A Living Hope

It was the first day of school and everything started anew today... I don't have much time at hand to blog. What I could do for today was to change a new playlist for my blog (yay! some P&W songs which I'd like to intro 2 everyone~) and here's what I can share with you all... The daily reflection for Monday (yesterday) with the links to the readings according to One Bread, One Body. Personally, it was as though an injection to my heart to strengthen me of what is to come. Praise God for His revelations! ^________^ And thank God for listening to my prayers... Indeed, in God alone I hope, in God alone I trust.

Monday, January 5, 2009, St. John Neumann

1 John 3:22—4:6, Psalm 2, Matthew 4:12-17, 23-25
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/010509.shtml

A LIVING HOPE (see 1 Pt 1:3)

"On those who inhabit a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen." —Matthew 4:16

The Christmas season is a time when a greater number of people commit suicide. Many others are more discouraged than normal because of family breakdowns that intensify at Christmas. At the very time the Hope of the World has come to us at Christmas, greater numbers of people are "without hope...in the world" (Eph 2:12) because they cannot see the light.

Some difficult situations have persisted for so long that it's hard to believe the situation will ever change for the better. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Prv 13:12). We wait so long that we're tempted to be sick at heart, discouraged beyond hope. "But hope is not hope if its object is seen; how is it possible for one to hope for what he sees?" (Rm 8:24)

Jesus comes this Christmas to give us a living, risen hope (1 Pt 1:3) to replace any "dead" hope, which is actually hopelessness. "Hope is the confident expectation of divine blessing and the beatific vision of God; it is also the fear of offending God's love and incurring punishment" (Catechism, 2090). A living hope based on Jesus gives us strength to resist sin (1 Jn 3:3) and expect blessing, even when we are repeatedly faced with difficulties. In fact, in Jesus these constant difficulties and afflictions give us greater virtue and purity, and lead to greater hope (Rm 5:3-4) that overcomes disappointment (Rm 5:5).

"So may God, the Source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that through the power of the Holy Spirit you may have hope in abundance" (Rm 15:13).


Prayer: Father, in You I hope; in You I live.

Promise: "Those who keep His commandments remain in Him and He in them." —1 Jn 3:24

Praise: St. John's hope of being ordained was deferred, but God rewarded him with a new vision and ministry for the new world.

Love Phobia (도마뱀)

I watched a korean movie just now on an online movie website, which I think is a beautiful love story and I'd like to share with you all some of the images I searched online. It reminded me of a korean guy who had created some beautiful memories with me some years back. There wasn't anything between us, and now we've lost contact totally, yet, the memories of this guy was pure and untainted. You can read some info on the movie by clicking at the link to IMDb --> Domabaem (2006).

P/S: I know I probably will never get to contact this korean guy again in my life, but I thank God for giving me this part of my life, because it was truly a beautiful memory that brings smiles to my face everytime I remember him. I know he doesn't know of my blog, but I'd still like to take this opportunity to thank him for the memories he had given me, plus the two korean books he gave me as a farewell gift.

호근오빠,고마워!

The Gift of Self

Today is Epiphany - the day when the three wisemen from the east paid homage to little Baby Jesus in the manger. As usual, I was busy jotting down the points of homily during mass this morning. I was filled with joy when I knew that the mass was to be celebrated by Archbishop John Lee. I'm always in awe with his homilies, knowing that it is a call to grow deeper with God. Last time I used to dread his homilies... Now I'm always anticipating his homilies... I guess the biggest impact Bishop had made in my life was the sermon he gave somewhere in July. I remember his question was simple, yet so difficult to answer - "What do you bring to offer to Jesus at mass every time you attend mass?" His explanation was exactly how the song "So You Would Come" by Hillsong is... "Come to the Father, though your gift is small, broken hearts, broken lives, He will take them all..." All we need to bring to Jesus everytime we attend mass is ourselves, our desperations, our disappointments, our joys, our happiness, our sorrows... Everything in our lives is what Jesus wants from us... Yeah, from that day onwards, I knew my life changed. Well, at least my perspective towards Mass changed.

Today, the call is to recognize and follow Jesus. The readings for Epiphany are Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; Ephesians 3:2-3, 5-6; Matthew 6:1-12. You can click here for the readings... One part of Bishop's homily that struck me most was about the gospel reading of today... Here's a rough idea of the whole part...

