Lenten journal 39

20 March 2016 (5th Sunday of Lent)

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm/Passion Sunday and as we carry our palms, blessed by our Parish priest, and follow the procession to the Church, let us, in our hearts, proclaim with joy, just like the disciples and followers of Jesus on the day he entered Jerusalem mounted on a colt: "Blessed be the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" 

I share here a beautiful homily by Pope Benedict on this significant event:

It is a moving experience each year on Palm Sunday as we go up the mountain with Jesus towards the Temple, accompanying him on his ascent. He was journeying to the Temple in the Holy City, a place which for Israel ensured in a particular way God's closeness to his people. What does this mean to us in our modern world? To answer this, we have to be clear about what Jesus himself wished to do and actually did. 

The ultimate goal of his pilgrimage was the heights of God himself; to those heights he wanted to lift every human being. Our procession today is meant, then, to be an image of something deeper, to reflect the fact that, together with Jesus, we are setting out on pilgrimage along the high road that leads to the Living God. 

The liturgical readings today presents to us a suffering messiah. It recalls the suffering and humiliation of Jesus by the crowd, instigated by the scribes and Pharisees, calling for Pilate to "crucify him!". 

As we journey from Lent into Holy Week and into the Easter Triduum, let us remember this great, precious gift God gave to us: his life, his body and his blood. For us to be worthy to receive so great a gift, we too must reciprocate by the gift of ourselves, our time, our prayers, and our love for him who suffered, died and rose again.   

                              
                              The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most 
                              stupendous work of Divine Love. The greatest 
                              and most overwhelming work of God's Love.
                                                              - St John of The Cross -

   

Lenten journal 38

19 March 2016

Obediance

Today's Gospel (Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24), tells us about Joseph, the spouse of Mary. Not much is written about St Joseph, but we know he was a righteous man, obedient to God's message and guidance. We know that an angel appeared in his dreams and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife "for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins." Imagine the magnitude of that responsibility, but Joseph took it all in his stride, supporting Mary faithfully and devotedly.

We also know that he was with Mary during the census taking in Bethlehem and tried very hard to get a room but was told each time that all the inns were full; he was there in the manger when Jesus was born and when the shepherds and the three wise men came to pay homage to the baby. The flight into Egypt was another unexpected event for Joseph when he was told by an angel to flee, as Herod, incensed with the news of a new king being born, ordered all young boys below the age of two to be killed.    

He was also there with Mary, anxious and desperate when they could not find the boy Jesus after a visit to Jerusalem, and the relief and joy they felt when after three days of frantic searching they eventually found him in the Temple talking to the elders. 

We also know that Jesus grew up strong and healthy, under his love and care, learning the trade of carpentry from him.

Joseph was an exemplary husband and father. Today, we honour his Feast Day and pray that all fathers will emulate his example.    

                            St Joseph was a just man, a tireless worker,
                            the upright guardian of those entrusted to 
                            his care. May he always guard, protect and 
                            enlighten families.
                                                - Pope John Paul II -   

Lenten journal 37

18 March 2016

A call to conversion

Jesus wanted so much for the Jews to believe in him, and the good works he had done; he wanted them to repent, to change their way of life, to be more considerate, tolerant and forgiving of one another, to be charitable and compassionate and most of all to love one another. But the Pharisees and Jews, blinded by their arrogance, greed and self-righteousness were totally against him and even wanted to stone him!   

In the same breath, we too are called by Jesus to conversion, to live a life with meaning. In this 21st century where technology is so advanced, we should use it wisely to help and relieve us in our work in terms of time; so that at the end of the day, we still have the time and energy to spend with our family and children; have a family dinner together where we can each talk face to face, about the happenings of the day. Perhaps we can use our free time to give some volunteer service, to help the poor, the sick, or visit the aged in a nursing home. There's so much we can learn from the elderly, if we take the time to listen to them. They have been through adversities and life's demands, so they have a lot of wisdom to share.

By God's grace, we are each given a talent (or talents, for some), and once we are able to use our talents generously for the good of all, we will find life more worthwhile and meaningful, and with that comes peace of mind, the kind of peace that only the Divine can give.   

