Miracle Cure?

It has been some time that I have posted anything here, but I am proud to say that I've been keeping up with my prayer life. An alarm set on my mobile phoone will remind me of the Divine hour , 3 pm everyday , and if possible , I will say a short prayer, typically thanking God for his Infinite and Divine Mercy , as well as to remember people who asked me to pray for them .

 

One thing that I asked in my prayers, I would say has been granted , through his Divine Mercy .I sprained my thumb a week ago , no idea how. Doctor's weren't sure on it, and I was ready to see a hand specialist. My GP prescribed an anti inflamatory drug, which I was suppose to take twice a day. It was also an analgelsic i.e. a pain killer. However the pain continue to escalate , and using my thumb was painful to the point, that I couldn't even write properly. I decided that I will also ask God for his help.

 

In about a day after that, while driving down to Singapore, the pain started reducing. Although I was on medication for about 1 day, it was not working at all, and in fact it was getting more painful. I had forgotten to take my 2nd dose for the day , before I started my journey to Singapore. However as I drove down the highway, I noticed that my pain was getting less and less. By the time I reached Singapore, the pain was negligible and I had full use of my hand again.

 

I cannot attribute the recovery to the medication, and I doubt it healed itself, as the pain was very intense, hence a conclusion that it was through divine intervention. A small miracle, but nevertheless a miracle, which I shall attribute to Him.

 

As my circle of friends in church grows, I have been getting prayer request. For the sake of their privacy , I shall refrain from using their names. Some of them are

 

1. A friend who was going to have surgery this week, and next month.

2. A friend who is looking for a good job.

3. Choice Weekends in KL, Kuching and Penang.

 

I too have my personal prayer request, and that is for Unity, Understanding and reconciliation in my family. A family feud has driven 3 of my sisters to the point where they are not able to speak to one another. A sad event, for my family, especially when my father raised us to put family first. Please pray for reconciliation in my family. The breaking down of barriers of anger, hate, resentment, pride and self pity.

Easter - 2007

Saturday's Easter Vigil marked the culmination of the Holy Week, with christians celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. From the darkness of the tomb to the light , He has risen to set us free. The resurrected Christ has defeated death and has won for us abundant mercy from his Father.  As Easter Ends, I am now journeying through the Novena of Divine Mercy .

 

The Novena of Divine Mercy is a 9 day Novena with a short prayer. Each day, a special group of people are offered to Jesus for his Mercy. The Divine mercy also has a chaplet , which implores our God for mercy in Jesus' name. Although i have not been able to say the Novena and the Chaplet at the prescribe time, I do try to say it at the end of the day.

 

This Easter has been one of the most spiritual of all Easter's I've experienced. One thing I have noticed is that , the more I offer as penance and sacrifice during Lent, the more I truly enjoy the Easter celebrations. This year, for personal reasons, for Choice , and for my family, I decided on a number of sacrifices i.e. Catholic Fasting, Abstenance from Meat, and to try and attend morning mass.

 

Maintaining this sacrifices have not been easy, and I was not 100% diligent. I managed to attend morning mass at least once a week, sometimes twice. Fasting was difficult especially during the Chinese New Year Period , and during weekends ( so I normally let myself off the hook). Abstinance was the easiest as I have been doing this in the past 2 easters. There was alot more prayers done during this easter, and overall it was a very spirtually fulfilling exercise. A wonderful part, is 2 colleagues have already said they'll join me next year for my lenten sacrifice.

 

Reaching towards the Holy Week, the lenten sacrifices certainly help me prepare myself to truly appreciate this celebration. This easter end up to be one of the most emotional and spiritually challenging one. Maundy Thursday was especially an emotional roller coaster for me, to reflect that someone was to suffer brutally at me. With the wrath and anger of hell lashing out at Him. And to know I can never repay His love and sacrifice. 

 

I would say this Lent and Easter has been wonderful , and I would definately repeat it. For next Lent, I will incorporate prayers, during the weekdays, as I am already skipping lunch.

 

 

Good Friday

Today is the Passion of our Lord. HIs passion for us, to have died on the cross, at the very hands of his own people.Good Friday is one of the most holy days in the church's liturgical calendar, yet sadly Malaysia doesn't recognize it to be a public holiday. Yet, work is no excuse that I cannot worship my God.

 

It was a solemn day and my mood reflected it. While I didn't feel depresed, I felt down to earth, knowing that something serious and mysterious was at work . I realised it was the day that my God died for me. How many people can say that they know someone who died for them , and to me I feel so blessed and honored that I have know someone who has died for me. And He isn't any ordinary person, but he was the Son of my God. The thought of this is mind boggling and so humbling.

 

In the afternoon i decided to recite the rosary, meditating on the Sorrowful mysteries. I used my Choice Spiritual booklet's reflection , and it struck me so deeply, the suffering that Jesus went through. The pain , that he faced, at the hands of his own people, in front of his Mother. And once again it was for me. As I read the reflection, tears started rolling down my cheeks. I believe this is the first time , I've said the rosary in tears. As it was also the start of the feast / novena of Divine Mercy, I decided to say the chaplet of divine mercy and to novena of divine mercy. Through His Grace, I hope that I can finish the Novena of Divine Mercy .

 

Good Friday services, was a solemen affair in church. I was surprised our crucifix wasn't covered in purple clothe, I guess it was taken down after the Chinese Mass at 3 pm .I've lost count of how many times i've said thank you , and yet i feel it isn't enough.

 

 

Maundy Thursday

Yesterday was Maundy Thursday, where Catholics around the world commemorated the Last Supper. 2 factors of mass was the Washing of the feet and moving the Blessed Sacrament to the Repositorium.

 

This Easter is an emotional roller coaster for me. I was choking up during Maundy Thursday Mass but managed to control myself. I went for dinner with a few of my CHOICE KL friends @ Strawberry Cafe in Section 5, PJ. After which I went to SFX for Adoration of the blessed Sacrament. I enjoyed the adoration at SFX as it was a silent adoration and I could sit  to contemplate and pray.

 

This adoration was beautiful for me. I decided to use the Jesuit's meditation, and bring myself in to the Garden of Gethsamene . There I was in this Garden , and I saw Jesus praying there earnestly, while his disciples were sleeping. I could see myself sitting next to him, asking him if I could pray with him , and to hold his hand. I was able to talk to him , ask him questions, and despite his worries, he could still take the time to talk to me. It was beautiful.

 

While driving home, and reflecting, I thought back to my a weekend retreat I attended, especially the reconcilliation part, and I suddenly started crying in the car. To know that he suffered and died for specially for us. He went through the torture, torment, humiliation, pain , all for our sins. He bears no ill will for going through all this, and He still loves us alot despite all this. Despite all the times we turn our back on Him, the times we forget Him, the times we hurt him with our Sins , our failings and our inactions, to know he still loves us and will always welcome us.

A Journey of Faith

This is the begining of my personal faith journal. I hope that I will be able to put down in words, the thoughts, feelings, emotions that I will encounter in my Journey of faith. In the past, my many attempts at blogging , diaries and journals have failed, but I pray that I will perserver with this faith journal .

With the grace of God and through the works of the Holy Spirit, I pray that I will be able to document my journey of faith.

I will never claim my faith is solid and unwavering. God knows the trials and temptations that I face in my everyday life, but I hope that this platform here will document these trials, tribulation, joys and tears that I encounter in this journey of mine.

I can only pray that my faith, my love and my devotion to God will nurture and grow, and I hope that by launching this site, on the Holy Week of Easter, is testimony to my commitment to this journal.