Because death is not the conquerer

H2O News featured Pope Benedict's homily at Mass last week, and I thought I'd share it with you. The homily blessed me richly and I hope the summary will do the same for you.

"Love is stronger than death," and don't be afraid to abandon yourselves to the will of the Heavenly Father: that was Pope Benedict XVI's encouragement to us last week on the fifth Sunday of Lent.

In his homily, the pontiff said that "in order to bring to fruition the divine plan of universal salvation, Jesus had to be killed and buried, because it is in his death and resurrection that the triumph of life is manifest."

He said the path of Christ is a demanding one, but it is the only one for Christians. Pope Benedict exhorted the faithful to allow themselves be illuminated by the splendour of Christ's Face, so that "His infinite love shine through every gesture, becoming part of their daily life."

"Allow yourselves be captivated by Christ's charisma," he said. "Listen to Him and, guided by the Holy Spirit, lend your support to the His plan for you."

Source.

Let us remember, as we commemorate Jesus' death, that while it is necessary that He gave us the gift of His life, we must stretch out our hands to receive it. Christ died precisely so that we might live. Let's approach His resurrection ready to embrace our crosses the way He embraced His, and cooperate with His will.

Have a blessed Good Friday.

Who can understand your pain better?

"Who, if not the condemned Savior,
can fully understand the pain
of those unjustly condemned?

"Who, if not the King scorned and humiliated,
can meet the expectations
of the countless men and women who live without hope or dignity?

"Who, if not the crucified Son of God,
can know the sorrow and loneliness
of so many lives shattered and without a future?"

- The late Pope John Paul II,
at the conclusion of the Stations of the Cross at Rome's Colosseum
on Good Friday night in the Jubilee Year 2000

... it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. - Hebrews 4:15 (JB)

News in prayer 4: please pray for our friends in Italy

If it's not too much to ask, please also pray intensely for the victims of the recent earthquake in Italy.

Italy's worst earthquake in nearly three decades struck early Monday in the central region of Abruzzo, killing nearly 180 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. As the death toll from the predawn quake rose throughout the day, the tragedy took a bitter twist as it emerged that a local seismologist had predicted a major tremor was on its way.

Dozens of residents in the province of L'Aquila, some 80 miles (130 km) east of Rome, were crushed in their beds when the earthquake struck at 3:32 a.m. Aftershocks could be felt throughout the early-morning hours, with efforts to find survivors intensifying into dusk. The original quake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale, shook awake most residents in the Italian capital, and the effects could be felt as far away as Naples. It was the deadliest earthquake in Italy since the one that killed more than 2,500 people in the southern town of Irpinia in November 1980. - TIME Magazine

Working in almost total silence and using nothing but their bare hands to clear rubble, rescuers in Italy were engaged in a desperate race to save dozens of people thought to be buried alive after an earthquake which killed at least 150. - The Telegraph






Please spend a moment to pray together for the victims of the natural disaster:

• for the souls of those who have been killed – that they may be welcomed into the arms of our Father in Heaven;
• for those who have come away physically unharmed – that they may recognise their call to assist those in terrible need of help;
• for those who have been rescued – that they may be healed quickly of physical pain, as well as the emotional and psychological scars they must be suffering from;
• for the countless people who are still trapped in rubbles – that they hold on to hope of being helped, and trust in Jesus; we also pray that Jesus will be with the victims to comfort them and assure them of His love for each of them;
• for the thousands of people who have been left homeless – that once they not lose hope in themselves, but work together to rebuild their lives;
• for the local authorites – that they maintain calm and act in a caring manner to handle this calamity;
• for the world watching – that all will pray for the safety and well-being of every person involved; we also pray that every member of the world family will do what they can to help (morally and financially);
• for all Catholics suffering this plight – that they may find this an opportunity to join their sufferings with that of Christ Jesus, who was buried in the rubble of all our sins.

Today, we mourn not just for Christ, but also for those who suffer with Him.

Let's offer five decades of the Holy Rosary for these brothers and sisters of ours. If you are non-Catholic, please join us in any other way to pray for the victims.



If you're intending to pray for the victims with your computers on, this slideshow and this slideshow by the Financial Times, as well as these pictures by TIME Magazine may aid you to pray better.

Some sources of the news:

• The Guardian (UK)
  
• The Telegraph
• NY Daily News
• allheadlinenews.com

Holy Thursday: last fast, do pray for all!

As we reach the end of our Lenten journey this year, please remember to observe our fast together today, and do pray for every sojourner for an ever-improving relationship with our Lord.

God bless your Holy Thursday.

What? Holy Week already?

I read this post by Catholic Culture's Phil Lawler, and I think we can all relate to this entry in one way or another (I certainly have!). I hope it blesses you.

When Holy Week arrives, I always have the same feeling. "Wait, wait!" I want to say. "I'm not ready yet."

Maybe all Catholics have the same experience. Just after Ash Wednesday, it seems to me that Lent stretches out into the future forever. I live a comfortable life, and when I deny myself some of the usual comforts, I very soon feel the pinch. I get just a little bit hungry. I don't feel like getting up early to do some spiritual reading before Mass. I keep catching myself indulging that one unpleasant habit that I said I'd work on during Lent. I sure could use a beer. I start feeling sorry for myself-- poor me!-- and I wonder: Is Lent going to last forever?

But it doesn't. Just a few short weeks later I'm looking at things from the opposite perspective. I've nearly run out of time. I was really determined to transform myself during Lent this year: to make myself into a living saint. It hasn't happened yet-- not nearly. I need more time. Is Lent ending so soon?

It's the same sad story every year. I begin Lent with the best of intentions. Then the weeks quickly roll past, and things change. I can't sustain the same zealous attitude for 40 days. Oh, I keep to my resolutions, for the most part. I continue fasting, but my prayers aren't quite as fervent, my spirit of reparation weakens. I know that I need to rev up the penitential engine again, but the days slip by...

Then, suddenly-- Bam!-- time's up! It's Holy Week. Who could've seen that coming?

When I was younger, I would be surprised to recognize my own failure to live the penitential season fully. No longer. I know myself too well. I failed last year, and the year before, and the year before that, too. I'm not so dense that I can't spot a trend.

But then, sometime during Holy Week, a second realization hits me. Of course I failed to transform myself! I can't do it. Never could, never can, never will. I need help. And help is on the way.

This year, that 2nd realization came early: during the reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday. As Jesus prays in agony in Gethsemane, the disciples nod off to sleep. I can relate to that; it seems I was nodding all through this Lent. Then Jesus tells them: "It is enough; the hour has come." (Mk 14:41) He knows they are not ready-- they never will be-- but He is ready, and that's what matters.

I'm not ready for Good Friday. But Jesus is ready to mount the Cross for me. My annual failure is the 'happy fault' that makes me realize the necessity of his Sacrifice, and treasure the depth of his love.

(For the record, this recognition that we can't do it does not imply that we should just stop trying. Let's keep trying to cooperate with God's will. We may not be able to do anything without Him, but we can certainly attempt to empty ourselves for Him to fill us up.)


Source.

How Was Your Lent?

Remind and encourage your friends regularly. My one goal every lent is to make the best of it, and God has never let my efforts fall to futility.

I have found a close friend and uncannily kindred spirit in my boss, but am often subject to the battery of his questions.

“I think you are an intelligent guy, but I think it is such a waste that you subject yourself to the constrictions of this ancient religion.” “What if your God were just one of many,” he would ask, “seeking to gain power and acclaim above his contemporaries?” “Find your own truth.”

The nights I stay up pondering his questions are the true affliction.

Numerous recent missal readings involve the character of “the Word of God”, selected for this Lenten tide by the Church to emphasize Jesus’ presence and role in God’s plan even preceding the New Testament. In other scripture readings, the Church reminds us repeatedly how Christ was sent by the father not to condemn but to save, and is the pinnacle display of God’s love for us.

