Christian

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Saturday, 2 February 2013 : Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (First Reading)

Malachi 3 : 1-4

Now I am sending My messenger ahead of Me to clear the way; then suddenly the Lord for whom you long will enter the sanctuary. The envoy of the covenant which you so greatly desire already comes, says YHVH of hosts. Who can bear the day of His coming and remain standing when He appears? For He will be like fire in the foundry and like the lye used for bleaching.

He will be as a refiner or a fuller. He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. So YHVH will have priests who will present the offering as it should be. Then YHVH will accept with pleasure the offering of Judah and Jerusalem, as in former days.

(Alternative reading : Hebrews 2 : 14-18)

And because all those children share one same nature of flesh and blood, Jesus likewise had to share this nature. This is why His death destroyed the one holding the power of death, that is the devil, and freed those who remained in bondage all their lifetime because of the fear of death.

Jesus came to take by the hand not the angels but the human race. So He had to be like His brothers and sisters in every respect, in order to be the High Priest faithful to God and merciful to them, a priest able to ask pardon and atone for their sins. Having been tested through suffering, He is able to help those who are tested.

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Friday, 1 February 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time (Scripture Reflection)

Jesus mentioned plenty about seeds and how they grow today, just as in the days prior, in the readings He mentioned the parable of the sower, where the sower spreads the seeds onto different kinds of soil, and in the end only those that fall on the rich soil will grow and produce yield thirty, sixty, and hundredfold. So does too our faith, which in the beginning is just like a small seed, once nurtured and grown, will grow into a large tree just like the mustard tree.

Therefore, never be afraid of showing your faith to God, since no matter how small it is, what matters is that we truly put our trust in Him, and love Him with all our hearts, our souls, and our minds. If we truly put our faith in God who is faithful to us, He will reward us with great blessings and graces, that will allow our faith to grow ever stronger, and ever more vibrant, just like those seeds. In the first reading, again we see the importance of living our faith, and transforming our faith into real practice, that is doing the will of God.

What is the will of God? Well, Jesus Himself said, what you have done to the least of these, you have done it for Me. When we do our best to help those who are weak, those who are sorrowed, those who are lonely, those who are ostracised, those who are abused, and those who are rejected, we have done the will of God, and we shall be saved. To be saved is not just to be faithful in God, but also therefore to put it into practice in our daily lives.

Just as it was said in the letter to the Hebrews in the first reading that we are not among those who withdraw and perish, but among those who believe and win personal salvation, hence, let us not withdraw from those around us who need the love of God, which we can channel through ourselves, as we ourselves, if we are truly faithful, we have felt and seen the love of God. It is through us, through our speech and our hands that the Lord made His great works and love manifest in our world today. Many people still suffer and many are still in slavery of sin and evil.

Therefore, let us all, brothers and sisters in Christ, take up this mission, to bring God’s Good News to all who yearn to hear it, to bring God’s love and comfort to the sorrowful and to those who suffer, and to bring redemption to those who have fallen into the darkness of evil and sin. Do not let fear, laziness, and inaction to stop us in our works, in our mission to nurture our faith, through our mission and our good deeds in the name of God, and by doing God’s will, our seed of faith will blossom, and from the least of all seeds, indeed we can become the greatest of all in faith.

But do not let this come to competition, but rather, support each other and help one another to nurture each other’s faith. May God bless us all this day and all the days of our life, that our faith may be strengthened ever through our actions in His Holy Name. Amen.

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Friday, 1 February 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Mark 4 : 26-34

Jesus also said, “In the Kingdom of God, it is like this : a man scatters seed upon the soil. Whether he is asleep or awake, be it day or night, the seed sprouts and grows, he knows not how. The soil produces of itself : first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when it is ripe for harvesting, they take the sickle for the cutting : the time for the harvest has come.”

Jesus also said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall we compare it? It is like a mustard seed which, when sown, is the smallest of all the seeds scattered upon the soil. But once sown, it grows up and becomes the largest of the plants in the garden, and even grows branches so big, that the birds of the air can take shelter in its shade.”

Jesus used many such stories, in order to proclaim the word to them in a way that they would be able to understand. He would not teach them without parables; but privately to His disciples, He explained everything.

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Friday, 1 February 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time (Psalm)

Psalm 36 : 3-4, 5-6, 23-24, 39-40

Trust in the Lord and do good, dwell in the land and live on it. Make the Lord your delight, and He will grant your heart’s desire.

Commit your way to the Lord, put your trust in Him and let Him act. Then will your revenge come beautiful as the dawn, and the justification of your cause, bright as the noonday sun.

The Lord is the one who makes people stand, He gives firmness to those He likes. They may stumble, but they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

The Lord is the salvation of the righteous, in time of distress, He is their refuge. The Lord helps them, and rescues them from the oppressor; He saves them for they sought shelter in Him.

