STAY COMMITTED BY REMAINING IN PRAYER

The Holy Father’s intention for the month of December is prayer. Through a life of prayer, “we change reality, we change our hearts.” He insists on us entering into dialogue with the Father through prayer because Jesus Himself never neglected his intimate dialogue with the Father. Prayer not only leads us closer to God the Father but through prayer we listen to Jesus, contemplate Jesus, we speak to Him as a friend and He transforms us. 

Pope Francis also stated that prayer and mission of the Church are “indissolubly united.”  Prayer not only nurtures our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but it also leads us on the mission of the Church. He summed up that “the mission of the Church is at the service of the challenges of the world, and it is not possible without prayer.” Our hearts change when we pray, and we can do many things when we are constantly in prayer. Prayer is essential for mission, it is the heart which opens us to love. When we are in the depths of prayer, it yields “thirty, sixty, and even a hundred-fold” (MK 4:20). In this season of Advent, we should constantly develop our personal relationship with Jesus, and by our life of prayer, we carry out our mission of the Church “to live a life of love,” (2 Jn: 6). 

 

We observe the season of Advent as a time of expectant waiting and a preparation for the celebration of the Incarnation - “the Word became Flesh and dwelt among us,” (John 1:14). Through Advent prayers we connect with God’s love and seek his assistance to make our hearts ready to receive the gift of His Son once again this Christmas. Prayer helps us to clear the path in our hearts from all kinds of distractions that hinder us from experiencing the presence of Jesus in our lives. Very often we give up our prayer life when we face destruction. When we don’t pray during difficult times, we become hardened and insensitive and it diminishes our spiritual life.

 

Many priests and spiritual directors have asked me about my prayer life. I don’t always give my best in cultivating my prayer habits especially with the Liturgy of the Hours (Breviary). Since early priesthood, I always spend time praying in my room. Initially, I prayed in my parish office, but often I got distracted either with my works or pastoral duties. I realised whenever I carried out my prayer sessions in my office, somehow this would be abruptly stopped or interrupted with other commitments. I know I always give priority to my pastoral duties rather than spiritual aspects. I always choose to work which is easier for me rather than to pray. That is the reality that I observe in my priestly life. However, the Holy Father has reminded me through his intention, that I need to change this reality of my prayer life being overshowed by my pastoral duties. I pray that I will have a change of heart - to be able to pay more attention to my prayer life, rather than being constantly engaged with pastoral commitments.

 

During this Advent season, a season of prayer, I hope everyone of us pays more attention to prayer - as a gift of God - as we prepare to welcome the coming of His Son Jesus once again into our hearts and homes. Our faith and belief tell us that God wants to be with us (MT 28:20) and stay with us always (LK 24: 29). Although prayer is a struggle for everyone, we must make a conscious effort especially during this time of year. Despite all that is weighing us down, stay committed by remaining in prayer, as we open wide our hearts to welcome Him into our lives.

OUR ADVENT JOURNEY BEGINS

We begin the season of Advent on 29 November 2020 with four themes, one for each week, leading up to Christmas – Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The 1^st Sunday of Advent will mark the beginning of the new liturgical year for 2020/2021.

The moment we enter these beautiful and exciting seasons – Advent and Christmas, we hear the most spiritually uplifting hymns and carols. These are the hymns and carols we hear once a year. During Advent, at almost every mass, we sing the hymn “O, Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, which has lyrics that are so soothing, peaceful and heartening. When we pay attention to the lyrics, it creates an atmosphere of worship and joy. This COVID-19 pandemic may dampen our atmosphere of worship and joy for the upcoming celebration and fellowship of Christmas. Due to the unprecedented, uncertainty of this global crisis, we may have a quieter celebration, just among our immediate family members at home.

 

Advent is the season of expectant waiting before Christmas. Advent is not a penitential season, unlike Lent – a period of self-denial, fasting and penance. It is not Christmas yet but we need to pay attention to the Advent - a period of penitential practices – a time to repent. When we now reflect on our journey during previous seasons of Advent, we realize that we placed a lot of importance on the commercial aspects of Christmas. We view this season as a season of preparation for feasting, shopping, parties, holidays, decorating the Christmas tree and putting together the nativity set for the celebration on 25 December.

