The message of Lay Apostolate Sunday, over the weekend that's just past has really been extremely amazing! There’s been so many times when we as humans jump to conclusions on interpreting the message of, “The harvest is plentiful but laborers are few.” So many have been culprits to jumping to conclusions especially myself about our priests giving a message that we should be answer the call to the priesthood & religious life. But this Sunday, the priests have brought out the message of the laity being called to serve in Church!
Well this Sunday, I had the chance to attend 2 masses, one of which was on Saturday at OLPS and the other of course, at my parish of SFX. Both priests gave the excellent but real message that there are numerous people out there in the world searching for a God and for love in their life. All of them are searching for something extra special that the world doesn’t provide and something that money can’t buy.
For those whom I’ve shared with, would know that I’m extremely happy and excited of the news of our new parish priest at SFX. Father John Bosco who arrived at my parish at the start of this month, has been really awesome so far. So you can see that I’m another fan of him. It’s really something I can’t put into words but I know that there’s something really special about him. Anyway, he gave the message of people needing something extra special in their own lives. But the focus wasn’t just on the need for the people who aren’t in ministry to start being part of one. That was only half of the message.
I would think that the encouragement God gives us in his word of how we are called everyday to spread the news of the Gospel in whatever situations we are in. The message that there is a need to come out of our comfort zones to spread the news about this amazing God that we have and also always draw strength from the source-giver, God himself through prayer! I was really struck by this message and it really affirmed & encourages me to do more to spread the love, peace & joy of Jesus Christ!
And I guess there’s been so many times when I myself have been afraid to go out of my way to be more evangelical to spread the news of God but I know that it is in God himself where I find the grace, courage & strength to be a disciple of Christ Jesus!
So with this in mind, may we always inspire everyone to be more loving & welcome to more & more people whoever they may be or wherever they may come from. Let us continue to seek this God and always be a beacon of Light for this world! Let us be this example of Love for Christ Jesus! Praise God!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
God gives me a gift
God truly knows me so well. In actual fact, he knows me more than myself. He is really so sweet when he gives gifts. It really touched my heart so much. I knew that God & I have really great times during prayer when he moulds me and teaches me his ways, but never would I expect such a gift. I am so thankful to Aunty Corinne for being used by God and being extremely sweet to think of me and give me a gift.
Well I’m sure you’ll must be thinking, “Mark, isn’t about time you told us what the gift is?”
And Yes I'll tell you. After desiring so much to get a World Youth Day shirt for the longest time, Aunty Corinne & my Godpa & especially God has given me a WYD’08 shirt. When Aunty Corinne passed me the shirt this morning after mass, I was totally shocked and I wished I had taken the expression on my face because I was extremely happy! I really could remember the joy I had in my heart. I am still in quite a state joy of receiving the gift!
This gift is so simple but yet, it means the world to me that I received this gift. It’s been a desire that’s been in my heart for the longest time. After checking out the prices of the WYD’08 shirts online, I was totally in utter dismay of the prices of the shirts but then Sarah who’s in aussie studying had then offered to like get the shirt for me and would then pass it to me in a few months. But I never at all expected anyone to actually get me a gift of such. I am extremely happy and encouraged to seek God even more after receiving the WYD’08 shirt. I hope you can really feel the joy I feel. It’s so amazing.
And I guess why I’m so happy about this shirt is because I really wanted a piece something so special to the heart of God, The World Youth Day! During the WYD’08 when everyone else was there, I felt so sad that I wasn’t able to be there but I knew that God was preparing me so something more or maybe the next WYD in 2011 in Madrid. But even then God provides for me as the EWTN website had live coverage of the WYD’08. I guess another reason is that I’m a huge fan of the Pope. Actually I’m a fan of all Popes! So I really love to hear the sermons and messages the pope gives to the Universal Catholic Church. So thankfully, God provided a way for me to catch the finale mass of WYD’08 live.
Well I’m sure you’ll must be thinking, “Mark, isn’t about time you told us what the gift is?”
And Yes I'll tell you. After desiring so much to get a World Youth Day shirt for the longest time, Aunty Corinne & my Godpa & especially God has given me a WYD’08 shirt. When Aunty Corinne passed me the shirt this morning after mass, I was totally shocked and I wished I had taken the expression on my face because I was extremely happy! I really could remember the joy I had in my heart. I am still in quite a state joy of receiving the gift!
This gift is so simple but yet, it means the world to me that I received this gift. It’s been a desire that’s been in my heart for the longest time. After checking out the prices of the WYD’08 shirts online, I was totally in utter dismay of the prices of the shirts but then Sarah who’s in aussie studying had then offered to like get the shirt for me and would then pass it to me in a few months. But I never at all expected anyone to actually get me a gift of such. I am extremely happy and encouraged to seek God even more after receiving the WYD’08 shirt. I hope you can really feel the joy I feel. It’s so amazing.
