The hearts

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes but the Lord pondereth the hearts - Proverbs 21:2

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Dear brothers and sisters, we rarely find honesty, sincerity and purity of the heart in this time of our modern days. Many times we find people or even ourselves give a hand to others, offer helps, or lend others people whatever. Everyone who sees it will say that it is a commendable act, he or she is good, it surely bring praise, and people will say it is surely be blessed. Dear brothers and sisters, this can also be possibly our own experience. We give and we help and we know that it will bring great award. It will bring praise without wanting to know, wanting to inspect, to introspect the motivation lay behind. 

We can say to others that I am telling the truth or others also can say that they are telling the truth and so the people will easily trust. We have to beware that no one knows what is in our heart but God knows. Manipulation in its negative sense will never be blessed. Never be deceitful, don't trick others. It is our dear God who knows perfectly the "texture of our heart, the interior of our heart". God will bless us immediately when He knows we are doing good.

God will always be happy knowing his children are doing good. Doing good in the eyes of people is possibly always good but not always good for our dear God! He wants us to always be honest, sincere, and pure in our heart. We need to inspect our heart all the time and it will always lead our step to heavenly blessings and more to our eternal salvation. Blessings for us all!

Reflection by Ceisy NW

Probare seipsum | To examine oneself

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup 

(1 Cor 11:28). 

As we prepare to approach the Lord's table, Saint Paul's words echo in our hearts. This self-examination is not meant to discourage us, but to draw us deeper into communion with Christ.

In the Catholic tradition, we prepare ourselves for the sacrament of penance through a prayerful examination of conscience. This sacred practice invites us to reflect honestly on our thoughts, words, and deeds. We can root this examination in the Ten Commandments, which teach us how to love God and neighbor, and in the Beatitudes, where Jesus shows us the path to true blessedness.

Paul himself understood the importance of a clear conscience. He could say with confidence: "I have lived my life before God in all good conscience up to this day" (Acts 23:1), and he urged Timothy: "The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith" (1 Tim 1:5). Like Paul, we must strive for integrity before God and others.

Let us ask ourselves: Are my actions, words, and thoughts aligned with God's will? How have my deeds impacted those around me—my family, my community? Have I loved as Christ commanded? As we read in John's Gospel, Jesus said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another" (Jn 13:34).

We must be honest about our faults and failings, yet never forget that God is our merciful Father. As Paul reminds us: "But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world" (1 Cor 11:32). The Lord's discipline is an act of love, calling us back to Himself.

When we come to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, let us echo the words Jesus taught us to pray: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us" (Mt 6:12). We cannot approach the altar with resentment in our hearts. We must forgive others as God has forgiven us, for "if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Mt 6:15).

In this way, we become true disciples, following Paul's exhortation: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ" (1 Cor 11:1). May our examination of conscience lead us not to despair, but to conversion, gratitude, and deeper union with the Lord who gave Himself for us. 

Bible Reflection on 1 Corinthians 11: 27-34 by Fr. Joseph Trzebuniak SVD.

(Listen to podcast here)

Ad manducandum | To eat

For when the time comes to eat, each of you goes ahead with your own supper, and one goes hungry and another becomes drunk (1 Cor 11:21).

Dear friends in Christ Jesus, the early Christian community shared everything in common. We read about it in the Acts of the Apostles 4:32 –"And the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any one of them that any of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common." At the same time, we can not say that they were perfect. They, too, had their shortcomings. In today's passage, St. Paul is reminding the Corinthians about their division, selfishness and indifference. It is true that they gathered together as one community to celebrate the Lord's Supper. Which is a really wonderful time of prayer, worship and communion.

The people used to bring along food and drinks from their home. When the time came to eat they ate alone without sharing it with others. There were also poor people who had no food. It was a very humiliating and painful experience for the poor who had nothing. The indifference and selfishness caused division among them rather than communion.

Dear friends, in our lives too, God is blessing us with a lot. Are we grateful to God and are we willing to share it with others? We all know that everything that we have is a gift from God. As long as we have them, let us be generous. It can be our time, energy, health, materials, money, knowledge, experiences etc. Let us not expect anything in return other than God's blessings. May God bless each one of you.