I have my answer. I know my God is mighty above all, because He stretched out his hands on the cross to say, “I love you this much.” If you ask me, no substance or quality in our reality is greater than love’s universal potence.

My friend offers me the one thing I am giving up for these 40 days of lent. Telling him about my promise, but obliging to keep him company in his sombre Barcelonian apartment’s living room, the non-practicing Catholic reminds, “a promise is a promise.” His statement reminds me of the purpose of my sacrifice.

Because I love you this much.



- posted on behalf of Andre Brinstan Frois

My Portuguese confession

Missing my flight by a few minutes and having to buy a 50 Euro overnight bus ticket to Madrid also meant missing my friends and buying myself a ticket to one of the lowest points I can recall ever sinking to.

I killed the first few hours of my unplanned extra day in Porto with a lengthy lamentation and downcast train ride back to the city centre. I never got to say goodbye to my travel buddies and was going to have to see Madrid alone instead. Taking the slow sightseeing route round Porto’s Plaça de Monsinho Alberquerque monument, nothing it had to offer seemed the least bit scenic.

A heart brimming with thoughts of my life and my parents, and a wallet filled with just about zilch, I turned a corner to come face to face with a modern Portuguese igreja.

I usually drop in to say a short prayer when I pass a church – all the more reason to when you’re waiting for a ten-hour bus ride four hours away.

Scouring the church for a confessional, I found my way to the first pew where I dropped to my knees. Two elderly women whispering the rosary behind me could have been mistaken by anyone as using the church as a gossip venue. Turning back, I asked them, “confessão?”

After some undecipherable babble, they prompted me to follow them, “sacristy”. They led me to a young priest who turned me down, citing that confession could not be done as he did not speak English. As the incomprehensible dialogues continued around me, an old priest was brought into the picture, who kindly obliged.

Neither did he speak English. Shuffling about his office, he took me to another room where I made my confession in a mix of English, Portuguese and Latin. The one thing I will probably remember most distinctly years from now, will probably be the balding white-haired padre clasping my hands and smiling.

“Proverbios 23:26,” was what he asked me to read. “Today… corazon… Dios,” he repeatedly signed with his hands, prompting me to do the same. I told him that I had not been to confession in three months. Was it really because I was working in Holland (where 99% of the population understand English), or was it because I never did make the effort to head to church a tad earlier?

A long-needed confession was followed by a blessing from this warm and gentle old man. Leaving the sacristy, I came back to that same pew, and started writing.

“O my son, give me your heart…” - Proverbs 23:26



- posted on behalf of Andre Brinstan Frois

How much is He worth to you?

Today's Gospel zooms in on Judas, the notorious disciple who sold Jesus for a miserly reward.

We all have a habit to point to Judas as the traitor of the bunch. I never liked to put Judas in the common bad light, because in truth, we too often fail to see that we're very often the Judas in our own rights.

One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. - Mt 26:14-16

How much is Jesus worth to you? How much will you exchange Him for?

An extra hour on the Internet?
Three more A1's?
A promotion?
Five friends to go out and chill out with?
A $2,000 pay increment?
Six more games at the pool saloon?
A pornographic video?
More sleep?
A few more overtime dollars at work?
A few hours of computer gaming?
Two more rounds of Mahjong?
A good testimonial from a teacher or from the boss?
The latest novel of your favourite author?
Another round of beer?
The fourth season of Grey's Anatomy, or Brothers And Sisters, or Heroes?

They all equate to merely 30 pieces of silver - as good as nothing, compared to the real Treasure we're exchanging them for.

May we all recognise our sins in honesty, repent of them, and not live in cowardly denial, asking the Lord, "Surely it is not I?" because like Judas, we know the answer to that question.

Only the Cross offers fulfillment: Pope

Pope Benedict XVI opened Holy Week at the Vatican with a Mass that began with the Palm Sunday procession through St. Peter's Square and included the singing of the Passion. In his homily the Holy Father told the congregation of 40,000 that "without a 'Yes' to the Cross-- without walking in communion with Christ day after day-- life cannot be fulfilling."

The Pope reminded the congregation that Christ's Kingdom is "not the rule of political power, but is exclusively based on the free adherence of love." Even today, he said, many people, like Pilate, misunderstand the nature of the Kingdom. Two things must be recognized, the Pope said: "this Kingdom passes through the Cross;" and "his Kingdom is universal."

Therefore, the Pontiff said, the only means to human fulfillment is the path of the Cross. This, he said, "includes sacrifice, renunciation." He added: "Those who promise a life without this ever-new gift of self, are deluding people." On the other hand, he said-- speaking of his own personal experience-- "the times when I have said 'Yes' to sacrifice have been the greatest and most important moments of my life."


Source.

News in prayer 3

The latest on the fight against abortion in the US has taken another step toward the dark side. Senator Tom Colburn proposed the "conscience law": To protect the freedom of conscience for patients and the right of health care providers to serve patients without violating their moral and religious convictions.

Well, this law of freedom has been rejected. As the Catholic News Agency puts it: "The failure to pass this legislation now leaves the door open for the Obama Administration to rescind the law by executive order and force health workers to compromise their moral convictions."

Simply put, a woman will have the right to choose to kill the human being in her tummy. But a doctor or a nurse will not be given the right to choose to not take part in the murder of unborn children.

The result of the vote was 41-56. There were 25 Catholic Senators given a vote. 16 voted to reject the bill, and nine voted for the bill. With a defeat margin of 15, it would have made every difference in the world if those 16 Catholics stood up and lived their faith.

Source.

Please pray:

• that those who promote pro-"choice" will also fight for the rights for healthcare workers to not participate in abortions;
• for the 16 Senators who voted to reject the bill - that they will recognise the importance of this result;
• for the Senator Tom Colburn and the nine Senators who voted for the bill - that God will reward them richly for their moral courage;
• for all Catholics to see the importance of human life;
• for the US, the most powerful country in the world, that they will be guided by God in the right direction and influence the rest of the world in the right way.
  

4th Last Word of Jesus - ...why have you forsaken me?

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Mk 15:34

One way of looking at this was that Jesus was reciting the first line of Psalm 22 which contained prophecies that were fulfilled at his passion (the enemies jeering, dividing of clothes and gambling for the tunic). Or that Jesus was experiencing the consequences of our sin, that disconnectedness with God, that he took upon himself willingly, and so he was voicing out the anguish that he was feeling with the words from the psalm.

As I reflected on the word forsaken, and I looked at my life, I don't think that I have ever done what Jesus did. In times when I'm down, I seldom turn to God until I'm really desperate. I can't say that I've ask God why has he forsaken me because I know its always I who have forsaken him first. It shows the shallowness of my faith and relationship with God.

In my first year of seminary, I read a few books by the Jesuit priest, Fr Thomas Green, on prayer and the deepening of our relationship with God. I wrote a few reflections on my blog on what I had learnt. In one that I wrote in lent 4 yrs ago, I wrote about what spiritual consolation and desolation was. And my second last paragraph, I said that I had not experienced full desolation yet, concluding that I'm not holy enough. Maybe now still not holy.

Read the post if you are wondering why holiness leads to desolation (a sense of abandonment by God). St John of the Cross calls it the Dark Night of the Soul. While deepening of spiritual life one will encounter spiritual dryness, desolation. Mother Teresa went through years of desolation, as revealed in the recent book Come Be My Light. When the book was published, it sparked off many comments from the secular world, that she didn't believe in God, that she was a hypocrite professing a faith in a God she didn't believe in. But this spiritual desolation is not something that the world will understand. Even most Catholics do not know or understand that there is such a thing or that it exists.

