Filial Piety-Just for the Sharing!!

Yesterday, I was in class, and somehow, filial piety cropped up.  We have all heard of  car-pooling -common, very common indeed-but  how about Fund pooling??==as in children(with income)  pooling their funds -commit a certain amount (as agreed among all  siblings, involved ), to  bank into a special account-for  the needs of their parents and siblings who are still schooling. No matter what, stick to that commitment . I thought how brilliant! We are teaching responsibility, we are encouraging filial piety, and by practising  that virtuous act , the virtues re bounce and will continue to thrive from one generation to the next.  Children respect their elders, and in turn their own children will respect and take good care of them when they arrive at old age door. It is a very karmic cycle.

The wisdom is that parents should never decline any monies given by their children...even if  they  do not need it, always accept, keep it away in trust, save on their behalf ...for the occasion in the future, when they may need it, perhaps  to buy a house, marriage, or or even for that family vocation OR simply keep it away as a golden egg fund, for the times, when your children may need funds for you,. One day, if health should fail you and you suddenly require tens of thousands for knee surgery for instance- your children would have already given you the funds! I thought that was brilliant, real brilliant indeed .

Of course some lovely children may already be walking along those directions, and to that -this Autumer salute you - 

God Bless  and continue with your good works!!  

Great Respect for Blessed John Paul II

 I have a great respect for Blessed John Paul II, his writings, his sharing on the importance of the Holy Spirit of God in this era -our lives. It played a great part in my appreciating the presence of God in my own life and I guess, I will always be grateful for the insight.

That man is a great saint. In life, he removes borders and build bridges for peace and harmony, in death he manages to reach out to countess people all over the world and work so many miracles. The Lord told his disciples during his ministry years that they too could perform great works of healing and get rid of demons, if they truly believe that the power of God can work through them . For Blessed John Paul, that was the modern day illustration of  that grace ..The late Pope's  ardent devotion to the Blessed Mother and his great faith and trust in God, allowed the working of  miracles . It is the Holy Spirit of God working to make all things possible.. 

The devotion to the Divine Mercy is the personification of Mercy itself. Whoever devotes himself to the Divine Mercy, devotes himself to acts of mercy and must be willing to teach mercy, and be role models. The Lord was very specific when He told his disciples...."follow me and become fishers of man". As devotees of the Divine Mercy, it is the same, it is not sufficient for us to receive mercy on an individual level only, it is not enough that only we ourselves benefit but from the mercy received , but it is required that devotees of Divine Mercy become bearers and performers of   mercy , walking in the image and mission of the Lord Jesus. Reach out with His Love to touch others.

Wasn't it taught that  kind acts-giving , charity and love brings God into our midst?? Peace brethren!!

A Reflection 

Thy worthiness Lord, surpasses the glory of the heavens!

Calm

Soothing and full of calm!!

Facts of Life

In life's journey, it is common to see  people walk with their heads buried in their own world; rushing  ahead without pausing to evaluate the consequences of their every action, or see the benefits of life's gifts.. 

Each movement, each action, each word uttered  create its own atmosphere, its own energy-its own positive or negative aura. 

In the morning when you awake to  the  sounds of birds chirping...do you  interpret it as  "music" -a gift from God, or do you throw a shoe in that direction, plug your ears  and complain that -"that noise", whatever it was, is a nuisance and a disturbance? 

Reflect! Learn to appreciate and appreciation comes back to you!!

Humour for a change

What a novel way of doing business! But that is just business talk. You can't go to heaven drinking Beer  yes people??

Shared by my good friend through email. Good for a laugh!! Hey! Just bear in mind, that scene was from

India, not from where you are!! So have a good laugh and go back to drinking water! Water is very good for you!!

Love the Forgotten!!

Do you hear the cries of the laboured
and the neglected,
Weathered to brittle bones
and starved to desperation-
Gasps of wind and dust
that's what  fills their crying tummies
Dehydration the way of life
Poverty, the  language of the land
Oh for crumbs, off the dirt grounds
a drop of water!

A ragged garment for my modesty
A little shelter from the  thrashing heat!
Is there any place, I could  lay my heavy head;
my weary frame
Is there any hand who cares to reach out
and hold mine?
I am crying for solace-
Oh, that you smile upon me!

Turn Your  merciful eyes, Oh God,
and gaze upon Your forlorn creatures

In this  forgotten lands of nothing
Where cries of  the sufferings,
piteous in their pleading gazes
Voicelessly...painfully
call out to thee!...


