Our faith cannot remain a private affair between my God and I. The symbol of "shoes-off" serves as a reminder that each time when we remove our shoes, we are one with fellow Malaysians, sharing in the same practice everyday. Through this pertinent symbol, Jesus is calling us to integrate our faith with life. We cannot have a split Christianity or religiosity. Our faith must go beyond ritualistic worship. We must be seen living what we profess in Church so that Malaysian Christian are able to encounter Jesus in the life-history of our people.

As Malaysians Christians who respond to the call of Jesus, we realize that He is asking us to understand faith as a way of life, a way of manifesting Jesus in and through the way we live. Then we shall be able to encounter and experience Him in worship as well as in life and in history of our nation. Then our discipleship will be authentic and credible in the sight of fellow Malaysian believers of the world religions.

Jesus the Shoes-off Barefoot One of Malaysia is the same person in real life and at worship. The way He is before the Father is the way He is before his fellow Jews. He prays to the Father - John 17 - and the same time lived out his faith in the context of the Jewish society by curing the sick, - Mark 2:1-12 - manifested the Father's preferential love to the sinners and tax-collectors, - Mark 2:15-17 - defended the primacy of person over the Sabbath, - Mark 2:23-28 - and even sacrificed Himself - Mark 15:33-39 - to bring about the Kingdom of God. - Mark 1:15 -

To be his followers, we cannot be two different persons, one in Church and one in real life.

Our reverence for God must be demonstrated in our respect for persons in society. How can we say we love God when we behave like a tyrant at home toward our spouses, children and colleagues? How can we worship God with such manifestation of piety when we constantly ill-treat our servants at home, condone corrupt practices, exploit the workers we employ, prostitute the dignity of women, and perpetuate the oppression of the marginalized, and even the destruction of our environment?

BY REV. FR. JOSEPH  MATTHEW  FUNG  JEE  VUI ( JOJO ) S.J.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -