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previous posts F3T#3: Tradition - Is Scripture Alone Enough? 5th Ordinary Sunday Tips for life! =4th Sunday in Ordinary Time= A very apt reflecti... F3T #2 F3T: Conversion in the Kingdom of God [19 Jan 2008... Conversion experience New Year Resolutions. Faith Formation Talk #1: Conversion in the Kingdom... past October 2008 November 2008 January 2009 February 2009 links Legion of Mary in NUS CSS Arts CSS Music Ministry Veritas The Holy See Catholic Encyclopedia EWTN Online Missal
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Saturday, February 21, 2009 ( F3T#4: Christian Identity - Who Are U Called to Be? @ 9:16 PM )  As you embark on the next 7 weeks of this semester and for some of you, the last few weeks of your 3 or 4 years here in NUS, have you ever pondered on... Why you are a student? Why did you choose to enrol in that particular course over another? What motivated you to pick your major? What is going through your mind as you try to settle for a job? Sure some, if not a majority of you might be thinking of a string of reasons... WORLDLY, PRAGMATIC reasons! BUT! Have you ever thought of how your decisions and work will contribute to the kingdom of God in the end? We often do our work within the confines of our schools, workplace, parish communities, volunteer agencies..the list goes on.They may enable us to be of generous service to others and yet sap our spirit with patterns of work that goes against our divine vocation. How then do you reconcile the interplay of your corporate / personal vocation with that of your CHRISTIAN vocation? How can you relate everything you do in a way that sets YOU apart as a Christian who is called to be in this world but not of it? Come down for FFM's next F3T on: AFFIRMATION OF OUR CHRISTIAN IDENTITY Who Are U Called to Be? Details: when: 2nd Mar 2009 where: Central Library Theatrette 1 time: 6.30pm - 8.30pm speaker: Prof.Valerio Scarani contact: 90210393 (laura) Vocation is about discovering who you really are and what you should be doing. The challenge facing you then is to discern what specifically you are being called to be and do. ARE YOU READY TO GIVE IT A TRY? Labels: F3Ts 0 comments Wednesday, February 11, 2009 ( F3T#3: Tradition - Is Scripture Alone Enough? @ 2:16 PM )  Tradition - Is Scripture Alone Enough? If some of you are wondering if tradition encompasses transitory customs or practices which may change, as circumstances warrant, such as styles of priestly dress, particular forms of devotion to saints, or even liturgical rubrics. THINK AGAIN!!!The answer to that is YES! ( at least according to other Christian denominations..) So what is the Catholic Church's stand on tradition and scripture? Do YOU know? Or are you thinking: WHAT IS TRADITION? WHAT IS SCRIPTURE? IS THERE EVEN A DIFFERENCE? ARE BOTH EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR FAITH? IS THE BIBLE THE ONLY RULE OF CATHOLIC FAITH? As Catholics, we DO NOT rely merely on the Bible! So how can we know which traditions are apostolic and which are merely human? The answers: @ FFM's next F3T on 16th Feb, Monday, 6.30pm @ YIH Function Rm 3 SPEAKER: BR. EDWARD queries? contact: laura @90210393 :) "I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you" (1 Cor. 11:2). Labels: F3Ts 0 comments Sunday, February 8, 2009 ( 5th Ordinary Sunday @ 11:12 AM )  =5th Sunday in Ordinary Time= A Coin Has Two Sides From Buona Domenica English, Daughters of St. Paul Singapore(In collaboration with Buona Domenica, Italian version by Sr. Silvia, fsp and Sr. Anna, fsp) If you find this short weekly reflection helpful and would like to be included in the mailing list of Buona Domenica, please send an email to: 0 comments Sunday, February 1, 2009 ( Tips for life! @ 9:36 PM ) It's difficult for us sometimes having to decide how we want to live our lives as a Christian especially when there is a tug of war with the world outside.Here're some simple tips to help us: 1. Wake Up!! Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalms 118:24 2. Dress Up!! The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but theLord looks at the heart." I Samuel 16:7 3. Shut Up!! Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul." Proverbs 13:3 4. Stand Up!!... For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10 5. Look Up!!... To the Lord. "I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me." Phillippians 4:13 6. Reach Up!!... For something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path." Proverbs 3:5-6 7. Lift Up!!... Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING." Philippians 4:6 0 comments ( @ 9:32 PM ) A very apt reflection on the readings for this week, as we head into Catholic Awareness Week 2009. Will you risk your pride to speak your mind for the glory of our Lord???????? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speaking Our Minds, by J.E.Spicer, CSsR Most people do not hesitate to speak their minds when the occasion calls for it. Parents, for instance, unhesitatingly correct their children. Husbands and wives speak out whenever the welfare of the other is concerned. Friends do the same. Of course it isn't always easy to speak our minds. Still, much good can come from doing so. At the very least it clears the air. We take such daily "speaking out" in stride. But we hesitate when it comes to speaking out in God's name. That's because we have almost forgotten our prophetic calling. In Baptism we were anointed to be prophets. What does this mean? This Sunday's readings help us understand. In the first reading, Moses says to the people, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet." Moses was thinking of those who would succedd him as God's witnesses. The first Christians, however, knew these words applied in a special way to Jesus. In the second reading, Paul, speaking to those who are unmarried, advises them to remain as they were. The end-time, in his mind, was close at hand. Besides, as single people, they could devote more time to the affairs of God. This wasn't a popular thing to say, but Paul said it anyway. In the gospel, Jesus gives his first public address, on the Sabbath in the synagogue at Capernaum. The Congregation was astounded at his teaching, "for he taught them as one having authority." In the audience was a man possessed of an unclean spirit. He called Jesus "the Holy One of God". But Jesus said sharply, "Be silent, and come out of him!" and the unclean spirit did so. The people were amazed. They did not realize that Jesus was the prophet to come, the prophet of the end-time. It is into this line of prophets that you and I have been baptized. (We are all "prophets, priests and kings", as Scripture says.) How are we to respond to this baptismal heritage? First, we must accept that our baptism is indeed a challenge to speak in God's name. Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." These words are addressed to all followers within his community. Second, to fulfil our prophetic role, we must put on the mind and heart of Jesus, for as prophets we are to speak in his name, not our own. Once we are immersed in the wisdom and love of Jesus, we are to speak out as the occasion demands and the Spirit moves. This won't always be easy. But it can be done. For God speaks through us despite our shortcomings, hesitations and misgivings. 1. How do you feel about "speaking your mind"? 2. Prominent Christians are sometimes described as "prophets". What can help you remember that you are a prophet, too? 3. What should you keep in mind as you exercise your prophetic ministry? 4. What word or phrase from the readings will you carry with you this week? 0 comments Friday, January 30, 2009 ( F3T #2 @ 2:49 PM ) HELLO DEAREST SIBLINGS IN CHRIST! I hope everyone's nicely settled back in school :) Enjoyed FFM's last talk? Missed playing the musical chairs? Fret not for we have yet another captivating talk in store just for U! Have you ever been called by God to do a task that you just could not face? Perhaps you sought to rationalize God's plan to do something more palatable or maybe even to run from it entirely. If you've been in this place, or if you are facing some question of obedience today then you will want to take a closer look at CALL AGAINST THE WILL - WILL YOU OBEY? ("Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven" - Matt 7: 21-27) Everyday God presents us with 2 choices - walk in obedience to His desires or walk in obedience to our desires. We HAVE to make a choice! No one said it was going to be easy. Jesus himself said in the book of Revelation that we couldn't do both. So then how do we make a choice that is in accordance to His will? Especially when we live in an environment that seems bent on pulling us in different directions.. Why not take some time out to come down for FFM's next talk? We'll be exploring the issue of obedience to God's will, difficulties we face in the process and how we can overcome them among other questions. So do join us on: 2 FEB, MON 7pm - 8.30pm YIH FUNCTION RM 1 Prog: 5.45pm: Meet @ artz canteen or straight @ Holy Cross for 6.15pm mass 7pm-8.30pm: Talk by Fr. James Tan Pls RSVP @ the FB event page: http://www.facebook .com/home. php?#/event. php?eid=57976463 791 contact: 90210393 (laura) / 90224690 (ajith) Today God is presenting you with a choice, walk in obedience to the Lord, or walk in obedience to your self. If we reject the desires of GOD for our lives, well, sad to say we'll waste a lot of time going in circles and accomplishing nothing of lasting value in life. What will you choose today? THE CHOICE IS YOURS! :D love, laura :p on behalf of FFM 0 comments Wednesday, January 28, 2009 ( F3T: Conversion in the Kingdom of God [19 Jan 2008] @ 10:22 PM )  What is conversion? -Need to understand (God’s) ‘Kingdom’ to understand ‘Conversion to God’ -This was illustrated by a game of musical chairs of 2 different rounds -Round 1: Conventional way, where there was some taunting when people lost, and others who sacrificed their seats -Symbolism: relates to the secular world, where competition is rife, and everyone focuses on the self/individual; where feelings of stress, pressure, and jadedness prevail -Round 2: Unconventional way, where everyone needs to have a seat; there was less hurry, more care for others, more relaxed atmosphere -Symbolism: we were able to rely on one another, no exclusion, and no more need for material things -Relating it back to the Bible: Jesus did not exclude even the outcasts like the prostitutes, the tax collectors, demonstrating that in God’s Kingdom, there is no exclusion, and that we can belong through believing in Christ -Hence, conversion is turning towards the kingdom -Conversion: not merely about membership (number of Catholics the Church has) but includes other things -In order to convert others, we need to understand and believe in God’s kingdom of non-exclusivity; by our example, we can touch others -Conversion is God’s work- through the Holy Spirit -We are merely tools to reach out to people, and as the embodiment of the wonders of the Holy Spirit -A ritual/rite of passage is prevalent in conversion: 3 steps: 1. Insight-deeper understanding/revelation 2. Turning-(towards God) Taking steps to change one’s life 3. Transformation-a change from the inside -Examples from the Bible: 1. Acts 9:1-9 A dramatic revelation from God begins Saul’s journey towards Christianity 2. Acts 9:10-19 Struggle to convince other Christians about the change in him; needed the help of Ananias 3. Acts 9:26-30 Difficulties in gaining the trust of the other Christians; Barnabas stood up for him, and after finally gaining acceptance, he moved freely about the people and preached -These 3 steps can be applied to any conversion story in the Bible eg. The prodigal son -The journey of conversion is not momentary, but a way of life -Our call as Christians is to be one community: as different parts of one body, complementing one another with our various talents -This bond breeds security, of inclusion and sharing 0 comments |
