Learning Curve-OLL

Never knew, this Blogger would say this, but  wonders of wonders, catechetics  ( is that the correct spelling????) is actually getting quite interesting and a source of rich knowledge and information.  Can't say the same for the longer mass hours though, but then again, we have begun to built the longer hours into our weekend  routine, and she guess before long, it will become norm. .  We are also called to think and feel with the church and if shepherds are vigilantly  passionate about preserving God's  green pasture -ever  beautiful and in great shape,...., sooner or later the enthusiasm will rub off on the parishioners as well. One thing for sure, whatever the rumblings, ...it certainly won't be about  the Eucharistic celebrations, nor the  homilies  and the way, they were being dished out.....We are indeed blessed. 

Fierce or Gentle God??

A fierce God, or a Gentle God,, comforting and approachable, a forgiving Father figure, welcoming home the prodigal son. Which do you prefer? 

While it is true that military style- holding the rotan,   would keep us  properly checked and in order, mindful of our Ps and Qs   ready to act out our obligations as expected of us ,  toeing the line, etc..this blogger would go for the embracing God anytime...for then it means that she would not be afraid of  pouring out her heart and sharing whatever joy or distress, with someone who loves her.... For then, it  means, she is never alone and she could  lean on the strength of her God.without fear.. 

If  God is brought down to our level, walking in our company , would the sense of Godliness and reverence be lost?? ; Would the special feeling of awe and homage  loses its essence..? would  God  become an ordinary person ?? And again where  then,  would religion be? Where then would God be??On the surface, there may appear to be an issue,, but  Gentle though God is, we will still know Him as God and   will honour  and  love Him ,  all the more. ..... . We are a  part of Him.  Religion, God, it  will always be part of existence, that is the vital link   that completes the picture.. No, we will not lose our God , because God being God will always be sacred ....He will always be almighty, supreme and above us and because He is God and omnipresent, He also has the power to to be with us at our level.., wherever we are.

Sure,  many may  claim they do not believe in God  anymore or God has no part in their lives, yet despite their reluctance to acknowledge God by that name, humans are becoming more aware of the need for  peace and happiness in today's dysfunctional world and they go searching for those benefits. So tell me, isn't that an act of  searching  for the presence of God??Can there be peace and happiness without God ??? The more chaotic , the darker, the more illusive the universe becomes, the more the need for  a loving and comforting God , but does that mean, we are allowed to  swim in our sinfulness and do as we pleased???  Think Again., people!  Surely you know what is required of you!

Senior Citizen Ministry Our Lady of Lourdes, Klang

New Chairman giving his address-
the smiling lady in red is the new Vice Chairman

Father Surin with his basket full of nutrients
Wonderful address Father! Appreciated !

The  Senior Citizen Ministry of Our Lady of Lourdes Klang just had their Biennial General Meeting 2011 at the Bernadette  1 Basement this day, evening of  Friday 18th Nov 2011.. A new team had just  been elected for the new term.....not that the old has been voted out. No sir, they were all dearly wanted but  each politely declined another term. New blood is the order of the day, they said, because  their blood were tired and  aging!..... Our thanks guys, you did a great job!!  And Now,have a peep at the images of the new vibrant team guys, ....images only - no names??check out the official list from the  new secretary . .the beautiful lady in  blue...The treasurer and assistant secretary-are on the other side of the Chairman.The committee members are a shy lot... Come on, people-do some detective work,  it can be quite fun!

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Pretty backs all  in a row

You guys hungry? Plenty of good food -dig in!

Senior Citizen Team 2011,  tough work ahead if you are to succeed in changing the mindset of our very own seniors. We seniors are a lovable lot, are we not?  Just that the engines are a bit rusty and stuck in certain places and we need some lubricants and good oiling to get those mechanisms up and moving again, Team 2011, that tasks has fallen on you! The seniors make the ministry, their participation , contribution and support is what makes the senior citizen ministry of OLL or anywhere else , active and vibrant. Seniors, the ball is also very much in your court. What do you want? Do you want to have a voice and a presence??Then support your own group and community.

