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Servant of All: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Wisdom 2:12,17–20
Psalm 54:3–8
James 3:16-4:3
Mark 9:30–37

In today’s First Reading, it’s like we have our ears pressed to the wall and can hear the murderous grumblings of the elders, chief priests, and scribes—who last week Jesus predicted would torture and kill Him (see Mark 8:31; 10:33–34).
The liturgy invites us to see this passage from the Book of Wisdom as a prophecy of the Lord’s Passion. We hear His enemies complain that “the Just One” has challenged their authority, reproached them for breaking the law of Moses, for betraying their training as leaders and teachers.
And we hear chilling words that foreshadow how they will mock Him as He hangs on the Cross: “For if the Just One be the Son of God, He will . . . deliver Him . . . ” (compare Matthew 27:41–43).

Today’s Gospel and Psalm give us the flip side of the First Reading. In both, we hear of Jesus’ sufferings from His point of view. Though His enemies surround Him, He offers Himself freely in sacrifice, trusting that God will sustain Him.
But the Apostles today don’t understand this second announcement of Christ’s passion. They begin arguing over issues of succession—over who among them is greatest, who will be chosen to lead after Christ is killed.
Again they are thinking not as God, but as human beings (see Mark 8:33). And again Jesus teaches the Twelve—the chosen leaders of His Church—that they must lead by imitating His example of love and self-sacrifice. They must be “servants of all,” especially the weak and the helpless—symbolized by the child He embraces and places in their midst.
This is a lesson for us, too. We must have the mind of Christ, who humbled Himself to come among us (see Philippians 2:5–11). We must freely offer ourselves, making everything we do a sacrifice in praise of His name.
As James says in today’s Epistle, we must seek wisdom from above, desiring humility, not glory, and in all things be gentle and full of mercy.

The Lord our God sends His priests, laity, Holy spirit filled men and women to guide and show us the way. Often times very different ways from what we are used to. Do we complain and compare one with another? Or accept that whatever the case it is meant for our spiritual growth. For even in dryness we learn to thrive without consolation.

Even if we disagree and feel that we are being led in a different direction. Know that our Lord Jesus Christ can make all crooked lines or paths straight. His chosen are spiritual only because they are tapped into the source of life, our Lord and God.

Let us then strive to be one just as He is one. And remain focused on Christ alone and our mission to save souls. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 3:1-9
Neither the planter nor the waterer matters, only God, who makes things grow

Brothers, I myself was unable to speak to you as people of the Spirit: I treated you as sensual men, still infants in Christ. What I fed you with was milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it; and indeed, you are still not ready for it since you are still unspiritual. Isn’t that obvious from all the jealousy and wrangling that there is among you, from the way that you go on behaving like ordinary people? What could be more unspiritual than your slogans, ‘I am for Paul’ and ‘I am for Apollos’?
After all, what is Apollos and what is Paul? They are servants who brought the faith to you. Even the different ways in which they brought it were assigned to them by the Lord. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made things grow. Neither the planter nor the waterer matters: only God, who makes things grow. It is all one who does the planting and who does the watering, and each will duly be paid according to his share in the work. We are fellow workers with God; you are God’s farm, God’s building.

Gospel

Luke 4:38-44
He would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Christ

Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Leaning over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to wait on them.
At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.

Yes there are many who do not share the faith with others for fear of not knowing enough or not being eloquent enough. Nor will they offer to pray with or over another afterall they feel they are not Holy enough. Then there are some willing to share or pray but rely on their own knowledge and strength.

All power and knowledge of Christ comes from Christ Jesus Himself. By deepening our relationship with Him through His word, living it and prayer we become one with Him. His spirit lives in us so that whatever we say or do, we do so in the spirit. While we certainly will not know everything there is to know, the Holy Spirit will guide us to say what is needed and when. In awe of what is mentioned through our mouths we give Him glory and thanks.

Let us always remain docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit so we may be powerful instruments of His love through Christ our Lord. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 2:10-16
The Spirit reaches even the depths of God

The Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God. After all, the depths of a man can only be known by his own spirit, not by any other man, and in the same way the depths of God can only be known by the Spirit of God. Now instead of the spirit of the world, we have received the Spirit that comes from God, to teach us to understand the gifts that he has given us. Therefore we teach, not in the way in which philosophy is taught, but in the way that the Spirit teaches us: we teach spiritual things spiritually. An unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God: he sees it all as nonsense; it is beyond his understanding because it can only be understood by means of the Spirit. A spiritual man, on the other hand, is able to judge the value of everything, and his own value is not to be judged by other men. As scripture says: Who can know the mind of the Lord, so who can teach him? But we are those who have the mind of Christ.

