in a subdivision surrounded by poor people. Some were even in the subdivision. It was one the likeness of which I have never seen in any place, but i am sure exists in some unvisited forgotten, perhaps forsaken place ---- the roof was that of a nipa hut, the altar of bamboo, the posts of some wood not comparable to narra or any mahogany species, there were no decorative tiles, but surrounding thick bushes and swaying trees joined in every religious celebration, and the floor, simple, simple hardened mud! The flock came every Sabbath Day, overflowing the corners of the church, singing, praying and most of all, praising the Lord.
We built palaces for royalty and presidents, leaders and billionaires.
Should not man build greater structures for God?
For the most part, the purposes/principles of what makes and characterizes royalties, billionaires, leaders and presidents are a far cry from the purposes/principles or dogma that is behind God or His very Being. He knows if we adore Him or not, tangible, physical manifestations or otherwise. This is another contrast to note.
Surely, beautiful, great churches are most deserving of our adoration, but, shouldn’t there be a more appropriate time? God is forever. Humans have a timeframe. With all the love and mercy He has for us, He will understand if tangible, physical manifestations of glorifying and adoring Him would come a later, though not ever, provided, deep in our hearts we love, thank and adore Him sincerely.
In all history the very poor minions have always been with us.
Poverty, recession, bad times must not be excuses for anyone not to manifest his love of God in simple prayer or build great structures.
True Londoner, in richness and in poverty we should manifest our love and adoration to God. Sincere, simple prayers are most welcomed by our merciful God. Obeying Him is another manifestation of glorifying and respecting Him.
In desperate times beyond our control we also turn to God for mercy and assistance and for immediate physical needs, His representatives on earth, the priests. Priests from poor countries have gone to wealthy nations to request for financial and spiritual assistance from the parishioners of these fortunate countries. These priests spoke during the homily, of their predicaments in trying to help their impoverished flock. They gave details of heart-breaking challenges they witness -- deprivation and other degrading human struggles, and for lack of resources, even requests to heal the sick, as would doctors. They give whatever they could to needy families, depriving them to build grand churches.
It is one balancing act --- not to offend God, should not building great churches be, and to love our neighbors by helping them in their hour of need. In my opinion, I am guided by the Ten Commandments which I find quite simplistic in how to respect, love and adore God (great, beautiful churches is not the only way). The Ten Commandments after all consists mainly of two things: Love of God and love of neighbor and both must be served.
Please know all that these pictures of the Anunciation Church were taken and sent by regular contributor to this website Mr. Amado Manduriao, Jr.
Thank you, Mr. Manduriao for the update you sent. We do need well-intending Bacongnons to help us renew our relationship with Bacon, assess its needs and the path it is treading………and hopefully assist in whatever way, towards its improvement.
Post a Comment