THE EUCHARIST – LIVING, TRUE AND REAL

Every day throughout the world, the Eucharist is celebrated in different languages by various people and nationalities, with the same Scripture readings and prayers. The Catholic Church has been commemorating the Eucharist with great honour on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi or the Body and Blood of Christ, since the 13th century. The Council of Trent (1545-1563) explained that, by consecration, the whole substance of the bread and wine changes into the Body and Blood of Jesus - the True and Real Presence of Jesus. This change is called Transubstantiation (cf. CCC 1736).

 

At every celebration of the Eucharist, we commemorate the event of the Last Supper in the Upper Room, where Jesus celebrated the Eucharist with His disciples. On that day, both the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Priesthood were born - “There can no Eucharist without the Priesthood, just as there can be no Priesthood without the Eucharist” (Pope Saint John Paul II, 2004). We are really grateful to Jesus Christ for the birth of these two Sacraments in the Church. They are gifts and mysteries of the Church. Till today, the Catholic Church marks Holy Thursday in remembrance of the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the Priesthood, as her greatest treasures.

 

We have heard and encountered many extraordinary Eucharistic miracle stories in our lives. When I went on pilgrimage to Eastern Europe in 2004 with a group of 40 people, we had an opportunity to stop over at a small village called Ludbreg in Croatia. It happened to be on the day of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. We were fortunate to join the community in adoration, and at the end of the adoration, we were able take a closer look at the reliquary which contained the relic of the Blood of Jesus.

 

I later discovered that this relic was a miraculous transformation of wine into the Blood of Jesus Christ. It happened over 600 years ago, when a priest was celebrating the Eucharist, and he was consumed with doubt over the transubstantiation. However, when he lifted the chalice, the wine had turned into blood. The priest kept the chalice containing the Blood of Jesus at the Church of Holy Trinity in Ludbreg, for safekeeping. To this day, the Parish continues to expose the relic of the Blood of Jesus at the main sanctuary of the Church, for public adoration. The Universal Church is still studying and investigating the facts connected to this Eucharistic miracle.

In this time of Public Mass suspension, I continue to celebrate Mass in private. Sometimes though, as I celebrate Mass alone, I feel a sense of emptiness and despair, and I find myself going through the motions out of obligation. I sometimes find that my heart lacks preparation, prayerfulness and reflection, and I yearn to celebrate Mass with my Parishioners. Mass is not a private devotion – it is a communal gathering of faith! I am sure that many of you are experiencing this same feeling, as you participate in Mass virtually, but I hope that we can all persevere through this time of trial, together.

As Catholics, we truly and fundamentally believe in the Eucharist - the Living, True and Real Presence of Jesus - and we live by faith in the Eucharist, which fills us with strength, and nourishes our mind and body, spirit and soul.

DO NOT GET WEARY IN PRAYER

We have completed two major seasons in our Church’s Liturgical Calendar this year – the seasons of Lent and Easter - which ended with the Solemnity of Pentecost Sunday on 23 May 2021. We now continue with weeks in Ordinary Time (8th Week) once again, starting with two brand new celebrations in the Church’s liturgy - the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church (Monday after Pentecost Day) and the feast of Our Lord Jesus, the Eternal High Priest (Thursday after Pentecost). This season of Ordinary Time will stretch till the 34th Week in Ordinary Time (27 November) before we start the seasons of Advent and Christmastide. The Lectionary for the Holy Eucharistic celebration will continue with Weekday Lectionary 2021 for the Cycle Year One and Sunday Lectionary readings for the Cycle Year B.

Over the next few weeks, we will celebrate several great feasts and solemnities - The Most Holy Trinity (Sunday, 30 May), the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Monday, 31 May) with the closing of the month of the Rosary, the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ or Corpus Christi (Sunday, 6 June), the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (Friday, 11 June) and the Solemnity of the Nativity of St John the Baptist (Thursday, 24 June).

 

Throughout the month of May, we have been faithfully praying the Rosary. Pope Francis invited Catholics throughout the world to dedicate this Rosary month praying for an end to the pandemic. Many of our Parishioners have joined various online platforms praying the Rosary virtually. We have been facing this COVID-19 pandemic for more than a year now, and we should continue to pray for the frontliners, for patients who are affected with the virus, as well as for our own protection against this deadly virus. We should not get weary in prayer, and do not forget to pray for them and as well as for ourselves (cf. Col 4: 2-3).

