Cusp of the New Year

Descending... (Photo credit: Annoysius)

She walked out by the Seminary's porch area, awaiting the transport which will take her to work. With a smile on her face, she said, "It is the eve. We are at the cusp of the New Year!"

Indeed we were.

We just finished about of spiritual direction (SD) and there were several matters we discussed which we set in place for her to get into the New Year on a better footing. Instead of just allowing the year 2014 to enter with a whimper, it would be better to make attempts to renew her position to greet it with a better perspective of life she would like to have as a person and a Christian that can make a difference in a world of today.

Merry Christmas!

Crop of original painting "Anbetung der Hirten" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

On this special day, I wish all readers and people of good will a blessed and holy Christmas and may God's blessings of peace and joy be unto you all!

Bless Me Father

Confession (Photo credit: Lawrence OP)

When I sit by the confessional booth, awaiting the next penitent. As with each waiting, I wonder if the penitents know the following: there is no such thing as a “bad” confession as long as you’ve come to the Sacrament with a contrite heart.

Being Healthy...

I was away for the weekend, out of Singapore. It was a short respite from the haze and a chance to enjoy a slightly new setting. It was nothing that great really, but to be out from the familiar and doing something a little different was a small welcome.

Now that I am back, I see that the haze has cleared somewhat and certainly a far cry from the worst we had last week going into Saturday. That certainly is a blessing! The change in wind direction and some rains over at some hotspots in Sumatra have helped greatly. However, it is duly noted that this clear condition may not last and teh haze can still return. The situation in Muar, Johor is the worst yet that can occur at a PSI of 700+. That would be the worst case scenarion which can hit this city state.

Enhancing Lives

The semester break have started two weeks back and right off the bat, I was busily maneuvering through several Masses, EE meetings, some Spiritual Direction sessions, that I couldn't find the time to sit down to pen any thoughts - till now.

Even so, there are som any things going on and round my mind that it is rather difficult to focus on a particular topic to write on. What seem to be mostly on the top of my mind, however, is strangely nothing spiritual, but have a lot of implications for our faith lives nonetheless.

This came surprisingly from a very secular quarter and one that has inserted itself into the lives of all persons, whether subtly or major way, that in the now is seen as something of the norm and perhaps for many, which cannot be done without.

Doulos

Jesus Discourses with His Disciples (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The gospel passage for today's Mass reading is so stark about how we humans are so attuned to seeking, and predictable even, positions of power when given the chance. The apostles James and John are perfect examples of this type of attitude.

Assuming that they follow Jesus in that manner, they deserve special positions of honor and prestige. We too have many opportunities and occasions that can get us seeking positions of honor and prestige just because we 'work for God'.

Jesus had to teach the brothers and the rest of his disciples that to follow him is to be a servant (doulos, Greek), and obviously, servants don't go looking for rewards or recognition. Service, if it is to be true, is selfless. It is concerned with others' needs, not our own.

Furnace of Humiliation

As I am approaching the 10th year of my sacerdotal anniversary (29 June), I was 'nicely' reminded of the implication of my priesthood, as in, what had transpired thus far and what to look out for ahead. That was by way of the 1st reading of Tuesday of 7th Week in Ordinary times (yesterday).

By all accounts, the reading was engaging enough and can be a reminder to all the faithful believers on the proper understanding of what working for or serving the Lord is about.

"... if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal..." (Eccle 2: 1)

Saint of Anonymity

English: Saint Matthias, who replaced Judas Iscariot as apostle. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

After finishing the monumental task of rehauling to a new Blogger template, I am now ready to tackle a thought that has been on my mind since yesterday.

It is about St Matthias, whose feast we celebrated yesterday. He was the one that was chosen by lot, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to be one of the 12 apostles replacing Judas (Iscariot) who defected.

What was inspiring about this saint was because he was, firstly, uninspiring!

Consider this...

Isaiah 43: 19....

The Lenten period continues as we cross the halfway mark with Laetare Sunday last week.

With the months that went by as we make our way towards the great feast of Easter, we were given experiences that spoke of the work of God that would want to instil in us a proper sense of the dynamics of God's activity - He is still actively working in our world, as I write, and continues in His unique and mysterious manner that always circumvents all human machinations and motives.

The recent ordination of His Grace Archbishop Coadjutor William Goh at the Max Pavilion of the Singapore Expo, offers the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore (clergy, religious and lay faithful) an opportunity to move into the year ahead with renewed vision to face the challenges ahead, with the values of His Grace that spoke of passion and compassion. This stems from his motto of his coat of arms, "Ut Vivant", i.e. "that they may live..." (Jn 10: 10 - 11). Our archdiocese need to sorely return to basics and know how to care for the flock like how the father in the prodigal son parable of 4th Sunday of Lent gospel reading did, when he dealt very magnanimously and with love as well.

