Tag: Sermon

Sermon on Week XIV of Ordinary Time 2024

TAKING UP THE CROSS

PREACHER: Frater Arnoldus Siagian

“Anyone who wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up the cross and follow me.”

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today in the Gospel, Jesus greets us through many teachings. Jesus did not want His followers to misunderstand his presence and existence. He did that through his teaching words and miracles such as healing the deaf, the blind and so on.

Because at the time there hardly any people who really understood about Jesus’ Messianism. From the beginning the apostles saw Jesus as a political leader. Jesus knew this. This is why Jesus taught the people, especially the apostles, so hard. The goal is to make sure the people have the right motivation in following Jesus and so that they can understand Jesus’ Messianism from ones’ own direct encounters with Him, not mainly because of other people’s reports.

When Jesus asked to apostles who are Jesus for them, Peter answered “Messiah”. Peter’s answer showed that the apostles slowly understood God’s statements in Jesus’ works and words. Indeed, Peter’s understanding of Jesus was not yet perfect. Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah, but not the Messiah who suffered and died on the cross. Then, Jesus corrected Peter’s concept of Messianism he had in Jesus. At the first place, it was Peter’s own point of view. But, then it was shifted to God’s point of view.

It is that Jesus was sent by God His father into this world, not to merely please the mind and the desire of human, but to save human from their sinfulness through His suffering, cross, death and rising. In the Gospel, Jesus also said, “every one who wants to follow Me must deny him self and take up the cross and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the sake of the Gospel will safe his life. “

Dear brothers and sisters,

Jesus said this so that we as His followers bravely bear our own crosses and not fearful of insults, rejections and bullies. So that we may encourage ourselves to stand with the work of salvation that Jesus brings. This is our main starting point in our seemingly endless journey from our humanity up to the throne of His Kingdom. This vocation postulates sacrifices that is moved by our original experience of being loved by God Himself and our own authentic encounter with God.

Doing so, dear brothers and sisters, We should understand how important it is for us to experience the presence of God within ourselves and realize His work of salvation provided for us. For that, as Catholics, we need to deny ourselves for the way of life which is appropriate and worthy in God’s eyes. We need to live by God and with God by diligently praying, going to the Church, doing our jobs, living in love and peace, supporting each other to move forward together.

This kind of way of life surely requires us to lower the position of our own personal interests for the good of the community. The good of all is the first priority. It is not easy of course. Therefore, let us ask the strength from Lord Jesus, who has sacrificed His life first for our salvation. Have a trust, asking for God’s strength and mercy: we will be enabled to create a way of life that God Himself prefers.

God bless us. Amen.

Ini adalah teks kotbah/renungan dalam Bahasa Inggris yang disusun, diterjemahkan dan disampaikan oleh seorang calon imam diosesan Keuskupan Agung Medan, Frater Arnoldus Siagian. Saat ini Arnoldus berada pada formasi awal pembinaan calon imam sebagai seorang frater Pra-TOR (Pra-Tahun Orientasi Rohani).

Sebagai calon imam yang baru saja menamatkan pendidikan dari SMA Seminari Menengah, maka patut diduga mereka belum dibekali dengan cukup terkait pengetahuan filsafat dan teologi yang perlu untuk itu. Maka, guna memastikan ortodoksi dengan ajaran Gereja, maka sebelum kami – frater pembawa renungan dan Saya – menterjemahkan dan melatih cara penyampaiannya, maka terlebih dahulu setiap teks diperiksa dan dikoreksi oleh Pastor pendamping (chaplain), entah oleh Pastor Rektor Pra-TOR RD Johannes Sihombing atau oleh Magister Spiritualis RD Anton Nguyen van Viet.

Sesuai dengan maksud dari tulisan ini, maka artikel ini dapat pembaca gunakan menjadi sarana untuk memberikan masukan terhadap pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang kami lakukan sehingga terjadi penyempurnaan berkelanjutan.

Saran terkait apa saja? Kita boleh menyasar aspek manapun dari sebuah kotbah: aspek penyampaian (delivery), isi, struktur atau bahkan aspek teknikal seperti gestur, pengucapan dan pelafalan dan sejenisnya. Saran dan diskusi membangun selalu penting dan berguna, sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan terjadi pada semua institusi pendidikan, terutama pembinaan calon imam kita. Bagaimanapun, pembinaan calon imam sekarang akan ikut menentukan keberlangsungan Gereja di masa depan.

Video penyampaian kotbah ini dapat kita saksikan di kanal Youtube SPP Kabanjahe.

