FAITH AND PRAYER

Today’s Gospel says that the disciples have just returned from their first mission trip without Jesus. The apostles gather together with Jesus and report all they have done and taught. Jesus says to them, “You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while,” (LK 6:31).

The disciples spend themselves in preaching ministry and once they return He pulls them away in order to recharge their batteries. Without the Lord Jesus, we are nothing. We need that intimate connection with Him. If we neglect our time with the Lord, it won’t be long before we run out of energy. We cannot be His servants without His Power, and that Power only comes from Jesus.


Jesus knows that we may fail in our ministry because of exhaustion and tiredness. Every leader, catechism teacher and servant must be grounded with faith and prayer. We are all uniquely gifted with spiritual gifts, talents and abilities to serve our families and parishes.

Jesus has placed us in our parish with a special plan and purpose. He is going to use us in the ways that we never thought possible.


Do you want to make a difference in your parish? So, keep up the holy task that you are undertaking.

THE MISSION OF CHRIST

Jesus send the twelve to preach repentance, (MK 6:7-13). He sent them out two by two on a mission. These 12 disciples are being trained by Jesus to be His first witnesses.

Jesus wants them to be single minded about their mission and He doesn't want them getting distracted by the things of this world. He doesn't want them carrying a lot of extra baggage when they go for mission - Pack light and God will provide your needs.

Jesus has a mission for every Christian. Today’s Gospel (MK 6:7-13) provides encouragement and guidance for those who desire to serve the Lord. The Church is called not necessarily to be successful, but only to be faithful to God’s command.


There is a great need in the world today –  the need is for repentance. With a repentant heart, believe the Good News of forgiveness in Jesus. Let us determine to further the Church’s mission to help others hear the call to repentance and welcome Christ into their lives.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

The 21^st FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup is currently being held in Moscow, Russia. The tournament kicked off on 14 June 2018 and will end on 15 July 2018. The first FIFA World Cup football tournament for men was started off by Jules Rimet, a French football administrator, with the sole intention of uniting nations. The tournament took place in Uruguay from 13-30 July 1930, with only thirteen teams participating.

The FIFA World Cup happens every four years. However, prior to the World Cup tournament, there is a two-year qualifying process, involving over 200 teams from around the world. From this process, only the top 32 countries are selected for the World Cup tournament. This year, the host team (Russia) and the defending champion of 2014 (Germany) automatically qualified, as is the norm. A total of 64 matches were played in 12 venues, located in 11 cities, in and around Moscow. There are altogether 736 players in 32 squads, at this year’s World Cup.

FIFA World Cup is the world’s most watched sport and it is estimated that 3.2 billion people have watched so far, this year. Among the many football tournaments such as European Football Championship, Africa Cup of Nations, COPA America, English Leagues, etc., I enjoy the World Cup the most. Every four years, when 32 countries from around the globe gather together for football’s biggest and grandest tournament, I try my best to watch most of the matches. Football is a most beautiful game and it is a sport almost everyone likes it. During my primary school years, I played football for school and district. Through football,  I learned some of life’s most important lessons, such as discipline, hard work, commitment, courage, teamwork, struggle and endurance.

Many have asked me which team do I support? Not one in particular, but I have my favourite teams such as Brazil, Germany, France, Argentina, Portugal, South Korea and Japan. However this year, almost all my favourite teams have lost in the early rounds, except for France which has qualified for the finals. I felt a little upset as my teams were knocked out one by one, and surprisingly, the underdog teams performed better.

Two Asian countries – Japan and Korea, played well, but unfortunately failed to advance to the quarter final stage. Japan has risen up the FIFA ranking since 1993, and they have qualified for the last six World Cup tournaments. Korea however, is the most successful football team in Asia, and they have participated in 10 consecutive World Cup tournaments. This year, Japan played extremely well, until they were knocked out by Belgium in the Round of 16. I certainly hope that one day, they will win the World Cup.

We have now come to the finals of the World Cup 2018, with France and Croatia all set to battle it out for football’s highest honour. The world waits anxiously for Sunday, 15 July 2018. France has made it to the finals for the third time in history after a 1-0 victory against Belgium in the semi-finals. Croatia, on the other hand, are in the finals for the first time ever, after upsetting England 2-1 in the semi finals, going into extra-time. So let’s wait and watch, the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2018 – FRANCE vs CROATIA – who will win???

BRINGING THE WORD OF GOD TO LIFE

On 8 July 2018, we celebrate Bible Sunday. The Church in Peninsula Malaysia has chosen the theme “YOUNG PEOPLE, FAITH AND VOCATION DISCERNMENT” which is the same theme as World Youth Day 2017. The Local Church encourages our young people to welcome the Word of God into their lives and to engage with the Bible in ways that are appropriate to them.

The world is so greatly advanced but the human heart is restless and growing in hopelessness, especially among the younger generation. The Church realises that there is a lack in development of faith and vocation discernment amongst young people. Thus, St. Paul’s writing to Timothy (2 Tim 3:15) recalls that the greatest kindness parents and grandparents can do for their children or grandchildren, is to get them to know the Bible early. Children experience true learning when they understand the Scriptures and Traditions in order to attain salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

There are two areas where parents and teachers can apply Scripture to encourage faith in young people to be disciples of Jesus include:

1) Starting them young for their ultimate future.

 “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn away from it” (Proverbs 22:6). This verse reminds parents of their duty to pray with and for their children, instruct and teach them about Christianity, and set good examples of holy life. Within this environment of faith, they will grow in endurance, facing the trials of life and continue to walk in the path of truth and holiness.

2) Rooting our children in faith.

The first seven chapters of the Book of Proverbs exhorts the fear of God and obedient to parents. The fear of the Lord, (Pro 1:7) is about reverence towards God and respect for Him. Parents should instruct godly wisdom to their children so that they will learn to be wise in the present as well as in the future in order to choose the right thing to do. True wisdom comes from the Bible and when we implant these seeds of wisdom in them, surely they will remain in them, even when they grow old. A life which is rooted in faith will help our children stay in Church till the end.

Two areas young people can apply Scriptures to develop their faith and vocation discernment include:

1) Rekindle the Gift of God.

St. Paul reminds us “to stir the flame the gift of God that is within you…” (2 Tim 1:6). Young people are urged to watch and fan the flame in their hearts, to keep it burning brightly. They ought to set the flame ablaze by daily prayer, meditating on the things of God, using their gifts to improve the spiritual ability, which God has given them.

2) In the Spirit of power, love and self-control.

St. Paul says, “God has not given us a Spirit of timidity but a Spirit of power, love and self-control,” (2 Tim 1:7). Very often, our young people fear standing up for Jesus and for His Church. They are somewhat weak and timid in nature, when it comes to placing the Word of God in their lives. The Spirit of power and courage are with them, to meet difficulties and dangers in life. The Spirit of love –  to love God and His people, and the Spirit of self-control, to avoid temptations and pleasure.

On this Bible Sunday, let’s remember the message of the Holy Father for the young people, inviting them to enkindle faith in their hearts and hope in mission to bring Jesus joyfully to every street and corner of the earth.

(EXTRACT FROM THE KL BIBLICAL COMMISSION MESSAGE ON BIBLE SUNDAY 2018)