 

Bible Reflection on 1 Corinthians 11: 17-26 by Fr. George Joseph SVD.

(Listen to podcast here)

Imitatores Christi | Imitators of Christ

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ (1 Cor 11:1).

Reflecting on 1 Cor 11:1-16, focus verses 14-16, and St. Paul's teaching about the wearing of veils by women in worship, I struggled with this passage which I felt archaic and patriarchal, by putting women down in a lowly position, until the Holy Spirit pointed to the deeper spiritual truths that Paul was pointing out that a woman's unveiled hair could be point of pride in her heart as it could attract unwanted suitors, and a passage from St. Luke's gospel was brought to my mind, who as a doctor, could accurately narrate a scene that would have shocked many 1st century Jewish readers, as modest Jewish women would conventionally veil their hair as a sign of modesty in the presence of Jewish men, all the more so if the men were Jewish religious leaders or a respected rabbi, so picture the Jewish reader imagining a sultry woman brazenly walking into a room with her hair untied, and carrying a bottle of expensive nard, you can imagine the kinds of associations those readers would make in their minds, "How could Jesus, a Holy Man of God allow such a kind of woman to approach Him in such an immodest manner and even anoint His Feet with her expensive alabaster jar of nard (equivalent to 3 years wages)!" However, Jesus used this controversial scene to become a teaching point, with a parable about the 2 debtors by asking Simon, the dinner host, a pointed question about the endless mercy of God, "Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

We, too, live among people who are too caught up in sinful situations, unable to break out of those painful situations, let us each in our own way go out and proclaim boldly, "Jesus saves!", especially to the spiritually blind, the lame, and the ones who have lost all hope in life. As St Luke has recorded, Jesus began His Judaean ministry with a public proclamation from Isa 61.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:18-19).

I'll close my short sharing with this beautiful hymn, "People Need the Lord", by Steve Green.

Every day they pass me by

I can see it in their eyes

Empty people filled with care

Headed who knows where

On they go through private pain

Living fear to fear

Laughter hides their silent cries

Only Jesus hears.

 

Chorus

People need the Lord

People need the Lord

At the end of broken dreams

He's the open door

People need the Lord

People need the Lord

When will we realize People need the Lord?

 

Verse 2

We are called to take His light

To a world where wrong seems right

What could be too great a cost

For sharing life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel

All the grief they bear

They must hear the words of life

Only we can share. 

Youtube: https://youtu.be/1uZcGaixMhg?si=epKoopM64HPdEoSt

Title: People Need the LORD

Singer: Steve Green

CCLI: 18084

Copyright: Integrity Worship

Reflection by Chris Tan

Unus Deus | One God

"Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." – 1 Corinthians 8: 6

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Dear friends in Christ Jesus, as we all know that there are many religions in the world and each religion has their own faith and beliefs and practices. When we live in a multi-religious background we need to show respect for each religion. In every religion there is something good that can be adapted. 

Respecting another religion doesn't mean that you worship their god or practice their faith. Certain religious practices are also part of a particular culture that you live in and you won't be able to avoid participating in it. There is nothing wrong in eating some food offered to you by your neighbor who belongs to another religion.

We as Christians,  we know that there is only one God who is real and that is our God: the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. We are created by God and we are able to exist in this world because of him and we are supposed to live our lives for his glory. Jesus came to the world in human form and revealed to us our Father in heaven. We believe in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives and works in the lives of every Christian. Whatever we have with us is a gift from God. Nothing belongs to us and nothing we can carry with us after we are dead. 

So let us be grateful to God first of all for the gift of life and all the blessings that we receive from him. Let us thank our God who is real, true and the only one.

 

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8: 1-6 by Fr. George Joseph SVD

(Listen to podcast here)

 

Singaculum apostolatus | Seal of my apostleship

"For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 9:2).

Apostle Paul was searching for his own identity. He wanted to understand himself better so he could help other people. He knew that he was an apostle, but some people were questioning Paul's authority because he wasn't one of the original Twelve and because he worked with his hands.