... Many times we talk about ourselves attending pilgrimages. How many times did we also tell others about the quarrels, fights, criticisms, etc. right after the pilgrimages? Like us, the wise men from the East who went on a pilgrimage to find the little baby also have problems on their journey, yet they choose and try to see the signs and follow the star. When they entered the city of Jerusalem, the star disappeared. Being at loss, they went to Herod for help. Apparently, King Herod wasn't really the right person for help, because he didn't know much. At the same time, what Herod did when he heard about the birth of the new King of Jerusalem was to refer to the scribes who were the experts in scriptures. Based on the word of prophets, they predicted that the little Babe will be born in Bethlehem. Thus, the wise men followed the Word, left Jerusalem. Once they left the city, they saw the star again, and they were filled with great joy. When they met with the Baby, they fell down and worship Him. Only God will be worshiped in such a way. Besides that, the wise men gave him everything they have - frankincense, gold and myrrh. After paying homage, they went back to their countries using a different road after being warned not to return to Herod in a dream...

As Bishop continued... He disclosed that the lives of the three wise men were changed. In our current times, as he put it, "when we encountered God, our whole life is transformed and we don't go back to the old life again". We're on that journey, through Christmas, the feast of Holy Family, and now Epiphany... We pray that we can recognize Him and offer ourselves to Him.

Bishop's call to us was this: "Do I have anything to offer to Jesus today?"

He concluded that we should let go of our whole life to Jesus so that we can live in Him and Him in us...

I guess what really struck me hard was that our lives (the wise men) will be transformed after encountering Jesus (paying homage to Baby Jesus in the manger) and thus we should never return to our old self (returning to Herod) but to take a new route back to our home (alternative route back to their home country). It is very symbolic to me, the whole gospel reading, after listening to what Bishop said during homily. In fact, there are so much more in the homily which struck me, but this is what I would like to share with others at this moment. My life is no longer mine, but it is Christ who lives in me and I in Him... I think it is a verse written by St. Paul... It is really true to me now~

So, do you have anything to offer to Jesus today?

Thank and praise God, whose hands are in my life. Amen!

12 Days of Christmas

On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling the expression of Christ's sadness over the fate of Jerusalem: "Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have sheltered you under my wings, as a hen does her chicks, but you would not have it so . . . ." (Luke 13:34)

On the 2nd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Two Turtle Doves
The Old and New Testaments, which together bear witness to God's self-revelation in history and the creation of a people to tell the Story of God to the world.

On the 3rd day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Three French Hens
The Three Theological Virtues: 1) Faith, 2) Hope, and 3) Love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

On the 4th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Four Calling Birds
The Four Gospels: 1) Matthew, 2) Mark, 3) Luke, and 4) John, which proclaim the Good News of God's reconciliation of the world to Himself in Jesus Christ.

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Five Gold Rings
The first Five Books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy, which gives the history of humanity's sinful failure and God's response of grace in the creation of a people to be a light to the world.

On the 6th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Six Geese A-laying
The six days of creation that confesses God as Creator and Sustainer of the world (Genesis 1).

On the 7th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Seven Swans A-swimming
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: 1) prophecy, 2) ministry, 3) teaching, 4) exhortation, 5) giving, 6) leading, and 7) compassion (Romans 12:6-8; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eight Maids A-milking
The eight Beatitudes: 1) Blessed are the poor in spirit, 2) those who mourn, 3) the meek, 4) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 5) the merciful, 6) the pure in heart, 7) the peacemakers, 8) those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. (Matthew 5:3-10)

On the 9th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Nine Ladies Dancing
The nine Fruit of the Holy Spirit: 1) love, 2) joy, 3) peace, 4) patience, 5) kindness,
6) generosity, 7) faithfulness, 8) gentleness, and 9) self-control. (Galatians 5:22)

On the 10th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Ten Lords A-leaping
The ten commandments: 1) You shall have no other gods before me; 2) Do not make an idol; 3) Do not take God's name in vain; 4) Remember the Sabbath Day; 5) Honor your father and mother; 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not bear false witness; 10) Do not covet. (Exodus 20:1-17)

On the 11th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Eleven Pipers Piping
The eleven Faithful Apostles: 1) Simon Peter, 2) Andrew, 3) James, 4) John, 5) Philip, 6) Bartholomew, 7) Matthew, 8) Thomas, 9) James bar Alphaeus, 10) Simon the Zealot, 11) Judas bar James. (Luke 6:14-16). The list does not include the twelfth disciple, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to the religious leaders and the Romans.

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

Twelve Drummers Drumming
The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: 1) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 2) I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. 3) He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. 4) He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell [the grave]. 5) On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 6) He will come again to judge the living and the dead. 7) I believe in the Holy Spirit, 8) the holy catholic Church, 9) the communion of saints, 10) the forgiveness of sins, 11) the resurrection of the body, 12) and life everlasting.

