Reflection: Tria Munera for the purpose of Discernment (Br Simon Anand)

In relation to the process and the importance of discernment, or in layman terms, the process of decision making particularly with regards to our spiritual growth, three elements: the Mountain, the Temple and the Throne, have been situated very significantly in the biblical history of salvation.

The Mountain has commonly been perceived as a place where God dwells in order to convey His Teachings. This is very clear in the scenes of the Ten Commandments (Ex 20) and the delivery of the Beatitudes (Mt 5:1). The Temple, on the other hand, has the aspect of sacrifice. Again, both the Old and New Testaments advocate this point to great heights especially when Jesus constantly focuses on Jerusalem where the Temple is located as His climax in relation to His own sacrifice of Self (Lk 19: 28-48). Lastly, the Throne is a symbol of authority of a judge or Judgement. And needless to say, this is evident especially in the Book of Revelation which communicates to us in rather a metaphorical way of Christ’s Second Advent (Parousia) to judge all the nations on earth. (Rev 20:11)

Thus, the need to listen to God’s Teaching, respond in the form of sacrifice (might not necessarily be physical or literal sacrifice), and judge to bring about Metanoia seem to be key to discernment. Were we to examine when these three elements flow smoothly in our lives, we own conviction and conversion as our standpoint. However, complacency and loss of the sense of direction could be the result of elimination or disregard of one or all of these three elements. Having said so, it is crucial to reckon that all of these aforementioned roles should bridge from being a mere knowledge in our Intellect to a passion in our life. Otherwise, it provides nothing more than a proper epistemological definition.

To add on, if Eucharist is the source and the summit of our lives, I can understand now why in the celebration of the Liturgy of the Mass, we keep our focus on the Lectern from where the Word of God is proclaimed, the Altar where Christ’s sacrifice of the cross is “re-presented” and the Presiding Chair, the throne on which God sits in a sacramental sense.

So, let us pray for this grace today that God may continue to open our hearts and our whole being in order to welcome the guidance of the Holy Spirit in every decision we make especially as we share the divinity of Christ as Prophet to proclaim God’s Word, as Priest to offer sacrifice and as King to make proper judgment of our lives in accordance to the promptings of the Spirit.

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Stay tuned for the next post by Br Gabriel Wong on 9th Mar 2011.