One in Christ

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This is the Fifth Sunday of Easter and the readings are as follows:
1st Reading Ac 9:26-31, 2nd Reading 1Jn 3:18-24, Gospel Jn 15:1-8

In many ways we differ from one another. Thanks to God for the riches of this variety. How sad our world would be if we were all the same, for we would see only our own image. We differ in our faces, our characters, our personalities and occupations, our language and cluture, in so many things. Yet there is one thing that brings us here together. We belong to Christ, we are united in him. He wants this bond to be a close union: like branches on a tree, on a life-giving vine. We are one in Him with one another. We pray that this union may be close and effective.

Celebrating Palm Sunday

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This week we celebrate Palm Sunday and following passage taken from Catholic News:

In 1969, Pope Paul VI gave Palm Sunday it's full name - Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.

Palm Sunday has two focal points. The first is re-enactment of the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem; the second is the reading of Jesus' Passion.

Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey and his welcome by people waving palms is mentioned in all four Gospels (Mk 11:1-11, Mt21:1-11, Lk19:28-44, Jn12:12-19). The palm leaf is symbolic of triumph and victory in Jewish tradition.

The Church celebrates this event by holding a procession of clergy, acolytes and parish choir, and have the congregation wave palm leaves to symblolise the welcoming of Jesus.

Lea Tan from Church of the Holy Spirit, who had held her first palm leaf when she was an Elect, said, "I tend to feel guilty welcoming Jesus knowing that He will soon be crucified by us."

Indeed, the jovial mood then changes to one of sobriety as focus is switched to the cross and Passion of Christ. Palm Sunday memorialises the increasing hatred against Jesus from those who would not accept him.

The Passion Gospel is read by several readers; the priest normally takes the part of Jesus and the congregation, the Jerusalem mob.

Many Catholics consider this one of the most moving liturgy of the year. It tells the story of Jesus' crucifixion and helps the faithful to realise that we are accomplices in Jesus' crucifixion through our sins.

This sense of being involved is felt keenly by Agnes Tan from Chucrh of Christ the King. "Each time I say 'Crucify Him', I feel a sense of guilt," she says. "But I continue, as I take the 'guilt' as my penance and price for wanting a share of Christ's redeeming of my sins."

Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up

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This week's readings are as follows:
[Exodus 20:1-17] [1 Corinthians 1:22-25] [John 2:13-25

On this 3rd Sunday of Lent, we hear Jesus saying in the Gospel: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” to the shock and disbelief of the Jews. How can that be done when it took a period of forty six years to build the temple!

Through the teaching of St. John in the Gospel we know that Jesus was speaking of his body. That is why he said “I will raise it up” and not “I will rebuild it”. His prophecy was fulfilled in his resurrection.

All that Jesus said of his body as the temple applies to us now since we have become part of him through baptism. Through Jesus, we are lifted out from the grave of sins to live a life of fullness by His grace.

So, we should realize that we have been transformed into the Church. During this season of lent, let us reflect on what is stopping us from being closer to God. Let us ask God to help us repent and change our hearts and help us get closer to God.

Journey with Christ

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This is the first Sunday of Lent and the readings are as follows:

[Genesis 9: 8-15] [1 Peter 3: 18-22] [Mark 1: 12-15]

In the Gospel this week, we heard the Lord telling us :” ‘Repent and believe in the Gospel.’

Why repent?

Before the New Year, we are in the habit of doing spring cleaning when we clean and clear up our home to prepare and celebrate the New Year – symbolic of starting afresh for the New Year. We not only clean up our house from the dirt and dust but also get rid of things that we do not need.

Lent is a time like spring cleaning when we are called to respond (once again) to God. It is a time when we reflect on our life, repent by prayer, fasting and abstinence.

Lent is like the time when Jesus was lead into the desert to fast for 40 days....and we too, should fast, pray and reflect on our life in preparation to celebrate Easter when we remember Jesus who die on the Cross to save us.

Most of us though converted to Christianity is not always responding to God. We make perhaps some changes in order to avoid really big sins, but we are often not cooperative in giving over every aspect of our lives to God. This pattern happens throughout all of Scripture where we see people sin against God and turning away from Him time and again.

Sure, we tell God that we love Him and want to do His will but we go on leading more or less the same life that we did before.

During this season of Lent, may we come to respond to God consistently. Make God in Jesus Christ be the whole meaning of our life. May our prayer, fasting and abstinence help us change deeply so that we can be truly “Christ Like”

May we be truly converted in our heart and live to listen to Him and doing His will by giving over every aspect of our lives to God.

6th Sunday of Ordinary Time

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“Take me as your pattern, just as I take Christ for mine” (1 Cor 11:1)

This week's reading are as follows:

[Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46] [1 Corinthians 10:31—11:1] [Mark 1:40-45]

In the first reading today, we read how a leprous man is considered unclean and must live in isolation outside the community.

