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Manuel Jeffrey David
Theology Reflection: The 7 Sacraments
In a man’s spiritual life there are a lot of things that one needs to consider. First and foremost is
the way that one lives his life, if it is according to what is mandated and required by God. Faith
plays a big part in this particular item in which, it is the source of one’s spirituality, without it
one cannot claim that he is living God’s will. Another thing that one needs to consider is the
form of this faith. This is because of faith being an abstract concept and cannot be readily
grasped by one’s senses, with this dilemma comes the sacraments. It can be said that a
sacrament is an outward efficacious sign instituted by Christ to give grace. These sacraments are
one of the ways for man to live his faith. With each sacrament consisting of a visible external
rite, which in turn, is composed of matter and form, the matter being the action and the form
being the words spoken by the minister. Each sacramental rite confers a special ecclesial effect
and sacramental grace appropriate for each sacrament. The sacraments occur at pivotal events
and give meaning to a person's life.
In my particular case, growing up in a Roman Catholic family, I was exposed to the sacraments
from an early age. Baptism is a rite that each and every individual must undergo to be cleansed
of original sin. It may sound absurd to a non believer, how a new born child with all its
innocence could have sinned against God, but that is the beauty of Baptism. Our first parents’
sins are cleansed from ourselves by the mere act of water and accepting God in our lives, for me
it is a way to affirm one’s attachment to God, since even his son Jesus Christ, was baptized as
well, not because of original sin but because of his affinity with God. It is also worthy to mention
that the sacrament itself is full of symbolism that refers to the cleansing of oneself. With this
sacrament, one is accepted into the Christian community as one and together with God.
After being accepted to the Christian Community, one does not entirely retain his cleansed
status. The earth is full of dangers and temptations that can cause us to stray from the path. Jesus
Christ understood the frail situation of man, and gave us another means to get back with God.
This is through the sacrament of Reconciliation. No other sacrament aside from the Holy
Eucharist was given more emphasis by my Catholic High school upbringing at Don Bosco
Makati than the sacrament of reconciliation. For all our misgivings we are lucky to have a
forgiving and loving God that freely accepts all our failings. Nowhere else can one find a place
where no matter how heinous a man is; he can still be forgiven and be given the keys to heaven.
This is the thought that dominated my high school years. Adolescence has brought with it
temptations of the flesh that a weak-willed individual cannot resist, but in what seems like a dead
end, comes a sacrament that ensures that you will not stray too far from God, and for all your
sins, you can still be kept in his good graces.
The Holy Eucharist is an essential part of the life of a faithful. One is obliged to attend mass
every Sunday and other required days. We have been so exposed to this sacrament that we
sometimes take it for granted. Without even a hint of guilt we take the body of Christ without
having confessed our sins, we go to mass with impure spirits. As with all sacraments they have
matter and form. One needs to subscribe to these essential requisites if one is to enjoy the
benefits/graces conferred by the sacrament. One should always think twice before taking
1
communion without having confessed his sins. By the mystery of transubstantiation, the
unleavened bread that one eats takes on a new form, it becomes the body of Christ, worthy of
respect and dignity. That is why one should always partake in the Holy Eucharist with a clean
spirit.
Upon growing up a faithful, must make a choice with regard to his vocation, either he’ll be
serving the church as a member of the clergy or as a family person. Either way, one still needs to
undergo sacraments that will confirm and affirm their respective and selected paths. Before one
undertakes the holy orders or the matrimony, one needs to be confirmed to demonstrate his
entrance to responsibility. Upon being confirmed one affirms the promises their parents and god
parents made during their baptism. With full control of one’s intellect and will, he attests to his
beliefs and confirms the responses made on his behalf during baptism. Accomplishing this he
can now freely enter and choose his vocation. By having respective sacraments, it shows the
importance the Christian community places upon these two events. It also exemplifies that a
relationship between a man and a woman, is not theirs alone, but God forms a big part of it, he is
also the center of one’s vows upon entering the clergy.
With all these experiences, and events in one’s life it goes to show that God is around and that he
permeates our very existence. He forms part of our relationships, commitments etc. One cannot
live without his grace. This is altogether true, for a sacrament that most faithful undergoes in the
twilight of their lives. It is worthy to mention that this is a common misconception. The
sacrament of anointing of the sick was designed to replenish the spiritual energy of the ill person.
Just as what Jesus has done before, the Church seeks to continue this noble and holy tradition.
As a Roman Catholic, I have long accepted the fact that the sacraments are a way of life. With all
the Christian living lessons, theology classes, it’s for certain that one is equipped to live a life of
faith, and one must know and understand what the sacraments are for and how it can help
develop and further one’s faith.

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Manuel Jeffrey David

Theology Reflection: The 7 Sacraments

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