Sacraments

Definition: A Christian rite that mediates divine grace—a holy Mystery (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacraments, 14 Sept 2006)

BD: Hey you want to go for a prayer retreat?
Me: Great idea! When, where is it and who is conducted by?
BD: Just to let you know it's Catholic. But it's very good! They even have a priest who will guide you in your prayer journey and with whom you can confess your sins.
Me: [Heretic!!!!] Err... you know that there shouldn't be anyone, besides Jesus, who will intercede in our prayers right?
BD: Of course I know lah. But don't you sometimes feel lost in your prayer life? If you will be stumbled, then just go for the prayer retreat and don't go to the sermon sessions or to the priest. But weren't you just complaining that you have not been seeking the Lord enough?
Me: You may have a point, let me pray through this first.
BD: You know, sometimes I think Catholics have something right. Before SL goes for her business trips, she will visit her priest and confess all her sins, so that our Father will hear her prayers in her trip. Sometimes having someone to confess to and pray for you can be a restful thing to do.
(pause)
BD: I used to be a Presbyterian so I can say this. Sometimes, you all get far too involved in Word knowledge and pharasaic in prescribing dos and don'ts in spiritual acts that you all forgot to have a relationship and just go ahead and do things with the living Christ.

Another day:
YP: I must save more this month else I can't fulfill my giving of the first-fruits.
Me: Oh, know what I do, I'll just give my portion in the first weekend after pay day and not worry about it until my next pay day....
YP: No, I'm not talking about tithing, I'm talking about giving of the first fruits. At the beginning of the year, we will pledge an amount we will give to the church in addition to our tithing. That is the giving of my firstfruits loh.
Me: [Unbiblical! Word-faith teaching!] Hmmm...
YP: So I must save up more so that I can bless my church for God's work.
Me: Hmmm... (pondering about my priorities in money management)

Living in the joy of the truth of only Christ being my intercessor with God, my Father, most times I had neglected the importance of the sacraments in my daily life. Knowing that sacraments like confession, communion, tithing and prayer are not necessary for my ascendency upwards when my time comes, I have a tendency to neglect these sacred acts unless I'm obliged to (e.g in congregational activity.)

This leads to all sorts of disturbing symptoms in my life - a vague sense of worrying especially about my future, lack of focus even obvious in the daily tasks that I do, words that betray my real priorities in life. (Which leads to BD's stern rebuke on my worldly values that stumble people just days ago. =P)

Does it come from a false sense of superiority about knowing 'the right things' to do (like they'll bring us closer to Christ)? Or perhaps that the world's delights are so much more seductive than the solid joys of being under God's wings that I sometimes run from His presence? Or maybe it is just that the immediate satisfaction of admiration from people now far outweigh the delayed gratification of praise from our Lord?

"Dear God, Father of Jesus and me because of Him. In Your wisdom, You chose the foolish things of the world to shame the proud. I am sorry for my impetuous judgement that comes from superficial knowledge. Thank you for this season of teaching me to focus on taking away the plank in my eye. Thank you for keeping your eye on me in my past years after coming to You like I'm the apple of your eye.

Grant me the wisdom to know the difference between the acts that displease You from the things that separate Your church. Help me to live by the power of your Holy Spirit a relationship with You, not a self-willed life that derieves its morals from your Word. There are far too many grey areas in life that will stumble me and cause me to fall, perhaps even fall away from You as if I've never been chosen in the first place. But I can rest in what Apostle Paul had said with the wisdom that You had given, "Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." In Jesus' name You hear my prayer, Amen."