Who do you say that I am?

Today in many churches of the East and West the Apostles Peter and Paul are commemorated. Both were martyred in Rome in the first century. They tirelessly worked for the spread of the gospel, not only to the people of Israel, but to all the nations as well. They risked their lives in the process and gladly poured out their blood in loyalty to their Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul so eloquently stated in his second epistle to Timothy, they courageously fought the good fight, finished the race, and kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

How firm is your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? At an opportune time Jesus tested his disciples with a crucial question: Who do men say that I am and who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:13). Jesus was widely recognized in Israel as a mighty man of God, even being compared with the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. Peter, always quick to respond, exclaimed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. Through the gift of faith Peter recognized that Jesus was the "annointed one" (in Hebrew and Greek the word is translated as Messiahand Christ), and the only begotten Son of God sent by the Father in heaven to redeem a fallen human race. No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter; but only God. Jesus then confered on Peter authority to govern the church that Jesus would build, a church that no powers could overcome. Jesus played on Peter's name which is the same word for "rock" in both Aramaic and Greek. To call someone a "rock" is one of the greatest of compliments. The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon." Abraham put his trust in God and made God's word the foundation of his life and the bedrock of his faith. Through Abraham God established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was. He was the first apostle to proclaim that Jesus was truly the Anointed One(Messiah and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God.

The New Testament describes the church, the people of God, as a spiritual house and temple of the Holy Spirit with each member joined together as living stones(see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks – spiritual stones. The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same question: Who do you say that I am?

"One Body,One Spirit"

Today, as president of Catholic Student Society-CSS  from University Tunku Abdul Rahaman (Sungai Long Campus), We are glad to have Rev. Father George Harrison from Church of Holy Family, Kajang to celebrate mass with us in this wonderful evening with the theme “One Body, One Sprit.” Most of us who are catholic, which come from different part of Malaysia, united as ONE to have this wonderful Eucharistic celebration.

As a student, we might face different challenges in life. The devil will try to attack each one of us to make sure that we break our relationship with God. The father of liar (the evil one/ the devil) will make sure that we separate ourselves from one and another.

Today, I can proudly tell everyone here, we are all united as ONE; we are all united in CHRIST in this wonderful celebration. We are His chosen people to bear good fruits and bear witness to the world through our words and deeds. My dear friends, today I want to encourage you to wake up every day expecting good. Keep your mind positive, full of joy, hope and anticipation of all the good things God has restore in you, His beloved! All of us are the disciple whom Jesus loves. We are the apple of His eye. The Lord’s wisdom, favor and provision flow mightily in and through all of us. Amen!

When you do this, you are accessing the Lord’s abundant provision for you, and the Father of Liar would not easily attack us in our daily life. All our stress, worries, negative emotions and anxieties will fade away.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sister Margaret and Miss Susan Peter for helping us in this wonderful celebration. Special thanks to all the CSS members: Joanne (Seremban), Sherena Jackson (Bintulu-Sarawak), Vivian Lim (Klang-Selangor), Francis Wong (Johor), Tan Kian Kiak (Sekinchan), Mary Seen (Pahang), Theresa Wong (Sibu-Sarawak), Clement Ling (Sibu-Sarawak), Hezron (Kepong), Monica Ling (Sibu-Sarawak).

Let us continue to bear good fruit, the fruit of a disciple which marked by FAITH, HOPE and LOVE, JUSTICE, PRUDENCE, FORTITUDE and TEMPERANCE.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called YOU…”

 Eph 4:4-6

Just say no!!!

Pornography seems to be the most exciting and joyful movie that get the highest rate among teenagers. No doubt, even adults find the pleasure in it. In countries that are experiencing summer, Men and women are walking around half-clothed, hoping to get a tan, adoring the sun-god rather than the Son of God. It's almost impossible to find a movie or even a TV program without nudity displayed. On top of this, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet constantly try to exploit us by arousing our sexual desires.

