LENT: CREATE A SPACE FOR JESUS

“He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him,” (MK 1:12-15).
Every year as we start the Lenten season we question ourselves: what to do and what should I give up? This Lent we shall put Jesus into the center of our lives and deepen our trust in Him. Without Him we can do nothing.

We allow Jesus to be God in our lives. When He takes more space in our lives He can work in us the way that He wants to work. Jesus will be with us and will bring power into the darkest sides of our lives. He will not leave us alone in the wilderness and with the demons. If we create enough space for Jesus in our hearts He will reveal to us what we need to put to death in our own lives.

What actually take up much space in our life and what are the stumbling blocks or barriers Jesus from being God for us? We may need to give up something so that He can have more space to work in our lives.

“Lord, make me know Your ways and teach me Your paths!

LOVE AND LENT 2018

We have started our Lent season on 14 February 2018, coinciding with Valentine’s Day. This year, Valentine’s Day shares the calendar with Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. It will occur once again in the year 2024 and 2029. It is an obligatory day of fasting from one or two meals, and abstinence from meat. I hope your Valentine’s Day celebration didn't interrupt much of your Ash Wednesday observation – pray, fast and penance.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has chosen on a theme, “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24: 12) for Lent 2018. Jesus spoke these words to His disciples at the Mount of Olives before His passion as He was describing to them about the end times where “false prophets would lead people astray, and the love that is the core of the Gospel would grow cold in the hearts of many.”

These false prophets come in various forms to manipulate and confuse human hearts to enslave and lead them astray by offering “easy and immediate solutions to suffering that soon prove utterly useless.” Holy Father added that these false prophets lead our people to choose false sources of happiness for real ones, which is a strategy typical of the devil. The devil, who is a “liar and the father of lies” always confuses our human hearts by presenting “evil as good, falsehood as truth.”

Many children and young people are mesmerised “with pleasures mistaking them for true happiness” and engrossed with wealth “which only makes them slaves to profit and petty interests.” Some turn to drugs as solutions for their life problems, but all these are proven to be pointless. They only lead to violence against human beings and a global selfish attitude of indifference. Their hearts grow cold because of their problems, their sufferings and their lackadaisical attitudes.

We often think that as long as we are relatively healthy and comfortable, we do not have to care about those who are less fortunate. “When a person doesn’t have enough to eat, that’s a form of violence. Where there’s exclusion and inequality in a city, that’s a form of violence. When there’s no respect for the dignity of the person, that’s violence,” the Pope said. The real temptation for us Christians is growing in a selfish attitude of indifference to our neighbours. As Christians we need to confront these attitudes.

During this season of Lent the Holy Father invites us to reflect on three scriptural texts:

·      “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Cor 12:26) which refers to  the church;

·      “Where is your brother?” (Gen 4:9) which refers to parishes; and

·      “Make your hearts firm!” (James 5:8) which refers to individual Christians.

Lent is a time of grace, and it is a favourable time. As Catholics, we should observe Lent by giving up our selfish attitudes of indifference and resist these “great tribulations” which are happening in our Church community and amongst individuals. The Holy Father hopes that we can overcome all these indifferences as “we give alms and share in God’s providential care with those who beg for our assistance.” Fasting “makes us more attentive to God and our neighbours” and “revives our desire to obey God, who alone is capable of satisfying our hunger.”

Lets evaluate ourselves in light of God’s words - merciful, graciousness and abounding in steadfast love. May these words remind us of who God is and what He does for us, inviting us not to be indifferent to violence. We shall be merciful, be gracious and steadfast in love like Him, and not to grow cold towards our parish community and individuals.

FOSTERING LIFE AND LOVE

World Day of Marriage

is a day to celebrate the Sacrament of Marriage once again. As we celebrate World Marriage Day, it is a great opportunity “to focus on building a culture of life and love that begins with supporting and promoting marriage and the family.”

The Church reminds husbands and wives to understand that their call to marriage is a call to make a total gift of self to their spouses and a deep union with each other. Vocation is a calling and it is not a job. When we fail to recognise marriage as a calling, we belittle it. All married couples, single, divorced, widowed need to pray every day for the grace to live out their vocation to perfection and holiness in an imperfect world.

