YOUTH: ARISE AND STAND UP

On Palm Sunday, the Church celebrates World Youth Day. The Holy Father has chosen the themes for three years (2020-2022).

i)               35^th World Youth Day, 2020: “Young man, I say to you, arise!” (Lk 7:14).

ii)             36^th World Youth Day, 2021: “Stand up. I appoint you as a witness of what you have seen” (cf. Acts 26:16)

iii)           37^th World Youth Day, 2022 (Lisbon, Portugal): "Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39)

In these three themes, there are two verbs which the Holy Father, Pope Francis, wants the young people to focus on – “arise” and “stand up”. These two key words lead in the preparations of the next World Youth Day gathering to be held in Lisbon, Portugal in 2022. It is an invitation to our young people to be missionary disciples, because Lisbon, in the 15^thand 16^th centuries had encouraged “great numbers of young people, including many missionaries, set out for unknown lands, to share their experience of Jesus with other peoples and nations.”

The Holy Father invites the young people to read and meditate on these two verbs “arise” and “stand up” which occur in the miraculous story of the son of the widow of Nain who was restored life (LK 7: 11- 17), as a preparation for 37^th World Youth Day in Lisbon. 

As we focus on this year’s theme, the Holy Father highlighted five focal points in his message to the youth, especially the young people who have lost their “vitality, dreams, enthusiasm, optimism and generosity.” Jesus stood before the dead son of the widow, and with all the power of his resurrection he urges: ‘Young man, I say to you, arise!’” (Lk 7: 14), and he restored her son to life and young people – you need arise.

First, the Pope wants the young people to be able to see “pain and death” which is a reality of life. Jesus saw these realities in a widowed mother. In today’s world, how are you encountering, experiencing and being eyewitnesses of events that cause pain, suffering, illness and death? The Holy Father says, “our first reaction is to take a picture with our cell phones, without even bothering to look into the eyes of the persons involved.” We may encounter all “negative situations,” or “failures,” but all these are part and parcel of life but these could also “end up being a grace” for you.

Secondly, Pope Francis invites the young people “to have compassion” (Lk 7: 13) of heart as how the widowed mother’s grief became Jesus’ own over the death of her son. The young people must be sensible and proactive towards natural disasters, victims of violence, persecution, etc. They must be willingly to step up offering their services whenever situations arise demanding it. They must be able to say “arise, you are not alone”, to face the difficulties and challenges in someone else’s life.

Thirdly, the Holy Father invites the young people to come forward and “touch” as how Jesus went and stopped the funeral procession. He touched the dead young man and brought new life to him, (Lk 7: 14). The Pontiff wants the young people to be constantly close to those who are hungry and thirsty, or are sick and naked, or imprisoned (Mt 28: 31-46) so that they “can bring the dead to life.”

Fourthly, the Holy Father wants the young people to give attention to look deeper into the phrases and words of scripture which give meaning to their lives. The word of God alone “can bring the dead to life.” 

Finally, the Holy Father warns the young people about the use of electronic devises. They are often “connected” but not communicating their “personality, desires, needs and dreams.” After restoration to life, the dead young man “began to speak,” (Lk 7:15). The young people need to “arise” and to be more “committed to changing the world, to rekindle hopes and aspirations,” and “make your voices heard.”

Through the intercession of Mary, we implore her through her Son, Jesus Christ to restore our dead faith to life. Let ourselves “arise” and “stand up,” and when you “arise” and “stand up”, everyone’s life arises and the Church also arises. 

AN EXCTRACT FOR THE MESSAGE OF HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS 

FOR 35^th WORLD YOUTH DAY 2020

HAPPY WORLD YOUTH DAY AND GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS!

By Fr George Packiasamy

Church of St Joseph,

Kuala Lumpur

Note: The attached photos are from past events of St Joseph’s Youth, KL, in 2019

Photo #1 (from top): Youth Picnic on 24 Feb 2019

Photo #2: Youth Gathering on 4 August 2019

Photo #3: Youth Picnic on 24 Feb 2019

Photo #4:Youth Christmas Party on 8 Dec 2019

Photo #5:Youth Gathering on 4 August 2019

HOSANNA, COME TO OUR AID!

