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.