UNITE ALL THINGS IN CHRIST

We are currently in the second period of Ordinary Time, which began after Pentecost Sunday and will continue until the start of Advent. The first period of Ordinary Time commenced after Christmastime and the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and continued until Ash Wednesday, which signified the start of Lent and preparation for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter).

The celebration of Pentecost last weekend took on a deeper significance for us as Christians. Just as the early Church was publicly inaugurated and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we, as a community, are once again called to reflect on our duty and commitment to exemplify Christ’s teachings in our everyday lives.

During Ordinary Time, the liturgical colour green holds a profound significance. Green symbolises life in nature, hope and continuous growth in Christian life. Ordinary time provides us with the graces that draw us into the life of God, and the ongoing spiritual journey. This season in the liturgical calendar is dedicated to exploring and internalising Jesus’ three-year public ministry and His teachings, reflecting on His miracles and contemplating the expansion of the Church. It offers a valuable opportunity for personal meditation, spiritual development and practise to live out the principles of the Christian faith, and to carry out the mission of the Church in the world.

In Ordinary Time, we undergo a period of significant growth and maturation. This is a time when the profound mystery of Christ must become deeply integrated into our lives, leading to the ultimate unity of all things in Christ. Throughout this season, all celebrations are purposefully directed towards the final Sunday in Ordinary Time, which is the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

We have a few important Solemnities and feasts in the next couple of weeks – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the closing month of the Rosary on 31 May, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) on 2 June and the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in conjunction with the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctity of Priestly Life on 7 June. These are not just dates on a calendar but pivotal moments for us to unite as a community and deepen our faith in Christ. Following these celebrations, we will observe the Novena and feast on St Thomas, the Apostle, from 1-7 July. These upcoming events are not just dates on a calendar, but opportunities for us to come together as a community, and deepen our faith in Christ.

Finding time for quiet moments of prayer and meditation can be tough in a world of challenges. But we can feel a deeper bond with God when we keep a continuous connection with Him. This can lead to receiving many graces and developing virtues like humility, gratitude and solidarity. May the Spirit of God fill us with strength and courage to represent Christ genuinely in our world today.

Our Lady of the Trinity, pray for us!

A CHRISTIAN CIVILISATION

Türkiye is a country unique with its historical sites, culture, and traditions. Geographically, Türkiye occupies land that bridges the continents of Asia and Europe. I went on a 10-day pilgrimage tour to Türkiye with 22 other pilgrims from 5-15 May 2024. My pilgrimage was magnificent! I enjoyed the beautiful sights and gained a deeper understanding of the New Testament. It was breathtaking and mind-refreshing, particularly learning about the journeys and works of the apostles - St Peter, St John the Evangelist, St Paul, St Barnabas, and others - in Asia Minor, which is now known as Türkiye.

St. Paul played a significant role in the spread of Christianity through his three missionary journeys, which are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles. St. John the Evangelist was also a crucial figure who wrote letters from Patmos Island to the seven churches in Türkiye: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. In his letters, he urged them to repent, hold firm to their faith in Christ, and be on guard against evil (cf. Revelation chapters 2-3). Some of these towns’ names have changed to modern names, such as Smyrna to Izmir, Iconium to Konya, Antioch to Antakya, Pergamum to Bergama, etc. Their missionary works helped Christianity take root in the land of Türkiye, and spread throughout the early Roman Empire.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Islamic civilisation flourished during the time of the Ottoman Empire (1299-1923). The Christian civilisation declined, and Islam spread rapidly in the region during this time. On 29 October 1923, Türkiye became the Republic of Türkiye, with Ankara as its new capital, and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk became the country’s first president. Türkiye is a secular state with a predominantly Muslim population, making up 99% of the total population of 86 million. Istanbul alone has about 3,000 mosques, and there are over 90,000 mosques throughout the country.

In 1927, the Christian population in Türkiye was estimated to be 200,000 to 320,000, which is equal to 3-5% of the total population. However, by 2022, the Christian population had decreased to 0.2% due to migration, religious discrimination and familial pressure. Currently, there are approximately 70,000 Catholics, 70 Catholic priests and 3 bishops in Türkiye.

Centuries ago, many churches, cultural heritage sites and buildings in Türkiye were badly destroyed by earthquakes and have not been successfully restored. Archaeologists are still excavating these sites, and attempting to restore them, but they face difficulties due to financial and political issues. In Cappadocia, we have seen how monks stayed in natural volcanic rock caves formed by eruptions. Many caves in the castle are currently being used as pigeon houses. It is disheartening to see our Christian civilisation lost in Türkiye.

