tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58843902024-03-07T17:56:44.765+08:00My Spiritual JournalJust a small effort on my part to keep track of this journey I've begun to get closer to God.
So stuff like my tues reflections, inspiring homilies, talks that i attend.
and hopefully, how I experience God in my daily life.
Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-32951141200388130412012-01-23T00:44:00.002+08:002012-01-23T00:49:01.694+08:00Novena - Do You Recognise God's VoiceThis week I attended a bible sharing with some university students, and they were reflecting on this Sunday’s Gospel passage. One girl remarked “I can’t believe that Jesus just approached the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James and John, and said to them ‘Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men’, and they just left everything and followed him, How did they know he was the Messiah, not some mad man? Didn't they ask him who he was, listen to what he was teaching first, make sure he was the Messiah first before agreeing to follow him?"<br /><br />I don’t believe that St Mark was trying to say that was exactly how it happened. But what St Mark was trying to say was, that when God calls, it is an invitation to respond, and that is what the fishermen did.<br /><br />But the problem is, how do we know when God is calling us, and what he is calling us to do? Like the university student, we all want some kind of surety. We want to know is that really God's voice? Is that what he really wants me to do?<br /><br />Sometimes I get jealous when I read about the prophets in the Old Testament, how God speaks to them so directly. Like Jonah in todays 1st reading, and Mother Mary who had an angel appear to her. Why can't God speak to us like that? Then at least we can be sure of what he wants of us.<br /><br />The truth is that God is still speaking to us today. The question that we need to ask ourselves is how familiar are we of the voice of God? I'm sure we all have experiences where we pick up the phone and just from the greeting of the other person, we know who it is. Especially if it is our mother or a very close friend. That is because we have spent much time speaking and listening to them that we know the sound of their voice, and even the way they talk.<br /><br />So it us with God, we will only know his voice if we spend time in prayer with him. Not just praying for blessings and giving thanks, but in also listening to what he has to say, through the scriptures, the church, and even the Catholics around you.<br /><br />How often we turn to God also plays a part to getting to know his will and call for us. Most people only associate God's call to the call to the priesthood, or when they have a major or difficult decision to make. But God is speaking to us everyday, even in the small things, trying to guide us in our lives if we only allow him to, and if we only ask him. <br /><br />He may be saying to you that a colleague is going through a tough time and just needs a listening ear, or for you to invite your friend for Mass one day. Try asking God in the morning, what do you want me to do today.<br /><br />The more we pray, the more we ask him to reveal his plan for us, the closer we will grow to him, and the more familiar we will be of his voice. So when he really asks something big of us, we will be a bit more sure that it is him speaking to us. <br /><br />Then we just need to have a bit of courage and trust, and do it. We don't need to be 100% sure. The prophets, the disciples and even Mother Mary were not 100% sure of what good was asking of them. It is only as they lived out God's call that they became more and more sure.<br /><br />So let us pray that we too may be more aware of God's call in out lives, and we continue to grow closer to him. Amen.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-49062369040012845402011-12-31T18:42:00.000+08:002011-12-31T18:44:30.295+08:00Novena - What's your Good NewsSomeone sent me an email with a story a few days ago, just as I was preparing what to share at today’s novena. And I found it very apt, and would like to share it with you.<br /> <br />On New Year’s Eve, a man and his wife were having dinner and reflecting on all that has happened in the past year. The husband started to complain of how bad the year was. His father got cancer, he had to take a pay cut, the dog died, and the list went on.<br /> <br />The wife was listening patiently, when all of a sudden, she said, “Don’t you think our Christmas Tree is very beautiful?” The husband was shocked at the sudden change of subject, but nodded to agree.<br /> <br />The wife continued, “but if you look carefully, there are a few of the bulbs that have blown. But why focus on those few bulbs, when the rest are shining brightly illuminating the tree and the room?” The husband got the message, and they started to share the many blessings they had in the year.<br /> <br />My brothers and sisters, it is so natural for us to focus on the negatives in our lives, the times when things don’t go the way we want them to. Just look at our newspapers everyday, bad news and scandals greatly outnumber the good news. MRT breaks down and it is the biggest news in Singapore. Orchard Road floods, and as made fun of on the Noose, we call police.<br /> <br />The problem with us, is that we only notice when something goes wrong, not when something goes right. MRT, floods, traffic jam, economy downturn. But you don’t see the news reporting that today the MRT and Buses ran without problem, or that it rained but there were no floods. If we look at the letters that we write in for Novena, only 80 out of 437 are thanksgiving letters (<20%). Isn’t that like the looking at the Christmas tree and seeing the bulbs that are blown?<br /> <br />Actually the News is not only Bad News, it also highlights when amazing things or miracles happen. But it is so easy to overlook the things that normal. Parents will always complain that their children take all that they do for them for granted. Why? Because for the children that is what parents should do normally. Similarly we take God for granted, when we only turn to him at the times when things go wrong, or we give thanks to him when he answers our prayers and makes miracles happen.<br /> <br />My brothers and sisters, we are people of the Good News. That God loved us so much, he sent Jesus, His Son, to remind us of the love of God, and the many blessings that we receive from Him.<br /> <br />So what is the Good News in your life?<br /><br />Today is the last day of the year, we usually look forward to the New Year and make Resolutions to be a better person. But let us not forget to look back at the year, and count the blessings that God has done for us this whole year. I tell you honestly, if you start now and really think of the blessings, you will not be finished by the time this year is over.<br /> <br />So I would like to give you this challenge. Go home today, think of your blessings, and in this one week, write a thanksgiving letter, to God for his many blessings, and for our Mother who always intercedes for us. Put it in an envelope and write "Thanksgiving for Novena" and drop it in our parish office. So next week, we can really give thanks to God for his many blessings on us<br /> <br />I am sure that we have more to give thanks to God for His blessings than asking him for what we need. Amen.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-88631893942312853362011-07-19T18:30:00.004+08:002011-07-21T01:16:21.247+08:00Sharing on the readings of Tue 19th Jul 2011Yesterday evening, my sister and I went to NTUC to get some groceries for the family. The realisation dawned on me of how things have changed. In the past, it was our parents who bought all the household necessities. We just told them what we needed. Now having grown up, we realise our part in the family and chip in to look after the family's needs. The role of a child in the family is not one who just gets looked after, but as he grows older, he realises that he contributes and is involved in the matters of the family.<br /><br />And that is what Jesus is reminding us today in the Gospel (<a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew12.htm#v46">Mt 12:46-50</a>). There is a link between our identity (who we are) and our actions (what we do). In the passage Jesus says<blockquote>whoever does the will of my heavenly Father <span style="font-weight:bold;">IS</span> my brother, and sister, and mother</blockquote>He doesn't say that who ever does the will of the Father "<span style="font-weight:bold;">WILL BECOME</span>", insteads he say "<span style="font-weight:bold;">IS</span>" my brother, sister and mother.<br /><br />Though it might seem like a play of words, but there is a difference between the two. One who "is" Jesus' brother, sister or mother knows that he is a child of God and that he belongs in God's family. And because he belongs to the family, he will do the will of the Father. But one who "will become" Jesus' brother, sister or mother, sees himself as outside of the family, and hopes to become a family member by doing the will of the Father.