Gifts and talents

When I read today readings, something struck me. God will not take away what he have given. I know I haven been given gifts by God and I have not been using them. Not that I do not know how and when to use it but choose not even declare about it. Then the question is whether I am willing to use it

Sharing jul 17

Who am I? From today we hear a different perspective of this verse. One of humble. Mosses was willing to take on the task that seem bigger than him. He doubted himself more than the message. Do we then practice that or we have drop deeper into the "I" world

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Sharing - Jun 25

I asked God for strength that I might achieve, but God made me weak that I might learn to obey

I asked for health that I might do great things, I was given infirmity that I might do better things.

I asked for riches that I might be happy, I was given poverty that I might be wise.

I asked God for power when I was young that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life, I was given life that I might enjoy all things.

I had asked for healing for my ears that I might live normal life, but I was given even bigger cross that I knew how to reach out to the poor whom the others could not reach.”

Now at the end of my life, I realize I got nothing that I asked for but everything that I really hoped for.

Despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered, I am among all people most richly blessed.

If God does not remove all the worldly attachments from my heart, I do not think that I will be able to choose the narrow path and follow Lord Jesus wholeheartedly.

It is only when we are at our lowest can we see God at the highest. May we pray that we are able to see God at the highest.

 

 

 

Sharing- jun 18

I have been struggling at work for the past 2 weeks over colleagues and workload. Been asking myself if I have make the right choice. I feel that I am suffering. Today reading remind me that I should still do good and not to parade my suffering and good deeds.

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Sharing - June 5

Today sharing will be short. Are we strong enough to stand up for God. Are we able to stand up what is right and not join in the "fun"

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Sharing - may 4

Very common question in Singapore and in Asia. Why are we working so hard for money and not for God. This us a very thin line. We work hard because it is our duty and God grant us the ability to do that. But have we return what is rightfully God to him. God know what us his and what is Fir the world. I believe we know too. By having a close relationship with God, we will know that we are drifting or away from God. It is all in our heart. Have we forgotten about him, if we do then we have not given what us God.

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Sharing - May 22

How do we define, what is for us and against us. We normally use our own gauge to define that. Who is with us and who is not with us? Today Jesus remind us to look at things in a bigger perspective. If we are all doing good for a bigger group of people, he is with us. Not staying on track with us does not make them against us. We should always bear in mind of how we can stay open to others.

 

JS

Sharing - 21 may

Today message really spoke to me. I am facing a tough time now. Asking myself why did I take up this job? Why am I putting myself through this? Staying where I am previously was good. There are things that I enjoy doing but due to environment and people, it make me feel that all is not worth it. God please give me the strength to go through the fire and shine like gold.

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Sharing - may 20

Prayer, why do we need it? Praying remind us that we need God. Although we are filled with the Holy Spirit and we are granted with gifts, prayer is still important as it keep on in check and we ask God for more help and most important is to recognize that it is God that we need.

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Sharing - may 16

One of the key that I pick up today is to recognize and know Love. We must realize that how much God love us and the need to show this Love around. It us really not about being appreciated or recognized by Man but with God. One day people will know our intention and hopefully through us, they see God.

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Sharing - 15 may

It is so interesting to hear that it is our choice to be lost. In our life we always tend to attribute problems to external factors. Have we then ever thought if it as our choice. God gave us free will which mean that we may have made choices in our life based on what we want or what God want. We have chosen the path to be lost but God always have the path back to him open for us.

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Sharing - may 14

What is Love? Love is when we are able to love someone else equally as ourselves. Beside giving love to someone else, we also need to give unconditional love to ourselves. What is significance of laying one life for a friend. This is a true display of unconditional love. As we will never be able to enjoy any forms of gratitude from another person, and we have given our greatest gift from God to someone else, our life.

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Sharing - may 13

What can we do with the Holy Spirit? So what happen when it live in us? The Holy Spirit is present for us to open our mind to know about the way God want us to live. The way that we should let others know.

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Sharing - May 10

Today reading remind me of a Chinese saying that hardship come before victory. I believe very strongly in this that Jesus will want us to know. I think this is also something we have to constantly remind ourselves to hold on and things will get better by the day.

Sharing may 8

Can we take or accept the truth. I felt that God is telling us to be patient. If Jesus was to tell the disciple about his leaving and the Holy Spirit, it will just keep the disciple thinking and still do not understand. But if he tell us slowly, it would be easier.

Imagine eating 3 meals in 1 go. We will not be able to take it.

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Sharing- may 9

Unless something goes, we will not receive something. This sometime remind us of our life. We grab do much or we want so much that we do not know the value if losing. There is loss for us to fully appreciate or know the gain. The leaving of Jesus is so that we can receive the Holy Spirit within us. We need to be able to appreciate the leaving if Jesus so as to know the intent and the Holy Spirit.

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Sharing - May 3

We represent God. When people see us, they would be like seeing God. That’s what Jesus is reminding us. Have I been the person that God want me to be. Will people see God in me?

Sharing - May 2

New commandments and old Commandments. It have been the focus for the past weeks after Easter to talk about what Jesus is teaching us as compare to what was in place previously. He is teaching us an important message which is the real meaning of Joy in believing the faith. Why do we need this belief? What is Jesus doing for us in this life although we are waiting for the Judgement day.

 

JS

Sharing - Apr 29

It have been a long time since I last blog. I have been so caught up in my life that I forgot about God. Omportant in our life and my life as he spread his word and knowledge to me. I am the blessed to have heard, experience and even know him. Why am I then feel so distance away from him. Have I then open myself to the holy spirit as this is what he told me that he will teach and guide me with the holy spirit.

 

JS

Sharing - Apr 15

The bread that never last.

We always been so engross in our daily work and for money and what is physical to us. We always want God to tell us straight or to our face about his view and directions, in actual fact it is not about the signs that keep us going in our faith and it is the bread that Jesus gave us. It is the readings and the host that we partake that keep us to our faith.

 

Let us thank the lord for this chance to experience him.

 

JS

Sharing - Apr 9

I saw that in the early church, everyone is working together. I believe this is what God want from us. Working together. In my working life, I notice that sometime unhappiness do happen but sometime people enjoy working with each other. Today reading tell me why. When all of us  focus on a common objective that we put ourselves down, we can focus on that way and we will not feel betrayed, look down or any bad feelings as we have put others or the job in a higher priority. We should always bear in mind on that God is higher than all of us and we should always stay focus on that way.

 

JS

Sharing - Apr 8

Today we celebrate the annunciation. It occur to me that the part that Mary plays in our Faith. How can we forget the roots of Jesus? We recognize David as the forefather of Jesus but how come in the Christians community, Joseph and Mary is not mentioned and sometime it is a Taboo to mention about them. This is recorded in the Bible and celebrated in our Faith as it mark the way that Jesus will be given to us. She is born the same way as all of us, grow like all of us and work like all of us. This make him no difference from us or us no different from him. This also show us that we can be as holy as him or be not tempted like him. The part like Mary and Joseph play in this story or today is the role of parents. If Jesus is born at this time, he may have been aborted once the news is out. Jesus was accepted and brought up the way the God wanted him to be.

 

JS

RE: Sharing - Apr 5

 

 

Thanks

Joseph Sung

Office: +852 2928 6703

Mobile: +852 9386 1329

 

From: Sung, Joseph
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2013 9:52 AM
To: Sung, Joseph (Joseph.Sung@dfs.com)
Subject: Sharing - Apr 5

 

This is like history repeat by itself. Jesus have to repeat the same miracle 2 times for people to believe. It is amazing how hard-hearted we are. We cannot seem to understand and accept what is in for us that Jesus have to keep reminding us again and again.

 

JS

Sharing

‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’

I remember those days when I join church, my hear do burn when I hear his words being proclaim. I feel so much about our lord. But nowadays, I feel asleep during homily and no desire to do my daily ready. What is wrong with me. Have I lost it all? I pray that my heart and eyes be like the disciples to be open and hear the lord.

