Spiritual Retreat Schedule at Maranatha Retreat House

Dear Friends,

Maranatha Retreat House will be organising the following retreat for the rest of the year 2013.

This image was taken using Olympus UTough 8010 during my first Spiritual Retreat  at Maranatha Retreat House back in year 2010. During those days, my photography knowledge was zero and my friends used to say, "my photos suck! and they can take better one." Now my photos are still not to 'my standard of good photos' but I will shoot thousands more to get my vision materialize on the photos I have taken and touch the viewer attention as I want it to be.

John of the Cross - The man



Rays of Hope - Likeliness

As the time is approaching for the starting of the Course on Saint of John of the Cross at St. Ignatius Church, quotes keep on coming to my email. According to the sender Tee Boon Wah,  bwtee@talisman-energy.com  this is the last quote before we head for the class this coming Saturday.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY 
John of the Cross became as it were an altar of pain where he offered himself as an holocaust of love.  John had one yearning in life and that is to love, to love beyond all measure.  He was convinced that this could be done only when we are courageous enough to brave pain and suffering.  

John was insistent that genuine love was patient and kind and endures everything.  He knew that it was the Lord who was guiding him through the path of pain, sufferings and misunderstandings to the peak of love.  He would therefore bless God and praise His Name and call this night of pain, “a sheer grace”, “a secret ladder”, “a guiding night”, “a night more lovely than dawn”, and “a night that unites the Lover with the beloved transforming the beloved in her Lover”.  

It was during the period of intense suffering in the prison that he wrote those beautiful poems which won him the title “Patron of Spanish Poets” in 1952.

During this period of ordeal sometimes it looked as if God had forsaken him and therefore he cried out:   "    Where have You hidden,  Beloved, and left me moaning?"

 But in fact God did not abandon him.  By means of these crosses, the Divine Guide was leading him to a newness of life in perfect love beyond all sense experience and rational understanding.  If John sought the loving God, the loving God sought him all the more and did not leave him till he was fully transformed into a new man. 

Extracted from “Transforming Flame”Author:  Gregory D’Souza OCD

Spiritual Course: St John of the Cross

Lay Camerlite will be organising an Eight Days' Spiriritual Course based on St. John of the Cross's Life and Writing at St Ignatius Church, Petaling Jaya from August 4th-11th, 2012.

Further information on the course are as follows:

Journeying through Life with John of the Cross in Prayer Contemplation: A Complete Study of his Writings.

Introduction to John of the Cross:
The Writings of John of the Cross are classical and of perennial value. Through there, he leads us in prayer and contemplation through the vicissitudes of life to the highest state of union with God attainable on earth. Many saints, sages and ordinary persons of goodwill have benefited a lot through his Writings.

If you also wish to be among them here is a golden opportunity.

Course Content:

I Course :
Biography of John,
Romances,
Ascent of Mount Carmel (Active Night),

The Dark Night of the Soul (The Passive Night).


Il Course:
The Spiritual Canticle,
The Living Flame of Love
Minor Works of St. John of the Cross.

The whole programme is divided into two courses, spread over two years of 30 hours each year.

The first course will cover Active and Passive Night.
This includes:
1. Schematic understanding of the mind of John of the Cross.
2. Romances - Divine plan for us from eternity ìn the mystery of the incarnation.
3. Active Night of the Senses in detail - Liberating the senses from the bondage of the passions (I Ascent of Mount Carmel CC 1-15).
4. Active Night of the Spirit (Intellect) through a process of enlightenment in Faith [II Ascent of Mount Carmel CC 1-32).
5. Active Night of the Spirit (Memory) "Finding the hidden Treasure" in Hope (III Ascent of Mount Carmel cc 145).
6. Active Night of the Spirit (Will) "No more slaves but free Children" in charity/Love (III Ascent 16-46).
7. The Passive Night of the senses. initial contemplation, the sins of the 'just'. Attuning the Senses to the spirit (I Dark Night CC 1-15).
8. Passive Night of the Spirit: "Wash me more and more and make me whiter than snow" in the Crucible Faith, Hope and Charity (II Dark Night CC 1-25)


WHEN
Saturday 4th August to Saturday 11th August 2012
(all timings subject to Fr. D’Souza’s schedule and confirmation):

4 Aug 8.00 9.00 am (Registration)
4 Aug 9.00 am - 4. OO pm (Seminar)
5 Aug 9.00 am - 4.00 pm (Seminar)
7-10 Aug 7.00 pm - 10.00 pm (Seminar)
11 Aug 9.00 am-4.00 pm (Seminar)


VENUE
2nd Floor, SIC Community Hall (Room no. to be confirmed)
St. Ignatius Church, Taman Petaling Jaya (nearest LRT: Kelana Jaya Station)
(10 minutes walk from Kelana jaya LRT station - depend on your steps' speed)

COST
MYR150.00 per person to cover Fr. D'Souza's costs, the cost of venue, a simple snack & mineral water for morning/afternoon breaks.

