A Little Inspiration From The Lord

Being Watchman In Faith

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus' description of himself "I am the Good Shepherd" (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: "To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We often struggle with living up to the Christian ideal and today’s Liturgy of the Word helps us to appreciate that  God has  given us  a church community to help each other along our faith journey.  Like Ezekiel, who was appointed to be “watchman for the House of Israel” (Ez. 3:17) we are all to be each other’s watchman in  the church, the body of Christ, ready to “sound the trumpet” and issue “the warning” (Ez. 33:5) if anyone is veering off the right path.

This duty is part of our inheritance through Baptism to be God’s prophet or spokesperson in the world.  In this role, we must be mindful that the words we speak are not our own but the words of God.   Jesus himself followed this mandate,  “For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.” (Jn. 12:49).  We too, must be scrupulous that we be like Jesus and our “warnings” or “alerts” reflect the truth of God and are always tempered with His assurances of forgiveness and help.  

   

Today’s commemoration of Bible Sunday is a timely reminder that to be effective and sensitive watchmen,  all of us must  be in a living friendship with Jesus, the Word of God himself.   We must  continuously learn from Jesus, the divine teacher and healer so that we can bring the story of God’s forgiveness in a truthful and personal way to our families, our faith community and to anyone seeking the truth.  

Like Ezekiel, the people we are sent to may not accord us a welcome. In today’s first reading, God sent Ezekiel to the exiled Israelites in Babylon who were still unrepentant of their sin.  To God, his chosen people had become  “rebels who have turned against me...they and their ancestors have  in revolt against me.”  (Ez.2:3-4).  Despite their betrayal, God did not abandon them.  The exile was their punishment and time of correction but Ezekiel was sent to reveal that God was still in their midst - “Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them” (Ez. 2:5).

We too are sometimes “rebels” and disappoint God.  When prompted byour fellow brethren to reflect and change, we must, like St. Paul, give humble and serious consideration to our limitations and weaknesses.  To temper St. Paul’s arrogance from being gifted with insights into “the extraordinary nature” of God's revelations, St. Paul tells us that God gave him “a thorn in the flesh”.  He was not 

specific about what it was but he knew it would  stop him  “from getting too proud”.  (cf. 2 Cor 12:7).  St. Paul hears God say to him, “My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.” (v. 9).  Being God’s watchman does not mean we take the moral highground, rather, we become effective for God only when we acknowledge our weaknesses and welcome God to form us for his use.   Recognising this mysterious contradiction, St. Paul was able to say, “So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake.  For it is when I am weak that I am strong.” (v. 9-10)

We are also reminded today that the most resistance to God’s message of hope often comes from the very people closest to us.  After raising Jairus’ daughter from the dead in Capernaum, Jesus, in today’s gospel narrative returns to his hometown of Nazareth and was unable to work any miracles there.  He was “amazed at their lack of faith”. (v.6)

Every year, we are reminded on Bible Sunday of the words of St. Jerome, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ”.  As Catholics, we tend to be content with our  beautiful weekly Sunday worship and  other acts of simple piety and devotions.  On this Bible Sunday, let us welcome the ongoing challenge and call to discover anew God’s salvation in a personal and vigorous way through Scripture study and prayer.   

Let us  ask the Holy Spirit to make us faith-filled watchmen for Jesus – willing to respond in humility to being formed and being sent – no matter how unwelcoming and unresponsive the audience may be.  

From The Church Bulletin of Church of St Francis Xavier -   14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Prosperity Pimps - Part 1

Greed and prosperity teaching condemned by Donnie Swaggart telling the truth. A call to repentance to all who are ensnared by the teaching of the greed/prosperity gospel. 

Donnie Swaggart Ministries is a ministry ordained by God for the Body of Christ. His message of Faith, Hope, and the Power of the Holy Spirit has been a blessing to churches, Conferences, youth camps, and Campmeetings around the world.

Donnie's ministry gift is his powerful preaching and teaching on the Person of the Holy Spirit. Through his anointed preaching, thousands around the world have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, with as many as 300-400 being filled in one service.