Gospel

Luke 4:31-37
‘I know who you are: the Holy One of God’

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’ And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.

We are called to lead one another to right worship of the Lord our God. And we do this by our faith, honour, integrity, most of all our love for Him.

Therefore at every Eucharistic Celebration we lead everyone into the sacred. The focus then and always will be our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Whose life, death and resurrection liberated is from sin and brought us hope in everlasting life with Him. Hence receiving the sacraments of reconciliation and Holy Eucharist is key to a grace filled life in Him. Are there then constant burdens placed on the congregation before they are allowed to partake or receive that which comes from Christ?

Lord Jesus have mercy on us and lead us always in Your ways. Amen

St Monica pray for us…

First reading

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12
We thank God for your faith and your love

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We feel we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers; quite rightly, because your faith is growing so wonderfully and the love that you have for one another never stops increasing; and among the churches of God we can take special pride in you for your constancy and faith under all the persecutions and troubles you have to bear. It all shows that God’s judgement is just, and the purpose of it is that you may be found worthy of the kingdom of God; it is for the sake of this that you are suffering now.
Knowing this, we pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel

Matthew 23:13-22
Alas for you, blind guides!

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’

It just dawned on me that it has come full circle.

I was chosen a few weeks back to proclaim the first reading today in my Parish. And surely without a doubt it is the Lord that selected this particular passage for me.

Glory and Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed how lovely is Your dwelling place O Lord my God!

(yes this little reflection may be cryptic to most but it is of a personal nature ❤️)

Then after this little reflection as I was heading home on my bike, I find this at the side of the traffic light on the grass patch.

On further reflection Today’s Gospel also reminded me of the vision I had at the labourer’s retreat..

Labourers In The Vineyard 

A dear sister in Christ shared this simple yet powerful testimony to God’s love and the importance of belonging to a community. Praise the Lord!

This is what a prefect day resembles.

You are able to share in the love of the Lord in the morning at the Eucharistic celebration.

In the afternoon during lunchtime you are able to share in the love of the Lord with your sisters and brothers in Christ in working community.

In the night you are able to share in the love of the Lord with other sisters and brothers in Christ who belong to varied church communities.

A day to be cherished indeed. Glory and Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Ever since I attended the combined Ministry retreat under the umbrella of a ‘Small Christian community’ and during the Adoration session; I received a prompting to return to serving in ministry in my Parish. Initially I thought it meant going back to serving as a Eucharistic minister of Holy Communion in which I had served faithfully for seven years before leaving for personal reasons.

So I requested a few prayerful people to pray for me and help me discern. I even requested my spiritual director to do likewise. With deeper reflection and discussion I was led to consider joining another ministry.

Today while praying rosary before the Eucharistic Celebration started, I saw visions of myself presenting to the members of this ministry, serving the parishioners and leading both into the sacred. Ten minutes before the EC started the vice chair of that ministry approaches me to see if I could help out during the celebration as they were short. Well needless to say I was convinced the Lord had clearly pointed the way for me.

During the Eucharistic Celebration the message I received was crystal clear, and that I was being sent to where I am most needed. After the Eucharistic Celebration, a very brief conversation with the longest serving and senior member confirmed my role. A challenging one indeed so in faith and trust, I boldly declare that my Lord’s grace is sufficient for me. 🙏

I am still very much in awe of the Lord’s hand in our prayer meeting last night. In only the second meeting this loving community bared their souls and shared their pain and challenges. I am certain they felt our Lord Jesus’s healing touch one way or another. As He gently made His presence known.

The desire of the community to pray and intercede for others not present with us, was a testimony to the Lord’s love in us all.

May our Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless all loving communities gathered in His name. And may we all continue to grow in love and deepen our relationship with Him. Amen

2 Cor 13:12

We should never take for granted what we have built and should continue to greet one another with an offering of the peace of Christ and a warm hug. This comes from a relationship built upon our rock Christ Jesus. For it is only through His love that we are able to do so. Many who might have thought it awkward in the beginning have begun to realise and appreciate the depth of growing in His love through these small acts of love for one another. This is a truth that not everyone will grasp or embrace but it is a truth nonetheless. ❤️

I AM Community…

Some time back I gave a short talk about being a loving, growing community. I began with sharing that the first community is the Holy Trinity. Three persons One God in an all loving, giving relationship. One in which all communities should emulate while they dwell on and in the mystery. Therefore a simple statement as I Am Community has greater depth in meaning and application.