And I guess why I’m so happy about this shirt is because I really wanted a piece something so special to the heart of God, The World Youth Day! During the WYD’08 when everyone else was there, I felt so sad that I wasn’t able to be there but I knew that God was preparing me so something more or maybe the next WYD in 2011 in Madrid. But even then God provides for me as the EWTN website had live coverage of the WYD’08. I guess another reason is that I’m a huge fan of the Pope. Actually I’m a fan of all Popes! So I really love to hear the sermons and messages the pope gives to the Universal Catholic Church. So thankfully, God provided a way for me to catch the finale mass of WYD’08 live.
Hope you can see my Joy! Haha!
Looks quite good on me or rather it makes me look good!
The shirt looks so very awesome!
I love it!
So Lord Jesus Christ, I give the utmost glory & praise for this gift and also for the gift of Aunty Corinne who’s more of a Godma to me & also to my Godpa. May you bless them always with your blessings and graces! Praise the name of Jesus!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
The studying weekend
Well this weekend was really tough as God told me to obediently head to my books to study. When god told me this, I felt so sad and was totally not looking forward to the weekend. But as I realized how much I was struggling with my toughest module, Dynamics, I knew I really had to start studying.
So this weekend, from Friday evening onwards, it was really intense studying guided & comforted by god! The only sort of chilling out was, firstly, on Friday when I went for evening mass & later adoration. Secondly, was when I had supper with Jerome & Freeman for about 2 hours. And lastly, was Sunday, when I went for mass and then had the usual YV session.
But though it may seem like complaining, it’s actually not as I’m getting to the interesting part. As I was studying the stuff in the module started to get easier and the more I started to redo my tutorial questions, the more I started to understand. Another interesting point to note is that before this weekend started, I felt that I would be really bored to death studying and not being able to go out to enjoy with friends especially with my cell jave a great time at east coast. But actually, as I studied, God helped replaced that void with his presence. With the presence of God overflowing in my room, I started to enjoy it and especially my celebrations when I solved together with God the really tough problems.
So this weekend was one where I needed to actually listen to God and do what he told me to do obediently. It was something God wanted me to learn. It was really tough to just block off my whole weekend and just devote it to studying but it ended out to be a good decision! Before this weekend, I knew nothing about this module but now I know quite a bit. All thanks to the amazing God I have! Thank you Lord! You always plan my life so beautifully! Amen!
PS: I'm so happy that my cell has an awesome time at east coast on saturday. Thanks so much to Sury for calling and checking up to see how I was doing! Totally appreciate it. Thnaks also to all who were praying for me! Your prayers really sustained me!
So this weekend, from Friday evening onwards, it was really intense studying guided & comforted by god! The only sort of chilling out was, firstly, on Friday when I went for evening mass & later adoration. Secondly, was when I had supper with Jerome & Freeman for about 2 hours. And lastly, was Sunday, when I went for mass and then had the usual YV session.
But though it may seem like complaining, it’s actually not as I’m getting to the interesting part. As I was studying the stuff in the module started to get easier and the more I started to redo my tutorial questions, the more I started to understand. Another interesting point to note is that before this weekend started, I felt that I would be really bored to death studying and not being able to go out to enjoy with friends especially with my cell jave a great time at east coast. But actually, as I studied, God helped replaced that void with his presence. With the presence of God overflowing in my room, I started to enjoy it and especially my celebrations when I solved together with God the really tough problems.
So this weekend was one where I needed to actually listen to God and do what he told me to do obediently. It was something God wanted me to learn. It was really tough to just block off my whole weekend and just devote it to studying but it ended out to be a good decision! Before this weekend, I knew nothing about this module but now I know quite a bit. All thanks to the amazing God I have! Thank you Lord! You always plan my life so beautifully! Amen!
PS: I'm so happy that my cell has an awesome time at east coast on saturday. Thanks so much to Sury for calling and checking up to see how I was doing! Totally appreciate it. Thnaks also to all who were praying for me! Your prayers really sustained me!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Faith in Jesus
Well lately, this has been my new desire, FAITH! Over the week, I’ve has asking our Almighty God to increase my faith in him. I’ve really wanted to be able to have true faith in the Almighty God!
You know there have been so many stories & parables from Jesus, himself speaking about Faith. And there’s been so many times when the priests would give homilies on how much we lack faith in god and how when a storm comes by, we lose faith in god by the after struggle so much. After God comes into the situation to show us how real he is, we receive the revelation of the reality of the presence of God in earth as well as in our lives! This message would bring back to me many memories where I have both stuck with god & had faith in him as well as many times where I foolishly trust in the world rather than the Almighty God.
