BEING FORMED AND TRANSFORMED AS INDIVIDUALS

Last weekend, July 15 and 16, we had two inspiring formations presented by Mr Derek Chong from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The first formation on ‘A Sense of Being Called’ was organised for the various leaders and BEC members. About 54 of them attended this formation starting from morning till afternoon. God is indeed calling everyone to be a part of the entire parish community. This six-hour session had brought an awareness to participants about their calling and response in participating in the life of the Church. The participants also reflected on how their calling allows them to transform their lives.

The sense of being called is also committing and engaging ourselves in a particular ministry and developing our talents and sharing with one another in the parish community. When it comes to work with the community I am sure we face a lot of pressure, fun, heart-break, adventures and excitement. It is all right to feel all of these things. In the midst of all these feelings we should know what path to take, what bridge to cross and how to go about in ministering in a more purposeful and fruitful manner. When we have an endurance to go ahead in our ministry we shall find a proper direction in the ministry. Ultimately, it brings a sense of peace in us.

Despite our struggles and challenges, let’s not get tired of doing right things for God and utilise our talents, gifts and experience in serving others meaningfully. The important characteristics of being called includes listening to God, being consistent in our prayer life and having order in our lives accordingly. The awesome part is that God is with you every step of the way. We shall find happiness and be ‘alive’. Do ask yourselves how God is calling you to be involved in the life of the Church and to identify God’s purpose for your life.

The second formation was targeted for the youth of our parish. They consisted of students in Form 3 and 4, post-confirmands, college students and working single adults. Surprisingly, about a hundred participants attended the four-hour session on “Living Our True Identity” which started in the afternoon and ended in the evening. The formation was mainly to help the young people find their identities and allow themselves to grow in Christ. This formation was aimed at helping the youngsters embrace their identity in relationship with God and be free from hurts in the past.

My dear youths, we know today’s culture constantly gives you the freedom to become anyone that you want to be. No matter how much hard work you generate, you may end up frustrated and confused. The one and only way you discover who you really are, is by seeking a true and deep relationship with Jesus. When you find your identity in Him, you will find that it is better than any other choice in your life. As you grow from one stage to another stage in your life, do “focus on discovering more about what God’s image looks like in you and how you can express it more in your life.”

When you allow Jesus to take control of every area of your life and trust in Him then you will have the power to live with integrity and grow into a truly wonderful person. You only have one identity and it is found only in Christ Jesus, only in Him where your true identity resides.

“Do not love the world or what is in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father  finds no place in him,” (1 John 2:15).

JESUS IS A GOOD GARDENER

“Let both (the darnel and wheat) grow together until the harvest…” (MT 13:43).

What is the difference between darnel and wheat? Wheat bears useful food, flour that can be made into bread. The wheat in its highest use to become the Host and we use for the Mass. With the Holy Spirit the host / the bread transforms into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. The Darnels are useless. It can suck up water and other nutrients from the soil and harm the development of the wheat.

In the Gospel (MT 13:n24-43), Jesus tells a story about a garden. From this story we learn that Jesus is our True and Good Gardener. The darnels can make it difficult for the wheat to live and to grow. Evil makes life difficult for us in this world. God knows that the darnels are hurting the wheat. God also knows how the darnels are domineering the garden. The darnel or the Evil is continuously trying to overtake our lives. Evil wants to invade every corner of our minds, too.

Only Jesus has the power to transform our hearts. He is the one who saves sinners through sowing good seeds of the gospel. In our daily life, we grow impatient. Christ is patiently and graciously transforming us. We are wheat of the kingdom. So we wait and pray that Christ will transform the darnels of the evil in our lives. He will nurture and care for us always.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving, (Ps 86: 5).

BE FORMED AND INFORMED

Do you have questions about the Catholic Faith? Do you wish you knew the Bible better? Are you being well formed in your Catholic faith?

FORMED.org is an online Catholic recourse website and it is also known as a “Catholic Netflix or Catholic iFlix.” It is an excellent resource to provide Catholics of all ages in the catechising Catholicism. Some of our parishioners have heard it and some of you have already subscribed to it.

To streamline the subscription process, the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur through the Archdiocesan Pastoral Institute (API) has subscribed to FORMED.org using a single master subscription. This subscription will be made available to every Catholic family through all the parishes in the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur. API together with KL Archdiocesan Social Communications Ministry (Social Communication) has provided some information to assist parishes on the subscription and usage of FORMED.org.

Two months ago our Parish New Evangelisation Team (PNET) consisting of 10 members attended the briefing on FORMED.org here in our parish and they have already subscribed to it. The members of PNET have also introduced to a few of our parishioners and friends. Here is some information about FORMED.org to all parishioners.

FORMED.org is a dynamic faith education website containing the best Catholic videos, audio talks, eBooks and movies from trusted partners like the Augustine Institute, St. Paul Center, Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, Lighthouse Catholic Media, Ignatius Press and Word on Fire. FORMED.org is the best Catholic content which we can find in one website. These resources are specifically designed to assist in all adult formation programs, marriage enrichment and preparation, Bible study, RCIA, youth, Marian devotion. It is also the most compelling and trustworthy website in our Catholic Church today provides materials to help in effectively for Catechism or Faith Formation or Sacramental preparation for every parishioner.

