Light the Lamp and Put it on the Stand with Guest, FATHER THOMAS MONTANARO L.C

SMITTEN BY FAITH - Inaugural Issue # 0001 ; 6th August 2021

LIGHT THE LAMP AND PUT IT ON THE STAND  

There is a huge happy smile on my face as I write this inaugural article for my weekly Newsletter, ‘SMITTEN BY FAITH’. I have chosen today, Friday 6th August 2021 to launch because for Christians, today is a very special day - the FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION of Jesus Christ. This was the day Jesus took his few chosen Apostles ( Peter, James and John ) up to a mountain top ( Mount Tabor in Galilee ) and there they saw the biblical Moses ( representing the law) and Elijah ( representing the Prophets ) standing together with Jesus. Then suddenly, a miraculous supernatural bright and radiant light engulfed Jesus and the Voice of God was heard, revealing to them Jesus’ divinity as the Son of God, the second person of the Trinity of God. This pivotal moment where humanity meets the divinity of God is known as the ‘Transfiguration’; a moment which I can probably use the word ‘smitten’ to well describe the condition of awe and amazement of the three Apostles, totally smitten by the glory of God.

From the hills outside Nazareth, a clear and beautiful view of Mount Tabor ( top left ) in Galilee. Photo courtesy of Christa Riedel ©Christa Riedel

Since this is my FIRST article, here is a quick explanation as to ‘WHY’ a Newsletter ?

First, you don't have to be a Catholic to be a Reader. So, don't run away. Read on. I think it is no coincidence that the word ‘catholic’ ( with lower case ‘c’ ) means ‘universal’, involving ‘all’. The word ‘Catholic’ Church ( with upper case ‘C’ ) when first used by St. Ignatius of Antioch in his Letter to the Smyrnaeans’ around 110 CE was derived from the Greek word ‘katholikos’ which also means ‘universal’ for the universal church - the Catholic Church.

I plan to write each week, hopefully without fail on Saturdays. I want so much to share with my readers not just glimpses of the deep abiding refuge and joy of my faith and my relationship with God; but also the erudite contributions of my Special Guests who will all have more to say about the universal ( catholic ) virtues of goodness, a caring humanity, appreciation of the beauty of our universe and love for our neighbours. This is the raison d’etre of SMITTEN BY FAITH.

In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians 4.8, St. Paul wrote these soaring words that still manages to thrill my heart every time I read it :

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

St. Paul’s words above addressing the Philippian Christians on how they should handle disagreements, actually emphasised the universal secular attitude of ‘reasonableness’ and ‘positivity’.

As Christians, we have the additional comfort of our faith and our trust in God; that God is involved in every aspect of our lives and God will keep his promises to us.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” 

Hebrews 11:1

These past 18 months of the long and relentless Covid pandemic have enabled me to find the quiet time to write two of my most precious books - ‘Millennials Meet Mary’ which was launched in May 2020 via zoom at the Vatican Museum and ‘Late Have I loved Thee’ which followed a year later in Kuala Lumpur, again without a physical book launch. With closed international borders, every book had to be air-couriered but that did not stop the books being distributed all over the world from Yellowknife in the freezing far north of Canada to the deep south of Chile.  Then, something else happened. As I gingerly embraced social media and cyberspace marketing, I found that ‘Millennials Meet Mary’ was perfect for the 21st century and thousands of copies have been distributed. The book now has a HUGE and growing public following in Facebook and Instagram ! So, I have no doubt that launching this Newsletter now is a natural next leap forward which I must take; just like the miracle of the loaves and fishes, multiplied a thousand-fold. 

LIGHT THE LAMP AND PUT IT ON THE STAND.

“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven”

(Matthew 5:15–16, NIV)

The above is a lovely passage by the gentle Apostle Matthew, arguably the first man to write the teachings of Jesus in Hebrew, a former tax collector from Capernaum who preached all over Syria, Cappadocia, Galatia and Thrace before he was cruelly put to death by the Romans and Jews.

