THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS - TREASURE JESUS IN OUR HEARTS!

Christmas - the season that I love the most is here again! Usually I would have been very busy in the run-up to the Christmas Midnight Mass but it seemed that it would not be quite so this year - or so I thought. And then I got the news that my mother was hospitalized in Penang, Malaysia! Within a few hours, I was on a flight bound for Singapore where I would have to buy a ticket to fly on to Penang. 

I had time to think of all the Christmases I had with my family - how Christmas was always so special especially when I was with my parents and enjoying all our family Christmas traditions and my Mum's wonderful cooking! Yet, it is now my 11th Christmas away from my immediate family and friends and how I used to spend the season of Christmas. 

Have you ever stopped to wonder how you have celebrated Christmas in different stages in your life? Have you ever pondered what the meaning of Christmas means to you as the years go by?  Well I have. :) As a child, it was always a season of wonder - new clothes, presents, going for midnight mass where everyone was dressed in new clothes and the church seemed so different and beautiful with Christmas decorations at night! Then there would be the Christmas carolling and the Nativity Play....it was just a special experience as a child. What's more my parents and siblings would all be in a joyous mood getting ready for church and the celebration when we came home! As a student overseas, it was more about Christmas parties and being with friends during the festive season. It was a carefree time for me and my circle of friends. Christmas was about celebrating friendships though I would miss my family terribly on Christmas Day. I would always cry after I called home. In those days, I could only call home on special occasions and Toronto, Canada seemed like a million miles from my hometown in Malaysia. When I was working in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, I made it a point to drive/fly home by Christmas Eve - where I spent the entire day before the Midnight Mass making a crib and decorating our family home and our dogs' home too! I remember I only did not go home once...when I went to be with one of my brothers in London, England. For me, I always wanted my Christmas to be with my parents - seeing the joy in them was what made Christmas so special for me.

Well, since 2004, I have been here in Divine Retreat Centre for Christmas. Why did I do so? I just felt strongly it is a time to bring some joy and cheer to the residents (especially the orphan children!) of all the Divine Homes run by Divine Charitable Trust with Christmas goodies! For me personally, it is the deep vivid joy and and peace I experience celebrating the very special Presence of Jesus here in Divine. Christmas and other Church liturgical celebrations are often so vibrant and meaningfully celebrated here. It is not about presents and lots of fine dining and visiting friends and relatives anymore for me. Now Christmas helps me treasure all the wonderful gifts God has given me - my family, good friends, good health and so many interesting and challenging experiences through our mission. More importantly, with each Christmas here, I am learning to treasure the Spirit of Christmas in my heart every day - not just for this holy Christmas season.

Today, as I was listening to the morning mass homily by our director, something truly struck my heart. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. was sharing about what Christianity really is about. Father said, "Christianity is not about rules; it is not about following laws. Christianity is about the splendour of the Holy Spirit working in our personal lives and in our communities." I just felt my heart and mind react deeply hearing these words. I am sure I have probably heard  Father share this point before but for some reason, today, it touched my soul. Have I truly appreciated the splendour, the awesome wonder of Jesus my Saviour, my King, my God, coming so humbly into my wretched heart each day especially Christmas?  

I felt a quiet joy and gratitude to God despite having had to leave my Mum just before Christmas. What a beautiful gift I did get when I least expected it! I had spent eleven days with my mother - experiencing her great love and being with my youngest sister who flew in from Melbourne for about 6 days to help care for my Mum too. This was a precious "early" Christmas gift Jesus gave us - a special time together. As I was saying goodbye to my Mum, my heart was filled with an inner peace, seeing with my own eyes, the deep joy, serenity and inner peace that is so visible in my Mum. We worry endlessly how she is because most of my siblings and I live in different countries. This Christmas season, Jesus was showing me in a very tangible way,  He was taking care of my mother - more than any of us can humanly do so! It was about learning to let go of my human fears and truly understanding that Christmas is all about God's True Love coming into the world and waiting to enter our hearts. I saw this "Heavenly Treasure" become a reality in my mother. I realized with profound humility how much my mother is loved and being protected and cared for by Jesus. My mother's peace and quiet grace of all that she is going through in this period of her hospitalization and recuperation has somehow brought an acceptance and peace into all her children's hearts too. 

Often the love of our parents and siblings are the closest examples of  the true meaning of Christmas. It is not of being always physically present (though that matters too!) but of taking the time to reach out and keep in touch daily with my mother who treasures these daily contact with her children. I thanked God many times for WhatsApp and Skype these past few weeks. Otherwise, I would have had a huge bill keeping in touch with my siblings! I look back with gratitude to the family get-together we had after over 18 years last September in Penang. I have had joyous fellowship shown to me by some close friends when I came back to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur this year. And most of all, I have felt the love of being part of the Divine-Potta community. It is hard to explain because it is not like your own family yet we are still "family" - an inter-twined, extended family of God! We do have our differences but we are closely united in our love to serve Jesus through this Divine-Potta mission. There is another great blessing from God. We  are uplifted and affirmed meeting so many wonderful people from around the world and India who are transformed by our mission's evangelization and charitable efforts. They go forth to share the treasure they discover here - "the true Spirit of Christmas" - which is opening our hearts to the Presence of Jesus in our daily lives. 