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Thursday, 31 January 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest (Scripture Reflection)

The Lord today asks us both to be pure in heart, faithful to Him, and also to show this faith and purity to others, as a beacon of light to bring the true Light of God to all mankind, especially those who still live in darkness. We have to be active in our faith, and do our best to practice it, as faith that is not lived and practiced is the same as a dead faith.

That’s why the Lord says that to whom have produced something, more will be given, and to those who produce nothing, what is his will be taken away. Similarly, in the parable of the coins, Jesus praised those who invested in the money that the master gave to the servant, and bear profits, and admonished the one who did nothing with the money but hid it and let us stay as what it is. Therefore, our faith, as often symbolised by light and salt, must indeed be true light and true salt. True light that it shines brightly for all people to see, that they too will believe in God and in turn becoming even more beacons of light that is of God, to shine a light in the darkness of this world.

True salt that we truly have taste and the saltiness, that our faith is not just an empty faith, but faith filled with flavour, that is dedication to God, and filled with actions made out of love of both our God and our neighbour.

It is indeed through faith that we are justified, but faith without action is dead. Those who just call “Lord, Lord” all the time will receive nothing, but to those who dedicate themselves to Him in prayer, and in active action in helping the last, the lost, and the least of our society, alleviating the suffering of many, will receive indeed the rewards that the Lord has promised us. We are justified by faith that is made alive by real action, just like a light that is placed on a pedestal, as an example to all others, that they too will follow to live their lives filled with actions based on their faith in God, to make our world a better one indeed, for everyone.

Today is the feast day of St. John Bosco, a very well known saint, who is the patron saint of the youth and publications. He was a nineteenth century priest, who was known for his holiness, and his miraculous works, but most importantly because through education, he was able to attract many youths and adults alike, to educate them and form them properly in the faith. His works with these people had transformed the lives of many, bringing many closer to God.

St. John Bosco also found the congregation of religious now known as S.D.B. or the Salesians of Don Bosco, simply known as the Salesians. Many of these Salesians have worked in missionary works in different parts of the world, and many have worked in areas such as China as well, where the Church is currently struggling to hold on against the active persecution and direct attacks against the faith made by the secular world. Pray for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ there too.

Our Cardinal Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone; Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; Cardinal Joseph Zen, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong; Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-fai, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, are all members of the Salesian order. We pray for them and all the priests in the world, that God will guide them in their ministry, and we wish all Salesians around the world, happy feast day and happy St. John Bosco day. May St. John Bosco pray for all of us, that we too may, like many that he has touched directly, be brought much closer to the Lord, and be inspired to be like him, and all other saints. Amen.

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Thursday, 31 January 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest (Gospel Reading)

Mark 4 : 21-25

Jesus also said to them, “When the light comes, is it put under a tub or a bed? Surely it is put on a lampstand. Whatever is hidden will be disclosed, and whatever is kept secret will be brought to light. Listen then, if you have ears!”

And He also said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. In the measure you give, so shall you receive, and still more will be given to you. For to the one who produces something, more will be given, and from him who does not produce anything, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

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Thursday, 31 January 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest (Psalm)

Psalm 23 : 1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

The earth and its fullness belong to the Lord, the world and all that dwell in it. He has founded it upon the ocean and set it firmly upon the waters.

Who will ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who will stand in His holy place? Those with clean hands and pure heart, who desire not what is vain, and never swear to a lie.

They will receive blessings from the Lord, a reward from God, their saviour. Such are the people who seek Him, who seek the face of Jacob’s God.

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Thursday, 31 January 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time, Memorial of St. John Bosco, Priest (First Reading)

Hebrews 10 : 19-25

So, my friends, we are assured of entering the Sanctuary by the Blood of Jesus, who opened for us this new and living way passing through the curtain, that is, His Body. Because we have a High Priest in charge of the House of God, let us approach with a sincere heart, with full faith, interiorly cleansed from a bad conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast to our hope without wavering, because He who promised is faithful. Let us consider how we may spur one another to love and good works. Do not abandon the assemblies as some of you do, but encourage one another, and all the more since the Day is drawing near.

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Wednesday, 30 January 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time (Scripture Reflection)

In today’s Gospel, Christ taught the people of Israel who followed Him, the parable of the sower, which is truly a well-known parable to us. This parable tells us about how the faith that we have, is not to be taken for granted. Indeed, we should not just let the faith that we have to go stagnant and remain just within us. If we cultivate the faith that is in us, through our good works in the name of the Lord, we can put our faith into practice, and truly, just as Christ said, we will bear fruits of our faith, thirty, sixty, and hundredfold.

