Food that endures to Eternal Life

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

Life satisfaction is the way a person evaluates his or her life and how he or she feels about where it is going in the future. It has been measured in relation to economic standing, as well as many other topics. The basic fundamental of economic will tell you that human will never be satisfied. No matter what circumstances we are in, we are longing for more. 

Last month, I have had an opportunity to speak with a group of RCIA candidates in my parish. We discussed on the topic of life - in search of meaning in life. Most of us would agree that we are on a constant search and will never be satisfied with the things that we have. Eg: the latest iPhone that I have will never hit the same satisfaction level when I first bought the phone.

If we examine the things that we want, we will realise that our wants change with the circumstances of our lives. When we have obtained the thing that we want, there will always be something else that will catch our attention. Fulfilling our wants will merely give us temporary satisfaction. We noticed that when our lives are controlled by our wants and desires, there will never be an end to our dissatisfaction and complaints. No matter how much we may possess or acquire, it is never enough. If our only purpose in life is to satisfy our wants and desires, we will never be satisfied.

In the First Reading, the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, or more accurately against God, for leading them out into the desert wastelands where they were confronted with the reality of starvation. While in Egypt, they complained to God that they were not free. They seem to have made a short memory of things. Now at the slightest inconvenience they began to grumble over their predicament again, saying that it would have been better to stay a slave in Egypt where at least they were fed bread and didn’t starve. But despite their turning away from God and complaining, God heard them, and made a promise to their leader Moses. God said that he would provide food for them both in the morning and in the evening. God will provide for his people. This may have satisfied them temporarily but there will be other complaints to come.

So, what kind of food can satiate our deepest longing? The answer is given in today’s gospel where Jesus speaks of food and bread. He cautions the crowds not to look for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life. The crowds had witnessed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and had become recipients themselves. Thus, Jesus was clearly aware of their motives in searching for him. They were not looking for him as such but as to what he could offer them. How wonderful it would be to possess an inexhaustible source and supply of food? They would no longer be hungry or in need. 

But Jesus now explains that it is not simply physical bread or food which is being given, but the true bread of heaven is that which feeds the soul of a person.  It lasts forever. He wishes to raise their attention from their stomachs to their hearts. This leads to the beautiful, poetic and moving “I” message of Jesus: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

Jesus is not speaking of physical bread here but spiritual bread, bread that feeds a person’s spirit. Jesus is that bread. In the context of the Eucharist, this takes on an even more pointed and beautiful meaning, because Jesus becomes one with the physical bread that feeds us both temporally and spiritually. St Ignatius of Antioch used the following analogy to speak of the wonder of the Eucharist when he described it as “the one Bread which is the medicine of immortality and the antidote against death, enabling us to live forever in Jesus Christ.” In this heavenly meal, heaven meets earth and earth meets heaven, and we encounter our Lord in a "uniquely intense" way. This is a concept that is so beautiful, so moving, so intricate that I don’t think anyone can be unmoved by it, if they meditate on it at all.

I guess most of us are like blind beggars, unappreciative of the treasure that we are given at every mass whilst continuing to clamour for things that momentarily satisfy our wants and desires but leave us hungering for more. How can we acquire a greater appetite for Christ? St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading: “You must give up your old way of life; you must put aside your old self, which gets corrupted by following illusory desires. Your mind must be renewed by a spiritual revolution so that you can put on the new self that has been created in God’s way, in the goodness and holiness of truth.” What is the new self and new life which Paul is speaking about? The new life is the life in Jesus, the Bread of Life and those who partake of him will never be hungry or ever thirsty again. If our lives undergo a “spiritual revolution,” if we are able to die to our old selves – to our old selfish ways, and allow Christ to be at the heart and center of our lives, then there is no need for us to crave for anything else. If we have Jesus in our hearts, there is nothing more that we should desire. The problem for many Christians is that in spite of receiving Jesus, they still want more. This may indicate that they have not accepted the fact that he is the bread of life who satisfies our every want and need. We remain hungry and thirsty because Jesus remains in the periphery. 