A Community therefore can only grow in love if it responds to the call to love by the Holy Trinity.

How is that love expressed?

1. By making a commitment to come together in the presence of the Lord to pray and testify to His love.

2. To share our vulnerabilities and our hopes in the Risen Lord knowing that we do so on sacred ground bound in love for one another.

3. Putting aside all judgements of one another looking to the strengths that each of one poseseses instead of the weaknesses. Affirming one another while encouraging, nurturing the growth of our God given talents and gifts.

4. To always be outward looking as we spread the love we receive through our sharing in His love and to invite others to do the same.

5. To remain steadfast in prayer for one another and to fast when there are occasions that calls for fasting for one another.

6. To encourage one another to grow in our love and relationship with our Lord through His living Word.

7. To help and encourage one another to live His word in our lives.

I AM Community and so am I in Him. Are you? ❤️

We look at Adam and Eve and think to ourselves, No we would never do what they did. And yet we do likewise nonetheless. When we choose our careers and ambitions above all else. When we decide on our own what is best for us. When we give in to temptation and sin to satisfy our desires. When we choose not to heed our Christian call to love and be holy. When there is little or no time for prayer or to be in His presence.

How then can we truly love our family let alone friend or neighbour? For to love them as we ought to, can only come from our love of the Lord our God. For God is love, life giving liberating love. A love that wills the good in another. For by His love we become little to ourselves and our love grows bigger for others. By His love we can love the stranger amongst us and welcome them as His children our brethren.

Lord teach me to love as You do. Amen

First reading

James 4:1-10
Resist the devil and he will run away

Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start? Isn’t it precisely in the desires fighting inside your own selves? You want something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to kill. You have an ambition that you cannot satisfy; so you fight to get your way by force. Why you don’t have what you want is because you don’t pray for it; when you do pray and don’t get it, it is because you have not prayed properly, you have prayed for something to indulge your own desires.
You are as unfaithful as adulterous wives; don’t you realise that making the world your friend is making God your enemy? Anyone who chooses the world for his friend turns himself into God’s enemy. Surely you don’t think scripture is wrong when it says: the spirit which he sent to live in us wants us for himself alone? But he has been even more generous to us, as scripture says: God opposes the proud but he gives generously to the humble. Give in to God, then; resist the devil, and he will run away from you. The nearer you go to God, the nearer he will come to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and clear your minds, you waverers. Look at your wretched condition, and weep for it in misery; be miserable instead of laughing, gloomy instead of happy. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.

Gospel

Mark 9:30-37
Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me

Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.
They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

Yesterday morning and through out the whole day I was feeling out of whack. My body ached and I was running a fever. Still I pushed on at work as I wanted to finish some important stuff.

When I got home my wife was sweet enough to dish out food for me. I popped two annarex tablets and lay on the couch to relax for a bit. Was thinking to myself that if things didn’t improve I would have to see a doctor. My daughter then comes up to me and asks if we were going to have family prayers? She likes praying the rosary and loves to say at the end of each decade “St Joseph” and when the rest of us responds “pray for us” she will quickly lead with the ave Maria. Anyhow while I was not quite up to it, I told her to ask the rest of the family if they wanted to pray. She ran off enthusiastically and she managed to get them all to agree.

My wife suggested instead that we pray the divine mercy. While my daughter was not to happy about it in the beginning since she was not familiar with the prayer, she decided to join us in the middle. I decided that we should end with the divine praises and so led in it. Praise be to God that His mercy was indeed upon me as I started to feel better before going to bed. By morning today I was good to go to work!

Blessed indeed is a praying family.

Open my eyes to see You Lord…

So two weeks ago I went for my annual foot and eye check up as part of the diabetes follow up regime. The clinic tech took snapshots of my eyes and told me if they did not call or message me then everything was fine.

Last week however I got a message to see a specialist for a follow up assessment on the eyes. Well of course I was a little concerned but decided to leave it in the hands of the Lord. So this morning I showed at the specialist clinic which had a very peaceful ambience. There was even a station to make a cuppa nescafe ☕.

