Bro Jude Antoine and Pauline Soon
By Pauline Soon
Jun 27 2023
‘I will restore health to you and your wounds, I will heal’ – Jer 30:17
KOTA KINABALU – What a blessing it was to be able to gather again to celebrate Pentecost after four years, in a big way. The Sacred Heart Cathedral Pastoral Council under the Faith Subcommittee Chairman, Pauline Soon, assisted by Philip Yen, had organized the Pentecost Healing from Jun 2-4, 2023. It attracted more than 500 participants not only from Sacred Heart Parish but also from other parishes as far as from Miri.
Bro Jude Antoine, an international speaker from Kuala Lumpur Archdiocese, led the inspiring and healing sessions. The largest turn-out was during the Sunday afternoon healing rally with over 700 people. The hall was packed. Derek Chong with his young talented musicians led all the spirit-filled praise and worship sessions throughout the three days.
Talented young people of Sacred Heart Cathedral serving as musicians
Indeed, it was a great time with many signs and wonders happening during those three days, just like the first Pentecost in some ways. I personally witnessed a lady who came to me for counseling, healed of her many years of depression. By the end of the three days, she was full of smiles and has brought her whole family, three children and husband, for the rally on Sunday. What an awesome sight!
Bro Jude shared many aspects of healing of the inner man. One of the sessions he shared was on the “Roots of our problems”. He said we are like an iceberg with 90% submerged and only 10% above the water. We see the 10% that is manifested in the way we behave and react to stimuli. Why we behave the way we do can only be explained by those things buried deep in our spirit called the ‘roots’. The deeper those roots are, the harder it is to dig out and get rid of. Roots can be unforgiveness, resentment, stress.
Then he used an orange to illustrate the point. He took an orange and squeezed it, of course, orange juice came out. So, he asked the participants, “If someone squeezes you, what comes out?” When we are squeezed means when we are under stress or faced with difficulties. He asked, “Was it anger or blame, foul language, feeling sorry for oneself that comes out of us, or meekness, kindness, compassion or love?” If we are filled with unforgiveness, resentment, then our actions would not be very loving.
In another session, he got a participant to hold a piece of A4 paper. The paper represents his life span on earth, 100 years perhaps. Then he used a roll of tissue to join to this paper and stretched it across the hall. The portion of tissue paper across the hall made that A4 paper looked insignificant. The length of the tissue paper represents our eternal life. How come we take so much time taking care of the 100 years and so little time taking care of the eternal life? This illustration made me realized that we are here only on probation and our eternity is with God and so we must really pay attention to what lasts forever i.e our eternal life.
Again, Bro Jude emphasized that unless we allow Satan to come into our life, he cannot come and control our actions. Yes, he tempts us all the time but it is still up to us to invite him in or not.
For most healing to happen, either physical, emotional, or spiritual, if it is the will of God, Bro Jude gave us a few steps to follow:
1. Forgiveness is the gateway to many blessings. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others who trespass against us’ is what Jesus taught us.
2. Scriptures. The Word of God is most powerful when we use it in our prayers. It uses the most appropriate words because they come from God himself.
3. Surrender. The act of surrendering is an act of trust in God. Acknowledging that he is almighty, knows all and loves us enough to give us the best. Not what we pray for but what we require to live a life pleasing to him.
4. Eucharist. This is the most important gift that Jesus has left for us, to nourish us on our journey through life. The Body and Blood of Christ heals us each time we receive Him worthily. We need to claim His real Presence in the Eucharist.
5. Expectant faith. Jesus healed the woman with 12 years of hemorrhage because of her faith in Him. “Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace…”
6. Ask. Although God knows what we need, He wants us to be humble enough to ask. Just like in the Gospel when Jesus saw the blind man. Obviously, He knew the blind man wanted sight and yet he still asks him what he wanted. Similarly with us, Jesus says whoever asks, receives; seeks, finds and; knock, the door will be open to you.
Overall, all participants went home filled with gladness that God was gracious no matter what.