Epiphany

(Click on the picture to read more on 12 days of Christmas by Dennis Bratcher)

Time Flees, Love Stays

I wonder if I had a similar entry when I first started this blog... Well, this is just another of my ramblings before nesting in my dog nest. Anyway, tomorrow is Epiphany!!! Although it is the end of Christmas season, but it is the brand new start for us. Hence, this entry symbolizes a brand new start of the year... So MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY EPIPHANY!!!

Year 2008 brought me great joy, great sorrow. I wouldn't say I didn't receive the same amount of blessings as everybody did from God, but I would say this road had been a real tough one. I lost so much, gained as much too. This year (2009) is another year of the Lord. I don't know what lies ahead of me, but I know who holds all the tomorrows I have on His hand. Yups, beautiful Lord, wonderful Saviour. Sometimes it is hard to believe in His real presence, but at this moment there is no way I can doubt His presence in my life. Though great sorrow after great joy, I know the love that He brought to me will never change. People may not be able to understand what I had gone through or what I'm going through, but He knows me best. All that are happening is according to His will I hope.

I pray that you who read my entry at this moment will be blessed with a year of love, joy, hope and peace in the Lord, and that all that you do is according to God's holy will... The peace we receive in our hearts is the greatest treasure that one can keep within us. I pray that year 2009 will be a year to remember for us. Just like how year 2008 was. I know, time will pass, memories will be created, but this love that's been given to us from God, it will stay forever. And all I can do is to continue believing in Him, trusting that He will bring me to where He wants me to be, and to continue to grow deeper with Him. Amen.

World Day of Peace (1st January)

Just now, after cooking dinner, it was just nice for some news on NTV7. It had been a while since I watched any news because of the chaos of the world. It is so saddening to see people protesting over something far far away, burning dolls of some symbolic figures in the world, but they failed to see the economic downturn in own countries, neither these people are doing anything to contribute to their families or the country's economy. Well, except contributing to skyrocketing crime rate as well as additional pollutions to the location of demonstration.

When I saw the news on TV, my heart wrenched for the people who suffer because of war. My heart also wrenched for the families of the people who protested on the streets in different countries of the world. Let's not look too far away... In Malaysia, in some cities, certain groups of people are having protest to boycott U.S. goods, etc. because of the recent Gaza Strip carnage. However, many seemed to fail to see the worrying hearts of mothers of those who are involved in the protests, and many probably see through the eyes of TV broadcasters the chaotic condition of the cities in an already chaotic economic condition. Why isn't anybody doing anything that contributes to the word P-E-A-C-E?

I was browsing through The Star Online to check out what is happening to this country and the world, and noticed a tiny news on "119 lose their jobs in school". Would those who care so much for the war and chaotic conditions in Gaza care about the 119 who lose their jobs, mainly sole breadwinners for their families? Would those people donate the money used on printed banners, kerosene, faked dolls of significant figures, unpaid leave from job, etc. to these group of low-income people who are losing jobs? Maybe this is insignificant comparing to the hu-ha out there in Gaza... But are this group of gardeners and security guards so insignificant comparing to the Palestinians? Both are God's children, both are destined to be born into this world by God, but why are we treating them so differently? Even for the sake of sympathy?

In this weary world, who can save the world from perishing? Who can help us, confused people at the end of time? Who can guide us to the right path and show us some light in the darkness? There's only one person - and His name is - JESUS. Probably all we, commoners residing in this world at the end of ages, only need to say a little prayer, forgive everyone, humbly wash every single foot we see, reconcile truly, all for the sake of the wholeness of peace in the world, peace in our hearts.

I attended New Year's Day mass in Sacred Heart in the morning, and I was so happy to be able to hear the preaching of Archbishop John Lee. What truly struck me was the mention of Pope Benedict XVI's message for World Day of Peace. Bishop said that one of the title of Jesus is "Wonderful God, Prince of Peace" and the theme for this year (2009) is "Fighting Poverty to Build Peace". Jesus brings us hope when He was born of Mary in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago. This hope is the hope of eternal life, a hope of peace to His people on earth. Are we doubting that He can bring us peace in the world? Are we really doing what He's calling us to do?

What Mary did was so simple, yet so difficult for us to even try to copy her... She said "yes" when she didn't really know what was happening, she treasured and pondered over all the things those shepherds told them when they visited her and her new born Babe in the manger, she let go of her son, Jesus, when He was crucified on the cross for our sake... etc... Look! Is it so hard to do? Of course it is, to accept, not resist, and allow God to be God. But that is the beauty of the whole salvation mystery of Jesus born on Christmas, destined to die a humiliating death for us 33 years later, all because of God's love for us. And what did Jesus do? He said the simple "yes" and allowed God to take charge, trusting every single word that He said.

