Brian Bartholomew Tan

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So far Brian Bartholomew Tan has created 349 blog entries.

Liturgical Reflection for 19 Ordinary Sunday

“Sell your possessions and give alms.” “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” “You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”   Is your treasure of this world or are you rich in love, faith, hope, charity, and trust in our Lord’s providence? Are you [...]

By |2022-08-04T08:39:06+08:00August 4th, 2022|Faith Formation, Featured story, Liturgical Reflection|Comments Off on Liturgical Reflection for 19 Ordinary Sunday

Last Things

In Joel 2: 1-2, we read of how the Day of the Lord harkens. We are extolled to “blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and [...]

By |2022-07-31T20:16:06+08:00July 31st, 2022|Faith Formation, Featured story|Comments Off on Last Things

True Freedom

The term “freedom” is thrown about without a care these days. The world is abuzz with trending topics such as 1) “The freedom to love” – I should be free to love whoever, and however I want, and marry whomever I wish, be it with regard to homosexual, promiscuous flings – heterosexual or otherwise, polygamous sexual relations, with a non-living [...]

By |2022-07-23T21:01:06+08:00July 23rd, 2022|Faith Formation, Featured story|Comments Off on True Freedom

My Brother’s Keeper

Am I my brother’s keeper? In Genesis chapter 4, we read of how Cain brought grain and how Abel brought the best part of the firstlings of his flock as First Fruit offerings to the Lord God. While Abel’s offering was seen as acceptable, and the Lord God knows the heart and the secret intentions of His people, Cain’s offering [...]

By |2022-07-18T11:02:03+08:00July 17th, 2022|Faith Formation, Featured story|Comments Off on My Brother’s Keeper

A Christian’s Extravagant Hospitality

The word, “hospitality” can be traced to the 14th century Old French, ospitalité which means “hospital”, and which in turn comes from the Latin, hospitalitem, which means “friendliness to guests” (Online Etymology Dictionary, n.d.). Hospitality places emphasis on a relationship between the host and guest, to the extent that the host is expected to provide respite and care to the [...]

By |2022-07-12T10:44:31+08:00July 12th, 2022|Faith Formation, Featured story|Comments Off on A Christian’s Extravagant Hospitality

Going to great lengths to sin?

We actually spend a lot of time investing in, considering, and preparing to sin. As the account goes in 2 Samuel 11, we read of how King David becomes besotted with lust for Bathsheba. There are several steps that he begins to undertake to first woo her, seduce her, and eventually cover up his sin. Sin red flag 1: As [...]

By |2022-07-05T18:19:34+08:00July 2nd, 2022|Faith Formation|Comments Off on Going to great lengths to sin?

A vibrant, loving, missionary, evangelising Church?

There are five precepts of the Catholic Church: You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation and rest from servile labour. You shall confess your sins at least once a year. You shall receive the sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season. You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the [...]

By |2022-06-21T10:17:40+08:00June 21st, 2022|Faith Formation, Featured story|Comments Off on A vibrant, loving, missionary, evangelising Church?

Liturgical Reflection for Corpus Christi

The Feast of Corpus Christi, is also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. As Catholics, we are taught reverence for the Eucharist and we do practise it.  Most of us reverence the Eucharist, meaning, we genuflect, kneel, and treat the Sacred Host with respect. Most of us also receive communion at every Eucharistic [...]

By |2022-06-12T14:59:59+08:00June 12th, 2022|Faith Formation, Liturgical Reflection|Comments Off on Liturgical Reflection for Corpus Christi

From Fear to Freedom

If the Resurrection was a quiet affair that was shielded in silence, the events post-Resurrection glorified the Lord in glorious sound, signs, and wonders. At the time of the Pentecost, a tremendous sound was heard across the skies, which was followed by a majestic wind. We are immediately reminded of the time when the Lord God revealed himself to Moses [...]

By |2022-06-01T17:42:16+08:00June 1st, 2022|Faith Formation, Featured story|Comments Off on From Fear to Freedom

Reclaiming the parish boundaries

Parish Boundaries The word, “parish” can be traced etymologically to the Latin parochia and the Greek paroikia, which can be taken literally to mean a cluster or group of neighbouring living places to dwell in (Boudinhon & Fanning, 1911). A parish thus consists of a community of homes, which do not exist independently of each other, but in solidarity with [...]

By |2022-04-30T22:22:37+08:00April 30th, 2022|Faith Formation, Featured story|Comments Off on Reclaiming the parish boundaries