So I made myself one and took out my copy of the Catholic news to read. A lady patient who had just come out of the doctor’s office sat opposite me and told me that the doctor is Catholic too. So I asked if she might be a fellow sister in Christ and found out that she is a parishioner of Our Lady Star of the Sea. But because there are renovation works going on, she attends the Eucharist at Holy Spirit Church. We chatted for a while before it was my turn to see the doctor. I quickly introduced myself and she shared that her name is Nellie.

The doctor 😷 was a pleasant and rather friendly chap. After the initial check up he told me all looked good but that they would have to dilate my eyes to check deeper. After about half an hour I went back in for a further examination. He then asked if my previous doctor mentioned or checked for glaucoma? He told me it was probably nothing but I needed to get a photo scan to be sure. While waiting for it I prayed to the Lord to please let the results be clear. He had already showed Himself to me in Nellie and the doctor. And I wouldn’t want to have anything hamper me from serving Him fully. But then,His will be done.

While waiting for the doctor, Nellie who had already gone off, came back just to let me know that she was done at the clinic and was heading home. How sweet… I prayed for God’s blessings upon her as she left.

Saw the doctor and the results were negative, every thing was fine! Praise the Lord! ❤️ And so I fixed my appointment for next year.

How wonderful to be able to see God’s hand in everything. Alleluia!

God our Father in His infinite wisdom and love gave us His commandments and laws so that we can live ordered lives in His love. Jesus by His life, death and resurrection completes this act of love.

Turning our backs on them simply brings about disorder and chaos into our lives through our sin and disobedience. We know this to be true having experienced it in our own lives. Only when we turned to Jesus with contrite hearts did we begin to experience peace and joy once again.

It is not enough that we abide by them on our own, we must teach our family and others too. So that we all can lead fruitful lives in God’s love. Amen

First reading

Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9
Keep these laws and observe them

Moses said to the people:
‘Now, Israel, take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land that the Lord the God of your fathers is giving you.
‘See, as the Lord my God has commanded me, I teach you the laws and customs that you are to observe in the land you are to enter and make your own. Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peoples your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today?
‘But take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life; rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children.’

Gospel

Matthew 5:17-19
I have not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to complete them

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.’

Sharing from a Sister who attended the watchmen retreat”.

Peace be with you all.
I’ve not been very watchful during Advent. Yet our Lord in His loving mercy, doesn’t allow me to run away.
I am prompted to share the following with you all. It is rather long but I’m unable to shorten it though I tried. 👇🏻

If Jesus had really been born on 25 Dec, then today Mother Mary and Joseph would be travelling around in Bethlehem.
 Contemplating the situation, I imagined how tiring and uncomfortable it must have been for Mother Mary, a pregnant lady nearly due for delivery.  I also thought of St Joseph’s anxiety as he went from inn to inn to find a room;  how he would have felt as a young man who simply wanted his wife to have a comfortable bed to deliver her baby.  And Mary our Mother, she must have prayed to our Father to provide a solution.
Why did God our Father allow the Mother of His Son to experience such discomfort and anxiety? If His plan was for Jesus to be born in a manger, then just lead them there, or tell Joseph in a dream. It would be easier and less stressful. After all, when we do His Will, aren’t things supposed to fall into place smoothly?
As I wondered what thoughts Mary might have had at that point of time and how she might have felt, I was reminded of Ecclesiasticus 39: “All the works of the Lord are good, and he will supply every want in due time. You must not say “This is worse than that” for everything will prove its value in time ”
With that scripture,  I was awakened.

It is not for me to question; instead, I must dwell on the awesomeness of our Father who chose simple shepherds as the first witnesses of His Son’s birth and I must wonder at the faith of these shepherds who were blessed to hear the first Gloria sung by “a great throng of heavenly hosts” and who acted without hesitation to do as asked. When the shepherds told Mary what they had heard, she treasured what they said and “pondered them in her heart”.
As I sing the Gloria tonight it will be with greater conviction than ever before because I believe in my heart, that all the heavenly hosts and especially Mary our Mother will be there with us singing and praising our Lord and our God. And I praise Him for awakening me to watch and to grow.
Fellow watchmen, let’s all rejoice as the shepherds did, glorifying and praising God our Father for all we have heard and seen.

God of life we are waiting for You!

For it is our Lord Jesus Christ who brings life and liberation, our salvation. Foreshadowing His coming we hear of how the Lord our God brought forth life when there was none. Born into families these heroic lives were brought forth to liberate His people and to turn them back to Him. Such is the love of God our Father for us.

