Heaven is Within Our Reach

"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, (Mt. 5:1-12).

Today we celebrate with and for the assembly of saints in heaven. The festival of All Saints should inspire and strengthen us to live in faithful witness to Christ and to work in His Church. (The Greek work "witness" is martyr). We must continue living as Children of God to "bear witness to the truth," (Jn 18: 37). Heaven is within our reach. Heaven is not far the privileged few but for all of us. That is the intention of God. The saints are gift of God to His Church and to His people. They are our friends in Heaven and we should not hesitate to pray to them.

We can call on our patrons/patronesses and our favorite saints, and also our departed grand parents, parents, relatives and friends whom we believe are already in communion with all saints and with God, (cf. YouCat #146).

Saints of God, pray for us.

God Gives Grace to the Humble!

"For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted," (Lk 18:14)

In the Gospel, the Pharisee was comparing himself to other people while the tax collector was comparing himself with God.

We should judge our goodness and holiness by looking at God, not by looking at those around us. Often, we think, “I am not as bad as most people.”

WHY DID YOU COME TO CHURCH? 

a) To be seen!

b) To seek God!

To Be Seen!

The Pharisee was truly good and holy person who kept the law faithfully, fulfilling every law and even went beyond what the Law required. He was a model of what we would call a living saint. Obviously, the Pharisee was at the temple for others to see how good he was. It was a public performance and religious show. He was there to be seen by all and to be heard by the other worshipers.

When you are preparing to come to Church, are you thinking more about who will be there to see you or you come to Church to impress others the way you pray rather than your personal conversion and your connection with God.

To Seek God?

Tax collectors were generally regarded as people of low moral standards. Because tax collectors worked for the pagan Romans, mixed up with them and constantly handled unclean money. He didn’t focus on the other people but he focused on his own sinfulness. He beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This is the most moving of all prayers, and one that God cannot fail to hear.

Why do you go to Church every Sunday? Is it just your habit, a part of your weekend routine? Perhaps you came because your parents or your spouse pressured you to come. Or maybe you feel guilty if you don’t come. Or you come seeking to connect with God that one day you might be abled to get into heaven?

When we come to God's house, we should be primarily concerned about seeking God’s face. 

When we have this attitude, I am sure we can go home reconciled and at peace with God and with one another.

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble," (1 Peter 5:5).

World Mission Sunday 2013

Pope Francis in his message for World Mission Sunday 2013 (20th Oct) said that our faith in Christ “is a precious gift, not reserved for a few but offered with generosity.” He added, “Everyone should be able to experience the joy of being loved by God, the joy of salvation!” This precious gift is not meant to be kept to ourselves but it has to be shared to all. When we keep it only to ourselves, “we will become isolated, sterile and sick Christians.” 

In this Year of Faith, we take the opportunity to increasingly strengthen our friendship with the Lord and open our minds and hearts to know and love Him, (cf. Porta Fidei, no. 15). Every Christian is obliged to play a role in spreading the faith, to communicate it to others, to live it in charity and to witness to it. We cannot proclaim or announce Christ without the Church. The Pope said, “Evangelisation is not an individual or private act,” but “it is always ecclesial.” He quoted what Pope Paul VI said, “When an unknown preacher, catechist or pastor preaches the Gospel, gather the little community together, administers a Sacrament, even alone, he is carrying out of an ecclesial act.” This affirms that every missionary or evangeliser is never carrying out his apostolic work alone or should never involve pressure or force. His evangelism is a part of a single Body that is a Church animated by the Holy Spirit.

On this Mission Sunday the entire Church should remember how Paul and Barnabas at the end of their first missionary journey, “reported what God had done with them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, (Acts 14:27).  Let us ask God today to make us strong in our faith, firm in our hope and persistently and courageously to “shout the Gospel by our action."

