Here is another to conclude this small series on throwback video clips, taking it back to August 14th, 2014 when The Symbol was out in Berlin, Germany with the World Youth Parliament performing "Golden". New series will coming soon to the all is love media channel.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

Every so often, I get invited into various public schools and community venues to share inspiration, and art...

A few weeks ago at one of our local public schools here in the Bronx, my brother Jonathan Beringer invited me to a group he runs out of a school called "Brothers United" which empowers our young inner city men.  By giving them a space to speak about life issues, build community, and create various projects to help the school and the community, these brothers find a space to be empowered in an environment which many times is set up for their destruction.

While I was there we created beats and rapped, and simply had a space for free expression in building brotherhood.

I pray not only for more opportunities to connect with these young brothers, but also for more things like this in our city, and in our country.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

Here I am, less than 30 years old married and with 2 children... And I couldn't feel more accomplished!

Lately I have been having a lot of conversations with leaders, and other young adults about this false idea that our culture has sold us about "getting ourselves together" and only after that, then getting married/building a family.  The purpose of being married is that you have someone to "build with", not someone you come to with everything already built.  

"God in his deepest mystery is not a solitude, but a family." - St. Pope John Paul II

Although our humanity is flawed since the fall, the goal since the very beginning is that in our "made in the image and likeness of God" to be that family... Or that perfect community resting in Him.  As we struggle together, eat together, and create together things won't always be perfect and many will raise voices/get on each other's nerves but still that unity remains.

We are taught to have our "own money", and our "own home" but this isolation is actually more harmful to our spirits than helpful.  Let me put it like this.... When you do something wrong or break a law, as punishment/to help society you are put in prison away from the outside world.  If the trend continues and you break the rules in Jail, then you are put in solitary confinement - an even worse sentence.  Even in this you see that the human person was "not made to be alone." (God recognizes this in us right away in Genesis 2:18).  Even science says that a cell(which makes up the body) that for whatever reason does not cooperate with the rest of body(organ; organ system; organism) is a function of illness or disease.

If all of this is the case, then why would we seek something solely individual?... Simply stated it is a product of original sin at work in the world.... Pride leading to disobedience....  Pride leading to a self-centered, and narcissistic society.

The way we break that is simply person by person, and family by family.  For scripture states "To find a wife is to find happiness, a favor granted by the LORD." - Proverbs 18:22 ; and Mother Theresa says "If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family."

Reflecting on all of this, and the beauty of the joys I have received in my own family; I would go further to say this... "The greatest self accomplishment, is simply unity with another person."

May God grow our families; protect our families; and teach us to be more like himself... Perfect love.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

Our little princess is growing... Can't believe it has been a month already.  The Joys Of Fatherhood continues.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

CCC 897-913

Inspired by Black Panther, personal life stories, and the Catholic faith in which we understand that we are baptized priest, prophet, and king here is a clip from The Symbol speaking to teens on retreat, challenging them to more

- The Symbol
- All is Love

Another Throwback Video Clip from November 13th, 2013 up in Goshen, NY.  Song "Always There" off of The Dedication project featuring KedgyB.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

JUNE 23, 2018
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church
627 E. 187th St.
Bronx, NY 10458
9AM - 6PM (Ending with vigil mass)

Theme based on 1 Corinthians 10:31 - “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”

Sometimes in the “heat” or hard times we lose sight of God;  Sometimes in the “heat” or in seasons of abundance such as summer, we lose sight of God.  How can we continue to keep living for the Glory of God throughout it all… The good times, and the bad times.

Topics Covered:
- Sacred Scripture
- Covenants and the Old Testament
- The Holy Spirit
- Sacraments
- Prayer and Worship
​- Jesus and the Gospel Message
​- Vocation, calling, and mission

​For permission slips, click HERE(both English and Spanish)

- The Symbol
- All is Love

There are often mixed messages in the media about graffiti and urban art but essentially the definition between both terms defines one as criminal damage (graffiti) and the other as permission based artwork (urban art).

In many ways, such is the confusion about the movement and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Here is a short collection of clips from a larger lesson with Catholic youth on Acts 2 and Pentecost. 

(All permission granted for images)

- The Symbol
- All is Love

Getting more and more comfortable with my singing voice, especially in worship... Pray with me as our community continues to grow.
​
A short clip from worship at The Encounter NYC on May 18th, 2018.  The song is "Here as in Heaven" by Elevation Worship.

For more:
www.TheEncounterNYC.org

A Lion is known as the king of the jungle, however physically speaking Tigers are stronger and would probably beat the Lion in a one on one matchup.  Lions however hunt in "prides" or groups(as a family, team, or community.)  Ironically it is "pride" in its other sense that isolates us from God, and others as we elevate ourselves above all else.  It is the root of all sin, and ultimately is why our world is so divided.

I personally have been blessed to build with other brothers in my community putting "pride" aside to work and hunt as a "pride."  I pray more of us will be inspired to come together and do the same.

As brothers we have, and continue to....

1) Struggle Together
2) Eat Together
3) Create Together

- The Symbol
​- All is Love

I do this for one reason... For him. It's that simple.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

Throwback clip from "Ignite" on January 18th, 2014 in San Antonion Texas.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

An analogy for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

- The Symbol
- All is Love

​A Throwback clip... December 10th 2013 at John Jay College.  What if we looked at every day as an opportunity of Joy?

- The Symbol
- All is Love

Do we look at Church feasts as "Holy Day's of Obligation"?... Or as "Holy Days of Opportunity"? In fact the latter is something I would like to propose how we look at every day of our lives.  

The Feast of the Ascension is when we reflect upon the fact that Jesus Christ not only, suffered, died and rose for us - but also ascended to Heaven in order to give us the opportunity to take part in doing the work of continuing the sanctification of all humanity.  If he stood here, in many ways there would be less of a reason for us to push forward with our own efforts and isn't it amazing that God despite our sinful nature and shortcomings would entrust to us our brothers and sisters - his children.

My question is... Are you going the work?  I know there are so many things he has given to me, and there is still so much more I could do.  But I can only answer for myself.  We all are responsible for something and someone... Reflect in your life with me today upon what can further be done so that our lives can begin to "ascend" with Christ more and more.

- The Symbol
- All is Love