Please note lunch will be on your own account.
Any love offerings can be given to Fr D'Souza directly.

WHEN TO PAY
Payment will be collected on the first day (4 August) during Registration.
Kindly pay in cash (not cheque or credit card).

WHAT T0 BRING
Your own Writing materials (cardigan optional).


FOR MORE INFORMATION
Agatha Chang (016-3927636) E-mail: ag_chang@yahoo.com
Agnes Tee (O12-3991026) E-mail: agnestee2000@yahoo.com


RESOURCE PERSON
Fr. Gregory D’ Souza is a Discalced Carmelite, specializes in Mysticism and in St.
John of the Cross. He has authored 8 books and a number of articles and taught in
State University of Mysore, seminaries and institutes both in India and abroad.


ELIGIBILITY:
Open for Christians.

Life in the Spirit Seminar 2012

Dear Friends,

I can say, "I am a Catholic and that I know Jesus, I know God, I know Holy Spirit" but if I never taste or experience the goodness of God's love...I am nothing. I am just like a drum without the song....noisy and meaningless...my fruits are not fortcoming. My spiritual life is dry as the desert and there is no fruit to attract people to what I believe as a Catholic. I am no different that the rest of the world.

I was once a person who was very critical about Christian and even criticized those who go to church as I see them as wasting their precious time. I did many stupid thing in my journey of life except killing other human but my words were sharp and ill intend which I regretted.

At that time, I thought I am my own king and I do not need God except during bad times as most human did.

God is merciful and patient with His creation as a Father towards his children. He gives me time to taste the goodness of self and goodness of the world. The goodness of self and the goodness of the world are nothing as compare to the goodness of God.

As a young and sexually aroused untested man, I used to think that sexual intercourse with a female will be the ultimate of Man's pleasure but alas, my friend; that is only a temporary pleasure. God has prepared for you a more everlasting pleasure that you can not describe in word for those He choose.

What pleasure you may ask....
To be with Him, to walk with Him, to talk to Him as a friend and to act as He does.
Troubles and sickness may come your way but you will stand firm with your trust in God to bring you through. It's as if you row your boat in a thunder storm with lightning all over and yet your boat keep moving forward to it's targeted destination. Hardship and suffering incurred but you are at peace in the turbulent as God is within you. This in turn will make you grow in your spiritual life.

A comforting words from the Holy Bible in 1 Corinthian 10:13 RSV
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyong your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

But God has a plan since the beginning for each and everyone of us. We are born into this world with a Mission embedded in our soul and engraved in our heart.

Did we know that?

No body knows except God.

St Paul said, "God is Spirit." (Spiritus est Deus)

Yes!! God is Spirit.

Further St Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20 (RSV)
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you are bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

That's sound purity as the Holy Spirit is within you and Holy Spirit is Pure.

Thus He is the only one who can reveal and speak to our human spirit.

But HOW to know God and His Holy Spirit?

The KEY is JESUS.

Here is my testamony of this special friendship.

Holy Spirit-my Beloved Friend

LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR is the best place to stir the spirit within you.

St Ignatius Church (SIC) Charismatic Team is organising a Life in the Spirit Seminar at St. Ignatius Church, Taman Plaza, Petaling Jaya.
Date: 14th Sept (Friday) - 16th Sept 2012 (Sunday)
Time:
Friday: 8.00pm - 10.00pm
Saturday:  8.00am - 7.00pm
Sunday: 12.45pm - 5.00pm
Venue: SIC Costantini Community Centre
Fees: MYR 25

Contact:
Lawrance Choong @ 012-228 2408; Richard Lai @ 019-333 1002 or Gail Massang @ 01- 942 9411

What you need to bring:
1. Body and Soul
2. Open mind
3. Expectant heart
4. Desire to make a friendship with God
5. Holy Scripture for reference

Why stir?

Coffee needs stirring in order to give it's real taste.

You may say, the coffee powder is already in the cup!

Well, the Spirit of God is already within you when you were baptised as Christians were baptised in the
NAME of the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

Once the Holy Spirit is stirred within you, then the fragrant of flowers will be blooming and fruits start to appear in your life. It's not easy though but for God everything is possible.

If the God can change St Paul of Tarsus, a persecuter of Christian into His instrument, God also can change YOU from within.

Lastly, Have faith in God, He will tranform you.

Just keep this in mind, "A lot are coming to be listed in the army of the King but few are chosen".
I pray that you will be one of the chosen.

Amen.

Sorry for the inconvenience cause

What a title for a blog , right?

That is how I sum up what had happened to Agnes and I today.

It was a peaceful Thursday morning and we were in full sprit of life and looking forward for a great day.

June 14th, what a great day as June 15th will be my 19th anniversary working with Diethelm Malaysia or DKSH.

We started the morning with my favourite Wantan Mee with Sarsiew.

WANTAN MEE with SARSIEW

Then Agnes dropped me at the Section 17 Morning Wet Market to pruchase some 'kampong egg' for my morning breakfast.