The  Senior Citizen Ministry is on a membership drive so People, if you are 50 and above, most welcome.  

Parable of the Talents

The Parable of the Talents, is one of  Marie's  personal favourites. That was the one Parable  which  gave her  a solid ground to fall back on  whenever she needed some wisdom. She used it often, because  it  relates to so many incidences in her  journey and had given her much insight  to discern and act appropriately, in her many roles as a journeying Traveler -Wage earner ,  daughter, wife,mother, sibling,  friend and so on. When she  was stumped for direction, for the next course of action, it was on this Parable she reflected  and asked herself, “what is the expectation of the  Master? “Sometimes, circumstances calls for use of head over heart and sometimes, the reflections  tells her, to ignore the head,  instead , listen to the heart and gut feeling.Every situation has its own solution, each issue its appropriate wisdom.

To be perfectly honest, her  journey was never a passage of roses,  it was a tough terrain with so many crossroads  that she would have been crushed were it not for the love and mercy of   God with her, He,who had set her on this journey. And God be praised, she survived the tough and rough road thus far,because His Hand held her up,and supported her, each time she loses strength..He never gave up on her. And the angels He sent to uplift her, it was blessed grace.

As she reflected on that Parable, again today, she was immensely conscious of the one talent left  to waste and idling, for oh, so many years; but the Master is patient. ......” Better late than never”.  The sun is setting; and she cannot procrastinate any longer; she is hurrying to make up for lost time... so that when the Master returns, there would be some measure of  fruitfulness  to glorify Him.

It had been  a very tough two months or so, scribbling, writing, and creating;  she was so intensely taken up with the enthusiasm of it all, it took its toll on her eyes; sometimes they were were so fatigued, she looked like an owl, what with the huge  eyes bags casting black and water logged shadows under her eyes, giving her the complete wash out look . But People! it was fantastically uplifting as the book took shape. It was tough going yes,  but the good Lord, He has been gracious and had helped her plenty and given her much substance and insight .  God willing, the task of writing and editing completes soon and   a good publisher angels in and   looks favorably on her autumn  attempt and actualized   her dearest  dream – publication and good distribution, and Lord,  that she is able to  offer  You, the  Power who makes all things possible, her very first published copy  as  an offering of thanksgiving, as a glorification of Your greatness, goodness and blessing showered upon  her life..  Thank you Lord God, Amen!

Be Prepared at all times

The Parable of the Ten Maidens is a call to  awareness, that  we neither know the time nor the day,  and that has  far reaching significance and implications, stretching through time and  across all borders. It is a teaching that can be applied  to our every day living;  and yet at the same time  an indication of the  end.

Nobody knows, when the end will come-nobody  except the Father above. The natural calamities that had been pounding many parts of the world, the flooding in Thailand, earthquakes, in Indonesia- tsunamis  in Japan , New Zealand.... and many more. Is that an indication that the end is near? The end of the Mayan calendar in 2012, what does that mean?? Nobody knows for certain.

We read about prophets of doom who had predicted dooms day  time and again, and even  waited with the whole of their community  at certain destined spot to be taken into heaven....and yet the world  still  moves on , nothing has stopped... So, Can we say that it will never happen, at least not  in our life time?? Be prepared the Lord says...lest you are shut out like the foolish maidens.

That parable is more than being prepared for the end. It is fore-sight in everyday living. It is looking at the beyond – the eventualities of situations and circumstance of life’s journey.  IT tells us not to  let our foolishness shut out opportunities in our lives and lead us to lose goodness due to us. There is a connection in everything we do and what  evolves in our world, meaning our living space. Therefore be discerning-think and act sensible-Leave nothing to chance-but be always ready and  well prepared to take full advantage and make good use of all things good, when it appears in your path. Be absolutely  ready to harvest, or  that  goodness will pass  you by and ....you lose out.

Be prepared and be ready all at times-it makes a difference to your existence.