Sermon on Week XXIII of Ordinary Time 2024

EFFATA

Happy Sunday to all of us,

Dear brothers and sisters,

Today God greets us through the readings we have heard. God invites us to be aware of our actions and faith. God also invites us to open ourselves to realize God’s grace that we have received.

In the Gospel, we are told the story in which Jesus healed a deaf and stuttering man in an unusual way. Firstly, Jesus separate Himself from the crowd then put His fingers in his ears, then spat and touched the man’s tongue. Then, Jesus looked up into heaven and said: “Efata!”, which means: “Be open!” Then, a miracle happened. The person suddenly could hear and his mouth could move and spoke.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Through this story, Jesus did not only heal the man’s stuttering and deafness, but also opened his heart to be open to Jesus. This was evident from his testimony to the crowd. After his full recovery, he never stopped talking about the power and work of Jesus that he has experienced. And that action of him brought people into amazement.

“Efata!” Be open!

This saying also applies to all of us who gather here in this church. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us open our hearts and minds to the Word of God and be thankful for all His graces we have everyday received in our daily lives.

“Efata!” Be open!

This means that we should not close ourselves from our very concrete reality and plurality. We are told not to discriminate people, precisely like the message of the second reading. For this, let us not be picky in making friends and well behave to any kinds of surrounding neighbors, just because someone is richer than others, more educated than others, and so on. Instead, we are invited to really treat all people equally because all humans are the images of God. For that to happen, we should understand that openness also means sincere acceptance to ourselves and our fellow human beings.

God bless us. Amen.

Ini adalah teks kotbah/renungan dalam Bahasa Inggris yang disusun, diterjemahkan dan disampaikan oleh seorang calon imam diosesan Keuskupan Agung Medan, Frater Owen Rizky Damanik. Saat ini Owen berada pada formasi awal pembinaan calon imam sebagai seorang frater Pra-TOR (Pra-Tahun Orientasi Rohani).

Sejak awal – Saya sebagai pengajar Bahasa Inggris dan para frater tersebut – menyepakati untuk menantang diri untuk mencoba melakukan hal-hal baru dalam Bahasa Inggris. Kesepakatan ini adalah buah dari keinginan dari Owen dan teman seangkatannya untuk terus mengasah kemampuan berbahasa Inggris mereka melalui praktek dan/atau proyek yang berkaitan dengan tugas-tugas mereka di masa depan ketika mereka ditahbiskan sebagai imam. Berkotbah atau menyampaikan renungan adalah salah satunya.

Harapannya, mereka semakin terdorong dan percaya diri untuk semakin total memberi diri dalam target jangka panjang, yakni “to immerse oneself into English” sebagai konsekuensi konret dari keinginan untuk menguasai Bahasa Inggris (mastering English) sedemikian sehingga nanti di masa depan mereka dapat berkomunikasi secara aktif.

Sebagai calon imam yang baru saja menamatkan pendidikan dari SMA Seminari Menengah, maka patut diduga mereka belum dibekali dengan cukup terkait pengetahuan filsafat dan teologi yang perlu untuk itu. Maka, guna memastikan ortodoksi dengan ajaran Gereja, maka sebelum kami – frater pembawa renungan dan Saya – menterjemahkan dan melatih cara penyampaiannya, maka terlebih dahulu setiap teks diperiksa dan dikoreksi oleh Pastor pendamping (chaplain), entah oleh Pastor Rektor Pra-TOR RD Johannes Sihombing atau oleh Magister Spiritualis RD Anton Nguyen van Viet.

Oh iya. Sesuai dengan maksud dari tulisan ini, maka artikel ini dapat pembaca gunakan menjadi sarana untuk memberikan masukan terhadap pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang kami lakukan sehingga terjadi penyempurnaan berkelanjutan.

Saran terkait apa saja? Kita boleh menyasar aspek manapun dari sebuah kotbah: aspek penyampaian (delivery), isi, struktur atau bahkan aspek teknikal seperti gestur, pengucapan dan pelafalan dan sejenisnya. Saran dan diskusi membangun selalu penting dan berguna, sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan terjadi pada semua institusi pendidikan, terutama pembinaan calon imam kita. Bagaimanapun, pembinaan calon imam sekarang akan ikut menentukan keberlangsungan Gereja di masa depan.

Video penyampaian kotbah ini dapat kita saksikan di kanal Youtube SPP Kabanjahe.

