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.
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The "shoes-off" experiences which I am about to share with you came about when I pressed myself close to the bosom of God, and listened to the whispers of His heart in the people whom I had met in the events in the Basic Ecclesial Communities, in the parish, in Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur, around Malaysia and the world.
These personal "shoes-off" responses to God have been rendered with profound reverence. I am learning day by day that the same reverence due to God is the respect that must be paid to God's people. Respect calls for an attitude of accepting the people at their level of maturity and growth. The God who loves us always comes down to our level. This is true of the events in Exodus and the Incarnation.
Hence, I too have to respect people at whatever level of growth and gradually motivate them toward greater progress and maturity. I am aware that I am only an instrument chosen and sent by God, like Moses, to minister to His people. I did not become their parish priest in order to ask them to live up to my expectations.
I am here to listen to God in and through their aspirations and to help them to draw closer to God. Once they experience the liberating power of God's love, God himself will motivate them toward the fulfillment of His mission.
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) S.J.
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
These personal "shoes-off" responses to God have been rendered with profound reverence. I am learning day by day that the same reverence due to God is the respect that must be paid to God's people. Respect calls for an attitude of accepting the people at their level of maturity and growth. The God who loves us always comes down to our level. This is true of the events in Exodus and the Incarnation.
Hence, I too have to respect people at whatever level of growth and gradually motivate them toward greater progress and maturity. I am aware that I am only an instrument chosen and sent by God, like Moses, to minister to His people. I did not become their parish priest in order to ask them to live up to my expectations.
I am here to listen to God in and through their aspirations and to help them to draw closer to God. Once they experience the liberating power of God's love, God himself will motivate them toward the fulfillment of His mission.
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) S.J.
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Theology? Isn't that the study of religion? So, what does it have to do with me? Isn't it concern of priests, theologians and the Vatican? Theology has little to do with me, hasn't it?
Most of us think that theology is the concern of specialists, an academic subject that has little to do with lay person. Yet, the Christian theology that we accept today has its roots in the faith experiences of the Hebrews' search for God, their reflection on those experiences and their response to Him.
As Rev. Fr. Michael Amaladoss SJ, the Assistant to Father General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ, responsible for Dialogue and Ecumenism (May 1992-...) puts it, "Faith looks, not only backward to God's saving and powerful presence in history, but also to the future that God invites us to create in the power of the Word and of the Spirit. Theology is therefore not an abstract philosophical elaboration of eternal verities reserved to a few expert professionals. It is a discerning search for God in the here and now of history that is the concern of everyone".
In this sense, theology must be the concern of every Christian and more so of every Christian in Malaysia.
It is the recognition of the Malaysian situation, specifically that of Saint Francis Xavier's Church (P.J), that has prompted the central argument in Theology of Shoes-off, an initial effort on the part of Rev. Fr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung SJ to identify the elements that could form our very own Malaysian Theology.
Rev. Fr. Amaladoss SJ has this to say about Theology of Shoes-off. The flowering of local theology is a sign of the rootedness and maturity of a particular Church. So I am glad to welcome and introduce this pioneering effort by Rev. Fr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung SJ to develop a Malaysian theology of "Shoes-off".
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) SJ, was the Parish Priest of SFX Church (P.J) from 1988 to 1992.
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
Most of us think that theology is the concern of specialists, an academic subject that has little to do with lay person. Yet, the Christian theology that we accept today has its roots in the faith experiences of the Hebrews' search for God, their reflection on those experiences and their response to Him.
As Rev. Fr. Michael Amaladoss SJ, the Assistant to Father General Peter-Hans Kolvenbach SJ, responsible for Dialogue and Ecumenism (May 1992-...) puts it, "Faith looks, not only backward to God's saving and powerful presence in history, but also to the future that God invites us to create in the power of the Word and of the Spirit. Theology is therefore not an abstract philosophical elaboration of eternal verities reserved to a few expert professionals. It is a discerning search for God in the here and now of history that is the concern of everyone".
In this sense, theology must be the concern of every Christian and more so of every Christian in Malaysia.
It is the recognition of the Malaysian situation, specifically that of Saint Francis Xavier's Church (P.J), that has prompted the central argument in Theology of Shoes-off, an initial effort on the part of Rev. Fr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung SJ to identify the elements that could form our very own Malaysian Theology.
Rev. Fr. Amaladoss SJ has this to say about Theology of Shoes-off. The flowering of local theology is a sign of the rootedness and maturity of a particular Church. So I am glad to welcome and introduce this pioneering effort by Rev. Fr. Joseph (Jojo) Fung SJ to develop a Malaysian theology of "Shoes-off".
BY REV. FR. JOSEPH MATTHEW FUNG JEE VUI ( JOJO ) SJ, was the Parish Priest of SFX Church (P.J) from 1988 to 1992.
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
THE VIRGIN MARY IN EARLIEST CHRISTIANITY
We cannot avoid the critical questions and enquiries about Mary role in the Christian story of salvation, even if we start from a faith perspective.
