DINING AREA
Entering the house, one immediately notices the elevated portion of the ceiling. This height represents the glory of heaven. It reminds the residents and guests of the house that our one vocation in life is to reach for heaven.
This portion with the elevated ceiling is designated as the dining area of the house, as heaven is where the marriage supper of the lamb takes place.
The dining table seats eight people, with eight being a sign of new life (or a new beginning) for the Early Christians. Our new life is a journey towards heaven. Above the dining table is a large chandelier that lights the area, representing the light of God's truth that pierces the darkness of our lives and leads us to salvation. On both walls, above the mirror and the large icons, are two plaques with the Way of the Cross. We are instructed to unite our sufferings to those of Jesus for the redemption of the world. |
Above the entrance door, on one side is a large clock signifying the limitations of time in this life. With the time given to us in this life, we need to always be longing for heaven and living for the sake of heaven.
Over the other side, above the entrance door, is the head of a deer (artificial) to remind us from Psalm 42 that the greatest longing of our souls must be heaven. Also, in the same way that a deer always looks up to heaven when it drinks water, so must we always be filled with gratitude in our lives.
Over the other side, above the entrance door, is the head of a deer (artificial) to remind us from Psalm 42 that the greatest longing of our souls must be heaven. Also, in the same way that a deer always looks up to heaven when it drinks water, so must we always be filled with gratitude in our lives.
On one side of the two walls flanking the dining table is a tapestry of Jesus Christ the Pantokrator (the Judge), who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is He who, through His work of redemption, has made it possible for us to ascend towards heaven. Beside the icon of the Pantokrator is the icon of our Mary, our Lady of Perpetual Help. This category of icon is also called the Theotokos Hodigetria (the Mother of God who shows the way). Mary never points to herself, but always to her Son, Jesus. She accompanies us with perpetual intercession as we journey towards her Son. She teaches us how best to love Him. |
On the other wall across the other side of the dining table is a seven-foot long mirror. The frame of this mirror is constructed using old railway tracks that had been decommissioned. This signifies the brokenness of our lives and our depravity. One's reflection in this mirror is framed by these old unusable tracks. But the beauty of this mirror now demonstrates how God uses our brokenness and pain to create beauty in life. Also, when we behold our own reflection of brokenness in the mirror, we see Jesus and Mary right there in the background as a perpetual presence in our lives.
Flanking the mirror are two ladders that remind us of our continuous ascent in life towards heaven. But this ascent cannot take place without much difficulty and suffering. This is why on the ladders there are pieces of bright fabric brought from a place where Catholics have a history of being persecuted for their faith. |
A prominent wooden beam above the dining table is clad with three iron strips to signify that the entire home is held by the love and grace of the Holy Trinity. This feature is present in one other prominent beam in the kitchen of the house as well.