                                                  No act of kindness
                                                  no matter how small,
                                                  is ever wasted.
                                                                 - Aesop-   

Lenten journal 36

17 March 2016

Attitude

In the Gospel (John 8:51-59) the frustration Jesus must have felt with the disrespectful Jews in questioning his authority and ancestry made him say to them, "I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I AM." - a language the Jews understood to be God; but on hearing that, they picked up stones to throw at him. With a closed heart and their stubborn attitude, they could not accept Jesus.

It is still not too late for us to open our hearts and mind to Jesus and his teachings...to learn more about how we can love and forgive others; to overlook the pettiness and inconsequential things of this world and instead spend our time to spread peace and goodwill around. The compassion Jesus showed to the blind, the lame, the deaf and mute, the sick, the mentally ill...as written in the Gospels should also move our hearts to see the pain and sufferings of these people; and to help them within our own capacity.   

Sickness and tragedy can befall anyone at any time. The 2011 earthquake and tsunami in north-east Japan should be lesson to us that events can be unexpected and that life is short. Within a few hours, the lives of hundreds of thousand of people were changed forever. They never expect it. Neither do we, for any disaster. The best preparation is to live a life of peace, not harming anyone either in words or deeds; to be a responsible citizen and to live as our Lord taught us..with love, compassion, charity and mercy. If we faithfully do that, we will not be afraid when the time comes for us to meet our Creator.  

                                  The ultimate test of your greatness is 
                                  the way you treat every human being. 
                                                                     - Pope John Paul II- 
                       

Lenten journal 35

16 March 2016

Discernment

Despite opposition, Jesus continues to try and convince the Jews of his mission and of his divine association with the Father, "I have come here from God, not that I chose to, no, I was sent by him" (John 8:31-42) but they were not receptive because of their inner disposition. To the Jews who believed in him, he reiterated to them (and to us today), that if we take his teachings to heart, we will "learn the truth, and the truth will set us free." I take this to mean inner freedom; a spiritual freedom, free from sin; a freedom to be united with God the Father, the source of all true life.  

Sin alienates us from God. This Lent, we are called to an intimate relationship with God so as to experience his peace. By confessing our sins, we allow Jesus to heal our brokenness; by attending Holy Mass, we receive spiritual nourishment; by reading the scriptures, we learn to discern his teachings and guidance in our everyday life. 

Discernment of God's words helps us to learn all the good attributes of him who came to show us how love, mercy, compassion can change peoples' lives, and he expects that we do the same. With discernment, our love for him can only grow and in living a life pleasing to him, we too can experience the peace and goodness of a God-made-man but without sin, the Son, who is one with the Father in terms of his origin and his obedience in "doing the will of him who sent me" (Jn 5:30); sent to save us from the darkness of sin so that we can share in his eternal glory.

                                              
                                              O God ever the same,
                                              let me know myself,
                                              let me know you!
                                                             - St Augustine -

  



   

Lenten journal 34

15 March 2016

Extending God's Love

In the days leading to Holy Week, the Gospel tells of the urgency of Jesus in trying to make the Pharisees and Jews understand his mission on earth as the Son of God, sent by the Father; and today, (John 8:21-30) he even had a warning for them, that if they do not believe in him, they will die in their sins. By their human judgement, and with their hardened hearts, they could not comprehend and could not accept the truth of Jesus' message; all they cared about was their power and wealth, which is contrary to Jesus' teachings and seems fragile at this stage.    

This last week of Lent, let us keep our hearts and mind open to the work of Christ, through us, in our midst. There are many people in need of help...it could just be a smile, an assurance, or a lending hand or just by being present with someone who is going through the pain of sickness, or by saying a simple prayer for them. 

Like wise, a person may enter our life to bring a message of hope; or of a solution to our problem at hand; or it could be a simple message of peace and reconciliation. He or she could be a bearer of God's message to us; the unseen living God, ever-present, wanting to embrace us with his love and assure us that everything will be fine. We are all God's instrument capable of extending God's love to all.  

