Called by name

Called by name. What a statement it is to think about. Growing up in the community, I heard that quite a bit. Being called by name definitely gives it a personal touch, and the calling itself is something extraordinary.

It is simply astonishing how the act of God calling is a gathering force that unites us as children of God. Every single time Jesus preached. Thousands would gather in one place to hear what He had to say. It is no wonder that when 2 or 3 are gathered in His Name, that He would be present among them. The call from God is a call to gather. A call to dwell in the presence of the loving Father whom longs for His children.

I was reminded of this as I went to Mass on Good Friday. I recall myself saying hello to so many people. My best friends, previous class mates, people in my community, all are gathered to witness the great love of God. I realized that everything God does is to unite us. Even in His death, we are called to gather to be loved.

Alejandro Beltran

Greatest Love

The Cross
(http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/tag/cross)

As Catholics, today is very meaningful and humbling day of our faith, of the entire Church. Today is the day we commemorate the tremendous loving sacrifice Jesus, the Son of God, offered to all of us, when He died on the cross as reparation for all of our sins. Today is “Good Friday” because by the bad physical suffering Jesus did, we, the children of God, are bestowed upon a good future, future with God in heaven.

Jesus obeyed His father, allowed Himself to suffer because of His love for us. But have we been obedient? Have I been obedient? I know for a fact that I’m not always obedient. Good Friday is definitely a good time to reflect on our lives, most especially our relationship with the Lord. Have we been keeping up with our prayer time, with our scripture reading, with adoration, etc.? Are we obedient and loving to our parents, siblings, friends, CFC Youth leaders and CC’s, co-workers, etc.? I know I’m not always doing those things above (and many more). I know I have failed. I was born a sinner, all of us but that’s why God send forth His only beloved Son to the world for us to be reminded that there’s hope for eternal happiness and joy.

I once heard a SFC brother say that Jesus is like a coupon, a coupon for redemption. It is true. Jesus is truly the ONLY Way, the Truth and the Life.

“No one comes through the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

When we’re down, sad, frustrated, angry, or hopeless, remember (and never forget) Jesus’ suffering because by His wounds we are forever healed. By His humility, we are brought to life. By His Cross, our crosses are lifted to God.

So always look to Jesus, ask Him to guide you embrace your crosses daily. “Remember that when the world hates you, know that it hated ME first.” Because all of the rejections we face today, Jesus experienced all of them yet He chose to embrace and forgive all the rejections, temptations and pray to His father.

YOU WANT TO REACH HEAVEN? Let’s pray to increase our dependence to Jesus.

What more can I ask for?

Thank You. I am very affirmed after a conversation with a close friend living in another country at the moment that the life I am living is a life where God speaks in a very unique way. That in my travels, I am called to a strong interior life. I am called to move not just into but with mission. Though I can be impatient, feel lonely and worry, I trust in the Lords plan for me. His plans for mission, for my vocation, and for the desires I wish to align with. 

Between me and You, I offer up my steadfast petitions, with the close request of intercession from Your mother and St. Joseph. 

Amen.

 

Deo Gloria

Sustained by Christ

Today at Holy Thursday mass, I was so struck by one line in the opening hymn. The line was “the bread will sustain you”. Then, I automatically thought of purity and cleanliness. Most especially because this week has been a really tough week at work and spiritually.

My thoughts just reminded me of the improtance of confession and how grateful we should truly be for confession, so that we can be purified, and it is in this state that we can receive the Eucharist.

The Eucharist is Christ.

Eu – ar – christ (make sense?) lol

Once we have consumed the bread, we become walking tabernacles. The bread will only truly sustain us, if we walk out of the church recognizing we have Christ in us and complete faith in Him.

I know we all know this, but it was a great reminder for me, because of the challenges I have been going through this week.

God is so good!

Why try Lord?

Lord God,

You know, I don’t know what you want from me anymore. I’d like to say Ive gotten indifferent and distant from you. I can’t hear you. I try to be in silence, for there you speak, but I am becoming impatient. Lord, there are so many things I had gone through and I held on to you. It wasn’t a surprise when you saved and lifted me up. Now, my face is back on the ground again and I am tired lord. This roller coaster of a life is something. You know what they say “it sucks to be me” and “I can’t live with myself anymore.” I used to always try to find ways to better myself, but I never learn and I always fall. I am tired of falling. I am sick of sinning. I am sick of being tempted and falling into temptations. I am just so numb in everything that I have to face, but I guess I am not so numb, for I still try to speak to you.