Luckily God only allows it to happen to those who he knows are strong enough to perservere through it, and those who are willing to lay down their lives for him. It is a means through which God purifies our soul, to love him as he loved us. A test of our faith, whether we will still be faithful to seek him even if we do not have the good feeling that spiritual consolation brings. It brings to mind the faith that Abraham had. He was probably in highest consolation when God granted him a son in his old age. But what must have gone through when God asked him to sacrifice that same son.

In my younger days, I remember borrowing a question and answer book from the church library that had this question - "What if I scold God?". I remember that the answer started by saying that its ok, because at least you still have a relationship with God, that you still believe in him enough to expect something from him, and that you can get angry with him.

On a final note, I realised that I haven't reached a familiarity with the scriptures to be able use it in my prayer with God. I am probably like the bystanders who didn't know their psalms enough to recognise what it was. And that the last part of the psalm praises and glorifies God for the deliverance that he has granted.

The 5th Word for tomorrow's reflection is "I Thirst" (Jn 19:28).



- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

Pray the stations of the cross

Dear friends, as we approach Holy Thursday, let's spend the last few days of our journey together to reflect on the Stations of the Cross. You can do it on your own, or call together friends you know in Quady 09 to pray together.

Hope this week turns out to be what it should for you - holy.

Thanks to EWTN!

3rd Last Word of Jesus - Woman, here is your son...

Woman, here is your son... Here is your mother. - Jn 19:26-27

One reason why I like to read Archbishop Fulton Sheen's writings, is his ability to see scripture from a different perspective. When I look at this passage of Jesus giving his mother to the disciple he loved, I see it from two points of view. One that despite his own suffering, Jesus was worried about his mother, that he entrusts her, a widow, into the care of his disciple. The other viewpoint is that the disciple was not named, so that he represents all of us, to whom Jesus gives his mother.

Bishop Sheen being from America, would have used the New American Bible translation, and the word used there is "Behold your son". In this day, we don't really use the word "behold" anymore, so the other translations use "this" or "here". But the word "behold" has a richer meaning than "this" or "here". More than just a statement, it is command to see and look. It is used in John's Gospel when referring to Jesus by John the Baptist "Behold the Lamb of God", by Pilate "Behold the Man", "Behold your king!". And here Jesus is telling Mary to see and look at her son. If the words were to come out from anyone else, Mary would have looked up at Jesus on the cross. But because it came from Jesus, he was telling her to look at the disciple and to see her son Jesus, in the disciple. As the unnamed disciple represents us, Mary sees her son Jesus in each and everyone of us. We are called to be one with him, and he with us, showing his face to the world.

Bishop Sheen also mentions that just prior to this scene, was the dividing of Jesus' clothes by the soldiers. He uses the seamless tunic, most probably woven by Mary, as the link to Jesus' speaking to his mother. But as I reflected on it, somehow I got de-linked from the cross to focusing on the soldiers gambling. Much like the reflection on the two thieves, I found myself wondering what must have been going on in the minds of those soldiers:

"Just another days work"
"Lets get it over and done with"
"Sky getting dark, looks like is going to rain"
"Look at these Jews, fighting among themselves"
"Come lets have some fun and gamble for this tunic"

For them, there was no mystery, no sacrifice, nothing special about that day. In contrast to what the good thief experienced, to what the disciple and women at the foot of the cross were going through. Similarly, this week, from Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, which one are we going to be? The women, especially Mary, pondering on Christ's passion and death? Or the soldiers, where it is just another day, in fact better still, a public holiday? Whats going to be my focus, and how am I going to spend these 3 days?

The 4th Word for tomorrow's reflection is "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mk 15:34)



- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

News in prayer 2

As most well-informed Catholics know, the new Obama regime in the US have very different perspectives on certain issues (the issue of the dignity of the human life being the most important). Because of that, it's been difficult to appoint a representative to work with the Vatican.

The post of US Ambassador to the Holy See has been vacant since 19 Jan, when Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon left the position. And the Vatican's already rejected three proposals for a new representative - they're all not pro-life enough.

Edward Pentin of Newsmax even commented: "To help clear up some of these disagreements, a meeting between the Pope and the President is seen by some as a matter of urgency, particularly in view of Obama’s campaign pledge to build consensus between both sides of the pro-life debate."

It's going to be tough finding a pro-life member in a pro-abort (oh, sorry, pro-"choice") administration, but it's not impossible. Let us pray for patience from both the Vatican and for the US government in finding a suitable candidate to maintain good relations between the two sides. Let's also pray for a suitable candidate sensitive to the importance of the human life, that this person may play a key role in keeping the good relationship between the Vatican and the US.

Pope Benedict XVI and Mary Ann Glendon, former US ambassador to the Vatican. (AP)

Source.

2nd Last Word of Jesus - Today you will be with me...

Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.

A reflection that I read from another book on Jesus' Seven Last Words gave a very interesting insight on the role of the thieves that were crucified on either side of Jesus. The first thieves in the world were Adam and Eve, when they stole the fruit from the tree of knowledge.

God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'... the woman saw that the tree was good for food... she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. - Gen 3:3-6

And when the good thief said "we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.", it goes further than just the theft that the two thieves committed, to the theft of the First Adam, to our sin, for which we deserve the condemnation. The thieves represent all of us, who should be "justly condemned", and yet the sinless one, the Second Adam, tells us that today we will be with him in paradise.

It was quite consoling to dwell on the hope that we too are like the "good thief", being forgiven and told that we will be with Jesus in paradise. But as I reflected further, the realisation of both thieves as representing us set in, yet only one was given that hope. It brought to mind a discussion that we had at last weeks Alpha, where one participant shared that his friend told him that he can enjoy life right now, and wait till before he dies to repent, and he will still go to heaven. After all whether we enter the vineyard at the 1st hour or the last hour we will still be paid the same. Our God is a generous God.

We all know that that is not the right way to live out our faith, but I'm sure that we all have thought about this loophole in our lives, and definitely we still use it when we consciously decide to sin, with the intention of going for confession later. But the stark contrast between the good thief and the other thief is the reality that I may reach that final day and not be able to repent, not able to recognise Jesus, not able to ask Jesus to "remember me when you come into your kingdom". Sin has the effect of darkening our soul, of covering our eyes. As St John says those who do evil will run away from good.

This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. - Jn 3:19-20

The last point of reflection that I had was on the word "Today". Another time that Jesus used the word "today" was when he told Zacchaeus "Today salvation has come to this house". Both times salvation was declared on a person, because of their words and action, but most importantly because of a change in their heart. In the good thief, we have one example of a man who at his dying humbly embraced Christ. In the other thief we also have a man whose heart was hardened that he mocked Christ even as he was dying. And in Zacchaeus we have one who while living encountered Christ and changed his life, and received salvation.

In our current lifestyle, we always want things immediately. We want the good stuff and we want it now. But yet when it comes to Salvation, we don't mind waiting. Maybe it is because we think that Salvation and the Kingdom of God is something associated with life after death or the last days. But in fact Jesus tells us "the kingdom of God is among you" (Lk 17:21). Don't wait any longer... today is the day.

The 3rd Word for tomorrow's reflection is "Woman, here is your son... Here is your mother" (Jn 19:26-27)



- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

My Lenten Reflections

This period [has been] bad for me - really filled with term papers, tests and projects. Coincidentally, it falls within the Lenten period when we're supposed to pray more and draw closer to God. Perhaps, it's a test from God for me. Or perhaps it's the devil trying to use this to pull me away from God. But whatever the case, retrospectively, I think I've fallen many times during this journey. I've abandoned my crosses, did not keep to my resolutions, and failed to examine myself fully and the purpose of Lent for me.

But for the past 5 weeks, I've certainly learnt 1 very valuable lesson from God: even if man may be unfaithful, God is always faithful! As I've journeyed and fallen many times in the 'desert' with Him, He was the one who picked me up and He was the one who fed me with manna. It was truly an Emmanuel experience for me. I know that God-is-with-us. Everything was really put in place for me this Lent. I cannot relate all these incidents. To do so would take days to write. But i just wanna share one particular incident.