Discover hundreds of Catholic video programs, movies, audios and e-books for free! You can discover or download all the above resources at no cost which are available in English and Spanish.

STUDY PROGRAMS: 300+ episodes of video-based on “Catholicism” series programs.

MOVIES: 35+ feature films and movies on the lives of the saints and church history.

AUDIO PROGRAMS: 45+ audio presentations by most popular Catholic speakers such as Scott Han, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, Bishop Robert E. Barron and many more.

EBOOKS: 25+ of inspiring eBooks on various topics related to the Catholic faith.

The PNET is already taking a step in introducing FORMED,org during various formations for adults, youths and teenagers of our parishioners. Here I would like to promote it in our parish bulletin and website for you to subscribe it for your usage. I invite all parishioners to utilise it.

The access is free to all our parishioners and families, anywhere and anytime on any device – computer, tablets or smart phones. Hope FORMED.org will assist you to explore the wonders of the Catholic faith, to help you how to grow in your faith, to develop your prayer life, to live your faith and to evangelise your faith.

My dear parishioners for your personnel access to FORMED.org, please follow these steps: 

• Visit formed.org with a web browser

• Click on Register (lower right of page)

• Enter Parish Access Code: JG2JDZ

• Enter your email and create a password (you need this to login later).

Ps. Don't post it in your Facebook or make it viral.

“ENGAGE IN YOUR FAITH ANYWHERE, ANYTIME.”

LIVING SEEDS OF THE GOSPEL

The way we build God’s kingdom is by reaching out to people. As we look at the Gospel, (Mt 13:1-23), Jesus is sharing a parable with us, a parable that is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

“Others fell on the good soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty,” (Matt 13:8).

When the seed of the Gospel hits this kind of (soil) heart, it germinates, grows up and bears fruit to the glory of God. This is the only soil that produced fruit. The person with the receptive heart will bear fruit, then they will bring forth a crop.

Spreading the good news about Jesus can be tough at times. There are times where we can get discouraged. There are other times of glorious joy over what God has done through us.

Don’t give up; don’t plug your ears or close your eyes. Don’t harden your heart toward Jesus’ words. Knowing what kind of soil you are trying to plant seeds in will help you be more effective in your evangelism efforts.

When we are trying to plant in unprepared soil, we need to realise we will need to do more than just throw out the seeds of the gospel; we need to do some preparation work, some plowing, fertilising and watering before the soil is ready.

Jesus did not give us dead seeds. He has given us living seeds of the gospel. He hopes us hear the word of God and do everything possible to live it and help it to flourish.

CELEBRATING BIBLE SUNDAY: GOD’S WORD IS CENTER OF OUR FAITH

What is the meaning of the word “Bible”? The word “Bible” is derived from the Greek word “Biblios”, meaning a collection of books. The Bible is therefore not one book but a library of books. The Bible is the written Word of God. The “Word of God” means that God has spoken or expressed Himself. God is the author of the Bible, and Holy men of God were used to actually express God’s thoughts in writing, (cf 2 Peter 1:21).

The Bible is not an ordinary book, but the men who wrote it were inspired and moved by God’s Holy Spirit. The books of the Bible were all written at different times and in different places over a period of thousands of years. They were slowly gathered together until we have them all in one book. Between its covers are the answers to every problem of the human condition. The Bible is a wonderful book and no book has had the circulation and influence and impact that the Bible has. Every word is true and remains relevant across time. 

Each day we must read the word of God constantly in order to grow in faith. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to teach us individually and guide us towards to the truth. If we don’t read we will never grow in faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Our growth comes by reading and exercising our faith through prayer, by using our spiritual gifts and by fellowship with one another at home, at work place and at church.

The Bible is the most unique sacred book in the entire world. We have such a valuable and effective sacred book and we should ask ourselves: How are we using it? How well do we know it? How are we being moulded by it?

Does God’s Word provide the daily nourishments for our faith? God’s word is alive and will change our life. When we hear or read God’s Word and when we are open and receptive to His Word, this will then take root in our lives and transform us. When we make it a habit to read the Bible we are spending quality time with God the Father. We receive nourishment spiritually for our soul through His Word and vital to our spiritual growth. Therefore we must partake in receiving nourishment regularly to live a strong, peaceful spiritual life. When we neglect to receive daily spiritual nourishment from the Word of God we would become weak spiritually, and once again shutting out God’s voice. We must take time to meditate and feed on the Word of God.

Let us through out our lives read the Bible as if it is God Himself speaking to us directly and personally. It will impart to us light, understanding, spiritual food and physical health which will cleanse us, sanctify us, build us up, make us partakers of God’s own nature. And you will be empowered with wisdom to overcome the evil. On this Bible Sunday, let us with humble hearts give thanks to God for the precious gift of His word.

What we should do with the Word of God? Listen. Read daily. Believe in it.

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word,” (Ps 119: 9).