Pope Francis says that newly married couples should be helped “to enrich and deepen their conscious and free decision to have, hold and love one another for life” (Amoris Laetitia, no. 217).

On this day let’s pray that all married couples renew their marriage covenant, strengthen their bond of peace with their children, grow closer together and grow more confident in their vocation to share God’s love with all those around them.

MESSAGE FOR THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK 2018

On Sunday, 11 February 2018, we celebrate the 26^th World Day of the Sick. It coincides with the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Holy Father has chosen the theme for this World Day of the Sick and it comes from Jesus’ words from the Cross to Mary, his Mother and to John, his beloved disciple: “Woman, behold your son... Behold your mother. And from that hour, the disciple took her into his home,” (Jn 19:26-27). These words from Jesus irradiates the mystery of the Cross, where Jesus manifests His glory and shows His love and compassion, which then becomes the foundation and rule for our Christian community.

With this theme, we come to understand that the Holy Father reminds us about Mary’s maternal care and her role for the sick people. She is always our Mother who gently and tenderly cares for our spiritual and physical needs. Her spiritual and physical care for us, and the healing power of Jesus, can never be underestimated. When we reflect on the people in the Gospels, they are always in haste to bring the sick to Jesus, so that the Lord will heal them from their physical infirmities rather than spiritual infirmities. All those who touched Jesus Christ with their faith were cured. Faith is one of the most powerful acts of the human person, since God Himself chooses to be moved by it. How strong is our faith in the power of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do we reach out and touch Him in faith every day? Do we allow Him to act in our lives through faith?

The Church has always been faithfully responding to the sick and suffering as it gives hope, tender care and mercy to them. The Holy Father, Pope Francis, uses the Church herself as an image of ‘field hospital’ which cares for the sick and suffering, when they are spiritually or physically in need for the healing touching of Jesus.

There are many doctors, nurses and care givers who give their service in hospitals, clinics and healthcare institutions. We also know there are parishioners, priests, consecrated people and volunteers who visit and offer their pastoral care to all those who are sick and home-bound. Not forgetting our immediate family members who have dedicated themselves to caring for our own chronically sick or differently-abled parents, grandparents, spouses, children or relatives. The love and care, given within their family circle, is an extraordinary witness of love for the human person. All this effort, contribution, service and willingness to give of themselves, is immeasurable.

The number of people who are going through pain, suffering and sickness in our families and communities are increasing. It is our duty and responsibility to give our pastoral care, and to reach out to them with the healing touch of Jesus. Many people, throughout the centuries have firmly believed the ‘touching’ of Christ through receiving the sacraments, brings about spiritual healing and redemption.

“When one member of the body is suffering, we all suffer,” (1 Cor 12:26). We are reminded of our role pertaining to the sick and suffering and value them as members within the body. The Church calls us to respond to their needs through hope, tenderness, love and compassion. We must assure them that they are not alone. Let us give bring hope and joy to the sick and suffering, and comfort them in their affliction.

IN NEED OF PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING

During the time of Jesus leprosy was a terrified disease without a known cure. Leprosy was a very contagious disease. Lepers were not allowed to come into contact with others, living a lonely and isolated life. Like the leper in today’s Gospel (MK 1:40-41), we, too, are in need of healing especially from sin.

“There came a leper to Jesus and pleading on his knees: ‘If you want to, you can cure me,’” (MK 1:40). The leper knew Jesus was his only hope and he was determined.

We stand in need of a touch from the Lord Jesus, living a life of loneliness and isolation due to our sinfulness. Both physical and spiritual healing are centered on faith. We must recognise that Jesus has the power to provide the healing power. He is able to do all things at His will. We must come before Him in an attitude of worship and submission.

The encounter with Jesus changed the leper’s life forever. Jesus wants to touch your life today. I am no longer dead in sin, but alive in the Lord Jesus Christ! I am no longer an outcast, separated from God, but accepted as His child.