The beautiful scene showered by the morning sun along the way back to the office attracted me.

During the day, everything worked well and I also wrote a blog about street crime.

In the evening, we were having our dinner at Taman Sentosa, Section 17 and as we walked back to our car, I saw a Merz reversing to park in front of our car and "BANG!"

What?! He reversed into our car.



WVY 328

He parked the car while the rear of his car still touched with the front of our car. I tapped on his side mirror on the passenger side. He came out of his car as I said, "Sir, you knock our car."
He respond with "Is it? "
"Yes, you have." I confirmed. And I added, "can you move you car forward abit?"
He took a look at the back of his car and then go back in and move the car forward.
This time when he came out again, he said, "Yes, I also can feel the knock just now".
"Nothing damaged, right?"
I reponded with, "Nothing damaged."
He said, "Sorry!" And he walked off for his dinner.
But my wife still grumbled about the man reaction to the incident when we drove off.

As we drove home, our car tyre on the passenger side, burst. Wow! What a night?!


Burst Tyre taken off

Manual Wrench

Replace with spare tyre

Better head for home fast before anything else happen. By this time, my Nikon camera was getting dirty as my hands were covered with dirt and oil. Who cares i need these images. I pushed the ISO to 2000 and set to manual setting.


The wordings that I captured in the morning infront of HongKong Bank, Damansara Jaya.

Agnes, always warned me to be careful with my words as my words can be a blessing or a curse. Yesterday night she reminded me again about this when we drove from Damansara Toll to Puncak Alam.

"DID I SAY SOMETHING WRONG AGAIN?"






Good Bye, Alda Evan Tan

As every Monday, I headed for St Ignatius Church, Kelana Jaya except today we were having a SIC Scripture Study facilitator meeting. I wonder why so many car at the church. Someone told me that there was a body in the parlour.
Wonder who?
As I took photos of the evening sunset and the flowers around the church, my friend Ignatius Massang came by with his beloved son. Actually we had been not seeing each other for few years. He mentioned that his beautiful wife is still at work.

Then he told me that his friend passed away. In my heart, I said if it's his friend then I should have known.
I do not ask him who was in the parlour but instead I went upstairs to do my meditation.

We started out meeting at around 8.00pm and the first thing our Chief Co-ordinator Mr Francis Khoo mentioned was the passing of our senior SIC member's son. He mentioned the name as Alda Tan.

I am curious as my heart pumped faster and I ask, "Is it Alda Evan Tan?"

He responded with, "Yes. He passed away at 4.45AM this morning."

Sadness overcome me as my soul pray in tongue.

I may not know him and never meet him personally but through my prayer since I first knew about him as in my blog , I am close to him in my soul.

During our SIC Scripture Study meeting, my heart was trouble and I can not wait to say good bye to the friend whom I never meet.

I rushed down to the parlour and the Charismatic Group was reciting the Rosary. Brother Richard Lai motioned with his hand to me to join them. My heart was really trouble and I prayed in tongue outside the parlour. When the rest of my group arrived, I joined them inside to recite the Rosary and Divine Mercy prayer.  I just lost my words and pray in the words I do not know.

After the prayer, I sprinkled the holy water on his photo and then moved to the coffin and through the glass, I saw him face to face. Laying peacefully in the coffin was our late brother Alda Evan Tan.

No words just a tingle in my heart said, "Good bye, my friend".

"Heavenly, our brother Alda Evan Tan's soul rest in peace. May his parents, his sister, his wife and children be comforted by your love and grace. Grant them the strength and courage to overcome the passing of their beloved one. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen."

Novena to the Holy Spirit & Pentecost Vigil 2012

St Ignatius Church (SIC) Chrismatic Prayer Group which is lead by Lawrance Choong is having a Novena to the Holy Spirit and Pentecost Vigil .

Location: St Ignatius Church, Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya.

 Here is their invitation:

 Peace be with you all!

We, the members of St Ignatius Charismatic Prayer Group would like to extend this invitation to all of you and the members of your prayer group to join us on this great Feast of Pentecost.

For more information, kindly contact:

Lawrance Choong @ 012 228 2408
Richard Lai @ 019 333 1002
Gail Massang @ 012 942 9411

Acts 1:8 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses'.

Based on my own experience, God's love is something you have to experience to know what God's love really is.

This is the best place and time to experience God's love in abundance.

Note:
Come with an open and expectant heart. And ready to receive whatever He want to gives you. Amen.

Here is my testimony on God's Love and His holy Spirit:  Holy Spirit-My Beloved Friend

"A tree is known by it's fruits" is the key to know the spirit that is in you.
Good tree bears good fruits and bad tree bears bad fruits as bad tree can not bear good fruits.

As so does the spirit.
 
Happy weekend and may God's love be always in your hearts and actions.

Another note: I will be at St Ignatius Church (SIC) tonight to capture the photos of the candidates for Sacrament of Confirmation. Our Archbishop Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam will grace the occasion.

