tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post1692708506969381145..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: Limitless are the areas in our lives where God invites us to a life of holinessFr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-52800729510255711052013-08-28T15:41:10.985+08:002013-08-28T15:41:10.985+08:00And for all this, nature is never spent;
There...And for all this, nature is never spent;<br /> There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;<br />And though the last lights off the black West went<br /> Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs —<br />Because the Holy Ghost over the bent<br /> World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.<br /><br />From "God's Grandeur" by Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ<br /><br />Enjoy this meditation.<br /><br />W.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-31085985542836844742013-08-27T23:57:01.259+08:002013-08-27T23:57:01.259+08:00Today’s Gospel reading ( Mt 23:23-26) – about the ...Today’s Gospel reading ( Mt 23:23-26) – about the Pharisees scrupulously washing the outside of cup and dish.......reminds me of how as a fervent newly-baptized Catholic I too viewed holiness as ritual purity and ‘religiousity’ impresses as spirituality – something akin to what you have stated in your post. Holiness seemed intimidating, a necessary duty ( mostly for the priests and religious) that lay persons like us try to ‘put on’ for those special periods of Lent and Advent where one dutifully recites a full rosary a day and goes for Confession fortnightly!<br /><br /><br />The “growing years” of faith at retreats and seminars taught me that holiness was not only the absence of sin but a grace, a blessing that God intended for all His children..........a wholeness that enables one to have a right relationship with the living God. It then dawned on me that this call to holiness is a privilege – desirable, for it qualifies one to be “set apart”, to belong to God. (1Peter 1:15-16) And what is even more fascinating is that holiness is lived and experienced in whatever station in life one finds oneself, but there are no known techniques as to how to attain it. It is not a crown to be won and worn but it is what you become with the help of grace.<br /><br /><br />So it is that these words of yours “....... the hard truth is that often,...................... through the woundedness that sometimes love leaves us, and even through death............we emerge whole on the ‘other side’ of life” – showed me that holiness is the living of the dying and rising, death and new life in our very ordinary daily lives......finding meaning in tough times as in good times, hope being the eternal spring - for God, through Jesus Christ has “been there” and “done it” Experiencing this rhythm of dying and rising in our own lives and in nature, we become more compassionate for others and develop a greater willingness to reach out to them.<br /><br /><br />God bless you, Fr<br /><br />tessa<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-31785625060833202682013-08-27T05:41:48.054+08:002013-08-27T05:41:48.054+08:00Dear Fr. Luke,
Thank you for this posting - so re...Dear Fr. Luke,<br /><br />Thank you for this posting - so relevant for our current times! <br /><br />The grace given to see God in all things I believe comes from prayerful reflection. Some years ago I attended a silent retreat by Jesuit priest, Fr. David Townsend and was introduced to the "Examen of Consciousness" (Review of the day) which I understand is an important aspect of Ignatian spirituality. This examination is two 15-minute periods of prayer and reflection each day. My attempts (there are fruitful and also dismal days) to follow this examen has given me a greater sensitivity to God in the moment to moment events of my daily life, at work with me and for me, and through me for others, and through others for me. Perhaps it is in the taking of these ordinary moments of our lives with prayerful reflection of each day that helps all of us with developing a greater ease of "seeking and finding God in all things" as St. Ignatius puts it.<br /><br />So happy to see you up and about! <br />Take care and God bless.<br />gz <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-70874316792893401412013-08-26T20:16:23.810+08:002013-08-26T20:16:23.810+08:00When we trust in God's unconditional love for ...When we trust in God's unconditional love for us, there is no more question of right or wrong, but faith to take on the challenge. IgnatiusAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-35218201042006121772013-08-26T18:18:48.199+08:002013-08-26T18:18:48.199+08:00Yes frLuke, "When grace comes to us in our se...Yes frLuke, "When grace comes to us in our search for truth and for the God in all things,..." God the Father becomes truly present in my life, my everything and when i realized i love Him, really really love Him, the outcome of my prayer does not really matter, and slowly, the specific requests become lesser and lesser and now it's "Thy will be done and please hang on to me, if the going gets though."<br /><br />Thanks father, thank you :)<br /><br />wtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-24445022157838684042013-08-26T10:43:19.183+08:002013-08-26T10:43:19.183+08:00Peace be with you, Fr Luke,
I like what you said a...Peace be with you, Fr Luke,<br />I like what you said about 'the world's liturgy', indeed God turns up everywhere we look, if we but look. I once read this book called Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, & since then, to cultivate an awareness of God in my life, every morning I play a mental 'game' to see how many times I encounter God in my day. Every nite, I will then recall & examine conscience. <br /><br />What you said about "truly encountering God not as we want to, but as he wants us to encounter him" also struck me. Often I want to do a,b,c things for the Lord but He says, 'no, you sit & wait', with me straining at the proverbial leash. I know i am not unproductive, but i feel unproductive. I want to encounter Him as a high-performer, He wants me to encounter Him as Father & Lord, He alone determines & designs my utility, He alone is the source & goal of my utility. How does one measure utility in the economy of salvation? <br /><br />A prayer which was attributed to Archbishop Oscar Romero: "We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water seeds already planted,knowing that they hold future promise. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own."<br /><br />shalom<br />an Anthonian<br /> <br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-32894557363420221102013-08-26T08:27:18.874+08:002013-08-26T08:27:18.874+08:00Good post, Fr. Luke. Very instructive - especially...Good post, Fr. Luke. Very instructive - especially the last paragraph.<br /><br />Yesterday, after mass, my wife said to me, "I was thinking of Fr. Luke during the 2nd reading. (Heb 12:5-7, 11-13). Did you think of him too?" I have to admit, I did. That line, "..for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; He scourges every son he acknowledges" had me pondering over your (ongoing) ordeal. It also brought to mind the reason why a person (such as yourself), can persevere in spite of terrible difficulties in life. <br /><br />It is by an unwavering faith and trust in God that this is possible; and this faith and trust is given (by God) to those who sincerely seek it. We can't manufacture it ourselves, try as we may, for such powers are beyond us. Thank you for giving us an example of God's love and grace these past 8 months.<br /><br />Btw, I spotted you at Fr. Noel Chin's funeral mass on Saturday. It's really good to see you up and about. Hopefully, the next time I see you, you will be back to your normal (physical) self, hale and hearty and ready to do another 10km! God bless.<br />Robbie Jnoreply@blogger.com