Commit to Live Faith Joyously

A Message For All Those Pilgrims For The WYD 2013

A total  102 pilgrims are all set to take off for the World Youth Day 2013 in Rio. My dear young people, the WYD experience is an invaluable one. You will have the great opportunity and maybe even a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of meeting our new Holy Father, Pope Francis and also meeting thousands of other young people of various race and colours from all the continents throughout the world. You will experience first-hand the different cultures, traditions and languages and so much more. I urge all of your to fully immerse yourselves and experience this beautiful cultural exchange, events, catechism with the bishops and priests. I am sure it will be a truly wonderful experience.

Allow me to quote from the latest encyclical and the first encyclical signed by Pope Francis, The light of faith – “Lumen Fidei” (LF) where it says that it is in the World Youth Days that the young people demonstrate “the joy of faith” and “their commitment to live faith solidly and generously, and their desire “to live life to the fullest,” (Lumen Fidei, no: 53). Your faith enhances your life as youths and brings hope for your generation. It is another opportunity for you to encounter Christ through various cultures, languages and people. I am sure the best of the WYD will take effect in your life as you encounter Christ in the Word of God, Sacrament, sharing and in various cultural experiences and events.

 

Have a blessed and safe journey. Be assured of all our prayers for you – our individual prayers and the prayers that we will offer during the Sunday liturgy. Our Lady of Aparecida (the image which is widely venerated by Brazilian Roman Catholics) will grant you her maternal care and protection.

Best Wishes.

Happiness In Christ Alone

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal..." 

(Mt 6: 19).

The human heart was made for the happiness and joy that it brings. To what kind of treasure should we entrust our heart, our very self? Jesus Christ alerts us to the false treasures which pull hard at our hearts each day — earthly treasures of fine clothes, or possessions, or wealth or money. As the realistic Spanish proverb puts it: “There are no pockets in a shroud.”

Christ offers us the one treasure worthy of the human heart, the one and only treasure that can accompany us through the grave and across the threshold to eternal life. What is that treasure? It is the person of Jesus Christ himself and all of the good actions we do for His sake. Living for Christ alone, loving him above all else, giving up our lives, our very selves for him can fulfill our deepest aspirations and satisfy our human heart. Only this treasure will remain for all eternity. “For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be.”

Action, Speech and Thought

The life of a Christian is characterised by three things - Action, Speech and Thought. The origin of every word is 'thought'. After a thought comes 'speech' which reveals in words the idea which has been conceived in the mind. Once the thought and speech take place in us then comes the third characteristic 'action', which realises the thought in deed. In the course of life we are made to think, to speak and to act. It is a good rule and it is good for us to keep a careful eye on these divine characteristics.
(St Gregory of Nyssa on Christian Perfection)

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord," (Col 3:17; Rom 14:7)

A True Light and Hope

“Rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home!” (MT 9:6)

Physical paralysis is an image of a man’s inability to return to God by his own efforts and man’s inability to create his own salvation (St Jerome).

At times we are stagnant with our daily routine and dislike having to adjust to God’s asking for more faith, trust, charity and new experiences in spiritual life. In reality. the problems of life are not really about problems but is all about holiness and about removing the principal obstacle to holiness – sin and an egoistic lifestyle.

The Word of God lifts us out of this problems of life just as a little hook lifts a fish out of the water. Once the fish is lifted out of the water, it dies. When we are lifted out of the water (sin and egoistic lifestyle), then we have been brought from death to life. We begin to see the true light and hope in the Lord.

Nevertheless, for some of us it is a slow journey because it takes time to arrive to Christian maturity. But we can be heartened to know that God will certainly send some miracles our way - miracles that will enable us to be changed through faith and trust.