<br /><br />In the past, I belonged to the second category. I saw God as someone I needed to obey, who will judge me and so I needed to be good to gain His love, to enter heaven. But as I journeyed and grew in my faith, I realised my identity as truly a child of God. I didn't need to work to gain His trust and His love, but I was already immensely loved by Him. And as a child of God, I wanted to do His will. Like Jesus said to his earthly parents when they found him in the temple:<blockquote>Did you not know that I must be about my Father's work? - <a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke2.htm#v49">Lk 2:49</a></blockquote>The question we need to ask ourselves is: Am I doing my Father's will in my life today?<br /><br />If we are not, could it be that we have failed to realise that we are children of God? Or am I still a young child in the faith, not fully realising my responsibilities as a member of God's family. <br /><br />The other problem could be forgetfulness. Not that we do not know that we are children of God, but that we get so distracted, or we believe the lies of the tempter that we forget who we are.<br /><br />Let us pray that we might truly realise our identity as children of God, as brothers and sister of our Lord Jesus Christ. And pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us to know and do the will of our Father.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-38419195595024463392011-07-18T06:30:00.004+08:002011-07-20T19:05:37.049+08:00Sharing on the readings of Mon 18th Jul 2011When I read the Gospel passage of <a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew12.htm#v38">Mt 12:38-42</a>, I used to think it was best not to ask God for a sign. After all Jesus said "It is an evil and unfaithful generation that seeks a sign".<br /><br />But as I continue on my faith journey, I have come to realise that signs from God are important to help us grow in our faith. It assures us of God's presence with us on our journey, sometimes leading us, other times just to let us know He is there.<br /><br />One sign which God gave me which I treasure was during a silent retreat that I went for. During that retreat, it was about 5 prayer sessions of 1 hour each a day. And of course after a few days, I started to lose focus and was getting a bit tired or lazy. So there was one prayer session that I felt that my prayer was really dry and fruitless. And I started to bargain with God to let me do 30 mins, or 45 mins instead of the full hour.<br /><br />I tried to persevere on, but I couldn't get my mind focused on the bible passage, and so I started to look around for something to distract me, and I saw a trail of ants. The ants were just industriously walking up and down the trail, I think to find food or something.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5957016789/" title="ant of rocks by Schwiing, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6015/5957016789_d1d3d602e8.jpg" width="400" alt="ant of rocks"></a><br />I was really so bored and distracted at the time, that I decided to search whether the bible mentions "ants". And so I searched and found the passage Proverbs 6:6<blockquote>Go to the ant, you lazybones; consider its ways, and be wise.</blockquote>And I knew that God was showing me a sign, to remind me not to be lazy, but to be faithful like the ant, even if the task may seem boring or routine.<br /><br />Back to the Gospel passage. If signs from God are beneficial to us, why did Jesus say what he said? It is not that signs are bad, but signs cannot be the foundation of our faith. Our faith needs to be built on our relationship with God, not external signs.<br /><br />Take the example of dating vs marriage. In the beginning stages of the relationship, both parties give lots of signs of their love for the other, gifts, smses, etc. But as the relationship deepens, these external signs no longer play such an important role in expressing the love between the two.<br /><br />It is the same with God, our relationship with him needs to be deepened, where it is strengthened by external signs, but not dependent on them. If we fail to reach that stage, we will be like the Israelites in the 1st Reading (<a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/exodus/exodus15.htm#v1">Exodus 15:1bc-2, 3-4, 5-6</a>) who despite the signs that God has shown them, complain at the first sign of difficulty, and wanting to go back to slavery in Egypt.<br /><br />Our relationship with God cannot be one where he is a vending machine giving us signs whenever we want them. But it should be based on the trust that he truly is God and loves us immensely. The one most important sign that He gave us, as what Jesus says in the Gospel, is that of Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose again to give us hope.<br /><br />Remember that during the times in our lives where we may fail to see God's signs in our lives, it could be that he is testing and strengthening our faith in him, that we still believe even if we don't see. As Jesus said to doubting Thomas:<blockquote>You believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe - Jn 20:29</blockquote>Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-20289254990608154902011-04-27T08:46:00.001+08:002011-05-01T21:57:41.121+08:00It is Me lah!Yesterday's reading (<a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/john/john20.htm#v11">Jn 20:11-18</a>) about Mary Magdalene's encounter with the Risen Lord reminded me of my experience at this year's Easter Vigil.<br /><br />Before the Liturgy of the Light, everyone was gathered around the fire at the entrance of the church. I was standing with the Fr Brian and the Altar Servers, waiting for it to start. I looked around and saw a priest in his chasuble standing at the back. I didn't recognise him, and I thought it must be a visiting priest come to join in the celebration. So I went up to him and said "Father, we are about to start, would you like to join us near the fire. He gave a laugh and said "It is me lah!". Then I realised that it was Fr Bosco. He had shaven his head and beard. He looked totally different.<br /><br />I have heard that Fr Bosco had done this before during Easter, but still the sight before me left me in shock. I found myself staring trying to figure out how the hair and beard could change one's appearance so drastically. I recalled the Mas Selamat posters with him in a beard and clean shaven, and it did not look so different.<br /><br /><a href="http://family.webshots.com/photo/2793550160058567273BXZPJt"><img src="http://inlinethumb20.webshots.com/46611/2793550160058567273S425x425Q85.jpg" alt="SFX_7923"></a><br /><br />Back to yesterday's reading. As I compared Mary Magdalene's experience of the Risen Lord, with my encounter with Fr Bosco's new look, I realised the similarities.<br /><br />Mary was looking for the dead Jesus' body. I was also expecting a bearded Fr Bosco, the one I was used to.<br /><br />Mary recognised Jesus when he called her. I also recognised Fr Bosco by his voice, when he said "it is I lah!".<br /><br />Mary would probably have known that Jesus had said that he would rise on the third day. I knew that Fr Bosco had previously shaved his head for Easter, and many people did not recognise him, and yet when I saw him, it didn't cross my mind.<br /><br />Looking forward to the last day when I brought before Christ, I know that this scenario will play itself out again.<br /><br />Though I know that Christ will be different from what I imagine him to be, I will still be clinging on to my image of what Christ should look like, and may not recognise him. I just pray and hope that when that day comes, I will be able to recognise his voice when he says to me, "<span style="font-weight:bold;">It is Me lah!</span>."<br /><br />Here's a video to bring you some joy and laughter.<br />Jesus Christ is risen indeed.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="330" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HLSIHYbedII?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />Click this <a href="http://youtu.be/HLSIHYbedII">link</a> if you cannot see the video.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-83757146534721026432011-04-18T13:48:00.001+08:002011-04-18T13:51:27.743+08:00Palm Sunday - Short FilmJust saw a great short film on Palm Sunday.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="255" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PFHlxPjahVs?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Click this <a href="http://youtu.be/PFHlxPjahVs">link</a> if you cannot see the video.<br /><br />What was going on in your mind during the "long" passion reading?Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-14660210840324791312011-04-15T18:56:00.002+08:002011-04-15T19:05:00.373+08:00Get CleanI just saw this video on Youtube.<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="255" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eI-l9ug7S7A?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Click this <a href="http://youtu.be/eI-l9ug7S7A">link</a> if you cannot see the video.<br /><br />Just thought that it is a great reminder of how liberating the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be.