Our Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation!

Today’s feast marks the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, forty days after he was born (Luke 2:22-40). We celebrate this feast, recalling the consecration of the baby Jesus by Joseph and Mary.

1) Simeon is called “just” – this means that he is honest and possesses moral character. Simeon was a man who was close to God!

a) How did Simeon know it was the Saviour? It was revealed to him! We are told that “the Holy Spirit rested on him.” Simeon had eyes of faith. He looked for this day in faith and now his faith had become sight.

b) How do we know that Jesus is Savior? It was revealed to us! Many things we see by faith, but one day our faith will become sight! We keep our faith until He comes.

2) Simeon is called “an upright and devout man” – literally means “taking hold of what is good.” 

a) Simeon was around 80 years old, who loved the Lord with all his heart, soul, strength and mind. If we are going to be used of God, we must be devoted to Jesus Christ. We must be looking for Him. We must be longing for Him. We must be living for Him.

b) We should have that same desire today, not just to see Jesus’ physical returns but a desire to commune with the Saviour each and every day of our lives. He abides within us and we should abide within Him. We must remain sensitive and obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit!

Jesus, the Light of the World

The 1st reading (Is 8:23-9:3) and the Gospel (4:12-23) speak that "the people that lived in darkness has seen a great light.”

Light is such an important thing that God created it even before He created heaven and earth. Once light began to exist, many good things followed it. If you look around us, we find that light helps us in many ways. 

In contrast to the light is darkness. Night and darkness are times of sleep. Nothing grows in darkness. If it is dark too long, everything dies. We also refer to darkness as a time of sin, the time of evildoing, the time of Satan. We feel uneasy and afraid in times of darkness.

The darkness of Paganism, ignorance of the true nature of God has been expelled forever by the coming of the Son of God as the Light of the World.

"The Lord is our Light and our help" and whoever  follows Him will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

Psalms: "Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord!" (Ps 26:24)

Point People toward Jesus

Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, "Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world," (John 1:29).

Jesus is always coming toward us, too. If we are going to be a proper witness, we must recognise who we are not. We are not the Messiah. We are not the great prophet. We need to remember that we are not Jesus. We are not God. We are only witnesses. We are voices. We are to get people ready, to prepare them, to make their path straight. We must point people to Jesus.

The role of every Christian life is to point people toward Christ. As individuals and as a community, we are called to show God’s love and mercy to the world. We are chosen to continue this saving work, which Christ began, and to be part of this mission. Our response today is, “Here am I, Lord, I come to the will.”

The Baptism of the Lord Jesus

Today, we commemorate the baptism of Our Lord. The Church teaches that when Jesus was baptised the Sacrament of Baptism was instituted. When we receive this sacrament, we enter into the Church and receive a call to our personal vocation. We truly become members of the family of God.  

The Church teaches us that Baptism is the most important of all of the sacraments.  Baptism is the gateway through which we enter into the Church community.  No one can receive any of the other sacraments without first being baptised. That is why the day when a person is baptized is more important than when a person is ordained as a priest or bishop. 

In Baptism we are given a share in the mission of Christ. We are to open our eyes and free our hearts by how we witness Christ in this predominantly Malay-Muslims country. No force. No shouting. No criticism. No demonstration. No protest. Our constant life of gentleness, kindness and love will free us to practice our faith. Thus, our baptism is dynamic; it points back to the work of God in us and forward to the life of faith. 

 “This is my Son, the Beloved. My favour rests on Him," (Mt 3:17).

The Word "ALLAH" Has Been Used Since 1900

Yesterday, I received an old Malay prayer book from an old parishioner which was printed in Penang, 19th May, 1900. 

When I browsed through it, there were a few places in which the word "ALLAH" appeared. So it is apparent that Christians have been are using the word "ALLAH" in all their printing materials, prayers and preaching for more than a century now.

Many Muslim Scholars and Imams have no objections for Christians to use the Word "ALLAH". Why then must some Muslims go against the Christians in this issue? To these few - If you are not sure of your faith and the terminology of the word "ALLAH" then please do not confuse others and don't confuse yourselves.