 

We will be entering into the month of June in a few days. The Holy Father’s intention is to focus on the Beauty of Marriage - inviting us to pray for all young couples who are preparing for their Sacrament of Marriage. Since the pandemic started, the Catholic Marriage Preparation Course (CMPC) has been conducted online. Many of our CMPC presenters and participants find it difficult to fully engage during online lessons, however these virtual classes will have to continue for an indefinite period of time.

 

Presently, we hear of, and see more and more young married couples getting divorced or going separate ways when problems crop up in their marriage. They give up easily instead, rather than to fight for or work on their marriage. Every marriage has its ups and downs, and couples must remember to decide every day to love one another, and include God in everything they do. During the month of June, let’s keep on praying for the Holy Father’s intention, especially for our young married couples - to live a decidedly happy married life, and “grow in love, generosity, faithfulness and patience.”

 

In this time of trial, let us continue to strive in prayer life and constantly set our eyes on nothing except Jesus Our Lord, the Eternal High Priest. May the Holy Spirit continue to strengthen and deepen our faith. “Therefore, take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm,” (Eph 6:31).

COME HOLY SPIRIT, WE NEED YOU

Within just one month, the number of Covid-19 cases in our country has multiplied rapidly, reaching all-time highs and pushing up the death toll. Everyone is worried, especially with the emergence of two new highly mutating Coronavirus strains. These emerging variants are more transmittable and increase the spread of this deadly virus. In light of this, we must all remain vigilant and responsible to fight this deadly virus. 

Pentecost marks 50 days after Easter, when Christians celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. However, due to the pandemic and the MCO, we have not been able to celebrate in-person the Feast of Pentecost these past couple of years. Although our journey from Easter Sunday to Pentecost has been somewhat dampened and saddened by the suspension of in-person Masses in our Churches, let us take courage and heart in acknowledging the promise of the Holy Spirit “and I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever,” (John 14:16)

Recently, when I was at the Vaccination Centre, I observed that people who arrived for either their first or second vaccination doses, appeared anxious, fearful and perhaps a little apprehensive, as they entered the Centre. However, once they were vaccinated, I noticed that they appeared relieved, cheerful and even gallant, as they walked away like they had been given a new lease on life; as though the Spirit had come as a life-giving essence to refresh and renew their weary hearts.

On this Pentecost Day, the Spirit of God has come to us as a life-giving breath to refresh our hearts once again to go forth proclaiming the Good News, and to carry out the mission of the Church in the world - boldly and enthusiastically. Even if we experience hardship, anxiety, and fear, we need to keep our faith alive and cheerful during this new-normal of way of life. The Holy Spirit empowered the Apostles to carry out the great commission, “to go out and preach to all nations, (Luke 24:46-49). We pray that the Holy Spirit empowers us for the mission that Jesus has assigned us “to be His witness … to the ends of the earth,” (Acts 1:8).

Let’s spend some time praying and reflecting on the Pentecost Day readings from the Sunday Missal and from the Bible, especially on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit (Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord - Isaiah 11: 1-2 or CCC no.1831) and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit (Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Generosity, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Self-Control and Chastity - Galatians 5:22-23 or CCC no. 1832).

Together with our family, we say:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And you shall renew the face of the earth.

 

Let us pray, O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant us in the same Spirit, to be truly wise and ever to rejoice in His consolation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Preparing For Pentecost

7th Sunday of Easter (Homily) 

On Thursday, 13 May 2021, We have celebrated the Solemnity of Ascension of the Lord and now looking forward for the celebration of the Pentecost. In the midst of these two great solemnities, we are invited to focus on the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He instructed His Apostles to return to Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1: 4-5). The Apostles makes the first Novena to get prepared for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

 

We have come to the last week of Easter season. During this week the Lord invites us to enter into a deep prayer praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit once again on Pentecost day. After the feast of Ascension, some of us have started nine days Novena to the Holy Spirit. For those who have not yet begun, you are not too late, but you can always start soonest.