Why does then Jesus teach in parables? It is because, for those who truly have the faith, and have the faith rooted in them through their actions and love, these parables will truly be meaningful to them, and by listening to these parables, their faith is strengthened. Then, to those who does not even have the faith, even if Christ is to explain the parables clearly to them, they still would not believe.

To all of us, therefore, who has been baptised in Christ, we are privileged to have been part of God’s redemption, and we also receive the mystery of the kingdom of God as given to the Apostles, and we have the Scripture, through which, we can understand more on the mystery of God and the salvific mission of Christ. We also have our priests and fellow brothers and sisters in the Faith, who can further teach us and make us understand even more. Nevertheless, through the parable, Christ also warned us of what can happen if our faith remain stagnant and does not take root in our hands, we too can fall in our path towards Christ.

Those seeds that were eaten by the birds, are like those of us who are tempted by Satan and sin, who in his various attractive ways, he could steer even the holy ones into sin and therefore death. Satan has many ways to detract ourselves from the path to God, especially by offering worldly things and goods, that if we are not strong in our faith, we can be easily led astray, similar to those seeds who are choked by the thorns. These distractions and temptations are the ‘thorns’ that choke the faith that is present in us. Therefore, we have to ensure that our faith is deeply rooted in Christ. How to do so? Simply by striving to read the Scripture every day, reading the Word of God, which fulfill our spiritual hunger, and strengthen the anchor of faith we have in Christ. We should also spend some time in prayer every day, and indeed in all things that we do, we should pray before and after, before to ask the Lord for strength, courage, and guidance; and after to give thanks to the Lord for His blessing and company.

Let the faith takes deep root in us, or else we would become like those seeds that withered because they have no roots. In happiness or sadness, in times of joy and in times of sorrow, we should hold on fast to our faith in God. Do not just seek God when we are sorrowful, but share our joy too with the Lord, and never forget the Lord when we are in trouble. Just because we are in trouble it does not mean that the Lord is not with us. He is with us, and He carried us through the tribulations and troubles, and with His aid, we shall prevail. No matter what evil throws at us, if we remain strongly anchored in Christ, and do God’s will through our dedication to our brothers and sisters in need, we will not be harmed by the evil one.

Then, let us also strive to participate fully in the celebration of the Mass, through which the Lord comes down to us in the form of His Precious Body and Blood. This is no separate sacrifice, unlike those sacrifices of animals and grains as prescribed in the Book of Leviticus for the people of Israel in the Old Testament, where those sacrifices must be repeated continuously for the sake of the sins of the people.

The Sacrifice of the Mass, is the same Sacrifice Jesus Christ, our Lord made on Calvary, on the cross, through which He gave up Himself that all of us are saved. In the Mass, the priest, in persona Christi, or representing Christ, offer Himself to the Lord, through the bread and wine, which is converted into the very Precious Body and Blood of our Lord, the only worthy sacrifice, worthy of all our sins, that through them, our sins are forgiven.

Therefore, receive the Lord often, and prepare for Him a worthy and holy Temple in your heart, worthy of Him, and this will deepen our faith in God, such that indeed, the seed of faith planted in us, will not just stay dormant, but will bear fruit, thirty, sixty, hundred, and even thousandfold and more. Amen.

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Wednesday, 30 January 2013 : 3rd Week of Ordinary Time (Gospel Reading)

Mark 4 : 1-20

Again Jesus began to teach by the lake; but such a large crowd gathered about Him, that He got into a boat and sat in it on the lake, while the crowd stood on the shore. He taught them many things through parables. In His teaching, He said, “Listen! The sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some of the seed fell along a path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some of the seed fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil; it sprang up immediately because it had no depth, but when the sun rose and burned it, it withered because it had no roots.”

“Other seed fell among thornbushes, and the thorns grew and choked it, so it didn’t produce any grain. But some seed fell on good soil, grew and increased and yielded grain; some seed produced thirty times as much, some sixty, and some one hundred times as much.” And Jesus added, “Listen then, if you have ears.”

When the crowd went away, some who were around Him with the Twelve asked about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But for those outside, everything comes in parables, so that the more they see, they don’t perceive; the more they hear, they don’t understand; otherwise they would be converted and pardoned.”

Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables? What the sower is sowing is the Word. Those along the path, where the seed fell, are people who hear the Word, but as soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the Word that was sown in them.”

“Other people receive the Word like rocky ground. As soon as they hear the Word, they accept it with joy, but they have no roots, so it lasts only a little while. No sooner does trouble or persecution come because of the Word, than they fall.”

“Others receive the seed, as seed among thorns. After they hear the Word, they are caught up in the worries of this life. false hopes of riches and other desires. All these come in and choke the Word, so that finally it produces nothing.”

“And there are others who receive the Word as good soil. They hear the Word, take it to heart, and produce : some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred times as much.”