Sharing - Mar 27

God is my help. No one can condemn me if he does not do so. I must have confidence in God and not in Man. I pray that I have the strength to believe and trust him.

 

 

Sharing - Mar 26

Lent is coming to an end. What have I done? Good question. I have not done anything. This lent is very different from the ones that I have in Singapore. I felt so close to God in observing myself and get myself involve in Lent activities but now in Hong Kong, as I am still trying to get myself settled down and searching for a community, I felt this Lent is wasted for me. Let me use this remaining time of Lent to truly reflect on Lent and let God take center stage.

 

 JS

Sharing - Mar 13

At the favourable time I will answer you,
on the day of salvation I will help you.

 

I always ask when but I never like to give a time. I always felt giving someone a timeline is such a commitment to make. I felt that by giving a time mean that I have to stick to it and will feel bad if I do not meet it.  This could be the same what God is telling me. It is not so much about him not being able to meet it but it is about the timing. What is a favorable time? We have to trust the lord that he will give to us what is best for us when the time come. I got this following from Facebook which I felt suit how I feel now.

 

 

Me: God, can I ask You a question?
God: Sure
Me: Promise You won't get mad
God: I promise
Me: Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?
God: What do u mean?
Me: Well, I woke up late
God: Yes
Me: My car took forever to start
God: Okay
Me: at lunch they made my sandwich wrong & I had to wait
God: Huummm
Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call
God: All right

Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home ~I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager & relax. BUT it wouldn't work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?
God: Let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning & I had to send one
of My Angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that

Me (humbled): OH

GOD: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.

Me: (ashamed)

God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick & I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.

Me (embarrassed):Okay

God: Your phone went dead bcuz the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.

Me (softly): I see God

God: Oh and that foot massager, it had a shortage that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I'm Sorry God

God: Don't be sorry, just learn to Trust Me.... in All things , the Good & the bad.

Me: I will trust You.

God: And don't doubt that My plan for your day is Always Better than your plan.

Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, Thank You for Everything today.

God: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I Love looking after My Children...

Sharing - 12 may

It was things like this. What have Jesus done? His water is medicinal. Are we then craving for this water? In our faith. Are we then allowing this water to heal us. We always use the term "dry season" to describe the time when we feel that God is far away. When is anything dry, it mean lack if water. This is then so true about our faith, when we do not feel God, we feel dry. I am undergoing such a stage now, my faith is so dry. The readings do not speak to me as much anymore. I pray that God show me a way that I can continue to administer to others and to myself.

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Sharing 11 mar

Do we believe the God is our savior. If we do, why then are we doubting him after we pray to him. Have we forgotten the miracles that he have perform in our life. Then why do we still doubt. Think about how long we waited or how long we took to see and realize that miracle.

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Sharing - Mar 8

How much do I Love myself, God and those around me? This is a tough question as I do not know the answer. Am I being good and forgiving to myself as I am to others and am I good to God? I pray that in this Lent am I able to find an answer to this.

Sharing - mar 4

What is preventing us from accepting someone that is close to us as better for us. Especially in things that we took a longtime to learn or master. Today reading remind us again that we should always stay open and willing to listen. Just last night, I had some argument over some housework with my wife. Some of her words make me feel very bad and so are mine. Jesus have already warn us about this and can we learn and practice it.

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Sharing -Feb 28

Hi,

 

                Trust in the Lords and his words and we will find peace. A lot of times, we only believe when we are being hit badly. Just like the Gospel reading today. The question is that even if someone from the dead come and tell us, will we be fine with It and believe.

Sharing - Feb 25

This is the golden rule that is taught everywhere in the world and regardless of religion and race. The Catholic church have been teaching this in the beginning of  time. This teaching have been taught for so many years and we are still teaching it and everyone is still learning it. This have shown so much depth and challenges in this teaching. Can we ever learn treat others fairly. Do we give an eye for an eye or we only treat others well when they treat us well. Jesus teach us to be good to others therefore we should always start from ourselves first. Be kind and compassion to others. Lets us make this our Lent resolution.