So, why don’t people light a lamp and just hide it under a bowl? Because that would have been a wasted effort. If you light a lamp, it’s because you want to light up your space. In the Gospel of Matthew, he says further that we don't just light up the lamp to light up the home; we should give light to others ! So, this is also another answer to the ‘WHY’ behind ‘Smitten by Faith’.

Every Saturday, as mentioned, I will be joined by many of my friends from all over the world as Special Guests including writers, photographers and artists.  They will all share their light with you dear reader - giving you their personal insights, as together we all share this positivity and this powerful chemistry of community. Finally, you must know by now that I am a Catholic - unabashedly so - and that I have an enduring soft spot for the Virgin Mary, hence Mary’s biography. The words just flowed as I wrote about her acceptance of God’s will, and her absolute trust in Him. Mary’s FAITH. That will be saved for forthcoming articles and my other special guests - Mary’s Millennials - 80 accomplished and amazing Millennials from 42 countries who will write about their hopes and fears for the future. I can't help but feel so proud of this millennial generation. They have dealt with so many challenges in life but their words are unreservedly bright and up-lifting. You will see how Mary’s Millennials find the grace and faith to look inwards into that space where through faith, they discover love and hope. 

AND NOW, FOR TODAY’S GUEST - REV. FATHER THOMAS MONTANARO L.C

MY GUEST TODAY is Rev. Father Thomas Montanaro L.C., founder and director of the Regina Apostolorum Foundation, former Vice-President and current Consultant to the Rector of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum for International Development. Just very recently, he was called by the General Director of the Legionaries of Christ and in addition to his current ministry, has been assigned to a new global mission of service from the General Directorate in Rome, overseeing servant leadership development. 

Father Thomas so perfectly symbolizes this imagery of lighting the lamp. I met Father Thomas a few years ago in Hong Kong and from that moment, he never ceased to share with me his patience, wise theological teachings and extreme kindness as he communicated to me the joy of his calling and yes, the power of his faith! 

Father Thomas shared this thought with me : “ Regardless of where we live, what our circumstances are today, I often come back to our common mission which is always stable and never changes : to love. Loving is our best investment and secret to happiness.”

I shall now leave it to Father Thomas to share his wisdom with us. He is also a wonderful photographer and so we are thrilled and honoured additionally to have an exclusive preview below of some of Father Thomas’ rare and amazing photographs which will be published soon, God willing, in his new book. 

COMMENTARY FROM REV. FATHER THOMAS MONTANARO L.C

It is an honor to respond to Joan Foo Mahony’s generous invitation to offer a few lines on faith for her inaugural newsletter. 

For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to the attractiveness, the beauty of our faith, especially through fine art, and during the last few decades, through the natural works of art in creation. I have been drawn to capturing this beauty to the best of my ability in photographs, usually with a simple and cheap cellular phone camera. Since my priestly ordination almost ten years ago, the sacred art and natural creation in the place where the monotheistic religions call the Holy Land, has captured and helped me to grow in my own faith. In fact, as Joan mentioned above, God is faithful to his promises, and it was in the Holy Land that he began to fulfil his promises of Love. Just gazing on the Holy City Jerusalem, as below, with an image taken atop the Mount of Olives, awakens in me the faith that has attracted millions of people from the time of Abraham until today.

View of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives.

Photo courtesy of Rev. Father Thomas Montanaro © Father Thomas Montanaro

In the Gospel, Jesus admonishes the apostle Thomas for not believing; for demanding to touch and see. “Blessed are those who believe without seeing” (Jn 20:29), he exhorted Thomas. So how do photos of the Holy Land help faith? It may seem logical, based on Christ’s admonition that our faith could increase without these photos, and in fact nothing is impossible with God. Yet, God gave us our senses, and we are to use all the talents God has given us to come to grow in our faith. In an age of images, I believe that faith can grow through our sight and interior pondering of the mysteries visible only to our interior spiritual eyes. This visible attraction, in my experience, brings us in fact to be smitten by faith, or in other words, to be caught up in the love of the One who is majestically and magnanimously faithful to his promises. 