Today's reading tell us to say no to our bad habits, habits that lead us to sin, sin that lead us separate from God. In today's reading, what does Jesus mean when he says “pluck out your eye “ or “cut off your hand and throw it away” if it leads you to sin?  Is he exaggerating here? Jesus used forceful language to urge his disciples to choose for life – an enduring life of joy and happiness with God – rather than for death – an unending death and total separation from a community of love, peace, joy and friendship with God. Jesus set before his disciples the one goal in life that is worth any sacrifice and that goal is the conformity of our will with God and what he desires for our well-being and happiness with him. Just as a doctor might remove some part of the body, such as a diseased limb, in order to preserve the life of the whole body, so we must be ready to part with anything that causes us to sin and which inevitably leads to spiritual death.

Jesus warns us of the terrible responsibility that we must set no stumbling block in the way of another, that is, not give offense or bad example that might lead another to sin. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith. Jesus teaches that righteousness involves responding to every situation in life in a way that fulfill's God's law, not just externally but internally as well. Jesus says that evil desires spring from the heart. That is why the sin of adultery must first be dealt with in the heart, the place not only of the emotions, but the mind, will, thought, and intentions as well. God’s intention and ideal from the beginning was for man and woman to be indissolubly united in marriage as “one flesh” (see Genesis 2:23-24). That ideal is found in the unbreakable union of Adam and Eve. They were created for each other and for no one else. They are the pattern and symbol for all who were to come. Moses permitted divorce as a concession in view of a lost ideal (see Mark 10:2-9). Jesus sets the high ideal of the married state before those who are willing to accept his commands. Jesus gives the grace and power of his Holy Spirit to those who seek to follow his way of holiness in their state of life – whether married or single. If we want to live righteously as God desires for us, then we must know and understand the intention of God's commands for us, and decide in our heart to obey the Lord. Through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit, the Lord writes his law on our hearts and gives us his power to live his way of righteousness and holiness. Do you trust in God’s love and allow his Holy Spirit to fill you with a thirst for holiness and righteousness in every area of your life?

Thanks be to Jesus for telling us the truth that refreshes and frees. It's so good to know that we aren't just animals, true love can be found, sexuality can be redeemed, and we don't have to feel "dirty," degraded, and defeated.

Jesus knows we are weak, especially in the area of sexual temptation. However, He is strong. We are earthen vessels, but He is the Treasure within the temples of our bodies (see 2 Cor 4:7). We have sinned, but He has taken all our sins to the cross and washed us clean in His blood (see Rv 7:14).

Be Encourage! Be Encourage!

Today we celebrate the feast day of St.Barnabas. I'm sure some of you might heard before this positive and energetic saint. St Barnabas was first called Joses, but because of his positive, energetic and generous nature he was given the new name “Son of Consolation” or “Son of Encouragement.”

So today on his feast day why not stop and ask yourself how much encouragement you do of others? Ask yourself how much time you spend criticizing others, tearing them down and gossiping about them. What good does it do? If there is a problem, be a grown up and either solve the problem or shut up and bear the difficulty with dignity.

One of the worst things in community, in family, in parish, school or workplace is the constant negativity towards others. This takes several forms:

1. assuming the worst rather than the best about a person. Why do you do that? The other person didn’t get up in the morning resolved to be the next Darth Vader. If he messed up it was a mistake. He wanted the best–just like you. He wanted a good day. He just flubbed. Give him the benefit of the doubt. Assume that he wanted the best not the worst and therefore assume the best about him not the worst.

2. Not finding out the facts. When you think ill of another person almost always it is because you have got some information about them second or third hand and you’re dumb enough to believe it–just like you believe that stuff on the internet. Don’t believe everything you hear just as you hear it. There is always, always, always another side of the story. With hold judgement and take time to find out the facts.

3. Not dealing with people face to face. If you have a problem with someone be grown up enough to go to that person and talk to them face to face. It is very difficult to be nasty and gossipy straight to a person’s face. Very easy to be nasty and gossipy behind their back. If there is a negativity. Deal with it positively and pro actively.

