Life's Journey with God

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...