Life's Journey with God

“Today’s sexual confusion is not caused because the world glorifies sexuality, but because the world fails to see its glory.” —Jason Evert Modern culture sometimes attacks gender as if it were the problem. In other words, “the real problem is the rigid social constructs that perpetuate the myth that men and women are different. If we eliminate sexual differences, the problem will be solved.“ But it is precisely our differences that make union possible. Without difference, there can be no complimentary.   In fact, our sex is not only decisive for our bodily individuality, but that it defines our identity. We are not separated from our bodies. Imagine if someone struck you, and you asked him, “Why did you hit me?” and he replied “I didn’t hit you. I hit your body.” We don’t just have a body. Our body is us. It expresses the person and reveals the soul. St. John Paul II says that “the Creator has assigned the body to men as a task, the body in its masculinity and femininity.” Man has ...

Have you ever noticed anyone having a saviour complex?   “A  savior complex , or white knight syndrome, describes this need to “save” people by fixing their problems. If you have a  savior complex , you might: only feel good about yourself when helping someone, believe helping others is your purpose, or expend so much energy trying to fix others that you end up burning out.” (Raypole, 2020; Healthline) It occurred to me that I might have once felt that way, especially when looking back at some of the people I naturally navigated to back in university. They were not necessarily weak nor in situations that needed “saving” but there was just something in me that felt like I needed to be the person they relied on. If I could put a word to it, it was excessive protection. This dichotomy reflects what I really felt inside at that time, of wanting someone who can protect me and care for me, but on the outside, I acted as if I could be that person for others. Some of my past is r...

One common question that is often asked by young people is “What is the meaning of life?” . Yet, behind that question lies a greater one: “Who am I?” .  Before we can even find out what our lives are made for, it only makes sense to go back to our identity. After all, when we are able to name for ourselves our personality, our likes and dislikes, our strengths and weaknesses, and our dreams and desires, would we be able to live life fully with purpose. Thomas Merton, Roman Catholic monk, poet, and spiritual writer of the 20th century, explains that “at the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and illusion – a point of pure truth, a point or spark which belongs entirely to God. This point is the pure glory of God in us. It is like a pure diamond and is in everybody.” [1] To break it down, Merton speaks about how there is a part within us that lies our true identity of how God sees us. It is not distorted by sin, by the brokenness of this world, nor...

25/10/2020 Have you ever felt like you were going round in circles, not knowing where your life was headed? This was where I was before entering School. I have been working in a humanitarian organization for the past one year and have also been involved with youth ministries for the past 12 years ever since I was 13 years old. Even with all that, the struggle to find my life purpose was constantly there. Today, I look back at the past four and a half months, and see how God has turned my life completely around. I found direction in my life, experienced the joy of being able to live every day for His glory, and I can look forward to the journey ahead with excitement and anticipation. The first few weeks of School was where the foundation of transformation was really built. We dedicated time to explore the nature of God and how we see Him in our lives. It really opened up my eyes to see God beyond the understanding I had of Him. It wasn't as if I didn't know who God is bu...

28/9/2020 It's been over 3 weeks since I've been in Sabah for the outreach phase of the School. So much have happened and so much I'm sure is yet to come. We began our first week here by praying and listening to where exactly God was bringing us through intercession. Although there were many things that wasn't set in stone yet, we were sure that God had a clear plan in mind for all of us. With that in mind, we just trusted the promptings of the Spirit and moved with Him. We packed our bags the following week, ready to move into the interiors of Ranau (which is a two-hour drive from the city of Kota Kinabalu). I was prepared to leave the comfort of city life for one of simple living. Indeed, I was stretched by the numerous bugs that bit me every day (they are still itching till this day). On a more exciting note, what has been eye opening for us city people in particular is the beauty of nature and its providence. The hospitality of the community here has also been...

30/8/2020 Today marks the end of the lecture phase of the School, with the topic of the week being 'discernment' (which is quite apt to equip us in moving forward). After 10 weeks of in-depth teachings from the foundations of our faith of understanding who the Trinitarian God is, to how we live out our true identity, I am truly grateful to be in this space of growth, openness and deeper love with God. I cannot imagine where I would end up being if the Spirit hadn't been so clear to get me to send in my application (He literally had to give a big and clear sign for me to get it) in the first half of this year where I seemed to be losing my way. If I had to summarize my breakthroughs throughout the past weeks, it would have to be these few things: (i) a deeper understanding of God's love that is no longer on the head level or even the heart, but rather it's as if my soul has been set aflame by Him — it's an ecstasy of Love ❤ (ii) being able to connect and...