2 Wednesdays ago, I was very un-motivated to do anything and just wanted to slack by watching television. When I switched on the tv, the movie "John Rambo" was just beginning. And I watched the whole movie. After the show, I thought to myself: "This is a real waste of time to me. Why did I even watch it? I could have made use of this time to start on my essay due the following Tuesday." I decided to push to the next day to start on my paper. On Thursday, I could have gone home early but somehow I decided to stay in school to start on my paper. As I was about to begin, I received a phone call from a friend who needed to talk to someone. So I just put down everything and went to talk to him.

While waiting for him, I was praying to God that He would use me as His instrument to reach out to this friend. And a scene from the movie just came back to my mind. During the movie, there was a part where a pastor was praying the Peace Prayer of St Francis. So I decided to pray this as an opening prayer with my friend. And it really touched him a lot. Then he started to pour out his struggles to me. Somehow, I can provide him with counsel using spiritual and intellectual guidance given to me during my regular meet-ups with my SD. I certainly find it very amazing because everything had been placed properly for me for a particular reason, even watching a crap show like John Rambo is useful to God!

But the most amazing part for me is that my SD has asked me to reflect on the passage of Jesus & The Rich Young Man. For weeks, I just cannot get anything out of it. However, on that day, I finally realised what it meant - to give up everything and follow Him and He will give me treasures in heaven. I put down my assignments and followed Christ to reach out to a broken man that night. A crazy thing that one can do judging that he has not started on an assignment due soon. But God is faithful. When I reached home that night, an email was sent by my lecturer to my class to state that the deadline for this particular assignment has been extended. I was truly amazed and awed for 2 reasons: 1) even when my prayer life [was bad] during this time, He was still faithful in helping me; 2) how He managed to use a wretched man like me as His instrument, with everything put in place for me.

Yap. So basically this is just a reflection cum testimony for me. Let's pray for one another that this upcoming Holy Week will be filled be grace and love.



- posted on behalf of Moses Loh

A sharing after five weeks of Lent

After 5 week of Great Lent I can see that it is really very hard to be a True Christian. Some people may agree but there will be a hand full will not agree what I say but that’s not the case.

This year 2009 Lent I told myself to give up the things I really like to do. Eg using of laptop, smoking, sinful things and the list can go on and on. To look back for the past 5 weeks its make think that I have straggle to kick all those things of even with prayer but some times I failed and that’s makes me scandalized of myself.

But this reflection helps me realized that God was with me, accompanying with this Lenten Journey, in the mist of great temptation and etc Our Loving God never leaves his hand off me and that allows me to know that suffering can be a light thing ‘if you know what I mean’.

I can type beautiful writings and notes but it will not do me good if I don’t feel the Love of God. Just like what St Paul says in 1st Corinthians 13:2 & 3 it runs ‘If I am without love, I am nothing. Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned - if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.’

For oneself to know that God loves him/her the way he/she is that some times takes a short or a long time to realize. What do you think?

In this year’s Lent I got the opportunity to go 2 by 2 just like the disciples of Christ and evangelize to the people about God’s Love for them and how he has shown me his love in my life. Though not all the families welcome us to their house or even to share with them but there are some houses open up and allow us to share with them and pray with them. For me I see the faithfulness that God show to both the family, my brother in Christ who I was assigned with and myself.

Well as we walk towards Passion Sunday, Holy Week, Easter Triduum and lastly Easter Vigil itself may we always look at the Cross that you and I with Jesus carried, that one day he will make it a Glorious Cross for us. Knowing that only with that Glorious Cross we can take these sufferings with openness but rather we always complaining about it.

To give oneself in his name is to die and to die is to be with Him and that’s our density just like St Paul. ‘Take me to heaven, take me to heaven, O Lord. For me to die, would be better by far, would be better by far, to be with you, to be with you. Only one thing I seek from you, only this I as of you: never to doubt your love, never to doubt you, to be with you, to be with you.’

May all have a Holy & Blessed Easter ahead!



- posted on behalf of Alphonsus Soh

1st Last Word of Jesus - Father forgive them...

Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing
- Lk 23:34

The first Last Word that Jesus spoke was to ask for forgiveness on our behalf. Not only was he asking for our forgiveness, but he was giving us the reason/excuse that we should be forgiven - because we do not know what we are doing. Jesus could say that about the soldiers nailing him to the cross, because they did not know him as the Son of God. But how does this apply to us. Don't we know him as the Son of God, as our Saviour, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Thus when we sin, can we say we do not know what we are doing?

Yesterday we had the penitential service at CTK, and I found myself wondering whether the priest were hearing new terms for the sins being confessed. Such as:

• Being economical with the truth
• Deliberately misleading
• Withholding information

These were the words being used to describe the actions of Lewis Hamilton and the McLaren Team in the Formula One race in Melbourne last weekend. When asked if they instructed Hamilton to slow down for the Toyota car to pass him, they said that they did not, despite having done so.

The many fanciful terms being thrown around to describe an act which is basically lying is in fact one of the ways that we try to bluff ourselves that our actions were really not that bad. In the past few weeks, the topic of confessions and sin has occurred a few times at the retreats and conversations with various people. Some have mentioned that they have no sin, no big sin or always the same sins.

I've been there and done that, and thus I can't fault them. We like to forget the bad that we have done, or more likely, we are not even aware of the many sins that we have and are committing. Like I shared earlier on the parable of the wicked servant, I don't really know what my full debt/sin is.

Fulton Sheen calls it the ignorance of evil, and it is because of this ignorance that Jesus is asking the Father for our forgiveness. Often we are not aware of our sin, or we are deceived into thinking that we have not sinned, or we water it down by making it sound not as serious. There are other times that I'm not aware of the consequences of my sin, thus if I don't see the consequences, how can it be wrong? Jesus always criticised the Pharisees for exploiting the loopholes in the Law, and we too do that, by using our intellect and reason to worm our way out of our dirty deeds.

Talking about dirt, yesterday a priest shared a story of a wedding he attended, where the bride was eating Kueh Ko Swee, and as she bit into it, the brown sugar burst out onto her white gown. What a shock that might have been. Imagine if that had happen when you were wearing an old t-shirt that you use for painting the house. It wouldn't be much of a bother since the t-shirt would probably be dirty already. Fulton Sheen says that people living in dirt don't realise how dirty dirt is, similarly people living in sin don't recognise sin for what it is. It is only when we try to become clean, then the sin becomes more apparant. Like if I'm wearing a white shirt and eating laksa, I will definitely be more careful about not getting laksa sauce on my shirt. Just like after going for confession, there is the grace that makes me not want to sin and dirty myself. Thats why regular confession not only makes us reflect and aware of our sins, but helps us not to sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. - 1 John 1:8-10

The 2nd Word for tomorrow's reflection is "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." (Lk 23:43)



- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

Seven Last Words of Jesus

Dying Jesus, let us ponder
Your last seven words, and wonder
At the love of God made Man.

This is the verse that we always sing at the Twelfth Station - Jesus Dies on the Cross. As a young boy, as far as I can remember, I wondered what these Last Seven Words of Jesus were that we were supposed to ponder. One day when I saw in the reflection passage for the twelfth station the line that says.

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, saying,
"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."
- Lk 23:46

So the Jesus' last seven words must have been "into your hands I commit my spirit" I was quite proud of myself for "figuring out" those last seven words. (of course that was in the days before the internet, and before I ever bothered to do any research on church stuff).

