Feast of Saint Andrew, Apostle ~ 30 November 2015

Andrew was the brother of Peter and he was a follower of Saint John the Baptist. Andrew immediately followed Jesus after John the Baptist revealed that Jesus was Son of God and later said �Behold, the Lamb of God!� as Jesus walked by him. (John 1:34-40). Therefore, Andrew became the first disciple of Jesus and he then finds his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus. Andrew was known for bring people to Jesus, It was Andrew who brought the boy with five barley loaves and two fish to Jesus which Jesus miraculously multiplies into enough food to feed everyone (John 6:8) and again during the Passover Feast brought a group of Greeks to meet Jesus when Jesus said �The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified....when I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all men to myself.� (John 12:20-33)

After the death, resurrection and the ascension of Jesus Christ, Andrew travelled around the Black Sea as far as Ukraine and Russia (he is the patron saint of Russia and Ukraine) to evangelise and spread the teaching of Jesus Christ. Andrew is also the Patron Saint of Scotland. Andrew also went to Byzantium (Istanbul in Turkey) and then to Greece. Andrew was martyred by crucifixion at Patras in Achaea in Greece. Andrew was crucified on a saltire cross which is a cross in the shape of an X and that he was tied (instead of nailed)Andrew remained tied to the cross with thick tight ropes for three days and his last words were: "Accept me, O Christ Jesus, whom I saw, whom I love, and in whom I am; accept my spirit in peace in your eternal realm."

Reading 1

Romans 10:9-18
Brothers and sisters:
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
For one believes with the heart and so is justified,
and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
The Scripture says,
No one who believes in him will be put to shame.
There is no distinction between Jew and Greek;
the same Lord is Lord of all,
enriching all who call upon him.
For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone to preach?
And how can people preach unless they are sent?
As it is written,
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
But not everyone has heeded the good news;
for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?
Thus faith comes from what is heard,
and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
But I ask, did they not hear?
Certainly they did; for

Their voice has gone forth to all the earth,
and their words to the ends of the world.


Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11
R. The judgements of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. The judgements of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. The judgements of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. The judgements of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. The judgements of the Lord are true, and all of them are just.
or:
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Come after me, says the Lord,
and I will make you fishers of men.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel

Matthew 4:18-22
As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers,
Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,
casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.
He said to them,
�Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.�
At once they left their nets and followed him.
He walked along from there and saw two other brothers,
James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets.
He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father
and followed him.

Dearest St.Jude, pray and intercede for me

Dearest St.Jude, you are the desperate and hopeless cause like me. You are known of your miraculous intercession and prayer to Jesus, I and many have felt and received your miraculous power through Jesus having our petitions answered. Therefore, I who is currently going through storms in my life, and in need of your power intercession and prayer in overcoming the difficulties that I have been facing for several months which have become beyond my means and require urgent help. I have been diagnosed to be suffering from severe OSA (Obstructive Sleep Apnea) whereby my sleep at night is disrupted over 600 times/8hours caused by obstruction of the upper airway (windpipe) when the throat muscles intermittently relax (repetitive pauses) and block my airway during sleep, despite the effort to breathe, and is usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. And now I need to buy CPAP machine (continuous positive airway pressure) which cost RM5600~RM5800 to use every night to ensure my airways is always open for breathing. I am also have financial difficulties where I have backlogs with the banks and some people, which I unable solve due to the sum is huge and these people are chasing me each and every day, making me even more worried. Therefore, I put all my trust, hope and believe in the hands of God and Jesus, I know I am a sinner and may they show their mercy upon me, and do not left me be put to shame or disgrace but saved and restore me. Only miracle from Jesus by the will of the Father in Heaven can heal and provide for my solution to the above mess that I have caused in my life. I want and vow to change my ways and character for the better, by the help from Jesus and the Father through your intercession and prayer, dearest St.Jude. I feel so hopeless, impossible, desperate and worried, I urgently need your miraculous intercession and prayer, which I truly believe will be answered, and the help needed soon come from Jesus with the will of Father.

Dearest please pray and intercede for all others who are also invoking your aid. Dearest St.Jude, I promise to make the devotion to you known, and I will always visit your shrine whenever I near one. Dearest St.Jude, pray and intercede for me and all others who are in desperate and hopeless situations. Amen.