                               
                               Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
                               where there is hatred, let me sow love,
                               where there is injury, let me sow pardon,
                               where there is doubt, let me sow faith,
                               where there is despair, let me sow hope,
                               where there is darkness, let me sow light, and 
                               where there is sadness, let me sow joy.
                               O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much 
                               seek to be consoled, as to console,
                               seek to be understood as to understand,
                               seek to be loved as to love;
                               For it is in giving that we receive,
                               it is in forgiving that we are forgiven, and 
                               it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
                                                                   -The prayer of St Francis -                                                                   


                                  

Lenten journal 33

14 March 2016

Light of the World

Today, Jesus proclaimed to the Pharisees, "I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark; he will have the light of life." (John 8:12-20). He is trying to convince his opponents that he does not need any human witness since they judge by human standards, but that God, his Father, who sent him, is his witness to his testimony. 

What does it mean to live in the light? Jesus offers his light to us; he wants us to live a life of justice and truth, without fear since light can dispel darkness. If we aspire for that and to follow his teachings, his light will lit the path for us, and guide us along to be of service to community, family and friends in our daily living. We become his light bearers and it is our duty to pass on the divine light we have received.  

I am always heartened by this assurance of Jesus: anyone who follows me will not walk in the dark...he will have the light of life. Whenever I face uncertainty or when fear grips me, I will mutter these words in my heart with a prayer for divine counsel. You can be sure (like me) that Jesus, who has broken the darkness of sin by his work on the cross, is ever near us to give us the courage and wisdom to overcome that temporary darkness we feel. With that too, comes peace and joy, so that we can continue to be his light to the people around us.   

                      
                        There is something in the human spirit that will survive 
                        and prevail, there is a tiny and brilliant light burning
                        in the heart of man that will not go out no matter how
                        dark the world becomes.
                                                       - Leo Tolstoy-
                     

                         

Lenten journal 32

13 March 2016 (5th Sunday of Lent)

Today I honour my mother as I remember her passing a year today. She is still very much missed; and each time I think of her, my love and admiration for her is boundless. 
  

Merciful Like the Father

The motto Merciful Like the Father taken from Lk 6:37-38, is a fitting theme for this extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy 2016 declared by Pope Francis. It encourages us to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure.  

So it is apt that the focal point of today's Gospel (Jn 8:1-11) is on the mercy of Christ to the adulterous woman, brought in by the scribes and Pharisees to be stoned according to their law. But in testing Jesus, they did not for one moment imagined that the tables could be turned on them, when Jesus said, "If anyone of you is without sin, let him cast the first stone." One by one, they walked away. 

I wonder how the woman felt when she found that she was alone with Jesus. Ashamed and helpless, she must have felt a touch of mercy when Jesus asked her, " Where are they? Has no one condemned you?"  And sure enough mercy poured forth when she heard the next word of Jesus: " Neither do I condemn you. Go away and sin no more."

Here, Jesus shows us the perfect love of God, and his infinite mercy. When he forgives us our sins, he will always remind us: "Go and sin no more." We must carry this deep inside our hearts, so that each time we face temptations, these kind words of Jesus will surface to help us overcome them. 


I sing with the choir:
                                    Jesus Lord, I ask for mercy
                                    Let me not implore in vain
                                    All my sins I now detest them
                                    Help me not to sin again.   



  

Lenten journal 31

12 March 2016

For the record, James and I celebrate our wedding anniversary today. Yes, the years have gone fast, the physical body is showing its toil, with receding hairline and extended waistline, not to mention wrinkles! Still we are soul-mates, a union made in Heaven 39 years ago in Sheffield, England.  

Judging

The conjecturing about whether Jesus was a prophet or the Christ continue in today's Gospel (Jn 7:40-53). The chief priests and Pharisees were eager to have Jesus arrested. Only one upright man, Nicodemus  spoke up, and asked whether it was right to pass judgement on a man before giving him a hearing? His brave question did not go well with his peers who were intent on killing Jesus.  

When we judge a person, it is always based on an assumption or hear-say, or even on the exterior appearance of the person. We know very little of their lives or virtues, yet we label them. It can only stem from our being insecure, or the ego, or envy; but we must know that each time we judge, we lose our sense of goodness, of probity, of trust in a friendship.    

This Lent, let us be more conscious of not judging people; I find a good way of doing this exercise is to remember (Luke 6: 37), that the yardstick we use to judge others will be used to judge us when we meet our Creator. It is a powerful reminder that we should love more and will others good.

