Living Beyond the Muros

Philippines Week #2
February 6, 2013

Last week I had the opportunity to venture around Manila with my fellow trainee and my Training Heads. We went around to explore and discover what Manila had in store for us. I asked The Lord to show me, and so He did.

Our first stop was The Steel Church (Basilica Minore de San Sabastien). I walked around and knocked on the walls of the church to check if they were really steel. They were. As I was doing my rounds and taking in the beauty of the structure I was struck by a statue of Saint, a Saint that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before. She was dressed in a yellowish/golden dress. What caught me off guard was what she was holding in her hands. On her right hand she was holding a palm leaf and on her left she was holding a plate with two human eyeballs. I took a deep breathe and continued walking around the church. The image of the Saint lingered in my mind. Something was pulling me to go back to the foot of the statue. I found myself standing in front of the Saint. I called the brothers who were with me and asked them if they knew who this Saint was. No one knew, so we looked it up. The search lead us to, St. Lucy.

St. Lucy is known for her martyrdom in defence for her virginity. Her story is about a young Christian woman who had vowed her life to the service of Christ. According to the iconography which portrays her, it is said that the eyes on the plate reflects her identity as the protector of sight, her name Lucia (from the Latin word “lux” means “light, clarity, understanding, enlightening”). St. Lucy is frequently shown holding her eyes on a golden plate and also holds a palm branch which symbolizes victory over evil.

I asked the Lord, “Why O Lord did you lead me to this image?”

I didn’t think much of it and just continued with the rest of the day.

After all the adventures, our last Church we visited was in Intramuros, the walled city. I asked my Training Heads what “Intramuros” meant and they said, “within the walls”. I continued walking and observing the thick wall that surrounded the church, I noticed a woman siting on ground up against the wall, I glanced at her and continued walking. The Church we visited was San Agustin, they had statues/paintings of Saint Augustine around the church, but there was one towards the entrance of the church that stood out. He wore a black robe and  a book with a small church on his left hand. The church symbolises the Word of God, source of light and truth, and the quest for wisdom.

I asked the Lord again, “Why O Lord did you lead me to this image?”

Before we left Intramuros I was admiring the 3 meter thick wall that enclosed this city. I, for the second time crossed paths with the same woman siting on the ground. This time she was hiding her face and she was leaning against the wall. I was compelled to continue to look back.

 

I asked the Lord once again, “Why O Lord did you lead me to this image?”

As I reflected on the rest of the day,

I was brought back to the three images that moved my heart.

St. Lucy and her eyes of enlightenment.
St. Augustine and his book of wisdom.
The woman siting between the walls.

After siting in silence, I realized why each image was presented to me that day. I realized that these were the prayers and the posture that the Lord desired for to carry being here in the Philippines and during my training,

“Lord God, like Saint Lucy, allow me to be to be enlightened not only with my eyes but with my heart”

“Lord God, like Saint Augustine, allow me to ask more questions but to be secure in the fact that the Lord is far much greater than my questions”

“Lord God, like the woman siting, allow me to be aware of the reality that is seen between the walls.”

The Lord is calling me to live beyond the “muros”, to live beyond the walls. Walls are created to prevent others from seeing what is inside. To step out of my comfort zone and recognize the reality that is placed before me and the reality of whatever I am feeling at any given moment. The Lord does not leave me to face these realizations alone but sends me His Saints. He sent me St. Lucy to see and seek enlightenment not only with my eyes but with my heart. He sent me St. Augustine so I may continue to ask questions and seek wisdom and clarity from the Lord.

Lord allow me to step beyond my walls.
Saint Lucy, Patron Saint of eyes, allow me to see beyond my walls.
Saint Augustine, Patron Saint of theologians, allow me see beyond the walls of my questions.
O Lord, allow me to turn to Your Spirit and look between the walls for your messages!
Amen 🙂