Day: January 22, 2013

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Tuesday, 22 January 2013 : 2nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Vincent, Deacon and Martyr (Gospel Reading)

Mark 2 : 23-28

One Sabbath He was walking through the grainfields. As His disciples walked along with Him, they began to pick the heads of grain and crush them in their hands. Then the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look! They are doing what is forbidden on the Sabbath!”

And He said to them, “Have you never read what David did in his time of need, when he and his men were very hungry? He went into the house of God, when Abiathar was High Priest, and ate the bread of offering, which only the priests are allowed to eat, and he also gave some to the men who were with him.”

Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is master even of the Sabbath.”

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Two new seminarians at the Major Seminary of St. Francis Xavier, Archdiocese of Singapore, and Challenges to Vocations

http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8309:new-journeys-in-the-new-year-for-two-young-men-&catid=326:january-27-2013-vol-63-no-02&Itemid=78

The Major Seminary of the Archdiocese of Singapore has welcomed two new additions to their number, Gerard Robert (29) and Shawn Wong (22).

Pray for both of them that they will stay faithful in their calling, and will persevere through until their ordination and beyond. May God’s love always be upon them.

However, I cannot help but feel sad at how quite a few people reacted negatively to them offering themselves to God.

Quote CatholicNews :

“Reactions from people regarding their decision have been varied, both shared. Some were shocked at their decision, finding it illogical. Others were worried the two could have made a wrong decision, while others wondered if the young men would be able to live without worldly attractions.

Yet others were respectful while some kept silent, apparently unsure of how to respond.”

Why illogical? why worry? why wrong? and why wonder? 

That’s because they do not understand what being a priest is, who a priest is, and especially for among some Chinese, those who emphasize on establishing family (especially heavy for eldest sons) and carrying the family name, and I am sure that although we do pray often for vocations, there are many amongst us who think, yes I pray for new priests, but not my own son, ok? His future is in his career and his prosperity, not to become simple, poor priest.

This way of thinking in our modern world, especially imbued with materialism and worldly temptations is what exactly hinder vocations. Already there are so few who wants to even contemplate joining the sacred priesthood, and even amongst those who want, there are oppositions, not least from friends, and most importantly, from the parents and the family. Let us pray for both the two new seminarians, and for all those inspired by God’s calling, that they will persevere despite oppositions of those around them, and not to give up their calling to submit, since although we do obey our parents, but ultimately we have to obey and love God even more, for the sake of all mankind.

Let us not just be fishers of fish (read : money and material well-being), but if we are called, as St. Peter was, let us be the fishers of man!

+Ut Omnes Unum Sint, ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam+

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Tuesday, 22 January 2013 : 2nd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. Vincent, Deacon and Martyr (First Reading)

Hebrews 6 : 10-20

God is not unjust and will not forget everything you have done for love of His name; you have helped and still help the believers. We desire each of you to have, until the end, the same zeal for reaching what you have hoped for. Do not grow careless but imitate those who, by their faith and determination, inherit the promise.

Remember God’s promise to Abraham. God wanted to confirm it with an oath and, as no one is higher than God, He swore by Himself : I shall bless you and give you many descendants. By just patiently waiting, Abraham obtained the promise.

People are used to swearing by someone higher than themselves and their oath affirms everything that could be denied. So God committed Himself with an oath in order to convince those who were to wait for His promise that He would never change His mind. Thus we have two certainties in which it is impossible that God be proved false : promise and oath. That is enough to encourage us strongly when we leave everything to hold to the hope set before us. This hope is like a steadfast anchor of the soul, secure and firm, thrust beyond the curtain of the Temple into the Sanctuary itself, where Jesus has entered ahead of us – Jesus, High Priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

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Episcopal Ordination Mass and Episcopal Ordination Reception of Coadjutor Archbishop of Singapore, Msgr. William Goh (22-23 February 2013)

Join the event at Facebook for Episcopal Ordination Mass, and for more details keep on watching for the news at these sites or the CatholicNews at http://www.catholicnews.sg/, or if I have any news I will also gladly share it.

Episcopal Ordination Mass :

https://www.facebook.com/events/137995619693728/

Episcopal Ordination Reception :

https://www.facebook.com/events/456802227719856/