REPENT AND GROW IN GODLINESS

Jesus begins the parable (Luke 19: 13-31) by introducing us two different men. The first man is the Rich Man who were “lovers of money.” The Rich Man lived like a king, with fine clothing and luxurious feasting every day.

Just outside his door we find the second man, Lazarus who is poor. Lazarus is dressed in sores that immobilised him. To make his situation worse and more pitiful, dogs would come and lick his sores.

Both the Rich Man and Lazarus died. Lazarus was taken to Abraham’s side, the place of honour at a heavenly banquet!

The Rich Man cried in the Hell, “Father have mercy upon me.” While he tormented in hell he realised during his life time he was too busy having a good time, spending his money, treating his friends, partying, etc. He realised it was too late to do all the things which he should have done on earth before he died.

A person who truly believe in Christ will live a life of repentance and grow in holiness.

 “Praise the Lord, my soul!” (Ps 146).

http://www.stjosephsentul.org/welcomed-protected-promoted-and-integrated/

CULTIVATE HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

The Catholic Church has always encouraged us to be rooted in the Word of God as a step to learn, to know and to serve the Lord. We Catholics, tend to not to put in as much effort in reading the Sacred Scripture as compare to the Protestants, who are more diligent when it comes to reading the Word of God and embracing it into their lives.

Therefore, this weekend I would like to assist you in practising the “Lectio Divina” method. Lectio Divina is known as ‘sacred reading’ in Latin. As we practice reading the Sacred Scripture, we allow our hearts to cultivate hearing the voice of God in the silence of our hearts. By reading Holy Scripture, we enlighten our hearts and increase our knowledge of God.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI introduced an ancient method of utilising Lectio Divina while reading the Sacred Scripture. It is one way to bring profound understanding to many Catholics about Scripture and to go into a deeper prayer life. Here are the ways of engaging into this method:

a)     Lectio (Read): First and foremost, we need to select a passage from the Bible. We can always use the daily reading given in the Roman Missal in the Catholic Church. Before reading the texts, invite the Holy Spirit to assist us in our reading and prayer by saying: “Speak, O Lord, for your servant is listening,” (1 Sam 3:9).

b)     Meditation or Reflection: Recall the passage you have just read and take a word or phrase to yourself and see what God is trying to communicate to you through the particular passage. God wants to speak to your heart. The Holy Spirit hears and will slowly respond to you. If possible, read and reread the Scripture text slowly and gently so that you may able to grasp the details of the passage and become familiar.

c)      Oratio (Speak to God) and Contemplatio (Receive): It is the heart of the Lectio Divinia. Close your eyes and allow yourself to become silent. Slowly place yourself in the scene by using your imagination - what does Jesus look like? What are the people saying to one another and their emotions? We need to use our intellect, imagination and senses to make the scene real and alive. When a thought or imagination sparks an idea that descends to your heart then you can talk to the Lord in an intimate way and rest in His presence.

I still remember reading and contemplating the infancy narrative of Jesus. In my imagination, I was 12 years old and Jesus was a boy the same age as me. We were playing football together, went swimming in the river, camping, climbing, fishing, hunting… I was one with Boy Jesus and it was an assurance of Jesus’ presence in my imagination. 

This conversations with the Lord can be for a few minutes. Authentic prayer must be brought into reality of one’s life.

d)    Transformation or Application: The ultimate motive of Lectio Divina and all other form of prayer is to be transformed into the very essence of Jesus, to follow His footsteps. A St Paul says, “It is no longer I live, but Christ who lives in me,” (Gal 2:20).

I invite you to start using this Lectio Divina method by choosing our text, reading it in a more meditate way, speak to God, contemplate, converting the Word of God into prayer and live your life faithfully and reverently. This method teaches us to cultivate the ability to listen and to read the Sacred Scripture, and to apply this to our lives.

WORK HONESTLY AND BE GENEROUS

Jesus says, “The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness…,” (Lk 16:8). The steward has been caught for dishonesty.

We all live in a common culture that wealth is good, greed is good and pleasure is good. We are so rooted in our self-centred culture that we find it very hard to move wealth away from us in the other direction. 

Like the corrupted steward, people everywhere find it too difficult to tear away from a culture and society that believes in greed. Be grateful to God for what He has given us in this life. Work honestly and be generous with what we have.

God provides the very need of all people but it is a hard thing for us to share with others. God has made us steward of our lives. We are responsible to live a godly life and use God’s creation and resources wisely.