But I could never ponder and understand why those last seven words were so important. Until I saw the book The Seven Last Words by Fulton Sheen. Only then did I realise that the "Words" were actually "Sentences" said by Jesus. A person's lasts words are normally what he feels really important to tell others. Such as "I love you" or "please forgive me". You can imagine Jesus in his agony on the cross, must have really used up his strength to leave us with these seven "words" to ponder on. So my Lenten project starting from tomorrow, will be to reflect, ponder and hopefully blog on one "Word" per day up to Good Friday. I invite you to join me, and post your reflections on this blog too.

The 1st Word for tomorrow's reflection is: "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34)



- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

News in prayer

See the article

Please spend a moment to pray for Susilawati, the maid who was abused, for the family members who abused her. We also lift up all domestic helpers and their employers. One dacade would be nice.

A lenten reflection

Good Friday is almost here, so how has it been for me?

Honestly I have not been following much but I would say it has been a different Lent for me from the passed few Lent. I am not able to go online everyday, so it has been difficult for me to keep track of what's going on or to pick a few guys and girls to pray for on a certain nights. Everyday's work has been quite a distraction for me to follow and concentrate on God.

In the past I was quite lost on what I can do during lent. Beside every Friday not eating meat, pray more and be more aware of your own behaviour by trying to be good, I really had no idea what else I can do. During lent I always hear people said what are they going to sacrifice. I have been wanting to do it too but I never really got down to think about it.

However now despite my busy schedule, I managed to pray more, fast and sacrifice from something that I like. I realised that when you are really focused on God, there will be a lot a lot of temptations around you.

I have gastric problem so my mum does not allow me to skip a meal and moreover to fast. However I told myself since I cannot fast but I should just not eat other food besides the 3 meals, that includes on Friday too. Strangely that only on 1 or 2 Thursdays and Fridays ago I would crave for eating the packet of chips that has been all along in my bags for passed few days. One of the Thursdays, I was having a late breakfast outside with my mum and I decided to fast for lunch. My mum had no choice because she didn't cook and in the end she sort of fasted with me too. She didn't take lunch but only something small. In the late afternoon, I was getting hungry and I started to turn to God. I prayed the whole rosary offering up intentions. I felt better but afraid might have gastric so took one piece of biscuits.

When I was thinking what can I sacrifice, I started to think of the daily things that I like to have. Food definitely is a must to have. Sleep is a necessity for focusing at work. Other than that I hardly have time for anything else? Therefore I thought of cold drinks which most of the time I never failed to get. I started abstaining from buying drinks and chose to drink something plain like water? It helped me to save a lot of money. Definitely temptations are there everyday and honestly I seem to be looking forward to the days that I can have some cooling drinks and nice desserts. However I thought of Jesus suffering much more than me and I just concentrate on drinking my "uncool" water. I did give in to temptations once or twice by buying fruits and only realising that I gave in after I felt good eating it because it was cold too.

I have not been treating Jesus the best way too. It was the first time that I was not able to be nice to the people I don't know. I was just so frustrated with the staffs there when I went with my dad for his appointment. Perhaps I was pretty stress with the many appointments my dad had and just so frustrated when my time was wasted. When I was working, I just flared over the phone when I cannot get things done my way. It was just so difficult to be still and calm.

The journey with Christ is sometimes very lonely. There were times that He sent a lot of people to support you but as you and people moved on, things changed. There are times that we need to learn to be alone and just rely on God. I have been busy working and the people around me are not people who can exactly support me but more of showing them God's love. Therefore I find it tiring and difficult to walk on this journey. However I am trying to rely on God especially during this time of Lent when I relate how Jesus situation was like, lonely and full of temptation around Him.



- posted on behalf of Lynette Chen

Prayer Intentions (30 Mar - 5 Apr)

Please mention these people by name (you may simply read off the list if you wish) when you do your Lenten prayer each day this coming week):

• For all Quadragesima sojourners, that we may all find comfort in knowing that we have a group of friends who are on this Lenten journey with each other;
• For friends of Clare Hui in her secular school who do not believe in the values Jesus gave us;
• For the health and well-being of Ezekiel, Josh and their parents Reginald and Nilam;
• For the speedy recovery of Bernice;
• For the well-being of Thaddeus Bang.

Lord, we love you only because we’ve seen how much you’ve loved us, yet you have loved us with an everlasting love. May we learn to place our trust in you, and leave our desires in your hands.

Download and print a copy.

True Story

One day, a man went to visit a church.

He got there early, parked his car, and got out.

Another car pulled up and the driver got out and said,

'I always park there! You took my place!'

The visitor went inside for Sunday School,

found an empty seat and sat down.

A young lady from the church

approached him and stated,

'That's my seat! You took my place!'

The visitor was somewhat distressed

by this rude welcome, but said nothing.

After Sunday School, the visitor went

into the sanctuary and sat down.

Another member walked up to him and said,

'That's where I always sit! You took my place!'

The visitor was even more troubled by this

treatment, but still He said nothing.

Later as the congregation was praying

for Christ to dwell among them,

the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change.

Horrible scars became visible on

his hands and on his sandaled feet.

Someone from the congregation

noticed him and called out, 'What happened to you?'

The visitor replied, as his hat

became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye,

'I took your place.'

- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

Powered by prayer (28 Mar 09)

So it happened! We did pray together last Saturday during Earth Hour at Holy Spirit Church! Although it was a really small number, we had no reason to be disappointed! Thank you to Jane, Audrey, Veronica, Joann and Rachel for joining me in prayer! (Particular thanks to Jo and Rachel who very willingly offered to help run the session)! I'm glad that to you, the number did not matter! :)

Op top of the six of us, Jane and Audrey brought two other friends, and we were joined by some 20 teens from Christ The King's 2009 confirmation batch, and Fr Kenny Tan. The teens were an inspiring bunch: some came from CCA, one came straight from the airport upon landing in Singapore. It must have been quite a challenge but they stuck through it, determined to spend the hour with the Lord.

We began with a quick introduction or one another, and then a sharing of where we were on our Lenten journey. 8.30pm came and we prayed without the use of lights and electricity (in conjunction with the WWF effort to switch off for the hour). We focused on the sins in our lives that have brought about darkness, and reminded ourselves that Christ is the Light of the World. We ended off adoring the Lord in the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

All in all, it was a good gathering of Christian friends coming together to give an hour to the Lord. Hopefully all of us left the church rejuvenated and readier than ever to dedicate this Lenten season to God, the One who loves us so much.

For those who are in this community, but are overseas, perhaps you could gather your friends and pray together too. In the mean time, please continue praying together as we finish off the last two weeks of Lent.

God bless!


ps: Shouts out also to Jarvis Tan, who helped tie up loose ends for the use of the Holy Spirit Church grounds, to Fr Andrew, who so willingly trusted me with the place and the keys to the Chapel, and also to Fr Kenny, who did not hesitate to bring Christ to our midst!

Oh yes, the truth hurts.

Nobody likes a righteous man. Nobody likes hearing a truth that hurts. Mostly, we just like basking in our sinfulness and being contented to be left alone. I for one, don't like to be told that I'm wrong. Whenever someone tries to do that, my defences go up and I think of a million reasons why I could be right. But I forget that for every valid reason I have for being right, there is an equally valid reason for the other party to be right.

I was deeply disturbed when I saw this piece of news. Indeed, righteousness is being overpowered by the voice of secularism. We ought to pray harder in these times, and also bear in mind that the next time someone tries to correct us for our wrongdoings, we should take a moment to ponder on it before springing up in arms immediately.

Humility. Yes, that cliche, overrated word. But when put into the context of Jesus and how men's stubbornness led to His death, it suddenly made perfect sense to me.

For they reasoned unsoundly, saying to themselves, "Short and sorrowful is our life, and there is no remedy when a man comes to his end, and no one has been known to return from Hades.

"Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law, and accuses us of sins against our training.

"He professes to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a child of the Lord. He became to us a reproof of our thoughts; the very sight of him is a burden to us, because his manner of life is unlike that of others, and his ways are strange. We are considered by him as something base, and he avoids our ways as unclean; he calls the last end of the righteous happy, and boasts that God is his father.