My prayer this Christmas is for every person in the world to live in good will with one another - to treasure the Goodness of God in every person. For those we have difficulty loving, I pray each of us to receive God's grace to pray for them and for ourselves too!  

For the Presence of Jesus to be truly tangible in us, the change begins first with me! May the Spirit of Christmas burn brightly in our hearts always. 

The YouTube music video above - EMMANUEL HAS COME by DON MOEN is a beautiful hymn of what the true Spirit of Christmas is.

Wishing all my family, friends amd readers of this blog a 

Blessed, Joyous & Holy Season of Christmas!

"TO BELIEVE IS DARING TO LIVE ALWAYS WITH COURAGE"

Courage? What is it? Is it a gift of God just for certain people? Surprisingly, often even in mission work (just as in working in the secular world), many of us are willing to turn a blind eye - for the sake of peace, for the sake of our job or ministry security, for political correctness...not to be the one "to create the waves" when at times waves are needed.

Well, I have always admired people with courage who lived for a principle that transcended all faiths and race because they lived for a Godly purpose. We just have to look at Nelson Mandela - who was a "prisoner of conscience" for 27 years in South Africa. He wanted to end apartheid. it took a toll on his life and his family. But Mr. Mandela never wavered but believed so passionately for the freedom of black people in South Africa that he was willing to sacrifice his personal freedom. His words have always inspired me personally - "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

To be a Christian is to live a life of courage every day of our life - wherever we are. If we are followers of Christ, we know being mediocre, being politically correct and putting worldly values (e.g.money, fame, popularity, power) over Godly values (e.g. truth, integrity, peace, compassion, justice)  is not what is expected from any one of us. If I am a Christian, I must dare to live every day with courage for Jesus. Why? Because God expects me to! 

"Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect."

(Romans 12:2)

"So let us not become tired of doing good; for if we do not give up, the time will come when we will reap the harvest."

(Galatians 6:9)

There are many bible verses which call every Christian to live a life of courage.There are times in my 10 years of ministry when I have felt discouraged, misunderstood, or compelled to speak up when no one else was willing to do so.  I have just chosen the two bible verses above that have always inspired me to persevere and not give up. It is what gives me the courage not to compromise or settle for second-best in how I live and serve God. All God wants is for each of us to rejoice as we live the mission He lovingly created us for. That means a life of unselfish love (agape) where the Fruit of the Spirit is manifested in us.

"But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these."

(Galatians 5:22-23)

Our home is not here on earth. We are pilgrims and our journey ends when we reach our Eternal Home - to be with Jesus! There was a question that our retreat director, Fr. Rex Pai SJ, asked us to ponder upon during our Volunteers' Retreat in January this year. He said in making a decision or in choosing to do something, we should ask ourselves. "What would Jesus do if He was in my shoes?" Well this question has really made an impact on me. It has taught me to slow down and not to react, to be calmer and to try to do what is right in our Lord's eyes. Most importantly, I am even more determined not to be mediocre or afraid to venture into new challenges to help in proclaiming the Gospel to the world. For God has promised His Grace for each one of us - what more does one require?

"My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” 

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Ultimately, the one question we have to ask ourselves is "Do you believe in Jesus?" If our answer is "YES", we will have no fear to do what is right in all aspects of our life despite our fears - " If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

I hope the you find the music video above, "FIND YOUR COURAGE" by Margie Warrell. Author/Life Coach, as uplifting and affirming as I did.

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

Mahatma Gandhi

THE CAMINO DE SANTIAGO (WAY OF ST. JAMES), SPAIN- A Journey of Faith

There are some things I have always wanted to experience at least once in my life for example skydiving - feeling the exhilaration of doing something really different from my everyday life; to experience a small group live-in retreat in the beautiful town of Assisi, Italy - a place I truly fell in love with 12 years ago but most of all a dream I had for over 20 years...to one day complete the Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James)! Why? Because I always felt drawn to the idea of discovering who God was to me and this long walking pilgrimage seemed just what would help me discover God in a personal way. The St. James Way walking pilgrimage was my one greatest desire to achieve as a Catholic since I was in my mid-twenties! Last year, I thought I had to finally drop these dreams as being a volunteer, I had to be practical...yet the yearning persisted in my heart.  

Brendan Pereira, whom I really felt blessed to meet through his sister, Carol, a very dear friend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last month has just completed the Way of St. James  or the Camino de Santiago as it is known - a major Christian pilgrimage in Spain. I was really eager to know of Brendan's experience which he and his wife, Kherk Ying, were about to start  a couple of days after I met him - with a Malaysian priest and a group of lay Catholics. It would be the first time I actually know a person who has done this pilgrimage!

This post is of Brendan's beautiful personal sharing which truly touched my heart and given me much hope NOT to give up on this first pilgrimage dream of mine. I now intend to make the Way of St. James a reality in my life - no ifs or buts. 

It is also a sharing that will make each of us to look into our hearts and our lives too - as we too are pilgrims on this earth until we reach our Eternal Home.    

ARE WE PREPARED? ARE WE READY?

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What is the Way of St. James like? Was it inspiring? Did you ever feel like giving up? Did it get all too much? Was it worth it? Would you do it again? Did you feel the Presence of Jesus?

So many questions...It is difficult for me to capture all what I saw, smelt, heard and felt from Ponfredda to Compostella - a distance of more than 220 kms covered in pelting rain, pitch darkness, brilliant sunshine and , sometimes, numbing cold. But let me try.