                         No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside
                         its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it
                         treats its highest citizens but its lowest ones.
                                                     - Nelson Mandela-



    

Lenten journal 30

11 March 2016

Today marks the 5th anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that hit the north-eastern region of Japan in 2011, affecting a number of prefectures. Let us remember the victims and all those displaced by this tragedy and pray that they can feel God's love and healing hands as they continue to rebuild their lives.  

Perseverance 

Although tension was high because the Jewish leaders were looking for opportunities to kill him, Jesus still went to the Temple to preach. Many people saw him and knew he was the Christ, but they were looking for signs. 

Do we need signs to know that God is near or that God loves us? If we spend our precious time focusing on signs to prove the authenticity of God, then whatever good things God does for us will elude us, just like the people of Jerusalem in today's Gospel (Jn 7: 25-29). They were so busy looking for signs that they failed to recognise the Christ among them. 

Despite difficulties and rejections, Jesus persevered in his teachings. There was a sense of urgency in him trying to convince the Jews that he is the Messiah sent from God; such was the great love he had for his kinsmen, but the lure of power, riches and recognition blinded them from seeing the Divine, come as human to allow them to see him, touch him, and feel his love, mercy and compassion.

We too must persevere in our quest to love God more and to see him in each one of us. We must persevere in our prayer life; be spiritually nourished in the Mass and Eucharistic celebration, so that the grace of God is enough to let us experience his living, loving presence in our lives.   

                         Though perseverance does not come from our power,

                         yet it comes from within our power.

                                                       - St Francis de Sales-

                                  

Lenten journal 29

10 March 2016

Spiritual Blindness

Today's Gospel (John 5: 31-47) has Jesus still trying to convince the Jews of his divinity with the Father and the works he has been sent to earth to do. But the Pharisees and the Jews were spiritually blind. Their pride made them think that they can attain eternal life by studying the scriptures and following its laws. Their hearts were closed to changes, for fear of losing their power and high-standing in the Temple. They refused to accept the truth in Jesus' teachings. The plot to kill Jesus intensified. 

I always believe that there is a thin line separating awareness and ignorance, the good and the bad. A thin line where the spiritually blind can easily cross over and the dark forces take over...justifying all the sins they have committed or about to commit. There in their dark world, the murderers, rapists, robbers, the corrupt, in their blindness and disregard, are sensitised to their hideous crimes. 

Another form of spiritual blindness is when one thinks one is righteous, just like the Pharisee in his prayer, condemning the tax collector. We must always be conscious to be humble in whatever we do and say. In our quest to be humble, we should look to Mary, the Mother of our God on the day the Angel Gabriel appeared to her to announce that she had been chosen to bear a son, a Saviour for the world. Her reply should be imprinted into our hearts as a lesson in humility: "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done unto me according to thy word." From then henceforth Mary helped God in the salvation of souls...our souls.    

Saint Augustine once said that "humility is the foundation of all other virtues"...it is only in humility that one can love, forgive, empathize easily with each other. That is what our Lord wants of us, in our words and deeds so that we will be able to draw others to see and experience his great love and mercy for all mankind.    

    

                              From humility of heart proceed serenity of mind,

                              gentleness of conduct, interior peace, and 

                              every good. 

                                                  - St Paul of the Cross-

Lenten journal 28

9 March 2016

Conviction

Jesus faced a lot of resistance from the Jews who were already planning to persecute him...but undaunted, he carried on his teachings and healing; in a way to try and convince them that he is the Son of God, sent by the Father to teach them the laws of love, compassion, mercy. "My aim is to do not my own will, but the will of him who sent me." (John 5:30). A strong conviction of a God who became man, so as to understand our human weaknesses, but is without sin. He lived among men, ate with sinners, taught the multitude, healed the sick and possessed, condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, chose his 12 disciples among the common working class men; was hated by the Pharisees and unjustly tried by Pontius Pilate, suffered humiliation, torture and was eventually crucified on a cross. All because he loved us so much, he wanted to redeem us from eternal damnation.

Do we have such conviction to follow Jesus after all that he went through for us? Today, he is still working, like everyday, to help and guide us in our lives, through the Holy Spirit. He came to give us hope of a new life, he taught us to be selfless, to love our neighbours, to forgive our enemies, to be compassionate to the poor and under-privileged, to be charitable in our deeds, to be humble in all our dealings, to be gentle in our temperament and to offer peace to all our fellow human beings. 