"Let us see if his words are true, and let us test what will happen at the end of his life; for if the righteous man is God's son, he will help him, and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries. Let us test him with insult and torture, that we may find out how gentle he is, and make trial of his forbearance. Let us condemn him to a shameful death, for, according to what he says, he will be protected."

Thus they reasoned, but they were led astray, for their wickedness blinded them, and they did not know the secret purposes of God, nor hope for the wages of holiness, nor discern the prize for blameless souls. - Wisdom 2:1,12-22

- Posted on behalf of Joann Natalie Chia

Mid-day thoughts on the fourth Friday of Lent

Today's noon and afternoon readings in the divine office serve as a gentle reminder to us.

For those of us in Quadragesima who have not done our best to follow the journey and take steps to put Him first, don't lose courage: "Come back, says the Lord, and I will frown on you no more, since I am merciful and I shall not keep my resentment for ever. Come back, disloyal children, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 3:12,14). The Lord is forgiving and willing to give us chances - no matter how disloyal we are - but we must decide to put in the effort.

The afternoon reading from James also sparks a reminder to us about our faith in God - it is not a two-person relationship between me and the Father: "In the eyes of God our Father, pure unspoilt religion is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world" (1:27). Our religion is a community, it goes far beyond us, and we must care for each other. God's will is for us to help the poor and needy. Is your shaped in His?

If you need to, please revisit our mission together on this journey. And if you've not succeeded as well as you would have liked thus far, it's not too late.

God bless you, my fellow sojourner!

Reminder to be Powered By Prayer!

Reminder that we will be gathering tomorrow evening to pray for Christ's light to shine in our lives.

Saturday, 28 March, we commemorate Earth Hour with (hopefully) 1 billion other people. But this, especially for us Catholics, is a good time to appreciate Christ as our Source of light, and to become ever more aware that without Him we live in nothing more than darkness.

Please join us, and if you really cannot be there, do spend a moment in prayer for us.

Once again,

POWERED BY PRAYER
Saturday, 28 March 2009
7.30 to 9.30pm
Church of the Holy Spirit (248 Upper Thomson Road)



God bless!

Sharing: the journey so far

Usually, I'd just fast from one item during Lent, forgetting about the aspects of Prayer and Almsgiving. But this year proved to be something different from me, something that changed when I embarked on this journey of Quadragesima. I didn't expect myself to be committing to a Lenten fast, more prayer, and almsgiving practice, all at one go! Neither did I expect to journey through Lent with a group of people, rather than just with myself.

So far, it's been an amazing, and yet very trying time for me during this year's Lent. With added abstinences and temptations to fight against (cos it seems like when you set yourself to do something, the temptation is only higher), I found myself praying hard for God to grant me strength to say No to the temptations that surrounded me, and eventually, growing stronger in faith in Him. I remember the first Thursday of Lent when I did my bread fast, and I didn't dare to tell my friends what I was eating (i.e. plain bread) even when they asked, for fear that they might not understand what I'm doing or if they would laugh at me, and also cos I thought that Matthew 6:16-18 meant for me to hide away my fast and not show that I'm fasting (but now, I found out that it doesn't entirely mean that).

During the first league of this Lenten race, denying myself of sweets and chocolates (what I set to fast from) was really tough too. I couldn't resist these, especially when chocolate was in small amounts in food items, where something in me would tell me "it's just a small amount, it's okay to eat it lah". I fell into these temptations many times, and once fallen in, it was so difficult to get out of it.

And yet, somehow (I'm sure it's by God's grace), I managed to get out of it.

It's amazing, to me, how God's helping me out in fighting temptations, when He allowed them to happen to me. Perhaps, all these temptations are ways not only for me to build up my self-control (when I say No to them), but also to build my relationship with God, to help me to trust in Him more, and even after this Lent's over, to remember that He's always here for me.

Thanks God. :)
And thank You for this time of Lent.



- posted on behalf of Amanda Lek

Prayer Intentions (23-29 Mar)

Here's are the intentions for the week 23-29 March.

Please print a copy of this, and remember to mention these people by name (you may simply read off the list if you wish) when you do your Lenten prayer each day this coming week.

1. For all mothers, may they be strengthen by God to continuously shower love and patience on their families and turn to our faithful God in times of uncertainty;
2. For Brenda, that in the loss of her father, she will depend more than ever on the ever-constant love of her Heavenly Father, who watches over her;
3. For Christentia, that she will continue in an honest search for Christ and recognize her belonging in His Body, the Church;
4. For Gabriel Ho, that he will discover the true meaning and appreciate the full value of friendship, by first recognizing Jesus as the best model of a friend;
5. For God's children who strayed away from the Catholic faith for some reasons or another. With God's grace, may we as the eyes and hands of Christ bring them home to where they truly belong;
6. For Justin Vetha, that his experience of and with the Holy Spirit in his life will spark off a start of a new life in Him;
7. For Mark Matthew, that he will, in God’s time and with God’s grace, allow the Lord into his life;
8. For Thaddeus Bang, that the Lord continue in guiding him on the road to change and keep the desire to journey with Christ burning in his heart;
9. For Valerie, Jeremy Teo, Adeline, Samantha, that they will each continue in an honest search for Christ and recognize their belonging in His Body, the Church;
10. For Veronica Teo, that the Holy Spirit continues to guide her in her journey in faith;
11. The health and well-bring of Peter James, who is undergoing treatment for cancer;
12. For all Quadragesima sojourners, that we may all find comfort in knowing that we have a group of friends who are on this Lenten journey with each other.

Lord, we love you only because we’ve seen how much you’ve loved us, yet you have loved us with an everlasting love. May we learn to place our trust in you, and leave our desires in your hands.

Print a copy of the intentions for the week.

If you're not on the journey yet, please join us.

How much do I owe?

As I was reflecting on tuesday's Gospel passage on the parable of the unforgiving servant (Mt 18:21-35), the words "ten thousand talents" struck me. Looking at the footnote in the NRSV bible, it said that 1 talent was worth more than 15 years of wages. This sparked off the mathematician in me, to compare the amount the wicked servant owed the master with the amount his fellow servant owed him.

Checking the Bible Dictionary, I found that 1 talent = 6000 denarii. This meant that the wicked servant owed the master: 6,000 x 10,000 = 60,000,000 or 60 Million Denarii, meaning he owed 600,000 times what was owed to him.

Now that the difference has been put into perspective, it basically means that it was a huge debt. This idea of debt brought to mind the conversation we had at the breakfast table, when we saw the front page of the Life section - Travel Now Pay Later. My first reaction was this was how people accumulate debts. We live in a culture of credit spending.







I was quite surprised when I typed in "travel now" into google, the autocomplete immediately brought up "travel now pay later" with 7 million websites. No wonder we are the financial state that we are in. Companies encouraging us to spend first and pay later with their 0% interest monthly instalments. Credit card companies tempting us with their freebies. And the one that bugs me the most, telemarketers calling me up to offer me ready cash up to 4 times my monthly salary. Mr Brown recently posted a video on his blog explaining how credit and greed brought about this whole recession.

Back to my reflection on the passage. The credit spending lifestlye we have accumulates big financial debts before we realise it. Similarly in my life I have also a credit sinning lifestyle. Since there is always confessions, I can sin now and confess later. Thus not realising the enourmous debt that I have accumulated. The NAB version says that the servant owed a "huge amount". I know that I owe God a huge amount, but I don't really know how huge that huge amount is. If I did, I think I would be like that servant begging for God's mercy.

