HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!

Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday is the day that the historical triumphal entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. It is a day that marks the beginning of the last week of Jesus on earth. As we approach this Holy Week we focus on Jesus who was suffered grievously – He was beaten, mocked and crucified for us and His willingness to go to the cross.

We begin with the Gospel reading exclaiming “Hosanna, in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest.” Hosanna basically means “Save Us! Save Us! The crowds were screaming “Save us! Save us!

During Holy Week we shall make the priority to pray and meditate the Passion story of Jesus Christ and hope that it change the way we think and live. As we celebrate the Holy Week in our homes, let’s listen to what He wants to say to us and allow Him to stay with your families. The King Jesus will be with you this Holy Week in our home to show us the way of humility and obedience - is a path to glory.

STAY AT HOME AND STAY FIRM WITH THE LORD

When we began the season of Lent 2020, the Church reminded us about the sacred 40 days of the Liturgical Year when we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery – Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection. However, since the Coronavirus outbreak, many activities, events and Masses have been suspended in our churches. Initially, we were just instructed and recommended to remove the Holy water at every entrance of the Church, sanitise our hands, and not shake hands during the greeting of peace. All these were to safeguard us against this virus. Unfortunately, as time went by, the World Health Organisation (WHO), government leaders, researchers and medical professionals have ordered us to stay at home, practice good hygiene and social distancing in order to reduce the possibility of contracting the Coronavirus.

Since 14 March 2020 and after the 2nd Sunday of Lent, the Church suspended all public Masses following the Movement Control Order (MCO) which was implemented on 18 March 2020. Now, the MCO has been extended till 14 April 2020 due to the increase in the number of Coronavirus cases in our country.

All of us felt disappointed when the extension of the MCO was announced, more so after reading the Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Malaysia dated 25 March 2020, wherein we were informed of the suspension of the Holy Week and Easter Triduum celebrations, amongst other matters. We have never experienced the suspension of the most solemn and glorious celebration of the Church in our lifetime thus far. It is the heart of the Catholic Church’s celebration and I ask myself - how could this happen to our faith?

I would like to pen down some of my thoughts and reflections, which were also echoed by various researchers, spiritual and political leaders, medical professionals, entrepreneurs, etc. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, the whole world is repeatedly pleading with us to lockdown, distance ourselves from others, to stay at home, to stay safe and healthy, etc. When we look at the current COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world, it makes us scared, anxious and heartbroken. The number of infected people and deaths due to the virus is skyrocketing all over the world. We ask ourselves - what is happening? Why is God silent?

The whole world was moving ahead so rapidly but all of a sudden, everything came to a complete halt. Ever since the pandemic occurred, all cities and towns have shut down their activities and enforced lockdowns. National leaders, social media, medical professionals and even random people are reminding us repeatedly to stay at home, maintain social distancing, isolation, as well as self-quarantine, so as to be safe and healthy. When we spiritualise these keywords – lockdown, social distancing, stay at home and stay safe and healthy - surely these will help us to stay connected with God and with our inner selves, so that we may experience a spiritually and a physically healthy life. But why do we find it so difficult to strictly follow these basic rules as required under the MCO, especially staying at home and keeping a distance from one another? Looking at the situation surrounding us now, it is expected that the situation will be worse by the middle of April. Is God warning humanity? 

All this while we have been driven by modern culture, science and technology. We have mis-used and abused our planet and all its resources. Since the beginning of 2020, God has been trying to teach humanity something through this Coronavirus pandemic. In the midst of our busy lives and our preoccupation with worldly matters, we have forgotten that God is in the midst of all this. Perhaps, this pandemic is an ‘interval’ period for us to be less self-indulgent and instead, it is meant for us to love and serve those around us.

Perhaps we have lost our human values due to selfishness, greed, egotism and  materialism. Perhaps we have neglected our family, resulting in breakdowns and social problems. During this interval period, we should all be more accountable and responsible for the choices we make. We should make a new resolution to respect Mother Earth and its inhabitants, especially to treat the people around us with love and compassion. Let’s remember that nothing is permanent in this world and we will be tested so that we “may discern for ourselves what is the Will of God – what is good and acceptable and mature,” (cf. Rom 12:2).

We see with our own eyes, the “great disaster” of COVID -19, and realise that “Earth is sick.” All nations on this planet are being affected. We will be tested in this time of trial and eventually, this too shall pass. We pray for the world, especially for the researchers, medical professionals, doctors, nurses and health care workers who tirelessly face this battle head on. May they know our deep gratitude for all they are doing to heal those who are affected by the Coronavirus. May the Lord bless them in these challenging days. Heavenly Father, “Send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the Earth,” (Ps 104:30).

JOY AND CELEBRATION

In preparation for the Paschal Mystery, the 5th Sunday of Lent brings us to the story of the Raising of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-45) from the dead. Lazarus is a brother of Martha and Mary. Lazarus dies. By the time the Lord comes to Bethany, Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha and Mary met the Lord, they say, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus says, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life” and He affirms that there is life beyond the grave because He has won the victory over death. He is the Life because He leads us to life eternal and gives us the hope for a life in communion with God.