In the second reading, Paul invite us to “Take me as your pattern, just as I take Christ for mine” (1 Cor 11:1) and “Whatever you eat, then, or drink, and whatever else you do, do it all for the glory of God”

The Gospel reading today, we see how a leprous man came to Jesus and asked Him for healing. The man said “If you are willing, you can cleanse me” (Mk 1:40) which really tell us that the man knew that Jesus is God and that He can cure him of his disease.

Being a compassionate man, Jesus of course cured the man. He told the man not to tell anyone but to show himself to the priest. Instead, the man proclaim freely and Jesus was no longer able to go openly into any town but to deserted spots. People from every corner is seeking Jesus…

How ironical that the leprous man who was supposed to be insolated is now back in the community when Jesus cured him. Yet, Jesus is now forced to be isolated because the man proclaimed freely how Jesus had cured him. What a reversal of situations….

So, with Paul’s invitation in mind, are we prepared to be like Jesus and Paul to serve our communities? Do we must provide comfort and aid to others during their times of physical duress?

And like the man Jesus cured, we are also called to share our own experience of spiritual healing, and more importantly to introduce the “Great Physician,” Jesus Christ to people around us.

Our sharing of experiences and our act of love by deed will result in people everywhere corner coming to seek out Jesus……and that’s evangelizing.

5th Sunday of Ordinary Time - Generous in Service

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This week's reading :
[Job 7:1-4, 6-7], [1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23], [Mark 1:29-39]

Every day, news on TV, papers as well as the internet is filled with companies recording record loss, banks going bust, investment vanishes into thin air and people losing their jobs, family losing their home….all the doom and gloom.

In the first reading today, Job is complaining and lamenting about his misfortune in self pity. A picture of hopelessness is painted when he said : "I am allotted months of futility and nights of grief and misery ... Oh God, never will I see happiness again.”

In this world we are living today amid the economic crisis, the situation of Job can be very real to us too. No matter how bad is the situation, we should never give up. But to find purpose and meaning in our lives which will pull us out of the rut.

In the second reading, we see how Paul found the purpose in his life and despite being persecuted, shipwrecked and imprisoned, Paul found his fulfilment by zealously sharing his God experience with people: "In announcing the gospel I will do it freely without making use of the rights given to me by the Gospel."

Today‘s Gospel reading in Mark coupled with last Sunday’s reading, provide a composite of Jesus’ many acts of gracious healing. Jesus showed us that despite being the Son of God, He knew His mission and purpose which is to serve by preaching the Gospel and healing.

Another example was Peter's mother-in-law. Instead of lying back to recuperate after being healed, she immediately began to serve Jesus and the others with him.

Therefore whenever we feel down and feel the impulse to complain, the best cure for that is to go out and render service to others, especially the less fortunate.

And we should pray a lot like Jesus who went away to a quiet spot to pray to His Father. Only through prayers that we can communicate with our Father and be able to do what He command us to so.

2nd ordinary Sunday - “Respond to God’s Call”

Image by Lawrence OP via FlickrThis week's reading as follows:
[1 Samuel 3:3-10,19], [1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20], [John 1:35-42]

In this week's reading, we see how Samuel responded to God’s call. John, Andrew, Peter and the other disciples responded to our Lord’s call. How about us?

In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist is able to identify Jesus as the Messiah and point his followers to Him. And we also see how Jesus invite them to “come and see”…. Are we also pointing out to people around us that Jesus is the Messiah and that they too, should “come and see”?

Being a Christian is about living out our faith of love as God has loved us. Reading the bible gives us inspiration and our sources of goodness and strength. The Holy Spirit helps us make changes in our lives through our faithful prayers. With God, we can live a life of love and share the joy of knowing Christ with others.

How can we attract people to “come and see” ? It is through our kind words and helpful deeds, others will come to know that we are Catholics. They will yearn to know Jesus and may even want to attend Mass on Sundays. Let us invite them to ‘come and see’.

Feast Of The Holy Family

Image by Lawrence OP via FlickrThis week, we celebrate the Feast Of The Holy Family. Indeed, this is one family that has much for us to learn from. The most important being their complete obedience to God and complete trust.

Like the Holy Family, we must commit ourselves to believing the word of the Lord. Just as Simeon recognized the Messiah, we in our daily lives can recognize our Messiah if we listen carefully to His Word and trust His Word.

When we believed that Jesus Christ is truly present and active in our lives, we will begin to act in a new way and our lives will change….

Our lives will change when we accept that we are created to serve our Lord and do His Holy Will - forgiveness, pardon, charity, joy, patience, peace, etc. and how the world will be completely different if everyone does the same.

God's great and loving investment in us must bear great fruits. We should seek God's wisdom so that he will directs us to commit every decision we make to God. God's words of encouragement and guidance are always available to us. We just need to pray and listen attentively because Jesus has told us through the Gospel that He will be with us until the end of time.