He was called by Jesus Christ. Jesus met him on the road to Damascus, and he saw Him with his own eyes (1 Corinthians 9:1). But he also calls himself "the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle," because he persecuted the Church of God (1 Corinthians 15:9).

Nonetheless, he became a faithful servant of Christ and an ambassador for Him (2 Corinthians 5:20). He was beaten, put in prison, and treated like trash (1 Corinthians 4:11-13). When people said he was not a real apostle, he defended himself boldly (2 Corinthians 11:5).

He told the Corinthians, "You are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 9:2). You are my living letter that everyone can read (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). This is what Christian leadership looks like: I serve you, not the other way around. My power comes from my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). I don't demand my rights - I give up everything for the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:12). "By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

My life proves the Gospel is real when you see Jesus in me - in my love, my sacrifice, and my willingness to suffer for you (Galatians 6:17).

Now, let us ask ourselves: Do we know who we really are? What do we want to achieve in our lives and in our communities? Isn't it enough to follow Jesus and become like Jesus to others?

Do you know your identity? Do you know yourself and your ministry? Maybe you also have sinned, but Jesus has helped you. He took pity on you. Therefore, preach the Good News and work as an apostle of Christ in your own way.

Let us sow spiritual seed among our brothers and sisters, just as Apostle Paul did in his time (1 Corinthians 9:11). Amen. 

Reflection on 1 Cor 9: 1-12 by Fr. Józef Trzebuniak SVD

(Listen to podcast here)

Sinning against your brethren

And so by your knowledge this weak man is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died.  Thus, sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of my brother's falling, I will never eat meat, lest I cause my brother to fall. - 1 Corinthians 8:11-13

Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13, focus verses 11-13, and my faith journey. I was obsessed about not eating food offered to idols to the point that I was verbally rude in rejecting food items that my mom had offered in prayers to idols. Thus, I infringed the 4th commandment in the Mosaic Law, which was to honour my parents. 

As a result, I was really conflicted as to what law or commands I ought to follow, until one day I heard a preacher preached on 1 Corinthians 13, where St. Paul summed up his entire treatise on love with this beautiful line in 1 Cor 13:13: "So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 

That taught me above all else to love others as God has loved me. Also as St John wrote in 1 John 4:19: "We love because he first loved us. "

I'll close my short sharing with this communion hymn:  "Love Is His Word" 

Love is His Word, Love is his Way – James Kilbane

Verse 1 

Love is His word, Love is His way, 

Feasting with all, fasting alone, 

Living and dying, rising again 

Love only love is His way. 

Chorus 

Richer than gold is the love of my Lord. 

Better than splendour and wealth. 

Verse 2 

Love is His way, love is His mark, 

Sharing His last Passover feast. 

Christ at the table, host to the twelve Love, 

only love, is His mark. 

Verse 3 

Love is his mark, love is His sign, 

Bread for our strength, wine for our joy, 

This is my body, this is my blood 

Love, only love is His sign.

Verse 4 

Love is His sign, love is His news, 

Do this He said Lest you forget 

All my deep sorrow, all my dear blood, 

Love, only love, is His news. 

Verse 5 

Love is His news, Love is His name, 

We are His own, chosen and called, 

Family, brethren, cousins and kin. 

Love, only love is His name. 

Verse 6 

Love is His name, love is His law, 

Hear His command, all who are His, 

Love one another, I have loved you 

Love, only love, is His law. 

Verse 7 

Love is His law, Love is His word, 

Love of the Lord, Father, and Word, 

Love of the Spirit, God ever one,

 Love, only love, is His word. 

Youtube: https://youtu.be/kfat_YiZ6v0?si=LJT5P09Z3-pU70ka

Title: Love is His Word, Love is His Way (Richer Than Gold)

Singer: James Kilbane 

Copyright: McCrimmon Publishing

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 by Chris Tan

Hoc Mundo | The world

"And those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present from this world is passing away." – 1 Corinthians 7:31

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Dear friends in Christ Jesus, in this Bible passage which is addressed to the Corinthians by St. Paul, is dealing with the unmarried and widows. St. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, is trying to make the people understand how important it is to serve the Lord with an undivided heart. Those who marry get distracted and won't be able to serve the lord wholeheartedly. At the same time, St. Paul makes it very clear that it is better to marry than be lured with sexual passions and lust. Jesus was never against marriage. Let no man separate what God has joined together.

