Message for World Mission Sunday

As World Mission Sunday passed, I have had some time to think about the message Christ has given us. And for me, I can’t help but think how some many things just channel us to message of Mission. It’s like the perfect timing for all these to have happen.

I am quite sure you must be thinking what I’m referring to. Well I am referring to the timing of how the economy has been torn down & the timing of World Mission Sunday is both happening at the same time. When I read the papers about how so many people are wondering how much they’ve lost because of such a downfall in the economy, I start ponder on how sad these people are. But when I go for mass, I still see how happy our Priests are. This would truly be a question then of where does our treasure lie?

At almost every mass, the priests are never forgetting to pose this statement to us, “The economy downfall is a true testimony of how something like money is determined as strong by the world can just shatter so fast. This is a true lesson from Jesus, asking us who or what we are dependant on?”

This links so much with World Mission Sunday, as we are questioned on what is our mission here on earth. Even for myself, God questions us, whether our goal is to earn as much money as we can?

But as Friar Joseph said on Sunday, are we proclaiming to the world about this Gold of Jesus to the world? This Gold who will never ever be shattered! And in many ways, we are called to reflect on whether we are proclaiming to this shattered world about this ever-sustaining Gold!

So as Disciples of the Lord, may we as a Church proclaim to the world about the Gold in Jesus! And may our Lives reflect the reason why we should claim the Gold!

The Return

After going through something of which I would call a true physical struggle in finding time for God. In my time of working at OCBC Bank, I am truly thankful to God for the great and simple life he has given me. In my 6 weeks of working, it was truly a difficulty to find strength to spend time in prayer. Its was not just because of work but also because the many commitments I had at nights like tuitions, church meetings or planning for some church event or session. There was absolutely no time at all for rest of mind or prayer. It was like there was not enough time for anything at all. And I think it’s been the first time in my life when I’ve had to really plan out my day to the very hour. It was a mixture of both excitement & stress on my mind, but more on the stress.

But I am so happy with my vocation as a student. It has truly been a chance to appreciate people & time. And the even better news for me is that my school schedule is quite slack and also for the first time, it’s a 4-day week school schedule. Praise God! What a difference I must say in terms of free time.

But I will accept that the past 6 weeks have not been a waste of time but I have learnt how much less I want money and how much more I want God.

And there’s been so many times when I have asked myself this question,

“Mark, would you give up all that money that you’ve earned?”

And every single time, without hesitation, I am always answering a full YES! I guess maybe God has brought me through this experience to spread to the world that God is the only way to having a fulfilling life.

So to all hearts who feel like there’s no reason to hold, let go of whatever it is that you are holding onto and come to Jesus! Praise God!

PS: The joyful & happy Mark Sebastian Abraham is back. Thanks Lord Jesus!

Desire for Ministry to be alive everyday

From the time I answered the invitation to return to God last year, I made a promise and also request to God. This promise was sort of a stipulation I had placed before God as I return to doing the work of God again.

I told God,
“Lord Jesus, if I return to you to serve you in your vineyard, I have 1 request to ask of you. Lord, may the work I do for you in wherever you call me to serve ever become a job and so mundane that it becomes so ordinary and boring. But Lord, may you enlighten me always and make my journey & ministry become extraordinary, exciting & enjoyable.”

But lately, this has been the main struggle for me. Ever since I’ve started working in OCBC bank as my holiday job, I have been finding it so difficult to manage my time and also keep up in my spiritual life. Its been a real bothering thought for weeks as enter into somewhat a state that I have always disliked. It’s a state when ministry become so normal and also something I experienced some years back but whenever I talked to people about it the common answer I received was that it was all part of ministry. But as in many of the posts I’ve written, I have always diminished the thought of living a mundane life.

But despite this struggle, God has never once left me alone. It was always God who directed me especially in times of struggle and desperation for something special to happen. But I truly praise God for this realization of my life becoming too mundane. It has also been in this process of realization when God has shown me the difference in the power of God and the power of humans. As there’s been many times in the previous weeks where I have missed out on my prayer time, in those times, I have been facing the struggle of going beyond human limitations to reach somewhere I have been in the past. But this is a true testimony of how we can never be in the presence of God without the grace & strength given from God. And it is truly through our efforts of prayer where we receive this strength & grace.

But today God reminds me to come to the throne of grace to receive him as I am with all my struggles & limitations placed at the foot of the cross. And this is also a true fact that all the dreams & desire to more like Jesus and to never make life mundane is all from God as all these desires leads me closer to God! So Lord Jesus, I praise you for this important realization and I prayed that my spiritual walk with you will always be alive & active just like the Word of God!