GROW AND GLOW IN THE VIRTUES

e-Pilgrimage - Thanksgiving Mass (Homily)

We began the e-Pilgrimage via live streaming on 23^rd January 2021 from the Church of St. Joseph, Sentul, KL. We took a nine-day journey with the Evening Prayer (Vespers), Novena and Litany to St. Joseph in front of the Blessed Sacrament and followed Benediction. Today, we end with a Thanksgiving Mass in honour of St. Joseph. 

In the old days, 23^rd January was known as a liturgical celebration of Holy spouses of Mary and Joseph or the betrothal of Mary and Joseph since 1400. Officially, in 1989, permission was granted to celebrate 23^rd, with liturgical rank as a Feast Day. I only realised the Oblates of St Joseph celebrate the Feast of Holy Spouse, after we have started the e-Pilgrimage.  This is no doubt, how appropriate that we started on our e-pilgrimage, together. It is really good information to all of us.

Before I came to this Parish, I only pray to St. Joseph twice in a year - the first is on the Solemnity to St. Joseph, the husband of Mary (19^th March) and the second is on the feast of St. Joseph, the Worker (1^st May). I only know very little of St. Joseph. Since I was posted to this parish, I started to study his works and character, and eventually started admiring him to the point that I invoke his intercessions, quite very often. I have placed St. Joseph, in a special place in my heart and devoted to him. When the Holy Father, Pope Francis has declared the Year of Plenary for the Year of St Joseph this year, I was quite excited to find out.

I am sure, after a-9-day of e-Pilgrimage and novena to the amazing generous St. Joseph in this month of January, I hope you too, will place him in a special place in your heart and your home. I believe you too gradually will have a devotion for him. I also believe that the time has arrived for you and I, to consecrate ourselves to him. Consecrating to him means to “acknowledge him as our spiritual father” and “acquire his virtues” in our lives.

The Holy Father, on this Year of Plenary Indulgence through St Joseph, has highlighted 7 virtues in his Apostolic Letter with the theme entitled - “With A Father’s Heart (Patris Corde). 

-       A beloved father

-       A tender and loving father

-       An obedient father

-       An accepting father

-       A courageous father

-       A working father

-       A father in the shadows.

These virtues do not only apply to ALL fathers but for everyone to reflect, in our own lives.  In the first place we need to get to know St. Joseph and hopefully to “fall in love” with him and his works, and finally to practice the work of indulgences that speaks out to our hearts. On this year of Plenary Indulgence, we can obtain the indulgence, by being free from “all attachment to sin”. We also need to engage in the works of mercy so that we will be free from temporal punishment due for sin, (Code of Canon Law, no. 992).

In this, it is an opportunity to all of us to bring our faith to greater heights, as we walk in the footsteps of St. Joseph in our lives, as our spiritual father, once we consecrate ourselves to him.  Let us grow in his virtues and constantly invoke his intercession as we bring Jesus to one another.

Today, our Church celebrates the Catechetical Sunday. For parents and teachers, it is an opportunity to reflect on our dedication and on our responsibilities to share the faith knowledge and teaching of the Church with our children. It has come to almost a year of teaching online. I must say that it is very much different method of teaching compare to our physical class attendance and I believe that most of us have learned to adjust and adapt with this digital technology as today’s way of teaching and educating. 

Today’s responsorial psalms echoes, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” Teachers and parents, let’s not harden our hearts but listen to His voice and to be more responsible sowers and planters of seed of faith in the hearts of our catechism children.

In the meanwhile, for most of you who had experienced the e-pilgrimage to this Pilgrim Centre - Church of St. Joseph, do come and see this church in person and partake in a Thanksgiving Mass to this remarkable Saint, once lock downs are lifted.  

St. Joseph, Patron of the Catholic Church, pray for us!

OUR WORK OF NEW EVANGELISATION

Since Saturday (23 January 2021) St. Joseph’s Church, Sentul started a nine-day e-Pilgrimage with the Liturgy of the Hour - Evening Prayer (Vespers), Novena to St. Joseph, Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament via a YouTube link, available through the Church’s website.

On Sunday, 31 January 2021 the e-Pilgrimage will conclude with a Thanksgiving Mass at the Church. I would like to personally thank Shaun Paiva, Augustine Gerad, Dhivien Raj and Leonard Paiva for their time and assistance in broadcasting this e-Pilgrimage for the Year of St. Joseph, as part of our Parish’s January programme.

 

We will continue with more e-Pilgrimages as well as other spiritual events for February and March 2021, as a part of our preparation for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the husband of Mary on 19 March 2021. The 33-day preparation will be a spiritual journey for us all, and it will commence on 15 February 2021. There will be online activities and Parishioners can sign-up to join, via email. Through this spiritual programme of preparation and consecration to St. Joseph, we will discover more about him - his virtues and his paternal love for us, as our spiritual father.