Sermon on Week XXII of Ordinary Time 2024

SINCERE HEART

PREACHER: FrATER Brain Septianus Haloho

All of us must have ever carried out our activities merely as a formality. Expression “as long as the boss is happy” is one of effective way to deceive ourself and others. As a result, when we are told to do something, we do not sincerely love the job. We only “appear to be doing the work”, but in our hearts, we are grumbling about doing it.

My beloved brothers and sisters,

Today’s Gospel, Mark chapter 7 verses 1 to 8 entails the criticism that Jesus addressed to the Pharisees. “Jesus’ criticism” was motivated by “The hypocrisy of the Pharisees”. The Pharisees were very rigid and strictly adhered to the traditions of their ancestors. So, it makes sense that Jesus was angry. Because, they are prioritized human tradition over God’s commandments. As a result, everything they do and say is a “mask and bullshit”. Not pure from their hearts.

Condemnation on unfaithfulness is also delivered by Moses as we have heard in today’s first reading from the book of Deuteronomy. Moses also emphasized that the Israelites should adhere to God’s commandments, without reducing or adding any other part on it. Because if the Israelites were determined to add or to subtract the God’s law outside of His provisions, then it is clear that their aim in doing this is to glorify themselves. Not to glorify our God.

My beloved brothers and sisters,

Now our reflection is “Have we really listened and carried out God’s law? What is actually our reason for carrying out God’s law? For His glory? or For our own glory?” This criticism from Jesus was also conveyed to us. We were invited by Jesus to really believe in Him. We were invited to always be openly and appear as we are when doing something. In fact, He invited us to face difficulties and challenges in our lives.

Jesus’ criticism is in accordance with today’s second reading, that is taken from The Letter of James. James the Apostle emphasizes that all of us should be the doers of His Word. Not only hearers. But we are also asked to implement His Word in our daily lives. In another word, Word of God today invites us to stop looking the difficulties as things that can not be solved. Instead, let us stop deceiving ourself and start believing the process that we initiate from the first place.

Therefore, anything that come out from our hearts: words, actions, and our attitude are the reflection and the depth of our understanding in believing God. The more we complain, the more we doubt Him. The other way around, the more we express gratitude wholeheartedly, the more we represent and reappear Him as the source of truth, salvation, and purity.

My beloved brothers and sisters,

Those are the values that we should promote in our daily lives. May God bless us in our endeavor to do good things and preserve good values.

Amen.

Ini adalah teks kotbah/renungan dalam Bahasa Inggris yang disusun, diterjemahkan dan disampaikan oleh seorang calon imam diosesan Keuskupan Agung Medan, Frater Brain Septianus Haloho.

Video penyampaian kotbah ini dapat kita saksikan di kanal Youtube SPP Kabanjahe.

Sermon on Week XXI of Ordinary Time 2024

preacher: Frater noza ginting

Don’t Just Put in Your Mouth

My beloved brothers and sisters,

On this 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time we should be awakened by the Word of God to realize our faith in our daily lives. In today’s first reading we learn that the covenant of Shechem is a continuation of the Sinai covenant. The bestowal of the promised land was a continuation of the liberation from slavery. The Israelites realized that they were the chosen people so they told the prophet Joshua, they would not leave God.

Well, now the agreement also applies to us. Jesus Christ saved us by laying down His life for us. He has fulfilled His promise while we have not fully fulfilled our promise not to leave God by not sinning again.

In today’s second reading specifically reminds husband and wife of their marriage vows. In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the people in Ephesus, he emphasized that the love of husband and wife must show similarities with Christ’s love for His Church.

This love is a love that is willing to sacrifice, a love that sanctifies and a love that gives attention. Let’s look back to the book of Genesis where God took one of Adam’s ribs to make Eve. Why should the ribs be taken? Aren’t there other bones like leg bones or hand bones? Women were made from ribs with the intention that men would love women because ribs are close to the heart which has the meaning of love. We can give without having to love someone, but there is no way we can love someone without giving them anything.

In today’s Gospel reading, we as believers are expected not to follow the students
who withdrew. We know that faith is not just said, but also to be realized in real
life. Faith carries severe consequences; one concrete example is that when we are active in the Church we are said to be self-righteous. The lack of courage to bear the consequences is what drives the disciples to resign and no longer follow Christ. Why? Because our tendency is to look for our own comfort zone. Whereas, following Jesus requires us to get out of our comfort zone.

To come to know Christ requires personal effort and most importantly God’s grace. The effort we can make is to love one another both within the family, community, church and state. If we cannot love our fellow human beings who are visible in this world, how can we love the invisible God. So, let us show our faith in our daily lives by faithfully following His path. Remember the letter of James which says that faith without works is essentially dead. Lord Jesus bless us all.