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you. She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end. Mary said to the angel, But how can this come about, since I am a virgin? The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the angel answered and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too; your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God. I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary 'let what you said be done to me'. And the angel left her. - Luke 1:26-38 -
The story of Mary in the New testament and Mary the mother of Jesus - Matt. 1:1-23; Mark 3:31, 6:3; Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-52; John 2:1-12, 19:25-27; Acts 1:14; Gal. 4:3-5; Rev. 12:1-6 -
Now before we came of age we were as good as slaves to the elemental principles of this world, but when the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. - Gal. 4:3-5 -
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
We cannot avoid the critical questions and enquiries about Mary role in the Christian story of salvation, even if we start from a faith perspective.
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. He went in and said to her, Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you. She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end. Mary said to the angel, But how can this come about, since I am a virgin? The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the angel answered and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too; your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God. I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary 'let what you said be done to me'. And the angel left her. - Luke 1:26-38 -
The story of Mary in the New testament and Mary the mother of Jesus - Matt. 1:1-23; Mark 3:31, 6:3; Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-52; John 2:1-12, 19:25-27; Acts 1:14; Gal. 4:3-5; Rev. 12:1-6 -
Now before we came of age we were as good as slaves to the elemental principles of this world, but when the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. - Gal. 4:3-5 -
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
Monday, October 12, 2009
Temptation is an enticement or invitation to sin, with the implied promise of greater good to be derived from following the way of disobedience. In this sense, God does not tempt us, nor can He Himself as the holy God be tempted.
God cannot be induced to deny Himself. The supreme tempter is Satan - Matt. 4:3, 1Cor. 7:5, 1Thess. 3:5 - who is able to play upon the weakness of corrupted human nature and so to lead people to destruction. - James 1:13-14, 2Tim. 2:13 -
The gospel of Jesus Christ directs people to resist temptation, promising blessedness to those who do. The gospel also directs us to pray for deliverance from exposure to temptation and from surrender to it. - James 1:12, Matt. 6:13, Luke 11:4 - The Lord will not allow His people to encounter temptation beyond their Spirit-given ability to resist. - 1Cor. 10:13, 2Pet. 2:9 -
In the temptation of Christ - 40 day period in the wilderness when Jesus was tempted by the devil, first temptation (to turn stones to bread) was to use His divine power to satisfy His own physical needs. The second (to jump off the Temple) was to perform a spectacular feat so the people would follow Him. The third was to gain possession of the world by worshiping Satan.
One motive lay behind all these temptations; Satan wanted to destroy Jesus' mission. Because Jesus' death would destroy Satan's power. Satan wanted Jesus to pollute His life and ministry. The ultimate issue behind these temptations was idolatry. The real purpose of Satan's temptation was that he might be worshiped instead of God. - Matt. 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13 -
Jesus, however, did not prove to be a disloyal Son. He did not put the Lord to the test. He lives "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God". - Matt. 4:4 - Having resisted satanic temptation Himself, Christ is able to comfort and aid His followers who are tempted in similar fashion. - Heb. 2:18, 4:15 -
In the Old Testament, temptation can best be understood as testing or proving. The context is the covenant relation of mutual love and faithfulness between God and His people. The Lord tests Israel to prove the true nature of her faithfulness to Him and to confirm their faith. As in the case of Job, Satan the tempter can serve the Lord's purpose. - Gen. 22:1; Deut. 8:2,16; James 1:2-4; Ex. 17:2, 7; Psalms. 78:18,41,56 -
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
God cannot be induced to deny Himself. The supreme tempter is Satan - Matt. 4:3, 1Cor. 7:5, 1Thess. 3:5 - who is able to play upon the weakness of corrupted human nature and so to lead people to destruction. - James 1:13-14, 2Tim. 2:13 -
The gospel of Jesus Christ directs people to resist temptation, promising blessedness to those who do. The gospel also directs us to pray for deliverance from exposure to temptation and from surrender to it. - James 1:12, Matt. 6:13, Luke 11:4 - The Lord will not allow His people to encounter temptation beyond their Spirit-given ability to resist. - 1Cor. 10:13, 2Pet. 2:9 -
In the temptation of Christ - 40 day period in the wilderness when Jesus was tempted by the devil, first temptation (to turn stones to bread) was to use His divine power to satisfy His own physical needs. The second (to jump off the Temple) was to perform a spectacular feat so the people would follow Him. The third was to gain possession of the world by worshiping Satan.
One motive lay behind all these temptations; Satan wanted to destroy Jesus' mission. Because Jesus' death would destroy Satan's power. Satan wanted Jesus to pollute His life and ministry. The ultimate issue behind these temptations was idolatry. The real purpose of Satan's temptation was that he might be worshiped instead of God. - Matt. 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13 -
Jesus, however, did not prove to be a disloyal Son. He did not put the Lord to the test. He lives "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God". - Matt. 4:4 - Having resisted satanic temptation Himself, Christ is able to comfort and aid His followers who are tempted in similar fashion. - Heb. 2:18, 4:15 -
In the Old Testament, temptation can best be understood as testing or proving. The context is the covenant relation of mutual love and faithfulness between God and His people. The Lord tests Israel to prove the true nature of her faithfulness to Him and to confirm their faith. As in the case of Job, Satan the tempter can serve the Lord's purpose. - Gen. 22:1; Deut. 8:2,16; James 1:2-4; Ex. 17:2, 7; Psalms. 78:18,41,56 -
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Be truly free..... What must one do to become truly free?