We cannot stay in our tomb of sin and destruction. We need to come out and be loosened from spiritual bondage – jealousy, greedy, anger, hatred, hurt, laziness, etc. so that we may set our path on the discipleship. We need to hold our faith firm in Jesus’ Word and His promises of the resurrection and to understand the reality of death.

Since the Coronavirus outbreak, we are living in a time of uncertainty and crisis. Every day the death toll of COVID-19 is arising throughout the world. It is a time for us to pray, encourage and support one another as we stay at home and keep the social distancing orders at this time of trials. We hope this will pass soon and “joy and celebration” will return. Amen!

PRAY FOR JOY AND CELEBRATION TO RETURN

On Thursday, 19 March 2020, the Church celebrated the Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Catholic Bishops of Peninsular Malaysia had designated this day as a day of prayer and fasting, beseeching St Joseph’s intercession and God’s intervention for an end to Coronavirus epidemic (Pastoral Letter, 12 March 2020). Some of you may wonder why the Church in Peninsular Malaysia designated this particular day as a day of prayer and fasting?

Plagues have a long history in Europe and Asia. When the plague (Black Death) devastated Europe from 1347-1348, one third of Europe’s population was estimated to have been killed in villages and towns. After that, there were a series of major pandemics in the 16th and 17th centuries (Black Plague) while a third pandemic (Bubonic Plague) occurred at the end of 19th century in Yunnan, China and India, with more than 12 million deaths. These were the worst catastrophes recorded in history.

During these times of crisis, the Catholic Church repeatedly turned to St Joseph, the Protector of the Church, for his intercession. The Church turned to St Joseph for the need of prayer during the pandemics because he has shown to be a powerful intercessor. This information about St Joseph is a new discovery for me, that he is seen as a great intercessor for plague victims. This is also the reason the Church in Peninsular Malaysia invites the faithful to pray and fast on 19 March 2020, so that St Joseph will intercede for the protection of the whole world during this current Coronavirus epidemic. We pray that he will intercede on our behalf, all our petitions, asking Jesus Christ to have mercy on us all, and keep up safe from the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19, as well as for the discovery of a cure and for the protection of individuals who are sick.

On 11 March 2020, the Holy Father prayed to Mother Mary, “Health of the Sick” for all hospital personnel, doctors, nurses, volunteers, for those who are suffering, and an end to the COVID pandemic. He composed a prayer to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the suspension of Masses in our Catholic Churches, I recite this prayer regularly. I have also placed a copy of this prayer - in three languages - at the sanctuary. In this prayer, the Holy Father said, “as you did at Cana of Galilee, we may return to joy and celebration after this moment of trial.” This phrase has really touched me and I just pray that we will return to a normal routine of life after this moment of Covid-19 trial.

As I reflect on this phrase, which echoes the first miracle at the wedding at Cana of Galilee, (Jn 2: 1-12), the newly wedded couple ran out of wine on their auspicious day. Seeing the difficult situation, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “they have no wine.” Jesus then changed water into wine and everyone was surprised to taste such good wine at the wedding celebration – “you have saved the best till now”. When the newly married couple was facing a difficult situation, through Mary’s request, Jesus turned a chaotic situation into a joyful one.

Today, we get updates of the gradual rise in confirmed Coronavirus cases and deaths caused by the virus. Due to this, our routine life has become irregular as we have been issued a Restricted Movement Order (RMO) till 31 March 2020. When will this pandemic end? Everyone just hopes and prays that “joy and celebration may return after this moment of trial.”

Catholics in various parts of the world are just waiting to return to their churches in order to celebrate the Eucharist, as soon as the suspension of Masses in the Church is lifted. Looking at the scenario now, the Coronavirus epidemic may not even allow us to return to our churches for the Easter or Paschal Triduumcelebration. However, we continue to seek the intercession of St Joseph and Mother Mary, to end this epidemic 

PRAYER TO MARY DURING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

O Mary, you always shine on our path
as a sign of salvation and of hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who at the cross took part in Jesus' pain, keeping your faith firm.
You, Salvation of the Roman People,
know what we need,
and we are sure you will provide
so that, as in Cana of Galilee,
we may return to joy and to celebrate
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform to the will of the Father
and to do as we are told by Jesus,
who has taken upon himself our sufferings
and carried our sorrows
to lead us, through the cross,
to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Hail Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us.

St Joseph, hope of the Sick, pray for us.

RECOGNISING OUR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

This Sunday is known as “Laetare Sunday” and the theme is on hope and rejoice that Easter is near. In our Gospel ( John 9:1-41) speaks about a man who has been physically blind from his birth and Jesus takes this opportunity to heal the blind man.

Among all the five senses, sight is most essential to us. When we lose our sight of God in relationship with Him, our life becomes devastated. We become spiritually and morally blind. Our heart and soul become blinded.

We are spiritually blind by our anger, prejudices, self-interest, gossip, greed, etc. Sin can be the essential cause of our spiritual blindness and it is a major stumbling block in our spiritual journey. Our interior lives has become harden heart and we are unable to see goodness in us. We become like the Pharisees who refuse to see the power and goodness in Jesus.

On this 4^th Sunday of Lent, Jesus invites us to take a closer look at those areas of our lives that we have failed to recognise our spiritual blindness. 

Let Jesus enlighten our spiritual blindness as we turn our sight to Him that He will grant us new sights and insights as well.

“The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” (Ps 23).