Donnie also functions as co-pastor of Family Worship Center along with his father, Reverend Jimmy Swaggart.

Prosperity Pimps - Part 2

Greed and prosperity teaching condemned by Donnie Swaggart telling the truth. A call to repentance to all who are ensnared by the teaching of the greed/prosperity gospel. 

Donnie Swaggart Ministries is a ministry ordained by God for the Body of Christ. His message of Faith, Hope, and the Power of the Holy Spirit has been a blessing to churches, Conferences, youth camps, and Campmeetings around the world.

Donnie's ministry gift is his powerful preaching and teaching on the Person of the Holy Spirit. Through his anointed preaching, thousands around the world have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, with as many as 300-400 being filled in one service.

Donnie also functions as co-pastor of Family Worship Center along with his father, Reverend Jimmy Swaggart.

Prosperity Pimps - Part 3

Greed and prosperity teaching condemned by Donnie Swaggart telling the truth. A call to repentance to all who are ensnared by the teaching of the greed/prosperity gospel. 

Donnie Swaggart Ministries is a ministry ordained by God for the Body of Christ. His message of Faith, Hope, and the Power of the Holy Spirit has been a blessing to churches, Conferences, youth camps, and Campmeetings around the world.

Donnie's ministry gift is his powerful preaching and teaching on the Person of the Holy Spirit. Through his anointed preaching, thousands around the world have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, with as many as 300-400 being filled in one service.

Donnie also functions as co-pastor of Family Worship Center along with his father, Reverend Jimmy Swaggart.

Beautiful Creation of God...

A beautiful sight of God's creation - Rainbow

Fukushima and miracle of the five loaves and two fish.

Image via WikipediaOver the week-end, attended the Novena at St Francis Xavier and heard an interesting sharing.

The brother who preach the homily interestingly linked the recent Japan tragedy with the miracle of the five loaves and two fish. In that story, Jesus's disciples suggested sending the people away (because they do not have enough to feed the thousands) while Jesus told them to feed them themselves. With five loaves and two fishes, Jesus fed the everybody with baskets of balance.

So how does miracle of the five loaves and two fish and the Japan tragedy relates to us? As a child of God, living our lives with love is a must. We cannot turn a blind eye to others who are in need of our help. The Japanese are now in need of our help, friendship and act of love.

Though we are all facing our own challenges and limited resources, but whatever we have, we should contribute and play our part. So, it is up to us now to put forth our "five loaves and two fish" and together, we can create a miracle and help the affected Japanese pull through this dark hour.

Japan Gambatte !

A sad story of a "murder" done unknowingly

Image via WikipediaI read with great sadness of a murder committed unknowingly by a mother.

A mother by the name of Wendy Tan has written to the Straits Time Forum to lament "Why working mum stopped at two, not 4". You can read the whole story here.

While Wendy is complaining on how tough life is for her and her husband to juggling career and family, she reveal a disturbing fact. That she "made a very hard decision to terminate the pregnancy" when she was third time pregnant. The reason : "We just did not have the energy to cope with a third because the first two had taken up all the energy we had."

While I can understand and appreciate her difficulties and struggle (which most of us faces today anyway), I can hardly understand the reason to terminate the pregnancy.

Perhaps, Wendy and her husband do not share the same value as me and many others who have commented. No matter how I try to see it, it is still murder.

It was an extreme cruel case of parents killig the unborn babies out of financial considerations. Is life (2 lives at that) really that worthless? Can we kill our unborn child without remorse due to financial considerations?

May God bless the unfortunate twins.

SGCatholics - Free Iphone apps

Image via WikipediaIf you are looking for information on local Mass times and nearby churches on the go, there is a Iphone apps that will do just that.

SGCatholics is the product of vizTree who saw a need for a “simple and useful app for Catholics living or visiting Singapore”. 

With SGCatholics, users would be able to see the churches nearest to them. They can then select the churches to view the Mass times. These would reflect the latest information on the archdiocese’s website.

