Ten children receive Christ for the first time

Dec 04, 2014

IPOH (Herald Malaysia): Loving God and abandoning ourselves to Him will enable us to be more open and receptive towards works of mercy and love for others.

St Michael’s church parish priest, Fr Stephen Liew, said this in his homily during Mass celebrating the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

It was also the day when ten children from the English speaking group of SMC received their first Holy Communion.

“Jesus is within your hearts, and that should make you want to do everything to be closer to Him.

“One thing is necessary, for Jesus to sit on the throne of your heart. You have to accept Him and allow Him to influence you,” he said.

The size and power of God’s kingdom depends on the number of people who allow Jesus into their hearts, to help them practise Gospel living.

“Jesus has many thrones, and each throne is created by our individual works of mercy that we do in our lives.

“That is what it means to be a practicing Catholic, for it means also to do works of mercy.

“There is also a reason why this Solemnity is celebrated at the end of the Liturgical year: it is to allow ourselves to ask if we have done works of mercy.

“If not, we have the chance to restore our lives during the confessions in Advent, and start afresh,” he said.

In conjunction with Advent, he said, the people can also have the chance to help the Orang Asli, which St Michael’s Church has undertaken as its special parish project.

They can donate in cash or kind, especially food rations such as rice for those Orang Asli who do not have enough money to buy food.

SMC has now branched out towards helping the Orang Asli in Gerik area, whose livelihoods have been affected by ongoing land development projects.

These land development projects have cut away their sources of income from hunting and finding food in the jungles surrounding their villages.

Many of these Orang Asli are now finding it difficult to earn incomes to sustain their families, and often go hungry. Many of them suffer from malnutrition, he said.

SMC has also started a fundraiser to help the Orang Asli, by holding “A Malaysian Christmas” concert on Dec 6 and 7, where more than 100 Orang Asli will be hosted at SMC.

They will perform at the concert as well, alongside other races.

After communion, Fr Liew presented a souvenir and certificate to the First Holy Communicants.

He thanked the catechists for their efforts in teaching the children.