At one level, my way of St. James was a snapshot of the 50 years of my life - the exhilarating; the tough, frustrating; annoying, surprising; comforting; challenging but ultimately, fulfilling!

On a spiritual level, it was not spectacular. Nor was there a moment when it all made sense, “an epiphany”. But everywhere around was the Presence of God! It was in the face of a loving priest who exuded the Joy of God and the Joy for God to all; it was in the loving concern of an American pilgrim who after covering more than 500 kms and carrying  the strain of a crumbling marriage, still found the energy and patience to  answer questions on the Catholic faith from a lapsed Catholic and a couple of atheists.   It was in the action of a young woman who chose to accompany a limping pilgrim along a longer but less punishing route. It was in the welcoming smile and generosity of an innkeeper in the back of beyond in Rufela who not only offered a few glasses of potent liquor to a clutch of pilgrims from Malaysia but also treated a sufferer with Alzheimer's with such grace.

It was in the serenity of so many pilgrims, that God never left their side when the going got tough and painful.It was in the kind face of 80-year-old Australian, Tony Andrews, who never failed to greet fellow pilgrims with a comforting word despite being in excruciating pain himself as he ticked off his bucket list wish of doing the Camino de Santiago once in his life.

As Blessed Paul VI noted, "Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses. Saint Peter expressed this well when he held up the example of a reverent and chaste life that wins over even without a word those who refuse to obey the Word...it is therefore primarily by her conduct and by her life that the Church will evangelise the world."

There were witnesses aplenty to our Great God on the road!

And this journey gave me the opportunity to experience the goodness all around us. Because of the nonsense in Malaysia, the excesses, the religious and racial intolerance, there is a real danger of falling into an abyss of despair; of allowing the pall of negativity to cripple our thinking and turn us into cynics; of not trusting in the light and power of God; of not believing that each of us can be instruments of light and love for those around us.

But every one of the Malaysian pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago had an abundance of goodness and virtue to share. No doubt, each was searching for something on the journey and I am not sure if everyone got what they were looking for.But they were not self-absorbed in their own little world, content to shut out the others.

I have to talk about Fr. Simon Yong and my fellow pilgrims because my main take-away from the pilgrimage was this: we are never alone and God will always provide for us on this journey Home. Make no mistake, the journey will not be a walk in the park and often it can feel lonely.

Just ask Theresa. She walked the first stage of the final stretch in pitch darkness, sometime unsure where the next step would take her. Both her hands were occupied with walking sticks and had to depend on others for light from torchlight. But because we were all walking at different speeds, she found herself alone in unfamiliar territory.   Yet, she was calm. Why? Because she just felt the Presence of God, the God who had been beside her and guiding her.

For every one of us, the trek from Villafranca to O Cerbiero on day 2 was the toughest. Not only did it involve a 1000=metre climb but the distance covered was long and the weather, unforgiving. Rain, rain and more rain in terrain so daunting that Eleanor felt that had anything happened to her, finding her body would have been a challenge!

Still, all recalled that even in the most trying times on Day 2, help seemed to materialise from somewhere - from the taxi driver who suddenly provided relief for blister-laden Sophia or the farmer who offered three other pilgrims a ride.

There were lessons all around on Day 2. For me, it was the sobering thought that in my haste to reach the destination, I had somehow forgotten about my fellow pilgrims. I was too preoccupied with my journey that I forgot about my fellow sojourners who were struggling with the elements, poor signage and a bagful of emotions. In life, the danger of thinking about self is ever present. How often have I walked on, unconcerned over the difficulties felt by a neighbour, relative or church member?

But thankfully as Catholics, there is always a chance for redemption. Always an opportunity to embrace humility. And at the mass on Day 3, Fr. Simon - who was also part of the group that reached O Cebeiro first - offered an apology to those who were left behind.

Speaking about Fr. Simon, it was a true privilege and joy to be shepherded by one of God's own. It dawned upon me that we were one of very few who were travelling with a priest, a spiritual director. So we could celebrate mass everyday. We could pick his brain at meal time or during the walk. Sometimes, it is easy to take the good things in life for granted.

And we could witness first hand what it means to bring the Joy of Christ to strangers. I mean, Fr. Simon spoke to everyone on the route. Everyone! Most of the time, it was just banter. A joke here (don't give up your day job, Father) and a laugh there but always with the aim of bringing others into our fold.

And when he realized that someone was in despair or needed more than a few lines, he dropped back and walked with that person. One American pilgrim missed Sunday mass and requested for Confession. No problem! Fr. Simon walked along with him and heard his confession.

It is too easy to take our priests for granted; to complain about their homilies, to compare and pass judgement. But maybe a better option for us is to pray for more holy priests and thank God that He has blessed us abundantly over the years with those we have in our parishes.

Thank you, Fr. Simon and thank you Thomas, Fayene, Ka Imm, Veronica, Theresa, Mary, Sophia, Lynn, Eleanor and of course, Kherk Ying. Every one of you made the walk a fuller and richer experience for me. Thank you for your generosity in sharing your God-given gifts.

Years from now, I will still remember the beautiful voice of Fayene, shouting Mary's name in the forest for a good few minutes, the outdoor mass on Sunday and "war stories" told every night at the dinner table. I won't miss the grinding of someone's teeth and certainly not this line: "Hola is the name of a fat woman from Norway."

