Jesus and the Storms of Life

The apostles were in a terrible storm, (Mt 14: 22-33). They struggled with fear as a raging storm tosses their boat and Jesus calmed the storm. He also calms storms of our lives.

God doesn’t always promise to deliver us out of the storms of life or afflictions. Storms come and go in everybody’s life. If you are going through a storm, Jesus knows about it and He has a purpose in it and He will make it into something good in your life. Storms come in the life of everyone of us to take us to our next level of faith and our next level of maturity.

Every storm is to build us up for something. Sometimes God allows trials in our lives to discipline, correct us and increase our faith. Often trials are to bring us closer to God and make us more God-dependent.

Jesus will be with you to help you, comfort you, strengthen you and bless you. Trust Him! “Lord, I can’t see any good in this for me, but by faith I trust you to know what You are doing.”

SEEKING FOR NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

It is already a month since we have started the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) classes in English and Tamil in our parish. We have a total of 16 candidates (12 in English and 4 in Tamil). The RCIA classes are being held every Tuesday at 8.00 pm. The RCIA programs will go on till June 2018.

This program prepares the candidates who need the Sacrament of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion - which are the three primary sacraments. There are other candidates coming into the Church through Sacrament of Confirmation.

Our main objective is not to convert them but to carefully guide them in their soul-searching for truth and assist them in discerning what they are entering into. The RCIA classes are also to answer their questions pertaining to their believe in God and help them to have an increase of a strong conviction of their faith. In the past years there were many students who have discontinued their classes and did not feel ready to be baptised. If they are not ready we usually advise them not to become Catholics. We don't pressure them and we don't even baptise them if they are inadequately prepared. They can always continue their classes at another time or another year.

RCIA is a great time for the candidates to search for truth and to know about the God they believe in. The RCIA students should not stop asking questions from the priest and RCIA instructors. They can always rely on or ask questions with their assigned sponsors or godparents as they progress in their faith journey. During this nine-month preparation process, as these candidates are progressing in their faith, we parishioners should reach out and offer our friendship to them and welcome them with kind hearted to ensure they have a very comforting and spiritual discernment before they become Catholics.

After going through all the RCIA classes and receiving the Sacrament of Initiation on Easter Vigil they are fully entered into Catholic faith. Once they have professed the Catholic faith and entered into the Catholic Church they should not stop learning more about the Catholic faith. Many of the RCIA converts to the Catholic faith fall through the cracks after being initiated and they stop learning the Catholic faith and also stop fulfilling the Sunday obligation. By participating and sharing in the Sunday Eucharist is a state of grace.

Many of these converts including the adult Confirmation candidates do think that becoming Catholic or receiving confirmation is a type of ceremony. They must remember that it is a continual call for conversion. It is not the ceremony but it is a call of God to be a Catholic. It is a life long journey and a life-long commitment to witness Christ in your life through words and deeds.

If anyone who is thinking seriously to become a Catholic, please do contact our parish RCIA facilitators or priest or nearest Catholic Church for further details. We as members of this parish do remember to pray for these RCIA candidates and for those who are still contemplating becoming Catholic. Do pray for them always to allow God moves their hearts and discover the truth that they are searching for.

“Seek out and surrender your heart to Christ to find joy…and you will also find happiness!

THE GLOW OF CHRIST

The feast of the Transfiguration (Mt 17: 1-9) is both a real event and an anticipation of the resurrection of future glory of Jesus. At Mount Tabor, “Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.” His physical appearance changed.

We cannot depend on a one-time spiritual encounter with God to maintain the glow of God. We have to keep going back to God to restore that glow of God in us. With continous prayers and Bible readings we will have the glow of Christ in our life.

In our spiritual journey, we are constantly challenged to pray more, to fast from pleasures, to give more generously to the Church and to the poor. We too can be filled with the presence of God, transfigured and shining before others.

We need to make use of every instant to learn from Jesus through prayer and the sacraments and to make a real difference in the world by bringing more souls to know, love and live for Christ.

DRIFTING AWAY FROM CHURCH

Last Sunday (23/07), we had a presentation of certificates for Post-Confirmation students of 2017 after the Sunday 9 am Mass. For many confirmands, they see the moment they receive Sacrament of Confirmation, they think that they have graduated from faith formation and life in the Church has come to an end or rather takes a back seat. Don't be of the perception that your confirmation is on the same level as that of a college or university graduation. Faith formation is far more deep and is a continuous lifetime commitment that does not come to a halt upon receiving the sacrament of confirmation. You have not done with the Catholic Church yet. Your confirmation is just an initiation into the life and mission of Christ and the Church. You are now called to be salt and light of the world.

In present days many young people don't attend Mass regularly. Church has become boring to our young people because the message is the same. Church has become irrelevant to their life. Many parents have been bugging their children to go for Mass at least on Sundays. First, the young people must understand that the moment they disconnect from the Church they begin to drift spiritually.

For an instance, when you and your friend slowly begin to drift away from one another, it could be an indication that your friendship could be coming to an end. If you feel like you are growing apart from your friend, you may find a way to re-evaluate and reconnect with your friendship. Likewise, the same goes to your life with your Church and God. Many of our young people begin to drift away from Church and from God because they commit themselves in too many worldly activities. Slowly they feel unwilling and unenthusiastic to pray or to read the Bible and feel guilty to return to  Church and God.

We need Jesus Christ and we need the Church. We need the Church community and we need each other. Without the Church as a foundation then we would not get the message of Chrsit into our lives. We should always keep ourselves close to the Church and call out to God before we are far from the shore and lose all sense of direction in life. There are few youngsters have shared with me that they don't find God in the Church and further that all those who come to Church are a bunch of hypocrites.

There is no perfect Church. There are no perfect Christians but together we help each other become the persons God intended us to be. As you get involved in the Church activities and regularly particpate in the Sunday Eucharistic celebration you will experience a deeper meaning in life.

My dear young adults at time you may distance yourselves from Church activities. You too may feel disheartened at times and you may feel like wanting to drift away from the Church. Whenever you feel this you ought to straighten your path in God’s way. You should begin to start waking up a few minutes earlier each day to read the daily readings  and pray before you leave to work or college. It is a time to cut down your other unplesant activitives and pay heed to your relationship with God and the Church. Your spiritual life will be strengthened as your faith increase day by day and your ability to overcome daily struggles will grow as well.

Do always keep your head up, your eyes straight ahead and your focus fixed on what is in front of you. Take care of your faith and don't go  astray from the right path, the way of truth,
and you will safely reach the end of your road.

CHURCH IS LIKE A PEARL

“THE PARABLE OF THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!” (MT 13:44-46).

Pearls have been used for centuries as objects of beauty and value. Pearls in the first century were viewed much like diamonds are today. They were the most valuable gems in the world at that time.

Jesus chooses the symbol of pearl for the Church. The Church is truly very valuable to the world even when the people do not actually appreciate her. The Church is worth all the price and effort that we need to give to keep the Church alive, active and strong. Thus, It is worth all our praying, our giving, our working, our sacrificing for the Church. The Church is worth all we can give to her.

The Church is worth the treasure of heaven to God. Jesus tells us that the Church is like a pearl purchased at all cost because She is seen as the true light of the world. Let us not quit from the Church and from Jesus. If you have experienced Jesus, you will not quit from His Church no matter how rough the road gets.