 

As we pray the Novena to the Holy Spirit, we wait together for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit so that we may begin a real and afresh life. Today’s Gospel speaks about priestly prayer - “Father, the hour has come: Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you,” (John 17:1-2). Jesus prayed this priestly prayer to the heavenly Father for guidance and strength. He asked the Father for a courage to persevere in his suffering that is about to be placed on Him. He gained the strength from Heavenly Father when He prayed this priestly prayer to fulfil the will of the Father. Jesus shows that through prayer there is victory.

 

Every one of us must put efforts in our prayer life. In pray that the Lord gives us courage, strength and perseverance to strive in all our hard work and to accomplish certain tasks. We may find ourselves unable to finish the given task by our own power but in God everything is possible. When things get tough, the tough gets going. Jesus will bring victory for us in all things that we do.

 

Let’s continue to spend extra hours in prayer this coming week as we are preparing for Pentecost Day to experience the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. We were given the Holy Spirit in our baptism, it is this Holy Spirit that empowers us once again to go forth in our ministries. We also pray that we will avoid transmitting this deadly virus. We have been battled with this deadly virus past one year. We pray that our Lord Jesus will help us overcome our fears, increase our confidence, and may the Holy Spirit be our guide, our light, our strength and our hope during this COVID-19 pandemic.

PASTORAL SERVICE OF TRANSMITTING FAITH

The Holy Father Pope Francis, issued an apostolic letter on the lay ministry of catechists (Antiquum Ministerium) in the Catholic Church on 11 May 2021. The Pope gives strong recognition to “lay men and women who feel called by virtue of their baptism, to cooperate in the work of catechesis.” He also encourages every baptised lay person to be involved in the work of evangelisation, and to carry out the mission of the Church in the World.

With the many different gifts and forms of ministry, the early Christian Community was obedient to the work of the Holy Spirit, and they devoted their lives in building up the Church. For centuries, we have had many baptised lay men and women, who exercised and witnessed their faith in Christ, now become saints and martyrs of the Church. The Holy Father added that “many competent and dedicated catechists are community leaders in various parts of the world, and carry out a mission invaluable for the transmission and growth of the faith.”

 

In parts of the world where there is a shortage or absence of priests, the involvement of lay men and women are very much encouraged. The lay people are urgently required and they are most needed in the various ministries of the Church, and in society as well. Today, the Church needs to recognise and appreciate the lay ministry of catechists and their involvement in the life of the church and society in large.

 

When we read this apostolic letter, the words lay ministry of catechists is referred to all baptised lay men and women, faith formators and lay leaders of the Church. Thus, the future of our Church is in the hands of the ministry of catechists, which includes parents, grandparents, catechism teachers and lay leaders from various ministries. As we reflect on the institution of ministry of catechists, we are grateful first to our own parents and grandparents. They are the first catechists who passed on their faith, and even sacrificed their lives for us to grow in our Christian values.

 

The Church is always on mission in the world. Besides priests, our catechists have a big role to play in building up our Church. The lay ministry of catechists is invited to take part in the mission of the Church, in order to strengthen our Christian communities - both within and outside of the Church. Every baptised lay person has been bestowed various gifts of the Holy Spirit and charism for the “pastoral service of transmitting faith” and “for the growth of our communities.” Therefore, every Catechist should have obtained certain religious instructions or formations so that they may be able to assist both baptised and non-baptised individuals for various sacraments, conduct prayers, other forms of works of charity and to help one another to grow in Christian life.

We have just celebrated the feast of the Ascension and in a week we will celebrate Pentecost. This apostolic letter comes at the right time - reminding us that “You will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1: 8) and “go into the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation,” (MK 16: 15). Hence, every lay ministry of catechist is commissioned once again to go forth and proclaim the good news of life, love, hope and peace to one another. 

On 9 May 2021, the Holy Father Pope Francis, canonised a first lay catechist from India, Saint Lazarus Devasahayam Pillai (1712). Let his martyrdom and his faith gives us great inspiration to be rooted in our lay vocation, and to grow in our leadership. Let’s renew our commitment to be true disciples of Christ wherever we go, beginning with our family and in our parish community.

PHOTO: 2019

PHOTO: FEB 2020

PHOTO: 2019