Spiritual Corner -- Going All Out to Become a Missionary Church

Brothers and sisters in Christ: May peace be with you all!

Pope Leo XIV in his Inauguration speech emphasized that we should make our best effort to build a missionary church. At the beginning of a new school year and as we welcome in new classes of catechumens, I would like to share with you the following Gospel passage for mutual encouragement:

The next day John was there again with two of his disci-ples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said and fol-lowed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following him, and said to them,” What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi (Teacher), where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day: for it was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him,” We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon, the son of John; you will be called Cephas.” ( which is translated Peter) (John 1:35-42)

In this Gospel passage, we witness how Andrew, led by John the Baptist, encountered Jesus. This unusual encoun-ter was an experience of salvation. Thus, Andrew hurried to seek his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah.” Furthermore, we realize that salvation did not cease with Andrew and Peter, but through their joy and generous sharing, all humanity receive the life of salvation. It started with John the Baptist’s impact on Andrew, and Andrew’s impact on Peter’s life, while Peter, who was spe-cially chosen by Christ to become the head of the Apostles, impacted on the life and divine tradition of the whole Church.

This account about Andrew the Apostle has elicited in us a way of evangelization that we can all adopt, and that is, to share good things with our close friends and relatives. Brothers and sisters in Christ, I would like to encourage you to learn from Andrew the Apostle, and in the spirit of sharing good things with your friends, invite people around you to attend the RCIA/RCIC classes in our Parish. Through influencing life with life, we can enable others to enjoy an even more fruitful life!

Your Pastor,
Fr. Francis Chong