May photos be then a door, through which we leap in faith, to experience the mystery!

Lower Cave in Bethlehem - the spot marking where Mary gave birth to Jesus

Photo courtesy of Rev. Father Thomas Montanaro © Father Thomas Montanaro

Here at this spot, in a lower cave in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to a baby boy, Jesus of Nazareth. Gaze upon the ancient Latin inscription ‘HIC’ which means, “ ‘HERE’, the Christ was born of the Virgin Mary”. Here, Jesus entered the world in poverty, in a real place, to come to bring light to the darkness of the world. To fulfil his promises, scattered all throughout the Old Testament and prophets, to save us and bring us to His Kingdom of Love. Although many of us are not there today, we can contemplate this image, close our eyes and go there in faith, asking the grace to grow in belief in this loving reality of our existence, that He was born for you; for me! If you are prompted, why not spiritually hold the baby Jesus in your arms, allowing the true experience of his birth to fill you with meaning and joy.

The place of the Crucifixion – the rock of Calvary.

Photo courtesy of Rev. Father Thomas Montanaro © Father Thomas Montanaro

Jesus arrived here, to the rock of Calvary to his ultimate act of Love. The steep stairs today lead us up to the place of the crucifixion and encase the last Stations of the Cross atop the rock of Calvary, which is still visible through the glass coverings to the right and left of the altar. St John invites us to contemplate this man, Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified here, whose open heart and blood poured out, speaks to us of mercy and forgiveness of our sins and those of the whole world. Jesus arrives to his lowest act of humility and detachment, his highest act of love. It is impossible not to be smitten by loving faith here.

Touch the rock of Calvary in faith, lowering your hand into the circular opening below the altar, as you can physically do when you visit, and spiritually feel the warm blood from Christ´s recently opened heart pour over your hands. The Sacred blood of Salvation has been poured over me, has been poured into me, has been poured out for me! May his blood covering our hands remind us that we are consecrated, bought by the blood of Christ. Our hands are consecrated. Take this blood and make a sign of the cross over your heart, over your lips, over your forehead. We go through this same ritual in an opposite way each time we approach the gospel in the mass. May the blood of Christ on our hands re-consecrate our whole being and remind us, shock us newly at the price of our liberation, of our salvation, of our redemption. How precious are you that Jesus paid for you in this way? 

The Empty Tomb

Photo courtesy of Rev. Father Thomas Montanaro © Father Thomas Montanaro

“He is not here, he has risen!” (Mt 28:6) This image brings us inside Jesus’ empty tomb, with an altar covering the place where the body was laid. Many of us who have been here remember the long lines trying to get in the empty tomb; even if just for a second. Generally, there are just five seconds to appreciate this holiest of sites, unless one has the grace to spend the night inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre or celebrate Mass inside. What a mystery that we wait so long to arrive to a tomb that is empty! Yet one important historical sign of Christ’s resurrection is this tomb in which no body is found. Perhaps some have run to the tomb in the early morning when it is still dark, as John and Peter did. If on arriving there is the grace to enter, we still find it as Peter and John did, with no body there. But the greatest news ever is on this inscription inside the tomb, which repeats the words of the angel: “He is not here; he has risen!”

May we go in faith and see that the tomb is still empty. It is empty, because He, the Risen one is with us; next to us, in us! 

Friends, I pray that these images can help bring you to these holy places in faith and allow you to overflow through hope into loving response, in imitation of the King of Love, our servant leader. See you in faith and hope to meet you in person, either in Rome, the Holy Land or where our paths cross. 

Father Thomas Montanaro L.C; Rome; 6th August 2021

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