tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post8713308751698062514..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: The insufficiency of a privatised faithFr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-32865832682146124262015-08-20T11:10:24.114+08:002015-08-20T11:10:24.114+08:00I used to be proud of my privatized faith, taking ...I used to be proud of my privatized faith, taking advantage of God's magnanimity. But I was and am graced by God to also give Him a blank cheque of my life - giving Him the permission to correct me where I am wrong. He did. Thank You, Father.<br /><br />wtAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-44898882374072534332015-08-18T23:16:26.603+08:002015-08-18T23:16:26.603+08:00Dear Fr. Luke,
When told by someone that, “The ch...Dear Fr. Luke,<br /><br />When told by someone that, “The church is full of hypocrites” I usually answer, “Yes, I know. I am one of them!” Jokes aside, it is good to see that you’re continuing to write. This is what (?) your 301st blog entry? Here’s to the next 300! <br /><br />Concerning the issue of non-attendance at mass, this whole idea of “Jesus and me” is actually more prevalent that one might think. But at the heart of this attitude is, I suspect, a refusal to obedience. After all, as a people we have been commanded to “keep holy the Sabbath day.”<br /><br /> In practising the ‘privatised faith-life’ it is all too easy to fall into the trap of re-writing the rules to suit one’s own agenda and then rationalising that we are actually ‘doing God’s will’. It is extremely tempting to delude oneself when ‘operating in this mode.’ Because we are answerable to no one, except the Jesus of our own design. (Just my 2 cents worth). God bless you.Robbie Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-4695384346258741352015-08-18T18:20:02.688+08:002015-08-18T18:20:02.688+08:00Metanoia is definitely happening to me right now, ...Metanoia is definitely happening to me right now, and your blog posts have been God sent. The 'Me' culture most certainly came from the Americans, generally speaking of course. True courage to me is when you completely and willingly lose yourself in order to be filled with nothing else but God. Your eloquence in writing provides such clear imagery and relatable examples.<br /><br />The church I go to is full of hypocrites and have hurt me so deeply, to the point where I am all alone handling my debilitating illness that has struck me about over a year ago. I lost my job, health, 'friends'.. everything. I am 24 this year. People are all talk and no action and I guess when 'church friends' only offer lip service, it hurts a MILLION times more. But then again, everyone is a sinner right.. So am I. <br /><br />But I have never given up on God, on days where my illness is still manageable, I find the will to get to mass because I believe in the bigger purpose God has for me. Hope anyone who is in a similar predicament as me would read this and be encouraged! <br /><br />Just sharing my thoughts after reading this post.<br /><br />God Bless you Father Luke, please do keep writing! :)<br /><br /><br />O.FaithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-54109123657294300592015-08-18T16:44:02.604+08:002015-08-18T16:44:02.604+08:00Dear reader
I am sorry to hear of your predicamen...Dear reader<br /><br />I am sorry to hear of your predicament, but I am not sure if you would want me to respond to you in this public way through this blog page on such a personal matter. I am wondering if you would prefer me to write you on a personal level. If this is your intention, please write another comment to me including your email address and/or a contact number. This will not be published. Speaking or writing you personally will give me a much clearer idea of your situation. I do know that what you are facing is a rather common problem, but each story has its own peculiar background as well. It is this that needs respecting as well. As it stands, there are no one-solution-fits-all response to these uniquely individual struggles and challenges. I await your follow-up email. Thank you.<br /><br />Fr LukeFr Luke Fonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-19423134511488559012015-08-17T22:52:28.675+08:002015-08-17T22:52:28.675+08:00Dear Father Luke
Thank you for your sharing. Bein...Dear Father Luke<br /><br />Thank you for your sharing. Being a born-catholic, I knew all about God up in my head, took my blessings for granted and even had the audacity to think that I can do without God. I am so wrong as with a recent family problem, I realised that it is only with God that everything is possible. I had since surrendered all to God and I believe that I had the metanoia experience. This re-alignment would not have happened if I didn't surrender my trial and my all to the will of God. <br /><br />Praise The Lord for the blessing of a trial. <br /><br />And thank you Father for your blog entries have been a part of my metanoia journey. (And I didn't know there's a name to this re-alignment) 😊<br /><br />MagSantorinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04554103130104512984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-67069091395215846622015-08-17T22:04:17.379+08:002015-08-17T22:04:17.379+08:00Thank you father. Your reflection today serves as ...Thank you father. Your reflection today serves as a good pointer for me . I am at the cross road of my life. I am trying to define MY dream. The" MY" is very BIG. It confused me . Father, you are pen of God. Thanks be to God. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-78255558486818103272015-08-17T13:54:01.516+08:002015-08-17T13:54:01.516+08:00"...The latter however, often reveals that th..."...The latter however, often reveals that the person has been struggling with regular Sunday worship, maybe not at all going to Eucharist, but takes comfort in the fact that s/he has been baptized. These same people also often in the same breath reveal that they do pray privately at home, in front of their home altars, and may even say with some degree of confidence that “God and me, we’re ok!”.... They feel that praying at home is ‘better’, and that the Church is so full of hypocrites. Sometimes they also say that it is much more convenient for them to do so."<br /><br />This is happening in my own household. My mum in law who stays with me, is a 'monthly Sunday' Catholic. She believes that there is no need to go for weekly mass and that weekly mass is for the pious. She also thinks that it is alright to pray privately at home as faith is between her and God. I guess it is hard for her to see Sunday mass as a faith community. I had tried explaining to her that going mass weekly does not mean people are pious and that I go weekly because it is my way of being faithful to God and showing my gratitude for all that He had done and to ask for strength to continue in my work. <br /><br />My husband is a 'fortnight Sunday' Catholic, who also shares the same belief as his mum, that there is no need to attend mass weekly. He needs the 'extra' time and freedom for himself, his pet and his exercise regime. He also does not want to be bound by routineness of going mass weekly. Sometimes, my kids would ask me, "Why isn't Daddy joining us?" They see it as 'unfairness' that Daddy can 'choose' not to go for mass while mummy is dragging them to Church. Often, I find myself frustrated with this issue of getting my hubby to go for mass. <br /><br />Marriage is a sacrament and a vocation. When couples marry in Church, aren't we supposed to help each other enter into a deeper relationship with God? to become more holy? I do feel helpless in my situation. If I falter or choose not to go for Mass, there will not be anyone in the family who will be the 'push' factor. Hence I often have to pray for strength and courage to plod on, to continue to be faithful in attending Mass, not out of fear, but out of gratitude for all the many blessings that God has given me.<br /><br />Honestly speaking, sometimes, I no longer want to ask my hubby if he wants to join me for mass because his standard answer will be either "I had gone last week already." or "Go for later mass" (of which the "later" mass becomes no mass). Then, both of us will end up being unhappy with each other, with me being unhappy with him for not going and he being unhappy with me for 'forcing' him to go. <br /><br />My question to you, Father Luke, is this :<br />Given my situation, how can I still live out marriage as a sacrament and a vocation? Do I continue to 'push' my Catholic hubby to attend Mass or just let him be, hoping that he will follow me whenever he wants to? Or should it be that through my daily living, he will come to realise that God is a big part of our lives?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com