 

For most of us, meeting in-person has been a near impossibility as the current pandemic has kept all of us from attending gatherings and activities in the Church and elsewhere. Once the authorities relax the MCO and CMCO, then we may possibly be able to invite Parishioners and the faithful to come and pay homage to St. Joseph at our Parish in Sentul, as our Parish has been dedicated a Pilgrim Centre.

However, till then, we will be busy and occupied with setting up the “House of St Joseph and Carpentry Workshop” in our Church’s courtyard, with assistance from the youth of the Church of Jesus Caritas, Kepong (Norman Bismer, Lorette Sylvia, Michelle Ann, Kamini Diana, Shaun Jerad). I was impressed with the Christmas Crib they built in their Parish last year, and that is why I invited them to build a house for St Joseph in our exhibition centre. We are also in the midst of setting up and collecting information for “St. Joseph’s Exhibition Centre” and while waiting for the Church to re-open its doors to Parishioners, we will continue to give our service and virtually display some of the exhibits, online.

St. Joseph has been accompanying our journey of faith since 1908. We have come to understand him in many ways and now, the time has come for us to consecrate ourselves to him and to know his wonders, as our Patron and spiritual father, especially during this year of St. Joseph. We will continue to keep our special devotion and attention to him throughout the year.

Parishioners of St. Joseph have been journeying with the vision: “Strengthening Our Faith Community” from 2015-2017. After strengthening faith of our families and community, we took ourselves to another level, with the vision: “Committing Ourselves to New Evangelisation” from 2018-2020. 

 

This year we bring our spiritual life and our parish to greater heights, as we take a year-long journey in line with the 150th Anniversary of St. Joseph, Patron of the Catholic Church and the Year of Plenary Indulgence, as focused on by our Holy Father, Pope Francis. 

 

Therefore, our Parish Vision and Mission for the 2021: 

CONSECRATING OURSELVES TO ST. JOSEPH IN THE WORK OF NEW EVANGELISATION.

 

St. Joseph, Patron of the Catholic Church, pray for us!

INTERCEDE AND GUARD US, WE PRAY

We are already three weeks into 2021, and yet our usual momentum and routine aren’t quite back to normal. Some of us may have expected the beginning of 2021 to be a fresh and spirit-filled start, but unfortunately it looks like there is going to be trying times ahead still, - at least for the first half of the year. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to be continuously bringing trials and hardships in our lives – physical, emotional, financial and even spiritual.

Currently, the wave of infections has rocketed nationwide, with an alarming 4-digit figures being reported daily! The Movement Control Order (MCO) has been implemented in every state in our country. We empathise with all the front-liners and their families, as they risk their lives to help those in need. The Minister of Health (MOH) is working hard to flatten the curve, and we know that all of them are very exhausted!

Despite all the efforts, the deadly virus is just spreading within our communities, and many are doubtful that the vaccine will be a solution to this global crisis. Almost everyone we know, seems to be putting their hands together, praying for God’s intervention to save the world from this pandemic. I always seek the intercession of my most favourite saints - Beloved Mother Mary and her most chaste spouse, St Joseph, to intercede and guard all of us and our families from this deadly infection.

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has declared Year 2021 as the Year of St Joseph - a celebration of the Patron Saint of the Universal Church. The world right now, is in dire need of his intercessions during this global crisis. When our Parish of St Joseph, Sentul was officially declared a Pilgrim Centre for this year, I drew up some plans for a few events for the next three months. However, looking at the current spike in the numbers of COVID-19 cases, I have a strong feeling that over the next 3 - 6 months we will still not be able to be physically present in Church for Masses and / or other activities. It would be highly unlikely that everything will be back to normal soon, and as such we need to deal with this reality as best we can.

After contemplating and reflecting on the current situation, I have now instead, plans for some spiritual exercises via live broadcast. Here they are:

a)    As a closing of the month of January 2021, we will pray the Evening Prayer (Vespers) and Litany to St Joseph for 30 minutes each day starting from 23 - 31 January 2021. We will conclude it with a Thanksgiving Mass on 31 January 2021 at 5pm.

b)   In February, we will be entering into the season of Lent starting with Ash Wednesday on 17 February 2021. We will broadcast live another spiritual exercise, commencing on the 1^st Sunday of Lent (21 February 2021).

c)  An online session on the Acts of Consecration to St Joseph for 33 days, which will commence on 15 February and end on the Solemnity of St Joseph, the Husband of Mary on 19 March 2021. I hope these 33-days of preparation will bring the spirituality of St Joseph into your lives.

d)   Before we begin Holy Week, we will have another session on the Virtues of St Joseph and his spirituality, reflecting mainly on the Apostolic Letter of the Holy Father, Pope Francis on “Patris Corde”(With the Father’s Heart).