To keep up with this conviction, he urged us to communicate with him everyday through prayers; and as if that is not enough, he comes to us everyday in the Eucharist, in the form of a humble bread and wine. How can we not love and adore such a wonderful God and share him with others? How can we not bring his light and glory to those who do not yet know him? How can we not praise and glorify him in our daily living?   

                              To fall in love with God is the greatest romance,
                              to seek him, the greatest adventure, and    
                              to find him, the greatest achievement. 
                                                                      - St Augustine-

Lenten journal 27

8 March 2016

Hope

In today's Gospel (John 5:1-16), one man who had been ill for 38 years, was sitting by the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem, unable to get into the pool without any help, to enjoy the healing effects of the water. Jesus came by and asked him, "Do you want to be well again?" We know that the man was healed in this encounter with Jesus.   

If Jesus were to direct this question to me, "Do you want to be well again?", my answer would be a resounding "Yes, please!". Don't we all want healing? To be healed of our selfishness, our impatience, anger, envy, pride, indolence, the list goes on...We need not despair. The teachings of Jesus is precisely to help us be healed of all our negativity that separates us from God and from man. There is hope...hope in a loving and compassionate God.  Just like the sick man who waited 38 years...for his healing. But it happened the moment he encountered Jesus! 

The moment we embrace our loving God and ask for forgiveness of all our wrong-doings, he will help us to begin a new life, with a new set of values. By studying the scriptures, we learn to love and forgive; and in our devotion to Mass and the Eucharistic, we will feel his healing powers over us. In time, with his grace, we will be able to see others through his eyes, and in and through him, we will be able to love them just as he has loved us.   

                            
                             Three things are necessary to everyone:
                             truth of faith which brings understanding,
                             love of Christ which brings compassion, and
                             endurance of hope which brings perseverance.
                                                                     -St Bonaventure-


   



  

Lenten journal 26

7 March 2016

Trust

As we continue in our journey of spiritual growth this Lent, let us learn to trust fully in the words of Jesus, just as the court official did in today's Gospel ( John 4:43-54), when he asked Jesus to go with him to heal his son who was on the point of death. But Jesus' reply was simple: "Go home, your son will live." The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way. His faith cured his son. 

In many of Jesus' healing, he always tell the people who were healed by him: "Your faith has healed you." In the same way, Jesus asks that we trust him. He knows what is best for us. We need to be patient, we need to pray, to communicate with God daily on our concerns, our needs and to trust him totally in our daily living, knowing that our God of Love wills us to be happy on this earth and he wants us to be his light for others to see and love him through us. 

It is not easy to trust, but to learn to trust, we have to look at the lives of the Saints. They did not have easy lives; they went through trials and tribulations and great sacrifices, many suffered poverty and persecution but their faith in God was steadfast. They should be our role models in how they handle adversity and how their deep love and trust in God brought them to glory.  

It is only when we trust God that we begin to live a life of peace, since trust is a proof of love. We will be able to enjoy his favour and goodness in our families, friends, our neighbours and in nature surrounding us. Once we can grasp that this grace, given freely to all, by a compassionate, loving God, we will want to make it our goal to return the same love, peace, generosity, kindness back to him who is in all our fellow human beings as we are all made in the image of God.    

                      

                      We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life. We  

                      know that he gives us every grace, every abundant grace;

                      and though we are so weak ourselves, this grace is able

                      to carry us through every obstacle and difficulty. 

                                                                        - St Elizabeth Ann Seton-      

Lenten journal 25

6 March 2016 (4th Sunday of Lent) 

Mercy

Today the Gospel returns to the story of the prodigal son. The theme of God's mercy is central in this Lent, more so because this year has been declared a Jubilee of Mercy by Pope Francis. A number of Parishes in each country have been designated to have a Door of Mercy; and I am lucky that our Parish Church in Tai Po, The Immaculate Heart of Mary is one of them. It was a grace-filled occasion with songs, prayers and the Eucharistic celebration of the Mass, when the Door of Mercy was opened by the Bishop on 1 January 2016, and the joy we felt walking through that door!    

