Simply Pray for Malaysia...that Justice will Prevail

“Then he saith to Thomas: Put in thy finger hither, and see my hands; and bring hither thy hand, and put it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.” (John 20:27, Douay Rheims)

 

The joy of Easter remains a promise and not yet come to fulfilment for all those who still suffer political persecution in Malaysia.

As Catholic Christians and christians of all denominations, the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us a new birth to a living hope…the hope that leaders of governments will work to ensure that all people can live in harmony, equality, justice and peace, in full and true freedom; that the power of Christ’s resurrection will destroy the culture of corruption, the culture of death!

A certain expectation is in the air in Malaysia.  Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the people in Malaysia have grown downcast and sometimes deeply distressed over the last 50 years or so…they have hoped that things would change for the better…that the corrupt government would change.

So far, all their hopes have come to nothing.  Yet, their hearts are still burning…Could it happen this time?  Yes, Jesus…let your love, mercy and grace come upon this land.  Yes, like the disciple Thomas, we will doubt no longer but believe.

“Behold I will cut off all that have afflicted thee at that time: and I will save her that halteth, and will gather her that was cast out: and I will get them praise, and a name, in all the land where they had been put to confusion.” (Prophecy of Sophonias (Zephaniah) 3:19, Douay Rheims)

 

On this week leading to the Divine Mercy Sunday, the Parliament of Malaysia has been dissolved…another expectation is in the air…that of the 13th General Elections…where new State and Federal governments will be elected by the people…that is, if the country has a clean and fair elections, including clean electoral rolls; not one that has been tampered by the ruling government, one that contains phantom voters!

We trust and believe with confidence that as Jesus Christ bore our wounds to heal them, He too will heal the land and the people across Malaysia.  Let His glory and justice shine forth on His people.  Jesus continues to reassures us by His wounds that He is no stranger to our human flesh and its suffering.  Let us always place all our trust in Jesus.

 

“Who then shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation? or distress? or famine? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword?” (Romans 8:35, Douay Rheims)

As the disciples, on the road to Emmaus has hoped that Jesus of Nazareth will be the one that set them Israel free, the people of Malaysia…Christians in Malaysia are quietly hoping that the Opposition will simply return victorious and set Malaysia free.

No matter how weak we are, Jesus is our strength; no matter how empty we are, Jesus is our fullness; no matter how sinful we are, Jesus is our holiness.  All we have to do is to cry put His holy Name.  Jesus will protect us from all evil.

“Neither is there salvation in any other.  For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts of the Apostles 4:12, Douay Rheims)

 

As the incumbent ruling government machinery continue abuse federal funds and spread lies, commit crimes, buy votes, provoking religious freedom, cook up conspiracies, practice selective persecution, creating media chaos, preaching sex tales and manufacturing of porn video tapes in order to desperately hang on to corrupt power, each Malaysian Christian must feel, during this Easter season, duty bound to exercise their right and responsibility to decry crimes against our fellow citizens. 

This time, the people of Malaysia will exercise responsible stewardship and decisively decide that the rotten and corrupt crooks in the Barisan Nasional government must be absolutely destroyed and evaporated once and for all time.

Christians in Malaysia have a moral obligation to do what is right and maintain Gospel values; that no one is exploited for personal gain, that everyone can practise religious freedom and have good access to basic human needs.  Let all Malaysians vote for a new Malaysia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Let Christians and pilgrims the world over simply pray for the people of Malaysia during this month leading to the 13th General Elections...that Justice will surely prevail.

For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on Malaysia and her People!

Blessed and Joyful Easter to All Pilgrims the World Over.

This World...Tired of Faith?...

I opened the newspapers today and saw, splashed across the front pages...the headlines...


President Barack Obama announced, “Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world, the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda…  Over the last 10 years…the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority… After nearly 10 years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war.  …Americans understand the costs of war.  …Today, at my direction, the United States launched…killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body. …today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.  …Let us remember that we can do these…because of who we are…under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” – CNN

 

Words can not describe my thoughts.   Speechless....as I reflect quietly on this event...joyful, for some...tragic, for the rest...


“Pilate said to (Jesus), “What is truth?”…” (John 18:38, NAB)

Just not so long ago, on Holy Thursday, April 21, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI asked whether Western society has lost interest in the Christian faith that shaped its culture.  The people of the Western world now seem to be “to a large extent a people of unbelief and distance from God.  Is it perhaps that the West, the heartlands of Christianity, are tired of their faith?”

In the Urbi et orbi (to Rome and the world) message for this Easter, Pope Benedict XVI shared that on the day of the Resurrection, when heaven rejoices and “all is peace and gladness”, this “is not so on earth!

Here, in this world of ours, the Easter Alleluia still contrasts with the cries and laments that arise from so many painful situations: deprivation, hunger, disease, war, violence.  Yet, it was for this that Christ died and rose again!”

Are the actions of governments taken today, in the name of counter terrorism, shining examples of faith?  Well, I am in absolutely no position to comment on this…not having been there during the 9/11 attacks…not there when the Twin Towers collapsed to the ground…Ground Zero…not seeing the rescue workers, inhaling the toxic fumes, digging the mangle of steel and concrete…trying to save lives.

As part of the one human race, created in the image of God, it saddens me that during this Holy Easter season, after journeying through the 40 days of Lent…the Holy Week…witnessing how Jesus journeyed the Via Dolorosa, washed the feet of His disciples, agonized in the Garden, and freely died on the Cross to redeem humanity, we still hear the clear echoes of “Crucify him, Crucify him!”...we continue to witness the scourging of human dignity in the world today...we witness political superpowers playing judge and "God".

Well, has the 10-year pursuit and killing of this one symbol of terrorism, put a closure to this continuous destruction of human lives?  Has this brutal act of an-eye-for-an-eye, heal the wounds of humanity?  Put a closure to the pain?  Brought back lost lives?  Has the lost of this one life and sacrifice of so many other innocents made this world a safer place??  Has selfish political agenda triumph over humanity again?  What is it that is truly terrorizing the world today??

We take some quiet time and simply ponder on Scriptures...

“But understand this: there will be terrifying times in the last days.  People will be self-centered and lovers of money, proud, haughty, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, irreligious, callous, implacable, slanderous, licentious, brutal, hating what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, as they make a pretense of religion but deny its power…” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NAB)

“…wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.” (James 3:17-18, NAB)

“Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19, NAB)

We must remember that vengeance, if any, belongs to God alone, who always judges with ultimate fairness and equity.

This Easter season, as we recall the Divine Light that dazzled the guards at Jesus’ tomb, we must also ensure that this Light, traversing time and space, continue to shine through our lives today, as pilgrims on this earth, journeying home, lighting up the darkness of death and bringing about in this world the true splendor of God.

As finite human beings, we will not have the answers to many questions and sufferings but we simply know that innocent Jesus suffered as we do, in fact, so much more on the path to Golgotha, and He will always be faithfully by our side to help us, to heal us...to be our companion throughout this journey.

“Yet the world and its enticement are passing away.  But whoever does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2:17, NAB)

“…Father, forgive them, they know not what they do…” (Luke 23:34, NAB)