LIVING SEEDS OF THE GOSPEL

The way we build God’s kingdom is by reaching out to people. As we look at the Gospel, (Mt 13:1-23), Jesus is sharing a parable with us, a parable that is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

“Others fell on the good soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty,” (Matt 13:8).

When the seed of the Gospel hits this kind of (soil) heart, it germinates, grows up and bears fruit to the glory of God. This is the only soil that produced fruit. The person with the receptive heart will bear fruit, then they will bring forth a crop.

Spreading the good news about Jesus can be tough at times. There are times where we can get discouraged. There are other times of glorious joy over what God has done through us.

Don’t give up; don’t plug your ears or close your eyes. Don’t harden your heart toward Jesus’ words. Knowing what kind of soil you are trying to plant seeds in will help you be more effective in your evangelism efforts.

When we are trying to plant in unprepared soil, we need to realise we will need to do more than just throw out the seeds of the gospel; we need to do some preparation work, some plowing, fertilising and watering before the soil is ready.

Jesus did not give us dead seeds. He has given us living seeds of the gospel. He hopes us hear the word of God and do everything possible to live it and help it to flourish.

CELEBRATING BIBLE SUNDAY: GOD’S WORD IS CENTER OF OUR FAITH

What is the meaning of the word “Bible”? The word “Bible” is derived from the Greek word “Biblios”, meaning a collection of books. The Bible is therefore not one book but a library of books. The Bible is the written Word of God. The “Word of God” means that God has spoken or expressed Himself. God is the author of the Bible, and Holy men of God were used to actually express God’s thoughts in writing, (cf 2 Peter 1:21).

The Bible is not an ordinary book, but the men who wrote it were inspired and moved by God’s Holy Spirit. The books of the Bible were all written at different times and in different places over a period of thousands of years. They were slowly gathered together until we have them all in one book. Between its covers are the answers to every problem of the human condition. The Bible is a wonderful book and no book has had the circulation and influence and impact that the Bible has. Every word is true and remains relevant across time. 

Each day we must read the word of God constantly in order to grow in faith. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit to teach us individually and guide us towards to the truth. If we don’t read we will never grow in faith. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Our growth comes by reading and exercising our faith through prayer, by using our spiritual gifts and by fellowship with one another at home, at work place and at church.

The Bible is the most unique sacred book in the entire world. We have such a valuable and effective sacred book and we should ask ourselves: How are we using it? How well do we know it? How are we being moulded by it?

Does God’s Word provide the daily nourishments for our faith? God’s word is alive and will change our life. When we hear or read God’s Word and when we are open and receptive to His Word, this will then take root in our lives and transform us. When we make it a habit to read the Bible we are spending quality time with God the Father. We receive nourishment spiritually for our soul through His Word and vital to our spiritual growth. Therefore we must partake in receiving nourishment regularly to live a strong, peaceful spiritual life. When we neglect to receive daily spiritual nourishment from the Word of God we would become weak spiritually, and once again shutting out God’s voice. We must take time to meditate and feed on the Word of God.

Let us through out our lives read the Bible as if it is God Himself speaking to us directly and personally. It will impart to us light, understanding, spiritual food and physical health which will cleanse us, sanctify us, build us up, make us partakers of God’s own nature. And you will be empowered with wisdom to overcome the evil. On this Bible Sunday, let us with humble hearts give thanks to God for the precious gift of His word.

What we should do with the Word of God? Listen. Read daily. Believe in it.

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word,” (Ps 119: 9).

"COME TO ME!"

Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest… For My yoke is easy and My burden is light,” (Matt 11:28-30).

Do you need rest for your soul? What can you do when you are stressed, depressed or anxious? If you do then dedicate your life to Christ. Come to Him – trust in Him – learn from Him.

Jesus never gives us more guilt, more stress, and more worries. He promises to give us rest if we come to Him. All of us carry burdens around in life. Some of them are heavy, awkward and hurt. Jesus has promised us that if we come to Him, we will find rest for our souls.


He is the focus of our lives. He is central because He says, “come to Me”. We are to look and move to Jesus - looking at Him - facing Him all the time.

WELCOMING OUR YOUNG ‘SOLDIERS IN CHRIST’S ARMY’

Forty Confirmands were joined by families and friends at Confirmation Mass on Saturday Sunset Mass at St Joseph Church Sentul. First, they gathered at the St Joseph’s Shrine for photo session with Archbishop Julian Leow. The archbishop gave them a briefing and recited a prayer to St Joseph before they began the procession into the Church.

During the sacrament of Confirmation these young adults promised to reject all the works of Satan and his empty promises. They took their full commitments to believe in God. During their Baptism their parents and godparents make promises to renounce Satan and believe in God and the Church on their behalf. At the Sacrament of Confirmation, they themselves renewed those same promises and this time they spoke for themselves. The faith that was given in Baptism is now confirmed and made strong during the sacrament of Confirmation.

The Holy Spirit guides the Church and helps us to grow in Christ. During Confirmation, the focus is on the Holy Spirit, who confirmed the apostles on Pentecost and gave them courage to practice their faith. We, Catholics believe that the same Holy Spirit confirms us during the Sacrament of Confirmation and gives them the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude or courage, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, (Is. 11:2‐3).

These seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are already received during the Sacrament of Baptism. These same gifts are strengthen in the Sacrament of Confirmation where “complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them” (CCC 1831). That is why the Catholic Church teaches and views that through the Sacrament of Confirmation as the completion of Baptism.  

 

Here is brief explanation about the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit:

1. Wisdom: Wisdom allows a person to recognize truth. The gift of knowing the right choices to make to live a holy life.

2. Understanding: The Gift of Understanding allows a person to comprehend the Catholic Faith or the ability to grasp the meaning of the teachings of the Church.

3. Counsel: The gift of counsel or right judgment helps a person to discern between good and evil or right and wrong.

4. Fortitude or courage: Through this Gift a person is no longer afraid to stand up for God and His truths. It helps a person to overcome any obstacles and to help strengthen one’s will. A person who has the gift of Fortitude will stand up for good against evil and is convicted to take a stand when the occasion arises.

5. Knowledge: The gift of knowing and enlightenment which enables a person to choose the right path that will lead one’s to God. It allows a person to understand the meaning and purpose God has for him or her and to live up to this meaning.

6. Piety: The gift of confidence in God. Is a desire to serve and worship God out of love, not just duty. A person with the Gift of Piety has a true love and a real relationship with God.

7. Fear of the Lord: The gift of wonder and respect that encourages you to be in awe of God. A person with this gift understands the greatness and awesomeness of the Lord. This is the beginning of Wisdom. Once a person understands who God is and desires to please Him, he or she can begin to understand things from God’s point of view or have Wisdom.

KEEP CHRIST FOREVER FIRST IN LIFE

The entire message of the Gospel rotates around one unique historical event –  the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Jesus says, “If anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me,” (Matt 10: 38). Crosses are certainly the troubles, pains, hardships, sacrifices, and loses that come only because we follow Jesus. Compromising Jesus to avoid the crosses for a better earthly life loses eternity for us.

Christ expects His followers to love Him more than anything or anyone else. Do you call yourself a Christian, a disciple of Christ, a follower of Christ? Are you willing to love Christ more than all others? Are you willing to give up everything for Christ?

To discover the great life is to find life in Jesus Christ. We won’t find it in the typical places of our world. It is only found in faith in Christ Jesus who died for us on the cross.

Live out our faith in everyday life. When we shoulder the crosses Jesus gives us the strength to serve others continuously. Christ will work in and through our life transforming us into persons we are intended to be. Keep Jesus forever first in our life.