<br /><br />So for those of you who haven't gotten clean yet, there are still penitential services this evening and monday evening. Click <a href="http://www.catholicnews.sg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5898:parish-reconciliation-services&catid=270:april-10-2011-vol-61-no7&Itemid=78">here to see the schedule</a><br /><br />Let's prepare ourselves to celebrate the wonderful mystery of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection that gives us Hope.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-6473609836346854992011-04-01T23:04:00.005+08:002011-04-04T10:43:28.357+08:00There are two chicks on my balconyUpdate from my previous blog entry about <a href="http://schwiing.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-neighbours.html">the birds building the nest on my balcony</a>. The nest was built pretty fast in about 4 days, after which the birds seemed to disappear, until one day I saw a familiar beak sticking out of the nest.<blockquote><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5571856868/" title="Laying/Incubating the Eggs"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5571856868_a7366ff1ef.jpg" width="400" alt="P3240135_sm"></a><br />Laying/Incubating the Eggs</center></blockquote>I knew that the eggs had hatched when one morning, I didn't see the mother bird in the nest. So I took a closer look and saw the beak of the chick sticking out.<blockquote><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5578571997/" title="Closeup of the Nest"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5188/5578571997_61bcf40695.jpg" width="400" alt="P4010277-Closeup"></a><br />Closeup of the Nest</center></blockquote>And sure enough, during the day I see the two parent birds flying to the nest, I hear the hungry chirps of the chicks as they bring them food.<blockquote><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5571268171/" title="Father Feeding the Chicks"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5571268171_3e7d591cbf_m.jpg" width="200" alt="P3290185_sm"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5571856974/" title="Father Feeding the Chicks"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5029/5571856974_2752337142_m.jpg" width="200" alt="P3290197_sm"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5571861146/" title="Father Feeding Chicks"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5110/5571861146_80388c7a65.jpg" width="400" alt="Father Feeding Chicks 02"></a><br />Father Feeding the Chicks</center></blockquote><blockquote><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5571860896/" title="Mother Feeding Chicks"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5150/5571860896_bbe972a36b.jpg" width="400" alt="Mother Feeding Chicks"></a><br />Mother Feeding the Chicks</center></blockquote><blockquote><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5571272187/" title="Closeup of the Mother"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5058/5571272187_6a1f0e3b1f.jpg" width="400" alt="Mother Feeding Chicks 02"></a><br />Closeup of the Mother</center></blockquote><blockquote><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5578572045/" title="Closeup of the Father"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5264/5578572045_0c0b542736.jpg" width="400" alt="P4010279-Closeup"></a><br />Closeup of the Father</center></blockquote><blockquote><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5579158258/" title="Off to find more food"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5144/5579158258_3a3259a30b.jpg" width="400" alt="P4010281_sm"></a><br />Off to find more food</center></blockquote>The two parents fly back and forth the whole day to find and bring food back to feed their chicks.<blockquote><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5578571817/" title="My Hide out"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5030/5578571817_385b592fc2.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P4010268_sm"></a><br />This is where I have to stand to take the photos.</center></blockquote>One thing this has taught me is patience. As the opening of the nest is facing out of my balcony, I have to take the photos from the window in the bathroom. And as the hungry chicks devour the food their parents bring them, each stopover lasts less than 10 seconds. So I have to stand on the chair in the bathroom, holding my hand up with the camera sticking out of the window, patiently waiting for the parent bird to fly in. As I can't look out the window, I have to rely on the chirping of the chicks to tell me when the parent bird is there. And if I'm too slow, it is another 5-10 minutes of waiting before the next feed. So I stand there praying that the birds will be able to find food quickly.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-5430259913480361152011-03-23T22:31:00.003+08:002011-03-23T23:18:24.921+08:002012 - End Of The WorldOn the Sunday after the earthquake in Japan, I was at a bible sharing session, when this question was put to me.<br /><br />"In light of the recent earthquakes & natural disasters around the world, is this the sign of the end of the world?"<br /><br />I put the question to the other members of the group, and found more fuel added to the discussion on the end of the world.<ul><li>the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=egypt+green+horse&aq=f">pale green horse</a> seen on video footage of the Egypt demonstrations</li><br /><li>the end of the world in 2012 as seen in the movie, based on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_phenomenon">Mayan calendar</a></li></ul>Usually I would give the answer from scripture, that only the Father knows the time and the day (<a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/mark/mark13.htm#v32">Mk 13:32</a>). But this time I asked them what if it were true, what if the end of the world was really around the corner? How would this "news" affect or change your life? Would you enjoy yourself and do all the things you want to do before the world ends? Would you repent of your sins before facing judgement day?<br /><br />The surprising thing is they did not think so far. It is easy to get caught up in the sensationalism of the whole end of the world thing. Is it true? Are the prophecies in the book of Revelations happening now?<br /><br />But this is what the world without Christ is concerned about. The focus is on the End of the World, because it is the end of life for them. But for us Christians, we believe it is not the end of our life. We are focused on the eternal life that has been won for us by Christ, and awaits us as a gift, all we need to accept that gift in our lives. So all these events remind us that we are all mortal, our lives are all in God's plan. <br /><br />So how do we react to these things are happening.<ul><li>if you think the end of the world is coming, so it is a time for enjoying life to the fullest, then what a pity, there is no life for you after 2012.</li><br /><li>if you think the end of the world is coming, and it is time to repent, good for you, but don't get disappointed if life continues. At least you turned back to God, though not for the right reason.</li><br /><li>if you think these events are a call for you to be thankful for your blessings, and that it is a call for you to share these blessings with those affected by these natural disasters, then happy are you, for the message of God has touched and changed your life, and you are living the Kingdom of God here and now.</li></ul>At the Conversion Retreat, Fr Goh told us of a pastor who told his flock that all we need to do to get to heaven, is to repent 1 day before we die. The problem is we will never know when we are going die. Thus the call as emphasized during lent, is to repent, and turn back to God, who loves us so much, and is just waiting for us to return so that he can shower us with his abundant blessings.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-77381043724826175052011-03-13T22:18:00.001+08:002011-03-15T23:09:20.137+08:00Garden vs Desert - 1st Sunday of LentWe have often heard it said, that for those who handle large amounts of money or hold important positions, we need to pay them well to prevent the temptation of corruption. Or others who say, "Let me earn enough... before I can ...".<br /><br />An interesting thought came to me as I was at Mass today, and reflecting on the readings. When we compare the environment in the First Reading <a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/genesis/genesis3.htm#v1">(Gn 3:1-7)</a> and the Gospel <a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew4.htm#v1">(Mt 4:1-11)</a>, we see two drastic contrasting situations. In the Garden of Eden, also known as Paradise, it was a land of abundance, where Adam & Eve had all they needed to meet their needs. On the opposite end, we have the Wilderness or Desert, where Jesus was, with no food or water, a sparse cruel land.<br /><br />If we use the thinking mentioned above, one would think that Adam & Eve would be more than satisfied with all that they had, wanting nothing more. And Jesus having fasted for forty days and "was hungry". would have been craving for his first bite to break his fast.<br /><br />And yet we see the irony, the one who had everything fell for the temptation of the devil to eat the forbidden fruit. And the one who was hungry was able to resist the temptation to change stones into bread. Sounds like some topsy-turvy fantasy world. It just doesn't make sense.