Amen.

Ini adalah teks kotbah/renungan dalam Bahasa Inggris yang disusun, diterjemahkan dan disampaikan oleh seorang calon imam diosesan Keuskupan Agung Medan, Frater Noza Nazarius Ginting Suka. Noza saat ini berada pada formasi awal pembinaan calon imam sebagai seorang frater Pra-TOR (Pra-Tahun Orientasi Rohani).

Guna memastikan ortodoksi dengan ajaran Gereja, maka sebelum kami – frater pembawa renungan dan Saya – menterjemahkan dan melatih cara penyampaiannya, maka terlebih dahulu setiap teks diperiksa dan dikoreksi oleh Pastor pendamping (chaplain), entah oleh Pastor Rektor Pra-TOR RD Johannes Sihombing atau oleh Magister Spiritualis RD Anton Nguyen van Viet.

Oh iya. Sesuai dengan maksud dari tulisan ini, maka artikel ini dapat pembaca gunakan menjadi sarana untuk memberikan masukan terhadap pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang kami lakukan sehingga terjadi penyempurnaan berkelanjutan.

Saran terkait apa saja? Kita boleh menyasar aspek manapun dari sebuah kotbah: aspek penyampaian (delivery), isi, struktur atau bahkan aspek teknikal seperti gestur, pengucapan dan pelafalan dan sejenisnya. Saran dan diskusi membangun selalu penting dan berguna, sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan terjadi pada semua institusi pendidikan, terutama pembinaan calon imam kita. Bagaimanapun, pembinaan calon imam sekarang akan ikut menentukan keberlangsungan Gereja di masa depan.

Video penyampaian kotbah ini dapat kita saksikan di kanal Youtube SPP Kabanjahe.

There Is Something Great Happen At 6 A.M. Everyday in the Church: Come and See for Yourself

COME TO ME

PREACHER: Frater Dimas Sembiring Brahmana

My lovely brothers and sisters,

There is a story about a strong women, her name is Ibu Mirna. She is fourty years old and she is a Catholic from Saint Peter and Paul Parish Kabanjahe. Ibu Mirna is a kind person, humble, and very honest. After her husband passed away eight years ago, Ibu Mirna take the role as the “back bone” in her family. Even though she is thin, she must work ten hours every day in the field as a farmer.  Sometimes she makes cassava chips to increase her income and help her family.
To afford her six children, Ibu Mirna often fell stress. Sometimes she hates her fate. However, Ibu Mirna never stop working, still conscious and always try to come up from her problems.

My lovely brothers and sisters,

When you have a problem in your life, can you still be conscious and consistent like Ibu Mirna? Or do you stay in your sadness? What do you think about her spirit? From where does she get her spirit? Turns out, the power and spirit that she has are sourced from Eucharist that she attend every morning in Saint Peter and Paul Parish. In all her burdens and responsibility that many times depress her, Ibu Mirna still manages to gain the spirit and strength from the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Thus, Eucharist becomes the source of her strength to keep struggling for her family.

My lovely brothers and sisters,

The story of Ibu Mirna invited us to involved our God in our life. I am inspired from the Gospel. Matthew 11 verse 28 until 29 says

“… come to Me all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls …”.

As a social being, can we involve God in our daily life? Yes, we can and we should. The people often become arrogant. We think that we can carry all the burdens all by ourselves, until all of our efforts failed. For that, my brothers and sisters, we must give our life to God. We can ask Him to lead our life, to hold His hand, and trust Him.

Sometimes we are also arrogant. We forget to fill ourselves with prayer and Eucharist. We bring tremendous ambitions along with us to produce money. We spend almost every time that we had. We do not reserve time to attend Eucharist. As a Catholic, we know that the Eucharist is the source and the culmination of our expression of faith. We delve too much into our routines; doing our things in Pajak, our jobs at the office and so on, all the activities that separate us from God.

I invite all of us to take a break from your activity. For a moment, take a deep breath. Try to remember all the experiences that we have been through. Start realizing God’s presence in our life.

My brothers and sisters,

We know that in our Parish, Saint Peter and Paul Kabanjahe, our priests celebrate the Eucharist everyday in the morning at six o’clock. The number of the
congregation tend to get lower and lower.

So, I invite all of us to be like Ibu Mirna. She always surrender her life to our God. We can do the same: surrendering our lives to God through Eucharist.

