FAMILY LIFE IN THE LORD

No family is perfect. In the case of imperfections and dysfunction we have to seek holiness in our families. Present days our families are facing challenges. Regardless of our family’s situation, all families are called to holiness. Despite our failures and imperfections, always cling on to hope because our family is in the Lord’s design.

The members of the family may get frustrated with each other. They may occasionally argue but ultimately, each of members should strive to love each other, humbly serve and be Christ for each other. Always remember family that learns together stays together.

Saint Pope John Paul II, “Familiaris Consortio” (Christian Family in the Modern World - 1981), reminds parents that their first task is to implant in each child a deep love for God. Parents are the primary teachers in the family, especially in matters of faith and morals. It’s so important and a powerful parents’ vocation.

With the Holy Family of Nazareth as our model and as we approach the New Year, let us resolve sincerely to act with love that binds life together and makes them perfect.

We can say together, “Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us.”

BRING GOD’S GIFT OF CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

Christmas is a season of gifts - and giving gifts is an important part of our celebration. Gifts are a way of telling others that we love and care for them. Christmas started with a gift. It was God who started it – “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life,” (John 3:16).

I am sure by now we would have decorated our homes with Christmas lights and ornaments, and purchased gifts for those who are dear to us. While waiting for Christmas, I hope you are not overwhelmed by Christmas parties, baking and cooking, buying gifts, and making sure you don’t forget to send Christmas greetings.

We live in a world that is so fixated by schedules and agendas. We sometimes forget the simple gesture of appreciating one another by being kind to the people we meet everyday. At times, our conversations and actions, perhaps even our jokes, have become unkind and cynical - be it at home, at work or even at church. We forget to say a kind or helpful word to our parents, spouse, children, siblings and friends. We seem to be unable to make eye contact or even smile. We are unwilling to make another person feel better. St Paul says, “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you,” (Eph 4:9).

In today’s world, the use of harmful or bad words has become common. We hear it every where. How could the use of harmful or foul words be used so casually? When you utter them, you can never take them back. The unkind things we communicate can spoil the best of relationships. Is it possible to tell ourselves not to use them? Can we remind ourselves that every time we misuse the gift of speech, it affects the other person in a negative way. When we speak harmful or vulgar words, we then fail to respect others. We should avoid saying anything that degrades or condemns another person. Harsh and hurtful words can leave scars for many years. They can leave us feeling empty, betrayed and lost.

 

There are so many people in need at Christmas time – people wanting love, needing comfort, assurance, a little company and a little friendship. Perhaps there is someone we have not forgiven. Or whose forgiveness we must seek. Our hearts are full of many gifts we can give - love, kindness, peace, joy, patience, forgiveness, etc., (Gal 5:21).

Don’t forget Jesus this Christmas forHe is the reason for the season. Let us start each and every day as if it were Christmas and celebrate the joy, peace, happiness and goodwill with everyone in our lives. Let us make every day like Christmas and live the spirit in our hearts at every moment. Just remember the gift of Jesus in our lives, and thank Him because He is the best gift that we could ever receive. God reaches out to us in peace and we should start each day with joy, peace and happiness as we reach out to one another. Our gift to God is to bring God’s gift of Christmas – Jesus, to everyone.

As we rejoice and celebrate this wonderful season of Christmas, let us thank baby Jesus for coming into our lives and let us prepare ourselves to welcome Him into the homes of our hearts.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES!

WELCOME JESUS

After the Annunciation, Mary goes to her cousin Elisabeth’s home in the hill country of Judah. As soon as Mary’s greeting reaches Elizabeth’s ears, the baby in her womb “leaped for joy,” and she was “filled with the Holy Spirit.” (LK 1:39-49).

It is in Elizabeth’s final words to Mary that we find the key to understanding why she is honored, namely, because of her faith, humility and courage. Mary encourages us to submit to God’s

will and to be committed in the mission of the Church by presenting Jesus to others.