The most recent time I recall when I totally lost faith in God was when my classmate’s sister had passed after a car accident. Although, I still had faith in god to reaffirm & guide her, as she was in a state of shear desperation of something special revelation from God. But in throughout this experience, I kept think of death so much and I was just in a state where I was so down and out without any joy in God at all. My faith had really been shaken to its weak foundation I had. Suddenly, I started to think whether God was really real. It really took awhile for me get out such a state. But I think that it was then when God literally carried me on his back and really made sure I was able to carry on in ministry, school and life itself. I can’t actually remember how I managed to remove myself from such a state of negativity. I am sure God just carried me out of it.
Now on the lighter side, the most recent time I recalled when I had placed my faith in God fully, was during the confirmation camp ’08. I blogged about it too. It was when everyone in the service team was so afraid whether the confirmants were going to be touched by God. I was afraid too, but through the grace of god, I placed my faith & trust in God and was instructed by God to spread he faith to the service team. After the confirmants had all been touched by God, it was a sense of great joy for me and I praise for giving me the faith to trust in him. The feeling was so great and awesome to have trusted in God in a time of doubt.
Faith! It does wonders for us! It guides us especially in times of deep doubt & struggle. It is the foundation of our religion. It’s something that is given by God and also something that the world will disagree. It helps bring out the hope to see the best in people. And having faith in God also helps us have faith in people. I have realized that when I trust more in God, I start to have greater faith in people. There is a deep need for us to have faith in people because its gives others to shine as the children of God. And there’s been so many times when people serving in ministry are so critical. It was first Christ who had faith in us and we too must try to imitate Christ. There have been so many experiences I’ve had when I get a chance to see the joy in someone's face when the little chance is given. It’s just something so unreal yet unbelievable.
And so after praying and desiring so much for Faith this week, I have realized & discovered that God had granted my request, He really had instilled in me more faith in him. But I hope I will be able to put my full trust & faith in God. I will continue to seek faith as I grow deeper with God. May we desire for faith in God and also start to have faith in people and imitate Christ’s grace, faith and love more and more each day.
Praise you Almighty God! Amen!
You know there have been so many stories & parables from Jesus, himself speaking about Faith. And there’s been so many times when the priests would give homilies on how much we lack faith in god and how when a storm comes by, we lose faith in god by the after struggle so much. After God comes into the situation to show us how real he is, we receive the revelation of the reality of the presence of God in earth as well as in our lives! This message would bring back to me many memories where I have both stuck with god & had faith in him as well as many times where I foolishly trust in the world rather than the Almighty God.
The most recent time I recall when I totally lost faith in God was when my classmate’s sister had passed after a car accident. Although, I still had faith in god to reaffirm & guide her, as she was in a state of shear desperation of something special revelation from God. But in throughout this experience, I kept think of death so much and I was just in a state where I was so down and out without any joy in God at all. My faith had really been shaken to its weak foundation I had. Suddenly, I started to think whether God was really real. It really took awhile for me get out such a state. But I think that it was then when God literally carried me on his back and really made sure I was able to carry on in ministry, school and life itself. I can’t actually remember how I managed to remove myself from such a state of negativity. I am sure God just carried me out of it.
Now on the lighter side, the most recent time I recalled when I had placed my faith in God fully, was during the confirmation camp ’08. I blogged about it too. It was when everyone in the service team was so afraid whether the confirmants were going to be touched by God. I was afraid too, but through the grace of god, I placed my faith & trust in God and was instructed by God to spread he faith to the service team. After the confirmants had all been touched by God, it was a sense of great joy for me and I praise for giving me the faith to trust in him. The feeling was so great and awesome to have trusted in God in a time of doubt.
Faith! It does wonders for us! It guides us especially in times of deep doubt & struggle. It is the foundation of our religion. It’s something that is given by God and also something that the world will disagree. It helps bring out the hope to see the best in people. And having faith in God also helps us have faith in people. I have realized that when I trust more in God, I start to have greater faith in people. There is a deep need for us to have faith in people because its gives others to shine as the children of God. And there’s been so many times when people serving in ministry are so critical. It was first Christ who had faith in us and we too must try to imitate Christ. There have been so many experiences I’ve had when I get a chance to see the joy in someone's face when the little chance is given. It’s just something so unreal yet unbelievable.
And so after praying and desiring so much for Faith this week, I have realized & discovered that God had granted my request, He really had instilled in me more faith in him. But I hope I will be able to put my full trust & faith in God. I will continue to seek faith as I grow deeper with God. May we desire for faith in God and also start to have faith in people and imitate Christ’s grace, faith and love more and more each day.
Praise you Almighty God! Amen!
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