30-Day Lockdown Retreat Journey: Topping Out Sunday—Rejoice All You Who Mourn... (DAY 8)
FOR IT SAYS IN SCRIPTURE: BEHOLD, I AM LAYING A STONE IN ZION, A CORNERSTONE, CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS, AND WHOEVER BELIEVES IN IT SHALL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME. (1 PETER 2:6)
Today is Day 8 of our 30-day whole community retreat journey in light of the lockdown.
Point Of Departure: Today we will brush up on some Latin to formally enter a major milestone in an Ignatian retreat. The Latin phrase is tantum quantum, which means, "inasmuch as." The context of this Ignatian expression is St Ignatius’ First Principle and Foundation (FP&F)—that lies on top of the four weeks of the Spiritual Exercises. In this FP&F, Ignatius writes about the whole rationale of every spiritual journey. In a nutshell, “The human being is created to praise and serve God alone—tantum Dei quantum—inasmuch as of God only. All other created things on earth are to be used in pursuit of this end.” “We are to use them—tantum quantum—inasmuch as they lead us to our last end, and be rid of them—tantum quantum—inasmuch as they hinder us in the pursuit of the end for which we were created” (Spiritual Exercises 23).
George E Ganns SJ uses the analogy of an architectural edifice particularly that of an arch—a hallmark of strength that the Romans harnessed. He says that the FP&F serves as the keystone of the Spiritual Exercises. (I took the image above from the largest Buddhist temple in Borobudur. The more popular rounded arch is from the Romans. (N.B. Watch this "How to build a Roman arch in 00:30 that will last for 2,000 years"). We can profit a little more from the analogy by grasping the invaluable role of the capstone in every arch. The arch structure is unable to stand until the capstone is finally fixed at the center. Although this stage is clouded with some uncertainty, it is just a passing one. When the capstone is fixed, the whole structure is deemed stable and secure as it was earlier designed by the bricklayers. It is also uniquely called keystone, bearing a key role of crowning and culminating all the labor and resources that were poured into the project. A certain builders’ rite—topping out rite—deserves to be celebrated with gratitude and joy among all the stonemasons and bricklayers. This is a fitting image to celebrate any achievement of sorts. I asked also myself if this word Rejoice! is a welcome word when so many people are suffering and dying nowadays. I went back again to the liturgy's entrance antiphon where this is found (See full text below; cf. Is 66: 10-11) and I found the context of the word's usage, i.e., mourning and sorrow.
The middle of Lent, the Fourth Sunday, is called Laetare Sunday (Latin for Rejoice!). This is equivalent to the Third Sunday of Advent, a.k.a., Gaudete Sunday (Another Latin term for Rejoice!). These two, in the whole liturgical year, are like “Topping-Out-Sundays.” (I suggest that you ritualize this day by getting a recent newspaper and other materials to serve as relics. You can search the web on how to go about this. Designate a “foundation stone” in your house where you will put the relics. Each time the members of the house see this “keystone” or if someone moves it, the person will see the relics deposited in there. What would you like to be reminded of when you see a relic? Follow your heart in choosing what to put there. This is your Topping-Out-Day. You may look at this outbreak as having led you to it. Look at the bright side of things and thank God.)
The keystone is just a stone if it does not function as a keystone. Inasmuch as it serves its purpose then it is good. Similarly, your relics will just be ordinary objects, worth for nothing, until you find some worth or weight in them. The worth of any keystone lies both in its dimension and weight. The dimension gives its proper shape and the weight is the pull of gravity which is responsible to hold in place the structure securely and enduringly. The keystone must have gravitas. Using the words of Ecclesiastes, "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity" (Ecc 1:2). The Hebrew word, הֶבֶל (heh'bel), which means "vapor or breath" is translated as vanity, i.e., without any shape or weight. Yet, the moment each creature is directed towards the "greater" praise and service of its Creator it begins to have its individuality vis-à-vis God's, gratuitous love. In this context, the meaning of "greater" or "magis" is not absolute but is always relative, i.e., inasmuch as it flows from the love of the ever-greater God (Deus semper major). The magis of every creature is to be seen always in reference to God's praise and service. Often times we understand magis by measuring one's own successes alone but all of that is vanity if not seen in relation to God. Every stone laid by the bricklayer is shaped and cut in reference to the keystone. Ask yourself, “Do my actions lead me closer to God?” St Ignatius of Loyola asked the same question when he was recuperating after being hit by a cannonball. His life’s edifice crumbled when his right leg was shattered. In fact, having broken bones was easier to bear for him. But what was more devastating was that his spirit was broken.
The passage that we will meditate on for our theme is the story of the man born blind who was miraculously healed by Jesus. A certain topping out happened in the life of the blind man. No less than Christ happened to him and after that, his life was never the same again.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Grace To Beg For: To ask for what I desire... interior freedom to turn to God, the Ever Greater, and allow myself to taste and see His divine plan for me.
Word Of God: (See full texts below from universalis.com)
- John 9:1, 6–9, 13–17, 34–38 (Jesus gives sight to a man blind from birth.)
- Ephesians 5:8–14 (“Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret…”)
- 1 Peter 2:4-9 ("...rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood...")
Questions Or Considerations To Ponder:
- During retreats like this, or even unexpected moments like a crisis, a person is faced with the hard questions in life. St Ignatius of Loyola asked the same question when he was recuperating after being hit by a cannonball. His leg that was shattered was easier to endure for him. What was more shattering was that his spirit was broken. Think of every action that you do and ask yourself, “Do my actions lead me closer to God?” If yes then that is good. But if it brings you farther away from God, then something is out of place in the process. When that happens we build or labor in vain because our perspective is not in the direction towards God. "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain" (Psalm 127:1).
- A person is good if one serves God without deception and all things on the face of the earth are also good, but only in relation to another. That is why it is necessary to choose “TQ.” And, we must make ourselves indifferent—that is—one cannot be too biased about one’s own choosing of things. (Adaptation of St Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises 23)
a. What are the worldly (inordinate) attachments in my life? Name a few. Have I been growing in freedom and indifference towards it? Is it a privilege, a person, a position, a project to be done or a period in the past that continue to cling to? How will I be when these attachments are no longer available to me?
b. How do you find Christ bringing light into your situation nowadays? What are the lights and shadows in your life that the outbreak has opened your eyes to see?
c. Rejoice! Can you afford to rejoice even during a crisis like this thinking that our Lord Jesus Christ has already won the salvation of our souls? Every Sunday celebration is a celebration of the Resurrection. Every Sunday is a topping-out day! Be grateful to God for his divine plan.
Fr JM Manzano SJ
Prayer Requests:
You can submit request for prayers for the dead OR for the sick by filling out this online form [https://forms.gle/w76ySJdQupgSG2Hy6]. We will offer your intentions during our daily 6:30 AM Mass in our community of Jesuits and novices at Sacred Heart Novitiate, KM 23 Quirino Highway, Brgy. Pasong Putik, Quezon City 1118 Metro Manila, Philippines.
| Cf. Is 66: 10-11 |
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Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her.
Be joyful, all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast.
| John 9:1, 6–9, 13–17, 34–38 |
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The man who was blind went off and washed himself and came back able to see.
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam”—which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is,” but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.”
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.”
They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.
Ephesians 5:8–14
Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.
Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth. Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
| 1 Peter 2:4–9 · |
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You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.
Beloved: Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture:
Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion,
a cornerstone, chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame.
Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,
a stone that will make people stumble,
and a rock that will make them fall.
They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their destiny.
You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Thank you father jom. Feeling blessed.
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