O Key of David!

Keys. (Photo credit: Bohman)

This is the eve of the day that is supposedly to end....

Well, if you believe all that claptrap about the Mayan calendar and other nonsensical doomsday prophecies, which purportedly predict the end of life on 21st December as we know it, then shame on you! As Christians, we have been explicitly reminded not to dabble about any predictions concerning the end times. Even Jesus himself had said so, if you have any decent knowledge of Scripture:

"... of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son but the Father only." (Mt 24: 36)

O Flower of Jesse's Stem!

Cathedral St. Peter (Dom St. Peter), Worms, Germany - Tympanum - Tree of Jesse (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We come to the third element of the O Antiphons, which speaks to us of our spiritual roots: radix, in Latin.

One of the decors that children would be making during this period of Advent is the Jesse Tree. This is in relation to the genealogy of Jesus where is he to come from the House of David. David, or more precisely, King David, is the son of Jesse. When you come across the genealogies of Jesus Christ especially during the readings for Christmas, you will see the names of Jesse and David among the family line.

O Wisdom!

O Sapientia (Photo credit: Lawrence OP)

What is wisdom, really, to you?

What comes to mind when one mentions the word 'wisdom'? Is it all about human wisdom, cleverness, being street-smart and all knowing kind of attitude?

Eternal Rest...

Zaduszki (Photo credit: Klearchos Kapoutsis)

Yesterday we celebrated All Saints’ and today we remember All Souls. There is something about the opening days of November that tends to bring these two celebration neatly together. Even the weather (cool and rainy) somehow have conspired towards bringing about this awareness of the mystical and haunting feeling associated with All Saints and today, All Souls.

To celebrate All Souls is not something we do lightly. Neither is it to be taken in a superstitious manner which would negate totally the understanding of our Christian faith. Instead, the celebration of All Souls’ is an affirmation of our capacity to a relationship with God – One whom we can know and love. It is also about our acknowledgement that in us we have something that links us to a power that transcends this world. That something is our soul.

Faith Relook and Renew

Crucifix on the wall of the sanctuary. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Much have been said about the Year of Faith and finally it is here. That began in Singapore with a formal ceremony and Mass celebration at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd on Thursday, 11 October at 8.00 p.m.

During this weekend, in the parishes, there would be ceremonies to enthrone the Creed and calls for a more reflective reading and deepening of the Vatican II documents, as well as a more thorough living out of our faith lives. That this year is the 50th anniversary of Vatican II is all the more crucial that we get ourselves in to this awareness of our Catholic understanding on the way of our faith life in the Church and in the world.

For most of us, that the Church is more than its institution and building, is something that is incomprehensible and a far flung notion that doesn't have much prominent place in one's faith awareness and life. Fifty years ago, the Church has this to say, "The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the men of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well" (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 7 December, 1965, para. 1).

This was the Church's bold and decisive way of saying that it empathises with all of the world's joys and griefs and sees the need for reconciliation and healing. But it is a reconciliation and healing that does not come from or through the world directly: "Nothing that is genuinely human fails to find an echo in their hearts. For theirs is a community composed of men, of men, united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, press onwards towards the kingdom of the Father and are bearers of a message of salvation intended for all men. That is why Christians cherish a  feeling of deep solidarity with the human race and its history" (emphasis mine).

This Year of Faith has a call that wants to get us out of our complacency and comfort zone to take a good look at what we have done to ourselves in keeping tabs on our lives as Catholic Christians today in the wake of all that is happening in our highly technical, information overload, materially consumed, and God-ly allergic world we live in: "In wonder at their own discoveris and their own might, men are today troubled and perplexed by questions about current trends in the world, about their place and their role in the universe, about the meaning of individual and collective endeavour and finally about the destiny of nature and men" ((Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Vatican II, Gaudium et spes, 7 December, 1965, para. 3).

The Church's stand in this light goes on to say that the following which is unfolding today, making this document a highly prophetic and profound assessment of our world:

a. Ours is a new age of history with critical and swift upheavals spreading gradually to all corners of the earth. They are the products of man's intelligence and creative activity, but they recoil upon him, upon his judgments and desires, both individual and collective, upon his ways of thinking and acting in regard to people and things (para. 4).

b. Increase in power is not always accompanied by control of that power for the benefit of man (para. 4).

c. We have not yet seen the last of bitter political, social, and economic hostility, and racial and ideological antagonism, nor are we free from the spectre of a war of total destruction (para. 4).

d. A change in attitudes and structures frequently calls accepted values into question... In the past it was the exception to repudiate God and religion ... nowadays it seems a matter of course to reject them as incompatible with scientific progress and a new kind of humanism (para. 7).