The future of the poor is to put their trust in God. God is our hope – “Praise the Lord, Who lifts up the poor.”

http://www.stjosephsentul.org/cultivate-hearing-the-voice-of-god-1/

OUR JOURNEY IN SERVICE FOR THE CHURCH

Last Saturday, 7 September 2019, we had two spiritual formations simultaneously in our Parish – the ALPHA Training Program and the Lectors & Commentators Session. 

 

The ALPHA Training Program for Catholics was conducted by Corrine and Christine from the ALPHA Team under the spiritual director, Rev Fr John Gnanapiragasam. Currently our Parish ALPHA team, which falls under our Parish New Evangelisation Team, consists of 10 members, and we are looking forward to adding on 10 more members by the end of the year, so that they too will be equipped with knowledge to be facilitators.

Initially, we wanted to start the ALPHA program in October/November this year, however due to time constraints and a shortage of members, the parish ALPHA Team has decided to only start the program in February 2020, as preparation for Lent and Easter. The ALPHA Program will be held one day a week, over nine weeks, with each session lasting approximately 2-3 hours. There will be one extraordinary topic, coordinated and planned as a weekend-away session. The main objective of this ALPHA program is to discover and rediscover Jesus, who is Love - believing in Him and responding to His love, as we undertake the greatest adventure in our journey of faith as a Church. Our parish ALPHA Team will be reaching out to you soon!

Around 55 parishioners involved in the Lectors & Commentators Ministry, attended a spiritual formation presented by Rev. Fr. Patrick Masang CSsR. The main purpose of this Formation was to bring about an awareness on the roles and responsibilities of lectors and commentators during the Mass. It was very inspiring and informative for all those who attended it. The last formation for this group was held in July 2016 with only 30 participants.

I would like to highlight that lectors and commentators, as well as psalmists/cantors, should be inside the church at least ten minutes before Mass begins. For those who are unable to make it on an assigned date, please make necessary arrangements for a substitute, and kindly inform the respective person in a timely manner. For all those who did not attend the formation session with Rev. Fr. Patrick Masang, I would suggest that you meet up with your coordinating team or friends who attended, to get an update. 

Thank you to both groups for making the effort in attending the abovementioned formations and most of all, for your sincere dedication to be in the ministries. We shall work collaboratively within the ministry and engage in parish activities, to make our parish alive!

Msgr. James Gnanapiragasam and I have recently attended our annual spiritual retreat under Retreat Master, Most Rev Gerrardo A. Alminazza, D.D. He is a Bishop of the Diocese of San Carlos, Negros Island, in the Philippines. Msgr. James attended the first retreat (1-6 September 2019) in Cameron Highlands while I attended the second retreat (8-13 September 2019) in Penang Island. Our retreats were based on the theme Extraordinary Missionary Month of October 2019: Baptised, Ordained and Sent. 

It was a simple retreat with much relaxation and quiet time. I was really fascinated with what we were told of the Diocese of San Carlos under the shepherdship of Bishop Gerrardo. The Diocese has 850,000 Catholics, with over 80 priests working enthusiastically and collaboratively towards equality, justice and human rights, more especially to overcome poverty and drug trafficking.

Bishop Gerrardo shepherds with zeal, and his Diocese of San Carlos moves with the spirit of “UBUNTU", an African term in the Philippines which means, ‘interconnectedness, togetherness and working together’. 

As parishioners of St Joseph’s Church, let the spirit of “UBUNTU” work among us in order to lift up our parish to greater heights by using all the varied graces that we have received from God and put them into the service of others (1 Peter 4:10-11).

LOST SHEEP AND LOST COIN

This parable of Luke (LK 15: 1-10) is about things that seem to be lost to us, but they are not to God. We are never lost! God is always searching for us.

In these two parables God’s cares and He shows His righteousness and justice.  He is more than a just Judge. He is merciful.

In the first parable Jesus talked about a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of his sheep strayed away and became lost. So he left the ninety-nine and went to search for the one lost sheep. When he finds it He calls all his friends together to celebrate finding the lost sheep. 

In the second parable, Jesus talked about a widow who had ten silver coins and a silver coin was lost. When she finds the lost coin and she rejoices. 

When we lose something, search hard for it, and when we find it, we can celebrate by sharing our joy with others.

Sometimes we do get lost. When that happens, God doesn’t give up on us. He searches for us and He won't stop until we are found. 

“I will rise and go to my Father.” (Ps 51)