I will never forget Kherk Ying's first day. Didn't she suffer for the last 9 km on Day 1? The build-up of lactic acid in her legs made each step excruciating. But she persevered and far from being discouraged, wants to do the Camino in a couple of years, this time better prepared. She has already joined a gym and has a training session once a week at 7 am!

When I walked into the Cathedral in Compostella, it felt good, a pilgrim at the finish line of a long walk. Just imagine what it would feel when our pilgrimage in this life is over and we are welcomed into eternal life!

I conclude with a few verses of the PILGRIM'S PRAYER. It is so meaningful and provides a road map for our continuing journey through life's highs and lows.

"Although I may have shared all of my possessions 

with people of other languages and cultures; 

Made friends with Pilgrims of a thousand paths, or shared albergue with 

saints and princes, 

If I am not capable of forgiving my neighbour tomorrow, 

I have arrived nowhere.

"Although I may have had food and water each day

And enjoyed a roof and shower every night;

Or may have had my injuries well attended,

If I have not discovered in all that the love of God, 

I have arrived nowhere.

"Although I may have seen all the monuments

and contemplated the best sunsets;

Although I may have learned a greeting in every language or tasted the 

clean water from every fountain

If I have not discovered who is the author

of so much free beauty and so much peace

I have arrived nowhere

"If from today I do not continue walking on your path

searching and living conditions to what I have learned;

in from today I do not see in every person, friend or foe

a companion on the Camino;

If from today I cannot recognize God,

the God of Jesus Nazareth

as the one God of my life,

I have arrived nowhere.”

God Bless always and let us remember each other in prayer

Brendan

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The touching music video at the top of this post, "CAMINO DE SANTIAGO - THE PILGRIM's SONG" is by Cecelia Samartin, a best -selling novelist who was born in Havana, Cuba and resides in Los Angeles, USA.  

P.S. "Albergue" is similar to hostel accommodation

FATHER, HEAL OUR LAND AND OUR PEOPLE - MALAYSIA!

It takes a great tragedy to make a person realize how much one might take a treasured part of one's life for granted. For me, it has happened this year in 2014 - of how much love I have in my heart for the country I was born in. I have now lived more than half my life out of Malaysia - yet my heart belongs to my country. It is where I remember the earliest, simplest and joyful moments of my innocent childhood, of my parents and siblings when we were all young...when childhood past-times were often played outdoors climbing trees, riding bicycles/running up and down steep slopes (and often ending up in the drains with bruised and bloody knees and ankles!) and jumping off our family garage pretending to be Superman with our neighbourhood friends!  I still remember the joy of Hari Raya Puasa, Chinese Lunar New Year, Deepavali and Christmas as days of joy when all of us schoolmates regardless of race or faith greatly looked forward to - for we all visited and celebrated these festivities together! The great times I had with schoolmates regardless of the colour of our skin or of our faith. This is the Malaysia I treasure in my heart till today - the Malaysia that over the past twenty-five years or so have become a distant, blurred memory due to elements of society who seek to create hatred, fear and religious division within the social and multi-racial fabric of Malaysian society - our country that once took great pride in the concept of "MUHIBBAH" which is the Malay word for "Harmony". 

All I read on the Internet these days are things I wish I never had to read about - of making Malaysians of different races and minority faiths to feel that we do not belong! Well, then, were not our parents and families and many friends of mine in Malaysia paying the same taxes and toiled their best to make Malaysia a success for their children and grandchildren? Was there only one race and faith that brought about the development of our country? To be frank, I have increasingly felt relieved that I am no longer living in Malaysia. It seemed in such a depressing state of affairs - with a weak, uninspiring government and a free-run for "fools" getting plenty media coverage to cause ever-increasing disharmony and disrespect and fear among the Malaysians of different races and faiths.

Well the double air tragedies of MH 370 and MH 17 have shocked the world and more so Malaysians of all walks of lives and faith. These shocking and unbelievable air tragedies have finally brought every Malaysian together - united in grief and prayers! How truly, truly tragic that it is only with millions of tears and nearly 500 lives lost that we, Malaysians, could once again feel united regardless of our race or faith.

I know I was personally shocked when I first read on the Internet the disappearance of MH 370 and all the great confusion. It is even now unimaginable to me what the grieving families are going through. When I read on the Internet once again the Breaking News that another Malaysian Airlines aircraft - MH 17 - was shot down by a ground-to-air missile over Ukraine, I recall feeling numb and very distraught. Why? Why? What is happening to my country, Malaysia? Being an ex-airline staff, I could somehow imagine what the Malaysian Airlines management and staff must be going through. The service on-board Malaysian Airlines is one of the best in the world - they are always friendly, courteous and helpful. All of us Malaysians should take pride as they were our "Ambassadors" in the skies.

I could not concentrate on my work for a couple of days...I had this question running through my mind and heart - "What is God asking of us Malaysians? What can we learn from this? How can we move forward by not giving up?" For the Christians, there was the added issue of the word "Allah" being banned from being used in the Malay-language bibles read by the indigenous people of East Malaysia and in the Holy Mass that was celebrated in the national language. This issue has been going through various rounds of the Malaysian judiciary - with as yet no clear ruling that applies across the whole of Malaysia (both East and West Malaysia).

