Believing in Jesus

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Today’s readings emphasise believing in Jesus, the Risen lord. He is powerfully present in the community and manifests himself to the disciples. In the new age, the disciples carry on the ministry of Jesus and rely on the presence of the Holy Spirit. In our time, belief takes on a different tenor for we believe in the testimony of others and without the signs seen in the early days of the Church.

The early Church was a community which was credible and attractive to others because it gave testimony to the presence and action of the Lord. This resulted in a great increase in the number of believers in the early Church.

In the reading from Revelation, John reflects on the meaning and significance of his union with Christ and the union of Christians in the Lord. It is a union in suffering and glory. According to John, Jesus and the Christian do not pass through suffering into glory. Rather, for Jesus and the Christian, suffering and glorification occur in the same moment. In other words, in the suffering is the glorification.

The reading also reminds us of the presence of the Risen Lord in our ministry. John’s vision stresses the presence of the Lord among us. The glorified Lord is always with the Church as he interprets the meaning of events and gives new life to hispeople. Jesus is present and active in our lives and in the community.

In the two appearances of the Risen Lord to his disciples as recorded in John’s gospel, Jesus invites the unbelieving disciples to a new level of belief. In the first episode, the frightened disciples were filled with joy when they heard the words of peace spoken by Jesus. They believed in his new presence among them and
because of this renewed faith, they were sent forth to continue his mission. Believing is therefore more than an affirmation of faith in Jesus. It is actively continuing the mission of Jesus. The Risen Lord assures us that he will continue to be with us in his Spirit. It is in the reality that we celebrate the Easter liturgies.

The second appearance of Jesus to his disciples speaks of believing in Jesus.. The story of Thomas’ “unbelief” reminds us of ourselves. Thomas would not believe in the presence of the Risen Lord on the testimony of others. We remember Thomas being mentioned several times in the gospel. At the time of Lazarus' death in Bethany, Thomas said,“Let us go and die with him.” During the Last Supper,he had some difficulty understanding Jesus. “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Thomas seemed again to struggle in his faith and needed a sign of his own choosing – a sign that would confirm Jesus’ death and resurrection. However, the doubt of Thomas was the prelude to a great confession of belief: “My Lord and my God.”

Today’s readings end with a clarification of what believing in Jesus is all about. When we believe in Jesus, we have life in his name. The reading identifies for us the focus of our belief and urges us to believe in Jesus. And our belief can only be an effectual sign if it is expressed in relationship with and service of others within and beyond our community.

The above article is taken from the bulletin of the St Francis Xavier Church - Serangoon.

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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."

What does the Bible say about the prosperity gospel?

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Interesting question and a certain "bored" has written an answer as below (quoted from SgForum) :

In the prosperity gospel, also known as the “Word of Faith,” the believer is told to use God, whereas the truth of biblical Christianity is just the opposite—God uses the believer. Word Faith or prosperity theology sees the Holy Spirit as a power to be put to use for whatever the believer wills. The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit is a Person who enables the believer to do God's will. The prosperity gospel movement closely resembles some of the destructive greed sects that infiltrated the early church. Paul and the other apostles were not accommodating to or conciliatory with the false teachers who propagated such heresy. They identified them as dangerous false teachers and urged Christians to avoid them.

Paul warned Timothy about “constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.... But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:5, 9-11.)

Paul said covetousness is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5) and instructed the Ephesians to avoid anyone who brought a message of immorality or covetousness (Ephesians 5:6-7). Prosperity teaching prohibits God from working on His own, meaning that God is not Lord of all because He cannot work until we release Him to do so. Faith, according to the Word of Faith doctrine, is not submissive trust in God; faith is a formula by which we manipulate the spiritual laws prosperity teachers believe govern the universe. As in the name “Word of Faith” implies, this movement teaches that faith is a matter of what we say more than who we trust or what truths we embrace and affirm in our hearts.

A favorite term in the Word of Faith movement is “positive confession.” It refers to the teaching that words have creative power. What you say, Word of Faith teachers claim, determines everything that happens to you. Your confessions, especially the favors you demand of God, must all be stated positively and without wavering. Then God is required to answer (as though man could require anything of God!). Thus God's ability to bless us supposedly hangs on our faith. James 4:13-16 clearly contradicts this teaching, “Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit. Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that. But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil.”

Far from stressing the importance of wealth, the Bible warns against pursuing it. Believers, especially leaders in the church (1 Timothy 3:3), are to be free from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5). The love of money leads to all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Jesus warned, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). In sharp contrast to the Word of Faith emphasis on gaining money and possessions in this life, Jesus said “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19). The irreconcilable contradiction between prosperity teaching gospel and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is best summed up in the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:24, “You cannot serve God and riches.”

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’.

Baptism of the Lord

Image via WikipediaThis week, we celebrate the baptism of the Lord and the reading are as follows:
[Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7] [Acts 10:34-38] [Mark 1:7-11]

Last week, we celebrated the Epiphany Of The Lord where God reveals to us our saviour by a star. The 3 wise men followed the star and found our Lord.

This week, we celebrate the baptism of our Lord. The significance of this baptism scene is when the Holy Spirit comes down when Jesus came out of the water and a voice from heaven spoke: 'You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.'