So now sisters and brothers, are we not called to lead such heroic lives?

Here I am Lord, use me! Amen

First reading
Judges 13:2-7,24-25

There was a man of Zorah of the tribe of Dan, called Manoah. His wife was barren, she had borne no children. The angel of the Lord appeared to this woman and said to her, ‘You are barren and have had no child. But from now on take great care. Take no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For you will conceive and bear a son. No razor is to touch his head, for the boy shall be God’s nazirite from his mother’s womb. It is he who will begin to rescue Israel from the power of the Philistines.’ Then the woman went and told her husband, ‘A man of God has just come to me; his presence was like the presence of the angel of God, he was so majestic. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not reveal his name to me. But he said to me, “You will conceive and bear a son. From now on, take no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean. For the boy shall be God’s nazirite from his mother’s womb to his dying day.”’
The woman gave birth to a son and called him Samson. The child grew, and the Lord blessed him; and the spirit of the Lord began to move him.

Gospel
Luke 1:5-25

In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron. Both were worthy in the sight of God, and scrupulously observed all the commandments and observances of the Lord. But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both getting on in years.
Now it was the turn of Zechariah’s section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly office before God when it fell to him by lot, as the ritual custom was, to enter the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense there. And at the hour of incense the whole congregation was outside, praying.
Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid, your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you must name him John. He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink. Even from his mother’s womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the disobedient back to the wisdom that the virtuous have, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.’
Zechariah said to the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is getting on in years.’ The angel replied, ‘I am Gabriel who stand in God’s presence, and I have been sent to speak to you and bring you this good news. Listen! Since you have not believed my words, which will come true at their appointed time, you will be silenced and have no power of speech until this has happened.’ Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he stayed in the sanctuary so long. When he came out he could not speak to them, and they realised that he had received a vision in the sanctuary. But he could only make signs to them, and remained dumb.
When his time of service came to an end he returned home. Some time later his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept to herself. ‘The Lord has done this for me’ she said ‘now that it has pleased him to take away the humiliation I suffered among men.’

12 Dec 2017 – After having breakfast with my six year old daughter, I decided to bring her to the zoo. Left home at about 1025hrs and spent about 5 hours there. Tracked about 12000 steps in total. After having something light at the coffee shop and buying dinner in advance we got home about 4pm. Was feeling exhausted and a little queasy. Hannah complained about having a headache so I gave her some medication.

Was thinking of having an early night when my little angel asked if we could go to church for mass! Tried to convince her that we could go tomorrow and that I was feeling unwell. But she was adamant that we go. I took it that the Lord wanted me to go since I had planned to go in the morning. Besides He knew I needed to see Him in reconciliation.

When we got to church, we stopped at the Grotto to pray a Hail Mary. As I was about to leave, Hannah called me back as she was not done. She prayed for mummy and her brothers safe return from their respective trips. And added I want to kiss and hug mummy because I miss her so much. Mummy was on a mission trip to Sri Lanka returning only Saturday. While her brothers were returning on Sunday from a holiday in Korea.

Managed to do a reconciliation before the devotion to St Anthony began followed by the Eucharistic Celebration. I am truly blessed and pray that Hannah will continue to be faithful throughout her life.

Glory be to the Holy Trinity. Amen

Have you felt the love of belonging to the body of Christ regardless of your geolocation or background?

I felt it in my most recent WhatsApp conversation.

Me: Peace dear, I indicated that I was attending the four steps retreat next Sat on Facebook. Do I still need to register?

Sister Himaya : Praise the lord! No need, I always count you in even if you don’t register 😊

The passage I was prompted to read over and over again at the restart was the whole of 2 Sirach, which I am sure will be just as beneficial for you. It is like the watchmen creed of sorts. Personally the Lord highlighted the words “cleave to him and do not depart from him.” for me. The word cleave also appears in Genesis 2:24 which brought the reflection a whole lot deeper for me. 🙏🏽❤

Two months from the vineyard retreat, I would wake most of the time at 4am to pray the divine office. But after a while I slipped to praying it off and on and much later.

I have been doing daily reflections on the daily readings now, for about 7 years but hardly ever read the bible on my own even though I wanted to. Thankfully I have folks around the world following by reflections otherwise I might have even, given that up when I sinned and did not feel like doing them.