As I closed my eyes and prayed for some words of spiritual consolation, I "felt" these words in my heart - "Pray! What is important is for everyone of you to pray to God for Malaysia, your country and your people. It is the only way." At that point, it really dawned on me  - how many of us Malaysian Catholics - bishops, priests, religious, lay people have made it a point to pray daily in front of the Blessed Sacrament for an hour a day  and also to intercede for all that our Catholic Church is going through?  How many of us are offering and celebrating daily Holy Mass for the Protection and Blessing of our Catholic Church in Malaysia? Are most of us like "Martha" caught up in activities instead of being discerning like "Mary" who had chosen to do the right thing -  sitting at the Feet of Jesus and listening to Him? Are our priorities right? We need to search our own hearts - what are we really doing for our Malaysian Catholic Church?

We, as Catholics, have failed to turn  to God  in our time of need! We need to get our priorities right. As people of God, there is no point in winning the battle through the legal route only  - we need to win the spiritual war and that is gain justice for our religious freedom on the wings of all our prayers! in the spiritual warfare we are facing, it is a time for prayer and fasting - seeking God's Will to prevail for the peace of our nation, Malaysia. Are there any 24-hour Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration prayer room that has been set up so Catholics in each city can come to intercede not just for Malaysia but for all the countries facing wars and persecution e.g. Iraq, Syria, Palestine and so forth 24 hours a days? Are there any parishes in Malaysia willing to do this for the Glory of our Lord? There are so many needs of the world, of our country and of personal intercessions to be lifted up to God. I truly believe that a "prayer of intercession" is the greatest gift we can give to others - for  the power of our prayers can  go forth to the farthest corner of the world!

Let us, in this time of national tragedies and darkness, become a "People of Grace & Light". As we pray for God to heal our land, may He give us, Catholics, the grace to have a heart that is willing to intercede with great love for all Malaysians and nations around the world to live in joy, peace and harmony. We all believe in a God who loves all mankind. It is impossible for our One True God who created all mankind to be partial - everyone of us is a child of God! 

Please do listen to the soul-touching YouTube music video "LORD HEAL OUR LAND" by Jamie Rivera which is at the top of this post. It is a beautiful prayer song. May God's Spirit  empower us!

"In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven"

(Matthew 5:16)

WE MUST USE TIME WISELY...THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIPE TO DO RIGHT (Nelson Mandela)

I was really thinking much about "TIME" last week - how precious every moment is that I am living - for I can never get it back. Had I made the best use of all the time I have had in my life? Well, these thoughts were always kind of swirling within me this year - for a good reason! I have just begun my 11th year as a fulltime volunteer here in Divine Retreat Centre last week - on 18 June. Personally, I actually find it hard to believe I have completed 10 years in India! Since my high school days, I have never lived in any place this long. 

What have I attained in these last 10 years? In terms of the secular world, I would not even rate a 2 out of 10 in terms of worldly success, recognition, position, or wealth. These were my goals ever since my college days and the driving force while I was in the corporate world. Did I enjoy the life I had then? Yes, definitely! It is totally different from  the life I lead now. Back then , if anyone told me I would one day complete serving 10 years in full-time ministry in India, I would have probably thought the person REALLY  did not know me - I enjoyed cosmopolitan city life, the freedom I had to do whatever I wanted and my own car (I love driving!). To imagine living in a retreat centre in a small town in South India would have been too mind-boggling for me!

Yet, here I am in India! Has the past 10 years taught me anything that I treasure? I have to say a resounding YES! God has given us a wonderful world to live in. The YouTube music video above  - WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD featuring Grandpa Elliot from USA and children's choirs across the globe touched my heart exemplifying the Hope, Joy and Beauty of the world we are living in!  It is up to each of us to live for the mission God has chosen for us on this earth. 

Recently, I was again asked a question that most people who get to know me will inevitably ask me- "Do you not think you could have financially supported the Divine mission more if you had pursued your career, Susan?" Indeed, It was a question I did ask the Director, Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. when he asked me to serve fulltime in Divine in 2004. I doubt Father will remember this occasion - but it is a memory that sustains my ministry whenever I find life in India too tough to handle. I was back for a vacation in October 2004 with my parents (halfway through what I thought was a 6-month stint in Divine) and was speaking to Fr. Augustine early one morning in Singapore. I had personally never thought of fulltime ministry ever! I was rather surprised at being asked. What truly touched my heart and never made me look back was the answer Fr. Augustine gave me when I asked him the very same question I now keep getting asked. Father's reply was instantaneous and he looked directly at me and said, "Anyone can donate money, Susan. God wants you." It really felt like "time stood still" for me at that moment as I felt a great revelation in my heart - in my entire being! I remember distinctly asking, "You want me to leave everything just like that and come to serve in Divine?" Father just gave me me a big smile and said, "Yes, just like that." What I said next truly astounded me! I just said simply, "Okay!" I never even asked a single question of what I would do, where I would stay, how long would I be needed to live in India?  Nothing! In that moment in time, my heart answered the Call of God.