 

I invite everyone to fully focus on the themes of Advent which already exist in the readings for Advent. It is a crucial time to reflect on our relationship with God, a time to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus. As we pay attention to the hymns, lyrics, readings, let us keep in mind the poor and needy, those less fortunate than us, and how we can make a difference and make room for them in our Christmas celebration. Let’s make a promise to do better to amend our sinful life as we await with great expectation the coming of the Lord.

 

No matter what is happening around us during this global crisis, we make room for the real meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus once again in our hearts and our homes. I encourage you to take every opportunity to focus on the readings and meditate upon them daily. It will also be good just to list down the hymns for this Advent and Christmas seasons and use them during your individual or family prayers. We too can light candles on the wreath at home until Christmas to proclaim the Child Jesus born of Mary is the Son of God, (LK 2: 9). As we make spiritual progress throughout the season of Advent, do cultivate your spiritual journal writing each day which will orientate you to stay focused on the mystery of the Incarnation - “the Word became flesh, and lived among us,” (Jn 1:14).

 

In these challenging times, whether we face loneliness, financial or job stress, grief, illness, etc., just be extra thankful to God this Advent and He will give us courage, faith and hope to carry us through the toughest of times. Let’s prepare ourselves well, both in heart and mind, for Christmas.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST

1^st Sunday of Advent - Homily 

The Gospel on this first Sunday of Advent invites us to “Stay Awake!”

 

During my seminary days, we began our morning prayer at 6am, followed by meditation for 30-minute and then we proceeded to the celebration of the Eucharistic. Each time when I enter into meditation I would always doze off, quite often. I tried to keep a discipline of staying awake, but failed many times. It took few years for me to learn the art of meditation. I cannot say that I am already a master at it but to date, I still struggle to stay awake. Each of these times, I would be feeling guilty for still not being responsible and serious with my prayer life and mediation. Frequently I had reminded myself to stay awake and not to fall into sleep during mediation.

 

It is indeed very in sync with today’s Gospel (MK 13: 33-37), “Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.” Jesus reminds us to stay and be active in our faith. He wants us to be ready and awake by building on a living our relationship with Him.

 

As we begin our journey in this season Advent - a time of new beginning for each of us - the Lord reminds us that we need a new beginning, by staying awake in our faith and to make our faith active and very much alive. We realise that our faith can be diminishing from time to time, and during those time, you needed to try to remind yourself to “wake up from our sleep”, be active and alive in our faith, and increase and improve the quality of our prayers/conversation with God. 

 

We don’t know when our Master will come. In case, He comes suddenly, He might find us asleep and not on guard for Him. Jesus warns us not to be sleeping. Therefore, stay awake and the Lord has a plan, a fitting and best plan, coming our ways. We must trust Him on that.

 

The season of Advent is a season of awaiting that prepares us to welcome the Mystery of the Word became Flesh (Jn 1: 14). Soon, we will be celebration the birth of Jesus, yet again. In the midst of all the distractions and indifference that run daily in our lives, our hearts and minds must be constantly be inspired in preparation for the birth of Jesus. Let us not sleep on guard, letting our daily busy lives distract us from our focus on the Lord, but continue to keep praying and converse with Jesus, reeling back our faith, so that our eyes will continuously be opened and be on guard. Jesus will come back, and He will come back at the most unexpected time. Stay Awake!

JESUS, THE KING OF OUR HEARTS

(Last Sunday in Ordinary Time - Homily)

There was a kingdom divided into two by a river. All the shrines, temples and worship places were situated in the east coast of the kingdom.  The king of the kingdom’s palace was located in the east coast. Whereas in the west coast of the kingdom was mainly covered with hills and forests. One day the king had decided to move his palace together with his staff to the west side. This had made his people curious as to why. They insisted the king to stay on the east because there wasn’t much life in the west side. The king with humble heart expressed, “I have to move to the west side regardless if there is life or not, because there shouldn’t be another lord or king in the same place. This puzzled the people. He explained that here were a lot of shrines and temples in the east and there was already one supreme lord and who is already reigning the kingdom. He was referring to Supreme God, who was ruling the hearts of the people in the east, and he realised he was not above Him. As an earthly king, with humble heart, he decided to move to the west.