As we journey in this Year of St Joseph, I hope and pray that the live broadcasts over the next three months gives you more insight and blessings upon you and your family.

St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church - pray for us and for an end to this pandemic.

LIVING OUT THE WORD OF GOD DAILY

3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (homily)

It is almost coming to a year that I have not preached or proclaimed the Word of God from the pulpit during Mass. To prepare and even to deliver a homily, to date, it is not an easy task for me. It still creates some tension and pressure to prepare for it. After that, the stress will just leave and replaced by immense relief and peace of mind. A little hush hush, it is more difficult especially when it comes to the themes on repentance and forgiveness.  However, since it is a part of my priestly ministry, I always prepare a little bit further by spending more time in prayer. It’s always then that God always stretches His hand out to me and gives me the strength, to proclaim His Words, faithfully.

This Sunday’s Gospel speaks about Jesus, beginning His public ministry. He went to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel, inviting people to repent and believe in the Gospel. Repentance is not just about being feeling sorry, regret, shame, penitence or remorse, but it  is also about accepting or responding to the Word of God, ponder them in our hearts and act on conversations that we have with God. When we faithfully accept these Word of God, it opens and patiently transforms our hearts and, in His time, changes our outlook. It constantly renew our commitments in our words, thoughts and actions in our lives.

We celebrate the annual observance of the 3^rd Sunday of Ordinary Time as “Sunday of the Word of God,” a Sunday that we focus our hearts and minds in reading and studying, reflecting and putting into practice the Word of God in our daily lives. The Holy Father, Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Letter, “Aperuit Illis”, no.2, suggests  to us, “a day devoted to the Bible should not be as a yearly event but rather a year-long event, for we urgently need to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scripture and of the Risen Lord…” who reveals His Mystery of Salvation in His words, sacraments and all events in our lives. 

When we turn away from sinning, then the way we think about God and the way of our lives will fall naturally in a right way, in the correct way, i.e. towards God. The Word of God has the power to change our minds and save us from destruction, as the Word of God truly let us know God, our Father, better. The coming of Christ is at hand, we pray that the Holy Spirit continue to empower us to live the life of Jesus and to carry out His mission to the world.

RESPONDING TO GOD’S INVITATION

Some years ago, I did my hearing tested because my collegemates commented that I was a lot of the times, tone deaf. I thought I was losing my hearing. In that test, I had to sit in a closed up sound proof room, and I was requested to put on an available set of headphones. A sound/beep with different frequencies were sent through the headphones. What I needed to do was to press a button when I don’t hear any sound through the headphones. That will eventually plot out a range of sound my ears could hear. After the test, the audiologist said that my hearing was within the normal range expected, and I should not be concern. I only need to practice on my singing.

The first reading (1 Samuel 3: 3-10, 19), speaks about HEARING to the voice of God in our hearts and listening to the will of God. Samuel was with Eli, studying about God. One night, he heard a voice, three times and he wasn’t sure if it was Eli’s voice or God’s voice. He was so curious about the voice, and left quickly to go and consult Eli. Eli, being an instrument of God, helped Samuel to recognise the voice and he responded confidently to the voice - “Speak Lord, for Your servant is listening!”

 

Many of us find it so difficult to discern and perceive the voice of God in our hearts and what He is asking us to do. In today’s Gospel (Jn 1:35-42), Jesus asked the two disciples - “What are you looking for?” Andrew and John came and saw Jesus and there they found their vocation as His disciples. In that respect, Jesus is also asking every one of us, “what are you looking for” in our lives, today. What is our response to that call? What is that burning desire of God that is firing up in the depths of our hearts? Now, if we are searching for happiness and fulfilment in our lives, AND if that adventure includes Jesus in it; we will be taken on a very promising, fulfilling and exciting earthly life journey, whilst fulfilling God’s vocation and mission.

 

Jesus invites us, as how he invited Andrew and John “to come and see!” Every day, when we pray and read the Word of God, we are actually entering the Lord’s sanctuary and there He speaks and reach out into our souls. There, we will see and experience the true meaning of our lives, the true purpose(s) on our temporal existence on this earth. The Word of God speaks to us, over and over again. Each time we hear it, we will either understand them differently, or it confirms what we have already understood all the while, or we were just plain hearing and not listening.

 

Therefore, are we able to filter through today’s modern and digitized, fast paced world, to identify God’s voice in our hearts? Have we come into a state of silence in the mind, calmness and peacefulness in the heart, to enter a space only you (I) and Jesus are present, and NO one else. In that state of discernment, not only our hearing senses are used, but all the senses that God has graciously bestowed us. So, let us not look for or search for material or earthly pleasure in lives. As we commit ourselves in the Mission of Christ, let us willingly say this beautiful prayer every moment of our lives - “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will!”