I look at your photo and you look at me as you point to your sacred heart. What do you want to tell me Lord? That you love me? Are you telling me lord to stand up and everyday is a new day to get better? and that this is the reason I still live because I can be someone you always want me to be? .. Pero Lord why try to be better, when I know along the way I will fall back again? Oh is it because it’s about the journey with you and not the destination? I guess?.. I am just so frustrated right now Lord, I want to say, towards you, but I know it’s because of me. Our relationship is truly something lord. As much as I want to please you, I fail to. As much as I want to be someone I can be proud of, I just fail to. Lord  please tell me, why try?

Luli JKM

 

Friendship | One of the Four F’s in CFC-Youth

Painted by Del Parson (1983)

Jesus Washing the Feet of the Apostles, Del Parson (1983)

While I can sometimes get lost in the busyness of service and the sometimes-stressful concept of ‘household’ I sometimes forget that mission isn’t a lone journey towards God. Everyone in the Couples For Christ community, and all Christians alike, are striving to live lives pleasing to God; we are all in it together, trying to share the Gospel, trying to love one another the way that God loves us.

As a business student I’ve learnt that an organization’s structure can be one of its strengths. For Couples For Christ’s organizational structure this still remains true. As the family is the basic unit of society, the household is the basic unit of CFC; and over the past few years I’ve definitely grown in my appreciation of the household because it is founded on relationships centred in Christ. That’s not to say that I wasn’t grateful before, but through recent experiences, it’s become more evident to me that the friendships I have in my CFC-Youth and SFC households are living-giving friendships that bear much fruit. And the people (brothers and sisters) in my households mirror God’s great love in many beautiful ways. #4oclock #weeatfirst #sisterskeeper #sistahood #ilovemyHH

Friendship in the household is extended to the chapter, then to the area, and in the greater scheme of things, wherever the CFC community is. In that regard I’ve met some amazing people in the community from around the world, who I can easily say are my friends — not only that, but my brothers and sisters. One of the memories I will always hold dear to my heart was when I went to the Philippines for WGAT and GLS in 2011. There I met some CFC-Youth brothers and sisters from across Canada, the UAE, Singapore, and the Philippines. To this day, we still message each other on Facebook or Twitter, or comment on one another’s Instagram posts. Although distance makes it difficult to maintain friendships, I’ve realized that any conversation or interaction I have with a friend is a huge blessing, whether they live near me or far away.

Last night I was given the opportunity to speak to one of my friends from the Pacific Region, whom I haven’t spoken with for months. During our conversation we weren’t able to cover every single detail, but they shared a lot of information with me that can only help me confidently say that they are pressing towards holiness, intentionally learning how to live and love like Christ even though it is very hard to. Through speaking to my friend and hearing them share about their life, I’ve come to see that the cross I bear is the same cross in which I should draw strength. (Side note: Jesus has already won.) To be reminded of this, not only emphasizes how great God is, but also how unbelievably blessed I am to have life-giving friendships in this community that are solidly rooted in God’s amazing love.

Besides the myriad of people in this community and around the world that are seeking God, may I never forget that God is wherever I go; Jesus is the perfect friend, who has never given up on me and has reminded me a million times to believe and trust in Him. He is the only One who remains with me constantly and consistently. Although humble, He is the greatest among all that exists and He can never be replaced by any person or any thing in this world. Jesus is my friend who walks with me in the mission, patiently listens to my thoughts and prayers, and keeps close to me, helping me journey towards the Father.

Dear God,

Thank You for the gift of life-giving friendships that remind me of Your love, kindness, generosity, mercy, and compassion. I pray for all the friendships I’ve gained and I pray for all those who I have yet to meet. For the people who I haven’t spoken to in a long time, I pray that they see You in them and have the desire to live and love like You; that their hearts welcome You into their lives over and over again. All the glory is Yours now and forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.
Amen.

I will it, Lord

My life was not complete until I crowned it by my death. Your “way” is not complete unless you crown it by your life. Accept each moment as it comes to you, with faith and trust that all that happens has My mark on it. A simple fiat, this is all it takes; a breathing in your heart, “I will it, Lord.“