Appetite has always been a barometer of health. But eating in itself need not necessarily be an indicator that we are on the right track. Obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes and a whole long list of ailments are evidence that we sometimes pay too much attention to eating rather than healthy living. The oft repeated adage, ‘Eat to Live, Don’t Live to Eat,’ proves to be a better guide in matters of food, health and life. Today, Jesus invites us to work for food that guarantees eternal life, medicine for immortality, an antidote for death. He is that food, that Bread of Life which should become our most important staple meal. Only when we eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, can we truly say that we ‘eat to live’ and not just ‘live’ but to live forever.

The rest of my life (prayer meeting 21/08/2013)

Few years back, the whole world is experiencing an economic downturn due to the subprime crisis which began in 2008. The crisis happened due to the rise in subprime mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures. The crisis has brought a tremendous impact on our economy that lead us  into a recession,which ultimately brings unemployment to the country. 

In today's Gospel, what can we understand the parable given by Jesus about work and wages, welfare and the unemployed that tell us about the kingdom of God? In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, we see the extraordinary generosity and compassion of God. There is great tragedy in unemployment, the loss of work, and the inability to earn enough to live and support oneself or one's family. In Jesus' times laborers had to wait each day in the marketplace until someone hired them for a day's job. No work that day usually meant no food on the family table. The laborers who worked all day and received their payment complain that the master pays the late afternoon laborers the same wage. The master, undoubtably, hired them in the late afternoon so they wouldn't go home payless and hungry.

We can see God generosity. God is generous in opening the doors of his kingdom to all who will enter, both those who have labored a life-time for him and those who come at the last hour. While the reward is the same, the motive for one's labor can make all the difference. Some work only for reward. They will only put as much effort in as they think they will get back. Others labor out of love and joy for the opportunity to work and to serve others. The Lord calls his disciples to serve God and neighbor his heavenly kingdom and our earthly community with generosity and joy. Do you perform your work and responsibilities with cheerfulness and diligence for the Lord's sake? And do you give generously to others, especially to those in need of your care and support?

Perhaps, you might have wasted your life in "doing your own thing." Now, we are the follower of Christ through baptism, we have given our life to Jesus, we don't want "to spend what remains of the earthly life on human desires but on the will of God, because we know that the will of God always is the best for us. We don't want to do something that hurt our relationship with God. Already you have devoted enough time to what the pagans enjoy" (1 Pt 4:2-3).

Today, the Lord wants to change your sorrow into joy (see Ps 30:12) by assuring you that He will give you a full-day's pay even if you've only worked for Him a very short time (Mt 20:14). The Lord "will repay you for the years which the locust has eaten" (Jl 2:25), that is, for the wasted years of life. The Lord in His mercy often saves the best for last, as He did at the wedding feast of Cana (Jn 2:10). So "give no thought to what lies behind but push on to what is ahead" (Phil 3:13).

The Lord has died to atone for our past, so forget about it. Let us thank the Lord that we have the privilege of living for Him in the present, at the same time, let us make the following promise: "For the rest of my life, I will serve the Lord alone, in every way, with all my heart." Amen.

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).

Never give up!

Phew...a sense of relief after the announcement of our final exam's result on our university portal. We, as a student do not have to worry about this matter anymore. We can happily enjoy our holidays for the remaining days. We can enjoy the food that we want! We can enjoy our favorite drama or series! We can hang out with our friends! I'm sure that is heaven to all of us. Of course, after the announcement, perhaps before, people start posting their current status on the social media, especially Facebook, which is the fastest way to reach their peers or friends in order to update their current status.

I still remember when I scrolling my Facebook page, I can see many" happy" status shared by my friends! Nevertheless, the unhappy or so call emotional status still stand out as a prominent one in the eyes of facebookers. We can see the disappointment after the announcement of their result, some sort of cursing or anger in their statement. Some might have repeated the subjects many times, yet they still failed!

often, in life, we have the good side and the bad side. In term of colour, good side will be represented by a brighter colour, and the bad side will be shaded by a darker colour. In life, we cannot expect every moment we are walking on a straight path of the road. Sometimes, we might need to have a right or left turning to bring us to a wider road. Same application in life, failure doesn't mean that is the end of life. In turn, giving-up will be the end of life.

Sometimes we face failure in our life! Take an example of a student life, is normal for a student to fail in their exam! As a student, you cannot expect yourself to know everything in each of the field. The key to success is never give up! Never give up in something that you like! As a student, if you wish to become a graduate, never give up on your studies. Work hard and strive towards it. I'm sure that one day you can become a successful person in life.