This probably the wonder of Lent, through the readings, fasting and prayer, we realise our nothingness, our sinfulness, our indebtedness to God and realise that in our lifetime we will never be able to "pay back" his love for us and forgiveness. We can only pray that we may have the grace to be mindful of what we owe when we consider what others owe/hurt us and forgive



- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

On Righteous Anger

Anger seems almost in complete opposition to the law of Love that is central to the Christian faith. And yet last Sunday at mass I was given a whole new perspective of what anger meant in the context of our Faith. The theme for the homily that day was Righteous Anger. When Jesus stepped into the temple and chased everyone out, his anger was rooted in Love. Love for the father, and Love for the rest of the people who did not know any better. His anger was also rational, where he overturned the tables of the money-changers who were richer and were capitalising on the opportunity to make more money, he was gentler to the pigeon sellers who were trying to make an honest living.

We are called too, to be filled with righteous anger about issues that we know we must stand up for. An example would be supporting the Pro-life movement. I have always come from a perspective that I cannot do much for ideological tussles in a practical sense and was content with just supporting in prayer. While praying is fundamental, I have learnt that I am called to go beyond that, and to actually be activated and zealous. Angry where necessary and outspoken when called upon. Sometimes action is most crucial to being a witness for Christ. And as I stood on Houghton Street talking to others about the issue of Pro-life, I realised that I was angry, but more importantly I realised that I loved. I was the voice for the unborn child and I loved the unborn child.

I pray that in this period of lent, as we grow closer to the Lord, that zeal for His house will consume us and that we will feel a righteous anger when we are called to defend the faith, all the while knowing that it is in Love that we are called, and it is in Love that we will give our anger, our voice and our actions.



- posted on behalf of Annabel Lee

Come, let us adore Him

If you're at a lost in terms of ways to become more Christ-centred or Christ-like, following the Pope's advice might be a worthy thing to do!

B16 is calling for a renewal of Eucharistic adoration, which he said helps to bring about a "fundamental transformation".

When we recognise the reality that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, it only makes sense to see Him more regularly. As our Pope said, in the Eucharist, "God no longer simply stands before us as the One who is totally Other; He is within us, and we are in him. His dynamic enters into us and then seeks to spread outward to others until it fills the world, so that his love can truly become the dominant measure of the world."

In this sense, "adoration must become union, union with the living Lord and with His mystical Body" (that is, the Church).

Adoration of our Lord is not just spending time with Him, but we also "experience the fundamental transformation of violence into love, of death into life. This brings other changes in its wake."

In our noise-polluted culture, it’s more difficult than ever to hear God's still, soft voice calling out to us. Adoration gives is the opportunity to spend quiet time in silence, thus giving God a bigger platform to speak to us.

He cannot stop loving us, but we can stop Him from loving us.

If you visited the adoration room for a long time, or if you don't have a habit of doing so, perhaps I could suggest that this season of coming back to Christ is the perfect time to start. It'd be even better if we continue doing it after Quadragesima.

Source.

Why Wait?

Just saw an article about Lent and Confessions. In it the writer talks about what has been happening in various dioceses in the US, and the steps that they are taking to encourage the Sacrament of Reconciliation, especially during ths time of Lent. Some examples are adverts on billboards and in the papers to encourage reconciliation with God, having 24-hour confession days, dedicating one evening per week for confessions and even the priest going out into the street to invite people in.

While reading it, it just brought to mind some things that I have realised about the Sacrament of Confession in the last few years since I started to take my faith more seriously.

Firstly that I was brought up with the "Tradition" that we have to go for confession twice a year - before Easter and before Christmas. Then I discovered that the Catechsim of the Catholic Church (CCC) states that we are required to go for confession at least once a year. But that's like the mininmum requirement.

As I continued to grow in my faith, I realised that my sins were the obstacles in my relationship with God. And I discovered the beauty of the sacrament and the graces that flowed from receiving it strengthened me on my journey and my struggle with sin. While it is definitely uncomfortable to have to confess our sins to another person (especially now that most of the priests know me), it makes me confront the sins in my life. No longer can I sweep them under the carpet as if they did not happen. By voicing out my sins, I'm bringing these sins into the light and not allowing them to have control over me - Confession sets me free.

Pope John Paul II made his confession daily, Mother Teresa weekly. While I'm not saying that we all have to be at that frequency now, it would be good to increase our frequency of confessions from the once or twice a year to maybe once a month or once in two months. And grow from doing it out of obligation (easter & christmas), but because it helps our soul in our relationship with God.

The second "Tradition" that I had from young, was that I had to go for my confession during the penitential service held in church before Easter and Christmas. I would never miss it, and if I missed the one in my parish, I made sure I went to the one held in another parish. Of course for me, it was because confession was a tradition to be done before Easter and Christmas, so if the parish organises a penitential service, that would be the best time to go for it. Whats more there were priests from other parishes, so I didn't need to go to my own parish priests. Also because all my friends will be there, and we will go for supper after that.

But with my change of mindset of confessions, came the realisation of why should I wait for the penitential service to go for my confession. There is confession available before every weekend mass, or daily at Novena church (WARNING: Long queues). Why add to the number of people coming on that one night? I still go for the penitential services though. Not for my confession, but to celebrate the many people who are reconciling with God, and to pray for them. Also because it is "Tradition".

For those who still need the small push to take the first step to go for confessions, watch this video of the song by Phillips, Craig & Dean - When God Ran. We may be taking a step towards God, but He is running towards us. Why wait any longer?





- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

Do less to do more!

Here's a useful perspective that I came across - may it help you on the Lenten journey:

"Most of us think of Lent as a time for giving up something. The church directs us to give up meat on Fridays and to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. These minimal penances are forms of self-denial—ways of saying no to ourselves by foregoing our usual fare. The other side of Lent is doing more, or saying yes. Lent is the church's invitation to go forward, to move ahead, to grow in faith and devotion. The season prepares us to celebrate with greater intensity and love the death and resurrection of Jesus." - From the Introduction to Daily Reflections for Lent 2009 by Rev. Norm Langenbrunner

I think the short paragraph there really highlights what John 3:30 means - we do less of my will and do more of God's.

Source.

Prayer Intentions (16-22 Mar)

Here's are the intentions for the week 16-22 March.

Please print a copy of this, and remember to mention these people by name (you may simply read off the list if you wish) when you do your Lenten prayer each day this coming week.

1. The health and well-bring of Peter James, who is undergoing treatment for cancer; and
2. For the Participants and facilitators of the upcoming Confirmation camp from 20-22 Mar.

Lord, I lift up all the participants, facilitators and catechists of the upcoming confirmation camp, as well as Peter. We don’t know what will happen, but we know that You do. Help us to ask and trust you in all that You do, and all that You allow to happen. Amen!

Print a copy of the intentions for the week.

If you're not on the journey yet, please join us.

Perfect Number Seven

Having to prepare a session which includes the Seven Deadly Sins has been quite a good reflection exercise for me this Lent. Going deeper into the meanings of Pride, Greed, Gluttony, Lust, Sloth, Envy and Anger has given me much fruit for thought with regard to my own relationship with God and with others.

I won't share my own discoveries and reflections here as that is not the intention of this post, but to encourage others to go and research on these Seven Deadly sins and reflect on them in your lives. Together with the corresponding Seven Virtues of Humility, Charity, Temperance, Chastity, Diligence, Kindness and Patience, it makes for a good spiritual exercise to go through this Lent. Maybe you can take one Sin & Virtue to reflect on each day of a week. Just Google "Seven Deadly Sins", and you will find a lot of information.

To add on to that spiritual exercise, there are Seven Penitential Psalms you might want to pray, one for each day. Although they are not directly related to any particular Deadly Sin, still they are good scriptural readings to reflect on our sinfulness and need for God. The Psalms are 6, 31(32), 37(38), 50(51), 101(102), 129(130) and 142(143) [Numbers in brackets depending on your bible]

Have a good week of reflection, not just on the Sins, but also on the Virtues, and pray for the grace to break out of the Sin and to cultivate the Virtues in your life. God Bless!



