Audience of One

The seats were all vacant, while the stage was filled with people. Together, they sang gleefully Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is our God”. It was the conclusion of Food & Music Feast 2012, the 5th founding anniversary of TawagAwit, a Catholic Ministry spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love.

The celebration was held on Pentecost Sunday, and as Lead Servant of the ministry, I had asked the audience to come forward and join the Blessed John Paul II Mass Centre chapter in praising and glorifying the Lord.

“While there seems to be nobody in the audience, we are actually singing to the most important audience of all, our one audience – God,” I said.

The number was spontaneous, with all of us singing in total surrender to the Lord. Quite a number raised their hands to acknowledge the Spirit’s presence in our midst. By the end of the number, everyone was smiling, clearly manifesting the mirth only a generous God can give to His faithful children.

It has been a wondrous five year journey in the service of the Lord. There had been stumbles and falls along the way; but in the end, the Lord sends us brethren to help in the growing ministry. From a handful of people in 2007, we have grown from one group in St Mary’s Northcote to seven chapters in Auckland and Taupo, New Zealand.

I told my fellow servants about pursuing “our dream of establishing as many chapters as there are parishes in the world,” and in journeying with the Lord, “by going to the Holy Land during our life time, to visit the paths where Jesus walked.” Big dreams indeed, but for a believer “nothing is impossible with God.”
(Luke 1:37)

I know how great He is, I know how generous He can be to His servants, to His children. “Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.” (Romans 10:12)