Love is the new life

Jun 05, 2014

By Bernard Anthony
Discipleship: Called, Chosen, Sent was the theme for this year’s feast of St Joseph at the 106-year-old St Joseph’s Church (SJC) recently.

Fr Cyril Mannayagam from Johor was the preacher for the Triduum. On May 1, being the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, many Catholics came from far and near for the Novena to St Joseph and Mass. Fr Cyril presided with SJC parish priest Fr Alan Pereira, Fr Surain Dorai Raj, Fr Peter Bretaudeau MEP and Fr Albet Arockiasamy.

In his homily in English and Tamil, Fr Cyril touched on ‘Called’ — saying: Who called you to be a Christian? There can be many answers, but only one source called us to be His disciples. God used a human agent, when He called us to prepare to be His disciples; ultimately God called you by name, lovingly called you to live a new life in Him. God, therefore, calls us to participate in His new life.

Fr Cyril added that if we don’t live this new life, we are not His disciples. He emphasized that living the way of new life is important and does not just entail saying our prayers or attending Mass. We cannot be Christians only in name. Fr Cyril exhorted: ‘Are you living the life God called you to live...This new life?’ Like Abraham and Joseph, God called them: “Leave all your bad attitudes, sinfulness and enter into a new life.” This is a challenge but we must trust in God and live in His new life. Love is the basis of this new life, not human love but participation in His love as He died on the Cross for all of us.

On May 3, Fr Cyril’s homily was focused on ’Sent.’ He said: “The Mass is ended, all go in the peace of Christ’… meaning that you are sent on a mission. We are all sent out on a mission. What you celebrate at the Eucharist prepares you to be sent out. Jesus is sending us to bring His message of hope, love and peace to others. ‘Are we willing to share the life of Jesus with others?’