LOVE, Kloudiia

Yesterday was a day of celebration of new births. I went to my friend’s first born’s first month celebration. Then followed by another celebration of the new round of RCIA in church.

One year ago, I was part of the 100+ strong group standing outside the church, waiting to be welcomed into the community to seek and know God.

One year later, I was sitting inside, welcoming an entire new batch, though half in number yet full in hope and faith.

As I witnessed them being presented their cross and a bible, and undergoing their Rite of Acceptance, I felt a wave of happiness.

I saw some familiar faces among the group – those who had been sponsors of my batch are now volunteering their time to sponsor a new person again, to walk this journey and share their faith with a new friend. Not forgetting those newly-baptised! A handful of us are part of this RCIA family too as they decided to retake this journey, with a new and different purpose now.

How happy am I for these people who have come knocking at our doors! 

Yet, strangely I had this sense of loss too, as I shared with the priest later on.

Perhaps it’s because the long and much-anticipated baptism is over, and we’re now walking on the last mile of our RCIA, which will officially end on Pentecost with a group dinner.

Do you feel a feeling of loss when a project you have been undertaking is coming to an end? Or when you were so busy preparing for your wedding and the next morning, you suddenly awaken to the fact that you are married!

Maybe that’s why the first born in each family will feel insecure about an oncoming brother/sister, when they are used to  receive all the love and attention from the family. Like my friend’s first baby boy. One slight cry and his grandmother will rush over to carry him, with mom and dad in tow, waiting to take over.

I think this loss is good. It allows us to be ourselves. To face the vulnerability of being human, to relish that moment of reminiscence, and to allow that chapter to close so that we can begin another one, with more hope and vigour.

I wish all the newly-born Catechumens all the best in their journey of faith. And I’m looking forward to the day they will be like us, dunked in the water and rise to a new life too!

[tags]life chapters, moving on, births, baptism, RCIA, new born, God, Catholism, church, parish community[/tags]