" Tell the nations what He has done" Psalm.105.1 . When I landed in Singapore to start our retreat, Psalm 105. 1, gave me assurance and strength to proclaim my faith to the youth and the community in this land.
Jesus appeared to his disciples and greeted them " Peace be with you" John 20.21. This greeting from the Risen Lord was powerful indeed to a struggling and fearful group of ordinary people who were handpicked by Jesus and later apointed as his Aposles. The Apostles were deeply touched , changed at this Heavenly greeting. Jesus gave them Peace, the same message of Christmas. The angels of the Lord appeared to the Shepherds who were among the outcasts, and sang to them " Peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased" Lk 2. 14. At the birth of Jesus and his post resurrection ministry with his Apostles, the same message of Peace and repentence was emphasized. Repentence is from Man and Salvatin is from God. Salvation is peacefulenss with God. Heavenly peace is salvation. Heavenly peace is God's presence. After greetings the disciples with peace, Jesus said to them " As the Father has sent me I send you" John 20.21. Jesus assigned the Apostles to preach repentence and forgiveness. Jesus gave them authority to bind and to unfasten sins. Jesus said " If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you dont forgive they are not forgiven" John 20.23. Forgiving sins is reserved to God alone and that power is now vested in the Church. During the first day of our retreat at Singapore, we spoke about previlage to be forgiven. Jesus forgave the sinners and granted them healing. Jesus said to the paralyzed man " Your sins are forgiven". Lk.5.20. At this the Jewish people grew angry at Jesus. But Jesus, to prove that he has the power to forgive sins, asked the paralysed man to sand up and walk and he obeyed Jesus. Repentence is in the sinner, initiated by God. The prodigal son repented and asked for forgiveness from his father and his father forgave him without conditions. The loving father said " For this son of mine was dead ,but now he is alive.. He was lost , but now he is found" Lk. 15.24 and they feasted. The joy of God over a repentent sinner is that of a jubilant father who sees his dead son back alive. Yesterday many people in Singapore washed themselves in the blood of the lamb in the sacrament of Confession and they went home peacefully. Repentence came from the sinners and Salvation reached out to them from Heaven. It is like incarnation. God is present in carne (in flesh) . God came down to the earth and lived with us in human form, thus sanctifying the human nature. As we continue the retreat in Singapore, Please keep me in your prayers so I could "tell the nations what He has done" Psalm.105.1. It was a warm and freindly welcome from the core group in Singapore. Mr.Deccan, Mr. Glen and Mr.Tony met me at the Air port and it was fun to recognize people who have never seen each other. Being in the company of the youngsters is interesting. I feel young at heart and at the same time, I could see how the youth love a Christ oriented life. They are concerned about the lost sheep and they intensly pray for the people who are lost and could be lost. They powerfully intercede in behalf of the people who could be in the grip of Satan. I have heard them pray like Jesus prayed " I do ask you to keep them from the evil one" John 17.15. All through the retreat for the elders, the youth in Singapore were on their knees praying and interceding. Last night, I sat with Mr. Tony Kattoor his wife Manju and Mr.Glen, (There are many more people who are actively involved in the organization of the retreat in Singapore, like Mr. Piou! s, Mr Andrew, Mr. Roy, Mr. Joshi, Ms. Asha, Ms.Rosmy, Ms K. Rani, Ms. Jasmi and I remember them gratefully ) as they lifted the intentions the people have left us with. The simplicity, the earnestnesss and above all the faith of these young people to pray fervently, was amazing. I went to bed with the peacefulness that Jesus is in command. What I need to do is just say to the nations the amazing things God has done to me. This gave me a new vision in preaching the retreat . I will share with the group, how God peacefully and gently touched me and keep assuring me in my struggle as a human person, with Biblical backing and the wisdom deduced from the Jesus in History. Praise the Lord. God Bless Fr Thomas Mathew/Singapore/August 25,2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. Click Here **************************************************************** This mail is generated from JOYnet, a Jesus Youth mailing list. To unsubscribe, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe to this mailing list, visit http://www.jesusyouth.org/joynet For automatic help, send a mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In case of any issue related to the mailing list contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] ****************************************************************
