Author: Christian Medeiros

Mid-Year or Half Way Done?

Am I tired? So much has happened in just the last six months alone, but yet there is so much to do. So I ask myself, am I tired? I caught myself today thinking, there’s six months left… thank God. Quickly I re-evaluated what the heck I just said. Why did I say that? It’s crazy how sometimes I just say things that are I am thinking out loud but not really taking in what I am saying. With the business of everything, living in a area where everything is so fast paced. Where at times, we tend to be very impatient and where we want things done right away. It’s hard, and I don’t blame anyone for saying that, we are human. So is this month mid-way? Or is it, “half way through the year, finally”?

I was reflecting today that so much has happened but I can’t help but know there is so much more in store. Why? Simply because God loves. I once heard from a brother, “wherever God is, there is more”, meaning that there is so much more Love to spread around. So of course there is so much more in store, God’s love is endless. We are called to spread that Love throughout the world, not just within this community, but to all those that we encounter. So yes, the year is half way done and we are mid way through the year, but we are not even half done the mission. Yes I am tired, and there are many times I question why I am doing what I am doing and just wanting to give up. It is hard, but I know by the end of it all, when my mission is done, it will be worth the pain and sacrifices because I was able to bring God’s love with me wherever I went.

Lord, take away this tiredness. 

Amen

– Christian Medeiros

Seek Comfort

It was not easy to reflect this week. Usually I would just let it come to me but this week, it just would not. So I prayed to God and asked Him for guidance and this is what came to my heart:

In times of trouble, seek the Lord. In times of doubt, seek the Lord. In times of happiness, seek the Lord. Where there is darkness, seek the Lord. Where there is light, seek the Lord. When it is hard to go on, seek the Lord. When it is easy and there is no trouble, seek the Lord. Find comfort in everything that you do and lift it up to the Lord. 

– Christian Medeiros

So Far but So Close

 

This week I had the beautiful opportunity of attending an event here in the Archdiocese of Toronto which was hosted by the Sisters for Life at St. Peter’s Church, called “The Source” which is basically Holy Hour, but with a social afterwards.

I was seated near the middle of the Church when I heard the sisters announce that there would be confessions in the back of the church. So I decided to prepare myself to go to confessions and when I was ready, I got up and made my way to the back of the church. When the sister directed me where to sit for the line of confession, I realized something that was actually shocking. Jesus and the monstrance was the same size. With some basic physics, it was impossible, both were supposed to be smaller. Why was this? What was God trying to tell me? Then it dawned on me…

No matter how far you are, or how close you are to the Lord, where the Lord stands, that doesn’t change. God is always going to be there it’s just a matter of us to see Him and how close He really is in our lives. He is knocking at the door of our hearts, but only we can let Him in.

– Christian Medeiros

The Way They Should Go

I joined this community back in 2010, and I never had the experience of being a part of Kids For Christ. KFC never really had a big impact on me, I just thought of it as another ministry. There are many perceptions to the ministry as well, one being, it is like a daycare, and it is far from it. Being able to serve at the R.O.C.K. training last weekend here in Toronto actually really changed my perspective on the ministry and the importance of it.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

About two weeks ago, I had the blessing to be able to attend a General Assembly in my home Chapter of Brampton. It was at St. Margeurite D’Youville Parish, where CFC had the hall booked so the youth decided to share the venue with them. Meaning, the KFC’s were present as well. Even though I was helping out the youth, I couldn’t help but be distracted by what the kids were doing and in all honesty, it was very loud. In my mind, I couldn’t help but think, “Man, why can’t they just be quiet?” I actually never realized how arrogant I sounded. After I said that, it dawned on me the importance of having R.O.C.K. leaders and I started to reflect on that.

Now, let’s fast forward to last Saturday where I was able to serve at the R.O.C.K. Leaders Training. It was an eye opening experience for me. One part that really stood out to me was having the mock assembly. If you know me, I only learn or come to realize things through extreme circumstances, and being a part of the mock assembly was beyond that. From there I realized what a vital role not only do parents have on kids but the role that their older brothers and sisters do (us).

I remember when I was just a little boy, I would always look up to my older cousins as my role models. I always thought they were so cool with everything that they were doing. Everything that they did, I would imitate. Especially in today’s society, with influences such as Lil Pump, 6ix9ine, xxxtenacion and the list goes on. It is so vital for us to be a good influence to the kids of today, to bring Christ early into their lives because just as it says when they are older they will not turn from it. So let’s pray for the growth of our hearts and especially those of the kids.

– Christian Medeiros

Familiaris Consortio

One thing that I struggle with is actually finding a topic to reflect on, but it’s funny because I am just taking this in as I write this. It is not more so finding a topic but just listening to what God wants you to write.

I guess it all starts from Saturday, I was asked to give a talk called “In the Midst of the Storm” at a General Assembly in the Scarborough-Markham Chapter here in Toronto. Which is a talk about the family and through the hardships you go through, the family is always there with God protecting it. If we fast forward to today, I attended my SFC CLP and todays first session was one The Christian Family. I couldn’t help but wonder, in the midst of wondering what I was going to write about today, it was right in front of me. The family, and more to it, my family.

So I grew up in a Catholic Family of four- my dad, my mom and my sister (she is one year younger than me). Praise the Lord for blessing me with a loving family, but just like any other family, we are not perfect. I remember growing up, every Sunday we would go to church as a family and I would actually dread going to mass. I just wanted to sleep in. I never really knew why my parents, most especially my mother, would want us to go every week together. Yet I never questioned it. It wasn’t until I actually started serving the Brampton Chapter as Chapter Head that I never really took in the importance of us going as a family. It’s been a couple of years now since my sister has stopped going to church, for reasons I have yet to get an answer but it really showed me how important it really is to go as a family, not only for my mom, but for all four of us. To keep it simple, we’re a really busy family- my dad works Monday to Friday and goes wherever my mom does, my mom works part time but if not she is always at home and she is just recently very active with the Sisters For Life, my sister is in school and actually lives now in St. Catherines because of her school and co-op, as for me, I am working right now Monday to Friday and on top of all that I serve the youth. Being so busy, it really is hard for us to come together and spend some time with each other. It wasn’t until I realized this that I noticed the reason why my mom always wants us all to come together for mass on Sundays. It literally is the only time that we would have together.

It’s funny too because the question that was brought up, “Are we fulfilling God’s plan within our families?”

Simply put, my answer to that was I don’t know. God works in many ways and in His timing. So because I am just realizing this now, it is definitely going to be a primary focus for me. One thing is for sure though, I strive for my family to be just like the Holy Family. To be like them meaning to surrender ourselves to God and to continue to say yes to His plan. Whatever His plan is, is our plan as well. My current prayer for my family is for us to go to Sunday masses together again, so please pray for us!

– Christian Medeiros

“But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”– Joshua 24:15

Bohol, Philippines 2012

Momma

Dear Momma Mary,

Since I was young I always knew you were just there. I’ve never really seen the importance of your presence in my life. So I want to take this time to say I’m sorry. Sorry for denying you, for pushing you to the side and for not acknowledging you and what you have done in my life. I can’t help but be hurt for the hurt that I’ve must have brought to you through my sins, my failures and just my stupid decisions. The amazing thing is, just as a mother always does, you still love me. Through thick and thin. So with that Momma, I would love to thank you, for never letting me go and for showing me the way to your Son, Jesus. In the times I struggle please continue to be there for me, with your most holy intercession. Draw me closer to your Son. I know that I still struggle to pray for your intercession and to acknowledge you in my life, but know that I am trying and will continue to.

So Momma, thank you and I love you.

Love,

Christian Medeiros

Why?

‘We gave you a strong warning’, he said, ‘not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt for this man’s death on us.‘

A lot of times we are faced with warnings like this or we get judged and criticized. This is actually a huge fear of mine. It is not like I am afraid to be Catholic, but more so afraid to proclaim that I am. Reading this verse from Thursday’s readings I couldn’t help but think of myself being in front of the high priest shook and distraught, sweating and nervous. I can’t help but think I am so weak that I can’t even defend the God that has given me so much in my life. Then I read the second part of the reading.

‘Obedience to God comes before obedience to men; it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, whom you executed by hanging on a tree. By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel. We are witnesses to this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.‘

So after reading that, I questioned myself, why am I afraid? Why can’t I be just like Peter and not be afraid to be obedient to God? What is it that I am really holding back? Sometimes I think, the early Christians, they faced way more than what we face today. They were discriminated, stoned, judged and even killed. The amazing thing is, they did not run away they faced all of this  hatred and defended their faith. They stood on their solid ground. So what are we really afraid of? It’s funny because whenever I ask that, I am always recalled to my life verse.

“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:30-31

Constantly I am reminded of this verse and I am always called back to it. Why is it that I doubt? I know the Lord is taking care of me and He will protect me. No matter how many times I reject the Lord in my life, I am called to have faith in Him and believe in His love. So to say that by the end of this reflection I know the answer now would be wrong. I don’t know the answer as to why I doubt or why I am afraid to proclaim I am Catholic, all I know is that there should be no reason to doubt when the Lord’s plan will prevail.

Lord, guide me and protect me. Allow me to be a defendant of the faith. Give me the strength and the courage to proclaim Your Glory. Holy are You Lord God, let Your will be done.

Amen

Christian Medeiros