Spiritual Growth Seminar at SIC

Peace be with you.
May your hearts be always be filled with joy as joy is the best healing for man.
A joyful man is more charitable and has more 'love' to share.
But how to be joyful when the your surround are full of sadness and dissatisfaction.......?

If you are a believer of Christ Jesus, then Spiritual Growth Seminar will help you.

I said 'WILL' because I BELIEVE and TRUST in GOD's mercy and goodness.

My main issue since the begining of the world is "DO YOU TRUST GOD?"

If you trust God, come and join us for the seminar.....and let God do his work on his beloved children as HE will.

SIC Charismatic Prayer Group is organising A Growth Seminar with the theme 'Faith Shines Through Deeds' as below:


Date: 19th & 20th November 2011 (Saturday & Sunday)

Venue: Constantini Hall, Level 2, St Ignatius Church, PJ.

Fee: RM 25

Guest speakers:
Fr Clarence Dass & Fr David Reegon

This is one seminar not to be missed!!

"he who moves not forward, goes backward" quotes John Wolfgang.

You may register at the counter outside church after all weekend masses in SIC or email us your details and we will register on your behalf.

For more information, kindly contact:

Lawrance Choong @ 012 228 2408
Richard Lai @ 019 333 1002
Gail Massang @ 012 942 9411

Selamat Hari Raya Puasa

"Selamat Hari Raya Puasa, Maaf Zahir dan Batin" are phrases we normal heard the people say when the Muslim completed their fasting month of Ramadhan and the feast started.

But what actually happen during this month....

I did the same fasting during my schooling days in Kelantan.

I started fasting in the month of Ramadhan during Form One and quit fasting one year after Form Six. I am quitting as some kampong people said I am weird, fasting and yet I am not Muslim. Furthermore I am really exhausted working alone cutting down sago in the farm without food and water.

In the beginning, I know nothing of fasting and I fast because my Muslim friends are fasting. Our Ustaz and Ustazah at the school really helped in my understanding of what fasting really is. But my friend used to laugh at me for fasting without pahala (grace).

They used to say, "Ah! Ari, your fasting is worthless. You are not a Muslim"

But Ustaz told me that fasting is more than food alone, it include your eyes and your ears, your hands and your legs, your mouth, your tongue and your nose, your desire and your heart.

What a wonderful fast it can be?!

It trains my eyes to be impartial and merciful.

It trains my ears to be attentive to the goodness of others.

It trains my hands to be fast to help others.

It trains my legs to avoid bad hats but fast to go where the help is needed.

It trains my mouth to speak gracious words to encourage and uplift others who are down.

It trains my tongue to hold tight when bad word comes to my ears.

It trains my desire to be holy.

It trains my heart to have love and compassion towards others.

Wonder why they said it's worthless for me!!!!

Even when Allah do not give me anything as per my friend said but Fasting trained me to be a better person.

In a few days , we are having Hari Raya Puasa celebration  and I wish you, brothers and sisters,

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA PUASA. MAAF ZAHIR BATIN."

It's a day to celebrate the training is completed with flying colours. Fasting month is completed full heartedly and the new being emerge with purity of mind and heart and ready to walk amongst the wolves.

It's a celebration of victory over the Evil.

Once again,

"SELAMAT HARI RAYA PUASA. MAAF ZAHIR BATIN."

May Peace be with you.

Good Friday 2011

The sun is blazing hot as we head for St. Ignatius Church, Kelana Jaya.

When we arrived at the Church, the car park were full and Agnes used the same the words on me when ever she can not get the car park.
"Can you pray for the car park?"
I make a short prayer, "God, we need a car park. Thank you."

She drop me at Loong Foong Restaurant and she drives off looking for car park. Later in the church, she informed me that she is very lucky as she managed to parked her car in front of the Mamak Restaurant. According to her, one car came out of the parking lot after she left me.

For those who never have a chance to experience following the Good Friday's procession for Station of the Cross, you may follow my lead.

All images taken with Olympus  mju-T8010

At exactly 1.00PM, we start our Station of the Cross procession with Father Lucas Ng and Father Philip Tan.

First Station: Jesus condemned to death.
 Prayer: O Jesus, so meek and uncomplaining, teach me resignation in trials.

I am falling in love again

Friday is a day of peace and a day of letting go of our desires and wants. It’s a day of purification of our minds and bodies and be one with our real self or our inner self. 

Some even fast on Friday and others abstain from meat, just to purify themselves. Catholic observes abstain from meat for the rest of their lives on Friday for this very purpose. The choice lies on the believer though. It’s not a sin to eat meat on Friday but the profit of the action is much greater for our inner selves.

Our real selves are pure as our creator is pure and holy. It’s the world and it’s creations that defile our real selves. But we need these ‘dirt’ to make us humble to realize of who we really are. These ‘dirt’ is also known by many names and some called it as temptation or tribulation or trial. These ‘dirt’ is not sin but we are sinful when we allow ourselves to be engage in the ‘dirt’ though we know it can make us dirty. These ‘dirt’ even bring us closer to God if we know it’s profitability. It’s like a fire that burn the dirty gold ore into shining gold. There is pain and suffering involved but the benefit is a hundred fold if we are able to overcome it.