24/8/2020 When I was younger, I used to question why we had to go for Mass every Sunday when I just couldn't understand what the priest was doing at the altar. Catechism class didn't really explain much, except that it was the "highest form of worship" and "the source and summit of our faith". Although I found a place to explore the faith with the youth ministry, there was only so much I could gain from it. Over the course of my teenage years, I tried to pay more attention to the prayers and rites so that I could be more involved with it. The Mass became something really beautiful for me during my college days when I went for a particular youth camp, where the priest took the time to explain each part of the Mass and what it symbolizes. I was filled with awe at how much beauty and meaning the Mass could contain. It really is the most beautiful place to be at, where one could participate in the sacrifice and be united with the whole Church in the presence...

17/8/2020 "Fortitude, Temperance, Faith, Charity, Hope, Justice, Prudence," by Botticelli 'Virtue' is not a word that is stranger to us, especially Christians. We are often taught to live out virtues in our lives, and to stay away from vices. But what does it really mean? According to the CCC 1804, human virtues are "firm attitudes, stable dispositions, habitual perfections of intellect and will that governs our actions, orders our passions, and guide our conduct according to reason and faith". To be virtuous is to be fully love, just as God fully loves. In our faith, the Church specifies three theological virtues , faith, hope and charity , which main purposes are to participate in the divine nature of God, share in the divine love of the Holy Trinity, become God's children, and merit eternal life. The second category, cardinal virtues , are gained through education and human effort with the help of grace. They are prudence, justice, fort...

10/8/2020 Last week we had a week of study on the Theology of the Body and I would like to just share one thing here: Original Man, which is how mankind is explained to be as before the Fall. When we think about the story of the origin, of Adam and Eve, we often only think of original sin but there is so much to discover aside from that! Just by dissecting Genesis chapter 2, we can see that God intended us to have so much beauty. 1) Original Solitude When Adam was still alone, there was a search to be in relationship with another. Specifically in Genesis 2:18, God Himself said that "it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner". This explains that Adam's identity was not yet complete because God is good and everything He creates are meant to be good. This search is also revealed through the body in which the body parts of a man are always 'to give'. 2) Original Unity The original purpose of man is also be in ...

3/8/2020 One common question that is often asked is "what is the meaning of life", yet behind that question lies a greater one: "who am I?" Because to find the purpose is to first know the identity of who we are. Thomas Merton explains that "at the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and illusion – a point of pure truth , a point or spark which belongs entirely to God . This point is the pure glory of God in us. It is like a pure diamond and is in everybody." What is stopping us from discovering this pure, immortal diamond? We often find ourselves hiding behind masks and hiding our true self because of shame, because of lies that we are not good enough, because of the need to fit into the expectations of others. Our natural coping mechanism that comes from the lack of love and affirmation is one that makes us hide our true self from its full capabilities. As Richard Rohr says, we have a "human temptation to...

27/7/2020 What is worship all about? No, not just praise and worship, but really the act of worshiping God. In Luke 4:8, it says that "you shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone shall you serve". Let's first explore CCC 2096 & 2097 for some answers and look at each sentence separately. "Adoration* is the first act of the virtue of religion." Diving deeper into the meaning of 'virtue' is "a firm disposition to do the good" as explained in CCC 1803 and the phrase 'virtue of religion' is mentioned in CCC 1807 as "justice toward God, a moral virtue of having constant and firm will to give their due to God". In other words, adoring and worshiping the Lord is the first action that we consciously choose to live as a justice towards God . "To adore God is to acknowledge him as God, as the Creator and Savior, the Lord and Master of everything that exists, as infinite and merciful Love." Acknowledging ...

26/7/2020 Our separated brothers and sisters (the protestants) will often place emphasis on scriptures. In fact, they very much believe only in sola scriptura . But what about us? Do Catholics also see scripture the same way? Definitely. Our faith is very much based on scriptures and traditions. In fact, I will quote Pope John Paul II here: "The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord . She has always maintained them, together with sacred Tradition, as the supreme rule of faith , since as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, making the voice of the Holy Spirit resound . For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them ." (Dei Verbum #21) God really speaks through scriptures and He speaks to us in personal ways. It is not a static, historical account of the past but it is very much ali...