When we look into the world that we live in, we come across families who are fully dedicated in serving the Lord, at the same time families who are struggling with their vocations. It is no exception for priests and religious who remain unmarried. They too struggle in their vocations. Every vocation in itself is unique, be it married life or religious life. All of us are called to glorify the one God who has created us. God has a unique mission for each one of us. It is for us to discern our vocation in a spirit of prayer.

The world that we live in is giving us so many unwanted promises and trying to lure our mind with various pleasures. Today, St. Paul is reminding us to be very careful in dealing with the things of the world. We always should keep in mind that things of this world are passing by. Our aim is heaven, eternal life.

Reflection on 1 Cor 7: 25-40 by Fr. George Joseph SVD

(Listen to podcast here)

 

God is faithful

12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

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Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 10:12-22, focus verses 12-13, and my struggles with a habitual sin. I realized that when I had tried to rely on my own willpower to overcome these habitual sins, it was often a futile battle as I was able to abstain for a season. But then when circumstances arise and thoughts about the sinful habits arose in my mind, I found myself drawn irresastibly to fall back into the habitual sin again. 

This unhelpful pattern of abstaining/fasting and falling back into sinful habits, led me to walk many years in spiritual darkness, and endless battles with depressive/suicidal thoughts. Until I came to the realization that it was not by my own power or might but by the Grace shown to me through Jesus' one-time perfect Sacrifice, that the Temple curtain was torn into two. I now have boldness to approach God's Holy throne without fear of condemnation nor shame, and power to overcome my sinful flesh.

As the Hebrews writer summed up in Hebrews 4:15-16:  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.  Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I will end my sharing with the words from Paul Wilbur's beautiful Messianic worship, "I Enter the Holy of Holies" 

I Enter the Holy of Holies – by Paul Wilbur

I enter the Holy of Holies

I enter through the blood of the Lamb

I enter to worship You only

I enter to honor I am

Lord I worship You, I worship You,

Lord I worship You, I worship You,

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

I enter the Holy of Holies

I enter through the blood of the Lamb

I enter to worship You only

I enter to honor I am

Lord I worship You, I worship You

Lord I worship You, I worship You

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord 

Let the weight of Your glory cover us

Let the life of Your river flow

Let the truth of Your kingdom reign in us

Let the weight of Your glory

Let the weight of Your glory fall

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

For Your name is Holy, Holy Lord

Youtube: https://youtu.be/s4CRvAPzxjI?si=oTsA9E79im7l3fbF

Album: Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem (2002) – track 4

Reflection on 1 Cor 10:12-22 by Chris Tan

Rock

"for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ’’ – 1 Corinthians 10:4

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The apostle Paul begins 1 Corinthians chapter 10 with Jewish history and by pointing out how the Israelites travelled through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The Israelites received vital blessings from the Lord. He led them through the Red Sea, then daily by a pillar of cloud, by night by fire, essential food and water. Despite all of these blessings, they were unfaithful to God. In this chapter 10 we read that God was displeased with most of the Israelites due to their idol worshipping, other sins and their murmuring too. Many Israelites died due to these sins (1 Corinthians 10:1–6).

Here in chapter 10, the apostle Paul uses the Israelites’ situation as important examples to the Corinthians. The Israelites lived for many generations in Egypt where other gods were plentiful. Likewise, the Corinthians were also born and raised in a culture that worshiped false gods. Thus, idolatry was part of their every day lives. 

As new Christians, the Corinthians now knew that they should not continue to worship idols. However, this was not easy. Their daily practices brought them back to participating in idol worship again. Paul brings the Corinthians a clear warning. In today's modern life, we can and should also learn from Israel’s mistakes in the wilderness. It is crucial that we live like the faithful ones in the days of the wilderness. Don't go along with the majority, abstain from the ways of the world, abstain from idols, keep your eyes above. For our Saviour Jesus Christ will return and reward the faithful servants.