Do not give up, and work towards it!

Process of Life--- Study

Three years ago, before I started entering into the new phase of my life -university life, I started to wonder what will actually a university life for a teenagers who was just 19 years old going to face! Seniors from my school usually will tell you that year 1 is a honey moon in varsity. You might need to suffer a bit when we enter into year 2 or year 3 semester. For me, that is not really true! As a freshmen in university, of course some of us who come from form six, you might find it a bit easy to deal with subjects that have learn during your pre-university. What about those subjects that you never learn or never expose before? So I would say no matter you are in year 1, year 2 or year 3, the thing that you need to do is work hard and pray hard. Interestingly, nowadays I don't really call people to pray hard, but, with faith. Prayer without faith, some how it doesn't work. 

Now, as a student soon be graduate. Entering into another phase of life! Now is working life. Totally opposite of Study life. I'm sure that you hear people saying that study life is much more better than working life because of few reasons. First, you do not need to worry about things happen around you, just enjoy life. Second, you do not have much responsibility. your responsibility is to study. Third, you got your freedom. We do not have to force yourself to bed, just because you have to wake up early the next day to rush for work. Mainly these few reasons, people think that it would be good if they were still a student! Well, I guess this a life are all about. We need to go through different stages in life. Each stages in life, we experience and we learn different things. If you really think about it, life is full of mystery. We do not know each stages what hurdle are awaiting for us. However, this is all experience that we can gain in life. Not really a bad thing right?

Study is part of the process in life. We need to study, gain our knowledge, then only we expose to the world. As a student who are graduating soon, I guess I'm going to miss my study life. The thing I'm going to miss is my friends, whom we often hang out together. I'm going to miss all my lecturer who taught us before. Definitely, student will not miss is the exam that we seat for every semester throughout our university days. Is a kind of suffering when we need to prepare for our papers each time. Well, I guess this is what students will always complaint. My advice still the same, work hard and pray with faith! Nothing will goes wrong. Talk about prayer, it will be good that if you start off your study with prayer. What I meant here is have a short prayer before your begin your study. It definitely help in your study. Of course, with FAITH!

All of us will be entering into the new phase of our life after graduation. Hope that we will still have time to meet in the future no matter how busy we are in life. Great wishes :)

Global Economics Batch 4.

 

Fragility to appreciate in life

Couple of weeks ago, early in the morning when I was preparing to get off my bed to prepare for my class, suddenly I received a call from one of my varsity's friend, saying that her dad was in a critical condition and she urged  that if I could offer more prayer for her dad, who are fighting for his life in the ICU room. I immediately send the message to my friends, lecturers and one of the Sister to pray for her dad. Two days later, her dad left. Of course, she is really sad and I can really feel the pain in her.

Throughout the days, all of us try to offer as much prayer as we can, so that her dad would be able to go through this critical moment. I still remember that she told me that she hope that miracle will happen. Eventually, we know that miracle do not take place!

I started to feel the fragility in life. Life is just like a biscuit, once it broke, that's the end of everything. Life is just very short. Each day we do not know that what is going to happen. We do not know that what are the hurdle in front waiting for us to go through. We do not know that what are the challenges we might face in life. Many uncertainly in life that make us worry. I still remember one of the report mention that nearly 30% of the population in the world have depression. There are many factors that cause depression. Pressure that we face due to uncertainty in life might be one of them.

Yes, undeniable! In life, we might face different challenges, many uncertainly with the things that we are doing including the life that we have. I still remember there is a Chinese saying, we should appreciate every moment that we have! Don't start to regret when you have lost it! This sentence is really true! It teaches us how to appreciate what we have for every moment, and we do not start to regret it when you have loose it.

So, we should appreciate every moment that we have. Do not wait until you loose it then only you start regretting~

Stretch a bit !

This semester, the word "Pressure" didn't seem to loose sight from us. Our whole team, who are graduating soon, tend to feel the great pinch of pressure that coming from our assignments, thesis, presentation and etc.
Most of us, tend to stay up until late night just to rush for the project just in case that we get penalize from our lecturer.

Yes,undeniable! Is never easy being a university student. But, I start to realized that, to certain extend we need some sort of pressure to keep us going. Instead of standing at our own comfort zone, we must try to stretch ourselves to a certain extend, of course that extend for one could stand, so that we might gain exposure to various things. Sometimes we might develop our new potential of skills.