The parable of the prodigal son shows the unconditional love of the father to both his sons, the younger wayward son who squandered his share of inheritance and decided to return home, repentant; and his righteous elder son who has been with him helping in the farm. When he showed bitterness in the way the father welcomed back his younger brother with feasting and celebration; his father patiently explained to him: "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found."  By his words and actions, he was teaching both his sons the virtues of compassion, mercy and unconditional love. 

God's mercy is infinite. He is constantly calling us to a deep spiritual renewal, a true conversion of heart. If we can sincerely pray just like the tax collector, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner", we can be certain that our Lord, who understands our human weaknesses will be ever ready to forgive us our sins. Once we have experienced God's love and mercy, we will want to live a life pleasing to him; to be more fervent in our prayer life and in our devotion to Mass and to develop a set of values to do good so as to give him praise, love and glory. 

                  Each year, Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen

                  the meaning and value of our Christian lives, and it stimulates 

                  us to rediscover the Mercy of God, so that we in turn, become

                  more merciful toward our brothers and sisters.

                                                                 - Pope Benedict XVI - 

Lenten journal 24

5 March 2016

Conversion

Today in Lk 18:9-14, Jesus shared with us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee, arrogant and proud thought he was righteous in the eyes of God. "I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all I possess"...here was a man who practised his religion meticulously; but pride made him despise and condemn those who were 'beneath' him. The tax collector on the other hand, aware of his unpopular profession bowed low and prayed, " God, be merciful to me, a sinner." He acknowledged his sinfulness and with a contrite heart, asked God for forgiveness. Thus, he went home, justified with God. 

This parable draws a sharp contrast between the proud and the humble. God does not need us to give great accounts of what we have done, or what charity we support. Our all-encompassing God knows everything; all he wants is for us to repent, to believe in his teachings and to live a life of justice. 

True repentance should lead us to an act of humility before God, to ask for his forgiveness, to be reconciled with him and with one another. There will be a change of heart, a conversion which happens deep inside us, stirring us to want to know more of God's goodness, to trust him and to love him who loves us even more.   

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted".  This teaching of Jesus from the parable should help us to be more Christ-like in our dealings with people and in our love of neighbour. It should also help us to develop an attitude of patience, acceptance, kindness and most of all forgiveness and love, because, unworthy as we are, we have received the same from an all-merciful God! 

                              Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient,
                              ever new, late have I loved you! 
                                                                -St Augustine-

  

Lenten journal 23

4 March 2016

Love

Today, (Mark 12:28-34) Jesus on accosted by a young scribe, summarized the main commandments of God. The first is to love the Lord, our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength; and the second, to love our neighbour as ourself. Simple but deep and wide in its applications.

To love God is easy, because he loves us; but to love your neighbour? We must not attribute love here as physical love. It is only with the love of God that we can love others.   

Jesus gave us a good example in one of his parables about a man being attacked by robbers and was left to die on the street. A number of people, including a priest, came by and walked passed him. Then a Samaritan came, saw the bleeding man and took pity on him. He brought him to an inn, paid the inn-keeper to look after the injured man and left extra money to ensure that he gets well. This story is the epitome of how one should love one's neighbour. To will him good. 

The Samaritan acted out of selflessness. He felt that it was the right thing to do, seeing a helpless man. That is how we should live our lives...to be stirred by God's love to help the helpless, the poor, the sick, the migrant workers and those living in the fringe of society. To love God is to love his children, remembering that we are all made in His image. With faith and prayer, we can transcend all prejudices and extend our love, mercy, compassion, generosity to all those in need, just as God has so freely accorded us those same graces. 

                           Love, when it is genuine, is all-embracing, stable, and

                           lasting...an irresistible spur to all forms of heroism. 

                                                                    -Pope Paul VI-

   

Lenten journal 22

3 March 2016

Healing

In the Gospel reading today (Lk 11:14-23) when Jesus healed a mute man, by casting out a devil from him, many people doubted him. They could not believe their eyes and thought that he was working with the devil. 

There are many healing going on each day in this world; the last thing we should do is doubt whether it is real. We must know that our living God, though unseen, is ever present in our lives, and if he wills that we be healed, who are we to judge? We must be united with God in his redemptive work on this earth...we are, after all, his children, greatly loved by him. How else can we return that love but to show compassion to the sick and terminally ill and helping them in their healing in whatever way we can. Sometimes, just by being there with them, a touch, a smile can help lift up their spirits, knowing that someone cares. Sometimes, by lending a listening ear helps to unburden whatever anxieties they may have in them. 

