Daily Reflection 1 March 2016

1st March 2016  Third Week of Lent Tuesday

REFLECTION
Matthew 18:21-35
“Forgive from your heart”
Forgiveness is a decision, not an emotion. Once we decide to forgive, we free ourselves of carrying the heavy burden of bitterness and self-pity. Let us ask for God’s grace to forgive not seven but seventy-seven times.

Is there someone whom I struggle to forgive?

1-3-16 四旬期第三周星期二

默想
玛18. 21 -35
 “从心里宽恕别人”。
宽恕关乎意志而非情感。只要我决定宽恕人，就能卸下敌意和自怜。求主助我宽恕七十个七次 。

谁是我不能轻易宽恕的 ?

1 hb March 2016 Minggu Prapaskah Ketiga Selasa

RENUNGAN
Matius 18:21-35
“Mengampuni dari hati”
Pengampunan adalah keputusan, bukannya emosi. Apabila kita membuat keputusan untuk mengampuni, kita membebaskan diri kita daripada memikul beban kepahitan dan kasihan kepada diri sendiri. Marilah kita memohon rahmat Tuhan untuk mengampuni bukan hanya tujuh kali tetapi tujuh puluh kali tujuh kali.

Adakah saya sedang berjuang untuk mengampuni seseorang ?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD

Updated List of RBC members

The following are the members of Regional Biblical Commission (RBC) of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei :

1. Archbishop John Ha of the Archdiocese of Kuching as President of RBC.
2. Fr. Alphonsus Tang of Sibu Diocese, Malaysia as secretary of RBC.
3. Other members: Bishop Cornelius Sim (Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei), Mr. Richard Wong (Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu), Mr. Fredoline Umis (Diocese of Keningau, Malaysia), Fr. Simon Kontou (Diocese of Sandakan, Malaysia),Fr. Andy (Diocese of Miri), Msgr William Sabang (Archdiocese of Kuching, Malaysia), Bro. Paul Saw (Diocese of Melaka-Johor), Fr. Gerard Theraviam(Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur), Sr. Margarete Sta Maria (Diocese of Penang),Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD (Archdiocese of Singapore)

Daily Bible Reflection

Beginning 1st March 2016, the Regional Biblical Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia Singapore and Brunei will be posting a daily reflection based on the Gospel reading for the Mass of the Day. It is hoped that this modest effort will be able to assist in promoting Biblical spirituality among Catholics in our region. The first installment (in English, Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia) is featured below.

1st March 2016 Third Week of Lent Tuesday

REFLECTION
Matthew 18:21-35
“Forgive from your heart”
Forgiveness is a decision, not an emotion. Once we decide to forgive, we free ourselves of carrying the heavy burden of bitterness and self-pity. Let us ask for God’s grace to forgive not seven but seventy-seven times.

Is there someone whom I struggle to forgive?

1-3-16 四旬期第三周星期二

默想
玛18. 21 -35
“从心里宽恕别人”。
宽恕关乎意志而非情感。只要我决定宽恕人，就能卸下敌意和自怜。求主助我宽恕七十个七次 。
谁是我不能轻易宽恕的 ?

1 hb March 2016 Minggu Prapaskah Ketiga Selasa

RENUNGAN
Matius 18:21-35
“Mengampuni dari hati”
Pengampunan adalah keputusan, bukannya emosi. Apabila kita membuat keputusan untuk mengampuni, kita membebaskan diri kita daripada memikul beban kepahitan dan kasihan kepada diri sendiri. Marilah kita memohon rahmat Tuhan untuk mengampuni bukan hanya tujuh kali tetapi tujuh puluh kali tujuh kali.
Adakah saya sedang berjuang untuk mengampuni seseorang ?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr. Sandra Seow FMVD

Visit to Montfort Youth Training Center: Penampang- Papar

Olive Tree Bible Study App

https://www.olivetree.com/bible-study-apps/

Year of Mercy Mobile Phone App: Mercy-ing

JOIN IN THE YEAR OF MERCY

The 'Mercy-ing' app

Many women and men working in Mercy ministry are interested in developing a daily practice for contemplation and action in their lives.  To support them a new app has been developed to assist with daily reflection and prayer on embodying Mercy.

The ‘Mercy-ing’ app assists users to reflect each morning and evening, to frame their day, and to be attentive to the events, interactions, relationships and circumstances of each day within the context of ‘being Mercy’.

Content for the app has been drawn from a wide selection of sources including scripture, contemporary theologians, activists and thinkers. The app also includes the daily repetition of a consistent mercy “mantra”, as well an inbuilt timer to assist with the reflective process.

The title of the app has a direct connection with Pope Francis, who when seeking to translate his motto from Latin to Spanish, coined the word misericordiando which in English translates to the word “Mercy-ing”.  By expressing Mercy as a verb, it captures the sense of movement inherent in the heart of Mercy, which includes hearing the cry of creation for mercy and responding.

The app is been funded by  the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea and has been developed by the Institute Mercy Ethos Office with the support of the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta, and Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa, Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.  Fraynework Multimedia provided all production and design work.

Download on the App Store
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mercy-ing/id1052628634?ls=1&mt=8
Get it on Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fraynework.mercying


ALSO: Resources to support ministry reflection, prayer and ritual during the Year of Mercy
The Mercy Ethos Office has a dedicated section on the website www.mercyethos.org.au for resources to support ministries in developing their understanding, reflection, prayer and ritual during the Year of Mercy.  Materials are gathered under the key themes for the Jubilee Year: Doors of Mercy; Works of Mercy; Expressions of Mercy; Jubilee.  A range of resource material is provided for each focus area including background articles and teaching notes, prayers, reflections, rituals/activities and an extras section which provides links to other useful sites and material.

Look for the button on the Mercy Ethos website homepage or visit
http://www.mercyethos.org.au/jubilee-year-of-mercy/

Whilst some resources are available immediately, additional pieces will be added in the coming months.

Pope gives catechesis on mercy in the Bible

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-gives-catechesis-on-mercy-in-the-bible

2016-01-13 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)

During his weekly general audience, Pope Francis spoke on the mercy of God as spoken about in the Bible.

Delivering his catechesis Wednesday in the Vatican’s Paul VI hall, the Pope said in the Old Testament, God reveals he is the God of Mercy.

The Holy Father explained how the Hebrew word for Mercy evokes the sort of tenderness shown by a mother for her child.

In Scripture, the Pope said, the God of mercy is gracious, slow to anger, and abounds in “steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Pope Francis concluded his catechesis by inviting the faithful during the Jubilee of Mercy to “turn to God with all our heart, trusting in his mercy and grace, his infinite faithfulness and love.”
Below find the official English language summary of Pope Francis’ catechesis:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
In this Jubilee Year, our weekly catechesis will explore the mystery of divine mercy.  In the Book of Exodus, God defines himself as the God of mercy.  In words which echo throughout the Old Testament, he tells Moses that he is “the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Ex 34:6).  The Hebrew word for mercy evokes the tender and visceral love of a mother for her child.  The God of mercy is also gracious, ever ready to understand and forgive.  He is slow to anger, prepared to wait patiently, like a wise farmer, for the seeds of repentance to grow in our hearts.  Likewise, he abounds in steadfast love and faithfulness.  God’s love, freely given, precedes any merit on our part; his faithfulness, like that of the father in the parable of the prodigal son, has no limits.  He waits for us, ever ready to forgive our sins and to welcome us back to a right relationship with him.  In this Year of Mercy, may we turn to God with all our heart, trusting in his mercy and grace, his infinite faithfulness and love.

(from Vatican Radio