A Reflection on Embarassment, Reverence and Humility

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Dear Readers,

After a remarkable day we concluded our prayer with mass at St. Mary Major. We were in the side chapel featuring some of the most beautiful golden displays I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime. The dome contained a beautiful fresco of Mary with stars around her and the queen of heaven, and when enough sunlight comes through you can see the face of God light up along with Mary.

  


At the end of mass I decided to respectfully bow to the ground on my knees before genuflecting to show reverence to the blessed sacrament in the tabernacle. Over the span of the trip I’ve been carrying around my heavy, stainless steel, forty ounce water bottle in the side pocket of my backpack. Since the bottle was full of water and the backpack pocket isn’t very secure, when I bent over to bow the water bottle slipped right out of the pocket, thus, causing an enormous  BOOM !!!!! throughout  the whole Basilica. Along with my water bottle came two or three coins that rolled onto the marble away from my reach. As I stood up frantically trying to get my stuff. I couldn’t help but laugh out of embarrassment.



This moment would usually become extremely humiliating for me but today was different. Even though there were probably some frustrated Italians over my teenage American recklessness, my thoughts never wandered towards how others were reacting. It was a sign from God to keep me humble and honest in reverence. God was reminding me that true reverence comes only without any feeling of praise towards oneself since reverence in this case is an entirely selfless act of respect for God and the sanctity of praising Him. In this moment embarrassment wasn’t an option because that would presume my reverence is fueled and promulgated by how others view me when in reality the real connection and reason for my revereence stood between God and I.

It was a very good laugh to say the least and I’m extremely surprised no marble was dented in the process. This instance of the day proved to be a humble and profound reminder that  my priorities and practices should not base themselves in approval or attention from those around me, but instead in God for his love is eternal and unwavering.

AMDG
COLTON MARKS



Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 13, 2018 at 5:53 PM

    God Bless you and keep you Colton. Thanks for sharing and I am sure God respects and accepts your circumstances and reactions. Be cool and praise God and all is good!

    ReplyDelete

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