It was Mission Sunday two days ago and it was a blessed day! The Holy Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Singapore was a beautiful and holy experience. As the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Anthony Hutjes SS.CC, shared at the start, this particular mass showed what "mission" meant - the main celebrant was a visiting priest from Uganda, Fr. Anthony himself was originally from Holland, the priest sharing the Mission Sunday Homily was Rev. Fr. Christopher Soh S.J., a Singaporean Jesuit priest from the neighbouring St. Ignatius parish and the couple who were to do the Mass Offering of Bread and Wine were Filipinos. Indeed, as I looked around the packed church, it was a joy to see people of so many nationalities and races present! And I thanked God for all the missionaries before who have made Jesus known to so many people all over the world - including to my ancestors who originated from India.
I had also been pondering on the Year of Faith which began on 11 October 2012 and will continue until 24 November 2013. During this special year, our Holy Father will reflect on the New Evangelization. Pope Benedict XVI has called upon all Catholics to strengthen our faith and lead by example.
I have been greatly uplifted on this vacation break to be able to listen to so many of my friends on how they are living out the mission God has placed in their lives despite difficult personal trials. There is a confidence and a sense of "deep inner conviction" that I can see in them that was not so visible before. As we shared joyfully some of the lessons we are learning from God, we realized how "personal" Jesus is with each of us - to help us on our personal mission on earth. That is not just an "exclusive privilege" for a select few. God is doing it for each of us as we willingly try our best to totally surrender our hearts to Him.
Often God is hearing our prayers and granting our petitions but we may not like the "package" through which God answers our prayers. But over time, God's Plan becomes clear and we realize that our human intellect could not fully comprehend God's infinite wisdom. The YouTube music video "HOLDING NOTHING BACK" by Jesus Culture at the top of this blog is all we need to be. Yet it is not easy (for me!) to surrender totally to God. It means having give up every bit of my own self-ego and self-will. It is something I still have to pray each day to overcome and to be able to discern and humbly do God's Will in obedience and patience.
So what special things can I do for Jesus in this Year of Faith? I realized it was very simple and abundantly clear in the hymn that was beautifully sung by the Blessed Sacrament church choir during Holy Communion on Mission Sunday. My heart was moved and touched deeply as I just experienced the meaningful lyrics in my heart. I did not sing the hymn - I just knelt and in the stillness of my heart, I made it my prayer to God for the rest of my life. I do not have to plan to do special things to show my faith to God. I just need this one VERY special grace which is always a personal struggle for me...and it is so touchingly sung in the YouTube hymn below - "MAKE ME A SERVANT" by the Maranatha Singers.
I had also been pondering on the Year of Faith which began on 11 October 2012 and will continue until 24 November 2013. During this special year, our Holy Father will reflect on the New Evangelization. Pope Benedict XVI has called upon all Catholics to strengthen our faith and lead by example.
I have been greatly uplifted on this vacation break to be able to listen to so many of my friends on how they are living out the mission God has placed in their lives despite difficult personal trials. There is a confidence and a sense of "deep inner conviction" that I can see in them that was not so visible before. As we shared joyfully some of the lessons we are learning from God, we realized how "personal" Jesus is with each of us - to help us on our personal mission on earth. That is not just an "exclusive privilege" for a select few. God is doing it for each of us as we willingly try our best to totally surrender our hearts to Him.
Often God is hearing our prayers and granting our petitions but we may not like the "package" through which God answers our prayers. But over time, God's Plan becomes clear and we realize that our human intellect could not fully comprehend God's infinite wisdom. The YouTube music video "HOLDING NOTHING BACK" by Jesus Culture at the top of this blog is all we need to be. Yet it is not easy (for me!) to surrender totally to God. It means having give up every bit of my own self-ego and self-will. It is something I still have to pray each day to overcome and to be able to discern and humbly do God's Will in obedience and patience.
So what special things can I do for Jesus in this Year of Faith? I realized it was very simple and abundantly clear in the hymn that was beautifully sung by the Blessed Sacrament church choir during Holy Communion on Mission Sunday. My heart was moved and touched deeply as I just experienced the meaningful lyrics in my heart. I did not sing the hymn - I just knelt and in the stillness of my heart, I made it my prayer to God for the rest of my life. I do not have to plan to do special things to show my faith to God. I just need this one VERY special grace which is always a personal struggle for me...and it is so touchingly sung in the YouTube hymn below - "MAKE ME A SERVANT" by the Maranatha Singers.
"How happy are those servants whose master finds them awake and ready when he returns! I tell you, he will take out his coat, have them sit down,
and will wait on them."
(Luke 12:37)
