THE LORD FORGIVES AND HEALS US

6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021

Today’s Gospel (MK 1: 40-45) and the Book of Leviticus (Lev 13: 1-2. 44-46) are related to the lepers and disease of leprosy. The Book of Leviticus (Chapter 13) explains in details about the diagnosis of leprosy. When a leprosy appears on a person’s skin, it begins with “a swelling or scab or spot” and slowly the spots spread all over the person’s body and hair begins to fall out. It even gets worse, where the victim’s nails and toenails start to rot and eventually falls off piece by piece. Leprosy keeps eating away his/her body till death consumes that life.

 

It is a contagious skin-disease that time and it was considered as unclean. Interestingly, in the Old Testaments time, once a person was suspected of a skin-disease, he/she would be taken to a priest, and he would examine the infected part of the person by isolating him or her for 7 days. If on the seventh day, the priest observed that there are signs of infection has spread then he would declare the person as “unclean”. Even, the Old Testaments says that the leper has to stay 2 meters away from the person. The victim would be living on his/her own or isolated (quarantine) from the community until he was made “clean,” (cf. Lev 13: 45-46).

 

Today, we can liken this disease with the deadly virus  COVID-19. It is a contagious-virus and it spreads like wild fire, today. A person who has contracted with this virus may or may not indicate any symptom fever, cough, etc. After a RT-PTR (Swab Test), then the patient will know the result either positive or negative. 

 

Just for a precaution, we are constantly reminded and alerted to observe the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) such as, wearing facial mask, ensuring physical distancing and practising hand washing frequently. The authorities have come out with many Dos and Don’ts, accordingly. The patient may be quarantined either at home, rehabilitation centre or hospital.  There is no specific medication but ventilator will be provided, if necessary, for those have respiratory difficulties. The person is not allowed to come out in public until he/she completes the required period of quarantine. With the new found vaccine, we just hope (God’s willing) this vaccine will bring to an end, one day, to the C19 virus as how leprosy is almost quite unknow today.

 

In biblical times, there was no cure to leprosy and it was the worst type of disease to contract. Only in the early 20^thCentury, the doctors were treating the leprosy patients with modern medicine and methods. In the Old Testaments days, the leprosy was known as punishment from God for the leper’s sins and he would be treated as an unclean, corrupted, condemned outcast of the society.  In Jesus’s time, it was so much different, yet Jesus daring and confidently moved in into the personal space of the leper with love and passion, He touched the leper, murmured His instructions and “Immediately leprosy left him and he was cured,” (MK 1:40).

 

Any kind of illness or decease is not something that we should be equating to punishment for sin. We all have to face these life realities of pain, suffering, illnesses, sickness or even death, as you know today. We simply cannot run away from these realities. It may frighten us but we should not afraid of them. We need to learn or cope with them and I am sure, through the mercy of God, He will forgive and heal us. Therefore, we need to rebuild our faith, confidence and trust in Jesus, as the leper did in the Gospel encounter of Jesus. So, say this sincerely, “If you will, you can make me clean.” We all need our Lord’s loving, forgiving and healing touch. In His Time and Will, that we may be cleaned and be purified in my mind and body, spirit and soul. So be still as He fights for you every single breath you take and exhale.

DISCOVERING THE VIRTUES WITHIN US

The Chinese community celebrates Chinese New Year (CNY) this year on a low-key basis, with a limited number of family members present, in accordance with the guidelines set by the government due to the current Covid 19 pandemic. This year, we celebrate the Lunar Year of the Ox, which is second animal in the Chinese zodiac. According to folklore, those born in the Year of the Ox are hard-working, sincere and resilient. However, whenever I think about the oxen, I reminisce about my childhood days of cutting fresh grass for my cows, bathing and milking them by hand, as well as cleaning up cow patties!

It is still fresh in my mind how we celebrated Chinese New Year in previous years. Even though we only have about 15 Chinese families in our Parish, our annual CNY Thanksgiving Mass was well-received by all Parishioners and celebrated with much festivity and revelry. We distributed oranges and angpow packets to everyone present, and after Mass, everyone would gather at the Church courtyard to watch the lion dance. On behalf the Parish of St Joseph, Sentul - my best wishes for a prosperous Lunar New Year. Stay safe and healthy always - gōng xǐ fā cái and xīn nián kuài lè.

In a few days, we will be entering into the season of Lent. It is a time that invites all of us to reflect on repentance or conversion (metonia). For the next five weeks, the Church strongly encourages us to prepare for the Paschal Mystery celebration through our personal examination and reflection, and practice the Lenten observances of prayer, penance and almsgiving, as we deepen our love for one another and God.

This 40-day Lenten journey gives us the opportunity to deepen our spiritual relationship with God and with our fellow brothers and sisters. Perhaps some of you may want to focus on a word or phrase from the daily reading and endeavour to write a spiritual journal. It may be a challenge at first - to reflect and put those thoughts into words and pen those words onto paper - but I believe that as you listen to His voice, the Holy Spirit will guide your spiritual journey. Whenever time permits, engage yourself by listening to spiritual talks, reading spiritual materials and attending Mass online. The Holy Spirit will lead you on a true journey of conversion when you encounter Christ through His living word and through spiritual communion.

