Experience The Holy Week...

Watch, listen and reflect on the journey of the Passion of Our King with Doug Barry of Radix...  I promise you a life changing experience...I promise you will be touched to the deepest corners of your heart.  Wishing one and all a Blessed and Meaningful Holy Week ahead.

"And at the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani?  Which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?..." (Douay-Rheims, Mark 15:34)

This cry still echoes in our lives and in our world today...

LENT...Finding Life's Compass...

Not many days from now, on February 22, the holy season of Lent will once again dwell upon us...Ash Wednesday.

The events that preceded the death and resurrection of our dear Lord Jesus Christ will come upon us yet again; the Via Dolorosa...way of the Cross.  It is a season of gratitude.

This is yet another opportunity, graced upon us, to examine our own life, our journey...to determine those parts of us that need to die...parts we must let go...grudges, fears, laziness, resentments, old habits, etc...a time for us to repent.

It is also a time for each one of us to journey to Jerusalem with Jesus once again; renewing bits of ourselves, peeling away another layer of our human condition.  Each year comes and goes quickly...as impatient as we all are...the transformation and birth of our true self only takes place in God’s time.  We must patiently and humbly wait for Him...but we must stay awake...we must be sensitive to God’s presence around us...we must learn to listen to His quiet whisper...most of all we must simply place our full trust in Him.

As I begin to jot down the above reflection, my thoughts rushed back to last weekend when I visited a terminally ill colleague.  He has been journeying or rather; crawling through life...battling and hanging on to whatever bits of life that remains in him; with Stage IV nasal cancer...which of late has spread to parts of his body...now both his kidneys seem to be failing him.  His breaths are short and much weight has been lost.  Time seem to stand still...

Yes, cancer is such a cruel disease...created by mankind...it does not choose...it does not warn the victim.  Cancer brings so much silent pain for the parent and family, but even much more hopelessness for the innocent victim.  Does God punish us?  How can one find faith and hope under such circumstances?

The seconds become minutes, the minutes spill into hours, the hours into days, days turn into weeks, into months, into years...into eternity...  What simple words of comfort does one offer such a friend?  The journey towards Golgotha seem endless...

Encouragement, strength, courage, a touch, a hug, a smile...most of all one’s humble presence...only the sacred silence where both human spirit simply and quietly reach out to bond as one creation... through Him, with Him, in Him but ever most of all, loved and cherished by God...no matter how far we have drifted or turned away, no matter how broken our bodies have become...God will always love you!

My dear friend would surely swap his condition, just lying on the hospital bed, waiting...for the good health that most of us able-bodied take for granted day in and day out.  Through our daily actions and worldly pursuits, we display absolutely no gratitude for life...for God!

Such is the hopelessness and regret that is felt when one’s time on earth is almost up...when one’s breath enters into sudden death...not knowing the hour that is to come.  Soon the tiredness will be put to rest.

For most of us, who are truly “alive”, do we actually realize and cherish life as a gift? Are we conscious of our “alive-ness”?

Or, are we simply more distracted by how this “gift of life” is packaged?  Whether we have this or that, whether we are born into a rich and wealthy family, so many whether and what ifs.

The more that we come to the realization (and this is not simple) that life is freely gifted from God, the more our life will be a life of faith and spirituality; a life where we come to know God, where we journey in relationship with Him...where God becomes real in our lives.

As truly simple pilgrims through this life, the meaning of our short pilgrimage on earth must not depend on reaching any particular destination, accumulating a certain level of material wealth or striving to achieve any worldly goal...the world label this as success.

Very simply, it should instead depend on our humbleness, simplicity, openness, faithfulness, hope and trust...that God knows the way far better than we do – He will lead us, if we just let Him.  He will love us, if only we allow Him.

However, as prideful as we all are, in our entire majestic ego, we become impatient, restless, we seize control, we want control, we want worldly assurance...we want to become powerful in the eyes of the world.  In the course of this mad obsession, we put layers after layers upon us, until we lose our simple identity; we forget our humble roots, becoming deaf to the call to discipleship, blind to others, mute to sharing the goodness of God, losing our sense of direction...becoming out-of-touch with God.

This Lent, we must come back to the Gospel...diligently journey the Via Dolorosa with Jesus...He will surely give us hope, He will bring us home.  Trust Him with your entire life.  This is the best investment one can make...with guaranteed returns!

Hope does not pretend that everything will be alright.  Hope simply means knowing that Jesus will sustain us and walk with us...as our faithful companion.  As I mentioned to someone recently, my simple view is that “God is good ALL the time.”