Serving in Divine has not been easy. Even today, I still miss my life, my family (nearly all living in different countries!) and friends in Singapore.:) Yet, my heart is firmly entrenched in the Divine-Potta mission. It just seems like even though I was unprepared for serving in a ministry, Our Lord was infinitely patient with me. Nowadays, it is easier for me to see the Goodness of God all around me - in my loved ones, friends, even passing acquaintances, in nature, in animals and in reading all the good, loving and generous deeds ordinary people do daily all around the world. I make it a point everyday to read of good deeds that people do around the world and I will share it with at LEAST one person. I try to keep in touch with at least one friend a week - even if I get no response! That is the BASIC difference between my life now and what it was before. Before, I never really thought of the many good people in this world. I was absorbed in my life and in those I loved. Now, I am learning to practice "Agape Love". 

"Agape" means "Love" in a spiritual sense. This love is selfless and unconditional - it gives and expects nothing in return. Agape is what is explained in the famous biblical passage known as the "Love Chapter" - 1 Corinthians 13, and is described there and throughout the New Testament as sacrificial and spiritual love. As I said, I am "learning" - I have definitely not mastered this way of life but my life does not revolve only around those whom I love and who love me in return. There is a burning "passion" in me to help the Divine-Potta mission works in proclaiming and exemplifying Christ's Love especially to those who are marginalized and "voiceless" and those who do not yet know the Love of Jesus. What's more, I know people who are living lives similar to what I had been living before. They have the resources to share their financial blessings and skills to help others in this world who are in desperate need. We often forget how blessed we are that we are not in the shoes of those who are suffering in our world. How would you feel if no one bothered to help you as they live "comfortable" lives? It is not a matter of large donations. We can do something every day - for example buying a local coffee every morning instead of a Starbucks coffee. What you save in a month will feed a a poor family of 4 for a month in India . Imagine if you can persuade at least 5 friends to do the same. There are so many simple everyday examples in which we can make little sacrifices. Every  Sunday, you could drive an elderly couple to church and take them out for a simple meal - they would treasure your kindness and the joy you share with them. What a difference we can all start to make in this world! That is what I desire to do with the TIME I have left in this world - to make a positive difference and to try to practice "love in action" daily.

I doubt the TIME I have ahead in my life is going to be more than the years that have gone by. i would like to share with you a Divine TV YouTube music video - "ARE YOU ANSWERING GOD's CALL? - Quotes for Reflection a question I reflect upon every week since I started my ministry in Divine. No matter what you are in  life, I hope you will also take the time to reflect with an open heart - " Are you answering God's Call?"

As long as you are willing, God CAN and WILL use you for the 

Glory of His Kingdom!

GRACE.IS...THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT IN OUR SOULS - POPE FRANCIS

It was raining very heavily yesterday morning when I woke up. I had been feeling very tired these past few weeks and the urge to snuggle under my blanket and sleep a few more hours was almost too tempting. I am so thankful to God I did not - for the mass homily by Rev. Fr. Jacob Arimpoor V.C. not only woke me up physically but woke my heart up! Fr. Jacob was just ordained as a Vincentian priest in December 2013 and is now part of our Divine family in Divine Retreat Centre. 

Have you ever felt that no matter however much you succeed and attain goals in your life, somehow it just is not enough? There is a yearning, an "emptiness" that somehow is not filled? Let me paraphrase some points of Fr. Jacob's touching homily from memory that captured my heart:

• "We are Christians. Every one of us who is baptized has the Grace of God in us. The Word of God says, "God created man and blew His Breath in him." (cf. Genesis 2:7)  All of us have God's Grace in us when we were baptized. "Do you realize God's Grace is already in you? What have you done with God's Grace in you? Touch the lives of others!"

• "The one mission every Christian baptized is given is to make Christ known to others. We are called to reach out to others. If we do not listen to God's Call, there will always be an emptiness in us. Why? It is because God made us for His mission. He did not give us His Grace to cling to it for ourselves. Remember the 'Parable of the Three Servants'? (Matthew 25:14-30) The servant with the one talent did not do anything really wrong - after all he did not steal the talent. Yet, he did not seek to make more talents from what his master gave him. 'Am I doing that  - not sharing God's Grace in me with others?'"

• "'Are  you listening to God?' If you are not, you will never achieve true happiness in life. You will always have an 'emptiness' that can never be filled. It is only when we live our Christian mission in life - why God made us - that we find joy and peace in our lives."

Well, these three points really made me reflect of my own life. I had worked 16 years in the corporate world and I was successful in my field. I remember many people I knew who would comment how lucky I was due to the extensive international business travel I did. Yet, with all the success, I know my heart was yearning for something intangible - at that time I did not know what my heart yearned for. It was essentially my soul wanting me to respond to God. I was immersed in worldly goals.

I was in the international corporate sales management field - hence achieving sales targets was always crucial. As those in sales know, the company will never allow a sales team to rest on its laurels of a great achievement. Every year, the targets will be set higher. I realized one thing as I was climbing up this ladder of corporate success. My job became my identity. I did not have quality time for my own life as more and more projects would be given to me as I was successful in managing and achieving results. Yet quality time for family, friends, especially for myself - to do things that brought me personal joy and satisfaction - was difficult to balance. I felt my job was not listening to my soul - instead it was owning it! What woke me up to the importance of family and loved ones was the sudden death of my second eldest sister. I remember vividly during the funeral wishing I had spent more time with her and to show her how much I loved her. But I made a promise to myself that day - that my parents and my loved ones and doing good would always be more important to me than worldly personal success.

