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Herald Malaysia
5 days ago
- General
- Herald Malaysia
A deep longing for unity
Reflecting on our Sunday Readings with Fr Sixtus Pitah OFM May 30, 2025 7th Sunday of Easter (C) Readings: Acts of the Apostle 7:55-60; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20; Gospel: John 17:20-26In today's readings, we hear a deep longing for unity — unity with God, unity with one another, and unity in truth and love. It's a unity that isn't abstract or just a nice spiritual idea. It's a unity born through real effort, real pain, and real faith — and it's what Jesus prays for before facing the Cross. St Stephen, in the First Reading, is being stoned to death. And yet, in the middle of that violence and hate, he gazes into heaven and sees Jesus. What does he do? He doesn't curse his killers. He doesn't beg for his life. Instead, he prays to be united with Jesus and even forgives those attacking him. That kind of faith, that kind of unity with Christ, is not soft or easy. It's costly. But it brings peace, not just to Stephen, but also — eventually — to a man named Saul, who stood there approving his death. Saul, who would become Paul, because of the witness of that unity. In the Gospel, Jesus prays for all of us — not just for His disciples at the Last Supper but for you and me today in our world, in our parishes, our BECs, our families. He says, "That they may be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You." Jesus wants our unity to reflect the same deep relationship of love within the Trinity — a unity rooted in self-giving, in listening, in mercy. But we live in a time where unity can be hard to be attained. There's just a lot of noise. We are constantly bombarded with messages online and in real life that divide: Us versus them. Right versus wrong. My truth versus your truth. And in this year's 59th World Communications Day, Pope Francis speaks right into this: he invites us to rediscover 'the language of the heart' — a way of communicating that brings people together instead of pushing them apart. He quotes St Paul: 'Speaking the truth in love' (Eph 4:15). That's not just about being nice. It's about learning how to speak with truth and tenderness. And more importantly, how to listen — to listen deeply, patiently, humbly. Pope Francis reminds us that 'listening is the first act of communication.' In our homes, in our WhatsApp groups, on Facebook, at the Mamak's shop or Kopitiam — are we listening? Or just reacting? In Malaysia, where we live side by side with people of many races, cultures, and beliefs, unity is not an ideal. It's a necessity. And as Christians, we are called to be a sign of that unity — not by force or pretending we are all the same, but by loving sincerely, communicating respectfully, and living with open hearts. The Pope also warns us about artificial intelligence — not in fear, but with caution. He reminds us that while technology can help us communicate faster, it cannot replace the warmth of human connection. He says: 'Machines can imitate us, but they cannot feel with us.' That's such an important reminder — especially for young people glued to screens. Real unity requires real people. Real encounters. Real hearts. As we approach Pentecost next week, we remember how the Holy Spirit united people who spoke different languages. Not by making them the same, but by helping them understand one another. That's the kind of unity we are invited into. Not uniformity, but harmony. So today, let's take Jesus' prayer seriously. Let's be people who don't just consume messages but communicate life. Let's speak with our hearts, forgive like Stephen, listen like Jesus, and build unity wherever we are — in our families, our parish, our communities, and even online. And maybe, like the final words of Revelation say, our hearts too can cry out: 'Come, Lord Jesus!' — not because the world is perfect, but because we long for the unity He brings. 'Unity begins with one open heart willing to love beyond comfort.' May that heart be ours today. Friar Sixtus Peter, OFM is the Vice Chairman of the Episcopal Regional Commission for Social Communications (ERCSC) Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (CBCMSB)
Arab News
31-01-2025
- General
- Arab News
Teh tarik: Malaysia's iconic art of ‘pulled tea'
KUALA LUMPUR: Often referred to as Malaysia's national drink, teh tarik is not only the most popular beverage among the Southeast Asian nation's young and old, but also one that reflects its diversity. Meaning 'pulled tea' in Malay, the strong, sweet, and milky teh tarik is named after the way it is prepared: by pouring it back and forth between two containers to create a frothy texture. The beverage originates from the Mamak community — descendants of Indian Muslims who began to settle in the Malay Peninsula centuries ago. Most of them arrived during British colonial rule. Over time, they became heavily involved in the food and restaurant industry, where they set up small roadside eateries that would later become Malaysia's iconic Mamak stalls. While there are as many recipes for the perfect teh tarik as there are family-run tea shops, the beverage's quality is measured by its 'pull,' which aerates the liquid and enhances its flavor. 'If you do short pulls, you will not get enough air into the drink. It will not be frothy then. Also, this is my own interpretation, but the right amount of frothiness adds another dimension of flavor,' Senthil Kumar, a tea master at the ZamZam restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, told Arab News. 'Some people do it to make a show of it, which is nice, but actually the art is to alternate short and long pulls, almost slamming the liquid into the cup or tin can held below, to really get a good mix and ample froth.' How long the tea leaves are soaked also matters, and so does the amount of milk. 'You cannot let the leaves soak for too long, but neither can they be under-soaked. Nothing longer than two hours. After that, the leaves lose their essence,' Kumar told Arab News. 'The condensed milk we use is a pretty common, well-known brand here. The trick is to not put too much. Because more condensed milk means a denser liquid. When the liquid is too dense, you can't achieve the level of frothiness to make it creamy.' The condensed milk version of teh tarik is the most popular but not the only one. 'In Indian restaurants or even Indian households, the tea is often made with fresh milk,' said P. Ramachandran, an avid tea lover and a retail shop owner in Kuala Lumpur's Brickfields area. 'Once the milk comes to a boil, you add the tea leaves and let it boil, let the tea really seep into the milk. When the color turns to this beautiful golden brown, you add sugar. In my home, we use palm sugar, but you can also use normal brown sugar.' The 'pulling' part is the final touch and there are rules for it too, like the use of silver or stainless-steel dishes. 'Don't use glass,' Ramachandran said. 'Pull it generously, don't spill and let the froth build. Then pull it directly into your drinking cup and drink when hot. Nothing beats that.' While teh tarik was perfected by South Indian cooks, most Malaysians, regardless of ethnicity, feel attached to it and have also customized their own versions of the beverage. Mei Ren Li, a homemaker, said tea making in Chinese households was simpler. 'We occasionally have our black tea with milk and sugar,' she said. 'I am not very good with the pulling, but my kids love it when I do it, and I must say, it truly adds flavor to the tea. I typically use normal castor sugar, just one spoon per cup.' Lately, local eateries have also been introducing more flavors to the traditionally three-ingredient-based drink. Ginger pulled tea and masala pulled tea are now more common. Tejinder Kaur, a medical officer, prepares her tea at home this way, adding ginger, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon. 'It's made a lot like the Indian tea. We boil the fresh milk with water and add tea. As it begins bubbling, we add the spice mix and let it boil for two minutes. Then we pull it straight into our glasses and drink it hot,' she said. 'It's a staple for my whole family, and we can all drink it all day long.'