A good practice to take up, during this Year of Faith, would be to go to this particular Church document and reflect deeply and honestly as to one's state of faith today and make those relevant and needed changes so that, with the Church, be able to dialogue to all "... in order to unfold the mystery that is man and cooperate in tackling the main problems facing the world today" (para 10).

Related articles

• Inside the synod: Celebrating Vatican II, launching Year of Faith
• In Time for the 50th Anniversary of the Vatican II, New Book 'The Good Pope' is a Comprehensive Profile of Pope John XXIII
• Vatican II and the Ecclesiology of Joseph Ratzinger
• Hungry for change: Food and the Year of Faith
• ANALYSIS: 50 years ago, Vatican II changed the Catholic Church - and the world - Articles
• Card. Brandmüller on the liturgical reform of Vatican II

Dealing With 'Accolades'...

As I write this, I would have pass over many other notable events, e.g. the Olympics, the National Day celebrations, and from the liturgical settings - two sacerdotal (priestly) ordinations and the celebration of the Assumption.

This weekend, which I find myself now is the one with the seminarians in recollection. We will end soon by 12.30 p.m. after the mid-day prayer. This time round, however, I am not the main person conducting, as per usual, but Deacon Sherman Kuek from the diocese of Melaka-Johor. He is a permament deacon serving as Director of the Pastoral Institute of that diocese. He specialises in catechetical matters and is a well-known speaker within the conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei region. He shared with the seminarians his life changing conversion and provided the framework for his theme of the talk, namely, The Beauty of the Catholic Faith. He also blogs here.

This morning, he gave a homily that while short and succint, was very pointed enough to get the message across which all of us at Mass would not miss out on. The gospel reading that morning was about the scribes and Pharisees with the need to be looked up to, fawn over, wearing broader phylacteries and the warning of not following through with what they preach. Deacon Sherman mentioned about the manner how priests and religious or clergy in general, can also unconciously fall into this trap. An elderly and wise priest once told him that once you have preached, no matter how good the homily may be, when finish, just shut up and get lost!

I believe this is the wisest advice for any clergy to follow and keep to heart. It certainly will put one in place with humility, which is rather rare these days. It will help all of us to know that at the bottom of ut all, this is really about God and not about us (at all). This may also cater for the homily that is half baked - one does not need to be around to get the flak from our listeners...

Healing...

It had been some weeks of minor turmoil for myself as I had to deal with death, 'abundant life' and my coping with these two rather conflicting items that occasionally want to grab my attention.

So, I thought I would just get away a bit and give myself a treat away from the pressures of conflict and headed towards the Bay to soak in the flora and fauna of the Gardens. The trip was refreshing and managed to heal some parts of my humanity and, at the same time, got to use my Gardens Annual Pass (individual).

Super Trees and OCBC Sky Way

The displays and flow of plants, trees, flowers including the panoramic sites that are available there were soothing and quietening elements that gently cleansed whatever that was the tsunami of emotions inside of me.

What I couldn't express properly for healing, the Gardens there helped put things in perspective, in its own unique manner. Whether death or life, it is important to understand how precious life really is and there is no effective value that can be placed upon a life that is lived out well in God.

Life as we encounter it may not be perfect but it has to be seen as one that is unique and sustained by God, no matter how messy it may be. Because it is sustained by God, all troubles will certainly see its day and will soon pass - those, too, will soon pass.

(more pics here)

Nine

Retreat6 (Photo credit: Annoysius)

On this feast day of Ss Peter and Paul, the two great apostles of the Gospel to the world, I am happy to announce that I have reached 9 years of serving in the priestly ministry as a Roman Catholic priest.

Compared to many other senior priests, I know nine years is rather a paltry amount as compared to 25 years or more. Still, I am just glad to have survived another year and to do this in the Seminary where I am currently posted.

I had a session with an aspirant yesterday evening and was encouraging him to be more clear and honest with his discernment to joining the Seminary and I mentioned that these days, the motivation for becoming a priest is very much different from the time of our father's or grandfather's time. Then, life was simpler and the decision to join the priesthood may be based on duty and responsibility or simply for a so-called 'better life'. Joining the seminary based on those motivations may have also been easier to base on those reasons as acceptable entry.

Today, however, is different. The ministry of the priesthood is fraught with many challenges that can overwhelm a priest if he is not well equipped to face up to the challenges and signs of the times. Hence, a more thorough screening and longer discernment period is conducted before any decision is made by the Seminary to accept the candidate.

As for myself, nine years in this ministry is more than enough to be informed of these challenges and the scars of the battle are the reminders that while I am only human, I am also facing a world that is increasingly, if not, already allergic to God, or the Christian faith is found difficult to hold on to, precisely because it is always counter cultural.

I don't know what will fare for myself over the years ahead, but I will continue to bear that cross which this blog speaks of too and finish that race to the end.