We may throw ourselves in the dirt knowingly as the dirt is already within us since we are born. We lost our rest and peace once we are born into the world. Our whole life in the world is a journey to get back the rest and peace that we lost at birth. Some called this rest as God’s Presence or Grace.

Our beloved God and Creator has these to say to us while we are playing and covering ourselves in the dirt, in Psalm 95:11,

”Therefore in my anger I swore, “They shall never enter my rest.”

And yet God is always calling us back to him day and night as the Psalmist in Psalm 95 proclaimed,

“O that today you would listen to His voice! Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah…”

God further stress on listening in the Gospel of Luke 9:35 which read,

Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Beloved; listen to him!” 

I know I complain and talk more than listening to God even to his Word.

And yet I am always longing for His Presence as that is the real rest for me. Since I was a child in my Primary school, I always keep one of my favorite beatitude close to my heart. It’s was taken from the Holy Bible, Matthew 5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

I am longing to see God and be with Him as a Father with his child. But the world teaches me that you can only see God when you die. 

Wow! That’s scared me. 

The truth is you do not have to die to be with God. God is always ‘there’. It’s me who is not ‘there’. I follow my own will not his will. My own will is always corrupted with greed and selfishness but his will is for the common good and the best for me. Why I do not follow the examples of the prophets of old and my Lord Jesus who cried to their God, “Thy will be done!”? 

God switches to channel 95.5 to talk to me and I turn to channel 88.8 because of the good number and yet I said, God never talk to me because I can not hear due to the wrong channel. I blame God though I am at fault. 

By God mercy and forgiveness, slowly I switch to the right channel through prayer and guidance of my elders in the Church.

Do I become more holy and free of trial and temptation? 

Nah. 

The journey becomes tougher and the temptation becomes more frequent and heavier. The falls become my teacher. And each fall drives me to be stronger and walk closer to God who filled my heart with his love and transform my pain and suffering into joy in midst of crisis. That is real peace, the peace within. I make full use of His gift to the Church which is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. My skull maybe thick but I believe God always forgive and full of mercy.

I pray for myself.

“Have mercy on me, O God. I am a sinner from my mother’s womb. Forgive me for my sin. I desire nothing in heaven but you. I want nothing on earth but to be with you, hear your voice and do your will. Let me speak what you want me to speak, Let me hear what you want me to hear. Let me see what you want me to see. Let I be completely yours now and forever.”

And I pray for others,

“O God, Bless those eyes that see me, Blessed those ears that hear me, Bless those hands that help me, Bless those feet that comes to me, Bless those minds that think of me, Bless those hearts that have compassion and mercy for me. Bless those whom I touch today. Llet those touch be not mine but yours. Let those touch be a touch of love. Let those touch be a touch peace. Let those be a touch of forgiveness. Let those touch be a touch of healing and unity. Let those touch bring them back to you. I believe and trust in you alone, O God. In Jesus precious name, I pray. Amen.”

And I believe in His promise in Psalm 91:14-16 (NRSV)

“Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name. When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.”

My heart overflow with the sweetness of his love, my being is in the fragrant of his presence and my mouth proclaim to the world, 

“I am falling in love again!”

“I am falling in love with you, O God, the One who created me.”

Pray for the Soul of the Dead

Let us continue my journey from my earlier blog entitled Going Home for Christmas 2010.

I did mention in my earlier blog that I am going for a prayer for the soul of the dead on December 22rd but we decided to change it to early December 21st. 

Today is the day and we will be going to the cemetery to offer incense and prayer to Agnes’ beloved one who had gone to her rest. The morning is wet and it’s drizzling since the rain started at around 1.00 AM. 

Today I will miss my morning mass at St. Anthony Catholic Church as we plan to out early. We are ready to go at 7.00AM but the rain has not stopped completely.

My father-in law handed me his favorite coat and his hat and Agnes smile at me.  He said this will protect me from the cold weather. I wonder how about his own daughter, is she alright to get wet?  Then he gives Agnes a few small pin which he believes these pin will protect his daughter from the bad spirit at the cemetery later. Agnes looks at me and I shake my head to indicate to her that I do not need the pin.

At 7.20AM, Agnes brother, Tony comes to fetch us and we have our breakfast at a nearby coffee shop then we head for his home cum factory. There we take the other apparatus for offering and bought a bouquet of flower to be placed at his mother’s tomb. We change the car from his Black Perudua MyVy to his new Toyota Hilux as we have to go through rough terrain.

At 8.10AM, we head for the Sarikei Christian Cemetery which takes around 30m minutes drive. Along the way, I see a few new building without windows and one is about six stories high. Tony explained to us that these building are the house for birds to build their nest. [Rose, maybe you know the name of this bird, ‘manok kepisan’ or silver swift]. Beside Sarawak Pineapple and green Orange, Bird nest is one of Sarikei main product. In my mind I thought, “These people really mean business.” It’s good that they build these building outside the town and residential area as the birds can be very noisy when they came home to sleep. And they throw their drops everywhere.

