Gratitude & Thanksgiving

26 Aug 2018 Sun Sharing notes of talk by Rev Fr Eugene Vaz @ SSVP Leadership Forum, Batam Jesus called his disciples into community to be with Him to be readied to be sent out by Him. How is Jesus making us a community of Vincentians with the same purpose, each with our personal intimacy with Jesus, our own inner spiritual life?   He called and made his disciples a community We need to realise that community is for mission He sent His disciples out out two by two We need to examine our willingness and readiness to be sent out by Jesus. His disciples came back to report what they have done He is happy not because of the work we do, but because we allow our lives to be directed by Him, allowing God to lead us to experience the reality, the situation, the need and the plight of others. As Vincentians, we have much work to do, we too share with one another and report to one another and to Jesus what we have done, what more needs to be done, how to be more open in the way we work. ...

25 Aug 2018 Sat Sharing notes of key messages from Rev Fr Martin @ Sunset Mass, SSVP Leadership Forum, Batam Why do we serve in SSVP?  Because we believe the God of St Vincent De Paul is also the God of each of us. Serving in the field of social work is not easy. Do not be afraid .  Train our eyes to l ook to the call to holiness.   Rejoice and Be Glad Fr Martin quoted Pope Francis’ new  apostolic exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate - “The call to holiness in the contemporary world.”   (Link at end of these notes) Laudate et Exsulate literally translates to “Rejoice and Be Glad” Rejoice because we know what we are serving Be glad because we  know why we are serving. Being a servant of SSVP is a call to holiness for us.   It is a step toward holiness. And it is our duty to step forward to heed this call. The multiplication of loaves Jesus gave himself as food and drink for our eternal life    In today’s Gospel, He multiples th...

23 Aug 2018 Thu Sharing notes of key messages from Daily Gospel Reflections by the Most Rev Archbishop of Singapore Willian Goh The Archbishop’s full reflection:  https://www.catholic.sg/23-august-2018-thursday-20th-week-ordinary-time/ Matthew 22:1-14 1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a marriage feast for his son, 3 and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast; but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves are killed, and everything is ready; come to the marriage feast.’ 5 But they made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. 7 The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The ...

21 Aug 2018 Tue Sharing notes of key messages from Daily Gospel Reflections by the Most Rev Archbishop of Singapore Willian Goh The Archbishop’s full reflection:  https://www.catholic.sg/21-august-2018-tuesday-20th-week-ordinary-time/ Matthew 19:23–30 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judg...

  20 Aug 2018 Mon Sharing notes of key messages from Daily Gospel Reflections by the Most Rev Archbishop of Singapore William Goh The Archbishop’s full reflection:  https://www.catholic.sg/20-august-2018-monday-20th-week-ordinary-time/                       Matthew 19:16–22 16 And behold, one came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one alone who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments. ” 18 He said to him, “Which?” And Jesus said, “You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have observed; what do I still lack? ” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, a...

  16 Aug 2018 Thursday Sharing notes of key messages from Daily Gospel Reflections by the Most Rev Archbishop of Singapore William Goh Matthew 18:21–19:1 21 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.e 23 “Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. 24 When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents;f 25 and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27 And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who...

16 Aug 2018 Thursday Sharing my notes taken at talk delivered by Damian Boon @ Church of the Holy Family Charismatic Prayer Meet (points attributed to talk by Rev Fr James Yeo) John 14:26 - "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.” The Holy Spirit Author of the Word gives gifts in order to  teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus has said to us. The GIFTS  of the Holy Spirit  are given to us  to bear FRUIT for God’s Kingdom.     THREE SETS OF GIFTS MENTIONED IN SCRIPTURE Institutional gifts Sanctifying gifts to make us holy, given at baptism Is 11:2-3 - The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. Knowledge Understanding Wisdom Counsel Courage Fear Piety Charismatic gifts Charisms and graces for servi...

  15 Aug 2018 Wednesday - Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sharing my notes on the k ey messages  from the reflection by the  Most Rev Archbishop Willian Goh To understand the Dogma of the Assumption  we must first understand the meaning of Christ’s resurrection and His ascension because the Assumption of Mary is analogous and a corollary to it. The Resurrection of Christ A totally transfigured and transformed body.  Jesus is now totally with God and in God -  glorified and shares the glory of God. The Assumption of Mary   Her body was transformed and transfigured.   She is now filled with the glory of God and shares the life of God intensely.   The Ascension of Christ Celebrates His Kingship over the whole of creation, He continues to rule the world. The Assumption of Mary Celebrates her Queenship, continuing to exercise her maternal love for the Church through the power of interce...

  15 Aug 2018 Wednesday Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Sharing my notes taken during homily by Rev Fr Eugene Vaz @ Church of the Holy Family           The Assumption of Mary has to be understood with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is a victory over sin and death (2nd reading 1Cor 15) Focusing on living Because of the Resurrection of Jesus, every man and woman is able to share in the glory of God.  And so, we are called not to focus on death, because Christ has the victor over death.  We are called to pay attention to life. How are we living Why are we livng For wha are we living Mary’s life - one of Christian service Mary was very concerned about what she was living for, why she was living and what God wants of her in life.   Mary ’s life  was an expression of faith in God, enjoying the love of God and living life expressing that love and service.   We are called to look at Mary and to loo k at ...

14 Aug 2018 Monday Sharing notes of key messages from Daily Gospel Reflections by the Most Rev Archbishop of Singapore William Goh Matthew 18:1–5, 10, 12-14 1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me; 10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. 12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? 13 And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more th...

13 Aug 2018 Tuesday Sharing notes of key messages from Daily Gospel Reflections by the Most Rev Archbishop of Singapore William Goh Gospel Reading Matthew 17:22–27 22 As they were gathering* in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed. 24 When they came to Caperna-um, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, “Does not your teacher pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for...