The apostle Paul points out in 1 Cor. 10:4 that Christ was Israel’s spiritual Rock during their wilderness wanderings: “For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”  Our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all God’s promises, to be our rock and fortress. As we read in Psalm 18:2: "The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge".  Psalm 18 is an example of many Messianic psalms, meaning these psalms prophesizes about Jesus Christ.

Our Lord Jesus is our true shelter and dwelling place. He is our Saviour! Through His life, death, and resurrection. He died for our sins, once and for all (Romans 6:10). He is our place of safety. Our refuge. Our only Rock and Cornerstone.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 10:1-11 by Hanne

Gospel

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in it - 1 Corinthians 9:23

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Our life is a mission and so our daily activities are about carrying out the mission entrusted to us by God. Of course, this life is temporary. When we were young, time passed so quickly. Before we realized, it's time for us to take responsibility for our own lives and gradually, we become the primary key responsible for the lives of those closest to us, such as our parents, siblings and so on. 

Amidst the busyness of this world, we sometimes get lost in our daily activities, sometimes we don’t even realize that we are on His mission. Sometimes our missions challenged by unexpected calamities. These events serves to mature our faith and trust, as happened to the prophet Job. Do we realize that everything we do and undertake is an effort to fulfill God's will?

All the good deeds, started from the actions and teachings of Jesus as proclaimed in the Gospel.  Jesus' mission is so that everyone can return to the Father in a holy state so that we can join the inhabitants of the kingdom of heaven someday.  In fact, what God wants is our proving of the teachings of the Gospel, not just memorizing it verses but the most important thing is to reflect and implement, to put in action, these words in our daily lives.  May God bless our intentions.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 9: 15-27  by Sr Yanti Purnawati SFSC

Licentia vestra | Your liberty

Not all have this knowledge - 1 Corinthians 8:7.

Learning is a lifelong journey. We begin at home, continue through schools and universities, read countless books and articles, and listen to wise teachers. As Christians, we also draw knowledge from the Holy Scriptures. Yet sometimes we fear we don't truly understand anything at all.

The essential knowledge we need is Jesus Christ himself. The Church Fathers—saints like Ambrose and Athanasius—dedicated their entire lives to contemplating the divine Word, the Son of God. Their writings reveal to us the one who was both God and man. Nearly every paragraph in their works shows us the person of the beloved Son of God the Father.

In our own lives today, do we possess this same knowledge? Do we focus on Jesus Christ with our whole heart and mind? Certainly, we have many responsibilities: family, work, providing food and shelter, and countless other concerns. Many people naturally concentrate on these matters—what we might call earthly concerns. The problem arises when we fail to find genuine time to think, speak, and read about the Son of God, even though we profess that he is the most important person in our lives.

When others observe you and your knowledge—that is, your relationship with Jesus Christ—what do they say about you as a Christian? Perhaps it's difficult for others to recognize the Son of God in your life because of how you behave. Perhaps you pay more attention to food than to Scripture. You might be an expert in your professional field, but are you growing in theological understanding?

Every Christian is called to possess this knowledge of Jesus Christ. Through your knowledge and witness, those who are weak in faith can be brought to sanctification and salvation. The brothers and sisters for whom Christ died are looking for your testimony of life.

Please don't think of yourself merely as a sinner—you are also God's adopted child. Even when you make mistakes in daily life, you can always return to Jesus through the Holy Scriptures. You can listen to his voice as the Divine Word teaches you how to worship the Lord. Open the Bible and feed your soul with true words of wisdom.

Then you will become not only a student, but also a teacher for those who lack this knowledge of Christ. In this way, you fulfill your calling to share the greatest knowledge of all—the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8:7-13 by Józef Trzebuniak

(Listen to podcast here)

Scire aliquid | Necessary knowledge

Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge - 1 Corinthians 8:2

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 Food Offered to Idols

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3 but anyone who loves God is known by him. 4 Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one." 5 Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as in fact there are many gods and many lords— 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

 

Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 8:1-6, focus verse 2, and my conversion story. I realized that when I had first accepted Christ as my personal LORD and Saviour, I became very legalistic in my faith. This included not holding joss sticks whenever my family gathered to pray in front of my late father's urn. This unknowingly caused much heartache to my widowed mom, who witnessed her only son, ie moi, not honoring the memory of my late father. 