Yes, there are many ways we can help people heal. In doing that we gain...because healing is a two-way process. In empathising with the sick, we are one with them in their pain and sufferings. We wish we could alleviate that sorrow from them; but knowing that there is someone who understands their distress and who prays with and for them, does in fact gives them the courage to go through it. In our supplications to a merciful God, divine grace will speak to them and to us of hope and encouragement.   

                      

                      The longer the trial to which God subjects you, the greater

                      the goodness in comforting you during the time of trial

                      and in the exaltation after the combat.

                                                                 - St Padre Pio-  

        

Lenten journal 21

2 March 2016

God's Love

In today's Gospel reading (Matt 5: 17-19), Jesus affirmed that he did not come to abolish the laws of the prophets, "but to complete it." He added love in the law. 

Jesus' teachings is all about love...love your God, love your parents, love your neighbours, love the poor and the marginalised, love the sick and mentally ill, love your enemies. Throughout his ministry, he showed us how to love - in his healing of the sick and the possessed, in his sermon on the mount, in his miracle of the five loaves and two fish to feed the multitude of people who followed him, in his forgiving the adulterous woman, in his healing of the Centurion's servant, in his teachings in parables so people could understand, in his forgiving Peter who denied him 3 times at his darkest hour, in his welcoming the 'good' thief on the cross and even in his forgiving his persecutors who crucified him. The list goes on. 

What pure and great love God has for us, sinners though we are! Can we turn our back against him?  Our living God is calling us everyday, to want to love us and for us to experience and share in his infinite goodness. All he need is for us to tell him, "I believe, Lord, and I desire to love you with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my mind." Can you imagine how happy our Lord will be?

Once we have experienced God's love and mercy, we will want to change the way we live our lives. We find ourselves more forgiving, more compassionate, kind, patient, more charitable and we will be able to love more. These are gifts from God, to help us live a richer, more fulfilled and secured life; to help us be his instrument on this earth to extend the same graces to our fellow human beings, so that they too can come to know and believe and love so great a God.   

                            In the first place it should be known that 

                            if a person is seeking God, His Beloved is

                            seeking him much more.

                                                  - St John of The Cross- 

     

Lenten journal 20

1 March 2016

Forgiveness

Jesus made it very clear that in order to follow him, we must forgive those who have wronged us, "not seven times, but seventy-seven times." (Matt 18:21-35). God expects that if he forgives us our sins, we should extend the same to our fellow human beings as in his parable today of the master who, out of compassion cancelled the debt of his servant. But this servant failed to extend the same mercy to another servant who owed him money.    

To err is human, to forgive, divine, as the saying goes. We need to pray for God's grace to help us to forgive everyday, every moment, in every circumstances when someone has hurt us. If we can centre our thoughts on God forgiving us, it is easier then to forgive. In forgiving and also in asking for forgiveness, we will feel a burden being lifted from us, and we are free to go forward in our lives. 

We must know that if we do not forgive, that hurt in us will eat into our soul, making us bitter and hateful. If anything, it becomes a roadblock to whatever we want to do. That is why Jesus says we must forgive, not seven times, but seventy seven times! He is teaching us to exercise mercy freely and in doing so, it becomes easier each time.  

                          A tree is known by its fruit, a man by his deeds. A good

                          deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship,

                          and he who plants kindness gathers love. 

                                                                                     -St Basil-

                                  

          

Lenten journal 18

28 February 2016 (Third Sunday of Lent)

Repentance

Today, Jesus calls us to repentance; to a true conversion of the heart, to a deep spiritual renewal. In order to live a life of justice and peace, we need to be reconciled with God and with men. 

Lent is the time for us to examine our personal sinfulness, to be truly sorry for them and to ask God for forgiveness; and to start again. God knows our human weaknesses, he is ever so patient to teach us and to wait for us to realise his unfailing love and mercy for us. Just like the parable he shared in today's Gospel (Lk 13:1-9) about the barren fig tree where the man who planted it asked his gardener to cut it down as the tree had not borne any fruit. The gardener pleaded with the man to allow him another year to care and fertilize the tree, so that it may bear fruits. 