Today is the fourth and last Sunday of Advent. We will be celebrating Christmas soon. We have a living example of how to best receive our Lord Jesus when He comes once again this Christmas. In order to welcome Him, we need to be in a state of grace, and willing to stop sinning that turns us away from God’s love.

Are we ready now, after four weeks of Advent to welcome Jesus and Mary afresh into our lives this Christmas?

“Lord, make us turn to You, and let us see Your face and we shall be saved,” (Ps 79).

SEEK JESUS IN SILENCE THIS ADVENT

Advent is a season that goes quick, unlike Lent. This year, Advent ends earlier because immediately after the 4th Sunday of Advent, we celebrate Christmas Eve Mass. December is always a busy and fascinating month of the year because of the holidays and Christmas festivities.

We often fail to slow down and take time from the rush of life to be with the Lord. We do not have time to contemplate the reason the Church sets aside four weeks of Advent preparations for Christmas. Advent is the way the Catholic Church prepares us spiritually for the Christmas celebration. Every year, we find ourselves busy with Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, putting up Christmas decorations and planning for parties, that we distract ourselves from having a truly meaningful Christmas. Then before you know it, Christmas has come and gone.

Did you spend time truly preparing your heart for Christ’s coming this Christmas? Have you prepared a timetable for prayer and mediation during Advent? Did you give at least 15-20 minutes a day to prayer and meditation? Have we strived to cultivate certain attitudes to welcome Christ in our hearts and home on Christmas morning?

Over the weeks we have been listening Christmas music in our homes, cars and at the malls. It is so easy for us to lose sight of the beauty of the four-week Advent. I like the readings selected by the Catholic Church during this season, highlighting Jesus’ arrival as a baby on Christmas as well as His second coming. Sometimes we get too bogged down with our worldly preparations that we forget to look into our spiritual preparations. On Christmas Eve we will sing the hymn - Silent Night.It is very important to cultivate silence in the midst of a world so immersed in noise. It is crucial to truly connect ourselves with God, who gives us a sense of peace.

We know there are many positive fruits that come from silence, but we sometimes fail to appreciate silence. God will speak to us in the depths of our hearts when we set an attitude of prayer in silence. Many people went through the process of discernment in silent prayer - either individually or with spiritual directors - in order to choose one’s vocation – married life or single life or religious life. Some of them have pursued their own personal conversion and purification in silent prayer.

Honestly speaking, during this Advent season, I have been weary with my daily priestly commitments in the parish. These past 3 weeks I have assisted in hearing confession at various parishes around the Klang Valley. I have visited the homebound and administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and Eucharist to about 80 parishioners at home and at hospitals. It was pleasant to visit the elderly and sick of our community to affirm them that Jesus is still in charge, as the Lord of Life.

Even as I find that I haven’t spent much time in silent prayer, I sense that God is always present in mysterious ways as I exercise my daily priestly duties. For me, this Advent has been a fruitful time reaching out the homebound and carrying out my commitments faithfully for the spiritual well-being of my parishioners and others.

This Advent, let us seek Jesus in silence, in the Eucharist and in the Bible. May Christ Jesus bless us all and fill our hearts with joy, as we enter into the second half of our Advent season! God bless.

REJOICE IN THE LORD!

Third Sunday of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, focuses our attention on the spirit of rejoicing.We rejoice in our heart because Christmas is near. The prophet Zephaniah, centuries before the birth of Christ, calls God’s people to prepare for the coming of “the King of Israel, the Lord!” He tells the nation of Israel to rejoice and sing songs that God is in their midst. God has come, God is in their midst – “Rejoice, exult with all your heart,” (Zeph 3: 14-18).

In the Gospel reading, John the Baptist preaches good news to the people of his time and they are filled with joyful anticipation for God is near. In the midst of all our hardships, struggles, anxieties, sorrow, loneliness, illness, heartache, personal hurts, despair, and guilt, He is near and we shall see the salvation of Godwhen we turn to Him.

Always remember, even though we are facing a lot of crosses in our lives but at the end they produce joyful results. If we know that Jesus is the reason for our joy, He will indeed act for our own benefit, our own good.

“Sing and shout for joy for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 12).