It is almost certainly the selfish acts of mankind, with its egoistic human condition, that causes chaos all around and subsequently, having to face drastic consequences of such actions...both from the past, but most of the time, changing the course of many generations into the future.

As I reflect on the Apostolic Letter entitled, “Motu Proprio Data” of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI for the indiction of the Year of Faith which is due to begin on October 11, 2012 to November 24, 2013, I am reminded that the “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for each one of us.

“We must rediscover a taste for feeding ourselves on the Word of God faithfully handed down by the Church, and on the bread of life, offered as sustenance for his disciples.”

The life of Christians, as pointed out in this simple Apostolic Letter, knows the experience of joy as well as the experience of suffering.

“This is a great joy to you, even though for a short time yet you must bear all sorts of trials; so that the worth of your faith, more valuable than gold, which is perishable even if it has been tested by fire, may be proved - to your praise and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  You have not seen him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him you believe in him and so are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described; and you are sure of the goal of your faith, that is, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:6-9, New Jerusalem Bible)

This short papal letter moves on to remind each one of us that what the world is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people, like you and me, enlightened in both mind and heart by the Word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life...a life without end...a life that is journeyed with the hope of the resurrection...a journey travelled with Jesus as an Easter people.

As such, the trials of this short and finite life, while helping us to understand the mystery of the Cross and to participate in the sufferings of Christ, are a prelude to the joy and hope to which simple faith ultimately leads to.

Next week, beginning Ash Wednesday, onwards into the coming holy season of Lent, let us commit, discipline and entrust ourselves to the Lord Jesus, who is and will always walk beside us as our faithful Companion, as He always knows what we need and most of all, what is best for us.

Wishing one and all across the world, a holy and healing season of Lent, coupled with a meaningful Via Dolorosa with Jesus...towards the door of faith...  May the hands of the Lord touch your hearts in a way that will move you ever closer to Him.  Amen.

A New Awareness This Epiphany...

“Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world.  If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15, Douay Rheims)

Christmas and New Year in Singapore this time round, brings with it much challenges...stalled MRT lines in dark tunnels, gallons of rainfall, less shoppers on Orchard Road, concrete roller coaster structures at Universal Studios, slower economics, higher jobless rate, a gloomy year ahead...

Many are aware that in Singapore these days, the current priorities in the lives of the majority still consists of the 5 Cs; Cash, Credit Card, Car, Condominium and Country Club Membership.  There is a minor group of a certain quarter, who believes that these 5 Cs should be redefined into good Career, living in Comfort surrounded by Children, be more Considerate and Charitable.  Those whom are more spiritual may even deem their 5 Cs to be, Compassion, Charity, Conscience, Contentment and Celebration.

Across the Causeway, in neighboring Malaysia, the 5 Cs (or even more) seems even worse and obvious from the daily media obsessive reporting...Corruption, Conspiracies, Cronyism, Controlled journalism, Court injustice, Changing history, Clowns in government...it goes on and on.  All seems doom and gloom for the good citizens of this once rich, peaceful and cosmopolitan country.

Whilst Singapore is still way ahead in the desperate pursuit of development to combat the dulling economy, it’s neighboring peninsular has not tire itself of what the general citizens deem as sex scandals, corruption, Christian and religious persecution, injustice, rigged elections, abuse of law, etc.  With the impending General Elections, the citizens must send the signal of a firm and clear "NO" to these and a "YES" to the power of the rakyat (people)!

Yes, the priorities we hold dear in our lives determine the quality of our life...our journey through life.  The priorities the leaders hold dear determines the future of a nation.  The wise-men of the Epiphany were rich, yet they are aware of their absolute poverty; they were wise but yet recognize more the infinite wisdom of God.

Even in families, we see extreme obsession, on the part of either spouse, with the empty pursuit of wealth, materialism, career, so much so....it costs the families their marriage, their solidarity for one another, their happiness.  Arguments however petty, within families generally originate from these aimless and blind pursuits.  At the end of the day...when we take our final breath...only then do we realize (hopefully) that all these simply does not really matter at all...our life...our journey has been totally wasted on such temporary pursuits!  The quiet night in the Bethlehem where we were born, continue to be drowned by the noise around us.

Often, we hear this saying...why worry about tomorrow...simply live in the present moment.  This seems to be easier said than done when the attitude of most people today is one that always wants to win...at any cost!  Any other priorities that are not society-driven would likely make one feel like at outcast.

Ah, the paradox of being a disciple of Jesus Christ...to be in the world, yet, not of this world.  To be poor, yet become rich.  To be empty, but at the same time, filled to the brim.  To become detached, yet to be fully attached.  To lose everything, yet to gain absolutely everything.  To recognize that we are one humanity...a single family built on the values of justice, equality and solidarity...a soul with meaning and direction...journeying back home to our one Source...our Creator...Our Father in Heaven...our eternal destiny.