In times of adversity, God opens the eyes of our heart. For me, through my sister's death, I earnestly questioned what my life was all about. It was about six months later that I attended my first Divine retreat. It is then, when I was freed of the burdens and pain in my heart after a beautiful confession, that I clearly heard and understood Jesus' Call to me - my life is His! I continued in my career for another 6 years. Many of us are doing really well in life - great jobs, high salaries, expensive cars and the freedom to go for holidays wherever we want. One question needs to be asked and truly answered - "Do I ever have time to listen to Jesus? Am I constantly aware of His Presence in my life?" In our human ego, we believe it is through our human skills, abilities and talents that we have succeeded. It is not so as God reminds us - "I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the the future you hope for." (Jeremiah 29:11)  We take for granted or are not aware of God's Grace in us that makes all this blessings and successes possible.  

Do not procrastinate in answering God's Call! It is easy to put our career and family life first - but that is wrong. We are created for God by God. God has to be FIRST!  Our only priority is to do God's Will in our lives so that when our short earthly life ends, we can stand at Heaven's gates knowing we did our best answering Christ's Call! God's Grace will help us balance all aspects of our life.

Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil V.C.

Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. (left) & Fr. Jacob Arimpoor V.C. (right)

When we are open to God's Grace in us, He uses us to reach out to others. I used to be truly amazed in my early years here feeling the great sense of peace and joy whenever I was in the presence and talking to Fr. Mathew Naickomparambil V.C. (Spearhead of Divine-Potta Ministry) and Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. (Director - Divine Retreat Centre). How was it possible? There were days I would feel stressed and worked up but the moment I was in their presence, it would all just literally flow out of me - and I would be calm and at peace. Often, I had not even discussed what I was feeling! Well, I have been here 10 years now and I still experience it until today. It is not just me - so many people overseas and here in India have had these same personal experiences. What is it? It is definitely what Fr. Jacob said! Fr. Mathew and Fr. Augustine are fully aware of God's Grace in them and their only mission in life is to share Christ with others every moment of their lives. Of course, they are not perfect human beings - none of us are. But their capacity to truly give their life fully in humility and joy for others and to live for Jesus deeply touches the lives of those who know them. Pope Francis said it best, "Grace is not part of consciousness; it is the amount of light in our souls, not knowledge nor reason."

I thank Fr. Jacob for his illuminating homily at Friday's Holy Mass which has inspired me to write this post. I pray that each of us will NOT take Jesus for granted. Let us with open hearts answer God's Call. Let us live each day fully for Jesus. And let us touch the lives of others with the Grace of God in us!

For the first time today, I viewed the YouTube music video below - "LIFESONG" by Casting Crown - which truly affirmed what my heart felt during the homily. May it touch yours too!

"Spread love everywhere you go. 

Let no  one ever come to you without leaving happier."

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

THE POWER OF POSITIVE DOING IN NEW EVANGELIZATION

So far, 2014 has been a year when I have done much soul-searching - probably since I will be completing my 10th year with the Divine-Potta ministry in India on 18 June 2014. I just came back two nights ago from a few weeks spent with family and friends in Singapore and Penang, Malaysia. One thing I am sure - I am as surprised as my family and friends of how these 10 years have gone by...

On this trip to Singapore, I was constantly asked about the new Divine Retreat Centre UK - St. Augustine's Abbey in Ramsgate, Kent which was blessed and inaugurated on 16 March 2014. This new retreat centre reinforced in my heart the lesson never to give up when doing God's work and the "Power of Positive Doing" in New Evangelization efforts. 

Pope Francis, just as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, has taken up soul-inspiring challenge of Blessed Pope John Paul II who first called for a "New Evangelization" in his Encyclical "Redemptoris Missio" on 07 December 1990 - nearly 24 years ago! Blessed Pope John Paul II's 'New Evangelization" is in fact the inspiration of the Vincentian Fathers of the Divine-Potta ministry to proclaim the Word of God through the Divine Television ministry. I too was very drawn by Pope John Paul II as a college student - that each of us as Catholics need to be radical in living our faith. Yet, it is many years later before I began to live a Christ-centred life. I know it was my first Divine retreat experience in 1998 that changed my whole life of what my faith means to me. The Divine retreat was my first personal God-experience that awoke me from my spiritual inertia. I was just essentially a Catholic because I was baptized and my parents ensured we had daily family prayers. For me, it was because of the Divine-Potta's Vincentian Fathers untiring mission of conducting retreats every week of the year since December 1989 that gave me this cherished experience. There are so many priests, religious and lay people involved in missionary work all over the world - in their hometowns, own countries or overseas. Most of them are unknown. What matters is each of them is sharing the Love and Hope of Christ to those in need - Catholics and non-Catholics alike!  Many of us have been touched and transformed by their love, efforts and sacrifices. Yet, what have we done to pass on what we ourselves have been spiritually enriched by? Am I only concerned of knowing, loving and receiving  graces from Jesus in a one-on-one relationship as it is beneficial for me? Am I expecting others to do the New Evangelization efforts - why not me? One question arises above all else - how many of us are willing to actually take part in some "positive doing" for New Evangelization in our parish, country or internationally?  What is it all about?