Pressure sometimes it may sound negative. Perhaps I should rephrase it in a way that,  the negative side of this word has more impact compare to the positive side, in regards with the pressure that we are facing in this modern world . Often, this is a cause that makes people give up their dreams or their target easily. To be frank, I should say pressure might demotivate me in a certain way. But, now I have a different way of thinking.

Pressure sometimes should motivate me to attain my goals instead of giving up easily. We should work our very best, and leave the rest to God. I'm sure according to His will, He will lead us the way.

The Risen Hope

Alleluia! Jesus is risen! Yes, Christ rise from the death to show that He is God, to show that He is the one that send from the father to redeemed our sins. No tomb in the world could contain the Lord Jesus for long. His death on the cross purchased our redemption and his triumph over the grave on Easter morning defeated death. So, what preserved the Lord Jesus from corruption? He was kept from decay and he rose from the dead by divine power. ''My flesh will dwell in hope. For you will not let your Holy One see corruption. (Psalm 16:9-10)

The mystery of Christ's lying in the tomb on the Sabbath reveals the great Sabbath rest of God after the fulfillment of our salvation which brings PEACE to the whole world (Colossians 1:18-20).  Is your hope in this life only? Or is it well founded in the resurrection of Christ and his promise that those who believe in him will live forever?

From my passed two passage, I was sharing on the topic of Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Let rewind ourselves back a bit and see. On Holy Thursday, we celebrated Jesus' gift Himself to us in the Holy Communion. Then comes to Good Friday, is just merely a service in the church, but had no mass. We (Catholics) still receive Holy Communion on Good Friday because it does not break our fast on that day. Holy Saturday, we have neither mass or Holy Communion. During the day, we can't even go to church and visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament does not reside in the sanctuary of the church. The Church deprives us of Jesus' Eucharistic presence on Holy Saturday to help us experience the day Jesus was buried, when Jesus' physical presence was no longer on earth. After experiencing deprivation from the burial of Jesus' Eucharistic presence, we almost scream with joy when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion at the Easter Vigil.

Now, what did the disciples of Jesus discover on the third day of Jesus' death? On Sunday morning the women who had stood with Jesus when he died upon the cross on Good Friday went to the tomb to pay their last tribute to a dead body.  The disciples thought that everything had finished in tragedy. None of the Jesus' follower expecting to see an empty tomb and hear the angel's message that saying 'Why do you seek the living among the dead? Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise. (Luke 24: 5-7). The angel urged them to believe that Jesus had indeed risen just as he had promise.

Are you prepared to meet the Risen Lord? The disciples of Jesus were as unprepared for his resurrection as they were for his death. The empty tomb made them fearful and joyful at the same time. 'Where did they put the body or did he really rise just as he predicted?' Even though Jesus had spoken to them before of his death and rising, they could not believe until they saw the empty tomb and met the risen Lord. Aren't we are the same? We want to see with out own eyes before we believe! The guards brought their testimony to the chief priests and elders who met the news with denial. They were resolved to not believe that Jesus had risen and they bribed the guards in the hope of keeping others from believing it.

What is the basic of our faith in the resurrection? The scriptures tell us that ''Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen' (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to us. Our faith is a free assent to the whole truth which God reveals to us through his word. Faith is certain because it is based on the very word of God who cannot lie. Faith also seeks understanding. That is why God enlightens the 'eyes of our hearts' that we may know what is the hope to which he has called us (Ephesians 1:18)

Through the gift of faith, the Lord reveals himself to those who believe in his word and he fills them with 'new life in his Holy Spirit''. Do you live in the joy and hope of the resurrection? And do you recognize the presence of the Risen Lord in his word, in the 'breaking of the bread', and in his church, the body of Christ?

In Matthew's Gospel, the first commands Jesus gives to the first people who saw Him after His resurrection are: 'Do not be afraid! Go and carry the news' of my resurrection. (Mt.28:10). Now, Jesus speaks to the world through the witnesses He has chosen (Acts 10:41). The risen Lord backs up His witnesses with power and authority (Lk 10:16). When people don't believe us, His witnesses, Jesus gets upset (Mk 16:14).

