Gratitude & Thanksgiving

  25 June 2017 Sun Sharing my notes taken @ the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Singapore - Homily by Rev Fr Bobby from Potta (India)   Fr Bobby from Potta (India) celebrated mass today at OLPS.  He spoke about fear, joy and sin... Fear is a negation of our faith He pointed out that there are 366 instances in the Bible reminding us “ Do not be afraid ” - almost one reminder for every day of the year.   Fear is a negation of our faith.   When we fear, we are telling the world that our problem is greater than our God.   Joy is our strength “ The joy of the Lord is our strength ” Nehemiah 8:10  And because God is with us, there is no need to fear, be anxious nor worry.   By not fearing, we are declaring and honouring that the Lord is sufficient for us. " Anyone who honours me, so will my Father honour him.” John 12:26  Fr spoke about the multitude of problems & persecution facing the world today but nothing should ...

11 June 2017 Trinity Sunday Sharing my notes taken  @  the Immaculate Conception parish in Hawthorn, Melbourne -  Homily by Rev Fr Tom Henshaw, SJ " T he early disciples had to contemplate who Jesus is.   Jesus referred himself as Son of God , He called God Abba , Father, and He gave his Spirit to the disciples, realised at Pentecost .   In the early decades, there was only a beginning of the understanding of the One God three persons concept.   And the early disciples clung to the depth of their imagination and intellect .   It took nearly 400 years after Jesus' death and resurrection for the Church to proclaim that God is three persons, consubstantial, co-existent, co- external to each other ." The Church teaches us  that with Jesus and the apostles,  full revelation has been given to men.  And we know too,  "I have much more to say to you,  but it is more than you can bear now.”  John 16:12. ...

2 June 2017 Friday (@ Chiang Mai) Sharing a a piece of 4th century writing in the Office of Readings today.  Deliberations during that time progressed the understanding we have today of the relationship among the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity.... (It may be interesting to note that the word "Trinity" is not found in the Bible, but the teaching and concept of which is pretty much accepted in the Protestant communities, dating back to the Church's teaching in the Nicene Creed.)         THE FATHER'S GIFT IN CHRIST - A treatise on the Trinity by the Bishop of Poitiers St Hilary of Poitiers (c310-c367) (Note: paragraphing is my addition for ease of reading….) Our Lord commanded us to baptise in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit .   In baptism , then, we profess faith in the Creator , in the only-begotten Son and in the gift which is the Spirit .  There is one Creator of all things, for in God there is one Fathe ...

      Today the church commemorates  St Justin Martyr (100-165), One of the earliest Christian apologist.   Interestingly, in Christology class last term, this saint was mentioned.  I find history coming alive as I seek to know our Lord iIn prayer and in study.   St Justin, born in Samaria, a pagan, a Gentile, a learned man....reconciling theological notions with philosophy & metaphysics   His teachings in the second century influenced the Church greatly until today. Along with many other early Christians, he sought to understand and to explain.   What we know and hold firm today - things we take for granted and no longer question - we owe much to these early brothersm who sought and defended, with blood and life.   St Justin was trialed for his believe in Jesus aAnd was martyred along with his students. As i sit in quiet this morning,  I reflect....     Lord, Throughout history so many have sought to understand so...