4. Assuming the other person is there to serve you. No they’re not. You are there to serve them. When you go to solve the problem you ask them what you can do to put things right.

5. Blaming others. Don’t blame others. Take the blame yourself. Even if you are not to blame, take the blame. It’s amazing how that takes the wind out of their sails and de-fuses the argument. Be humble enough to accept the problem because if there is a problem you really are part of the problem and you are also part of the solution. Grown ups take responsibility  and they solve problems rather than causing them.

6. Being miserable. Some people like being miserable. That’s actually the way the make themselves feel important. This is what babies do. They cry and howl and whine to get attention, and it works. A lot of adults do the same. Stop it. Unless you’re suffering from clinical depression, you can decide to be happy. If you are unhappy either find out what the problem is and solve it or bear your suffering with dignity and grace.

7. Stop complaining. Babies complain. Adults get on and solve the problem and they encourage others to do the same.

St Barnabas would agree with all these bits of advice. He was full of the Holy Spirit and good grace. He was an encourager. He was generous and optimistic and trusting. He took the risk of going to meet St Paul when everybody else suspected him. He took charge of the situation at Antioch. He set out and preached the gospel and gave all.

Why don’t you today decide to follow in his footsteps and be an encourager too!

I encourage you to do so…

 

The most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary

Yesterday we celebrated one of the most wonderful feast in the church-the feast of the most sacred heart of Jesus and today we will be celebrating the feast of the immaculate heart of Mary. Both feasts show the divine love for all mankind, the love of God for the whole humanity. The Sacred Heart is often depicted in Christian art as a flaming heart shining with divine light, pierced by the lance-wound, encircled by the crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross and bleeding. Sometimes the image is shown shining within the bosom of Christ with his wounded hands pointing at the heart. The wounds and crown of thorns allude to the manner of Jesus' death, while the fire represents the transformative power of divine love.

This devotion to the Sacred heart of Jesus is one of the most popular devotion in the Catholic Church. This devotion is taking Jesus' physical heart as a representation of his divine love for the whole humanity. The devotion especially emphasizes the unmitigated love, compassion, and long-suffering of the heart of Christ towards humanity.This is one of my favorite devotion and this devotion is the early version of the divine mercy devotion, in which Christ shows His love to the whole humanity with the water and blood flowing out from His heart. God mercy is endless.

I guess most of us as a catholic would be familiar that this devotion is through a vision granted to French Roman Catholic nun,St.Marguerite Marie Alcoque,who said she learned the devotion from Jesus during a mystical experience. However, the church started this devotion much more earlier. The Sacred Heart has been closely associated with Acts of Reparations to Jesus Christ. Pope Pius XI stated: "the spirit of expiation or reparation has always had the first and foremost place in the worship given to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus".The Golden Arrow Prayer directly refers to the Sacred Heart. In addition, The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar since 1856, and is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost. As Pentecost is always celebrated on Sunday, the Feast of the Sacred Heart always falls on a Friday.

Today, we will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate heart of Mary. The Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary is based on the historical, theological and spiritual links in Catholic devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In the 18th and 19th centuries the devotions grew, both jointly and individually through the efforts of figures such as Saint Louis de Monfort who promoted Catholic Mariology and Saint Catherine Laboure's Miraculous medal depicting the Heart of Jesus thorn-crowned and the Heart of Mary pierced with a sword. In the Immaculata prayer of Saint Maximilian Kolbe and in the reported messages of Our Lady of Fatima which stated that the Heart of Jesus wishes to be honored together with the Heart of Mary.

Jesus Christ, in his appearances to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, promised these blessings to those who practice devotion to his Sacred Heart. The twelve promises are found in the writings of St.Margaret Mary.

The twelve promises are:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.

The last promise has given rise to the pious Roman Catholic practice of making an effort to attend Mass and receive Communion on the first Friday of each month.

Great efficacy of converting people has been attached to the use of the image of the Sacred Heart.