The New Evangelization is a new type of mission work, for it is directed toward historically Christian countries and people who have heard the Gospel but have not fully responded to it.  The message to be proclaimed is not new, for it is still the never changing Gospel of Jesus Christ but it is new in methods, ardour, and expression.  In large part, this is a missionary effort directed toward the baptized.  One need not look far in society to see many baptized Catholics who no longer practice the faith, who have joined sects or other religions, and even some who, while still practicing the faith, have never made a full and generous adult response to the loving invitation of Christ.  Blessed Pope John Paul II wrote that he sensed “that the moment has come to commit all of the Church’s energies to a new evangelization and to the mission ad gentes.  No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples” (Redemptoris Missio 3). - Excerpt from the Mission of Redeemer Ministries blog.

When I was in the corporate world for 16 years, we often did not embark on any initiatives or projects unless we had most of the resources (funds, human resources, technical expertise, defined customer base), had a clear project plan with a high probability of success and knowing the goals and needs/wants of our customer base. In other words, often the best talents and skills of the company were identified and brought together as a team to ensure success. 

And then I came to be a little part of the Divine-Potta ministry in June 2004. To say it was a shock to my system initially (a few years!) of how the Vincentian Fathers of the Divine-Potta ministry carry out their "Faith in Action" mission projects and initiatives is an understatement. It brought a vivid reminder to me of one of the first Bible verses that had ever pierced my heart - "Show me anyone who has faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions." (James 2:18) Here, first and foremost in any ministry project or initiative, what is most important is PRAYER. Nothing and no decision is made without it. Often, steps are only taken after a period of intense prayer and discernment  and the promptings of the Holy Spirit to go forth and to carry out God’s work with total faith and trust. There is no  clear prospect of what the result will be – needless to say, even the resources are scarce and limited when the project or initiative is first thought of. Yet what is important is embracing the "divine" vision God places in our hearts. It may seem impossible but that is when having a Christ-centred faith makes the REAL difference. When God is in charge, He will turn everything to our good. Everyone of us here in our Divine community can probably attest to this Promise of God!

What is crucial is our unwavering faith in God’s Providence.  I always remember that  in my first year in Divine, Fr. Augustine Vallooran V.C. shared with me Psalm 121 and the 1<sup>st</sup> two verses literally says it all of what spurs on the Divine-Potta ministry – “I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2) Having witnessed so many mission "miracles" in the Divine-Potta ministry after great tests of faith and obstacles these past 10 years, I now have a very personal and tangible conviction that it is not by human might, human power and human will that brings our mission the joy and great fruit of the charitable and evangelization projects and initiatives. It is the total dependence on God - of knowing that when we place our trust in Jesus, He will send the Holy Spirit to guide, inspire and lead us to great things for the Glory of our Heavenly Father. What is CRUCIAL is the "Power of Positive Doing" - of not waiting endlessly to make sure all the "'i's" are dotted and the "t"s " are crossed, of not being willing to start taking the first step in faith. When we pray faithfully and constantly lift up the "call" we have in our hearts about any project or initiative that has been put into our hearts by God, we must never give up on hope or doubt just as Blessed Pope John Paul II has always exhorted every Catholic - including you and me!

We must reach out to those who feel burdened and need to experience the life-giving Love and Power of Jesus. Most of all, Catholics need to rejoice and celebrate in the fullness of our faith by living God's Word! Just preaching from the pulpit to church-going Catholics is not enough or serving within our comfort zone among like-minded parishioners in our church. Jesus reached out to the outcasts, the sick and the suffering. and those who had no real understanding of who God really is. That is what He wants of each of us to be  - a missionary wherever we are. The question we need to really reflect and act upon is "Am I willing to do this for Jesus?' Jesus did not choose only priests or the successful businessmen and upper echelons of society to be be His disciples. It was just ordinary men and women who believed in Him like the Samaritan Woman by the Well (Gospel of John Chapter 4) - so every one of us is essentially called by Jesus!  What is our honest answer to Pope Francis' question below? 

None of us should assume that because of our position or skills, we should be the ones to lead or spearhead New Evangelization efforts. It is Jesus who places the call in the hearts of those He chooses and it is Jesus who qualifies those whom He calls. To Jesus who is THE Miracle-Maker, why does He need only the best? It is when He chooses the most unlikely people that others can witness the amazing Power of our Lord unfolding and the great anointing of the Holy Spirit. As Blessed Mother Teresa said, she is just a little instrument in God's Hand. That is all God wants - ordinary people like you and me who are willing to answer with an open "servant" heart His Call even when we are not sure what we can do - all Jesus needs is our complete faith and trust in Him and to take the step of faith in action. He will send us many others willing to serve Him when we most need their help and support and at the very least a priest who will lead and guide us spiritually.

The YouTube clip below "The Power of Positive Doing Creed"  by B J Gallagher really captures the essence of how I believe in living my life. One of the nicest comments I have ever received is what a friend told me over dinner in Singapore a week ago about my 10 years serving in Divine. She said, "Susan, one thing I know, you never give up if you believe in something." That was what seems to have touched her heart, I think. Well, that is a blessed grace I am most thankful to God for! More importantly, I have a deep gratitude to God for the people He brings into my life who are willing and share the "call" and "vision" to take on mission initiatives for the glory of God.

"I believe that true happiness and fulfillment comes from serving others,

and I commit to living my life in service and contribution."

B J Gallagher