 

JS

Sharing - Feb 21

Have we ever thank God for what he have given to us? We believe that he have given to us what is good and always good. It may not be what we wanted but we should and have the belief that he will always give to us what is best for us in a long run as what our parents or even ourselves would give to our child.

 

JS

Sharing feb 19

What is Lent for? Why is it we call it a time to prepare for Good Friday and Easter. This us because as Man, we tend to forget about the true purpose of our presence and how disconnected we are from God. We have Lent and Advent for this. Today reading focus on forgiveness and prayers. These 2 points have been haunting me for the past months. I just could not put it down and it affect my prayer life. It impact my life. I feel so distant from God. I pray to reconcile with God and with our father.

Sharing - Feb 6

I always support the idea of "sparing the rod and spolit the kid". When I read the reading, it really bring back this idea that God always want to teach us and it is always to our best interest. In recent years, it have always been not punishing the kid but educating them. Is this the best way. Sometime we learn better or faster through some suffering or something that will remind us.

 

Let us use today to remind ourselves of God’s love that he still love us regardless.

 

Sharing - Feb 1

We do not really know we are growing. I find that this is very true. The growth is so invisible. It grow in our sleep. We have to really do a review and see if we have really grow. I have ask myself this question, have my faith grow after I am baptized. My answer is that I really do not know. I do not really know if I have more faith in the lord now, and know him more. The question is now how do I grow then.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 30

I wanted to skip today reading totally as I think it is the same old thing. The one that tell us to have the word sink into us. Then as I read again, this verse struck me “‘Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables?” It struck me as this is the very basic of parables. The one that tell us to reflect deeply into this parables. We should always ask ourselves if we really understand it, and not assume we understand it. We may be thinking we know about it but if we do not take an effort to understand it, we will never be able to truly know about the lord.

Sharing - Jan 28

Do we have a strong man that is guarding our house? So many times in our life we are trying to guard our house on our own that we forgot about God. He is the best protector. After some reflections, I always remember of the times I feel down or get into an argument are always the time that I have let my guard down and let Satan get the better of me. Can we then let God have full control of our life.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 25

hear his own voice speaking, because you are to be his witness before all mankind

 

Are our ears and eyes his witness? Have we recognize the lord our God with what we see and hear. Do we talk about them? Do we openly proclaim about him? Paul did what was unacceptable in his time. He did it because he recognize and acknowledge God. How about us now? We may be persecuted by friends and others but of a different extent then are we willing to stand up and tell people about it. Let us ask St Paul to give us this courage to stand up and proclaim God’s mercy.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 22

Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. This is so well written. A lot of us practice the faith like following a written list of rules. Tradition is important in our faith and also the commandments. But the important portion here is why are we following it. Do we know if our action glorify God’s name. We should not do what we do because we were told to do it. One such practice is eating before mass. Do we do it because we were told to or do we do it so we can feel closer to God. We should take this time to pray and reflect on our practice.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 17

This is the power of “Free Will”. I felt it is not so much about Jesus willing to cure the leper but the leper asking to be cured. I felt that this week is about opening our hearts and allowing God to work within us. God is ever willing to let his grace upon us but whether we want it to happen. But again in the way he want it and not for us to want it. It is his will to be done and not ours. Only by really opening ourselves and trusting him can he work his miracles and see his promises being fulfilled in our life.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 16

People are looking for Jesus after they know and see Jesus’s power. This set me thinking about what we always say about searching for God and finding God. So the question is that which come first. Finding him or knowing about him. I believe we already know or heard about him and then we start our search for him. This will then raise another point is our reaction when we see or heard about Jesus. I believe most of us have encounter friends rejecting hearing about God, for them they would never start the search. This mean that the state of our heart will play a part when we hear about God. Are we open to him and let us be moved by him. We will then start this journey of searching for him.