June, June...

VatCupola59 (Photo credit: Annoysius)

This certainly is a fine situation here...

It has been almost a month since I have put up anything on this blog and the interval between one entry and the next has been erratic. I thought by my coming into the seminary and away from all the distractions that can be found in the parish, I could get some consistent writing done. But, so far that hasn't been the case. In fact, I have been compelled, more, to put aside this blog and procrastinate in doing up any entries here. Terrible...

I have let some important weeks past by, liturgical moments that carry significant impact in our lives, that it would be remiss of me not to just say a few short words that hopefully may capture their power and effect in our lives as Catholic Christians:

Pentecost

It is the Spirit! How sure are you that you are walking in and with the Spirit? Galatians 5 offer the template for all Christians to follow. When the Queen of England is in Buckingham Palace, the palace flies up their flags for all to see and know that she is around. What flags of the Spirit that we fly to show that we are in the Spirit if not that of love, peace, joy, ....

Trinity

The most difficult homily to do as the subject matter is just to transcendent for life that is more grounded on earth and reality. Yet, we already move into this mystery when we make the sign of the cross at every Mass, a sign that proclaims, God the Father loves the world so much that He sends His only Son all the way down to us, so that we may be gathered in the Holy Spirit.

Corpus Christi

Much ink have been poured to speak of this mystery of Christ that its profoundness cannot still be captured or appreciated well in a lifetime. A more profound passage that will help us reflect even deeper is from Jeremiah 31: 31ff. Every time we are at Mass and receive communion, we are fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy! Remember that passage well - Jer 31: 31.

Meanwhile, our Seminary's semester break is here! Since that means no classes and any other activities, I am looking forward to do the following:

a. an entry for my blog of at least once a week.
b. the use of one or both of my telescope to view the night sky more often, unless bad weather or clouds abound.
c. more occasions in the day to use the telescope to view the Sun with a solar filter.

Those above, of course, are on top of my other basic spiritual exercises/activities that has to go on regardless of weather or the GSS.

Related articles

• Benedict XVI's Sermon for Corpus Christi: Jesus in our midst is the "beating Heart" of the home, city, country, territory

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• A Big Month, The Solemnities of June

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From Death To Life!

Incensing2 (Photo credit: Annoysius)

Happy Easter to one and all!

Forget the Easter bunny! Christ is risen, alleluia!

Sometimes we allow ourselves to be distracted too much by the lesser trappings of the Easter celebrations that we forget the real reason of this celebration. Our 40 days of the Lenten period is over, and now we rejoice and are filled with a lightness that speaks of a deep and profound happiness which pervades our being in knowing that Jesus Christ has conquered death! This implies that we, too, follow in his steps to conquering our death in our journey to God, our Father.

What can be more joyful and exhilirating than that?...

Related articles

• The silent beauty of Easter joy (frlukefong.blogspot.com)
• Benedict XVI's Sermon for the Easter Vigil: of creation, light, communication, community, and bees (wdtprs.com)
• PASCHALCAzT 47: Easter Sunday - "the one in whose fist all things are enclosed" (wdtprs.com)

David or Herod?

When you read up on the passages given for the mass celebration of Friday, 4th Week in Ordinary Times, of this month (February), we come across two men who have wielded great influence over their subjects or people's life but from opposing values between them.
 

One, David, though not a perfect human being, was always concerned about his relationship with God. He may not always got things right in his life as king of Israel but David understood acutely that God sees the heart. David understood that evil cannot be hidden from God. David chose ruthless honesty when he evaluates himself and begs God’s forgiveness for his wrongdoings and sins.

The other, Herod (Antipas), never understood what evil was in his life and allowed it to swallow him, through the many ruthless atrocities and engagements with people whom he labeled as enemies or threats. On one occasion, not wanting to lose face in front of his guests, he had a prophet beheaded.

We can learnt quite a lot from these two men. They can help us come to terms with what kind of life do we want. Is it a life that allows us to engage in the rubrics of happiness or is it that which oppresses us in the cycle of never ending rubrics of suspicion?

Today, more than ever, we need to come to terms with our own brokenness and like David, throw ourselves in God's embrace of healing love, so that all our fears can be cast away. We must learnt to allow God's grace to help us fight fear with faith and to actively use goodness and truth to overcome the temptation to compromise with wrongdoing and falsehood.

"... choose this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24: 15)

Related articles

• David's Choice: Vengeance belongs to God (thoughtsonscripture.com)
• David, A Great King, Yet With a Critical Flaw. What is the Lesson for us Today? (adw.org)
• On Ordinary Time (acatholicdad.wordpress.com)
• The Demonic Jezebel Spirit and Its Rabid Hatred of God's Prophets (getrealchristianity.wordpress.com)