Date: June 17, 2020 ()

Bible Text: |

Series:

One time my father had a conversation with his friend and he mentioned about the scapular he was wearing. It was given to him by his mother (my grandma) with a little encouragement to keep wearing it as it will take care of him. I did not realize for a long time why my father bought me a scapular too and donned it to me with his strict fatherly reminder: “don’t take it off!” I was 10 years old then.

I only took it off when I was in the seminary and wore it again when I was assigned Pastor of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish back in my home diocese. A holy devotee gave it to me and I significantly noticed I had been wearing it while I was preparing my papers for my mission here. I hid it though to avoid people seeing me as naïve or a religious fanatic. But no matter how I tried, there were many instances the scapular just came out hanging prominently on my neck and I had to hide it again. It was conspicuously noticed when I was interviewed at the American Consulate and when I was at the airports - places where I avoid people making impressions of me.

It was after a Sunday Mass at St. Sebastian Church in Belle Vernon when a certain lady approached me and my fellow international priests and gave us another scapular with a card and a gift. But this time it’s bigger than what I had been wearing. She said: “I just retired and I am so grateful that the Lord has been pouring me his abundant blessings. Please do keep wearing this.”

I’m guilty of not wearing it all the time but I promise you, I do keep it devotedly and with deep prayers. Like the rosary, the scapular always reminds me of the Lord’s presence and his aid. I had been into the most challenging parts of my journey when I realized I had also been wearing the presence of Jesus and Mama Mary with me.

I was just reminded by Elijah’s mantle which he handed down to Elisha as he, on a fiery chariot, was taken by a whirl wind, in our first reading today. It looked almost like an insignificant piece of clothing but to both prophets, it was a great memento of the power of God.

What sacred things in your possession remind you of the presence of God? It is best to keep them or wear them. These remind us of our Holy encounters with the Lord. They’re a great memory that will help keep us holy too.