At our own baptism, the Holy Spirits also come upon us and God too will treat us as His children, His beloved and His favour will rest on us too though we do not hear any voices then. If we believed that His favour rest on us too, we should strive to follow Jesus and be His true disciple which is to love God and to love our neighbour.

The baptism of the Lord reminds us that we are richly blessed in the Catholic Church by the Sacraments that the Catholic Church has instituted for God’s people.

These sacraments consecrate us in God’s grace and unite us with God.

We remember God’s steadfast love for His people and God’s covenant made with His people. Jesus is present in every of these Sacraments and he is given to us freely.

The baptism of the Lord showed us that Jesus was strengthened by God. We too can and need to be strengthened by God.

We need to overcome our human weaknesses by receiving the sacraments faithfully. That is the only way to keep the evil one at a distance. Like Jesus who is able to reject Satan and his temptations.

So, do you still want to reject the Sacraments?

Well, this officially put an end to our Christmas season and begin the new ordinary time. Hope that we all can reflect and make good use of the Sacraments that is given to us freely by God.

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4th Week of Advent - We can make a Difference

Image via WikipediaThis week’s reading are as follows: [2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-12,14,16], [Romans 16: 25-27], [Luke 1: 26-38]

In the first reading today, we are told that despite his failures and weaknesses, God made David, a shepherd in Bethlehem, to become a great king in Jerusalem. David was an instrument of God in providing for his people and God established a covenant with David that ensured that his line will last forever.

In the Gospel reading, we are told of the beginning of our salvation plan by God. God chose the town called Nazareth in Galilee and a young girl specially chosen and prepared by Him to fulfill His plan for humanity.

Without Christ, there is no salvation. And God chose Mary whom we know as a prayerful and truly sinless girl to be the mother of His son – Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Archangel Gabriel appeared to her and told her: “You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus”. Mary was frighten and lost (likewise, we too will be scared if the same happened to us) because she is virgin and wonder how then could she conceive “but the angel said to her, 'Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour.”( LK1:40)

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.” (LK1:35).

To that, Mary replied despite her fear and uncertainty : “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me accordingly to your word.”

It was Mary’s total faith, total confidence and total obedience to God that led to the conception of the Son of God through God’s creative Spirit.

To Mary, it was God’s will and not her will that she obey. Mary did not say (like what most of us will hear today) – let me think about it and I’ll get back to you later.

Both David and Mary had made a difference in God’s salvation plan. How about us?

Are we prepared to make a difference too? Or are we looking after only our own benefits?

In whatever state and circumstance in our life, we can choose to live out the will of our heavenly Father. We can stand forward and be relied on to share our faith in God, to help others in need with our gifts and to speak out against injustice and indifference.

In other words, we can make a difference. Merry Christmas!

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

Image via WikipediaThis week, is a dedication of the lateran Basilica in Rome and readings are as follows:
[Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12] [1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17] [John 2:13-22]

This week's reading saw Jesus telling the people to "stop using my Father's house as a market" and chasing them out of the temple....Indeed, the temple is for doing the business of the Father and not an avenue for making money.

Jesus stood up against the people who are trying to destroy the temple and we too must stand up when faced with the same.

Personally, it is sad to see how some pastors (who don't even have proper training) sugar coat their preaching and using the Church to make money. They are making use of people's trust in God and one day, they too will be chased out by Jesus.

Let us continue to preach the true Gospel and overcome any obstacles to help lead our brothers’ and sisters’ towards our beloved Jesus.

First is last and last is first.

Image by Loci Lenar via FlickrToday's Gospel reading (Mt 20 1:16) gives us the parable of the landowner who hired laborers to work in his vineyard. As the day went on, he continued to bring laborers to his fields even up to the last hour of the day, yet all were paid the same wage.

Those who had readily agreed to work all day for a certain wage-their reward-were not thrilled that those who had only worked an hour were given the same wage, the same reward.

If our reward for believing in God is eternal life, what is the point of bringing others into the light if they shouldn't expect the same reward?

Of all of the characteristics of the human soul, one stands above the rest - Hope. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that we as faithful followers of God are given the hope of glory in heaven if we love him and do as he directs through his word, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (CCC 1821).

In the parable of the landowner and the vineyard workers, we are given witness to hope; those laborers who were still waiting at the end of the day for a job were hopeful that they might work even for a short time in hopes that they could provide for their families. We stand at the altar with hope and faith that God will provide eternal life through him.

(extracted from the bulletin from The Church Of The Risen Christ – Colorado http://www.risenchristchurch.org).

The other 2 readings as follows:

Is 55:6-9 - Testingblog, Is 55:7 is especially for you.

and Phil 1:20-24 – Testingblog, you should read upto the end of the chapter paying extra attention to Phil 1:27.

About the sower parable?

Image via Wikipedia To continue on the issue of true disciples, read up on the sower parable LK 8:5-21. The seed is the word of God and the field is the world.

How did seed (word of God) end up in your case?

Read up and reflect upon it.

Again, Jesus tell us that the good harvest (true disciples) are those who “As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.” LK 8:15

For the sake of Chadley boy, I must highlight LK 8:13 “Those on the rock are people who, when they first hear it, welcome the word with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of trial they give up.”

And as a result of being with the wrong people, wrong teachings, LK 8:14 “As for the part that fell into thorns, this is people who have heard, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life and never produce any crops.”

That pretty much explained the science behind why you are still gullible Chadley boy.