Fostering Our True Catholic Faith

"You are the salt of the Earth... 
You are the light of the World!" (MT 5:13-16)

While we serve the world as its salt and light, we will be called to make sacrifices and even meet opposition from those who prefer to live in darkness and refuse to approach light. This may sting or hurt like salt on open wound. We need not lose courage for we are only doing God’s work as St Paul reminds us that his success only through the power of the Spirit of God - "Your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God," (1 Cor 2:5). 

It is true we can’t do without philosophy since everything has its hidden truth. Philosophy and science are good servants of Christ but they are poor guides when they rule out the power of the Spirit. Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing.

Christ has placed His good news in our hands and it depends on us how to proclaim. The Second Vatican Council on Decree "Ad Gentes", the Mission Activity of the Church #35-36, brings an awareness of our own responsibility for the spreading the Gospel and fostering our true Catholic spirit in the work of evangelisation in the service of God and charity towards others. 

We ask the Spirit of God to empower us with strength to be salt and light into the world and to rely on His power alone completely for the building of His kingdom on earth. 

A Miraculous Holy Picture

I wanted to share with you about a miraculous holy picture since early January 2014. By the way, we have all heard about the terrible and massive floods in the East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia towards the end of year 2013. After the floods subsided I went to celebrate Mass at St Philip Minh Chapel, Kemaman, Terengganu on 3rd January 2014. 

I remember a holy picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help framed with glass and placed on a small side altar at the chapel. To my knowledge it is more than 20 years old. 

During the flood the water raised up to almost 7 feet. When the water seeped into the chapel, it damaged many things including this little altar. I was surprised to see this holy picture of Our Lady was saved. The framed glass and its wooden side altar were damaged badly but the holy picture was in good condition without much stains. Today, the icon of Our Lady is placed at the wall of the chapel without any frame.

"Dear Mother of Perpetual Help from the cross your Son Jeses gave you to us to be our Mother. You are the kindest, the most loving of all mothers. Look tenderly on us your children as we now ask you to help us in all our needs."

Our Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation!

Today’s feast marks the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, forty days after he was born (Luke 2:22-40). We celebrate this feast, recalling the consecration of the baby Jesus by Joseph and Mary.

1) Simeon is called “just” – this means that he is honest and possesses moral character. Simeon was a man who was close to God!

a) How did Simeon know it was the Saviour? It was revealed to him! We are told that “the Holy Spirit rested on him.” Simeon had eyes of faith. He looked for this day in faith and now his faith had become sight.

b) How do we know that Jesus is Savior? It was revealed to us! Many things we see by faith, but one day our faith will become sight! We keep our faith until He comes.

2) Simeon is called “an upright and devout man” – literally means “taking hold of what is good.” 

a) Simeon was around 80 years old, who loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, strength and mind. If we are going to be used of God, we must be devoted to Jesus Christ. We must be looking for Him. We must be longing for Him. We must be living for Him.

b) We should have that same desire today, not just to see Jesus’ physical returns but a desire to commune with the Saviour each and every day of our lives. He abides within us and we should abide within Him. We must remain sensitive and obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit!

Jesus, the Light of the World

The 1st reading (Is 8:23-9:3) and the Gospel (4:12-23) speak that "the people that lived in darkness has seen a great light.”

Light is such an important thing that God created it even before He created heaven and earth. Once light began to exist, many good things followed it. If you look around us, we find that light helps us in many ways. 

In contrast to the light is darkness. Night and darkness are times of sleep. Nothing grows in darkness. If it is dark too long, everything dies. We also refer to darkness as a time of sin, the time of evildoing, the time of Satan. We feel uneasy and afraid in times of darkness.

The darkness of Paganism, ignorance of the true nature of God has been expelled forever by the coming of the Son of God as the Light of the World.

"The Lord is our Light and our help" and whoever  follows Him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Psalms: "Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord!" (Ps 26:24)

Point People toward Jesus

Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, "Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," (John 1:29).

Jesus is always coming toward us, too. If we are going to be a proper witness, we must recognise who we are not. We are not the Messiah. We are not the great prophet. We need to remember that we are not Jesus. We are not God. We are only witnesses. We are voices. We are to get people ready, to prepare them, to make their path straight. We must point people to Jesus.

The role of every Christian life is to point people toward Christ. As individuals and as a community, we are called to show God’s love and mercy to the world. We are chosen to continue this saving work, which Christ began, and to be part of this mission. Our response today is, “Here am I, Lord, I come to the will.”