<br /><br />But it does when we reflect further, and it is linked to the recommended practice of Fasting, especially during this time of lent. It is not so much about the giving up of something that we like, but it is the reminding ourselves that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. Fasting helps us to realise that the only necessary thing we need in our lives is God. It helps us to realise that we can live 40 days without chocolate, cigarettes, facebook, or whatever may seem to have taken precedence over God in our lives.<br /><br />The readings remind us that it is foolish to think that if we acquire what we need and what we want, we will be satisfied. Because there will always be more money to be earned, more possessions to have, more new things to do than we will ever have the time to try them all. It is when we fast, that we enter the desert like Jesus, and realise the superfluousness (cheem word I learnt recently - means unnecessary) of so many material things in our lives.<br /><br />So let us enter the desert, where in the silence and emptiness, we will hear God's voice, enter into His embrace and experience His love that satisfies all hearts.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-239977942201650592011-03-11T21:36:00.002+08:002011-03-15T22:15:53.324+08:00Life-GivingIn the last week, the theme of being life-giving has been coming up over and over again.<br /><br />First it was an <a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_640661.html">article in the newspaper</a> where a MP conducted a straw poll, finding that there is a tipping point, a monetary value of benefits that the government can offer to women to encourage them to have children. It was suggested that an amount of $500,000, half a million dollars would change the minds of some childless women. I wonder if that is the real reason why couples (not only the woman) are not having children? Is it that it is too expensive to raise a child in this day and age? Or is it a matter of values and attitudes towards child-bearing and being life-giving. Could it be the notion that having a child is too troublesome, restricts the freedom, limits career prospect, which is delaying or stopping couples from having children.<br /><br />This was contrasted when we were doing the story of Jephthah's daughter in <a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/judges/judges11.htm">Jdg 11</a>, who went to bemoan her virginity because she was going to die before fulfilling the mission of her womanhood - that of bearing a child. There are so many stories of women in the bible (Sarah,...etc), where being barren is seen as a curse, and when they are gifted with a child, there is much thanks to God for the gift and blessing that the child is.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5525151617/" title="Bird Building Nest"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5525151617_881142d3b8_m.jpg" height="200" alt="Bird Building Nest" align="left" border=0 hspace=5 vspace=5 /></a>Furthermore, I have the two birds flying to and fro, building their nest on my balcony, one strand at a time. These birds with their "small little bird brains" compared to our human intelligence, yet are able to know their purpose and to bring forth new life. Seeing them fly tireless to-and-fro weaving the nest strand by strand, surely limits their "freedom", taking up 4 whole days, reminds and challenges me that I have to be life-giving and tireless in living out this Mission and Vocation that God has called and entrusted to me.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5525838794/" title="P3040070_sm by Schwiing, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5258/5525838794_ecaedb3498_m.jpg" height="170" alt="P3040070_sm" border=0 hspace=5 vspace=5 /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5525860918/" title="Bird looking out of nest-01 by Schwiing, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5052/5525860918_f001f09be1_m.jpg" height="170" alt="Bird looking out of nest-01" border=0 hspace=5 vspace=5 /></a><br /><br />Talking about being life-giving, Wednesday during our afternoon-off, I joined 2 other brother seminarians as they went to donate blood. This was my first time donating blood, and on our journey to the blood bank, I asked both to share why they regularly donate blood. One brother shared that when his father was in hospital and needed blood, it was readily provided, and as such he feels that he wants to donate, so that others too may have blood when they need it. The other brother who is from Malaysia, shared the situation back home, where if a person requires blood for an operation, they will be required to find donors to replace the number of packets used.<br /><br />Listening to their sharings, and after going through the relatively simple, painless and fast process of donating blood, I started to reflect on this whole experience. Firstly, why have I not donated blood before? It was not that troublesome or time-consuming. In fact there was a guy who was there next to me, who came on his birthday. He had taken a half-day off for his birthday, and there he was donating blood. I guess for myself it was the lack of awareness, or urgency. Most of the time it would need a dramatic situation to jerk me out of my comfort zone. But thankfully I have these 2 brothers who encouraged and motivated me with their own inspiring examples.<br /><br />Secondly, what is my motivation for donating blood? In the army, those who donate blood get to skip strenuous exercise for the day. For me, it would be the free chocolate brownie and Milo at the cafe after donating blood. Jokes aside, as it is understood in the Old Testament by the Jews, that blood is life, then donating blood would be one of the ways that I can be life-giving. I am just satisfied that my blood can be a gift of someone in need. In fact I would recommend everyone who is physically able, to donate regularly. There is always someone in need of it, don't wait till you need it then realise the importance of it.<br /><br /><img align=center width=300 src="http://www.teenperspectives.com/wp-content/images/GiveBloodGiveLife.gif" border="0" vspace=5/>Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-2231213663973512062011-03-03T08:00:00.002+08:002011-03-03T08:00:08.861+08:00Rosy Cheeks or Blind & BogayA young boy once asked me this riddle:<blockquote>"How do you tell the difference between a person in heaven and a person in hell?"<br />"One has a halo and wings, the other has horns?"<br />"No. The one in heaven has rosy cheeks and is fit and muscular, the one in hell is blind and bogay (no teeth)".<br />"How is that so?"<br />"Because the one in hell takes a tooth for a tooth and an eye for an eye. The one in heaven has rosy cheeks because he offers the other cheek when he is slapped, and fit because he walks two miles when others walk one."</blockquote>While this riddle takes what Jesus said in the Gospel (<a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/matthew/matthew5.htm#v38">Mt 5:38-48</a>) literally, it does help us visualize the difference between the life of love and the life of hatred. The life of hatred allows hatred and vengeance to perpetuate which will result in a world full of blind and toothless people. But in a world of love and forgiveness, the one who receives injury or insult, puts a stop to it by not taking revenge. He in fact tries to further eradicate hatred by "going that extra mile", by loving the enemy. In loving the enemy, it is not so much doing something good to gain our own salvation, but by loving the enemy, we are trying to help change the person to be better person.<br /><br />In the battle between good and evil, love and hate, I use scenes from two movies to remind of what Christ was trying to teach us.<br /><br />First in the movie "Fearless" starring Jet Li, we see the cycle of hatred going on, when first Jet Li's disciple is beaten up by, he goes to take revenge and ends up killing his rival. His rival's godson then takes revenge by killing his wife and child. Jet Li then goes to his rival's house, but before he can get his revenge, the rival's godson commits suicide, denied of his revenge, he turns to his rival's wife and child. In the principle of an eye for an eye, he could have had his revenge for what he himself lost. But he comes to his senses, and walks away. Thus we see how hatred can only stop when one party decides not to revenge a hurt.<br /><br />The second movie, illustrates Christ call to love. In the movie, "Pay It Forward", a boy Trevor starts a class assignment on a plan to make the world a better place. He decides to do 3 good deeds and he tells the recipients of the good deeds not to repay him, but to do 3 good deeds to someone else. In one chain we see Trevor helping his mum, who in turn forgives her mother, who helps a gang member, who in turn saves a girl's life, and then the Father of the girl gives away his car to a journalist whose car was smashed. At the end of the movie, we see how one boy's initiative touches the lives of so many people.<br /><br />This is the question that we are faced with - Do we want to be part of the chain that passes on hatred, or the chain that spreads love?Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-9993968578783151552011-03-01T15:58:00.004+08:002011-03-01T16:20:11.637+08:00New NeighboursThis weekend, I was blessed with an encounter with 2 soon-to-be parents. On Saturday afternoon, these 2 yellow birds started flying to my balcony, and entertaining me with their chirping and gymnastics on my laundry line.<br /><br /><Center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5487820027/" title="House Hunting"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5251/5487820027_626ca4c75d.jpg" width="400" alt="P1070046_sm" /></a></Center><br /><br />I was wondering why they came repeatedly to my balcony, when I saw one of the birds bringing some sort of fibre or grass and trying to attach it to the line. Then I knew that they were trying to build a nest. But try as they might, they were not successful, the strips kept falling to the floor. Evening came, and the birds did not return.<br /><br /><Center><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="325" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/cS-XK-VGQmY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></Center><br /><br />To my joy, the birds were back on Sunday morning, when I came back to my room at 8am after breakfast. They were chirping away and still trying to build the nest. I wished I could stay in my room to enjoy their company, but we were having the Seminary Open House, so I had to go and meet the visitors and introduce the seminary to them.<br /><br />Imagine my surprise when I came back to my room at lunchtime, to see that they had ingeniously used a clothes-peg on the line as an anchor, and started to build their nest around it. Looks like I will be having constant visitors and entertainment in the coming days. Praise the Lord for this wonderful blessing and encounter with His creation.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5488415860/" title="After Day 1"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5293/5488415860_0043f23387.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="P1070057_sm" /></a></center><br /><br />But like the story about <a href="http://schwiing.blogspot.com/2005/07/divine-mercy-triduum.html">good luck, bad luck</a> that I wrote about once before, this weekend I suffered a small loss. I dropped my camera, during the open house. And though it didn't seem like that hard a knock, it is not able to take any more photos. Luckily, I was able to take out the last few photos I took of the birds and the nest. Now I just have to take photos with the camera on my phone, or borrow a camera from one of the brothers.<br /><br />But then again, maybe not bad luck, but good luck. Maybe its a sign to get a new camera, or to detach, since lent is coming. Hmm... <br /><br />One of my brother seminarians mentioned that now I can't use my laundry line to hang my clothes to dry. But I guess its a small price to pay. What's a little inconvenience compared to this gift of encountering God's creation at work. I wonder how many eggs and baby birds God will bless me with.<br /><br />Praise the Lord for this wonderful blessing.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-85374233099031839142011-01-31T09:23:00.002+08:002011-01-31T09:40:38.814+08:00God Is Calling Me To MarriageThis is the article that I wrote for last year's seminary magazine "The Journey 2010". When I first proposed the title of the article, I got many puzzled looks and jokes about whether I was going through a vocation crisis. Read the article to find out more.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/schwiing/5402581277/" title="Wedding rings by Schwiing, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5051/5402581277_7daee29e91_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Wedding rings" align="left" border="0" hspace="10"/></a>I once asked a boy in a confirmation camp, what was stopping him from being holy. And his reply was “I don’t want to become a priest”. That answer surprised me. But when I got that same answer from another boy at that camp, it got me thinking. Why was holiness exclusive to the Priesthood? It seems that for those boys, if one were to be holy, it was because he was thinking of becoming a priest, which means that a normal lay person does not have to be holy, or at least not so holy. Sadly this view is shared by many Catholics, <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Call to Holiness</span><br />In that same line, if I were to ask a young person today “have you discerned your vocation?”, often the answer would be, “no lah, I don’t think that God is calling me to be a priest/nun” The word “vocation” has come to be synonymous with the priesthood and religious life. Partly it could be that the usage of the word has always been linked to priesthood and religious life. Think of terms like “Vocation Sunday” and “Vocation Promotion Team”. <br /><br />Part of my journey in my renewal of faith in 2003 was to discover what it meant to be Catholic, what it meant to be a disciple of the Lord. I learnt from the Parable of the Rich Young Man (Mt 19:16-22), that it was not just about keeping the commandments, but to follow Christ. And it was in the Lord’s Prayer that I found my answer – “your will be done on earth as it is heaven”. Having prayed that prayer so many times, I realised that it is not an abstract prayer that somewhere, sometime and someone will do God’s will, but that I as Christian, am praying that I may do the Lord’s will in my life. I knew then that I had to discern my vocation. To grow in holiness meant doing the Lord’s will, which meant discerning and living out the call, the vocation that He had made me for.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Call to Marriage</span><br />One of the most common questions I get asked is "how do you know that God is calling you to priesthood?" Recently I have tried a new response to that question. If the one asking is a married person, I would ask them "how do you know that God called you to marriage?" Often the response would be a blank stare or forced laughter. Sometimes the honest ones will say they never really discerned or that they were not that holy when they got married. Then I would ask them how they are living out their marriage vocation now. Silence again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Vocation Crisis</span><br />We often hear that the Church is facing a Vocation Crisis, because of the dwindling numbers entering the priesthood and religious life. But I believe the real Crisis in Vocations is that our Catholics have stopped believing that God has a Will for each and everyone. If our married couples do not see their marriage as part of their call from God to live a life of holiness, are they truly living out a married vocation? Or is their marriage just the same as any non-Catholic marriage.<br /><br />If every young person were to be asking God “Lord, how do you want me to live my life?”, I am sure that not only will we have more priestly and religious vocations. We will have stronger marriages and better Catholic families where the faith is lived out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">God is Calling Me to Marriage</span><br />In my ministry, I have had the privilege of meeting some couples who have shared how God called them to the marriage vocation. But the number of them are fewer than the number of seminarians we have in the seminary. My wish is for all young people to discover God’s call in their lives, so that they will be able to grow in holiness. And also for those who are already married, to find out and live out their marriage as a vocation. It is a call to love, to serve, to lay down their lives for their spouse, for their family, and be the light of Christ in the world.<br /><br /><blockquote>To read the rest of the articles in the Journey 2010, you can download the pdf version at this <a href="http://www.sfxms.org.sg/Journey/TheJourney2010.pdf">link</a>.</blockquote>Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-53605937441533604032010-12-26T16:12:00.002+08:002010-12-26T16:42:19.670+08:00Fall on your kneesMerry Christmas to one and all!<br />I just want to share a wonderful encounter I had with the Lord this Christmas.<br /><br />I was at Mass on Christmas Day, it was just after Communion, and I was praying when the choir started to sing O Holy Night for the Thanksgiving Hymn. As I reflected on having just received Christ, the words of the song started to strike me. How we in the world wearied by sin is pining for the Lord, and His coming frees us and fills us with joy and light. And of course when the choir sang the chorus, I trembled with the awe of just being on my knees before our Lord, imagining what the shepherds might have felt kneeling before the baby Jesus in the simple manger.<br /><br />I hope that this Christmas was as good for you as it was for me. God Bless.<br /><br /><object width="320" height="265"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cZ-8jYpa1-o?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cZ-8jYpa1-o?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object><blockquote>O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,<br />It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.<br />Long lay the world in sin and error pining.<br />Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.<br />A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,<br />For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.