In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him.
He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him.
John 1: 1, 10-11
(From the Gospel for Christmas Mass)
Dear Rev Fathers, Franciscans of the Immaculate (WA, and especilly my dear brothers in Toodyay), Rev Brothers, Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
It used to be my tradition, a tradition since my high school days, to send out Christmas messages and cards before the 1st Sunday of Advent. Sooner or later, I got to know that it is within the Franciscan Spirit to observe Advent with added penance and prayer; so you see the connection. St Francis of Assisi was a lover of the Christmas Crib, he saw the Mystery of the Incarnation- the Love of God becoming flesh. For some years now I have not been practicing this good virtue, of giving a friendly message to people.
Through my many years of serving the people in Australia, the youths in particular, I noticed a sense of wanting to "BELONG". Being a servant to the youths, I did not take sides and my duty was to share the message of God. Very often youths tend to mix the whole idea of religion with belonging, turning it into a group of liked minded people. Sad to say, this is the wrong way. The sense of community life is the fruit of a people coming to worship; never the other way round. Coming back to Malaysia, seeing the 'vibrancy' of the community life, it is a story about 'politics'. Again this is wrong, let us remember that in a Church, the Church is built on Christ, and all of us serving within the parish community are servants to one another. Our service to others in the parish community is a service that gives life, not a service that takes life away.
To parents, my encouragement is that of Pope Benedict's message when he visited Africa recently. Pope Benedict told children/youths to pray and to "teach their parents to pray", he added that eventhough when it is challenging children/youths must persevere. How true! Throughout my years, I have always sense a dividing gap between this generation and the generation of the past, in particular my parent's generation. Parents listen to your children when they invite you for prayer, if they don't do this, then perhaps as a parent you should do like wise.
For all of us, we are fortunate in this 21st century to be living in a comfortable life- life aided by various technologies. For me, particularly having the Franciscan Spirit, I enjoy simplicity, but I do see the goodness that Ipad, I-phone...Can do for us. In fact I do hope to own one someday!:::))) But the message is that of John's Gospel, let us not allow this passing world turn us into forgetting who Jesus Christ is. Let us not allow ourselves to be drowned by this passing world, that we miss out on the real reality of life; for a Christian the reality is about CHARITY.
I take this opportunity to wish each of us, believers and non-believers, a Christmas filled with Charity, filled with the Love of God. Remember we are all merely instruments in the hands of God, yes we have our sinful nature, but never give up the good living! Love God and Love Our Neighbors with the highest love possible, and there we shall make a difference not particular to the world, but to individuals. More importantly let us all assist one another, especially our 'enemies', to live a life that is a reflection of God.
Have a Blessed Christmas and a Fruitful 2012!
In the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: "WE DO NOTHING. He does everything. All glory must be returned to Him. God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful."
In Christ, St Francis and St Clare,
Kenneth Mary Gan of Our Mother of Perpectual Help
"LORD MAKE ME AN INSTRUMENT" - St Francis