I signed up for the Watchmen retreat immediately when it was launched, as I longed to grow deeper in the faith. As the weeks were drawing near, I found myself committing habitual sins once at least every two weeks. However because I was one of the facilitators for LISS and running reflections for my communities from time to time I found myself going for reconciliation practically every week. In fact to prepare myself for the retreat I went for recon on Wed 8th Nov just before the lunchtime EC. I was very disappointed with myself for continuing to slip so often and cried out to the Lord to help me. The message I received was very clear, I had not been dwelling on His Word and discerning His Will for me through scripture.

I left my smartphone at home and bought a dumb one, just so I could call my daughter Hannah on her birthday on Sat the 11th. I even bought a Malaysian SIM card months before. And so when they asked us to surrender our phones, I did not do so. In the end I decided not to switch it on at all for the sake of my Lord, even though it pained me not to call Hannah as I had told her that I would.

The first day as we were praying and reflecting, I received three very strong messages. “Stop comparing yourself with others, stop loving others superficially, love them with my love…. Unconditionally!” And “if I placed a little child in front of you with a message from me, are you humble enough to listen and follow my instructions?”

Later that day during Adoration, I saw visions of Saints with hands in an ouran position. I was prompted to do likewise with three fingers on each hand while the two remaining fingers on each were to be bent over more. I asked the Lord,”Is this position not reserved for the priests?” Then I was given the understanding that he wanted me to be a ‘priest’ in the sense of offering sacrifices for others and to be a bridge for them; to lead them to Him.

The next day after reconciliation, I was feeling a little lost on what I needed to do and how to overcome the moments where I succumb to being enraged with some or unloving towards them. Then during spiritual counselling I was reminded of the Lord’s words, “Father forgive them for they not what they do.”

I think I heard a message for ‘Julian’ that night during adoration but I guess it was not meant for me as I did not hear it, only the name being mentioned. It did not help that apparently there were two other Julians in the retreat. I had however another vision, this time of the Lord carrying a lamb over His shoulder and felt so loved that I wept.

Day three night during Adoration, again the message was very clear for me even though I had hoped it was for one of the other Julians. “Julian the Lord is waiting for you, to have integrity of heart and integrity of faith!” Then at adoration at the praying over the Lord whispers in my ear. “Anger and impatience are not my ways. In my time, not yours.” Needless to say it played on my mind the whole night and carried over to the next day.

The Sunday’s Eucharist celebration was awesome with much consolations poured out on us. Then later midway during father’s talk he looks at me and says,”Julian something is on your mind. Work at it”

Praise You Lord! Thank you Lord! Alleluia!

I discovered my wedding ring missing from my finger on Sunday morning. Thinking I must have taken it off for exercise or that it might have got caught in my exercise glove I searched everywhere but could not find it. Would it mean I would have to buy new pairs and have it blessed?

I started to recall when during a prayer session Father Terence had called couples up to the altar and he prayed over us. He asked us to join our left hands and was dismayed to see we weren’t wearing our wedding rings. My excuse then was that I had put on weight and could not put it on. And even after losing the weight I still didn’t care to put it back on. In any case I made it a point thereafter to wear it everyday.

I prayed to St Anthony for help but was resigned to the fact that it might be gone forever.

When to the office on Monday, pulled back my chair and there it was on the floor! How? It must have been lying there from Friday afternoon. Praise the Lord! And thanks to St Anthony….

Is Jesus the Lord of your life?

So You have heard the wonders of our Lord Jesus Christ in the testimonies of others. It may have even have perplexed you to think why have you not had an such an experience of Him? Or if you have then what changed that you seemed to have lost it? Question really is have you actively sought Jesus out? Were you contrite, desired to be forgiven, healed and to be restored as a son/daughter of the Lord your God? To be one with Him in communion? Or did you think nothing more of it and turned back to your lack lustre life? Looking for love in all the wrong places.

Jesus come into the temple of my heart and stay with me. That I may bring You glory now and forever. Amen

First reading
Haggai 1:1-8

In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, high commissioner of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as follows, ‘The Lord of Hosts says this, “This people says: The time has not yet come to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. (And the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows:) Is this a time for you to live in your panelled houses, when this House lies in ruins? So now, the Lord of Hosts says this: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you. You have sown much and harvested little; you eat but never have enough, drink but never have your fill, put on clothes but do not feel warm. The wage earner gets his wages only to put them in a purse riddled with holes. So go to the hill country, fetch wood, and rebuild the House: I shall then take pleasure in it, and be glorified there, says the Lord.”’

Gospel
Luke 9:7-9

Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see Jesus.