The Trip to Simala

“I should’ve worn a gown instead,” I said when we were about to stop in front of the cathedral’s gate. 

I raised my head to marvel at the castle-like cathedral whilst dodging the vendors by the church gate trying to sell us the bottles of lana they were waving in front of our faces. I cringed remembering how Yahshua (Jesus Christ) abhors making the temple a market place (John 2:15). Not that a church is similar to a Jewish temple, but if a place is supposed to be sacred, should people not treat it as a sacred place? At the entrance of the church I read a framed post on the selling of ‘sacred’ objects: ‘Do not be offended when you see people selling you candles or oil. These things are also sold in malls and outside of the church.”

Although unfinished, it was a grand place, although a little too Gothic for my style. We were one of the few people still inside, including the watchman, the maintenance person, and the young nun who stood behind a stall to collect donations. I wonder how she decided to be a nun for the church’s patron, Mary. I wanted to talk to her, but I didn’t have the courage to ask. I wish I had.

While he was lighting up a candle to pray, I was reading the posts outside the church about why lighting a candle was necessary. Cocking my head to the side, I tried to read the hand painted reasons. What I remember reading was that it was what “God wants us to do”. I ran down the list of verses they’ve used as a reference but not one said anything about lighting up a candle, unless you consider “God’s word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” a command to have Christians light up candles.

I proceeded to the recesses of the church where three statues stood behind a pane of glass. One for Mary and the child, one for Christ carrying the cross, and one for the newly ordained saint of the Roman Church. It only took a few seconds of staring at the different faces of Mary until I couldn’t take it any longer and went away to sit and talk to the Lord.

If you could see, at the topmost center portion is Mary's largest shrine, the devotees would have to access a different route, barefooted to kiss/touch her to receive her blessing.

Exodus 20:1-4a says, “And God spoke all these words:

‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…’”

It’s only just too painful to think that a mere human being, no matter how blessed she may be, is more exalted than the Creator of the universe. I sat a little more on the bench, wiping my cheeks and my runny nose, thinking how ironic it was that here I was, in a place of idolatry, being reminded that Yehovah, the God of Israel, the God of the Universe, is the one true God. I felt relieved for myself, but burdened for the people in ways more than one.

Until when would this go on? I’ve heard thousands of devotees visit the place yearly to worship and pray to the earthly mother of the Messiah. Since when did God have dead human intercessors? We could flip the Bible over and over and find not one reference for this. It’s sad how we stick to tradition than what God says is right. We all know there is no one true and perfectly Bible-based body of religion or doctrine today that we could follow alone, due to human interpretation. But despite this fact, we refuse to find the ancient path – the one God has been telling us to search for. That we seek Him, and nothing nor anyone else.

During the ride home, I only kept on thinking about how hurt and jealous the Lord might be right now. Not only are people diverting their devotion to a fellow human being and other saints, but so-called Christians like me are not doing anything to help it either.

The Lord is gracious and merciful, still. I am entirely blessed to have been reminded despite my stubbornness in this city.

Eventually, I shared my thoughts to him on the bus. He nodded. I still hope he understands. I hope he’d start placing his hope on the Rock I’ve placed mine on. The others, too. If not now, soon. May the Holy Spirit work in their hearts as He had worked in mine.