First Sunday of Advent

Image via WikipediaThis past week-end marks the start of a new liturgical year for the Catholic Church. This week's reading are as follows :
[Isaiah 63:16-17, 19] [1 Corinthians 1:3-9] [Mark 13:33-37]

The readings this week has special meanings for me after reading the many postings on the various forums. The debate on salvation, second coming of Christ, the end of the world etc..

The Gospel that Jesus teaches us is "pretty simple" and that is to love our neighbour and I truly believed that Christians can make our home a better place by following Christ and loving our neighbour just as God has loved us.

Then we should just "stay awake and be alert" waiting for the coming of Christ. When? It doesn't really matter because we really don't know as only the Father does. What is more important is : Are we ready for His coming?

Are we ready to receive Him and are we ready to answer Him when he asked:
- Did you feed me when I am hungry?
- Did you give me water when I am thirsty?
- Did you clothed me when I am naked?
- Did you visit me in hospital when I am sick?
- Did you visit me in prison when I am lonely?

In conclusion, did we love our neighbour and be a true disciple of Christ? Or are we still talking about our how much faith we have and how other faith (even denominations) are false etc...?

This first Sunday of Advent is a waking up call for us and a time for us to start thinking what we have done for the past year, to confess our sins and pray to God to help us be his true disciple.

When was Jesus born?

Image via WikipediaThis week mark the begining of 9 weeks of special Novena to Christmas. This is an interesting article taken from "Dear Padre" this week and written by Fr John Schmidt C.Ss.R :

Pinpointing the date of Jesus's birth seems an easy task; however, due to the complexity of history's various calenders and ways of calculating time, we cannot be sure of the date.

The two Gospels that detail the birth of Jesus do not give a date. Early Christians observed an annual feast to remember Jesus's death and resurrection, focusing on the paschal mystery rather than on his birth.

As Christianity grew and spread, however, Christians wanted to celebrate more events from Jesus' life. The celebration on December 25 has more to do with expression of faith in Jesus than with establishing the exact date if his birth.

December 25 is listed as the date of Jesus' birth in a fourth-century calender of martyrs, but how this date was chosen is unclear. Some Scholars believe Christians in Rome chose December 25 to counteract the celebration of the pagan sun god Emesa. Another theory follows the influences of the seasons: Early Christians believed John the Baptist was conceived on the autumnal equionx and born at the summer solstice. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus' conception took place six month after John's. That time line would place Jesus' birth at the winter solstice, December 25 on the Julian calender. A third theory says Jesus' birth would have occurred on the same date as his death, which we believe to be in the spring at Passover.

Regardless of the exact date, we celebrate Jesus as the true Son who came to enlighten us and, by his death and resurection, to give us life.

Advertisement from God - Job Vacancies....

Image via WikipediaThis is the 29th Sunday in Ordinary time and this week’s reading is as follows:
Isaiah 2:1-5 Ephesians 3:2-12 Mark 16: 15-20

This Sunday is designated as Mission Sunday. So how does Mission Sunday relates to lay Catholics like us?

All of us embraced God out of our own free will by attending RCIA and by virtue of accepting our baptism. As Catholics, we are servants and apostles of God's only Son - Jesus.

However, many do not think much about what it means to be servants and apostles. There is a duty of evangelizing by everybody as there are many people waiting for the proclamation of the Gospel and are thirsting for hope and love.

These people may be our colleagues, our neighbours; maybe even people in our own home. There is never a "better time" to share the Gospel and to bring to someone Christ’s saving message then NOW.

So brothers and sisters, start proclaiming the message of faith, hope and love to people around us so that less people will fall into the trap of "prosperity gospel" especially our young.

So, God has a job vacancy for us and the requirement is simple:- Have genuine love for Him and tell others about him.

There will be no monetary gains and working hours are long BUT His retirement benefits are great.

Would you be interested to apply?

Hello and good to be back and ALIVE!

Image by shioshvili via Flickr Sorry guys to disappoint you – NO I am not dead but alive and well!

I thank-you guys for the comments in my blog. I also encourage readers to visist SiingaporeChristianonline forum to find out for themselves.

I am surprised that it is insisted that the salvation theory is debunked there? How? By attacking the Catholic Churches with baseless, untruth and wrong perceptions? And always with issues that are not related to what is being discussed?

It was never and can never be debunked because these are Word of God!

How would I be not confident of God’s Words and promise? Just because I choose to blog it? Or Just because someone one insist on that? You must be kidding !!!

Well, it’s not hard to understand the truth which is fully defensible with the Bible. There is no need to add non-biblical notion....It's only up to one to discern, reflect and search for it.

Why stick to one that need to add on a non-biblical notion just to make it “sound correct” (and still then, it simply does not make any sense)and not defensible by the bible?

The Gospel is all about faith, hope and love and nothing is greater than love. Do you agree?