Malacca Johore Diocese News Update #232
Welcome dear friends, The MJD's 37th Tamil Charismatic Rally was held at MAJODI Centre, with 630 attendees. It was a day of walking, working, worshiping and witnessing together. Great event! The Professional Standards Office conducted the third Safeguarding Minors and the Vulnerable for Englishspeaking catechists. The 4D team, formed to spearhead the diocese's pastoral thrust and conversion to synodality, had a study day.
Local takes: Some hopefulness, a little hopelessness and simmering restlessness! The Department of Statistics Malaysia projects that Malaysia's population will grow from 32.45 million in 2020 to 42.37 million by 2060. The Himpunan Turun Anwar rally is on. The Malaysian Bar marches for Judicial Independence. The Federal Court decided that a section of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 is unconstitutional. Rafizi Ramli said that Malaysia is a poor country, requiring foreign investment to stimulate growth. An online petition to safeguard the integrity of the country's judiciary has been announced. Singapore's bold move to recruit local doctors may worsen the healthcare brain drain. Heavier penalties for doxing, stalking, mental harassment as anti-bullying law takes effect. The Forest Research Institute Malaysia's (FRIM) Selangor Forest Park has been officially listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Trump's erratic trade policies continue to baffle countries.
Awakening Times: Jesus saw God in all that He saw. What's wonderful about this is that it didn't matter whether Jesus saw His own mother or a prostitute, the joy of those gathered at a wedding or the sorrow of those gathered at the burial of a loved one. It didn't matter whether He saw His disciples or His executioners, or a bird or a tree — Jesus saw God in all that He saw. Jesus tells us, 'You have eyes to see but you do not see' (Mark 8:18). You have not learned to awaken to your God-given capacity to see the God-given, godly nature of yourselves, others, and all things.
A Thought For The Week: The Flickering Lights Moving into a new home, there were many things requiring maintenance and replacing. Not everything needed a change. It lacked the personal touch, which transforms a house into a home. He noticed many of the exterior lights were not working. He thought of doing it later, since he needed a ladder and effort. Another bulb blew then. One evening, as he flicked the kitchen light on, to his disappointment, the light came on for a second and went off. This continued for some time, until he switched off the light in frustration. The lesson from the dark: The lights in our homes require regular maintenance. Without the lights, we end up walking into furniture and other items or end up in the wrong room. Likewise, the light within requires regular maintenance. Without it we could walk into all kinds of troubles, trials and tribulations or end up in the wrong place. Pay attention to the 'flickering', the 'faulty', the 'neglected' and darkening areas of your life.
QnQ! Q asks? Hard times? Bad times? 1. 'Hard is not the same thing as bad.' Abbie Halberstadt. The above kind of 'shakes' us to encounter the uncomfortable truth while some things are difficult, challenging, unpleasant and painful in the moment. it doesn't inherently make them negative or bad. 2. 'Hard is not the same thing as bad.' Whatever path we have chosen, whatever occupation or vocation we find ourselves in, whatever personal journey we are on - the 'hard, challenging and unpleasant' will visit us. (But it's no indication of personal failure, error, badness or misfortune). 3. They are opportunities for growth, and facing and embracing them can lead to transformation. It's an invitation to foster a resilient mindset and a proactive attitude towards life's difficulties… pulling strength from others, grace and from oneself. 'All suffering is hard but not everything hard is suffering' encourages a shift in perspective…Philippians 1:6.
The Holy Spirit @work: Every time I take a step in the direction of generosity; I know that I am moving from fear to love. Henri Nouwen Something to tickle you: Every crisis is a wisdom crisis. If you have no peace around you then you lack wisdom. --Patience Johnson
Bishop Bernard Paul
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