Fr Paul Lo proclaiming the Gospel in the hearing of the Faith Formation students Aug 7 at Church of Mary Immaculate, Kota Kinabalu
By Catherine Engsun
August 15 2022
ON Sunday 7th August 2022, 80 students from three Faith Formation classes attended a confession session with parish priest, Fr Paul Lo and his assistant priests, Fr Joshua Liew and Fr Russell Lawrine. The classes involved were from Years 5, 6 and 7.
The session started at 3.30 pm with the Liturgy of the Word then confession. Fr Paul proclaimed the Gospel of the day, taken from Luke 12:32-48.
In his homily, Fr Paul started with an interactive session with the students who were between the ages of 11 and 13 years.
Fr Paul asked the students, what is sin? Sin, they responded, is doing bad things.
He quoted the Gospel of Luke “The servant who knew his master’s will, but did not prepare and do what his master wanted, will be soundly beaten; but the one who does unconsciously what deserves punishment, shall receive fewer blows. Much will be required of the one who has been given much and more will be asked of the one who has been entrusted with more,” and explained to the students that every sin committed has a punishment, but because our God is loving, He chooses to forgive us.
He stressed the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and explained the need to be repentant for our sins as sins are being committed often, citing an example of being lazy to attend Sunday Mass. He elaborated that laziness is a sin and not attending Sunday Mass is another.
Quoting the Gospel “You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect,” Fr Paul told the students that they must always be ready to receive Jesus Christ in their lives.
One of the preparations in receiving Jesus Christ is through confession and staying focused during Mass, not be distracted by chatting with friends, he added.
Explaining further, he told the students that receiving Holy Communion at Sunday Mass is welcoming the coming of Jesus Christ.
“God loves us and gives His son to die for us on the cross to save us from our sins. He knows that we are very weak and we cannot overcome temptations, that is why we commit sin every time. With the sacrament of confession, our sins are forgiven,” underlined Fr Paul.