God always gives us second chances. All he asks is that we repent, change our ways, have the desire to live the Gospel life, and with God's grace, we can bear fruits of goodness... that of love, compassion, forgiveness, charity and joy so that others will be drawn to want to know more about our great and merciful God.

                           Repentance is the renewal of life. This means we must
                           free ourselves from all negative traits and turn towards 
                           absolute good. No sin is unforgivable except the sin of
                           non-repentance.
                                                          - Thaddaeus of Vitovnica


           

Lenten journal 19

29 February 2016

Judging

The Gospel reading today tells us that Jesus went to his home town, Nazara but felt that he was not taken seriously. In the synagogue, he told the people that "no prophet is ever accepted in his own country." (Lk 4: 24). In judging, the people could not accept him as they knew him to be Joseph, the carpenter's son. An ordinary man from an ordinary family. 

God can choose anyone to be his instrument on earth to teach us something, all we need is an open mind and heart to recognise God in the people we encounter in our lives. It may only be an ordinary person from an ordinary home, but he is the bearer of God's gift to us; it may be an advice to a problem we were facing, or it could be an opportunity to expand our horizons. We can never tell. God works in mysterious ways. We should not judge, but instead allow God to work in and through us to be the person he created us to be, and to be ever conscious of his love and mercy we see in the people around us.

In rejecting Jesus, the people of Nazara had so much to lose; and what they lost became a gain for those in other cities who, whole heartedly welcomed Jesus and allow him to touch and changed their lives forever.    

                      Christ does not force our will. He takes only what we give 
                      him. But he does not give himself entirely until he sees 
                      that we yield ourselves entirely to him.
                                                            - St Teresa of Avila-
   

Lenten journal 17

27 February 2016

Unconditional Love 

Today's Gospel of the prodigal son (Lk 15: 1-3, 11-32) is a story many of us are familiar with. It is about the unconditional love of the father for his son who, on taking his share of inheritance went away, squandered all the money; fell into disrepair and decided to return to his father, repentant. Because of his great love for his son, the father, with great happiness, welcomed him back; prepared a feast and called for a celebration. 

I like to relate this story to our relationship with God. No matter how long we pushed Him aside in our lives, He will still be there waiting for us to come back. And when the day comes when we know better, when our blindness is lifted, and we realised the blessings, the love and mercy He has shown us even during the time when we were unworthy, we will cry out with sorrow, " Father, forgive me for all the sins I have committed."  God, on seeing our contrite heart, will immediately welcome us back with open arms, for we are his children. I believe there is much rejoicing in Heaven each time a prodigal child returns. Such is the unconditional love our merciful God has for each and everyone of us. 

                          What does love look like? It has the hands to help
                          others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and 
                          needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has 
                          the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. 
                          That is what love look like.
                                                        - St Augustine-
             

Lenten journal 16

26 February 2016

Gratitude

The parable of Jesus today (Matt 21:33-43), aimed at the Pharisees is a story of the landlord who leased out his vineyards to tenants who eventually killed his servants and even his son when he sent them out to collect his dues from them. From their greed, they failed to appreciate the goodness of the landlord; and greed can turn one into ignorance, and in the case of the tenants, into evil deeds.

I have always thought that the annual Thanksgiving dinner, started in 1621 by the pilgrim fathers to commemorate a harvest festival is a wonderful tradition for families to get together to give thanks to a merciful Providence. This remembrance continues each year on the 4th Thursday of November in America and amidst the turkey dinner and feasting, it is an occasion for every family member to be grateful for the many blessings received.     

It is the same for the Chinese Reunion Feast on the eve of each Chinese New Year, where families, wherever they are, travel home to join their parents and siblings in a day of celebration, exchanging news, laughter and most of all to be thankful for family bonding and for love shared and given.   

We should appreciate every little thing in life; every little act shown to us by our families, friends and neighbours. It is only when we are grateful that life gives us a new meaning, it allows us to see the good in people, and with that, a positive outlook in everything we do.

                             Let us remember the past with gratitude,
                             live the present with enthusiasm, and 
                             look forward to the future with confidence.
                                                             - Pope John Paul II-