 

It is only in this search can we have a more close relationship with him. Let us pray for ourselves in this search.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 15

It is so true as written in today reading that everything is visible to us that it is in God’s hand. We are so much into ourselves that we have forgotten about what God can do for us. We tend to think ourselves and angels, we can do anything. What the readings is reminding today tell us that although it may seem that we are above everything but we are still below God. If everything is in his command, we should then allow him to take command. I notice that for me when under pressure or tiredness, I tend not to spend the time to ask God for his direction and take things in my own hand. By analyzing too much or impulse decision  does not do me any good. It is in trusting in God and letting him take charge will relieve me of my stress and pressure.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 14

Yesterday was the day of Baptism of the Lord, today we read that St John the Baptist being arrested and Jesus started calling the 1^st disciple. Today is the start of the week and we see Jesus starting a new Journey in the history of the Church. Now is also a period where I start my new journey in Life. Leaving what I have and build in Singapore to start afresh here in Hong Kong. Somewhere I am familiar in language and transport to somewhere I am not familiar at all. Same for Jesus. He started his ministry fresh. No prior experience, just pure faith and helpers. Today reminded me that I would really need a community and people around me to help me. By asking, I will get the help. This period of time could mark the change for me to move to the next level of faith and my journey.

 

JS

Sharing -Jan 11

Be healed in his time. I like the way the man ask to be healed. He leave it to God to decide. Are we willing to do that. When we humble ourselves and ask The Lord, do we quietly wish that God gave us what we wanted. Like my house hunting, we are looking for the dream house of ours for rental but no luck. Although there are answers from The Lord and signs, we are still wondering what is God answer to our prayers. I fail to recognize that when God heal, he never fail to do it the best.

Let me use the morning to pray and see God's grace.

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Sharing - Jan 9

What is God’s message for me today?. I am struggling with the choice of house, we have let go of an unit which I like and something that I felt was a choice that God wanted me to take but I did not take it. There is now another unit which come along but I do not have the same feel as before but instead it is the feel of fear that come to me. I am aware that by waiting will do both myself and my wife well but the fear of not having a place to stay is much higher. Letting this o will also meant that I have to pay a much higher price for the next one which I am already doing so by taking this one. The phase that keep ringing in my ear now is “Be not afraid”. Have I not understand the miracle of the loaves? I think the message to me is that if I make a choice of “Fear” and not “Love”, it is not from God. God never want us to live in fear. I know and trust in the lord. He will in the end give me what is best for us.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 8

God is love. It is so deep to think about knowing God is knowing love. How do we make the difference? God iive within us and only when we show love to others are we showing the “Godly” side of us. Many of us including myself have always show the “Me” side and not the “God” side. Although I say that i  know God but I am not showing that I truly know him as I do not show the side of me that reflect God. Why then are we afraid to Love or not showing Love. Jesus today tell us not to be afraid to Love. He have shown that having just a little bread and fish, he fed many. He have shown that it is enough to give your little bit and he will fill up the rest.

 

JS

Jan 7

It's so wonderful to hear that God came down to speak our language. He is here so we can hear him clearer. The question now is not on whether we understand him but whether we are listening correctly. Are we really listening to The Lord? In my stay here, I came to realize that by spending more quiet time with The Lord allow me to discern better. More thoughts can be digest. Rushing through prayers does not help us at all as we are not able to know whose message is it from?

Be still and know that he is God

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Jan 3

To Sin is not knowing him. These are very harsh words. In life, I have always trying to give reasons for my sins and brush it off. I always tell myself that I know God and God is in me. There is no issues at all about that. Today John tell us that it is not true. We should always stay focus on the Lord and his love and when we fully know and understand him more, we want to be more like him and we are able to maintain a better relationship with him and in him. This is like baptizing in his name and love and we to Sin no more.

 

JS

Sharing - Jan 2

Today see another day that speak about truth and lie. John speak about a truth that point at God, a truth that no one can denied or take away.

 

St John the Baptist know that he is a only a messenger and he know the truth about Jesus. He take nothing away from God for himself. Now can we also point it to the lord and know hide in shame. Recognize him, acknowledge him and praise him.

 

We start the year with him.

 

JS