Church of ST JOSEPH Plentong

https://www.catholic.sg
01-February-2019
Friday-3rd-week-ordinary-time

*ARE YOU STILL PROUD TO BE A CATHOLIC?*

*With the recurrent negative publicity surrounding the Church and scandals involving its hierarchy, it is difficult to stand erect, hold our heads high and say that we are proud to be Catholic.   Indeed, many Catholics are ashamed of their faith.  Even those Catholics with supposedly strong faith are shaken at hearing such reports.  For those who have weak or little faith, what more can we expect from them?  Some have left the Church and given up that little sliver of faith that is left in them.  Those who have been sexually abused are angry with the Church and some are seeking justice to redress their pain.*

*Indeed, it is difficult to stay firm and strong in our faith.  As it is, our Faith is being attacked from all fronts. Above all, with life being more comfortable today, and pleasures, convenience and comforts so easily accessible, unlike in the old days when life was harsh, difficult and austere, people do not think about the next life.  In fact, because we are so comfortable in this world, we do not desire to leave it to go to heaven.  We want to live on this earth for as long as possible so that we can enjoy the pleasures of life.  That is why people go for makeover and freeze their embryos and stems cells, etc because they want to continue to live forever.  Only those who live in poverty, in meaninglessness, are sick and lonely desire to die so that they can be relieved from the pain of this life.  Otherwise, the thought of dying would be far from their minds.*

*This is true even for Catholics.  How we live our lives is not much different from those without faith in God.  Faith for many Catholics is more like taking a Panadol for relief or a stop-gap to explain the mysteries of life events.  Their faith is more a supplement, a safety net, an insurance.  In case everything else fails in life, they still have something to rely on.  They use their faith to help them to go through life, especially in times of suffering, trials, bereavement or helplessness.  Only then, will they turn to God for help or assistance.  However, we need to truly ask ourselves, do we live this life on earth as a preparation and purification for life eternal?*

*In contrast, we look at the early Christians.  It is hard to imitate their faith in Christ.  They were persecuted, insulted, suffered violence and even put in prison. What was their secret?  It is their faith in the greater things to come. For the sake of the greater future, we can sacrifice the present. This has always been the case, even in daily life.  For the sake of the future of our children, parents sacrifice their comforts and work hard to give their children a good education.  What more if we are speaking of not just being successful in the world but for the joy of eternal life, as a foretaste on this earth and in its fullness after death.  St Paul himself wrote, “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.”*

*That is why, the key to firmness in our faith is to live by faith, not by sight. What does faith entail? It means to live an honourable life and trust in God who does all things well.  Secondly, it means to believe that He is working even when we cannot see Him at work in our lives. Of course, like the farmer, we must cooperate with His grace.  We must sow the seed and water the plants.  We must cooperate with His grace at work in our lives. Indeed, we must not be too concerned with the visible workings of grace.  We must be patient and start cooperating with God’s grace. We need to work from somewhere and begin somewhere.  For as the Lord said, the Kingdom of God is “like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.”   If we want to see change in the Church, renewal, conversion, growth, and be truly a tree that all can find rest under its shade, then we must take steps, each in his or her own ways, to build up their faith and the faith of their brothers and sisters.  Together in the same mission, we will establish God’s kingdom eventually in the hearts of men and women.*

A Blessed, Joyful and Peaceful Friday afternoon to all of you.