Over the course of the pandemic lockdown, the men of Blessed Sacrament Church, primarily the Bapa-bapa Group, banded together to clear the overgrown thicket behind the church and create a serene Spiritual Garden. This beautiful space features a man-made tomb, reminiscent of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was laid to rest after the Crucifixion. In front of the tomb, a pond in the shape of the island of Labuan adds to the peaceful ambiance.
At the heart of the garden stands a beautiful statue of St. Joseph carrying baby Jesus. From above, the stairs leading up to the canteen resemble a chalice, adding to the spiritual significance of the space. The lush greenery surrounding the garden provides a tranquil environment, perfect for spiritual exercises and quiet reflection.
The dedication and hard work of the men of Blessed Sacrament Church have resulted in a truly remarkable and inspiring space. The Spiritual Garden serves as a testament to the power of community and the importance of faith, even in the most challenging of times.
Reflections at the Empty Tomb of Jesus
An empty tomb that reminds us of both death and resurrection, keeping in mind as well of another significant event in year 2033 when we will celebrate the 2,000th anniversary of the Passion-death-resurrection of the Savior of the world – the redemption of humanity.
Death reminds us of our human frailty, that we are but a breath of air. The empty tomb offers us a place to abandon ourselves, to be alone with God. Perhaps, we too can hear the voice of our Lord crying into our darkness and calling us by name as He did to Mary Magdalene. Only then our eyes and ears would be opened once again.
The empty tomb is the hope of the resurrection that allows us to suffer anything here on earth with patience. It is the hope of the resurrection that motivates us to go beyond our own self interests, to live life in conformity with the will of God for the salvation of souls. Through resurrection, we believe life has triumph over death, good over evil and hope over despair. As death is the only certain thing in life, we look towards St. Joseph to help us obtain grace for a happy death.