Islam Hadhari and Its Principles

The usage of the word “Allah” remains unresolved. The Christians have been told that they have no right to use the word “Allah” for God. Today in Malaysia, we are living in an age which is completely different in many aspects from previous times. When we look at the Islamic extremist groups and the fundamentalists in the country, even though they are mostly small minorities, we notice that their political aims are stronger than their religious aims. They claim to be returning to the true form of their religion as it was in the past, but they have gone in the opposite direction. In the course of time, all these extreme and fundamentalist groups do not last and will not impress nor influence people very much and will gradually die away.

I like very much the 10 fundamental principles for the Islam Hadhari or Islamic Civilisation outlined by the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in September 2004. The 10 Principles of Islam Hadhari are: faith and piety in Allah/God, a just and trustworthy government, free and independent people, a vigorous mastery of knowledge, a balanced and comprehensive economic development, a good quality of life, protection of the rights of minority groups and women, cultural and moral integrity, conservation of the environment, and strong defence capabilities. It was basically to bring Muslims into the modern world and integrate them into the modern economy. Furthermore, it is also about respecting and living in peace with each other in the multi-religious society. It called upon Malay-Muslims to treat well and fairly their non-Muslim fellow citizens in all their dealings. It was quite balanced principles dealing fairly with all races and focuses on human development, civilasation, intellectual and spiritual.

Islam Hadhari was most strongly criticised by these Islamic extremists and fundamentalists and they see it as just a political concept promotion and it does not represent the faith itself. They don’t learn to see themselves as partners who have to deal with common problems of individuals and society as well. They should have a mutual understanding and friendships which can only be achieved through dialogue. They have to learn and respect the value of other religions. They have to think positively and appreciate of one’s personal growth and to strive for “religious maturity.”

Pope Benedict XVI recalled the statement of Vatican II Council in August 2005 in Germany with regard to the Muslims in the declaration of Nostra Aetate (DECLARATION ON THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS) and confirmed that the intention of the Catholic Church was “to pursue the way of interreligious and cultural dialogue in order to face together the many challenges of our time”. The world Muslim leaders responded positively to the Pope’s appeal “to continue dialogue and to work together” and “to foster knowledge of each other’s religion”.

As a Malaysian, I realise that the government's efforts in forming the so called “1Malaysian” concept and the willingness to enter into dialogues without any prejudice in the pluralistic society are going to waste.

As Christians and as a minority in this country, we must not back down from the challenge of defending and upholding our rights in freedom of worship. Let us continue to invoke the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Social Grace - Gratitude

On the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, we heard in the Gospel, “Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they?" (LK 17:17). But only one of them thought it worthwhile to return and say thank you. The other lepers failed to show appreciation to Jesus but kept everything for themselves and gave nothing back. Jesus expressed disappointment at the attitude of the nine who stayed away and forgot to thank and praise God.

We are no longer a people who are quick to show gratitude. A study from a few years ago revealed that, in fact, very few parents and teachers teach children about such things as “the social grace” which includes gratitude. The expression of gratitude is one of the most fundamental signs of respect for one another.

We must make it a personal rule to thank and praise God for everything that happens to us. Even when a misfortune happens to us, if we thank and praise God that it will turn into a blessing and eventual happiness. We are expected to thank God not only for our happy days but for the upsetting ones too.

I would like make reference to the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church (YouCat) which talks about the need to put our gratitude for God first and our parents, second.

i) Why did God make man?  (YouCat no. 59)

God man everything for man. Man, however, who is “the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake”, was created in order to be blessed. This happens when man knows, loves, and serves God and lives in gratitude toward His creator. Gratitude is love that has been acknowledged. Someone who is grateful turns freely to the giver of the good and enters into a new, deeper relationship with him. God wishes us to acknowledge His love and even now to live our whole life in relation with Him. This relationship lasts forever.

ii) How does a child respect his parents? (YouCat no. 371)

A child respects and honours his parents by showing them love and gratitude. Children should be grateful to their parents in the first place because they receive their life from the love of their parents. This gratitude establishes a lifelong relationship of love, respect, responsibility and obedience, rightful understood. Especially in times of need, sickness and old age, children should lovingly be there for their parents and care for them carefully.