After I became Catholic, I checked with my God pa about this struggle which I faced annually during my father's death anniversary. My God pa assured me that so long as I prayed to the Heavenly Father, that I was only holding the joss sticks to honor the memory of my late earthly father, and not worshipping him as an idol or god. It was ok to hold joss sticks as a Catholic to honor my late father, and out of love for my bereaved mom. I felt as if a heavy stone was lifted from my shoulders when I asked my mom for a lit joss-stick. My brother-in-law asked if I was Catholic, as he had observed that my mom had been sad all those years when I insisted on not holding joss stick at my dad's death anniversary but didn't dare to upset me. He observed that her face lightened up when I asked her to pass me a joss stick. 

I'll close my short sharing with this beautiful worship song about true worship titled, "Nothing Else + The Heart of Worship" 

Nothing Else + The Heart of Worship – Kari Jobe | Take 2 

Chorus 

I'm caught up in Your presence 

I just want to sit here at Your feet 

I'm caught up in this holy moment 

I never wanna leave 

Oh, I'm not here for blessings Jesus, 

You don't owe me anything 

More than anything that You can do 

I just want You 

Verse 

I'm sorry when I've just gone through the motions 

I'm sorry when I just sang another song 

Take me back to where we started 

I open up my heart to You 

Verse 2 

I'm sorry when I've come with my agenda 

I'm sorry when I forgot that You're enough

Take me back to where we started 

I open up my heart to You 

(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge x8 

I just want You 

Nothing else, nothing else 

Nothing else will do 

Bridge 2 

When the music fades 

All is stripped away

And I simply come 

Longing just to bring 

Something that's of worth 

That will bless Your heart 

I'll bring You more than a song 

For a song in itself 

Is not what You have required 

You search much deeper within 

Through the ways things appear 

You're looking into my heart

 

Bridge 3 

I'm coming back to the heart of worship 

And it's all about You 

It's all about You, Jesus 

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it 

When it's all about You 

It's all about You, Jesus 

Ending 

I just want You 

Nothing else, nothing else 

Nothing else will do 

YouTube: https://youtu.be/llJ5QVT_mto?si=TbISTOmGA9tCq9aO 

Source: Worship Together | Take 2

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 8:1-6 by Chris Tan

Sic esse | Remain

"It is good for a man to remain as he is." – 1 Corinthians 7:26b

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Each Life Calling Is Unique

 

The Apostle Paul gives wise counsel to the church in Corinth about how to live, especially regarding interpersonal relationships. In verses 25–28, Paul addresses unmarried women (virgins), advising them to remain in their current state in view of the coming difficulties. However, he also makes it clear that if they choose to marry, it is not a sin. 

In our social context, it's common for people to ask, "When will you get married?"—especially to adult women who are well-established but still single. This kind of questioning can often be unpleasant or burdensome.

Living in holiness is not simply about whether one marries or not, but about how we live out our calling. Paul teaches that decisions should be made by considering both personal and spiritual situations, not merely by cultural pressure or personal desire. Mature freedom is the ability to make wise decisions, not just reacting to pressure or impulse. Married or unmarried, do not cling to worldly things.

Every life status comes with its own strengths and challenges. Remaining unmarried can be a great blessing in ministry if it is lived out with the right attitude. It can be a calling that enables one to live more effectively in God's work.

In verses 39–40, Paul gives advice to widows. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband dies, she is free to remarry. However, Paul believes it is better for her not to marry again and to remain single. My father passed away when I was just 11 years old, and my mother was 40 at the time. She chose not to remarry, considering many factors, one of which was her responsibility for us, her children. It was certainly difficult for her to raise us on her own, but God strengthened her and always provided blessings. My mother served as an elder in church for 42 years. God enabled her and blessed her as she gave herself to ministry.