19/7/2020 I really had to break down the posts I was writing because there was just SO MUCH that challenged my own understanding of God. Some added on to what I already knew and hence, helped me to really assimilate those truths into my life but some things (which I will explain below) were really something of a new revelation to me. Please reach out if you are confused or have more questions from this, and I would be glad to have a chat with you over a cuppa! It can be quite overwhelming haha, I totally understand. 'Abba' is not Daddy God We are quite familiar with this term which has appeared in scripture many times such as Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6. The name 'Abba' which is Aramaic for Father doesn't really mean dad. The Jews at that time addressed God as Father in the context of Him being the Almighty Creator and didn't have a close relationship with Him. An easy explanation of why we still address God as Father is because Jesus did so. So anywa...

14/7/2020 No one can say 'Jesus is Lord' except by the Holy Spirit. This knowledge of faith is possible only in the Holy Spirit : to be in touch with Christ, we must first have been touched by the Holy Spirit. By virtue of our Baptism, the first sacrament of the faith, the Holy Spirit in the Church communicates to us, intimately and personally , the life that originates in the Father and is offered to us in the Son. — CCC 683 This week's lectures on the Holy Spirit didn't just meet my expectations of really getting to know the third person of the Trinity, it absolutely blew away all expectations. It wasn't just the teachings that made an impact, it was really God who was so real and present throughout. I could choose to write down all that I've learnt in this post but I think more than that is really reflecting on how it has changed my relationship with God and how it has changed me personally. Before this, I really relied on definitions, scripture, cat...

13/7/2020 If we look at the Bible, Christ can be defined as "the one who is to come" (Yahshua) and "the anointed one" (Messiah). As Christians, we know the salvation story, of His humble birth in a stable, His ministry here on Earth, and His ultimate passion on the Cross for humanity. But who is Jesus really? In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we read that Jesus Christ is the Son of God by nature and not by adoption (CCC 465). His personhood is fully divine and fully human (not partly, not quarterly but 100% both) — there is no duality to Him. He has a human intellect and will, yet perfectly attuned to His divine intellect and His divine will, which He has in common with the Father and the Holy Spirit (CCC 482). He is "like us in all things but sin" (Hebrew 4:15). What does that mean? Like me, I had questions to follow up with those statements. Some of them are listed below in hopes that it may help you to understand better who Christ is, an...

3/7/2020 God is so many things at once (omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent) and yet at the same time, He just IS.  What do I mean? God is simple — He is a divine being, a pure spirit, undivisible by any physical or metaphysical means. He is "eternal, infinite and unchangeable, incomprehensible, almighty, and ineffable" (CCC 202). God exists out of time, in eternity hence came the description of God who is, who was, and is still to come (Revelation 1:8). The Lord lacks nothing and is in need of nothing. The reason why God chose to create mankind is because He wants to share this selfless and overflowing love with us. "God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness , freely created man to make him share in His own blessed life... God draws close to us to seek Him, to know Him and to love Him" (CCC 1). As humans, there is always growth and change involve, where we move from potentiality to actuality. But for God, because He is immutable, ...

2/7/2020 Here's a little something about the Triune God which we Catholics believe in! What is God? A divine being, essentially God ✨ Who is God? God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit The nature of God is what unites the Trinity. The personhood is what distinct them. Each divine person has their own unique personal property but performs common work (CCC 258). Divinity cannot be divided, it is always one. The concept of one God can be found in both the Old Testament as well as the New Testament: Dt 6:4, Gen 1:26, Gen 11:7, Gen 18:2, The Annunciation in Lk 1:26-38, Baptism of Jesus in Mt 3:16-17, The Transfiguration in Mt 17:5, and the Commissioning of the Disciples in Mt 28:19 A term to best describe the Trinity by the early Church fathers is perichoresis , which is essentially a dance of love which is so intertwined, harmonious and in sync that it looks like one, somewhat like a tango but not quite too. The Relationship of the 'Lover – Beloved – Love...

1/7/2020 I decided to move away from daily reflection posts this week and write something else here. This week, we are exploring the personhood of God the Father. It starts with understanding how we view this God so that we can fix the false image and voice of God. Even though this isn't my first time exploring my false images of God, I actually spent many hours to reflect during the activity. While listening to the sharing, there were also areas that were revealed to me that brought back memories of past hurts. Some areas of hurt that were brought up reminded me of the times when I was feeling small as if I was one of the many in the crowd, not being important, fear of disappointing others and not meeting their expectations. This false image of God being disinterested in me, that I have nothing to offer, stems from the negative experiences I went through during my childhood which has instilled in me the need to do more, paired with the need to achieve a certain standard of p...