<br />Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!<br />O night divine, the night when Christ was born;<br />O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!<br />O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!<br /><br />Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,<br />With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.<br />O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,<br />Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.<br />The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;<br />In all our trials born to be our friend.<br />He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,<br />Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!<br />Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!<br /><br />Truly He taught us to love one another,<br />His law is love and His gospel is peace.<br />Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.<br />And in his name all oppression shall cease.<br />Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,<br />With all our hearts we praise His holy name.<br />Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,<br />His power and glory ever more proclaim!<br />His power and glory ever more proclaim!</blockquote>Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-9549724770888583952010-12-15T11:56:00.002+08:002010-12-15T11:58:59.681+08:00Becky Kelley - Where's the Line to See JesusJust saw this music video on Youtube.<br />Found in quite appropriate for reflection on the spirit of Christmas<br /><br /><object width="400" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OExXItDyWEY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OExXItDyWEY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="250"></embed></object><br /><br />So where is Jesus in your Christmas this year?Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-3597881054215564312010-12-11T16:45:00.001+08:002010-12-15T11:55:06.604+08:00Novena - Bringing Christ to OthersAs we enter into the 3rd Week of Advent, I would like to share with you an encounter which gave me a new way of looking at the season of Advent.<br /><br />Two years ago, a family invited me over to their home for dinner. As I was making my way to their place, I was making some plans in my mind. Here I am, a seminarian being invited for dinner, I was asking God what could I do for them. And so I decided that, after dinner, just before I left the house, I would suggest if I could lead them into a short time of prayer together as a family.<br /><br />So after dinner, I was chatting with the parents, and just as I was about to make my big suggestion, they asked me, “brother, would you like to join us in our night prayer?”. I was a bit taken aback by the change in my plans, but still it gave me an opportunity to pray with them, and so I agreed. To my surprise the five children went to their rooms and brought out their bibles. I, myself didn’t bring my bible, but luckily I had an electronic version in my phone, so I said I would use that. It amazed me to see this family coming together every night to pray, reading the bible, especially since the youngest one was only 5 years old.<br /><br />To top it off, at the end of the sharing, the mother asked them what would be their advent project for the year. They finally agreed on donating food items to the Boys’ Brigade Share-A-Gift project, which gives food to the needy. They made plans the next day to go down to NTUC to buy the items, and the youngest even volunteered the $20 ang pow her grandma had given to her.<br /><br />I went home that night, truly humbled, by what the Lord had given me the opportunity to experience. Here I was thinking that I would be leading this family in prayer, and there the Lord threw aside all my plans in showing my the deep faith of the family. As amazing as that is, that is not the only thing that I took back that night. This family challenged me in terms, what was I doing during this Advent period. How was I preparing myself for the arrival of the Lord.<br /><br />I thought that I was doing a lot in my prayer, reflecting on the mystery of Christ’s birth. Not being caught up with the materialistic, consumerism of Christmas shopping. And here this family was not looking at themselves, but thinking of others and how they can share their blessings with those who were in need.<br /><br />What this family did, was what our dear Blessed Mother herself did. After the angel Gabriel told her that she was going to be the Mother of Jesus, she could have spent that time praying, reflecting on her own blessings. But instead she set off to her cousin Elizabeth’s place, because she was in her old age, and 6 months pregnant, needing all the help she can get.<br /><br />What our Blessed Mother brought to Elizabeth was more than just physical aid, but she brought the child Jesus that she was carrying in her. When we look at ourselves today, can we also imitate Mother Mary. Are we carrying Christ within us, in all the blessings, the love that God has showered on us? Or is Christ outside of us, that we are still waiting for him to be born in our lives? If He is in our lives, are we able to bring that love of God to those around us, especially those in need?<br /><br />As we come in prayer to Our Lady, and adore the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, let us pray that in the remaining 2 weeks of Advent, we may recognize that Christ is dwelling in each of us, and we may take the time to make His love present to others too. Amen.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-25956673389787140522010-11-21T09:04:00.001+08:002010-11-23T09:06:03.421+08:00Reflections on the Solemnity of Christ the KingAs we come to the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year, it is always the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. And I would like to share with you an interesting clip I saw that highlights the Kingship of Christ. It is from the movie 300, which is about Leonidas, king of Sparta, who led 300 men to defend his land from an invasion by the Persian army led by their "god-king" Xerxes. In this clip, we see a negotiation between Leonidas and Xerxes.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXaTcZWBfC0"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBC3ZQgCRAgWLgApyo39da2wRdCT2hMjCghrvHuO3ExTN5CpWw_Uca1AwCB_7hgMxyIMUb5LFOxr7DWSmLMdHUlB3IXe6dGkZDXhHiHkzFjeWibw8YxVT5VHMyia7mGwQIiZtfsQ/s320/300-Leonidas-and-Xerxes.gif" border="0" /></a>The video clip can't be embedded, because it is copyrighted. So click on this link to view it. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXaTcZWBfC0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXaTcZWBfC0</a><br /><br />There are a few points in the dialogue between the two which struck me, highlighting the contrasting ideas of what kingship was. And I found that I could relate Leonidas' kingship with Christ's kingship of love, self-sacrifice and freedom. In contrast Xerxes kingship can be equated to the devil's kingship of false promises, fear, oppression and pain.<table border="1"><tbody><tr><td align="center" width="50%"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Xerxes / Devil</span></td><td align="center" width="50%"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leonidas / Christ</span></td></tr><br /><tr><td>- would gladly kill any of his<br />own men for victory</td><td>- would die for any one of his men</td></tr><br /><tr><td>- has slaves</td><td>- has warriors who were free men</td></tr></tbody></table><br />What Xerxes does, is like what the devil did to tempt Jesus after his forty days in the desert: a promise of power and fame, if Jesus would only bow before him. And just as Leonidas stood up to Xerxes, Jesus stood up to the devil, because he knew who was the true source of power and good.<br /><br />This is what we need to reflect on today - Is Jesus really our king? We know that he was willing to die for any one of his men, to free them from the hands of the evil one. Have we then experienced his kingship in our lives? Are we marching in his army, under his banner, following his lead? Are we as Leonidas says, free men who stood against a tryant, the evil one?<br /><br />Let us then today truly acknowledge Christ as our king, bending our knee before him, pledging our allegiance, following his commands, and be his army in establishing God's kingdom here on earth.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-21678039331141613122010-08-09T02:31:00.001+08:002010-08-09T02:34:56.064+08:00How one generation loves – the next generation learnsAfter finishing my 30-day silent retreat in June, it took some time to get updated on what had been happening in Singapore, and also clearing all the emails that had piled up. One email I received was on the new video that the National Family Council has produced and currently showing on TV. For those of you who haven’t seen the ad, watch the video below before reading on.<blockquote><object width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ybxNkpS5q-g&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ybxNkpS5q-g&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400"></embed></object></blockquote>This ad struck me because of the tagline at end – “How one generation loves – the next generation learns”. During my retreat, we were given many passages of the life of Jesus to pray and reflect on. And on one of the days, I was given the passage from Luke 2:39-40 to reflect on.