OCDS holds retreat with focus on Community, Prayer and Work

By CTK Council

KUCHING — Christ The King (CTK) OCDS Community held her annual retreat from 15 to 17 October 2022 with the theme, “Be Still and Know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). The Retreat Master was the Spiritual Assistant of OCDS Malaysia, Fr Christopher Loh OCD from Seremban.

The last retreat was held in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, we have decided not to have a “silent” retreat but to focus on community building, knowing one another through fellowship, friendship and workshops.

Fr Christopher defined a retreat as an opportunity to go back to our roots. He urged us to look into our Identity and to revisit our call as secular Carmelites. He also emphasised the importance of having a prayer life, building relationship with God, knowing who God is and who we are; referencing the chapters on the “Our Father” in The Way of Perfection, written by our Holy Mother St Teresa of Jesus. 

Fr Christopher touched on the 3 pillars of life namely Community, Prayer and Work. He used the example of porcupines living together during the winter season to illustrate a community. The porcupines hurt each other with their quills while getting close to each other to warm themselves.

In order not to get hurt they have to adjust themselves by keeping a distance. However, they need to get close to each other in order to reach their goal, that is to keep themselves warm. Without their knowledge, they can certainly live together because their quills are smoothened over a period of time. 

The same theory applies to a community. We are put together to chisel and form each other. We don’t like what we see in others because what we see, sometimes reflects our own behaviour. A community is like a mirror reflecting each other’s character. It is like one body with many parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-27). Each plays a different role. If one member hurts, the whole community suffers.

Father further told us a parable: “The allegory of the long spoons” describing the different attitudes of people living in heaven and hell using the same long spoons. Those in hell are miserable people because they focus on themselves. They are unable to feed themselves with the long spoons.

Whereas those in heaven are happy people because their focus is on others. They are able to feed each other and enjoy their meals using the same long spoons that are used in hell. The same theory applies to a community; we are to forget self and serve each other.

He then touched on prayer. He emphasized that Vocal prayer together with Mental prayer can lead to Contemplative prayer. He quoted the definition by St Teresa of Jesus: “Mental prayer is nothing else than a close sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with Him who we know loves us.” 

In order to deepen our prayer life, we have to progressively enter into our inner self, as described in the Interior Castle, written by Our Holy Mother St Teresa of Jesus. We need to detach from consolations in order to grow deeper into our prayer life.

With prayer we are able to put DHL (Detachment, Humility and Love) into practice by washing each other’s feet in community. The purpose of prayer is to change ourselves and to do HIS Will. We have to let go, forgive and forget; and let God take over.

Finally, Father touched on the 3rd pillar, Work. He reminded us that Martha (Active) and Mary (Contemplative) are inseparable. They work hand in hand. (Luke 10:38-42). Our Holy Mother St Teresa of Jesus told us that God walks among the pots and pans. We are called to be faithful to our work and be obedient doing what we are asked to do.

In conclusion, Fr Christopher summarized the 3 pillars of life: Community, Prayer and Work. These three pillars are inseparable and they depend on each other just as our body has many parts but dependable on each other.

He illustrated this theory using a table with three legs. The table will not stand if one leg is broken. The same applies to our life. We cannot function well if one of the pillars is missing. We have to live a balanced life.