On this Solemnity of Jesus Christ, the King of Universe, invites us to reflect on the Kingship of Christ and our words and actions must reflect His Kingship and to be rich in our good works. Jesus Christ is our King, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, and “He exists before all things and in Him all things hold together,” (Col 1: 17), who rules our hearts and minds. 

 

The Lord Jesus, King of the Universe doesn’t rule His Kingdom through violence and wars. There is no place for violence in His Kingdom but He rules with peace, justice and love. Jesus is different from any earthly king and He doesn’t have any interest in political power but He turned His Kingship into servanthood. We are not called to be kings but to be true “servant leaders” taking the footstep of Christ the King. Jesus “served with a heart of a king but He ruled His people with the heart of a Servant,” one who has His people’s interests above His own.

 

Jesus Christ, the King of Love, rules over all the earth till today with a heart of forgiveness and mercy, compassion and love in His service. “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed Me; sick and you visited Me; in prison and you came to see Me,” (Matt 25: 35-36). In today’s Gospel, we identify Jesus in the poor, the needy, in marginalised, homeless, the lonely, naked, prisoner, etc. Do we identify them as how Jesus does?

 

The earthly kings, and their kingships and their kingdoms are only for certain periods of time but Jesus’ Kingship and His Kingdom are for ever because He rules with mercy, forgiveness, compassion and love. Hence, every one of us will be judged when we carry out the simple works of mercy accordingly. When we recognised these people with the heart of forgiveness and mercy, compassion and love, we have found Jesus in our lives. We see the face of Jesus when we care for them.

 

In a few short weeks, we will be celebrating Christmas and as we enter the season of Advent, a season of awaiting for the coming of King, the King of peace, let us open doors of our hearts and welcome, humbly, His majesty and His glory. 

 

Christ Jesus Victor, Christ Jesus Ruler! 

Christ Jesus, Lord and Redeemer!

BRING HOPE TO OUR FAITH

We have come to the end of our liturgical year for 2019/2020, with the Solemnity of the Feast of Christ the King this weekend. The season of Advent begins on 29 November 2020, with the new liturgical year and after four Sundays of Advent, we will be celebrating Christmas. 

Looking back on these past nine months, I feel very sad and disheartened, as most of our scheduled activities and events were disrupted due to COVID-19. Over the months, we were deprived of celebrating the Sacraments and involvement in Church formations and activities. I believe this year will pass by and leave us with a lot of bitter-sweet memories.

 

This new normal way of life, wherein we have to ensure adherence to strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in everything we do, will go on until scientists and researchers find a vaccine for the virus. In fact, a few countries have predicted that a vaccine will be made available by the end of the year or early next year. We just have to wait patiently.

 

Initially, our Parish had planned quite a number of formations, activities and events for this year in line with our Parish’s Vision - “Committing Ourselves to New Evangelisation.” Sadly, everything got stalled due to the pandemic, and I guess that it has left a negative impact on our spiritual growth, as well as our physical, financial and emotional well-being.

 

We are still living in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic and life has become uncertain in many ways. However, we will continue to reflect on the same Parish Vision during the season of Advent even though we have journeyed with this vision for the past three years. The Parish Council members will look into various spiritual aspects of our Parishioners, especially on formations, renewal of our family life and providing opportunity for the youth to encounter Christ. As we continue in the same direction of “New Evangelisation”, we hope Parishioners will bring the essential elements and values of the Church into their own lives. Let’s be aware of our commitment to convey the joy of the Good News during this time of trials, and at the same time, bring hope to our faith, and light into our lives. 

 

Many of our Parishioners have enquired as to how this pandemic will affect the Church in the future. We truly cannot predict the enforcement of restrictions, but we need to remain hopeful and vigilant, preparing for the reopening of our Church doors, hopefully before Christmas. We have to keep our momentum going. I believe that as Advent approaches, we should keep our focus on the themes of each week - HOPE, PEACE, JOY and LOVE - and that will lead us with confidence and conviction towards Christmas. When we do that, we may be able to experience a new birth, new spirit, and a renewed spiritual life, family life and community life, as well. We should not lose our enthusiasm, and instead, we should continue to pray for the courage to grow and glow in the spirit. Let’s continue to pray the Rosary, asking Our Mother Mary, with whom God prepared the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ, to intercede for us and for our Church.