The last but not the least, let us be honest, aware and conscious that as Catholics we are asked to go to Church and attend the Eucharist. Our busy schedule and routines are not excuses to stop attending the Mass, loving God and giving our life to Him. Simply because, as Gospel Matthew said, God is the Giver of reliefs to all the problems we face in our daily lives.

Lord Jesus bless us all.

Amen.

Ini adalah teks kotbah/renungan dalam Bahasa Inggris yang disusun, diterjemahkan dan disampaikan oleh seorang calon imam diosesan Keuskupan Agung Medan, Frater Dimas Sembiring Brahmana. Saat ini Dimas berada pada formasi awal pembinaan calon imam sebagai seorang frater Pra-TOR (Pra-Tahun Orientasi Rohani).

Sejak awal – Saya sebagai pengajar Bahasa Inggris dan para frater tersebut – menyepakati untuk menantang diri untuk mencoba melakukan hal-hal baru dalam Bahasa Inggris. Kesepakatan ini adalah buah dari keinginan dari Dimas dan teman seangkatannya untuk terus mengasah kemampuan berbahasa Inggris mereka melalui praktek dan/atau proyek yang berkaitan dengan tugas-tugas mereka di masa depan ketika mereka ditahbiskan sebagai imam. Berkotbah atau menyampaikan renungan adalah salah satunya.

(Masih ada beberapa proyek lain. Ingatkan Saya untuk tetap memberi update tentang proyek-proyek mereka. Jangan ragu: Semua orang beriman memiliki hak dan kewajiban untuk memberi perhatian pada pembinaan calon imam mereka).

Harapannya, mereka semakin terdorong dan percaya diri untuk semakin total memberi diri dalam target jangka panjang, yakni “to immerse oneself into English” sebagai konsekuensi konret dari keinginan untuk menguasai Bahasa Inggris (mastering English) sedemikian sehingga nanti di masa depan mereka dapat berkomunikasi secara aktif.

Sebagai calon imam yang baru saja menamatkan pendidikan dari SMA Seminari Menengah, maka patut diduga mereka belum dibekali dengan cukup terkait pengetahuan filsafat dan teologi yang perlu untuk itu. Maka, guna memastikan ortodoksi dengan ajaran Gereja, maka sebelum kami – frater pembawa renungan dan Saya – menterjemahkan dan melatih cara penyampaiannya, maka terlebih dahulu setiap teks diperiksa dan dikoreksi oleh Pastor pendamping (chaplain), entah oleh Pastor Rektor Pra-TOR RD Johannes Sihombing atau oleh Magister Spiritualis RD Anton Nguyen van Viet.

Oh iya. Kotbah yang disusun oleh Dimas ini – Saya hanya membantu menterjemahkan dan melatih penyampaiannya – cukup menarik sebab Dimas benar-benar berusaha untuk menerapkan struktur formal dalam kotbah Katolik yang baik yang sering dikenal dengan struktur 3-Is, yakni

  • to illustrate,
  • to instruct, and
  • to invite

Terutama pada bagian ilustrasi, meminjam nama ‘Ibu Mirna’ alih-alih mempertahankan anonimitas, ternyata tidak hanya membuat ilustrasi ini mudah dipahami sebagaimana layaknya setiap upaya untuk membuat pesan lebih hidup melalui metode bertutur (storytelling), tetapi juga semakin mendaratkan kotbah sehingga umat merasa relevan dengan isinya.

“Anyway, who the heck is Ibu Mirna though?”, you might ask. Tetapi fokusnya bukan itu. Siapapun sosok Ibu Mirna yang dibayangkan oleh Dimas tidak lagi menjadi poin utama, melainkan relevansi dari kisah ilustrasinya membuat umat merasa: “Oh iya. Saya juga seperti Ibu Mirna. Pesannya relevan dengan apa yang Saya alami juga”. Kupikir, jika ilustrasi sudah relevan, maka tugas berikutnya untuk menyampaikan ajaran Gereja sesuai ortodoksi yang lurus akan lebih mudah. Dalam konteks kotbah ini, Dimas mengajak umat Katolik untuk mengikuti perayaan Ekaristi setiap hari jam 6 pagi di Gereja Paroki Santo Petrus dan Paulus Kabanjahe.

Meski demikian, sesuai dengan maksud dari tulisan ini, maka artikel ini tetap dapat pembaca gunakan menjadi sarana untuk memberikan masukan terhadap pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang kami lakukan sehingga terjadi penyempurnaan berkelanjutan.