St Augustine has shared with us that, “If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

As I reflect deeply of this, I understand that it cannot mean that we should not be fond of the world...that we are not to give ourselves solely to the building of the world.  We have a primary obligation, as disciples, to bring the love of Jesus Christ into the world...love all things in an “ordered” way...to see the world through the eyes of Christ.  Disciples do not conform to the values of the world but rather, we help transform the world by radiating forth the light of Christ to all the darkness we encounter along life’s journey.  Disciples love the world through Him, with Him and in Him...our Lord Jesus Christ.

St Augustine also said that, “Unless you believe, you will not understand.”  This Saint goes on to say that, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.”  Even more profound in wisdom, St Augustine continues to enlighten us today through his writings to, “Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.”

As we enter the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord this week, the climax of the season of Advent and Christmas, let us open our hearts to realize this awesome insight and become aware to comprehend the meaning of the coming of Jesus Christ...the Son of God into the world.

What meaning will you allow for this Epiphany to have for you this time?

 

Light of Genesis...Same Light that Dawned Bethlehem

“In the beginning God created heaven and earth.  And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2, Douay Rheims)

A simple sharing this Advent...

Today, a friend asked me about the story of Creation, found in the book of Genesis.  She was confused...  Why is it that in the beginning, the earth is covered with darkness...emptiness...void?

Many people continue to read Genesis as the story of creation in terms of a religion versus science debate; reading the Holy Bible as if it is a story book or a pop novel.  This way of reading imposes our historical situation on the sacred text (using our finite mind to comprehend the infinite Word) and misses entirely the spiritual insights that open our heart to the “religious” meaning the story had for ancient Israel, and the spiritual meaning that God intends for us today.

This Advent, as we quietly contemplate on the lighted candles of Advent, we remind ourselves that the Word of God is alive and will continue to examine us individually today if we choose to allow it.  The Word of God is Light that pierces through the darkness in our lives...bringing hope, peace, love and joy.

For instance, the Genesis’ creation day is different from the ordinary day with which we are normally familiar with these days.  With the sacred scriptures, it is always about reading through the eyes of faith, patiently allowing the Word to sink into our hearts, taking quiet time to encounter the Word.  The story of Creation tells us that the Spirit of God brought life and light out of chaos and darkness.  The Holy Spirit is “the Lord and Giver of Life”.

Genesis, the first book of the Bible, reminds all of us today of the power and goodness of God as manifested in the creation of the world, and also the dependence of fragile creatures like us, on the dominion of the ultimate Creator; from a formless, empty void, He unconditionally fills it with life, and from darkness, He brings forth Light – in God, there is simply no darkness...only Light.

The first chapter of Genesis shares that in the beginning the world was “formless and empty.”  It then proceeds to show how God sets out to fix this - first, by giving the world form and then filling it with abundance.  In Days 1-3, God creates the “form” of the world - the day and the night; the sky and the sea; the land and the vegetation.  In Days 4 - 6, God fills these “form” with the sun, moon and stars, the birds and the fish to fill the sky and the seas; and man and beast, which rule the land.

There is a perfect order to all these; from chaos, comes order.  First God creates the “structure” of the world, then, He fills that structure with living beings.  After each day of creation, God sees that His work is “good.”  After the six “work days” are through, God sees that His work is “very” good.  The word “very” is used to mark the end of the creation cycle.

Very briefly, Genesis is a story of faith...our faith, telling us how God chose a particular family to keep His Revelation, and how He trained His Chosen People to fulfill His mission; how His Light still shines forth today through His chosen people and still continue to radiate out simply, gently and quietly to this chaotic world that is filled with much darkness.

As we prepare for Christmas, simply remember that Christ IS “the Light that came into the world” to dispel the “darkness” of sin and to radiate the truth and love of God to each one of us.  Like the poor humble shepherds, let us always be watchful and simply trusting to the quiet call of God...following the one true Light...

As His chosen people, let us always choose to create a new Genesis in the lives of others on this short journey through life..to re-create the world we live in so that we can experience heaven, here on earth today.

Let the joyful bells of Christmas resound, proclaiming the birth of the Creator, the source of life...the true Light of the world.

Maranatha!  Let us simply and quietly invite Him into our lives, O Christ our Lord!

God bless all.  Blessed Christmas to one and all!  Peace and joy across the land!  We are but ONE family...ONE colour...the colour of the ONE human race; created and hand-painted by the ONE God who loves us for eternity!

Simply Waiting Again...Searching...