When we arrive at the cemetery, the rain has stopped and a few people were already at the cemetery. Tony parked his Toyota Hilux at the roadside not far far from the main path.

We take two umbrellas in case of raining again. Tony carries a big box which contains paper money, incense and candle. His wife carries a big container of water, cloths, a bit of newspapers and a broom. I carry a bouquet of flower. I look around and I see that all the tombs were marked with a cross .  Then we walk on the slippery path with care until we reach the tomb of Agnes’ mother.

Tony put the big box which he carried on his broad shoulder at one side of the tomb and start to clean the tomb with paper while his wife opens a container of water and ask him to pour the water on the tomb instead. Thus he pours the water on the tomb and warp with a dry cloth. His son and I pull out a few weeds around the tomb.

Once the tomb cleaned, Tony light up two candles and put on a coke tin as the floor is still wet and light up three incenses which Agnes explained to me of what Tony is doing,  as an offering to ask for permission to open the door of prayer to the dead. I cover his candles and incense with my umbrella as the few drops of rain fall.

Then Tony arranges the bouquet of flower in a vase on the tomb and start to light the incense of offering. He gives each one of us three stick of incenses each and I am the last to do the offering.

I offer up my prayer to God for her soul asking for mercy, forgiveness of sin and everlasting rest, one Hail Mary and three incenses stick. 

I keep praying to God, hoping to get some sign of presence. But I receive nothing, not even a stirring in my heart.  It’s just peace.That is good enough for me.

Then comes the time for burn offering of paper money with their believe that the soul of the dead will not be poor with this offering. As for me, I am burning these papers as part of the ritual and pray to God that the sin of the soul be forgiven and have eternal rest.

Most of Agnes’ cousins wonder why I am doing prayer for the soul of the dead. Most of Agnes’ cousins are Methodist and they do not offer incense and prayer for the soul of the dead. Their argument is that this practice is not in the Holy Bible. Therefore it is not Christian practice. 

True it’s not in the Protestant Bible but before 1517, it’s in the Holy Bible. This tradition had been taken out of their version of the Bible as this tradition was found in the 2^nd book Maccabees. The Book of Maccabees is one of the four books taken out of the Protestant Bible.

This practice can be found in 2^nd Maccabees 12 verse 39 to verse 45 on the Prayers for those killed in Battle.

42 and they turned to supplication, praying that the sin that had been committed be wholly blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened as the result of sin of those who had fallen.

43 He also took up a collection, man by man, to the amount of two thousand drachmas of silver, and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering. In doing this, he acted very well and honorably taking account of the resurrection.

44 For if he was not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead.

45 But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fallen asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin.

2Maccabees 12:42-45 (NRSV)

This is the reading which Catholic Church reads on the All Souls Day which falls on November 2^nd every year.

My mind recalled my experience of praying for the dead.

Years back, I read of a Book called Soul in Purgatory and the  Saints’ experience of praying for the soul in purgatory. And I said to myself, “if Saints can do it, I also can with God will.” 

So when Agnes having her 3^rd miscarriage, I start to pray for the soul of the three miscarriages, my grandparents, my uncles, my aunties, my friends  even those I read in the newspapers. Days turn into weeks and weeks into months and nothing happen. I said, “Cannot be!”

On the eight month at my normal time of morning pray that is at 3.00AM, I heard many voices as I walk down the stairs in my house. It’s as if our house is full of people but I could not see. They are very joyful and they are waiting for someone.

Then someone shout, “He is coming already! He is coming already!”

They are waiting for me!!!

The hair at the back of my neck rise and ghost bum covered my body.  I am afraid of the thing I cannot see.  I am scared to my bone. 

In my fright, I pray, “Jesus, help me!” 

And I rush back to my room and grab my Bible and hold it tight to my chest. Pull my blanket and wait for the morning to come. 

I told my wife about this experience and she said, “Don’t play, you know. It’s dangerous.”

Since that day, I never pray for the soul of the dead until recently when I met Father Ignatius Huan during my retreat at Maranatha, Janda Baik, Pahang last October. During my personal meeting with him, I shared this experience with him and  he told me that I am growing in my spiritual life. 

And I learn very important lesson, the soul of the dead is longing for our prayer and the Saints’ experiences were REAL. 

With this I would like to urge, those who read this sharing, PLEASE PRAY for the soul of the dead especially your love ones. They are longing for your prayer and your prayers will bring comfort and joy for their soul.

You prayer can be as simple as, “God, Have mercy on XX. Grant her a good rest or give her comfort.” Or “ O Jesus, have mercy on YY, Forgive his sin.”

Believe me this is a good deed because my heart is stirring as I write this blog.

Mercy to All and Peace to the world.

Merry Christmas and may the peace of Christ be always within us.