Saran terkait apa saja? Kita boleh menyasar aspek manapun dari sebuah kotbah: aspek penyampaian (delivery), isi, struktur atau bahkan aspek teknikal seperti gestur, pengucapan dan pelafalan dan sejenisnya. Saran dan diskusi membangun selalu penting dan berguna, sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan terjadi pada semua institusi pendidikan, terutama pembinaan calon imam kita. Bagaimanapun, pembinaan calon imam sekarang akan ikut menentukan keberlangsungan Gereja di masa depan.

Post Scriptum:

This is a late post. This sermon was delivered almost a year ago. Somehow, due to several limitations on my behalf, I have been only able to publish its update this content to all of you my dear readers. Mistakes are on my side.

Video penyampaian kotbah ini dapat kita saksikan di kanal Youtube SPP Kabanjahe.

Kotbah Hari Minggu Paskah VII (Hari Komunikasi Sedunia 2025): “Ut Omnes Unum Sint”

Sermon on the World Communication Day 2025

“Ut Omnes Unum Sint”
(That They May All Be One)

My beloved brother and sisters,

Through words we express all our affections, thoughts, and all other things that we can understand. That is what we called by “communication”, the process in which we share our thoughts and ideas in a way that we understand and connect to each other. However, in today’s world there are kinds of communication and unfortunately some of them turn out to head another way.

Dear brothers and sisters,

The world we know today faces various events and sadly conflicts are many among them. The term “battle” does not only the old school physical place, but also occur in mind, words, and deeds that often result in unending chaos. This kind of realisation make the communication appear allegorically as “two-bladed knife”: is it a unifying device or the other way around, a dividing means?

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

“We must first listen” said Pope Francis following an extract from the message of His Holiness on the occasion of the 50th World Communication Day celebrated on 8th May 2016. The exact same message is also pronounced by His Holiness Pope Leo (the) XIV, congratulating to Napoli football club in Italy, when he emphasizes the importance of the unifying spirit in football just like any other sport due to their philosophy and core values. As Catholics we do not regard this saying as a source for controversy but rather as a beautiful example that even as the highest leader of more than one million of Catholic faithful around the world, representing the whole Church he truly listens to what happen with his people. Only after listening to the joy and sorrow of the people, the Church later gives response. On this case it is Pope Francis to the football fans.

In today’s reading of the mass the Church teaches us through the example of Saint Stephen when he responded to those people who despised him, mocked him, and even scorned him with stones. Saint Stephen talked to them with mercy and compassion, not with anger. Even stoned, he did not curse but he begged for mercy upon them because he was full of Holy Spirit. This story might sound cool yet it is so hard to do. In our reality nowadays many people easily offended, almost by anything, and when they feel so, usually, they strike back straight-forward without pausing for a minute to take discernment on what should be done instead.

Brothers and sisters,

People tend to react rather than to respond. What is the difference on those two? Reaction is spontaneous, many times without filters. Meanwhile responding means listening first, giving a fair thought about what is really happening and then and only just then we decide what kind of answer we should reply or not giving any verbal reply at all. This is important so that we are not easily triggered and to keep everything under control.

Beloved brothers and sisters,

As believer we should have love and compassion and communicate using those Christian values. In Revelation, the Church reminds us that Jesus did not leave us in confusion and fear. Jesus clearly said all God’s promises without fear. His way of communicating is convincing and comforting. This should enlighten us on how we communicate on daily basis in which we are bombarded by hoaxes, panicked messages, evil propaganda, and kinds of them: we are called to be the bearer of good news. And what is the good news? It is that Jesus is alive and he will come again.

My beloved brothers and sisters,

We are all unified in Christ. The preaching we deliver in our life eventually will unite us all. Let us together be the preacher full of love and compassion, not judging but giving hope and encouragement instead. May Lord Jesus always be with us, accompanying us in our unending pilgrimage.

Lord Jesus bless us. Amen.

Ini adalah teks kotbah/renungan dalam Bahasa Inggris yang disusun, diterjemahkan dan disampaikan oleh seorang calon imam diosesan Keuskupan Agung Medan, Frater Antonius Sagala. Saat ini Antonius berada pada formasi awal pembinaan calon imam sebagai seorang frater Pra-TOR (Pra-Tahun Orientasi Rohani) di Kabanjahe.