- posted on behalf of Br Terence Kesavan

On Loving

I usually read the day's Gospel before I go to sleep and reflect on the things that God has to say for that day. Monday's Gospel reading from Luke 6:36-38 was short and simple and yet very straightforward. There is a link on the USCCB website on daily video reflections where a priest gives a sort of short homily. What he said struck me because he said that Jesus summed up what it means to be Christian in that very short passage. There were 5 ways that are simple to know yet difficult to achieve.

1. To be merciful
2. To not judge
3. To not condemn
4. To forgive
5. To love and give with all our hearts

I have a blog where I write about issues regarding my health and other things that happen in my life. This passage struck me particularly because just a few days ago, I wrote about an encounter I had with 2 ladies who were trying to promote some protein shake that was supposed to be able to help you lose weight.

I totally slammed them on my blog after the incident because they clearly had no idea what they were talking about. I wasn't the most merciful with my words and was extremely judgmental about their attitude and desperation to push their product. To some extent, you could say that I condemned them for being ignorant and arrogant.

The fact of the matter is that nobody would blame me for the things that I said about them. But this passage was a reminder for me to not seek the approval of others, but pursue the things that pleases God. I do still feel bitter about what happened, but it makes it a little easier to remember that God loves these 2 ladies just as much as He loves me.



- posted on behalf of Rachel Er

What is in your desert?

Certain crises can be anticipated and contingency plans can be made for them. But in reality, the real crises are the ones that take us by surprise; those that are well disguised and packaged to look more like coincidences than dire situations.

Today, I had an encounter which left me very flustered and annoyed. At that very moment, all I wanted to do was fight back. I felt indignant and made a fool of. And just as I was on my way to the confrontation, I garnered all the inner strength I had and somehow decided to hold back on lashing out those negativities. For the time being at least.

Later in the day, as I pondered more deeply on this, I began to see myself in that desert where Jesus had been tempted. And there, I saw how this situation was like a carrot tangled by the devil, just waiting for me to bite. And that made me realise how difficult it is to spot these tangling baits and overcome them.

It has been particularly difficult for me today because despite knowing this fact, I still felt the need to retaliate and speak up. But all I could do was bite my lips and learn to love. As of now, I still feel flustered, annoyed, indignant, foolish, and suppressed (perhaps constipated would be a better word). But I guess I need to constantly remember to be more like Jesus - refraining from the need to justify myself and prove a point.

Based on Matthew 4:1-11



- posted on behalf of Joann Chia

Prayer Intentions (9-15 Mar)

Here's are the intentions for the week 9-15 March.

Please print a copy of this, and remember to mention these people by name (you may simply read off the list if you wish) when you do your Lenten prayer each day this coming week.

1. For a successful operation and well-being of Chan Yan Toh, who might be suffering from colon cancer;
2. For all married couples, that each will continue to do their best to be better spouses and honour their commitment;
3. For all non-active and fallen away Catholics, that they may hear God’s silent whisper in their hearts and return to His Church in spite of its many shortcomings;
4. For all who are jobless – may the Lord bless them with a job that can help sustain their lives and their families;
5. For Alvin Choo, that he will discover God and walk with the Lord on a lifelong journey;
6. For Dorothy Tan, that she will be a source of inspiration through her quiet dedication and humble leadership;
7. For Fabian Teo, that the Lord may guide him in finding a direction in life;
8. For guidance in the conversion journey of Sebastian into Catholic Faith;
9. For Maranatha Prayer Ministry, that the community may grow in love for God and for each other;
10. For Noa Evan Wong, that he grows up to be a servant of God, who finds true happiness in God and in service to His people;
11. For Patricia Ling, who's going through treatment for cancer;
12. For Susan Loh, that she may have a safe journey and that her meetings at the Catholic Nurses World Congress in the US will be fruitful;
13. For the classes of Grace Chen, that God will touch them;
14. For the conversion of Matthew Seet, that he may be reconciled with God;
15. For the family of Shaun, Tiffany and Ayden Soong – that the Lord will continually show them His boundless love;
16. For the good health and happiness of Sharon Low; also for Sharon to be given a place in university;
17. For the health and speedy recovery from sickness of Theresa Yoong;
18. For the health and well-being of James Hoe;
19. For the safety and well-being of Henrietta Yii, who lives on her own in Malaysia;
20. For the soul of David Widjaja;
21. For the soul of Fr James Muhren, a Mill Hill Missionary, who passed away on 1 Mar 09;
22. For the soul of Peter Heng;
23. For the soul of Peter Ling;
24. For the speedy recovery of Colette Wong;
25. For the speedy recovery of Raphael and family, who are suffering from sicknesses;
26. For the speedy recovery of Valentina Soliano, who is suffering from fever;
27. For the well being of the family and friends of Grace Chen; also that the Lord may guide her in finding a direction in life;
28. For the well-being of Agnes Lim;
29. For the well-being of Margaret Ling;
30. For the well-being of Sharon and family;
31. For those who have lost money in shares and investments, that they place their hope in God and trust Him;
32. For unborn children, that they receive blessings and protection from God, and guidance as they enter the world;
33. For women who are considering abortion, that the Lord will guide them into the spirit of selflessness and cooperate with His plans.

Lord, I come to You in prayer, knowing that I am nothing, but You are everything. I lift up all the names I’ve read, and entrust them totally in Your hands. Through each situation, remind me ever so much that I do not know every one of these brothers and sisters, but You know them better than anyone else, and You care for them more than they can ever love themselves. I place my trust in You. Your will be done. Amen.

Print a copy of the intentions for the week.

If you're not on the journey yet, please join us.

Reflection on Psalm 42

"Like the dear that yearns for running streams, so my soul is yearning for you, my God.

My soul is thirsting for God, the God of my life; when can I enter and see the face of God?

My tears have become my bread, by night, by day, as I hear it said all the day long: 'Where is your God?'

These things will I remember as I pour out my soul; how I would lead the rejoicing crowd into the house of God, amid cries of gladness and thanksgiving, the throng wild with joy.

Why are you cast down my soul, why groan within me? Hope in God; I will praise him still, my saviour and my God.

My soul is cast down within me as I think of you, from the country of Jordan and Mount Hermon, from the Hill of Mizar.

Deep is calling on deep, in the roar of waters: your torrents and all your waves swept over me.

By day the Lord will send his loving kindness; by night I will sing to him, praise the God of my life.

I will say to God, my rock: 'Why have you forgotten me? Why do I go mourning oppressed by the foe?'

With cries that pierce me to the heart, my enemies revile me, saying to me all the day long: 'Where is your God?'

Why are you cast down my soul, why groan within me? Hope in God; I will praise him still, my saviour and my God."

Memories have two purposes. It either reminds us of the good times that had since past and thus reinvigorating us in the present, or it reminds us from repeating past mistakes and thus preventing a perpetuating of errors. Both ways, memory is good and it is a gift from God.

In Psalm 42, the Levite (who is in exile in Babylon) recalls the wonders that God had done despite him being in a state of desolateness, and how in that recalling of past memories, it made him cry out in hope despite the hopelessness that was presented before him. It must have taken tremendous amount of faith for the Levite to cry out in such situation, and most of us would greet his hope with wonder and amazement!

Are we able to recall the wonders that God had done and are still doing in our lives? God has gifted us with memory and it is indeed a powerful tool that He had placed within us, and let us recall as the Levite did, especially during the times when the goings get rough and tough, be it in our lives, relationships, studies, work and decision makings.

Lent is an excellent time for us to rediscover God in our lives, and in this spring time, let us place God at the centre of our lives, and in doing so; we will discover the wonders He does and are still doing in our live! For indeed "Why are you cast down my soul, why groan within me? Hope in God: I will praise him still, my saviour and my God!"



- posted on behalf of Br Jovita Cyprian Ho