“But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Who in time past were not a people: but are now the people of God.  Who had not obtained mercy; but now have obtained mercy.”

(1 Peter 2:9-10, Douay Rheims)

Another eventful year 2011, is about to come to a close...a new one beginning again.

The economics around the world looked set to become another mess created by the greed of humans and the so-called, superpowers.  Many continue to be slaves to the world, to debts, to the restlessness and anxiousness of today.  Where most people around the world are led to the popular idea that Portugal, Ireland, Greece, Germany, Spain are the primary cause of this global economic downturn, many still believe that the real and present threat is quietly erupting in the United States, especially.

In any case, it is always the story of the poor becoming poorer and the rich simply gets wealthier by the day.  Doesn’t this sound all too familiar during the time of Jesus as well...the mighty Egyptians against the Hebrews, the Romans, and the Samaritans, the lepers, the marginalized...  This world has never learnt and never changed!

Quietly, but surely, the holy season of Advent comes upon us again; November 27, 2011.  It is simply a time of waiting, a time of preparing, a time to examine, a time for renewal, conversion, turning back to God...most of all, a 4-Sundays journey to receive Jesus Christ anew at Christmas...a new beginning to the Roman Catholic Church liturgical calendar.

Coincidently, according to the Holy Quran, Allah has given that it is also the first day of the first peaceful and sacred Muharram month of the Islamic calendar...yet, fighting is still ever prevalent all across the land, all over the world...greed, abuse, abortion, corruption, bribes, marginalization, crimes, conspiracy, etc!!

Many Advents has come and gone, with renewal still lacking.  The soul of the world has not changed much, yet, materially, nothing looks the same.  We recall that the simple word “Advent” originates from the Latin word “ad venio”, meaning “to come”, and thus refers to the waiting of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Whether it is winter, spring, summer or fall...this sacred season is filled with expectations for many, waiting, waiting...  Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, we must remember that this period is a journey towards satisfying our longing for Jesus Christ – the Word made flesh...coming to dwell amongst us...bringing hope to many...the Messiah in the form of a baby born in Bethlehem!

Is there any room for Him in the inns of our hectic hearts?  We must always remember who we are in the presence of God, the source of all life, all joy, peace; without whom we are nothing!

“...Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.” (Apocalypse of St John – Revelations 22:20, Douay Rheims)

The Aramaic word, Maranatha reminds us to continue to invite Jesus Christ the Lord into our hearts!  God does not care about our past; He simply wants us to know who we are and who we can be.

Jesus, the same Messiah foretold in the prophecies of Isaiah, the lost lamb whom the poor shepherds found amidst their flock on a quiet night, the same King in a faraway manger whom the three humble kings searched and adored on bended knees with gifts of gold (royalty, authority), frankincense (holy priesthood) and myrrh (healer)...Glory to God on High, Jesus, in Hebrew, the Emmanuel...is with us...God is always with us each day.  Simply wait and listen to His voice!

A Blessed and Holy Advent to one and all as we journey together, as one people, as one human race, towards Christmas!  I have been quiet for a while but sometimes, silence is good for the soul...  With your prayers, it is my sincere wish this season is to be able to share more of my simple thoughts with all of you, for the glory of Him who created me, gives me life and sustained me.  Praying that each one of you have a meaningful Advent and remain in good spirit.

Simply be quiet,

Simply be watchful,

Be extra patient

and listen for the still, small whisper of God,

Who is waiting to touch you with joy...give meaning to your journey

Like Mary and Joseph, we, too must remain simple and simply remember that Jesus is an unconditional gift from God to us and that He came to die for all, so that each one of us may simply live...and find eternal life!
 

Apple...and the Tree of Life...

“Life is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and the divine is shining through it all the time.  This is not just a nice story or a fable, it is true. ”

― Thomas Merton, O.C.S.O



Earlier this week, I was reminded of a sharing some years back by the CEO of Apple.  Well, cancer somehow finds a way to humble even the giants among us.

However, in his interactions with his people, fellow human beings, the late Steve Jobs was not the world's greatest manager.  In fact, this very God-gifted person, what the world perceived as, a “visionary” who revolutionized multiple industries with his cutting-edge products could have been, if not, one of the world's worst managers; his management style shrouded with darkness...instead of radiating light.

Where he could have reached out and touched many lives, he chose to destroy... constantly demanded excellence from people around him and was known for his blunt delivery of criticism.  God seems to have disappeared from his life.  Rather, his core obsession was with the change in people's lifestyle through his iPhones, iPads, Apple computers, iPods...everything else with the selfish “i”.