Spiritual Life vs Facebook Game

Dear Beloved,

Facebook is one of the most access social network on the internet and we all thanks to the Lord of the Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg for this wonderful tool. Facebook attract human in many ways and game is one of the attraction which also catch me.

Some can not live without the Facebook and some are addicted to games on the Facebook. Some start their day with the facebook and end their day with the Facebook.
They are all hooked and at the mercy of the Facebook.

Is it good? Depends!!!

I have tried my best to avoid the games which will corrupt the soul and yet I put myself to a test.
What will happen to the soul? It's only a game.

I started the test in September 2009 and the game i choose is Mafia Wars. Actually in the beginning, I want to use Barnbuddy but I want something more bloody...like killing or frozen.

My first quest, stealing and robbing. My heart became reckless and my mood changed. I continued doing the quest and my heart just not nice. It's wrong. My heart corrupted abit and my grace decrease.

Then comes the mugging, the extortion, then killing. My heart boils like crazy and I know this is real bad but I keep telling myself this is only a game. The Spirit within me groaming and said, "STOP!"

I did stop after six month when my grace is almost zero and my longing for God become unbearable.

Now I can tell you Facebook games can corrupt the soul.

Choose your game wisely  if you want to live in the Presence of God and always in His rest.

Amen.

Merry Christmas and may you be able to be in His Rest.

St John of the Cross

Greeting, my Beloved.

St John of the Cross is one of my Hero and most of my Avatar in Facebook games is called JohnCross.
He is one of the Saint JOHN (St. John of the Cross, St John the Baptise, St. John the Apostle, St. John of God) who moved me to take up the name John as my confirmation name.

All of them live in the presence of God and lead by His spirit which I want to imitate and learn from them how it can be done.

December 13th is the Solemnity of St. John of the Cross and i would like to share his Spiritual Canticle.

This is a quote from The Spiritual Canticle


Where have you hidden,
Beloved, and left me moaning?
You fled like the stag
After wounding me;
I went out calling You, and You were gone.

O Word, my Spouse, show me where You are hidden.
The hiding place of the Word of God is as St. John asserts [Jn. 1:18], the bosom of the Father, that is the divine essence.
The Son is the only delight of the Father, Who rests nowhere else, nor is present in any other than in His beloved son. The Word, the Son of God, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, is hidden by His essence and His presence in the innermost being of the soul. There the good contemplative must seek Him with love.

Oh, then, soul most beautiful among all the creatures, so anxious to know the dwelling place of your Beloved that you may go in quest of Him and be united with Him, now we are telling you that you yourself are His dwelling and His secret chamber and hiding place.

Merry Christmas and Peace to All.

Welcome Back with Love

"Welcome, my son. I am waiting for you."

That was the words which touch my heart when i glance to the sky above Bukit Jelutong two days ago.

The son is on one knee approaching the Father asking for forgiveness and mercy.

Without a word, the Father just open his mighty arms waiting for the son to be with Him once again.

"Who am I, not to seek forgiveness and mercy for my wrongdoing and pride?" my innerself stirred as i reflected on the view.

"Forgive me, Father for I have sinned. Wash and cleanse me with the blood of Jesus and make me whole again, worthy to be in your presence." was my respond to the stirring.

And my wife drives on. My heart rejoices as I glance to my wife and say, "I Love You."

Peace be with you.

Happy Thanksgiving and may you have a great weekend.

Gospel Reflection1124

Gospel Reflection1124 – Wednesday, November 24th 2010
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Luke 21:12-19 (NRSV-Catholic Edition for India)

12: But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.
13: This will give you an opportunity to testify.
14: So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;
15: for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
16: You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.
17: You will be hated by all because of my name.
18: But not a hair of your head will perish.
19: By your endurance you will gain your souls.

The words which touch my heart:
1. Name (the Name of Jesus)
2. The word ‘WILL’ – this reading has 11 ‘will’
3. Opportunity & testify/witness
4. Mind (Mind of Christ)
5. Words/Tongue & Wisdom (Gifts of the Holy Spirit)
6. Hated & Betray & Death (Fruits of bad Tree)
7. Enemy within the Church (parents, brothers, relatives and friends)
8. Assurance & comfort – not a hair will perish, cling to the name and gain our soul.
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My mind searching for the name but my heart stood still.

And questions start to come.

“WHAT IS THIS ‘NAME’ THAT WORTH DYING FOR”, shout my mind.

“Be silent, mind. Jesus is here”, affirmed my heart.

My mind goes back to the temple in Jerusalem where an old man Simeon waiting at the gate.

An old man Simeon said to Mary about her child;
“This child is destined for the falling and the raising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts will be revealed-and a sword will pierce your own soul too." (Luke 2:34-35) (NRSV)

This baby boy knows human hearts.
That is good but it comes with a heavy responsibility to human.
He will be opposed by many and so will be His followers.
No wonder his followers will hated, betray and put to death. It’s being prophesied by Simeon.

What about the boy name? Why is it so special to God? My mind grumbles again.
After a short silent, my mind recalls that the name of the boy was given by an angel from God. My heart rejoices as the name is revealed.

And the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.”
Luke 1:30-31 (NRSV)

So JESUS is ‘the Name or Word’ that is so precious to God and always in His bosoms.

Saint John wrote in his gospel in this way about the Word;
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1(NRSV)

What did Jesus said about the name?
“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son;”
John14:13(RSV)
Jesus promised to do whatever we ask in His Name. This is getting better. Then we should ask him things that we need but not things that we want.

Then Jesus added;
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
John14:26(RSV)

“Jesus also promised us the Holy Spirit. This is great. I won’t be lonely again.” My heart rejoices and added, “Gifts of the Holy Spirit will empower the believers to be the witness of Christ and have the mind of Christ as the Holy Spirit knows the depth of God.” No wonder Jesus said, “ So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance.”
The Holy Spirit also gives gift of the Discernment of Spirits so that we will bear the good fruits and do the will of the Father.
(For further reading on Gifts of the Holy Spirit, read I Corithians 12 but do not forget about Isaiah 11)

“And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to thee. Holy Father, keep them in thy name, which thou hast given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name, which thou hast given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled.
John 17:11-12(RSV)

“O my God!” my mind exclaimed as I read the underline words over and over again. “No wonder the ‘Name’ is so special and worth dying for.” My mind stood still and thinking of God and His greatness and majesty.

John answered, "Master, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us."
Luke 9:49(NRSV)
Even Demon knows the Name and they flee. Who am I not fear and terrified by the Name.

And Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38 (RSV)
Peter revealed the name the people.

But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but I give you what I have; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." And he took him by the right hand and raised him up; and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
Acts 3:6-7 (RSV)

Power of God is manifested by invoked the name of Jesus. There is great power in the name.
The Apostles knew that power in the name and they invoke the name.
The Satan knows that power in the name and they flee.
The diseases and sickness knows that power and they leave.
The Saints knew the power in the name and they hold on to the name until the end of their days. They are willing to die for the name.
Who are we not to imitate them to hold on the name until the end of our days.

I will end with God’s promise in the psalm.

Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
When they call me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble;
I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.
Psalm 91:14-16(NRSV)

Cling to the name, fathers.
Cling to the name, brothers.
Cling to the name, sisters.
cling to the name, sons and daughters.
So that we are worthy of the name.

Praise and glory be to God.

Let the Name of Jesus be always on our lips.
JESUS, JESUS, JESUS.

Glory be to the Father, to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen. Amen. Amen.

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Lent in 2011 will start on Wednesday, the 9th of March
and will continue for 46 days until Saturday, the 23rd of April.

Gospel Reflection1123

Gospel Reflection1123 – Tuesday, November 23rd 2010.
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Luke 21:5-11 (RSV)

5: And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,
6: "As for these things which you see, the days will come when there shall not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
7: And they asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign when this is about to take place?"
8: And he said, "Take heed that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name, saying, `I am he!' and, `The time is at hand!' Do not go after them.
9: And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once."
10: Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
11: there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.


Words which touch my heart:
1. Temple - adorn
2. See
3. Sign
4. Warning – Take heed that you are not lead astray.
5. Warning – Do not go after them
6. Advice and assurance – Do not be terrified

As I immerse myself in today’s Gospel reading, my mind moved to Saint Paul’s writing about the Temple.

Saint Paul said in his first letter to the believers in Corinth:

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; (1Cor 6:19 RSV).

I am not even my own;
Why I adorn myself so much with wealth and knowledge of the world?
It does not even last a hundred years.
Do I want to seen by others or to get their approval?
All these are gone when I return to dust.

Holy Spirit, the lover of my soul, help me to seek first the kingdom of God and that I may live in God’s presence all the days of my life.

In his 2nd letter, Saint Paul stressed further.

For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
(2Cor 6:16b RSV)

As we are the temple of the living God, then we should welcome Him and build His majestic throne within us. God is worthy to have the best part in us, the best castle in us, the most beautiful garden in us with it’s ever flowing stream and fountain of life. Let His presence shine through us and His love melt the harden heart. Let His glory shine in the dark night as at mid-day.

O God, how I long to be with you in the deep of my heart, just to be with you and listen to your words.

Do I need a sign from God that He is there?

God is perfect and truth, I do not need sign to believe and trust in Him.

I can proclaim with confident and trust along with the prophet of old;

“If God is with us, who can be against us.”

And yet our Lord Jesus warns us;

“Take heed that you are not lead astray.”

“Do not go after them.”

Our Heavenly Father sent the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name to be with us.
Holy Spirit discerns and we act.
Holy Spirit leads and we follow.

Then Lord Jesus comforts us with his assurance;

“Do not be terrified.”

And I believe because our beloved friend Jesus had promised;

“And remember, I am with you always, to the end of age.”
(Mt 28:20b NRSV)

Mother Mary, lead us to your beloved son, Jesus.
Peace be with you.
Amen.