 

For those of us who choose to marry, let us fulfil our duties and responsibilities as wives and husbands, supporting one another in ministry to the Lord and in every role we have been entrusted with. Whatever our life calling may be, each of us is called according to our gifts and situations. There is no one path more spiritual than another. 

We are free to choose, but that freedom should be used to serve God wholeheartedly. Our main focus must be the Lord, not our status. Whether we are married, single, widowed, or divorced; our lives should be a living offering to God. Amen.

 

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 7:25–40 by Meist

 

Setiap panggilan hidup itu unik

Adalah baik bagi manusia untuk tetap dalam keadaanya – 1 Korintus 7: 26b. 

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Rasul Paulus memberikan nasihat yang bijaksana kepada jemaat di Korintus tentang bagaimana menjalani hidup khususnya dalam hubungan interpersonal. 

Rasul Paulus memberikan nasihat pada para gadis (ayat 25-28) yang belum menikah. Ia mengingatkan mengenai kesusahan yang akan datang, dan menyarankan untuk tetap dalam keadaan sekarang. Tetapi jika mereka ingin menikah pun itu bukan merupakan sebuah dosa. Kehidupan social disekitar kita sering memeberikan pertanyaan "Kapan menikah?" jika bertemu dengan Perempuan dewasa apalagi yang sudah mapan tetapi belum menikah, dan ini memberikan perasaan yang kurang menyenangkan bagi Perempuan tersebut. 

Hidup dalam kekudusan bukan hanya soal menikah atau tidak menikah, tetapi tentang bagaimana kita menjalani panggilan kita. Paulus mengajarkan bahwa keputusan harus mempertimbangkan situasi pribadi dan spiritual, bukan hanya tekanan budaya atau keinginan pribadi. Kebebasan yang dewasa ialah kemampuan membuat Keputusan yang bijaksana, bukan hanya mengikuti tekanan atau nafsu. 

Menikah atau tidak menikah– jangan melekat pada hal yang duniawi. Setiap status kehidupan memiliki kelebihan dan tantangan. Tidak menikah menjadi berkat besar dalam pelayanan jika dijalani dengan benar, dan merupakan panggilan untuk menjadikan hidup lebih efektif dalam pekerjaan Allah. 

Ayat 39-40 menjelaskan mengenai nasihat Rasul Paulus mengenai Janda. Seorang isteri terikat kepada suaminya selama suaminya hidup. Namun, jika suaminya meninggal, ia bebas menikah lagi. Tapi Paulus berpendapat , lebih baik tidak menikah dan tetap hidup sendiri. 

Ayah saya meninggal ketika saya masih berusi 11 tahun dan Ibu saya berusia 40 tahun saat itu. Ibu saya memilih tidak menikah hingga saat ini karena banyak pertimbangan, salah satunya karena mempertimbangkan kami anak-anaknya. Memang sulit ketika menjalani hidup dan membersarkan anak-anak seorang diri, tetapi Tuhan menguatkan dan selalu menyiapkan berkat. Ibu saya melayani di gereja sebagai majelis selama 42 tahun, Tuhan memampukan dan memberkati ketika kita memberikan diri kita dalam pelayanan.  

Bagi kita yang memilih untuk menikah, marilah kita menjalankan tugas dan tanggung jawab kita sebagai isteri maupun sebagai suami dan saling menopang dalam pelayanan kepada Tuhan dan dalam setiap peran dan tanggung jawab yang ada. 

Apapun panggilan hidup kita, setiap kita dipanggil sesuai dengan karunia dan situasinya. Tidak ada satu jalan yang lebih Rohani dari pada yang lain. Kita bebas memilih, tetapi kebebasan itu sebaiknya digunakan untuk melayani Tuhan dengan sungguh-sungguh. 

Fokus utama Adalah Tuhan bukan status, apapun hidup kita menikah, tidak menikah, lajang, janda/duda: hidup kita seharusnya menjadi persembahan yang hidup bagi Tuhan.  Amin. 

 

Refleksi dari 1 Korintus 7: 25-40 oleh Meist. 

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