This very simple orphan, who once delivered the inspiring message at the Stanford University, seems to have forgotten how all the simple dots of his life...connected back to God...the ultimate tree of life...the ultimate architect...the ultimate provider.

At the end of the day, God will simply hold us all accountable...  Let us then, as simple pilgrims, always remember this throughout our journey through life...we are merely humble instruments of God...sending out tiny ripples to make this world a little better for all...so that others too, whoever they may be, will come to know the loving God...through us.

“...keep me, as the apple of thy eye.  Protect me under the shadow of thy wings.” (Psalm 16:8, Douay-Rheims)

Where on Earth is Heaven?

Last Sunday morning as I was making my way to Church for the Eucharistic Celebration, I came across a Buddhist sticker behind a car windscreen which read, “You can go to Heaven if you do good!”

These nine simple words flung me into a deep reflection.  Is that all there is to life?  Is life truly that simple as many people would think or like to believe?  Just doing good and heaven is there for you?  Is doing good the only thing that will get a person to heaven?  Are all religions the same then, since most teach us to do good?  Why would a Buddhist follower even believe in the existence of Heaven; not reincarnation?  For that matter, isn’t the thought of Heaven generally associated with Christianity?  Where is Heaven?  Can anyone dare claim that their place in Heaven is guaranteed?...

Humans are truly funny creatures, they believe what they want to believe, they start a new christian sect whenever they do not agree with certain teachings.  They twist and turn things to their own favor.  Most humans do not even know what they themselves believe in!  In the case of this Buddhist with the car sticker pronouncing Heaven...what do you call this...fusion Buddhism??

My reflective thoughts just came streaming through my mind.  Perhaps I too have been a little too pre-occupied with my new job...trying my best to settle in...to deliver a professional level of work...it’s been exactly two months...the opportunity cost? ...neglecting my favorite reflective times...times which I so cherished, spending with the Lord when I was on my Sabbatical for slightly more than a year.  Now I tend to speak to Him in a rush, rush mode.  Here I am now trying to get that balance back...that equilibrium to be able to share more of my thoughts in this little “SimplyQuiet” corner.

Perhaps that car sticker was God's simple way of reminding me...are my actions these days, my priorities...sending the message that if I do good, I will go to Heaven??  Whatever happened to my life and actions being for the glory of God?

Coming back to the sticker...for me, I know that my life is about being constantly in a loving relationship with God, with Jesus Christ...trusting...believing...carrying that hope...the same hope and obedience carried by the Prophets throughout the Old Testament and having this hope come to fulfillment in the New Testament.  Life is about surrendering our journey to Jesus and allowing Him to walk with us as our best companion.  Truly, the beautiful religion of Christianity...especially Catholic Christianity is such a beautiful gift from God...sharing His Real Presence with us in the transubstantiation of the Bread and Wine into His Body and Blood...

One cannot know Heaven if one does not know Jesus...and if one does not know Jesus, how can one know God...know Heaven?

If only many others are humble enough to open their hearts...to realize that it was God that chose them and created them...made them to love Him, to serve Him...if only people today take up the gift of Jesus Christ...if only we humans take time to know how Jesus gave up His Divinity to die the most humiliating of death on the Cross for us...that we may come back to Him with all our heart...with all our sinfulness.  Sadly, human beings have drifted away into many other world religions, new age beliefs, no beliefs, self beliefs, obsession with the gods of Facebook, Twitter, what have you...

At the end of the day, only if one knows Jesus and is willing to share this life with Him...allowing Him to enter...to purify us...to cleanse us.  Only when we acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior... Only when we bend our knees...get rid of our ego...recognise our own sinfulness...only then will Heaven beacons...only then will the land filled with milk and honey become a reality.  Only then will our Spirit become one with God.

You can go to Heaven if you do good?  Perhaps not entirely true, if you have no relationship with Jesus.  ...One of the privilege of Christianity is that you can live and experience the same Heaven on earth at this present moment if only you repent and open the door of your heart to let Jesus in.  You can go to Heaven only if you recognize Jesus around you...today and everyday...touching lives...making this world a little better...

The keys to the Kingdom of Heaven was given to Peter, the first Pope of the Catholic Church...therein within the universality of the Church and its Sacraments, coupled with the intercession of Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven and all the Holy Saints and Angels, with the power of the Holy Spirit lies the treasures of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Come one, come all...seek and you shall find...ask...and it shall be given to you...open the door and let Jesus in today....don’t just go through life like a car sticker...stuck on the surface with no depth on the knowledge of God behind a car.  Instead, allow Jesus to be the lens through which you view and live the world today...I am sure, in that way, you will begin to get a glimpse and experience the richness and peace of Heaven on earth now.

“That in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11, Douay Rheims)