Dearest St.Jude, please make use of 
the privilege given to you by the Lord, 
to urgently help those in desperateness, 
hopelessness and in despair. 
Please pray and intercede 
that all their storms be rebuke 
and the calmness in their life 
is restored, and they are saved.   

THIS IS NOT A SCAM, 

I am really going through hard times.

If you have the Heart and Willing to Help, 

you may send me a email at

stanx4christ@gmail.com

and I will provide you with details

or

directly make your help available

through my PAYPAL link page.

How precious is the spirit of generosity and sacrifice

Love grows with gratitude and generous giving

Jesus taught that real giving must come from the heart. A gift that is given with a grudge or for display loses its value. But a gift given out of love, with a spirit of generosity and sacrifice, is precious. The amount or size of the gift doesn't matter as much as the cost to the giver. The poor widow could have kept one of her coins, but instead she recklessly gave away all she had! Jesus praised someone who gave barely a penny - how insignificant a sum - because it was everything she had, her whole living.

Nothing given in love is worthless

What we have to offer may look very small and not worth much, but if we put all we have at the Lord's disposal, no matter how insignificant it may seem, then God can do with it and with us what is beyond our reckoning. Do you give out of love and gratitude for what God has already given to you?

source: Don Schwager emailed by Kairos-EME

Advent ~ 2015

Liturgical Colour: Purple/Violet (First Sunday, Second Sunday and Fourth Sunday), and Pink/Rose (Third Sunday).

Advent a time of

Spiritual Waiting, Joyful Expectation, 

Hopeful Longing and Yearning 

the coming of 

our Messiah and Saviour Jesus.

Let every heart prepare Him room.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.

The word advent, from Latin, means �the coming.� The first day of Advent season always fall on the Sunday after the Solemnity of Christ King and in 2015, Advent begins on 29 November. The season of Advent is about four weeks and ends on Christmas Eve. The First Sunday of Advent also marks the beginning of the new liturgical year for the Church. The Third Sunday of Advent also known as "Gaudete Sunday" (in Latin meaning "Rejoice!�), as the �Entrance Antiphon: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice! The Lord is near." of the Third Sunday of Advent Mass is taken from Paul's letter to the Philippians (Phil 4:4+5b). 

Christians prepare by reflecting on the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem 2000 years ago (our Saviour first coming) and also look forward for the time when Christ will come again (our Saviour next coming) though no knows actually when Christ will come again but we are reminded to always alert and ready.

"Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.� (Matthew 25:13)

�But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.�(Matthew 24:36)

�You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.�" (Luke 12:40)

When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. The birth of Jesus, the first coming of our Savior as foretold by the Prophet Isaiah,� For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.� (Isaiah 9:6-7) 

A popular tradition of Advent is the Advent wreath, which is a feature in many Christian homes and churches during Advent. The Advent wreath contains four candles, three purple and one pink or rose, and some contain an optional extra fifth white candle in the middle of the wreath. The three purple candles symbolize hope, peace, and love, and they are lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The pink or rose candle symbolizes joy, and lit on the third Sunday. The optional fifth white candle is lit on Christmas day, symbolizes the birth of Jesus, the light of the world. 

Before lighting each candle weekly, say the following weekly prayer.

First Week

All-powerful God, increase our strength of will for doing good that Christ may find an eager welcome at his coming and call us to his side in the kingdom of heaven, where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit one God, forever and ever. AMEN.

Second Week

God of power and mercy open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy so that we may share his wisdom and become one with him when he comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. AMEN.

Third Week

Lord God may we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Fourth Week

Father, all-powerful God, your eternal Word took flesh on our earth when the Virgin Mary placed her life at the service of your plan. Lift our minds in watchful hope to hear the voice which announces his glory and open our minds to receive the Spirit who prepares us for his coming. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN.

Source of weekly Advent prayer (before the respective Advent candle is lit): www.loyolapress.com

Other feast and solemnity that fall within the Advent season are:

• 30 November - Feast of St. Andrew, the Apostle.
• 8 December - Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
• 12 December - Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Pray for Paris @ France

Let us pray for Paris @ France, 

May the Lord, 

rebuke the terrorist attack, 

keep His people safe 

and restore the peace in Paris. 

Amen.