 The app also provides directions to the selected church through the use of Google Maps, which comes installed on the iPhone.

Mr Jeremiah Ng of VizTree says that SGCatholics is a way to thank God for the knowledge He had bestowed on the vizTree team as well as for the projects the company has received.

 And as a service to the community, the developers are keeping SGCatholics, now available on iTunes, free.



The developers say they welcome feedback on how to improve the app’s features and functions.


No more excuses for missing Mass again.

Benedict XVI's book on Jesus of Nazareth

VATICAN CITY, 10 MAR 2011 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office this afternoon, the presentation will take place of the second volume of Benedict XVI's book on Jesus of Nazareth: "From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection". The press conference will be presented by Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S. prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, and Claudio Magris, a writer and German scholar.

The book has been published in seven languages - German, Italian, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Polish - and has nine chapters and an epilogue. The chapter headings and subheadings were published in the VIS bulletin of 2 March.

In an interview published by the "Osservatore Romano" Fr. Giuseppe Costa, director of the Vatican Publishing House which holds the copyright on the Pope's works, explains that there will initially be seven editions of the book with a print run of 1,200,000 copies, and that contracts have been signed with twenty-two publishing houses throughout the world. The work is also available in an e-book edition.

Fr. Costa dwells briefly on the history of the publication, recalling how nearly a year and a half ago Msgr. Georg Gaenswein, private secretary to Benedict XVI, consigned him the text, the last part of which was written in pencil "in the Pope's unmistakeable tiny handwriting".

On the subject of the translations, Fr. Costa explains how "the Italian, in particular, was not easy, because over the decades Joseph Ratzinger's books have been translated by various individuals and the challenge was to achieve a certain homogeneity of language. Furthermore, it was important to avoid the risk of the translations in the various languages failing to conserve, or even betraying, the author's ideas".

"Not all the publishing houses of the first volume have also printed the second", Fr. Costa notes. "The choice was made on the basis of various criteria including editorial and organisational structure, but also reliability. We chose publishers capable of promoting not just the book but also its contents".

In his preface the Pope announces a third book, which he intends to dedicate to the Gospel accounts of Jesus' infancy. This could not enter directly into the current volume, says Fr. Costa, which focuses on the figure of Jesus, His words and His actions. But, as the Pope writes in his preface, "I wish to remain faithful to my promise and present a small work on this subject, if I am granted the strength to do so".

As reported in The Catholic News (http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5744:publication-of-second-volume-of-popes-book-on-jesus&catid=196:vis-vatican-information-service&Itemid=127)

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Suspected church burglar caught

Police have arrested a 25-year-old man who is believed to have broken into the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd along Victoria Street, last week.


Read the full story HERE.

Merry Christmas and this is what Christmas is about....

Image via WikipediaIt is heart warming to read this on the morning of Christmas Day.

The headline : More volunteers helping out in charities this year 


More Singapreans are coming forward to give their time to help others. Charities across the island are seeing more volunteers helping to organise Christmas celebrations........


........Daryl Kang, team leader, said: "I find this event kind of meaningful. We actually help out needy families from Sunlove homes, and also we believe that the people who (let us) wash their cars ... are happy.".....


Read the entire report HERE.


Let's hope that the true spirit and message of Christmas is communicated to the young. I.E. the message of Peace, Hope and Love. Not shopping and partying.....


Just like Christ came to save and serve the needy and marginalised, may we also learn to serve those who are in need among us.


Merry Christmas!

Why a atheist is defending the Catholic Church?

Image via Wikipedia
As reported in the latest issue of Catholic News Vol 60, Bernard-Henri Levy has come to the defence of the Catholic Church and the Pope.


Levy said in an interview with ABC: "The Pope's voice is extremely important, and we are very unjust to this Pope. I am not Catholic, but I think there is prejudice and especially major anti-clericalism that is taking on enormous proportions in Europe."

Further, he also said that : "We have the right to criticise religions" but he said that he scale of the criticism was "out of proportion".

