“Malaysia is a country unlike any other: Full of promise and fragility. Its history, cultural and religious diversity make it a rich, compelling and surprising land.”
Tariq Ramadan, Swiss academic
IN his homily at last Sunday’s mass, our parish priest gave a compelling take on the “Three Pillars of Lent” as he invoked parishioners to prepare for the Lenten season.
Let me be upfront and honest about the sermon from the pulpit, so to speak. When the priest speaks well, meaning in a clear and distinct voice with a well-prepared homily, I sit up to attention and listen. I believe my fellow parishioners feel the same way. Often, many sermons were one big yawn, with due respect to our clergy.
The priest made it very clear what the three pillars of Lent were and why it was important for Catholics to observe them during the Lenten season. The pillars are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
It is important to focus on prayer because it deepens our relationship with God through Scripture, the Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration and Mass attendance, Father pointed out.
Fasting is not just about abstaining from food but also from bad habits, gossip, excessive entertainment and distractions that pull us away from God, he stressed.
Father emphasised that almsgiving involves serving others, providing for the needy, and engaging in acts of kindness and charity.
(NOTE: I refrain from using the priest’s name because I did not have his permission. In any case, I don’t think the Reverend is keen about the publicity. Most priests shy away from the media.)
What made me pay raft attention to Father’s homily was his exhortation to Catholics to reach out to those of other faiths during Lent and in particular to Muslims who are also observing the fasting month of Ramadan over the same period this year.
In Malaysia, we did have the GongXi/Raya joint celebrations in years gone by when Hari Raya and Chinese New Year fell on the same week, two or three days apart.
I’m not sure whether there was ever a joint religious observation/celebration of a different faith before but this was the first time I’ve heard a Catholic priest mention it in church. Of course, there could have been other priests in other churches making the same exhortation; only that I was not present to hear it and write about it later.
Checking the calendar, Ramadan falls on the evening of Sunday, March 2 up to Sunday, March 30. The first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri will fall on March 31.
This year, Catholics will start observing the season of Lent from Wednesday, March 5 till Thursday, April 17. After the 40 days, Catholics will enter the Easter weekend with Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important calendar for the Catholic Church.
(It must be noted that other Christian denominations, other than Catholics, also observe the Lent season and Easter.
Nevertheless, certain Christian factions adhere to varying days for fasting and religious duties. As a Catholic, I thought it is only right and appropriate that reference is made to my faith in this article.)
Ramadan, according to Wikipedia, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community.
Occurring during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, it is a commemoration of the Prophet’s first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and lasts 29 to 30 days, from one sighting of the crescent moon to the next.
The spiritual rewards of fasting are believed to be multiplied during Ramadan. Accordingly, during the hours of fasting, Muslims refrain not only from food and drink, but also from tobacco products, sexual relations, and sinful behaviour, devoting themselves instead to prayer and study of the Quran.
Here, let me express my profound gratitude to the Reverend Father for suggesting that parishioners strive to observe our obligatory religious practices with our Muslim brethren. One way we can do that is to observe breaking the fast with our Malay friends during Ramadan.
Speaking from Sarawak, where people of different ethnicities and faiths often come together as a family during cultural and religious events, I see that as our proud Sarawakian way of life where racial harmony and religious tolerance are at their best.
Embracing and honouring the religious customs and responsibilities of various faiths can foster mutual comprehension, acceptance, and unity among different religious communities.
Engaging in interfaith discussions, attending services as a respectful observer, and learning about different traditions can enrich one’s perspective without compromising one’s faith.
Most importantly, observing various religious practices fosters empathy and respect. Actively participating in or learning about another faith’s practices helps one appreciate its values, traditions and beliefs.
This unique Sarawakian way of life, rooted in inclusivity and shared values, is an excellent model for Malaysia.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.