Ephesus was a delightful destination because we had the opportunity to visit the House of Mary, St. John the Evangelist’s burial tomb, and the birthplace of St. Paul at Tarsus. The house of Mary has puzzled many of us. It is believed that John would have taken Mother Mary to Ephesus, and from there, he would have travelled and spread the Good News (cf. John 19: 26-27). If the Blessed Virgin Mary can be present everywhere in the world, why can’t we believe that she would have stayed in Ephesus in the early 1st century?

"You are to put aside your old self, which belonged to your old way of life, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self." (Ephesians 4:22-24).

PERSEVERE AND STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH

A significant number of Catholics initiated a nine-day Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit after the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord on Thursday, 9 May 2024. We strongly encourage everyone to continue the practice of praying the Rosary with great fervour, along with the Novena to the Holy Spirit. The Rosary is a powerful prayer that involves meditating on the life of Jesus Christ, and can provide a sense of peace during challenging times. By combining the Novena to the Holy Spirit and the Rosary, Catholics can deepen their spiritual connection with God and experience greater faith and devotion.

Some of you may have devoted your time to reading articles and books, watching videos and listening to audios related to the Holy Spirit. Devoting time to learning about the Holy Spirit is crucial for experiencing a personal Pentecost, and achieving spiritual transformation. This experience can lead us to turn away from our wrongdoing, forgive others and entrust our faith in Jesus Christ more profoundly. The Holy Spirit - the Third Person in the Holy Trinity - is a remarkable gift that inspires us to undergo spiritual transformation, and achieve a greater sense of peace in our lives.

The Holy Spirit is an essential aspect of the Christian faith, representing the presence of God’s power, love and guidance in our lives. When Jesus ascended into heaven, he instructed his apostles to return to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:4-5). The apostles obeyed Christ’s command and made the first Novena - a nine-day period of prayer - to prepare for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus, empowering them to spread the Gospel and establish the early church. As we move from the Ascension of the Lord towards Pentecost, we are encouraged to focus on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us. This outpouring is a reminder of the ongoing presence of God in our lives and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily lives. It also serves as a call to action – urging us to use our gifts and talents to serve others, and to spread the message of Christ.

We have been delving into the rich accounts of the Acts of the Apostles throughout the daily liturgy since Easter Sunday. Through the journeys of St Paul and St Barnabas, we learn about their efforts to visit the previous churches they had established - encouraging and strengthening the disciples in their faith. Their mission was to uplift the spirit of the disciples and to “put fresh hearts into them, encouraging them to persevere in the faith” (Acts 14: 22).

As we move towards Pentecost, let us make the most of this time - using it to gain a deeper understanding of our faith - to persevere and strengthen our relationship with the Lord Jesus.

A RENEWED SENSE OF SPIRITUAL VITALITY

As of today, we have faithfully completed five weeks of the seven-week-long Easter season. This means that we have two more weeks left until we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost. It is incredible how time flies, and it is hard to believe that we have already come this far. During the remaining two weeks, we continue to commemorate Jesus Christ’s resurrection and reflect on this holy season’s significance.

As we approach the feast of Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other disciples of Jesus (cf. Acts 1: 4), the daily readings in the liturgy increasingly refer to the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a significant time for Christians because it highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of every Christian. In light of this, it is important to continue praying, “Come Holy Spirit, fill my heart with love, joy and peace.” This simple yet powerful prayer helps us acknowledge our dependence on the Holy Spirit, and invite Him to take control of our lives. 

In the Catholic faith, the month of May is dedicated to praying the Rosary, and many of us faithfully pray it individually, as a family or even in online groups on social media platforms. The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord falls on Thursday, 9 May 2024, and many Catholics initiate a nine-day Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit. This Novena Prayer is a traditional Catholic practice that involves praying for nine consecutive days to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit (cf. Is 11: 1-3). 

I strongly encourage everyone to continue the practice of praying the Rosary with great fervour during this Month of the Rosary. Furthermore, I particularly urge everyone to join in the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit, which can bring you closer to God and help you experience His divine presence. As we draw near to Pentecost, let us remember the significance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. May we be blessed with a renewed sense of spiritual vitality during this time of celebration.

During the recitation of the Rosary, we incorporate the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit, until Pentecost. By including the Novena Prayer to the Holy Spirit in our Rosary prayers, we seek to keep ourselves in harmony with the presence of the Holy Spirit and His guidance as we say: 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love. 

V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created. 

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth. 

Let us pray: O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us, in the same Spirit, to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.