Read more aboyt the work of Bernard-Henri Levy at www.bernard-henri-levy.com

"Does God exist?"

"Does God exist?" -- Social campaign on education 

Below is one of the latest comment about the above video:
Even though Einstein was a man of Science he didn't express that Science is the way to thing's existence, he even express that Science has still limited knowledge.
So those of you, who don't believe in the existence of God, never claim that Science is the way, because in reality we still have much to learn.

New Creation pastor says sorry for controversial sermon

Image via Wikipedia

First it was Rony Tan of Lighthouse Evangelism and now according to Yahoo News:

"New Creation Church pastor Mark Ng, 48, has personally apologised for a controversial sermon he gave in 2008.

Ng is currently being investigated by the Internal Security Department (ISD) for giving the sermon in which he mocked Taoist beliefs. In a 10-minute audio clip posted on YouTube, Ng is heard joking with the congregation about Chinese rituals and in one instance, compared praying to Taoist deities to “seeking protection from secret society gangsters”."

Lighthouse Evangelism, New Creation and City Harvest (if you have not heard about their problems...where have you been?) are all so called "Mega Churches" and they all put the Christian faith in a bad light.

Forget about their "Prosperity Gospel" preaching which is rubbish in my opinion, their "interest in building mega business" using church funds, they all have people including pastors (senior ones for that) that have behaviour which is shocking to me...

They contribute to non-Christians who think that Christianity is about telling others that their beliefs is flawed but also making fun and jokes of other faith.

They actions has thus far been giving the wrong impression and hope that the authority will do something to these "mad" pastors (senior ones) to preserve our religious harmony and also protect other Christians (of non-mega ones) who formed the majority of the Christian community.

Let's hope that these crazy pastors think before they open their mouth as they are supposed to preach the Word Of God and not tell jokes and entertain. If laughter and applause is what they are looking for, they should become a stand up comic instead.

Read the whole story of "New Creation pastor says sorry for controversial sermon" Here.

If Little things annoy you...

Following is an email that I received recently...

The L I T T L E Things -- Author Unknown

As you might know, the head of a major company survived the tragedy of "9/11" in New York because his son had just started kindergarten.

Another fellow was alive because it was his turn to bring donuts.

One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time.

One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.

One of them missed his bus.

One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.

One's car wouldn't start.

One went back to answer the telephone.

One had a child that dawdled and didn't get ready as soon as he should have.

One couldn't get a taxi.

The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot.

He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic... miss an elevator... turn back to answer a ringing telephone... all the little things that annoy me... I think to myself...

this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment..

The next time your morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light... don't get mad or frustrated; God is at work watching over you.

May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things and may you remember their possible purpose.

Pass this on to someone else, if you'd like.

There is NO LUCK attached.

If you don't send this to someone, it's okay... God's Love Is Not Dependent On E-Mail. 

Have a blessed day!

How Old is your Church?

Image by drivebybiscuits1 via Flickr

HOW OLD IS YOUR CHURCH?

THIS IS A MOST INTERESTING QUESTION!!!
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL ASTOUND MANY OF YOU!

If you are a LUTHERAN, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex-monk of the Catholic Church, IN THE YEAR 1517.

If you belong to the CHURCH OF ENGLAND, your religion was founded by King Henry VIII IN THE YEAR 1534, because the Pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to re-marry.

If you are a PRESBYTERIAN, your religion was founded by John Knox in Scotland IN THE YEAR 1560.

If you are a member of the CONGREGATIONALIST, your religion was originated by Robert Brown in Holland IN THE YEAR 1582.

If you are a BAPTIST,  you owe the tenets of your religion to your founder, John Smyth, who launched this denomination in the city of Amsterdam IN THE YEAR 1605.

If you are of the DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH, you recognize Michaelis Jones as your founder, because he originated your religion in New York IN THE YEAR 1628.

If you are a PROTESTANT EPISCOPALIAN, your religion was an offshoot of the Church Of England, and your offshoot was founded by Samuel Seabury in the American Colonies in the 17th Century.

