Marriage is Designed by God

Today’s Gospel (MK 10: 2-12) is more concerning and reflecting on the dignity of marriage and marriage commitment. There are people who will die for their marriage because of the promises they have taken and the respect they have for the Church teaching and for the designs of God, “what God has joined together, let no man breaks apart.” Jesus emphasizes that marriage is designed by God and it has to be a lifelong union between one man and one woman.

Therefore, a man and woman must keep up the high point of sacramental bonding – fidelity, permanence of marriage and the oneness what God has joined and man and woman must not divide.

How to work for a happy and faithful marriage?

i)  Never both get angry.

ii) If you have any criticism makes it lovingly. Don’t forget to give compliments and congratulations to each other.

iii) Never bring up past mistakes. When you have made a mistake, talk it out and ask for forgiveness.

iv) Every spouse needs to love and to be loved and to respected.

v) Have a healthy communicate.

vi) We are love one another as Jesus loves us.

Entering Into Life!!!

Today's gospel speaks of "Entering into life...." (Mk 9: 38-48). Three times in our text, verses 43, 45, and 47, Jesus refers to “entering into life”. It refers to entering into a faith relationship with Jesus. 

The steps for entering life in Christ are very simple. They are by recognizing the fact that we are sinners and to understand the penalty that God has placed on sin. Jesus invites us to come to the place where we are willing to turn from our sins and place our faith in Jesus alone for our salvation.

Jesus speaks of amputating body parts if necessary to make a clean break with sin and temptation. Being saved will probably not require us to pluck out our eye, or cut off our hand or foot. Coming to Jesus will almost certainly cost us dearly as we take the necessary steps to cut ourselves off from the old life of sin. Getting to Jesus is worth the cost. Don’t let anything to stand between us and our getting into Jesus' life.

NURTURE LOVE IN THE HOME

Catholic families differ in some ways from other families in the manner we build our marriages and raise our children. It isn’t necessary to have a degree in theology or higher education to nurture a wholesome family.  What then sets a Catholic family apart from others?

The Five Marks of a Catholic Family

1.  Catholic Families Worship Together:

As a family, we attend Sunday masses weekly and on Holy Days (and whenever we are able) as we believe the Eucharist is the source and summit of our love and the sign of the intimacy to which families are called.  We are active in parish life - our spiritual home away from home, and we go to confession regularly to seek God’s healing grace to be the loving community we are called to be.

2. Catholic Families Pray Together.

Besides individual prayer life, we gather together as husband and wife and also as a family for prayer each day. We praise and thank God for his numerous blessings and we ask for the grace to be faithful, loving people. We pray for both our needs and the needs of the Family of God. “The family that prays together, stays together.”

 3. Catholic Families are Called to Intimacy:

We recognize that families are “Schools of Love” and so we discover new ways to be more loving and open within the family.  Children are a visible sign of the loving union between husband and wife and we work to make this a reality. We cultivate marriage and parenting practices that help family members build a “community of love” and practise virtues that help us live life as a gift.

4.  Catholic Families Put Family First:

To protect this intimacy, we recognize the importance of regular family rituals such as family dinner, family prayer and worship, a family day and regular time for one-on-one communication and relationship-building. Spouses sacrifice for the sake of the family and for the sense of well-being in the home.

 5.  The Catholic Family is a Witness and Sign:

 We allow ourselves to be part of God’s plan to transform the world through our daily interactions as husband and wife, parents and children and to carry our love outside the home by serving the world at large. We respect the integrity of the family unit by committing ourselves and our families to the practice of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. 

Together with the Church, we make every effort to evangelize families and to enter more deeply into the Catholic vision for marriage and family life.

Who Do You Say I Am?

In Mark's Gospel (MK 8: 27 - 35), it is a gradual revelation or unveiling of the Person of Jesus and his mission.

“Who do you say that I am?” Who is Jesus Christ? Who is this Person of Jesus? Peter, spokesperson for the apostles, gives the pointed and correct answer: “You are the Messiah," (MK 27 -30).

Now, the second half of this Gospel today (MK 31 - 35), it has to do with the practical things. Christ speaks about suffering, rejection and death, after three day rise again!

Faith is seen as a protection against evil or suffering. People who have faith aren't supposed to have hard times or hard lives although they do. And, if we truly made a choice to follow Jesus Christ, there will be many trials. We must make a choice to do good and to put outside many evils and courageously say, "Get behind me, Satan!"

The Lord is teaching us a real life and the real life is really tough and suffering is part of it. He never explains why we have to suffer but He does give meaning and value and show us the proper way of approaching to suffering, rejection and death.

Jesus kept walking into our lives and encourages and affirms us, “He has kept my soul from death, my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling and I will walk in the presence...” (Psalms 114)

HARI MERDEKA and HARI MALAYSIA 2015

On 31 August, we commemorate and celebrate the freedom and Independence of Malaysia.  We, as a nation, express our patriotism and love towards our country by raising the Malaysian flag on our vehicles, our buildings, homes and shopping malls and even along the streets!

We celebrate our lndependence Day this year with the theme “Malaysia, Sehati Sejiwa” (Single Minded Malaysia) to reflect the spirit of solidarity, understanding, togetherness and humanity of all the people in the country. However, after 58 years of Independence today “we are witnessing many distressing events in our country.” Presently we face political instability and chaotic and economic deterioration.  Human rights, freedom of expression and the liberty of social media are increasingly controlled by the authority.

It is the duty of every citizen including the minorities, the migrants and refugees to defend the rights of humanity.  With the many current issues such as the 1MDB and depreciating currency, many of the rakyat have lost their confidence in the ruling government.  Furthermore, many are really “perturbed by the religious extremism and intolerance of certain individuals and groups” which create divisions and disunity.

 The opposition leaders, NGO groups, religious institutions and individuals are challenging the present government for “fairness, transparency, accountability and integrity” through various forms. As a nation, we must keep the spirit of solidarity, understanding, togetherness, goodwill, and humanity among all races in this multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious society.

We, the Church should respond to the Gospel invitation to be the “salt of the earth and the light of the world,” (Mt 5: 13-14), to be “faithful” and to play a “rightful role” in building up our nation. We must be led by the “teachings and direction of the Church” and uphold our “spiritual and moral values,” in order to enhance peace and harmony in our society.

Let us together pray for our nation to be truly united and live in harmony.

“Selamat Hari Merdeka and Hari Malaysia!”

(Adapted from the Archbishop’s National Day Message)