Go beyond yourselves in living and sharing the gospel of joy

Dec 04, 2014

IPOH (Herald Malaysia): This Advent, be urgent in your mission for Christ, and go beyond yourselves in living and sharing the gospel of joy of Jesus Christ.

Bishop Sebastian Francis said this in his homily during the celebration of Mass marking the launch of the Year of Consecrated Life, on Nov 22, at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church.

The Mass was concelebrated by his lordship Bishop Emeritus Rt Rev Antony Selvanayagam and Fr Joe Matthews, OFM, Cap.

Twelve priests, 50 religious from the different congregations, and parishioners from the churches of OMPH, Our Lady of Lourdes and St Michael’s church, participated in the Eucharistic celebration as well.

“We need not wait any longer, as this time is an opportunity for us to proclaim and witness to Christ,” Bishop Sebastian said.

The people of Penang diocese (including laity, religious and clergy) have been sent on mission, starting from Mission Sunday this year.

During this year’s launch, each Catholic made a personal commitment to help build up the Church by seeking to serve God and man, under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This means not only getting into fellowship with the Church and discovering and doing God’s will, but also seeking to serve both God and man in the outside world.

“Like St John the Evangelist, we must be futuristic and go beyond ourselves.

“The Holy Father has said that the people must, in particular, demonstrate how Jesus lived on earth and how the kingdom of God is lived here in perfection,” he said.

Touching on the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience, which are special gifts of God to the Church, he said they are important both to the priestly ministry and those in religious life who took similar vows.

They help in the saving mission of the Church, and as such, both religious and priests are called to live these counsels in accordance with the way and life of Jesus Christ.

“For all Christians, the radical call of the Gospel is to follow Christ and imitate him.

“The primary prophetic witnessing of priests and religious is in the radical community living within your own community.

“Within this framework, you will continue to dialogue with your colleagues and relevant legitimate superiors about your own personal charisms and prophetic charisms, before you are sent out on mission.”

He cautioned the religious to say “no” to those things outside of the evangelical counsels.

“This is a foretaste of the kingdom of God and a tall order, but it gives us a sense of how to live a consecrated life.

“Let us celebrate with these religious and priests today, on how they live the consecrated life, going with joy to live and share the Gospel values and the compassion of Jesus Christ.

“This is my message to all people and religious, and we bless you today.

“We thank you for the gift of yourself, and the community of your congregations,” he said.

During offertory, representatives from each religious congregation carried up the gifts, symbolising their vocations in the spirit of renewal.

After Communion, OMPH parish priest Fr Eugene Fernandez CSsR, thanked all for being present for the momentous event.

There was an exhibition of the various religious congregations in the parish hall, and a fellowship lunch for all after Mass.