Kneelers 무릎 꿇는 사람들

Once in a while, there are times that I just feel I can't do anything by myself. I become so small and helpless that I even don't know what to do. That is when I take a deep breath and pray. Only then, am I empowered and begin again.

St. Paul once confessed that “it is not I but Jesus who lives in me". That is true. Something is moving and touching my fragility and weakness. If I had lived by myself, I would have long gone out of the convent.

There is something constantly driving and inspiring me. I have too much of me but something is continually healing, consoling, renewing, and empowering me because it is truly not I but Jesus who lives in me. Otherwise, I might collapse and give up in the midst of my spiritual journey.

I'm here not because of my ability and power but because of the miraculous and mysterious power. Living abroad, I often feel the presence of a supernatural power deep within me. So whenever I feel small and helpless, I surrender. I kneel. I prostrate. I entrust everything to the providence of God. Kneeling connects my inner self to the other presence. It is a long bending journey and the process consists of continual conversion.

Living abroad alone is by no means easy; so many migrant workers are facing all kinds of difficulties and challenges in their lives daily. Especially for those who are desperate in front of the harsh reality, it is very natural to kneel down to pray sincerely. Whether it is the floor or the ground or the kneeling pads, they bend their knees to supplicate and intercede. They would also praise and give thanks to the most generous and compassionate love of God.

Like bowing, kneeling is a pious gesture of reverence, respect, worship, submission, humility, surrender, obedience, penitence, fidelity, and entrustment.

“Sister, how come Myeongdong Cathedral doesn't have kneeling pads at all? I wanted to pray to kneel in front of the altar but couldn't find any kneeler around. How could the Catholic Church remove all the kneeling pads from the pews?"

From time to time, I hear this complaint.

I don't know exactly when the Korean Catholic Church decided to remove the kneelers from the pews. One by one, the kneelers have been disappearing from the chapels. It would be partly because of the tendency for convenience and comfort, and partly because of insufficient space in the chapels.

All the chapels in Singapore are equipped with kneelers. For Singaporeans, kneeling either on one knee or on both knees is a sincere posture of pious devotion. Whenever they enter the church, they spontaneously bend their right knee to greet and pay respect to the Lord.

In the Eucharistic adoration room, around the statue of St. Mary, in front of the image of Mary of the Perpetual Help or the image of Jesus the Divine Mercy, in front of various statues of Saints, the devoted and faithful lay people keep praying hard.

We kneel to confess our sins in the confessionals; we kneel to pray sincerely; we kneel after receiving communion; priests and deacons kneel and prostrate during ordinations; religious also kneel during the profession.

When Nagai Takashi lost his beloved wife and friends due to the atomic explosion, he kneeled desperately but faithfully in the midst of ashes. He realized that only the Word of God is eternal; everything comes and goes, constantly changes, and passes away.

Kneeling and prostrating enable us to face not only our incapacity, inadequacy, struggles, weakness, and limitations but also dream, vision, intuition, healing, conversion, and renewal. Only when decreasing, we will see the greater presence constantly empowering and inspiring us. 

 The Korea Times/ Thoughts of the Times/ April 25, 2014

                                      http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2014/03/162_153962.html#