We began our Lenten season on Wednesday, 26 February 2020 and now it has come to an end as Holy Week begins. Out of the 52 weeks in the year, Holy Week (the last week of Lent and a week before Easter), is the best time of the year for us Catholics. It is a week that prepares our hearts for the Easter celebrations. Although it is not the busiest week of the year for us, when compared with Christmas, - where we are busy shopping, travelling and planning big parties with family and friends. Holy Week is very different because it guides us to enter into the solemn liturgy of the Church - the Easter Tridium. 

Holy Week celebrations this year will be much quieter for all of us due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Church throughout the world has suspended Masses for several weeks now and we don’t know when we will be able to get back to our Churches. It is the first in our lifetime that our Easter Triduum will not be celebrated in the Church. However, it can still be an amazing celebration of the Pascal Mystery of Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection as we celebrate it from within our homes. Various websites will be carrying live streaming of the solemn celebrations throughout the world, including our own Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur (tv.archkl.com), and I strongly encourage you to watch and participate in these reverently. 

As a part of my preparation for Holy Week, I have started reading a spiritual book entitled, “Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week - From the Entrance into Jerusalem to the Resurrection” written by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, 2011. We begin Holy Week with Palm Sunday celebration by exclaiming “Hosanna.” This word “Hosanna” is echoed in all the four Gospels. Pope Benedict XVI said that the exclamation “Hosanna” originally means – “Come to our aid!” During the feast of Tabernacles, the priest in the Old Testament would be “processing seven times around the altar of sacrifice, as an urgent prayer for rain.” This feast lasted seven days and it marked the completion of the harvest (Lev 23:43-44). The Lord would bless all the produce and all the works of their hands so that they would all be joyful together. The feast of Tabernacles eventually “changed from a feast of petition into one of praise, so too the cry for help more and more turned into shouts of jubilation.” The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem has become a joyful praise of God because it points us towards a future time of messianic hope and salvation, when Jesus comes and restores all things.

All of us are grieving about not being able to attend and celebrate Mass and Good Friday Service during Holy Week. It’s mind-boggling to think that a virus pandemic has effected the whole world with such magnitude, and that we are now forced to celebrate Palm Sunday and the Easter Triduum within the confines of our homes. However, this year we will celebrate our life of faith through Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection within our own families. We can make it as nourishing for our spirit and faith by participating wholeheartedly in the live stream Masses and engaging ourselves by helping one another journey towards a joyful Easter celebration. As preparation, we could read the last two chapters of any of the Gospels and meditate on the last week of Jesus’ life on Earth. Perhaps we could also prepare our altar and home in anticipation of Holy Week.

This year, I am going to turn on the PA System and celebrate Holy Week Masses and Services alone at the Altar. In all the Mases and services, I will definitely remember all your families and children. For the past few weeks I have been praying particularly for this pandemic to end, but I will keep you and your family close to the Altar and to my heart each day during Holy Week. I invite you to join me in spirit, and together as a Church we shall celebrate a meaningful and significant Holy Week at home. My prayers and best wishes are with all of you in that you will have a spirit-filled and prayerful Holy Week with your respective families.

HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST!

Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday is the day that the historical triumphal entrance of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. It is a day that marks the beginning of the last week of Jesus on earth. As we approach this Holy Week we focus on Jesus who was suffered grievously – He was beaten, mocked and crucified for us and His willingness to go to the cross.

We begin with the Gospel reading exclaiming “Hosanna, in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the Highest.” Hosanna basically means “Save Us! Save Us! The crowds were screaming “Save us! Save us!

During Holy Week we shall make the priority to pray and meditate the Passion story of Jesus Christ and hope that it change the way we think and live. As we celebrate the Holy Week in our homes, let’s listen to what He wants to say to us and allow Him to stay with your families. The King Jesus will be with you this Holy Week in our home to show us the way of humility and obedience - is a path to glory.

STAY AT HOME AND STAY FIRM WITH THE LORD

When we began the season of Lent 2020, the Church reminded us about the sacred 40 days of the Liturgical Year when we prepare ourselves for the celebration of the Paschal Mystery – Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection. However, since the Coronavirus outbreak, many activities, events and Masses have been suspended in our churches. Initially, we were just instructed and recommended to remove the Holy water at every entrance of the Church, sanitise our hands, and not shake hands during the greeting of peace. All these were to safeguard us against this virus. Unfortunately, as time went by, the World Health Organisation (WHO), government leaders, researchers and medical professionals have ordered us to stay at home, practice good hygiene and social distancing in order to reduce the possibility of contracting the Coronavirus.