As preparation during this Lenten season, we could closely follow the seven virtues of St Joseph and learn from him. Those virtues, as stated in his Apostolic Letter - WITH A FATHER’S HEART (Patris Corde) are - a beloved Father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father, a working father, a courageous father and a father in the shadows. Each day, try to discover these virtues within us and follow them in our lives, particularly during this season of Lent. We return to God “with all our hearts” (Joel 2:12) and grow in filial friendship with God.

CARE WITH FRATERNAL LOVE

5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Homily)

 

Most of us have trouble or difficulty to sleep at night which could be due to stress, illness, mind disturbance, etc. A sleep disorder frequently affect our ability to have a good and quality sleep. I would even say that to have a regular good quality sleep is a gift (from God) because I have encountered many elderly, sick and the dying who suffers from sleep deprivation contributed from the bodily pain and aches.

The first reading from book of Job (Job 7: 1-4, 6-7) speaks, “Lying in bed I wonder, when will it be day? … how slowly day/evening comes!”  Perhaps you and I can identify most with Job’s complaint about “nights of grief.” We can identify ourselves with that tossing and turning, lying awake, feeling frustrated and anxious without falling into deep sleep, but constantly disturbed by the effects of illness and pain.

In the gospel (MK 1: 29-39), Jesus is concerned with the illness of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. Simon Peter told Jesus about her fever, and Jesus straightaway approached her and helped her up from her sickness.  The Gospel went on saying that the whole town of Capernaum came to the door of Peter's home, and Jesus healed them all “were suffering from diseases of one kind or another… cast our many devils…” Here, we see Jesus’s humility and compassion in healing the broken-hearted who are standing outside Simon’s door.

 

On 11 February, the Church will celebrate the 29^th World Day of the Sick coinciding with the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the Holy Father, Pope Francis invites us to pay a special consideration “to the sick and those who provide them with assistance and care both in healthcare institutions and within families and communities.” On this last day, the week of World Interfaith Harmony Week (1-7 February 2021), Jesus too, expects us not to remain in our inner circle but to carry out with the mission of the Church to bring hope and healing to our all neighbours. This includes the elderly, sick, dying, without prejudice of any race or religion, as we work towards fulfilling our desire for peace, an environment of compassion and harmony. 

 

We need to become that instrument of healing for our neighbours and society, at large. Let us remember them and our need for strength and for the healing power in mind and body, and spirit and sou

KEEP OUR FAITH ALIVE AND ACTIVE

We started the month of February with an extension of the Movement Control Order (“MCO”) till 18 February 2021 and this will coincide and affect two important celebrations this month, Chinese New Year (CNY) which falls on Friday, 12 February, marking the Lunar Year of the Ox and Ash Wednesday, which falls on 17 February.

Last year CNY was celebrated on a rather grand scale, with elaborate decorations, reunions and gatherings with family and friends, extravagant fire fireworks, and angpaus for the young ones. This year however, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to settle for an unprecedented low-key celebration. Many will not be able to return home to celebrate with parents and other family members as travel restrictions including interstate travel, have been imposed.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. Due to the extension of the MCO, we will not have Masses nor the imposition of the blessed ash at Church. However, Parishioners of St Joseph’s will receive the blessed ash through your respective BEC leaders. Further information on this will be given next week. Despite having no Mass during this time, I would like to strongly encourage Parishioners to observe the fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday, at home with the family.

Many of us still remember this time last year, soon after the observation of Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday of Lent 2020, Churches in the KL Archdiocese suspended Masses due to the pandemic. A year later, COVID-19 still continues to disrupt our lives - physically, emotionally, economically and spiritually. Online platforms have become a new normal for meetings, gatherings and prayer sessions - especially during celebrations, and many of us have adapted to and accepted this reality.

As a community, we have been very patient and cautious as we avoid taking chances or risks in order to keep safe from this deadly virus. I am grateful to the ministries in our Parish for coordinating formations, events and activities online – keeping the faith alive and active, and keeping us connected to the Church. The Parish Integral of Human Development Ministry (PIHDM) continues to give the necessary and needful assistance to the underprivileged within our community and support to those who require physical and spiritual assistance.

Over the past year, many weddings and infant baptisms as well as Confirmation and the First Holy Communion Sacraments have been postponed. I hope that once the MCO is lifted we can start planning the resumption of these celebrations once again. However, until then, I am unable to make any promises or confirm any dates for these Sacraments. 

In the meantime, I would like to wish all our Parishioners celebrating Chinese New Year a blessed and prosperous Year of the Ox. Let us all pray for peace, solidarity and harmony in our nation, and let us always live our lives as testimony to the love and peace of Christ. “A blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you," (Deuteronomy 23:5).

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!