<blockquote>“When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”<br /></blockquote>This passage comes after the child Jesus is presented in the Temple. After that we see Jesus as an adult at his Baptism and starting his ministry. So my Retreat Master, told me to reflect on the life of Jesus growing up. The life of Jesus from the time that he was 12 up to 30 is not talked about in the bible. So I had to imagine what Jesus did during that time.<br /><br />As I was praying, an image came to me of Mother Mary teaching Jesus, his Hebrew ABCs, maybe some mathematics, and St Joseph teaching him how to use the carpentry tools. Then I imagined Mary & Joseph teaching Jesus to pray to God. This was a bit surprising and funny, because I started to wonder, would Jesus need to be taught how to pray? After all he is the Son of God. But then I thought why not? Jesus would not only have learnt how to pray from His parents, but also their example of their love of God in their lives would also have been something that He learnt as he was growing up.<br /><br />This led me to reflect on my own life. And it made me think of what I have learnt from my parents. Sure they taught me how to speak, how to write, how to ride a bicycle. But more than, that I was grateful for the lessons which I learnt from the example of their lives. I learnt about the faith and how to pray. I still remember once when I asked my mum about being a godmother, and she told me how she prays for all her god-children every night. It made me wonder, if she prays for her god-children every night, how much more must she be praying for me. From them I learnt how to be generous with my time, energy and possessions. And I came out of that prayer session feeling really blessed by God for the wonderful gift of my parents.<br /><br />So today I would like each one of us here to reflect on two things. Firstly, what have we learnt from our parents? What kind of values and what kind of faith have we learnt from them?<br /><br />And secondly, for those of you who are parents, what are you teaching your children? Not just by what you say, but by how you live your lives. I know of parents who will tell their children to pray and to obey God. But when it comes to their children’s studies, that will come before God. The children can have many enrichment classes, but Catechism class will be the first to be sacrificed if there is a clash.<br /><br />So often we hear of parents telling their children to stop watching tv or playing the computer and to do their homework. How many parents tell their children to stop doing their homework because its time to read the bible or to pray? And this is not just for parents of young children. Even if your child is an adult, parents do play a role in the salvation of their children. St Monica prayed continuously for her adult son to change his ways, and God answered his prayers, he not only converted, he became a bishop and now we know him as St Augustine.<br /><br />Let us give thanks for our parents and all that they have taught and inspired us. And let us ask our blessed Mother, to help us be good Christian examples for our children, the way she was for Jesus. Amen.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-5600076694472051292010-05-12T09:37:00.001+08:002010-05-12T09:38:38.202+08:00Reflections on the Easter SeasonEach year, Lent and Easter occur around the time the Spring season begins. Significant because Spring is the time of new life, when trees start to bud and flowers start to bloom. And so we too celebrate the new life that Christ has gained for us in His death and resurrection.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QkFDB4vPox-RgeSSpmzDSbcVKyTRSeIDusWhLFl9_x_oL4481fJrSZeaLJLa6oXui-ifilPHp2-mCJ4QGJOOCIC2frLLc0Y4N0cmwzWOjiTdPzDxCQFLgF6NzqouY0f5Ws24Dw/s1600/planting11.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QkFDB4vPox-RgeSSpmzDSbcVKyTRSeIDusWhLFl9_x_oL4481fJrSZeaLJLa6oXui-ifilPHp2-mCJ4QGJOOCIC2frLLc0Y4N0cmwzWOjiTdPzDxCQFLgF6NzqouY0f5Ws24Dw/s320/planting11.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468559581935583554" border="0" /></a><br />Spring is also the time when farmers start their sowing and planting to grow their crops to be harvested in Autumn. In preparation for the planting, the land first has to be cleared of rocks, weeds and even the crops from the previous harvest. Then the land has to be ploughed to loosen the soil hardened over the winter as well as to aerate it.<br /><br />When we look at our spiritual life, this clearing and ploughing is what we do during the season of Lent, when we observe the spiritual exercises of Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving. These help us to rid our lives of the harmful attachments in our lives as well as to open our lives to a closer relationship with God.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQSXdotwEtMkA0wBc4Gi7NCAsk6_PupEe1ST4OV-ZHFxxq3YT0GvffSafTz5zl39lYG22creSqoeHkTQw7sjcCqKXtGJK4deAdPtLPkJJNNmYHWLd6X1kZprTA2Y5e4_mspSE0g/s1600/ploughing.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbQSXdotwEtMkA0wBc4Gi7NCAsk6_PupEe1ST4OV-ZHFxxq3YT0GvffSafTz5zl39lYG22creSqoeHkTQw7sjcCqKXtGJK4deAdPtLPkJJNNmYHWLd6X1kZprTA2Y5e4_mspSE0g/s320/ploughing.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468559591346949394" border="0" /></a><br />After the land is cleared, the farmer has to decide what crops and fruits he would like to harvest. This of course would determine what seeds he would plant in the field. But as nature has planned it, the plants that grow the quickest after the land is cleared are usually the weeds. These sprout and cover the land rapidly, blocking out sunlight and depriving the planted seeds of nutrients from the ground. Any good farmer would know that ploughing and planting is only half the job. He would have to remove the weeds, water and fertilize the plants that he has planted.<br /><br />Similarly for us, in our spiritual life, our Lenten exercises are only half the job done. We too have to “plant” certain practices that will bear the fruits that we want to see in our spiritual life. Easter is that season where we start to live out that new life. Not only just planting, but we too have to be aware of the “weeds”, that were cleared during Lent, which have a quick tendency of returning into the “fields” of our lives if we are not careful.<br /><br />So let this Easter be a time of planting and growing in our spiritual lives, that we may enjoy the fruits and graces that God wants to shower on us.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-52896143796308535982010-03-04T10:55:00.001+08:002010-03-04T10:57:41.905+08:00Lent SeasoningWhen we use the word "season" for Lent, we are usually referring to the period of fourty days of preparation before Easter. But the word "season" also bears another meaning, which the dictionary defines as "to improve and enhance the flavour of food"<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY_C-QpT5ghXeQhx3DHzwq8FbSRQpEFyf6FY9ccfyL-VL7Ru1XAapKEeJHFEmEhdrBlqX9-QPIAumw96uirBWywWcrq9kwjOYaiXgZbz2Ifakk72uNOq9-9AMm4QmnI8JOla4/s1600-h/product_inset_MaggiSeasoning.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 146px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpY_C-QpT5ghXeQhx3DHzwq8FbSRQpEFyf6FY9ccfyL-VL7Ru1XAapKEeJHFEmEhdrBlqX9-QPIAumw96uirBWywWcrq9kwjOYaiXgZbz2Ifakk72uNOq9-9AMm4QmnI8JOla4/s320/product_inset_MaggiSeasoning.jpg" border="0" /></a>I remember when I was young, there was this Maggi Seasoning in its uniquely shaped bottle, that I would add to my half boiled eggs to enhance the taste and flavour. This same seasoning was used by my mum to marinate everthing from chicken and pork to stir-fried vegetables.<br /><br />It is this image of seasoning and marinating that I find relevant to the season of Lent. When we season a piece of meat before cooking, we usually cover the meat with the seasoning, making sure that it is completely covered, sometimes even rubbing or massaging so that the seasoning will go into the meat. Often we would leave the meat to soak in the seasoning to allow the flavour to soak all the way through. <br /><br />Similarly when we look at our "Lenten Seasoning", we are given forty days to be "marinated" by the various Lenten Practices that we are undertaking. First what are we seasoning ourselves with? There are the 3 practices of Fasting, Almsgiving and Prayer that the Church recommends as the best seasoning. Because they help us look at 3 areas in our lives. Fasting looks at <span style="font-weight:bold;">our lives </span>and what are the things that we have allowed to take control of our lives, not just food, but other distractions or addictions. Almsgiving makes us look at <span style="font-weight:bold;">others</span>, not just about giving money, but giving our time, energy and love. And prayer of course makes us turn back to <span style="font-weight:bold;">God</span>.