Since 14 March 2020 and after the 2nd Sunday of Lent, the Church suspended all public Masses following the Movement Control Order (MCO) which was implemented on 18 March 2020. Now, the MCO has been extended till 14 April 2020 due to the increase in the number of Coronavirus cases in our country.

All of us felt disappointed when the extension of the MCO was announced, more so after reading the Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Malaysia dated 25 March 2020, wherein we were informed of the suspension of the Holy Week and Easter Triduum celebrations, amongst other matters. We have never experienced the suspension of the most solemn and glorious celebration of the Church in our lifetime thus far. It is the heart of the Catholic Church’s celebration and I ask myself - how could this happen to our faith?

I would like to pen down some of my thoughts and reflections, which were also echoed by various researchers, spiritual and political leaders, medical professionals, entrepreneurs, etc. In the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic, the whole world is repeatedly pleading with us to lockdown, distance ourselves from others, to stay at home, to stay safe and healthy, etc. When we look at the current COVID-19 pandemic throughout the world, it makes us scared, anxious and heartbroken. The number of infected people and deaths due to the virus is skyrocketing all over the world. We ask ourselves - what is happening? Why is God silent?

The whole world was moving ahead so rapidly but all of a sudden, everything came to a complete halt. Ever since the pandemic occurred, all cities and towns have shut down their activities and enforced lockdowns. National leaders, social media, medical professionals and even random people are reminding us repeatedly to stay at home, maintain social distancing, isolation, as well as self-quarantine, so as to be safe and healthy. When we spiritualise these keywords – lockdown, social distancing, stay at home and stay safe and healthy - surely these will help us to stay connected with God and with our inner selves, so that we may experience a spiritually and a physically healthy life. But why do we find it so difficult to strictly follow these basic rules as required under the MCO, especially staying at home and keeping a distance from one another? Looking at the situation surrounding us now, it is expected that the situation will be worse by the middle of April. Is God warning humanity? 

All this while we have been driven by modern culture, science and technology. We have mis-used and abused our planet and all its resources. Since the beginning of 2020, God has been trying to teach humanity something through this Coronavirus pandemic. In the midst of our busy lives and our preoccupation with worldly matters, we have forgotten that God is in the midst of all this. Perhaps, this pandemic is an ‘interval’ period for us to be less self-indulgent and instead, it is meant for us to love and serve those around us.

Perhaps we have lost our human values due to selfishness, greed, egotism and  materialism. Perhaps we have neglected our family, resulting in breakdowns and social problems. During this interval period, we should all be more accountable and responsible for the choices we make. We should make a new resolution to respect Mother Earth and its inhabitants, especially to treat the people around us with love and compassion. Let’s remember that nothing is permanent in this world and we will be tested so that we “may discern for ourselves what is the Will of God – what is good and acceptable and mature,” (cf. Rom 12:2).

We see with our own eyes, the “great disaster” of COVID -19, and realise that “Earth is sick.” All nations on this planet are being affected. We will be tested in this time of trial and eventually, this too shall pass. We pray for the world, especially for the researchers, medical professionals, doctors, nurses and health care workers who tirelessly face this battle head on. May they know our deep gratitude for all they are doing to heal those who are affected by the Coronavirus. May the Lord bless them in these challenging days. Heavenly Father, “Send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the Earth,” (Ps 104:30).

JOY AND CELEBRATION

In preparation for the Paschal Mystery, the 5th Sunday of Lent brings us to the story of the Raising of Lazarus (Jn 11:1-45) from the dead. Lazarus is a brother of Martha and Mary. Lazarus dies. By the time the Lord comes to Bethany, Lazarus has already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha and Mary met the Lord, they say, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Jesus says, “I Am the Resurrection and the Life” and He affirms that there is life beyond the grave because He has won the victory over death. He is the Life because He leads us to life eternal and gives us the hope for a life in communion with God.

We cannot stay in our tomb of sin and destruction. We need to come out and be loosened from spiritual bondage – jealousy, greedy, anger, hatred, hurt, laziness, etc. so that we may set our path on the discipleship. We need to hold our faith firm in Jesus’ Word and His promises of the resurrection and to understand the reality of death.

Since the Coronavirus outbreak, we are living in a time of uncertainty and crisis. Every day the death toll of COVID-19 is arising throughout the world. It is a time for us to pray, encourage and support one another as we stay at home and keep the social distancing orders at this time of trials. We hope this will pass soon and “joy and celebration” will return. Amen!