LIFE GIVING GRACE

In the Gospel today, the Samaritan woman comes to the well to draw water (Jn 4:5-42). When her water runs out and she is thirsty, she must go back to the well again. She comes to the well so often, wants to find a source of living water. Jesus meets her and offers her living water, life-giving grace.

The Samaritan woman tried the first husband, the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth husbands and she was not satisfied. She desired the peace and the happiness that the things of this world cannot provide.

We can go through life just like this woman, searching for the little things in life that satisfy our thirst – perhaps pleasure (sex, alcohol or substance, etc), an interesting job or a friendship. All these things satisfy, but their satisfaction is limited and we must return to them again and again.

Jesus said, “everyone that drinks of this well will thirst again”. He states that the water from the well will leave one thirsty again. Jesus insists that doing the will God is in itself sustaining. With all our past, let us look for love at the right places and turn to Him in faith and trust.

FINDING CONSOLATION IN THE LORD IN OUR TIME OF GRIEF

The 40 days of Lent is one of the most significant periods for Catholics. It is a time of reflecting on the passion of Christ and keeping the Lenten observances – Prayer, Fasting (penance) and Almsgiving. We have completed the 1^st week of Lent and we have about another 6 more weeks before we celebrate Easter.

We begin Lent with the best of intentions to have a fruitful Lent by keeping ourselves closer to God and our neighbours. We often set our minds to prepare for a good Lent on what we are going to do or what we are going to give up. We want to have a right attitude about prayer by firmly committing ourselves for at least 20-30 minutes each day. Do you have the right attitude about Lent? How are you preparing for this Lent season? 

Having observed Ash Wednesday more than a week ago, I thought of spending more time in prayer and penance. After my dad’s passing, I thought of spending time with my family members for at least 7 days at home but I ended up traveling to and fro my house in Klang to our parish at Sentul for funeral Masses. Over a stretch of 8 days (since last week Tuesday till this week Wednesday) I have celebrated 7 funeral Masses including my dad’s funeral. Practically, every day I encountered a death and an increase of death in our parish. Throughout my ministry as a priest I have celebrated a maximum of three funeral Masses in a row, but these past days I celebrated seven deaths in a row.

A few days ago, one of our parishioners had a massive heart attack in the morning. I was driving from Klang to Sentul for a funeral Mass that morning and when I heard that this person was in a critical condition in the hospital, instead of driving straight for the funeral Mass at our Church, I diverted my direction to the hospital. Unfortunately, I could not administer the last rites for her as she passed away just a few minutes before my arrival. I could only watch helplessly as her family cried over their sudden and unexpected loss.

Looking at all these deaths, I feel so disturbed, upset, frustrated, irritable and impatient these past days. I realise that the Lord is not only adding more work for me to do but also adding more grieving for me. I am depressed over all these recent deaths and also sympathise with the families who have lost their loved ones.

Due to my personal loss and having to face the loss of so many parishioners in a short period of time, it has been difficult for me to talk about death. How do we grow stronger in our faith and how do we overcome our grief? I did share my difficulty with some of my friends on how could I assist the deceased members to cope with grief for their loss. Death and dying are realities of life. Those who are terminally ill know roughly when their death will occur. They can gradually adjust and make peace with death as much as possible but not everyone has this chance. Many deaths occur suddenly and often strike without warning.

Let’s stop all our doubts in our faith and questions on death and dying because the real answer is with God who says, “I am the resurrection and the life, anyone who believes in Me has eternal life,” (John 11: 25).

PROMOTING INTERFAITH HARMONY

On Sunday, 26th February, a group of 80 Muslim students who are in their fourth semester from University of Sultan Azlan Shah, Kuala Kangsar, Perak (KUISAS) came to our Church of St Joseph, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur for an exposure study programme. Prior to this they had visited the Buddhist, Taoist and Hindu temples in KL City. They were assigned to do comparison studies on all religions in Malaysia and how the people of other faiths worship. They were led by Professor Puan Siti Nurleha Binti Safie from the faculty of Islamic Studies of KUISAS.

They arrived at 8am and joined us for our English Mass at 9.00 am. Our Parishioners of St Joseph welcomed them and thanked them for choosing our parish for their assignments. After Mass, they adjourned to the Hall for a simple breakfast followed by a one hour Q & A forum at our Formation Hall.

I began the forum by introducing myself and explained briefly about the history of our Church. As we were discussing, I subtly corrected them of their concept of using the words “Comparison Studies of All Religions.” I suggested to them that in search of truth every religion has its beauty and uniqueness and we should understand them in the perspective of interfaith dialogue. Among the many other discussions, they also raised the question on how Catholics fast and observe the season of Lent. After the session, they went around our Church to take a few photographs and left at 12.00 noon.

EMBARKING ON OUR LENTEN JOURNEY

TIME FOR REPENTANCE
On Ash Wednesday (1^st March), we Catholics began our 40-day journey with the marking of ashes on our forehead. On the first day of Lent, Prophet Joel has described the true nature of God that he is a God of gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing,” (Joel 2:12-13). We are given the opportunity to return to God, to repent of our sins, to be moved by His grace, mercy and steadfast in love. Here, Prophet Joel highlights his three key words: Merciful, Gracious and Abounding in steadfast love. Let’s make a deep change of our hearts move closer to God and stay connected ourselves with our neigbours by being be merciful, gracious and steadfast in love.

I believe on Ash Wednesday, all of us received a lot of images, text messages and icons pertaining to Ash Wednesday and Lent. One thing, which captured my heart, are from the words of Pope Francis as below:

Fast from HURTING WORDS and say KIND WORDS.

Fast from SADNESS and be filled with GRATITUDE.

Fast from ANGER and be filled with PATIENCE.

Fast from PESSIMISSM and be filled with HOPE.

Fast from WORRIES and TRUST IN GOD.

Fast from COMPLAINTS and contemplate SIMPLICITY.

Fast from PRESSURES and be PRAYERFUL.

Fast from BITTERNES and fill your heart with JOY.

Fast from SELFISHNESS and be COMPASSIONATE to others.

Fast from GRADGES and be RECONCILED.

Fast from WORDS and be silent so you can listen.

They are very practical statements for us to follow our day. Let’s adopt these attitudes for the rest of weeks in this season of Lent and grow in holiness.

HAVE A BLESSED AND HOLY LENT!

A TIME OF GRACE

ASH WEDNESDAY

Today, our 40-day journey begins leading up to Easter. It is a journey that involves prayer, fasting and penance. We begin with ashes.

Ashes symbolise our own grief, our penitence, and our turning wholeheartedly towards Jesus Christ. Ashes become a sign of remorse, repentance and mourning.

Lent is a time of putting ourselves into the proper mindset to know how much we need Jesus Christ. Knowing that we are sinful and imperfect. We need to remember that without Christ we are hopeless.

The Lord invites us to deep change, to tear our heart, not just our garments (Joel 2:12-13). It may be painful and hard, but a true change of heart moves us closer to God and connects us with others. Our encounter with God opens us to a deeper sense of humility and gratitude.

During this season of Lent, starting today on Ash Wednesday, we are given the opportunity to return to God, to repent of our sins, to be moved by God’s grace, mercy and steadfast love. We will please God by doing what is right and loving Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength.