People are often unreasonable & self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good.
Give the world the best you have & it may never be enough. Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you & God. It was never between you & them anyway.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
Showing posts with label Catholic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catholic. Show all posts
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Advent Season Is Here !
Yeah.... We have come to the last month of the year - December ! And it is a season of Advent, a season of hope, joy and love. I have always look forward to celebrate Christmas. I think it is such a nice season - both Christmas and Easter. And I was get goosebumps whenever we started singing Gloria (with bells ringing) during Easter Vigil and Christmas Vigil masses. Tonight we have eucharistic celebration in Jenjarom as well as Penitential Services after that. Woah, haven't really prepare myself for the service. I know I have a lot to seek forgiveness for...
And this is also the month where we celebrate Daniel 2nd birthday for this year. Truly thankful for God's so many wonderful blessings on our family. Daniel is certainly growing up fast now, and getting more stubborn day by day. But his love for singing is grewing. He knows the song Tuhan Kasihani Kami, Tamaza (Our Father in Kadazan), Lamb of God, Alleluia, Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star. Every night, before sle ep, it will be our family routine to sing some of the songs above. Previously, all he knew was Tamaza. Lately, when his database of songs grew, he will be the one dictating which song to sing. And he will say "no" for the song which he didn't want to sing. Well, that's Daniel. From time to time, we are trying to introduce more songs but sometimes, he really surprised us coz he knew the song even before we started teaching him. Probably because he listened to us singing during mass times.
And this is also the month where we celebrate Daniel 2nd birthday for this year. Truly thankful for God's so many wonderful blessings on our family. Daniel is certainly growing up fast now, and getting more stubborn day by day. But his love for singing is grewing. He knows the song Tuhan Kasihani Kami, Tamaza (Our Father in Kadazan), Lamb of God, Alleluia, Twinkle-Twinkle Little Star. Every night, before sle ep, it will be our family routine to sing some of the songs above. Previously, all he knew was Tamaza. Lately, when his database of songs grew, he will be the one dictating which song to sing. And he will say "no" for the song which he didn't want to sing. Well, that's Daniel. From time to time, we are trying to introduce more songs but sometimes, he really surprised us coz he knew the song even before we started teaching him. Probably because he listened to us singing during mass times.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Yoke of Faith
I once knew a woman who called herself "a recovering Catholic." It seems that as a child, she was taught a religion that was all about guilt. Impossible demands were placed on her requiring strenuous efforts that were doomed to frustration. Turn the other cheek. Don't even THINK about romantic flings. Love your enemies.
Attempting this by sheer willpower was all too much for her, leading to an abiding sense of guilt. No wonder she rejected such a religion.
But clearly, what she rejected was not the religion of Jesus Christ. It rather resembles the approach of the Pharisees, who laid heavy burdens on people's backs, but did not lift a finger to help.
In Matthew 11:25-30, Jesus appeals to those who experience life as one unending chore. He offers rest and refreshment. His yoke is easy, he says. His burden is light.
Note though, that following Jesus does mean that you are foot-loose and fancy-free. To be a disciple means to come under the discipline of a master. It means voluntarily putting a yoke on ones shoulders, and walking in a direction set by the master. It just happens to be the direction that the master knows will lead to pasture, refreshment, and happiness. But when oxen are told to move, they can't necessarily see the pasture at the end of the trail. All they see is a long, dusty road leading to nowhere.
There are some masters that are harsh and overbearing. When the oxen slow down due to fatigue or stubbornness, out comes the bullwhip. The journey turns into a guilt trip. The Pharisees were such masters. But Jesus is not. He is gentle. Gentleness does not mean whimpiness. He is strong and decisive, insistent on the direction to go and the pace to keep. Yet his strength is quiet, loving strength that builds up rather than tears down.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus uses the image of the yoke? At least two oxen are hitched together by a yoke side by side. Oxen are called "beasts of burden." So why he calls his yoke easy, his burden light?
Because he humbly yokes himself to us. Simon of Cyrene helped carry his cross; he helps carry ours. And he bears most of the weight, if we let him. That's why his yoke is easy. And he gives us His Spirit within (Romans 8:9-10) to give us the inner strength to bear our share of the burden, which is, of course, the far lesser share to begin with.
Easy yoke, light burden. You may reply that it sure doesn't feel that way most of the time. This could be for one of two reasons. What we are carrying may simply not be the Lord's yoke. Sometimes we deliberately disobey the Lord (that's called sin) and allow a tyrannical master to dominate our lives. No problem. That's what the sacrament of baptism is all about. Renouncing an oppressive Pharaoh in favor of a liberating Lord. If we've betrayed our baptism and gone back to the fleshpots of Egypt, we have the sacrament of penance to bring us back across the Red Sea to the Promised Land of Freedom.
The other reason the yoke may seem heavy is because we are not allowing the Lord to carry the weight. Or because we are not keeping his pace. We could be dragging our heels or racing ahead of him. Either way, we are chafing and straining. Perhaps we need just to quiet down for a few moments in the green pasture of prayer and adoration to attune our ears once again to the voice of the Master. The solution is easy: Let go and let God.
Source: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/644/Yoke_of_Faith.html
Attempting this by sheer willpower was all too much for her, leading to an abiding sense of guilt. No wonder she rejected such a religion.
But clearly, what she rejected was not the religion of Jesus Christ. It rather resembles the approach of the Pharisees, who laid heavy burdens on people's backs, but did not lift a finger to help.
In Matthew 11:25-30, Jesus appeals to those who experience life as one unending chore. He offers rest and refreshment. His yoke is easy, he says. His burden is light.
Note though, that following Jesus does mean that you are foot-loose and fancy-free. To be a disciple means to come under the discipline of a master. It means voluntarily putting a yoke on ones shoulders, and walking in a direction set by the master. It just happens to be the direction that the master knows will lead to pasture, refreshment, and happiness. But when oxen are told to move, they can't necessarily see the pasture at the end of the trail. All they see is a long, dusty road leading to nowhere.
There are some masters that are harsh and overbearing. When the oxen slow down due to fatigue or stubbornness, out comes the bullwhip. The journey turns into a guilt trip. The Pharisees were such masters. But Jesus is not. He is gentle. Gentleness does not mean whimpiness. He is strong and decisive, insistent on the direction to go and the pace to keep. Yet his strength is quiet, loving strength that builds up rather than tears down.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus uses the image of the yoke? At least two oxen are hitched together by a yoke side by side. Oxen are called "beasts of burden." So why he calls his yoke easy, his burden light?
Because he humbly yokes himself to us. Simon of Cyrene helped carry his cross; he helps carry ours. And he bears most of the weight, if we let him. That's why his yoke is easy. And he gives us His Spirit within (Romans 8:9-10) to give us the inner strength to bear our share of the burden, which is, of course, the far lesser share to begin with.
Easy yoke, light burden. You may reply that it sure doesn't feel that way most of the time. This could be for one of two reasons. What we are carrying may simply not be the Lord's yoke. Sometimes we deliberately disobey the Lord (that's called sin) and allow a tyrannical master to dominate our lives. No problem. That's what the sacrament of baptism is all about. Renouncing an oppressive Pharaoh in favor of a liberating Lord. If we've betrayed our baptism and gone back to the fleshpots of Egypt, we have the sacrament of penance to bring us back across the Red Sea to the Promised Land of Freedom.
The other reason the yoke may seem heavy is because we are not allowing the Lord to carry the weight. Or because we are not keeping his pace. We could be dragging our heels or racing ahead of him. Either way, we are chafing and straining. Perhaps we need just to quiet down for a few moments in the green pasture of prayer and adoration to attune our ears once again to the voice of the Master. The solution is easy: Let go and let God.
Source: http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/644/Yoke_of_Faith.html
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Malam Paska
Saudara dan saudari, selamat Hari Paska kepada kamu semua! Kristus telah bangkit dari kematian dan kita bangkit bersama Dia dari kematian dalam Pembaptisan! Dalam bacaan pertama, kita dipedengarkan bagaimana Tuhan mencipta manusia menurut rupa dan sama seperti Dia dan memberikan manusia penguasaan ke atas semua ciptaanNya!
di mana Allah telah bersabda, “Baiklah Kita menciptakan manusia, menurut gambar dan rupa Kita, supaya mereka berkuasa atas ikan-ikan di laut dan burung-burung di udara, atas ternak dan atas seluruh bumi, serta atas segala binatang melata yang merayap di bumi.” Namun, dosa Adam menyebabkan terjadinya jurang antara Allah dan manusia apabila mereka menentang Allah dengan memakan buah terlarang. Maka, dengan dosa, kematian telah masuk ke dunia.
Tetapi, Kristus bagaikan Adam kedua. Dalam Dialah, dipulihkan kembali keadaan semula. Injil memberitahu kita bahawa Yesus Kristus bangkit dari kematian dan menghapuskan dosa dan kematian! Kita sememangnya harus bergabung dengan Yesus dalam kematian, tetapi dengan jalan itu juga, kita bergabung dengan Dia dalam kebangkitanNya, supaya tiada lagi jurang pemisah antara Allah dan kita. Kebangkitan Kristus merupakan penggenapan nubuat-nubuat para nabi dan nubuat Kristus sendiri,
Para wanita, yang terkejut ketika melihat makam kosong, diberitahu oleh malaikat bahawa Kristus hidup. Mereka juga diingatkan akan kata-kata Kristus mengenai kebangkitan seperti yang sudah tertulis dalam injil, “Wanita-wanita itu amat terkejut dan menundukkan kepala, tetapi kedua orang (berpakaian putih berkilau-kilau) itu berkata, ‘Mengapa kamu mencari Dia yang hidup di antara orang mati? Dia tidak ada di sini, Dia telah bangkit. Ingatlah akan perkataan yang telah disampaikanNya kepadamu, ketika Ia masih di Galilea, yaitu, bahawa Putera Manusia harus diserahkan ke dalam tangan orang berdosa dan disalibkan, lalu bangkit pada hari yang ketiga.’ Maka teringatlah mereka akan perkataan Yesus itu.”!
Sepertimana yang telah kita dengar di dalam Kitab Keluaran, bangsa Israel telah dibebaskan dari penindasan bangsa asing. Pembebasan itu terjadi atas bantuan Allah yang membelah air laut bagi mereka, sehingga mereka dapat menyeberang. Penyeberangan Laut Merah itu melambangkan Sakramen Pembaptisan, sebab sakramen itu bagaikan suatu penyeberangan. Dahulunya kita dikuasai oleh dosa dan oleh iblis, tetapi setelah dibaptis, kita menjadi bebas. Itulah hasil karya penebusan Yesus Kristus.
Kita bersyukur kerana dengan kematian dan kebangkitan Yesus, dosa kita diampuni dan kita diberi kehidupan baru, kerana di dalam Sakramen Pembaptisan, kita dikuburkan bersama Kristus, tetapi seperti Kristus yang bangkit dari kuburNya, demikian pula kita bangkit dari air baptisan dan mengalami hidup yang baru. Kita tidak lagi dikuasai oleh dosa, melainkan kita hidup bagi Allah!
Amen.
di mana Allah telah bersabda, “Baiklah Kita menciptakan manusia, menurut gambar dan rupa Kita, supaya mereka berkuasa atas ikan-ikan di laut dan burung-burung di udara, atas ternak dan atas seluruh bumi, serta atas segala binatang melata yang merayap di bumi.” Namun, dosa Adam menyebabkan terjadinya jurang antara Allah dan manusia apabila mereka menentang Allah dengan memakan buah terlarang. Maka, dengan dosa, kematian telah masuk ke dunia.
Tetapi, Kristus bagaikan Adam kedua. Dalam Dialah, dipulihkan kembali keadaan semula. Injil memberitahu kita bahawa Yesus Kristus bangkit dari kematian dan menghapuskan dosa dan kematian! Kita sememangnya harus bergabung dengan Yesus dalam kematian, tetapi dengan jalan itu juga, kita bergabung dengan Dia dalam kebangkitanNya, supaya tiada lagi jurang pemisah antara Allah dan kita. Kebangkitan Kristus merupakan penggenapan nubuat-nubuat para nabi dan nubuat Kristus sendiri,
Para wanita, yang terkejut ketika melihat makam kosong, diberitahu oleh malaikat bahawa Kristus hidup. Mereka juga diingatkan akan kata-kata Kristus mengenai kebangkitan seperti yang sudah tertulis dalam injil, “Wanita-wanita itu amat terkejut dan menundukkan kepala, tetapi kedua orang (berpakaian putih berkilau-kilau) itu berkata, ‘Mengapa kamu mencari Dia yang hidup di antara orang mati? Dia tidak ada di sini, Dia telah bangkit. Ingatlah akan perkataan yang telah disampaikanNya kepadamu, ketika Ia masih di Galilea, yaitu, bahawa Putera Manusia harus diserahkan ke dalam tangan orang berdosa dan disalibkan, lalu bangkit pada hari yang ketiga.’ Maka teringatlah mereka akan perkataan Yesus itu.”!
Sepertimana yang telah kita dengar di dalam Kitab Keluaran, bangsa Israel telah dibebaskan dari penindasan bangsa asing. Pembebasan itu terjadi atas bantuan Allah yang membelah air laut bagi mereka, sehingga mereka dapat menyeberang. Penyeberangan Laut Merah itu melambangkan Sakramen Pembaptisan, sebab sakramen itu bagaikan suatu penyeberangan. Dahulunya kita dikuasai oleh dosa dan oleh iblis, tetapi setelah dibaptis, kita menjadi bebas. Itulah hasil karya penebusan Yesus Kristus.
Kita bersyukur kerana dengan kematian dan kebangkitan Yesus, dosa kita diampuni dan kita diberi kehidupan baru, kerana di dalam Sakramen Pembaptisan, kita dikuburkan bersama Kristus, tetapi seperti Kristus yang bangkit dari kuburNya, demikian pula kita bangkit dari air baptisan dan mengalami hidup yang baru. Kita tidak lagi dikuasai oleh dosa, melainkan kita hidup bagi Allah!
Amen.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Jumaat Agung
Saudara dan saudari, Jumaat Agung adalah sambungan daripada Khamis Putih, hari pertama dalam Triduum Paska. Hari ini, kita memperingati kesengsaraan Tuhan kita, Yesus Kristus serta wafatNya di kayu salib. Kita merayakannya dengan bersungguh-sungguh, dengan hati yang terbuka kepada karunia Allah yang pada hari ini dikaruniakan ke atas diri kita dan atas seluruh umat manusia.
Servis pada hari ini terbahagi kepada tiga bahagian:
a) Pewartaan Kisah Sengsara Tuhan kita;
b) Penghormatan salib; dan
c) Bapa kami / Komuni
Sebelum kita mendengarkan Kisah Sengsara Tuhan, kita terlebih dahulu mendengar nubuat Yesaya. Di dalam bacaan pertama, Yesaya sudah menceritakan tentang seorang yang disebutnya “Hamba Tuhan”. Hamba Tuhan itu dihina dan diaibkan orang. Dialah manusia penuh sengsara, yang tahu apa ertinya ‘menderita’. Penderitaannya itu penting bagi umat manusia, kata Yesaya. Sesungguhnya penderitaan itu memang sukar dan sering kali menjadi satu misteri kepada semua, namun penderitaan yang dialami oleh ‘Hamba Tuhan’ mengalahkan segala kuasa kegelapan dan dosa.
Dan di dalam bacaan kedua, Yesus diperlihatkan sebagai Imam Agung yang dapat turut serta dalam merasakan kelemahan manusia. Sama seperti manusia biasa, ketika Yesus diselubungi dengan ketakutan dan kebimbangan, Dia menyerahkan kehendakNya kepada Bapa dan Bapa telah mendengar setiap keluhan dan rintihanNya. Saat itulah yang menjadikan Dia imam dan juga korban supaya melalui Yesus, Ia menjadi sumber kehidupan dan keselamatan bagi semua orang.
Di dalam Pewartaan Kisah Sengsara Tuhan yang baru diperdengarkan sebentar tadi, ayat terakhir yang diungkapkan oleh Yesus sebelum wafat ialah “Sudah selesai”. Dua perkataan sekiranya di dalam Bahasa Melayu, tetapi di dalam bahasa asal, ia disebut “Telestai” yang bermaksud “Dibayar penuh”. Melalui kematianNya di kayu salib, Yesus telah menebus kita semua yang berdosa dengan darahNya supaya kita peroleh pengampunan atas dosa-dosa kita serta menikmati hubungan baru dengan Allah melalui Yesus Kristus, PuteraNya. ‘Hutang’ kita telah sudah diselesaikan penuh oleh Yesus. Dan seperti Bapa mengampuni dosa kita, haruslah kita mengampuni mereka yang bersalah kepada kita.
Bagaimanakah kita harus respons kepada ayat terakhir yang diungkapkan oleh Yesus itu? Harus diingat, ianya bukan satu janji mahupun satu syarat. Kita sememangnya sudah diampuni setiap dosa kita. Apa yang perlu kita lakukan adalah mengucapkan “Amin”. Apa yang perlu kita lakukan hanyalah percaya dengan sepenuh jiwa dan raga kita bahawa dosa kita telah diampuni dan ‘dibayar penuh’. Kerana itu, kita bersyukur dan bergembira kerana Yesus. Kita memberikan penghormatan kepada Yesus dengan mencium Salib kerana Salib merupakan lambing kepada pembebasan kita. Oleh kerana Salib tidak dapat dipisahkan dengan pengorbanan Yesus, semasa kita memberi penghormatan, kita sebenar-benarnya menegaskan bahawa “Kami memuja-Mu dan memuji-Mu, Yesus, kerana dengan Salib Suci-Mu, Engkau telah menebus dosa dunia.” Dan semasa kita tampil ke depan untuk memberi penghormatan kepada Salib yang melambangkan Yesus sambil merenungkan kematian Yesus untuk mengampuni dosa kita, kita berjanji padaNya supaya hidup kita bisa menjadi sebuah lagu kesyukuran, yang tak henti-hentinya bersyukur kepada Yesus yang mati bagi membayar dosa kita.
Servis pada hari ini terbahagi kepada tiga bahagian:
a) Pewartaan Kisah Sengsara Tuhan kita;
b) Penghormatan salib; dan
c) Bapa kami / Komuni
Sebelum kita mendengarkan Kisah Sengsara Tuhan, kita terlebih dahulu mendengar nubuat Yesaya. Di dalam bacaan pertama, Yesaya sudah menceritakan tentang seorang yang disebutnya “Hamba Tuhan”. Hamba Tuhan itu dihina dan diaibkan orang. Dialah manusia penuh sengsara, yang tahu apa ertinya ‘menderita’. Penderitaannya itu penting bagi umat manusia, kata Yesaya. Sesungguhnya penderitaan itu memang sukar dan sering kali menjadi satu misteri kepada semua, namun penderitaan yang dialami oleh ‘Hamba Tuhan’ mengalahkan segala kuasa kegelapan dan dosa.
Dan di dalam bacaan kedua, Yesus diperlihatkan sebagai Imam Agung yang dapat turut serta dalam merasakan kelemahan manusia. Sama seperti manusia biasa, ketika Yesus diselubungi dengan ketakutan dan kebimbangan, Dia menyerahkan kehendakNya kepada Bapa dan Bapa telah mendengar setiap keluhan dan rintihanNya. Saat itulah yang menjadikan Dia imam dan juga korban supaya melalui Yesus, Ia menjadi sumber kehidupan dan keselamatan bagi semua orang.
Di dalam Pewartaan Kisah Sengsara Tuhan yang baru diperdengarkan sebentar tadi, ayat terakhir yang diungkapkan oleh Yesus sebelum wafat ialah “Sudah selesai”. Dua perkataan sekiranya di dalam Bahasa Melayu, tetapi di dalam bahasa asal, ia disebut “Telestai” yang bermaksud “Dibayar penuh”. Melalui kematianNya di kayu salib, Yesus telah menebus kita semua yang berdosa dengan darahNya supaya kita peroleh pengampunan atas dosa-dosa kita serta menikmati hubungan baru dengan Allah melalui Yesus Kristus, PuteraNya. ‘Hutang’ kita telah sudah diselesaikan penuh oleh Yesus. Dan seperti Bapa mengampuni dosa kita, haruslah kita mengampuni mereka yang bersalah kepada kita.
Bagaimanakah kita harus respons kepada ayat terakhir yang diungkapkan oleh Yesus itu? Harus diingat, ianya bukan satu janji mahupun satu syarat. Kita sememangnya sudah diampuni setiap dosa kita. Apa yang perlu kita lakukan adalah mengucapkan “Amin”. Apa yang perlu kita lakukan hanyalah percaya dengan sepenuh jiwa dan raga kita bahawa dosa kita telah diampuni dan ‘dibayar penuh’. Kerana itu, kita bersyukur dan bergembira kerana Yesus. Kita memberikan penghormatan kepada Yesus dengan mencium Salib kerana Salib merupakan lambing kepada pembebasan kita. Oleh kerana Salib tidak dapat dipisahkan dengan pengorbanan Yesus, semasa kita memberi penghormatan, kita sebenar-benarnya menegaskan bahawa “Kami memuja-Mu dan memuji-Mu, Yesus, kerana dengan Salib Suci-Mu, Engkau telah menebus dosa dunia.” Dan semasa kita tampil ke depan untuk memberi penghormatan kepada Salib yang melambangkan Yesus sambil merenungkan kematian Yesus untuk mengampuni dosa kita, kita berjanji padaNya supaya hidup kita bisa menjadi sebuah lagu kesyukuran, yang tak henti-hentinya bersyukur kepada Yesus yang mati bagi membayar dosa kita.
Khamis Putih
Saudara dan saudari, Khamis Putih adalah hari Khamis dalam Minggu Suci, atau hari pertama dalam Triduum Paska (Holy Triduum). Pada hari ini, kita diajak untuk memperingati dan merayakan malam terakhir yang diadakan oleh Yesus bersama para rasul. Kita juga mengenangkan pembasuhan kaki sebagai tanda pelayanan Yesus, serta pesan yang diberikan Yesus kepada kita untuk saling memaafkan, saling mencintai dan tetap rela melayani sesama yang lain. Maka, hari ini, kita memperingati tiga misteri, iaitu:
a) Institusi Ekaristi;
b) Institusi untuk para imam; dan
c) Hukum untuk mengasihi dan melayani.
Misa pada Khamis Putih dibahagikan kepada empat iaitu:
a) Liturgi Sabda;
b) Pembasuhan kaki;
c) Liturgi Ekaristi; dan
d) Pendedahan Altar
Liturgi Sabda
Bacaan pertama memberitahu kita bahawa Hari Raya terbesar untuk umat Israel di dalam Perjanjian Lama adalah Pesta Paska di mana pada hari itu, mereka mengingati pembebasan mereka daripada tanah Mesir. Dan untuk kita, perayaan Paska merupakan perayaan terbesar kerana kita memperingati pembebasan kita dari dosa. Di kemuncak perayaan, baik di dalam Perjanjian Lama mahupun Perjanjian Baru, ialah satu perjamuan. Untuk itu, umat Israel menyembelih, mengurbankan, dan memakan seekor anak domba. Anak domba itu menjadi pra-lambang Anakdomba Allah, Yesus Kristus. Dia merelakan diriNya disembelih dan dikorbankan demi membebaskan kita semua dari dosa.
Bacaan kedua pula mengenai Institusi Ekaristi yang terbentuk. Bacaan kedua ini memberitahu kita bahawa Tuhan telah menginstitusikan Ekaristi dalam kenangan kematian dan kebangkitanNya sehingga kedatanganNya yang kedua kali dalam kemuliaan: “Sebab setiap kali saudara makan roti dan minum dari piala ini, saudara mewartakan wafat Tuhan, sampai Ia datang.”(1Kor 11:26). Dalam kenangan bukan bermaksud hanya mengingati masa lampau, tetapi ia bermaksud membuat masa lampau itu hidup, benar dan berkesan. Ia bererti membuat wafat dan kebangkitan Tuhan itu hidup, benar dan berkesan, dalam kehidupan kita, agar sama seperti Tuhan, kita juga akan mengasihi dan melayani antara satu dengan yang lain dan membasuh kaki satu dengan yang lain.
Bacaan kedua adalah tulisan terawal mengenai institusi Ekaristi dalam Perjanjian Baru. Ia memberitahu kita bahwa Ekaristi mempunyai empat aksi:
(i) mengambil
(ii) bersyukur
(iii) memecah
(iv) memberi.
Inilah aksi yang perlu kita lakukan dalam Misa Kudus:
(i) mengambil (persembahan),
(ii) bersyukur (Doa Ekaristi),
(iii) memecah (memecah roti),
(iv) memberi (Komuni Kudus).
Pendeknya, Yesus memberi kesyukuran kepada Bapa atas anugerah kehidupan dan Yesus memberikan nyawaNya untuk orang lain. Pendek kata, kita yang menerima kehidupan Yesus juga bersyukur kepada Bapa atas anugerah kehidupan dan memberi diri kita untuk orang lain. Ringkasnya, Ekaristi adalah mengenai kesyukuran dan pemberian. Kehidupan adalah mengenai kesyukuran dan pemberian.
Pembasuhan Kaki
Adalah penting untuk mengambil kira bahwa cerita institusi Ekaristi tidak wujud dalam Injil Yohanes. Sebaliknya, di dalam Injil Yohanes, ada menceritakan mengenai Yesus membasuh kaki para pengikutNya yang mana tidak terdapat di dalam ketiga-tiga Injil yang lain. Membasuh kaki orang lain adalah kerja para pekerja/orang gaji dan hamba abdi! Yesus datang untuk melayani dan bukan untuk dilayani dan untuk memberikan kehidupannya sama seperti membayar wang tebusan untuk orang lain! Yang terpenting, secara simbolik, Injil memberitahu kita bahawa Yesus Kristus datang untuk mencuci dan menghapuskan dosa kita dengan Roh Kudus! Yesus Kristus datang untuk menghapuskan dosa-dosa kita dengan Air Pembaptisan! Dan yang penting, Yesus Kristus memerintahkan kita untuk melakukan hal yang sama!
Pembasuhan kaki merupakan sebab dan tujuan institusi Ekaristi dibentuk. Yesus membentuk Ekaristi dengan memberi kepada kita tubuh dan darahNya untuk dimakan dan diminum agar kita menjadi sama seperti Dia, dan dapat membasuh kaki antara satu dengan yang lain, dan sama seperti Dia, kita dapat mengasihi dan melayani antara satu dengan yang lain.
Tetapi, lebih dari itu, Injil memberitahu kita hari ini bahwa Yesus juga membasuh dosa-dosa kita dengan darahNya di kayu salib pada Jumaat Agung dan Yesus juga membasuh dosa-dosa kita dengan air Roh Kudus dalam Sakramen Permandian pada Malam menjelang Paska. Pendek kata, Yesus datang untuk mengasihi dan melayani, menderita dan dikorbankan, menyucikan dan menyelamatkan seluruh dunia.
Liturgi Ekaristi
Selepas homili kita akan melakukan upacara pencucian kaki dan diikuti dengan upacara perayaan Ekaristi. Tanpa Ekaristi kita tidak ada kekuatan untuk membasuh kaki antara satu sama yang lain. Hari ini Misa Kudus kita adalah “Misa pembukaan yang tidak ada penutup” Ianya tidak mempunyai pengutusan! Pengutusan akan diberikan pada Misa Malam Paska! Hari ini Misa Kudus bermula dengan “Triduum Paska” (3 hari): Hari Khamis Putih sampai ke Hari Jumaat Agung (Kematian); Hari Jumaat Agung sampai ke Hari Sabtu Suci (Pemakaman); Hari Sabtu Suci sampai ke Hari Minggu Paska (kebangkitan)!
Selepas Misa Kudus ini Sakramen Maha Kudus akan dipindahkan. Sakramen Maha Kudus di simpan khas untuk komuni pada Jumaat Agung. Selepas pemindahan Sakramen Maha Kudus, Altar akan didedahkan atau dikosongkan, disebabkan tiada Misa Kudus pada hari Jumaat Agung, tetapi hanya servis Alkitab dan pengagihan Komuni Kudus.
Kita digalakkan untuk memberikan sedikit masa malam ini dalam penghormatan dan adorasi Sakramen Maha Kudus, berjaga bersama Tuhan dalam kesengsaraanNya di kebun Getsemani. Dalam penghormatan kepada Sakramen Maha Kudus kita juga memberi kesyukuran atas institiusi Ekaristi yang mengenangkanNya. Disebabkan Khamis Putih adalah permulaan Jumaat Agung kita akan kembali esok untuk merayakan Jumaat Agung.
Amen!
a) Institusi Ekaristi;
b) Institusi untuk para imam; dan
c) Hukum untuk mengasihi dan melayani.
Misa pada Khamis Putih dibahagikan kepada empat iaitu:
a) Liturgi Sabda;
b) Pembasuhan kaki;
c) Liturgi Ekaristi; dan
d) Pendedahan Altar
Liturgi Sabda
Bacaan pertama memberitahu kita bahawa Hari Raya terbesar untuk umat Israel di dalam Perjanjian Lama adalah Pesta Paska di mana pada hari itu, mereka mengingati pembebasan mereka daripada tanah Mesir. Dan untuk kita, perayaan Paska merupakan perayaan terbesar kerana kita memperingati pembebasan kita dari dosa. Di kemuncak perayaan, baik di dalam Perjanjian Lama mahupun Perjanjian Baru, ialah satu perjamuan. Untuk itu, umat Israel menyembelih, mengurbankan, dan memakan seekor anak domba. Anak domba itu menjadi pra-lambang Anakdomba Allah, Yesus Kristus. Dia merelakan diriNya disembelih dan dikorbankan demi membebaskan kita semua dari dosa.
Bacaan kedua pula mengenai Institusi Ekaristi yang terbentuk. Bacaan kedua ini memberitahu kita bahawa Tuhan telah menginstitusikan Ekaristi dalam kenangan kematian dan kebangkitanNya sehingga kedatanganNya yang kedua kali dalam kemuliaan: “Sebab setiap kali saudara makan roti dan minum dari piala ini, saudara mewartakan wafat Tuhan, sampai Ia datang.”(1Kor 11:26). Dalam kenangan bukan bermaksud hanya mengingati masa lampau, tetapi ia bermaksud membuat masa lampau itu hidup, benar dan berkesan. Ia bererti membuat wafat dan kebangkitan Tuhan itu hidup, benar dan berkesan, dalam kehidupan kita, agar sama seperti Tuhan, kita juga akan mengasihi dan melayani antara satu dengan yang lain dan membasuh kaki satu dengan yang lain.
Bacaan kedua adalah tulisan terawal mengenai institusi Ekaristi dalam Perjanjian Baru. Ia memberitahu kita bahwa Ekaristi mempunyai empat aksi:
(i) mengambil
(ii) bersyukur
(iii) memecah
(iv) memberi.
Inilah aksi yang perlu kita lakukan dalam Misa Kudus:
(i) mengambil (persembahan),
(ii) bersyukur (Doa Ekaristi),
(iii) memecah (memecah roti),
(iv) memberi (Komuni Kudus).
Pendeknya, Yesus memberi kesyukuran kepada Bapa atas anugerah kehidupan dan Yesus memberikan nyawaNya untuk orang lain. Pendek kata, kita yang menerima kehidupan Yesus juga bersyukur kepada Bapa atas anugerah kehidupan dan memberi diri kita untuk orang lain. Ringkasnya, Ekaristi adalah mengenai kesyukuran dan pemberian. Kehidupan adalah mengenai kesyukuran dan pemberian.
Pembasuhan Kaki
Adalah penting untuk mengambil kira bahwa cerita institusi Ekaristi tidak wujud dalam Injil Yohanes. Sebaliknya, di dalam Injil Yohanes, ada menceritakan mengenai Yesus membasuh kaki para pengikutNya yang mana tidak terdapat di dalam ketiga-tiga Injil yang lain. Membasuh kaki orang lain adalah kerja para pekerja/orang gaji dan hamba abdi! Yesus datang untuk melayani dan bukan untuk dilayani dan untuk memberikan kehidupannya sama seperti membayar wang tebusan untuk orang lain! Yang terpenting, secara simbolik, Injil memberitahu kita bahawa Yesus Kristus datang untuk mencuci dan menghapuskan dosa kita dengan Roh Kudus! Yesus Kristus datang untuk menghapuskan dosa-dosa kita dengan Air Pembaptisan! Dan yang penting, Yesus Kristus memerintahkan kita untuk melakukan hal yang sama!
Pembasuhan kaki merupakan sebab dan tujuan institusi Ekaristi dibentuk. Yesus membentuk Ekaristi dengan memberi kepada kita tubuh dan darahNya untuk dimakan dan diminum agar kita menjadi sama seperti Dia, dan dapat membasuh kaki antara satu dengan yang lain, dan sama seperti Dia, kita dapat mengasihi dan melayani antara satu dengan yang lain.
Tetapi, lebih dari itu, Injil memberitahu kita hari ini bahwa Yesus juga membasuh dosa-dosa kita dengan darahNya di kayu salib pada Jumaat Agung dan Yesus juga membasuh dosa-dosa kita dengan air Roh Kudus dalam Sakramen Permandian pada Malam menjelang Paska. Pendek kata, Yesus datang untuk mengasihi dan melayani, menderita dan dikorbankan, menyucikan dan menyelamatkan seluruh dunia.
Liturgi Ekaristi
Selepas homili kita akan melakukan upacara pencucian kaki dan diikuti dengan upacara perayaan Ekaristi. Tanpa Ekaristi kita tidak ada kekuatan untuk membasuh kaki antara satu sama yang lain. Hari ini Misa Kudus kita adalah “Misa pembukaan yang tidak ada penutup” Ianya tidak mempunyai pengutusan! Pengutusan akan diberikan pada Misa Malam Paska! Hari ini Misa Kudus bermula dengan “Triduum Paska” (3 hari): Hari Khamis Putih sampai ke Hari Jumaat Agung (Kematian); Hari Jumaat Agung sampai ke Hari Sabtu Suci (Pemakaman); Hari Sabtu Suci sampai ke Hari Minggu Paska (kebangkitan)!
Selepas Misa Kudus ini Sakramen Maha Kudus akan dipindahkan. Sakramen Maha Kudus di simpan khas untuk komuni pada Jumaat Agung. Selepas pemindahan Sakramen Maha Kudus, Altar akan didedahkan atau dikosongkan, disebabkan tiada Misa Kudus pada hari Jumaat Agung, tetapi hanya servis Alkitab dan pengagihan Komuni Kudus.
Kita digalakkan untuk memberikan sedikit masa malam ini dalam penghormatan dan adorasi Sakramen Maha Kudus, berjaga bersama Tuhan dalam kesengsaraanNya di kebun Getsemani. Dalam penghormatan kepada Sakramen Maha Kudus kita juga memberi kesyukuran atas institiusi Ekaristi yang mengenangkanNya. Disebabkan Khamis Putih adalah permulaan Jumaat Agung kita akan kembali esok untuk merayakan Jumaat Agung.
Amen!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Spirit of Lent
Harian Metro yesterday reported that a church in Johor Bahru WILLINGLY AND WITHOUT ANY CONDITION offered RM2000 to a single mother to help her only daughter pay for university fees. It was reported that the mother, who practices Islam faith had gone to several places like Baitulmal and Pusat Zakat Negeri to ask for help as she was unable to pay for her daughter's fee.
Unfortunely she was turned down by her own people of same faith!
As she sat at a bus stop crying, a man came forward and asked what had happened. She relate her story to this man who had then brought her to a church to seek for help. The priest, after listening to her plight, gave her a cheque amounting to RM2000, with no obligations whatsoever.
Now, this is what I called the spirit of Alms-Giving. And this is what the Season of Lent is all about - Helping another person regardless of their faith and religion.
This is Christ's teaching to us (Matthew 25: 35 - 36, 40):
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.... "
"The King will reply, 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me... "
And when someone is doing good to others out of their own free will and with no strings attached, it is not right for us to make speculations or find ulterior motives behind the gesture. After all, we are only practising what our faith had taught us to do...
Please do not mistake the help as an intention to lure away other people of different faith ....
Unfortunely she was turned down by her own people of same faith!
As she sat at a bus stop crying, a man came forward and asked what had happened. She relate her story to this man who had then brought her to a church to seek for help. The priest, after listening to her plight, gave her a cheque amounting to RM2000, with no obligations whatsoever.
Now, this is what I called the spirit of Alms-Giving. And this is what the Season of Lent is all about - Helping another person regardless of their faith and religion.
This is Christ's teaching to us (Matthew 25: 35 - 36, 40):
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.... "
"The King will reply, 'Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me... "
And when someone is doing good to others out of their own free will and with no strings attached, it is not right for us to make speculations or find ulterior motives behind the gesture. After all, we are only practising what our faith had taught us to do...
Please do not mistake the help as an intention to lure away other people of different faith ....
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Our Happiness Are Short-Lived
I guess to follow Christ is not an easy path - but He promised that He will be with us all the way. Lets hold on to that promise and not give up !
Friday, February 27, 2009
Biblical Reflections for Ash Wednesday
It Took 40 Days …
On Ash Wednesday the Church begins her great Lenten journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. For centuries, Lent has been a very intense spiritual journey and experience for the followers of Jesus Christ.
Why are there 40 days in Lent?
On Ash Wednesday the Church begins her great Lenten journey with Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. For centuries, Lent has been a very intense spiritual journey and experience for the followers of Jesus Christ.
Why are there 40 days in Lent?
- It took 40 days for sinfulness to drown in the flood before a new creation could inherit the earth.
- It took 40 years for the generation of slaves to die before the freeborn could enter the Promised Land.
- For 40 days Moses, Elijah and Jesus fasted and prayed to prepare themselves for a life's work.
Lent invites us to turn from our own selves, from our sin, to come together in community. Self-denial is the way we express our repentance. Self-denial is threefold, advises Matthew's Gospel.
- We pray: "Go to your room, close your door, and pray to your Father in private."
- We fast: "No one must see you are fasting but your Father."
- We give alms: "Keep your deeds of mercy secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you."
Through the Lenten exercise of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we spring-clean our lives, sharpen our senses, put tomorrow in its place and treasure the day at hand.
One of the three Lenten practices open to most misinterpretation today is that of fasting. Fasting has become an ambiguous practice. In antiquity, only religious fasting was known; today, political and social fasting exists (hunger strikes), health and ideological fasting (vegetarians), pathological fasting (anorexia), aesthetic fasting (the cult of the body -- believing that thinner is better). There is, above all, a fast imposed by necessity: that of millions of human beings who lack the indispensable minimum and die of hunger.
These fasts in themselves have nothing to do with religious or aesthetic reasons. In aesthetic fasting at times one can even "mortify" the vice of gluttony only to obey another capital vice, that of pride or vanity.
Fasting, in itself, is something good and advisable; it translates some fundamental religious attitudes: reverence before God, acknowledgment of one's sins, resistance to the desires of the flesh, concern for and solidarity with the poor. ...
As with all human things, however, it can fall into "presumption of the flesh." Remember the words of the Pharisee in the temple: "I fast twice a week" (Luke 18:12).
Lent is a time for us to discover the reasons for the pious practices, disciplines and devotions of our Catholic Christian tradition. What have we done with the important Lenten practice of fasting? If Jesus were here to speak to disciples of today, what would he stress most?
We regard as more important the need to "share bread with the hungry and clothe the naked"; we are in fact ashamed to call ours a "fast," when what would be for us the height of austerity -- to be on bread and water -- for millions of people would already be an extraordinary luxury, especially if it is fresh bread and clean water.
In his message for Lent 2009, Benedict XVI writes: "At the same time, fasting is an aid to open our eyes to the situation in which so many of our brothers and sisters live. In his First Letter, St. John admonishes: 'If anyone has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, yet shuts up his bowels of compassion from him -- how does the love of God abide in him?' Voluntary fasting enables us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends low and goes to the help of his suffering brother.
"By freely embracing an act of self-denial for the sake of another, we make a statement that our brother or sister in need is not a stranger. It is precisely to keep alive this welcoming and attentive attitude towards our brothers and sisters that I encourage the parishes and every other community to intensify in Lent the custom of private and communal fasts, joined to the reading of the Word of God, prayer and almsgiving. From the beginning, this has been the hallmark of the Christian community, in which special collections were taken up, the faithful being invited to give to the poor what had been set aside from their fast. This practice needs to be rediscovered and encouraged again in our day, especially during the liturgical season of Lent."
Fasting helps us not to be reduced to pure "consumers"; it helps us to acquire the precious "fruit of the Spirit," which is "self-control," it predisposes us to the encounter with God.
We must empty ourselves in order to be filled by God. Fasting creates authentic solidarity with millions of hungry people throughout the world.
But we must not forget that there are alternative forms of fasting and abstinence from food. We can practice fasting from smoking and drinking. This not only benefits the soul but also the body. There is fasting from violent and sexual pictures that television, movies, magazines and Internet bombard us with daily as they distort human dignity. There is the fasting from condemning and dismissing others -- a practice so prevalent in today's Church.
"For now is the acceptable time! Now is the day of salvation!"
We need Lent to help us recognize that our identity and mission are rooted in Jesus' dying and rising. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the pillars of the Lenten journey for Christians.
Lent is a time to fast from certain things, but also a time to feast on others.
Fast from discontent, anger, bitterness, self-concern, discouragement, laziness, suspicion, guilt.
Feast on gratitude, patience, forgiveness, compassion for others, hope, commitment, truth, and the mercy of God.
Lent is just such a time of fasting and feasting!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
God's Gift to Us, Catholics
** Updated **
Today's paper, The Star has published an article over this matter.
** Previous **
Herald has been granted permission to use the word 'Allah' in its publication. This is a victory for the Catholic Church.
It is indeed God's gift to us...
Praise be to God....
(But I have yet to see this news on any pof the major paper. Lets hope tonight's news will have something on this.)
Today's paper, The Star has published an article over this matter.
** Previous **
Herald has been granted permission to use the word 'Allah' in its publication. This is a victory for the Catholic Church.
It is indeed God's gift to us...
Praise be to God....
(But I have yet to see this news on any pof the major paper. Lets hope tonight's news will have something on this.)
Monday, February 23, 2009
Lent Is 'Round D Corner
Again, it is time of the year - time of fast and abstinence.As a Catholic, this is a time for us to reflect on Jesus's sufferings for mankind, the love He had for us, that He died to set us free.
Am I letting Him died in vain? Have I done enough to build His church on earth? Most of all, have I spread His love to everyone?
Looks like I need to do some serious soul-searching, and also to prepare myself for confession.
Monday, July 14, 2008
KAGAPE '08
6th July 2008 - Pesta Kaamatan, Gawai dan Panen peringkat Keuskupan Agung Kuala Lumpur telah diadakan di St Anthony Church, Pudu.
This is the harvest festival celebrated by the people from Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia - giving thanks to GOD for the fruitful harvest that they have received all year long.
It began with mass, celebrated by Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, Fr Jestus, Fr Valentine and 4 other priests (which I have forgotten their names). Mass was indeed wonderful with the beautiful choir and dance presentations by various people.
Then, we had our lunch (which is a major queue just to get the food) and finally we had the celebrations just after lunch. Our church (Gereja Katolik Fatima) was also one of the participants for the celebration where we presented a 'Drama Tari' (which is actually Sumazau dance with Togunggak instruments, guitars and choir)
All in all, we had a fun time at St Anthony and everyone went home tired by happy. I am sure it will be a non-forgtting moment for all of us as this is the first time that we actually play in front of a crowd (what's more for those who have just been baptized recently). God is truly awesome !
This is the harvest festival celebrated by the people from Sabah, Sarawak and Indonesia - giving thanks to GOD for the fruitful harvest that they have received all year long.
It began with mass, celebrated by Archbishop Murphy Pakiam, Fr Jestus, Fr Valentine and 4 other priests (which I have forgotten their names). Mass was indeed wonderful with the beautiful choir and dance presentations by various people.
Then, we had our lunch (which is a major queue just to get the food) and finally we had the celebrations just after lunch. Our church (Gereja Katolik Fatima) was also one of the participants for the celebration where we presented a 'Drama Tari' (which is actually Sumazau dance with Togunggak instruments, guitars and choir)
All in all, we had a fun time at St Anthony and everyone went home tired by happy. I am sure it will be a non-forgtting moment for all of us as this is the first time that we actually play in front of a crowd (what's more for those who have just been baptized recently). God is truly awesome !
Monday, May 5, 2008
Church To Seek Judicial Review
If anyone of us has been following the story in Herald, or heard about it mentioned in any homilies, we should now know that the High Court has granted the Church leave to seek Judicial Review over Government's decision to forbid the usage of word 'Allah' in Herald's publication.
Now, Fr. Lawrence has been saying this for a long time, ever since before i got married. I admired the PAS assemblyman who came to meet up with the parishioners of Church of Divine Mercy in Shah Alam and he personally said that the word 'Allah' originated way before Islam religion came abroad. And it is a word in Malay that translate to God.
I am not trying to stir up some religion issues here. I respect other religion - their ways and beliefs. If that is true in history, than I don't see why (my personal point of view) the word 'Allah' cannot be used for Christians as well as it symbolizes God The Almighty.
God has His own ways of doing things. 'Do Unto Others As You Would Like Others To Do Unto You' will always be my motto of life.
Now, Fr. Lawrence has been saying this for a long time, ever since before i got married. I admired the PAS assemblyman who came to meet up with the parishioners of Church of Divine Mercy in Shah Alam and he personally said that the word 'Allah' originated way before Islam religion came abroad. And it is a word in Malay that translate to God.
I am not trying to stir up some religion issues here. I respect other religion - their ways and beliefs. If that is true in history, than I don't see why (my personal point of view) the word 'Allah' cannot be used for Christians as well as it symbolizes God The Almighty.
God has His own ways of doing things. 'Do Unto Others As You Would Like Others To Do Unto You' will always be my motto of life.
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