Presupposing that you believe in those words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "without Me you can do nothing," you may securely follow a line of action like this:
1 - Refuse to be "pushed around" by egoistic forces from within: protect your freedom against them;
2 - Refuse to be coerced by fear from without; hold your head high against it, keep your mind's eye clear so that you may -
3 - Allow yourself to be drawn only by what you see and "feel" is truly good and deeply satisfying to you as a person who is Christian.
The "feel" of what is truly good and deeply satisfying is both the fruit of grace and the result of sincerity in searching what Christ would do in your situation. Christ is Son of God and God is love. He is inviting you in each situation to love as He loves. Exercise your mind to discover the most loving response you could make to God and to man in your present situation.
To this exercise of your mind, these will be added infallibly the light and the power of the Spirit of Christ who dwells within you, enabling you to see to "feel" unmistakably the impulse to true love/charity. To follow firmly the impulse of truth and love/charity - of Christ, that is - and each situation without being "pushed around" by egoistic forces from within or slavish fears from without, this is truly Christian freedom, freedom most deeply satisfying and self-fulfilling.
BY REV. FR. J.B. FERNANDES S.J.
Page 2
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
Presupposing that you believe in those words of the Lord Jesus Christ, "without Me you can do nothing," you may securely follow a line of action like this:
1 - Refuse to be "pushed around" by egoistic forces from within: protect your freedom against them;
2 - Refuse to be coerced by fear from without; hold your head high against it, keep your mind's eye clear so that you may -
3 - Allow yourself to be drawn only by what you see and "feel" is truly good and deeply satisfying to you as a person who is Christian.
The "feel" of what is truly good and deeply satisfying is both the fruit of grace and the result of sincerity in searching what Christ would do in your situation. Christ is Son of God and God is love. He is inviting you in each situation to love as He loves. Exercise your mind to discover the most loving response you could make to God and to man in your present situation.
To this exercise of your mind, these will be added infallibly the light and the power of the Spirit of Christ who dwells within you, enabling you to see to "feel" unmistakably the impulse to true love/charity. To follow firmly the impulse of truth and love/charity - of Christ, that is - and each situation without being "pushed around" by egoistic forces from within or slavish fears from without, this is truly Christian freedom, freedom most deeply satisfying and self-fulfilling.
BY REV. FR. J.B. FERNANDES S.J.
Page 2
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
Saturday, October 10, 2009
What is freedom? There are many incomplete or even false views of freedom. There is the anarchist view according to which freedom is the right and power to do as you like, to let yourself go, to be free from every control.
There is another view, the liberal, which rejects any truth or law binding on all; it permits each one to be law unto himself and herself.
There is a third, the existentialist, according to which you are free only when your action has no other goal than the demonstration of your own freedom.
And a fourth, the true view, which describes freedom as the inner power of a person to put himself and herself at the service of what is good, a power that is roused and guided by its own insight into and evaluation of the good. More simply, it is the power to seek what you see is truly good for you. It reaches its highest degree when it allows itself to be led entirely by the Spirit of God which leads only to what is absolutely good. It is the freedom of the children of God.
True freedom involves a double freedom, 'freedom from' and 'freedom for'. 'Freedom from' means freedom from internal inhibiting factors like fear, compulsion, prejudice, inordinate passions, all of which paralyse the will, imprison it; or from external deterrent like human respect, adverse criticism, group pressures, majority opinions. 'Freedom for' means the power to make personal responsible choices to say 'I want this because I like it, because I see it is good for me.'
Be truly free..... What must one do to become truly free?...
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
There is another view, the liberal, which rejects any truth or law binding on all; it permits each one to be law unto himself and herself.
There is a third, the existentialist, according to which you are free only when your action has no other goal than the demonstration of your own freedom.
And a fourth, the true view, which describes freedom as the inner power of a person to put himself and herself at the service of what is good, a power that is roused and guided by its own insight into and evaluation of the good. More simply, it is the power to seek what you see is truly good for you. It reaches its highest degree when it allows itself to be led entirely by the Spirit of God which leads only to what is absolutely good. It is the freedom of the children of God.
True freedom involves a double freedom, 'freedom from' and 'freedom for'. 'Freedom from' means freedom from internal inhibiting factors like fear, compulsion, prejudice, inordinate passions, all of which paralyse the will, imprison it; or from external deterrent like human respect, adverse criticism, group pressures, majority opinions. 'Freedom for' means the power to make personal responsible choices to say 'I want this because I like it, because I see it is good for me.'
Be truly free..... What must one do to become truly free?...
Page 1
If you wish to donate. Thank You. God bless.
By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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 -
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