Sejak awal – Saya sebagai pengajar Bahasa Inggris dan kedua belas frater tersebut – menyepakati untuk menantang diri untuk mencoba melakukan hal-hal baru dalam Bahasa Inggris. Yang belum pernah mereka alami di Seminari Menengah. Kesepakatan ini adalah buah dari keinginan dari Antonius dan teman seangkatannya untuk terus mengasah kemampuan berbahasa Inggris mereka melalui praktek dan/atau proyek yang berkaitan dengan tugas-tugas mereka di masa depan ketika mereka ditahbiskan sebagai imam. Berkotbah atau menyampaikan renungan adalah salah satunya.

(Masih ada beberapa proyek lain. Ingatkan Saya untuk tetap memberi update tentang proyek-proyek mereka. Jangan ragu: Semua orang beriman memiliki hak dan kewajiban untuk memberi perhatian pada pembinaan calon imam mereka).

Harapannya, mereka semakin terdorong dan percaya diri untuk semakin total memberi diri dalam target jangka panjang, yakni “to immerse oneself into English” sebagai konsekuensi konret dari keinginan untuk menguasai Bahasa Inggris (mastering English) sedemikian sehingga nanti di masa depan mereka dapat berkomunikasi secara aktif.

Sebagai calon imam yang baru saja menamatkan pendidikan dari SMA Seminari Menengah, maka patut diduga mereka belum dibekali dengan cukup terkait pengetahuan filsafat dan teologi yang perlu untuk itu. Maka, guna memastikan ortodoksi dengan ajaran Gereja, maka sebelum kami – frater pembawa renungan dan Saya – menterjemahkan dan melatih cara penyampaiannya, maka terlebih dahulu setiap teks diperiksa dan dikoreksi oleh Pastor pendamping (chaplain), entah oleh Pastor Rektor Pra-TOR RD Johannes Sihombing atau oleh Magister Spiritualis RD Anton Nguyen van Viet.

Oh iya. Yang unik dari Antonius adalah kemauannya untuk menawarkan diri secara inisiatif untuk menjadi pembawa kotbah pertama ketika teman-teman lainnya masih ragu. Ini hal yang baik. Sebab benar, there is always a first time for everyone. Dan siapa yang berani menawarkan diri tampil pertama kali berarti memiliki kesadaran bahwa kerap kesempatan “first time” itu harus diciptakan dan dijemput, bukan ditunggu.

Sesuai dengan maksud dari tulisan ini, maka artikel ini dapat pembaca gunakan menjadi sarana untuk memberikan masukan terhadap pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang kami lakukan sehingga terjadi penyempurnaan berkelanjutan.

Saran terkait apa saja? Kita boleh menyasar aspek manapun dari sebuah kotbah: aspek penyampaian (delivery), isi, struktur atau bahkan aspek teknikal seperti gestur, pengucapan dan pelafalan dan sejenisnya. Saran dan diskusi membangun selalu penting dan berguna, sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan terjadi pada semua institusi pendidikan, terutama pembinaan calon imam kita. Bagaimanapun, pembinaan calon imam sekarang akan ikut menentukan keberlangsungan Gereja di masa depan.

Video penyampaian kotbah ini dapat kita saksikan di kanal Youtube SPP Kabanjahe.

Sermon on the Pentecost Day 2025: “Receive the Holy Spirit”

Sermon on the Pentecost Day 2025

“Receive the Holy Spirit”

PREACHER: FRater ANDREO FRANCISCO SITEPU

“Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the earth”

Happy Birthday! Happy Pentecost Day!

During the whole week after Ascension Day, the Church pray: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love”. And here comes today, the day we as Catholic Church commemorate Pentecost, namely the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles.

My beloved brother and sisters,

In the first reading of the Mass today, we listen to the story of Pentecost. Holy Spirit descended with a rushing wind and tongue of fire, resting upon each of them. The disciples initially were afraid, doubtful, anxious but now they are encouraged to go out from their hiding places to preach the Gospel everywhere. Fascinatingly, all the words coming from their mouths can now be understood by multiple people with various background of language and culture.

My brothers and sisters,

In the second reading, Apostle Paul, admonished the faithful in Rome, so that they live in Spirit. Paul urges them to live in the Spirit, not carnal desires because those who are controlled by carnal desires, are not favoured by God. God want His people to put first the heavenly happiness not the earthly one.

“Peace be upon you” (Arab: ‘assalamualaikum‘) 

Jesus said this greeting twice as His earnestness to grant us eternal peace. This took place when Jesus appeared Himself to the apostles. In the Gospel of John today, Jesus send His disciples true the Holy Spirit. From this event of Pentecost, the Church is born. That is why it is correct for us to greet each other “Happy Birthday”. The same Spirit transform our lives and enables us to be the faithful and reliable witnesses of Christ around the world. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us to live according to God’s will, to follow His teachings and to grow our faith in holiness in hope for the eternal heavenly peace.

Dear brothers and sisters,

Wherever and whenever the Holy Spirit works, there and at that time we will see the understanding hearts, compassion, acceptance and forgiveness. Just as the Holy Spirit enables the apostles to understand various people from various cultures and nationalities, let us open our hearts as well to the Holy Spirit so shat as a unity of the Church we can understand other people and to be understood back through our loving, dear and honest way of living.

Beloved brothers and sisters,

Holy Spirit is our guardian in living the love and spread the love to our fellow human beings just as God’s command. Thereby, the event of Pentecost is not just a story in the past, but truly is still happening and will continuingly happen in our live. The Holy Spirit is always be with us, guides us to know God deeper, not in mere cognitive knowledge but also through the living relation in our hearts, personal life and fraternity. May the Holy Spirit enable us to see God with the living faith, not through in our physical eye. Allow me to pray through this verses of classic Pentecost Hymn:

Veni Creator Spiritus
Mentes tuorum visita
Imple superna gratia
Quae tu creasti pectora.

Deo Patri sit gloria
et Filio, qui a mortuis
surrexit, ac Paraclito
in saeculorum saecula. Amen

May God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit always be with us and enable us to be His loyal witness in truth and love. Amen.

Ini adalah teks kotbah/renungan dalam Bahasa Inggris yang disusun, diterjemahkan dan disampaikan oleh seorang calon imam diosesan Keuskupan Agung Medan, Frater Andreo Francisco Sitepu. Saat ini Andreo berada pada formasi awal pembinaan calon imam sebagai seorang frater Pra-TOR (Pra-Tahun Orientasi Rohani).

Sejak awal – Saya sebagai pengajar Bahasa Inggris dan para frater tersebut – menyepakati untuk menantang diri untuk mencoba melakukan hal-hal baru dalam Bahasa Inggris. Kesepakatan ini adalah buah dari keinginan dari Andreo dan teman seangkatannya untuk terus mengasah kemampuan berbahasa Inggris mereka melalui praktek dan/atau proyek yang berkaitan dengan tugas-tugas mereka di masa depan ketika mereka ditahbiskan sebagai imam. Berkotbah atau menyampaikan renungan adalah salah satunya.

(Masih ada beberapa proyek lain. Ingatkan Saya untuk tetap memberi update tentang proyek-proyek mereka. Jangan ragu: Semua orang beriman memiliki hak dan kewajiban untuk memberi perhatian pada pembinaan calon imam mereka).

Harapannya, mereka semakin terdorong dan percaya diri untuk semakin total memberi diri dalam target jangka panjang, yakni “to immerse oneself into English” sebagai konsekuensi konret dari keinginan untuk menguasai Bahasa Inggris (mastering English) sedemikian sehingga nanti di masa depan mereka dapat berkomunikasi secara aktif.

Sebagai calon imam yang baru saja menamatkan pendidikan dari SMA Seminari Menengah, maka patut diduga mereka belum dibekali dengan cukup terkait pengetahuan filsafat dan teologi yang perlu untuk itu. Maka, guna memastikan ortodoksi dengan ajaran Gereja, maka sebelum kami – frater pembawa renungan dan Saya – menterjemahkan dan melatih cara penyampaiannya, maka terlebih dahulu setiap teks diperiksa dan dikoreksi oleh Pastor pendamping (chaplain), entah oleh Pastor Rektor Pra-TOR RD Johannes Sihombing atau oleh Magister Spiritualis RD Anton Nguyen van Viet.

Oh iya. Sesuai dengan maksud dari tulisan ini, maka artikel ini dapat pembaca gunakan menjadi sarana untuk memberikan masukan terhadap pembelajaran Bahasa Inggris yang kami lakukan sehingga terjadi penyempurnaan berkelanjutan.

Saran terkait apa saja? Kita boleh menyasar aspek manapun dari sebuah kotbah: aspek penyampaian (delivery), isi, struktur atau bahkan aspek teknikal seperti gestur, pengucapan dan pelafalan dan sejenisnya. Saran dan diskusi membangun selalu penting dan berguna, sebagaimana yang kita semua harapkan terjadi pada semua institusi pendidikan, terutama pembinaan calon imam kita. Bagaimanapun, pembinaan calon imam sekarang akan ikut menentukan keberlangsungan Gereja di masa depan.

Video penyampaian kotbah ini dapat kita saksikan di kanal Youtube SPP Kabanjahe.