If you are a METHODIST, your religion was launched by John and Charles Wesley in England IN THE YEAR 1744.

If you are a UNITARIAN, then Theophilus Lindley is the founder of your church, in London IN THE YEAR 1774.

If you are a MORMON (LATTER DAY SAINTS) your modern religion was started by Joseph Smith in Palmyra, New York,IN THE YEAR 1829.

If you worship with THE SALVATION ARMY, your sect began with Willian Booth in the city of London IN THE YEAR 1865.

If you are a CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST, you recognize that your religion was begun by Mrs. Mary Baker Eddy IN THE YEAR 1879.

If you belong to one of the religious organizations known as
"CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE",
or "PENTECOSTAL GOSPEL",
Or "HOLINESS CHURCH",
or "PILGRIM HOLINESS CHURCH",
or "JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES",
Or any of the MULTIPLE THOUSANDS OF STOREFRONT CHURCHES, then your religion is one of the thousands of new sects founded by men WITHIN THE PAST 150 YEARS!

If you are a ROMAN CATHOLIC,  Then you know that your Church was founded IN THE YEAR 33
BY JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD,AND IT IS STILL THE SAME CHURCH!!!

Sharing in the Abundance

Image by Transguyjay via Flickr

Each of the readings this weekend reminds us of an important aspect of our Eucharistic Celebration. While all the accounts identify the meal as integral to the event, the reading from Genesis speaks of the priestly offering of bread and wine as Melchizedek professes his faith in the prayer of blessing.

In the Second Reading from Corinthians, we reflect on the words of the institution of the Eucharist: “this is my body,,...this cup is the new covenant in my blood.” They point to the sacrificial element in a Celebration that anticipates the second coming of Christ.

In Luke’s account of the feeding of the five thousand on the Mount, the generosity of the Lord extends to the physical and spiritual needs of people who eat of the loaves and the fish. In our case the Lord feeds and sustains us with the bread of life and wine when we partake of the Eucharist.

The Eucharistic celebration is truly a sacrificial meal in which the body of Christ is broken for us. It is also a celebration of the intimate union of all believers with the Lord and with one another as the body of Christ as Church because we share in the one bread and drink of the one cup. Likewise, it is an action we continue together as a community of believers, remembering the Lord and strengthening our resolve to live as his disciples.

We only comprehend in faith our integral and intimate union with Christ and with one another as his body. We are urged to reflect on our faith in the Lord in the Eucharist. However this faith extends itself to the whole community’s understanding and appreciation of itself as the body of Christ, its willingness to share in the sacrifice of Christ, and its response to the gift of the Lord.

The imagery in the readings also stimulates reflection: bread, wine, meat, feeding Body and Blood. These images are part of our daily lives. Likewise, they are personal, dynamic and essential to our very existence. The images while representing biblical tradition, reside within the experience of every family and community.

The celebration of the Body of Christ occurs not only in the Eucharist, but we also celebrate our union with the Lord in the ordinary circumstances of our lives. Furthermore, a connection exists between our appreciation of the Eucharist and our appreciation of the Church as a community.

Finally, the readings urge us to consider our responsibility of feeding others as did the apostles and the other disciples. The Lord uses his followers and the Church to witness his presence in our world. As a community, we can do for others what people cannot do for themselves.

We can provide for the physical and spiritual needs of others, nourishing them with his word. Just as the readings suggest the continued abundance of the Lord, we might explore and put into practice ways of sharing in the abundance we may have with others. It may be time spent with the aged, the sick and the lonely. It may financial or material resources to feed the hungry and the destitute. It may be prayers said with and for them. There are many varied and creative ways of reaching out to others.

We want to do this because we share in the intimacy with Christ in the Eucharist because we are the Church, his Body.

Taken from the bulletin of St Francis Xavier Serangoon

St Joseph Cathedral Shanghai

Only managed to take a picture from outside this church...pity.

St Francis Xavier Shanghai

I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful church in Shanghai...