PERSONAL REFLECTIONS ON THE RETREAT

Fr. Agus Sugiarto’s reflection

Opening of the Retreat

I would like to share my own reflection during 5 days of my retreat.  Jesus is  the Lord, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man.

Evening adoration

He was born as a weak baby, poor, powerless, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. The manger is a place for animal food, dirty, smelly, and people don’t want to be close to it. This tells us that Jesus was born for the people that were considered “dirty”, sinners, marginalized, and not thought as neighbors.     Jesus came to the world to give love and attention to them so that their human dignity be restored.

In doing my ministry as a priest, I am reminded by Jesus’ example and thus I should empty myself from the desire to be honored, escape from selfishness, and be humble. Moreover, I should pay more attention to the poor and sinners, the people who are avoided as “rubbish” by many in order that they can experience God’s love and discover themselves as holistic persons.

In His mission, Jesus taught that He came not to be served, but to serve and to be the servant for all of human beings. Even as a servant, He is willing to surrender his soul on the cross. Jesus did all of these things because of his love for humankind and his obedience to God’s will. Jesus’ obedience to God the Father was very different from a soldier’s obedience to his commandant.  The obedience of a soldier to his commandant often does not come from the heart, but because of being afraid of doing wrong and being punished or not being promoted. Soldiers do their task because they must and have no choice. Jesus’ obedience, however, is obedience together with his love to God the Father and human beings. His obedience comes freely from the deep of His heart.

Jesus gives example to the disciples and me too, how to be great and a leader who is to be a servant. The authority that I have should be used not to dominate, but to serve all of mankind. Just serving people as neighbors, I can be both great and a leader. Jesus teaches me so that I can be more obedient to the leader (bishop) and do my ministry that he entrusted to me, wherever I am assigned, accompanied with love to God and to the people that I serve.

Lord Jesus, You taught me to be a servant to your people. Enable me to be a pure servant wherever I am, so that everybody may know You through my ministry. Amen.

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Fr. Paul Than’s reflection.

In the beginning of my retreat, I felt a little bored because I    was not        accustomed to the way suggested by Fr. Sergio Fossati, PIME, our Retreat Master. Later on, however, I came to know that in order to hear the Word of

Fr. Sergio Fossati, PIME - the Retreat Master

God, silence is very important. So I came to better understand the meaning the Word of God in silence.

The mystery of God is in silence. I was already familiar with the method of Lectio Divina; it helped me a lot in my whole retreat. It is one of the best retreats in my life because I was able to spend time with Jesus in the Word of God, in the Eucharist and in the community. I can honestly say that this retreat was fruitful and successful for my life.

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Sr. Norine’s reflection

From the retreat I am surely aware that God granted me the grace to have the courage to embrace the cross.    I accepted the invitation of Jesus with great joy to be like him in his missionary endeavor, embracing all and fulfilling my mission enthusiastically through humble service, reaching out especially to the margins.

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Sr. Lota’s reflection

I am very thankful to God for being here at Euntes and to have been able to  participate in the one week retreat. This retreat, unlike other retreats I have attended earlier, drew my attention to the passion of Jesus in his life, his life of humility, love and service and his pain, suffering and death and later his resurrection.

I am very much touched by the prayer method of Lectio Divina. It helped me discover the person I am and what I should do to live a better and prayerful life.

Jesus loved sinners not because of what they are but because of what they will become. Moreover, I like this verse:  “The cross without resurrection is meaningless, just as the resurrection without the cross is meaningless”