GOD'S PLAN FOR THE LITTLE ONES

The Church actually does not celebrate the birthday of the saints but She celebrates the date of  saints’ death (their martyrdom) as their special day in the liturgical calendar. Today we celebrate John the Baptist’s birthday at this point in our liturgical calendar because of his work, announced by Archangel Gabriel to Zechariah, his father (LK 1:17). John the Baptist plays a unique role in the history of salvation. 

The Church today reminds us of the birth of John the Baptist. The purpose of John the Baptist’s work was to prepare the way for Jesus. John the Baptist was a model of the key virtue of humility as he said, “He must increase and I must decrease.”

Each new child reflects of the infinite beauty and mystery of God. The little ones teach us that we need to grow in holiness. In their childlike simplicity they teach us to remain simple.

Each and every child is loved by God and has a destiny in the heavenly Father's plan. Each has a vocation, a calling in the Church. Do we appreciate the role that little ones have in God’s plans? Do we respect the little ones dignity? They are tomorrow's youths. 

St. John the Baptist, please pray for us and our little ones always.

A SEED IS A MYSTERY

In today’s Gospel Jesus said, “the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed which is the smallest of all the seeds on earth,” (Mk 4:26-34). A farmer plants a seed but he doesn’t know how it grows. Science explains exactly how it grows. Heat and moisture cause the seed to germinate.

The mustard plant can grow to a height of fifteen feet. That is a huge plant from such a tiny seed. The Church of Christ started with only a few people and now it has grown into a global family.

Just as the mustard seed provides shelter for the birds, we find protection and shelter in God’s Kingdom. In God’s Kingdom we find rest from the weariness of life. Just as the birds find rest and shelter in the mustard plant, we can find rest for our souls in Jesus. As St Augustine said, “our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Him.”

God has called each and every Christian to scatter seeds of faith to grow and bear abundant fruit and make a difference in the world.

SUBMITTING OURSELVES TO GOD

When Jesus defined God’s family He said “Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother,” (MK 3:35).

Are we part of our family? Jesus affirmed those who submitted to the will of God are His family. Those who submit to the will of God are accepted into the family of God, the Church. God’s family cares for one another in tough times and stays together and celebrates together as a Body of Christ. What a great privilege to be part of God’s family.

Most of us talk a lot about finding God’s will in their lives. God is still speaking, but the most prominent way God speaks to us today is through His Word. As we immerse ourselves daily in God’s Word, He will use it to speak to us.

As we get into God’s Word, we get to know God so intimately that He can guide us with His Holy Spirit. Life’s greatest family is the Church. Are we involved in the Church where you can say, “We are family?” Life’s greatest objective is to do God’s Will. We won’t know God’s will unless we are willing to submit ourselves to Him.

Mother Mary, make my heart only for Jesus.

A SPIRITUAL RETREAT FOR REST AND RENEWAL

Immediately after the feast of St. Joseph on 1 May 2018, a thought came to me about making a silent retreat overseas. After much consideration and prayer, I made up my mind to do my personal directed retreat at the Seven Fountains Retreat Center in Chiang Mai, Thailand. When I wrote an email to Rev. Fr. Paul Pollock SJ., he replied within 20 minutes saying, “the room is waiting for you.” That got me excited and I quickly I applied for my leave.

On 20 May 2018, I left for Chiang Mai but before leaving, I printed a copy of the latest Apostolic Exhortation of the Holy Father, Pope Francis on “Gaudete et Exsultate” (GE) or “Rejoice and Be Glad” which was published on 19 March 2018, the feast of St Joseph, the husband of Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a document about the call to holiness in today’s world. While I was on the flight, I was glancing at the document and the words of the Holy Father echoed in me, “we leave no room for God’s word,” (GE #68).

As I was entering the retreat center, the words of my retreat master, Fr. Pollock (via email) and the words of the Holy Father from the latest document, were strongly inviting me to reflect a little deeper on the meaning of “room”. For me, room indicated “heart” and I was longing to hear the voice of the Lord in my heart again. Hence, I needed to make room available in my heart for Jesus to speak.

In January 2002, just before beginning of my final year as a seminarian, I did a one-month silent retreat at this center. It was the best and last silent retreat I ever did in my life. Since then, I’ve come to realise that I have been too preoccupied with my ministry and that I’ve hardly spent time in prayer and mediation. I hoped and prayed that I would hear the whisper of the Lord in the room of my heart, as I was about to begin the one-week silent directed retreat. I started it without any expectation from the Lord, but instead I took it as a week of vacation and relaxation with Jesus.

On the first day of my retreat, I met my retreat master, Fr. Pollock, and he was happy that I had come to celebrate 15 years of my priestly life. He didn’t want to set any timetable for me, and instead left it to my own discretion. I made myself available to meet him every morning for at least for 30 minutes, and during the rest of the time, I allowed myself to be led by the Holy Spirit - in silent conversation in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, praying the Word of God, meditating, spiritual reading and walking around praying the Rosary. During the retreat I was so obsessed with the document of Holy Father on “Gaudete et Exsultate” and with a book called “Joy of the Priesthood” written by Fr. Stephen J. Rossetti, 2005.

As my retreat drew to a close, Fr. Pollock asked me to reflect on the story of Jesus cleansing the ten lepers, where only one leper came to glorify at Jesus’ feet from a thankful heart, (Luke 17:11-19). He encouraged me to take time off frequently to be with the Lord, celebrating my life as a priest, with thanksgivings in my heart. As for me, this retreat was a time away from my normal activities, to be solely with God. I gained the strength and joy in my priesthood and I am so thankful to God.

CHRIST IS DIVINELY PRESENT

Today’s celebration of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ, is the feast of the very center and heart of our Church, the center and heart of our faith, and the center and heart of the lives of each of us.

On this feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we remember that Jesus is truly and really presence in the Eucharist. It teaches us that as real food, the Eucharist is the true body and blood of Christ which nourishes our souls. We are fed with the “heavenly food.” It is a concrete way through which Christ is divinely present with us every day and every moment.

When we receive Holy Communion, we also receive a mission to “Go in peace and glorifying the Lord by your life.” When we go forth after the Eucharistic celebration, we grow daily into the Eucharistic Christ who reaches out to all people and who gives Himself fully for the life of the world.

Pope Francis reminds us that the Eucharist is to become what we eat, to be another Christ for the world, to be Eucharistic in our self-giving love, in our reaching out and in our embrace of all people in the manner Jesus showed us.