<br /><br />Meat that is seasoned properly makes it tender, enhances the taste, and it is not just on the surface that it can be washed away. So too our Lenten Seasoning, has to be something that transforms us internally. The effects of our fasting cannot be that we lose weight, but are we tempering our desires and feelings. Our almsgiving cannot result just in a lighter wallet, but are we more aware of the needs of others and growing in our relationships. And our prayer has to result in an increase in our relationship and love of God. Though we will stop our lenten practices at Easter, the effects of a properly "seasoned" person will continue in the lives we lead.<br /><br />So let us pray that our Lenten Seasoning this year may not just be "garnishing" that is put on externally and just looks nice, but that it will truly transform us within to be tastier, tender and holier when we celebrate the gift of New Life at Easter.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-73789355977427162312010-02-26T16:02:00.004+08:002010-02-26T16:25:28.251+08:00Are our Radios Tuned?In the recent Superbowl, Budweiser came up with and advertisement about a group of plane crash survivors stranded on a deserted island. One of them managed to salvage the plane's radio, and there seems to be a glimmer of hope that they can make send out a distress signal and be rescued from the island.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TjPDlAroblI&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TjPDlAroblI&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object><br /><br />Link <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjPDlAroblI">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjPDlAroblI</a><br /><br />But another guy finds the plane's beverage cart, and it is filled with Budweiser beer. And we see the group lose interest in the radio, and start to drink, party and have fun. Budweiser probably intended the ad to emphasise on how beer brings fun and enjoyment in the now moment. But I don't think they realise that it also sends a message that beer drinking distracts people from the important things in life - Here being to be rescued off the island.<br /><br />The ad reflects the current day mindset and culture that is being promoted, spend the money that you have earned or even before you earn it. Enjoy the pleasures of life. Live in the Now, let tomorrow worry about itself. Just like how just as the woman got the radio working, the guy tunes it to play music to liven up the party. The ad might seem funny and exaggerated, yet its scary how real it can reflect the lifestyle we are living, where we let ourselves be "controlled" by our need for "pleasure".<br /><br />In life we can sometimes get distracted by the needs and pleasure of the present moment, and forget about the important thing in life - God and his promise of salvation. That there is a "tomorrow" that we are looking ahead, and not just about enjoying the "Today". It is thus that our Lenten practices help us to realise how we are controlled by our needs and pleasure. Fasting helps us to transcend our fleshly desires, Almsgiving helps us to not be ego-centric and to think of others in need, and Prayer helps us to remember God our salvation and our final destination.<br /><br />Now that we are 10 days into Lent, lets look at what Lenten practices we have undertaken, and whether they are helping us to be in control of our earthly desires, and tune our "radios" to the salvation that God has graced us with.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-59362669008357556862010-02-26T12:32:00.004+08:002010-02-26T12:51:03.203+08:00Repent and Blog<blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRzfTHGd1LRw4E45GFlA8rqaiA5VU820dvDwKC2yOFiqkE0ds_J03lOqpmmzvUjrW57WlhfuXBrLAO9ctoqxdPnWQSSLGrDwnpusp2ty3Ud8jbUHeKkQI8e3CAWBlB0Pb4qEegg/s1600-h/nonsequitur20100220-repent+blog.gif"><img width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRzfTHGd1LRw4E45GFlA8rqaiA5VU820dvDwKC2yOFiqkE0ds_J03lOqpmmzvUjrW57WlhfuXBrLAO9ctoqxdPnWQSSLGrDwnpusp2ty3Ud8jbUHeKkQI8e3CAWBlB0Pb4qEegg/s320/nonsequitur20100220-repent+blog.gif" border="0" /></a><br /></blockquote>This Non Sequitur comic in the papers last week prompted me to blog again. I'm not really sure why the comic linked "repent" to blogging, but it did remind me that it is maybe it is time for me to blog again this Lent. Starting with some sharings that I did for Lauds and Vespers in the seminary, and also hopefully finish up the reflections on the "Last Seven Words of Christ" that I posted up for last year's Holy Week.Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-56041443949194714382009-12-17T10:52:00.005+08:002009-12-17T11:57:36.446+08:00That Dreaded Time of the YearYes its Christmas in a weeks time.<br />Which also means its the time when parishes are having the penitential services.<br />For some going for confession is like the dreaded exams that we have before we can enjoy the holidays.<br />Why do we have to go for confession twice a year before Christmas and Easter.<br /><br /><a href="http://frlukefong.blogspot.com">Fr Luke Fong</a> started his <a href="http://frlukefong.blogspot.com">blog</a> two months ago, where he puts up his reflections once a week. And in his <a href="http://frlukefong.blogspot.com/2009/12/readying-ourselves-for-sacrament-of.html">latest post he comments about the sacrament of reconciliation</a>. He uses a story about "Sally and the Pearls" to explain the purpose and beauty behind the sacrament.<br /><br />For myself, I too used to find it so difficult to go for confession. But after my wake-up call, I started to question all the rituals and practices I followed as a Catholic. And confessions was one of the hardest to come to terms with.<br /><br />I remember there was the comparison of confession with taking a bath. Where we have to wash away our sins regularly. But somehow that analogy just did not cut it, or make me want to go for it any more than I had to.<br /><br />It took me many years, but I finally realised how to make sense of confessions. And the answer did not lie in the confession itself, but in my understanding of our faith.<br /><br />For most of my life, I have come to understand sin as bad actions, with bad consequences to the party that I've sinned against and also to myself because God does not like sin. But as I grew in my faith, I realised that its so easy to get caught up in the religious practices and the rules and regulations of the faith, that I was not aware that the most important element of being a Catholic is my relationships, with God and with those around me. That is why it is a faith more than a religion.<br /><br />It is only when I started to look at Catholic faith from the relationship aspect, then I realised that sin wasn't so much a bad action, but anything that breaks my relationship with God, and others. And thus comes the Sacrament of Reconciliation.<br /><br />Too often we call it confession, which highlights just the act of confessing our sins, but we miss out the elements of repentence, and more often that it is a restoration of our broken relationship with God.<br /><br />These days, I still have the uneasy feeling when I have to make my confession, because of the shame of sin and having to confront my own weakness. But what drives me to go for it regularly, is not about being washed clean from being dirty, but of how important do I see my relationship with God, and am I willing to confront the broken relationship and allow restoration and healing to take place.<br /><br />I found this interesting cartoon on <a href="http://www.luisescobarblog.com/?p=62">this guy's blog</a><br /><a href="http://www.luisescobarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/st.jpg"><img src="http://www.luisescobarblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/st.jpg" border="0" width="400" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I especially like this quote of his<blockquote>I once heard somewhere that Confession is like the direct opposite of sinning. When you sin, you tend to want to do it, you feel good doing it, and you feel bad after. Confession, on the other hand, you don’t want to do it, you feel bad doing it, and you feel awesome after. I’d much rather go to Confession.</blockquote>Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5884390.post-72961053811686486022009-11-16T09:45:00.003+08:002009-11-16T10:07:45.528+08:00Offering video by eXcessThe eXcess Youth Ministry in Christ the King recently posted up a video that was made by their Media Team. Quite a simple theme and very catchy background song.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u9p42muPCGQ&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u9p42muPCGQ&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9p42muPCGQ">Youtube Link</a> to watch the video<br /><br />It brought to mind the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0223897/">Pay It Forward</a> where one act of kindness results in another act, and it goes on and on. Ironically I also saw an ad today titled "It all comes back to you", on how our bad acts can eventually come back to haunt us.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3Wht7Vj6u2g&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3Wht7Vj6u2g&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wht7Vj6u2g">Youtube Link</a> to watch the video<br /><br />So the question is, are we passing on acts of love, care and kindness or acts of hate, anger, selfishness?Terencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03023343315024004585noreply@blogger.com0