Icons

about the Friendship Icon and my calling

Saturday, 25 Aug 2007 – I went to a Taize retreat at the Church of Holy Spirit. There I was introduced to the icon of the Friendship of Christ.   When I first reflected on the icon, without having been told who the people are in it, I “saw” myself as the person standing on the right. I have felt for a while already that my calling is to journey with another person in prayer using Scripture (see the person on the right carrying the Book of Life?). As a spiritual companion, I offer friendship, comfort and empathy; hence my hand is on the shoulder of the other person on the left. I figured that the person on the left of the icon is a priest or even Jesus himself. He is blessing my efforts and serves as a wise adviser on my journey.

Later that day, I came to know that the person on the right of the icon is actually Jesus Christ. Wow! I thought: I had figured myself to be Jesus Christ! I was appalled that I thought I was Jesus! However, on further reflection I felt even more assured and confident of my calling – to be Christ for others, to help them experience the Father’s love. The person on the left (whom I had earlier thought was a priest or Jesus) becomes a person who has Christ in him. Somehow this realization sits right. I am therefore “adopting” this Friendship icon as my personal calling. It’d become a mascot for me in my ministry as a spiritual companion to others. Alleluia!

Now I have two icons that are special in my life – the Friendship icon and  Andrei Rublev’s Holy Trinity.

Before I was “schooled” in the icon of the Holy Trinity, I had taken this icon as being invited to supper by Jesus Christ (something like the Last Supper). Lo and behold, in my ignorance, God’s grace is upon me. This icon, coupled with other reflections and insights that I gained at the summer internship at Mercy Centre (read this elsewhere on my site), I felt called at that time to share myself with others.

Before I left for Mercy Centre, the song we hear at  Eucharistic offering played in my heart for weeks. “Blessed are you Lord, God of all creation | Thanks to your goodness this bread we offer …”. I didn’t know what this meant at that time. When I arrived at Mercy Centre in Burlingame, U.S.A., there at the Reception I saw the icon of the Holy Trinity. Although I didn’t know its name then, I loved this icon at first sight. Then sometime during the month, I was listening to Rev. Garry Schmidt’s input and he said that the Eucharist is a sharing of self. It dawned on me at that very moment when the words left his mouth what the song and the icon meant for me – it was an epiphany, a great blessing by God on me. I am called to share self! Alleluia!

This may sound “mushy” to you but it’s my own God-experience after all. This kind of heart-felt and personal experience leaves me convicted of God’s presence in my life. I pray that you too would gain insights from small happenings in your life. Stay awake, always. Peace and joy.

[Copyright © 2001-2007 Diana Tan | All Rights Reserved.]