The duty of a witness is simple. A witness simply testified to what they have 'heard and seen' (Acts 4:20). The only issue for a witness is whether or not they will speak. Organized crime gets a lot of mileage out of silencing witnesses through fear of death, and so do enemies of Jesus. But, Jesus tells us: Do not be afraid!' (Mt 28:10). Jesus has the ultimate 'witness protection' program. He will be our refuge. He has triumphed over death! Fear and death have 'no more power over' Jesus and His witnesses. (Rm 6:9)

Jesus tells us: 'You are to be My witnesses' (Acts 1:8). 'Do not be afraid. Go on speaking and do not be silenced'. (Acts 18:9). 'Go and carry the news' (Mt 28:10) that Jesus is risen from the dead and all who believe in Him have eternal life (Jn 3:16).

Prayer is the only way

Have you come across a difficult moment in your life? Have you ever feel hopeless? Feel sick with everything in your life? Perhaps, you might find that you are in a situation that no one in this world can truly understand your feeling and you feel yourself is abandon by the society. In this modern era, we are facing many different types of challenges,in term of economic and society challenges. The rewards of these challenges might lead the person to the dead end of the road in life. Undeniable, in every aspect of job that we enroll our-self in, we cannot escape from the word ''Pressure'. Pressure is a negative emotion to human beings, it harms a human emotion and bring them to the stage of depression. I'm pretty sure that none of us can escape from this experience in life. However, it is normal for human to have this experience in this modern era where everything require us to be fast.

Due to the high statistic shows that many people in this modern era are experiencing this types of pressure in life, we can see that in the market, there is a lot of psychology trying to making profit out of it by writing some books to teach people how to reduce and handle their stress when they are facing some difficulties in life. of course, I'm not a psychology writer who can produce psychology advice for those who are facing challenges in their life. But, as a lay person like me, the only way out of it is prayer. Prayer is the communication with God. We can lift up our problems to Him, who created us and know each of our strong points and weaknesses.

When I was a kid, I always find that by praying, it does not help me much. When the verb 'praying' appears in my mind, what comes after next is bored. However, I start to embrace this wonderful gift that God has given it to me after my baptism. I start to feel the power in it! I start to enjoy talking with my creator! I start to lift up my problems to Him (partially, at this point of them. Hope I can improve further on it.)

As a Catholic, I can pray at anytime and anywhere that I want because God is everywhere. We can talk to Him anytime when we feel like like doing so. They should seek God in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us. (Acts 17:27)

Often, people always thinking that praying in a one way communication with God. Actually that is not true! God often speaks to us. The problem is whether we can identify it or not. If you do not know how to pray, ask him to teach you, and ask your heavenly Mother to pray with you and for you (POPE BENEDICT XVI,  to the young people of Netherlands, November 21, 2005)

If you are seeking God but do not know how you should begin, learn to pray and make the effort to pray everyday (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta).

Besides praying alone, sometimes we might need someone to intercede for us. This is because we find that is better to call some other friends to pray for our own special intention or petitions that you need for that particular moment. Besides calling some of my friend to pray for me on certain occasion, I specially like to call the Blessed Mother (Blessed Virgin Mary) to intercede for me. This is what most of the Catholic like the most by calling the Blessed Mother to pray fro us in heaven. Mainly because she is the mother of the universe and she is the closest to Christ. Always, we find that her intercession is the most powerful in heaven.
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened. (Luke 11:9-10)

So, have you pray today?

Gathering GE Young

Time just passed like the water flowing in the stream. Split second, I'm in Year 3 now in university.

I'm glad that throughout these few years, I manage to know some of the good friends (perhaps 5-6) throughout this period.

All of us, including me, will be soon completing our studies and gone to the working life. 

We might have difficulties in arranging our time to meet up in future.

Since we have the time now, we should spend our time more to gather!!!

Singing Karaoke at Neway, Cheras.

 Together with Son Hui Lan, We know each other since secondary school. People always mistaken that we are couple!!!haha...

 Together with Chia Huia(JJ). She looks like want to sleep in this picture. I'm glad to know her. 

Together with Dai lou(Elder brother) Mr.Kent. He is really funny and a good guy in our team.

Together with Mr.Low Boon Chung. Both of us are from the same hometown.

Have a great time with all of them. Hope to have more gathering in future.