Can you hear the songs of  woe
singing  from morn till dark?
They long for relief- the nights,
And yet, even the nights
would not  spared them....
Where could they lay their skeletal frames
'cept on  the hard stony  grounds??


Ah!  the joy of  sleep-
Just a short respite! A short respite!
The  touch of comfort-
I long,
a whisper of  tenderness,
that's soothing balm-
on wretch frames so deprived!

The horizon which cries
to be heard ,
Focus your eyes and direction.
You, who live in lands aplenty
Awaken and open your hearts
shower a little charity and care-
Let our voices rise up
in collective prayers,
Open God's ears to the plight
of the  forgotten people
and move these wasted
lands into God's sight and vision!

MarieLee

Water Blessed

Water for life, Water for renewal..water to die and rise with Christ!!. What could be more meaningful  than the significance of water in our lives ? And water it is to shower blessings, and tear in joyful appreciation!  As our hearts embrace  and welcome in  new life, Easter, our spirits resurrect with the Lord to amazing grace!  Hey guys! Rejoice!!

The Death and the Resurrection

What is Truth? Truth is what sets us free. Facing truth is never easy, let alone walk with truth. And the Lord Jesus is the personification of Truth itself   His teaching continues living in us; during times of darkness, it shines forth like a beacon to lead and to guide. In our sufferings and pains, He reaches out to embrace and comfort, because He had gone through the greatest of sufferings for our sake. 

This Good Friday, as thousands gather  in homage, repentance and  deep gratitude for the great love of God,  there arose within us  a  renewal of  faith reuniting and growing  once more as reconciled parts of Christ's body -  each striving to remain true to his memory and great teachings ...love one another as you love yourself. Yet, can we do that at all, we who are all born with the "I" and the "Me" first?? We love ourselves so much, that sometimes, there is no more room for anybody else, except ourselves. As we knee and venerate the cross.., .it is the image of our sins  and burdens piling on the heavy cross,  that brought forth the remorse and the asking of forgiveness. No matter how hard  the heart is, the conscience cries a little on Good Friday and there is this spontaneous whisper of "  I am sorry Lord , forgive me", ringing out from our hearts. 

Thank you Father for the empty cross, because  that fact proclaims  the  Lord's victory over death -that neither  the cross nor the tomb could hold Him. He had arisen and the morn of Sunday will herald in the joy of his resurrection and Easter.  The  Peace of Christ be upon you folks. Happy Easter!

Holy Thursday @ St Anne's Port Klang

Holy Thursday..it was the day, the Lord instituted the holy Eucharist;  the day,  the Lord washed the feet of his disciples as a sign of his  love , as a sign that he accepts them as part of his priesthood, one body with Him, cleansed and worthy to walk in his footsteps.And tonight at St Anne's that meaningful ceremony was brought to life. Those who had their feet washed by  Parish Priest, Father Lawrence, would have been immensely moved by the significance and virtue of that act. It is the memory of Jesus carrying out the act, and it is the words of Jesus -echoing . " If I then, your Lord and Teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." John 13:13-14..

Father Lawrence  was eloquent in his proclamation that there is no other High Priest except the Lord Jesus...those ordained and called to "priesthood" from then till now and afterwards-were there to serve as part of His Body, His church- not as their own entity. Reflections -did He not say-"I am the vine and you are the branches?" and he who abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart  from me, you can do nothing. John 15:5

I have walked through Spring, Summer and now Autumn. I have looked at the picture of " The Last Supper" , a hundred and one time, I have read John 13 so often ...and yet it did not sink in until tonight...that scene from the Last Supper, it is a picture of  God sitting with man ..... God sharing himself   with man....his body, his spirit....and in so doing,  the Lord Jesus, had brought God   down to us, as our Father..., no longer far away and out of reach. We do not need to search for Him any more, He is already in our midst.  Simply and beautifully expressed ...the significance of this beautiful truth kept Yours Truly in digestive and reflective mood, long after mass was over .A thunder bolt of clarity , which left her slightly overwhelmed . Tonight, when YT looked through John 13 again, it has become more meaningful........humbleness ....equality...serving each other and others...an act of love. Truly, the verses of the Bible are living  and continues to teach and reveal more meanings as time goes on and when the time is ripe for our eyes to see more.