Let me ctrl-c the first two paragraphs of Pope Benedict's message here that I find it important to share:

1. Once again, as the new year begins, I want to extend good wishes for peace to people everywhere. With this Message I would like to propose a reflection on the theme: Fighting Poverty to Build Peace. Back in 1993, my venerable Predecessor Pope John Paul II, in his Message for the World Day of Peace that year, drew attention to the negative repercussions for peace when entire populations live in poverty. Poverty is often a contributory factor or a compounding element in conflicts, including armed ones. In turn, these conflicts fuel further tragic situations of poverty. “Our world”, he wrote, “shows increasing evidence of another grave threat to peace: many individuals and indeed whole peoples are living today in conditions of extreme poverty. The gap between rich and poor has become more marked, even in the most economically developed nations. This is a problem which the conscience of humanity cannot ignore, since the conditions in which a great number of people are living are an insult to their innate dignity and as a result are a threat to the authentic and harmonious progress of the world community” [1].

2. In this context, fighting poverty requires attentive consideration of the complex phenomenon of globalization. This is important from a methodological standpoint, because it suggests drawing upon the fruits of economic and sociological research into the many different aspects of poverty. Yet the reference to globalization should also alert us to the spiritual and moral implications of the question, urging us, in our dealings with the poor, to set out from the clear recognition that we all share in a single divine plan: we are called to form one family in which all – individuals, peoples and nations – model their behaviour according to the principles of fraternity and responsibility.

<Click here to read more - Message of the Holiness>

As much as I can write articles like this on my blog, I also have to admit that with my own strength, there is practically nothing I can do to contribute to world's peace, not even the courage to protest against the government. Yet, in my own tiny ways, I hope my call according to Him will be made an instrument to educate more people, so that in future, the world can be a more peaceful place to live in.

My apologies for the readers who felt offended with my entry or think this is a long entry (like what happened to the previous ones), but somehow I feel the need to write something more constructive tonight, just before my holidays end and I return to the rightful position of working young adult in an education organization.

I'd like to end this entry with a writing I took from a prayer booklet, "Heart Speaks to Heart", written by Cardinal Newman:

God has created me
to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me
which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission --
I may never know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next.
Somehow I am necessary for His purpose --
if indeed I fail, He can raise another.
Yet I have a part in this great work:
I am a link in a chain,
a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good, I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place,
while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments
and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore I will trust Him.

New Year's Eve in Jude/Samson Malinggang's House

Dot, Karen and myself went over to Jude/Sam's house after mass in St. Simon... I'll post a separate entry on the Feast of Mary, Mother of God and my reflection... Here are some snippets of what happened...

Jude was BBQ-ing chicken wings and hotdogs for us in front of his house

I think Dot was fairly warmed by the red wine offered by Sam's daddy

Brown, the runaway dog residing in Sam/Jude's house... Apparently his name was "lai fu" (来福) and he used to stay in Christina Liew's house... LOL! He looked tiny in the photo, but actually he's not that small after all~~ LOL! Oh yeah, something special about him, he never allows anyone to touch him...

Another dog, unknown of her origins. She's just there to join the party I think... LOL!

This was how Karen and I looked like after a cup of wine... Hehe! Muka mabuk but actually tak mabuk... :P My "kidz" is growing up... Haha!!! Now can drink already~~~

Jude and me... Just for fun~~ Hehe!

Malcolm, lighting the mercun (firework) inside the plastic bottle...

Nahh... Caught in action ~ Bian n Simon with the bunch of fireworks...

Malcolm, success was written on his face~~~ LOL!

Another shot of Karen and me...

Dot n me... Haha! I do look a bit red here... LOL! Dot, how many cups of red wine alrdy?? Lol!

The foggy group photo...
(Front left: Jude, Marianna, Harold; Behind left: Sam, Lilian, Karen, me, Dot, Simon, Malcolm, Bian)

Clearer pic...
(Front left: Jude, Marianna, Harold; Behind left: Bian, Karen, my, Malcolm, Dot, Simon)

Pretty self explanatory yeah? It was fun all right... Hehe! I really enjoyed the night with you guys... The companionship was great, the food was delicious, the drink was nice, the music was entertaining~ Thanks for the invitation~ Thanks, Dot, for asking me along... Heheheh!!! :)