Monthly Archives: January 2014

When a healing is taking place, we need to ask ourselves: is the healing to give glory to God? Or is the healing to be used to show off to other people how great the healer is? Sometimes it is best for the healing to be done in private, as not everybody likes to be looked upon as a test subject.

Today’s Gospel tells us about a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech. Jesus showed his considerateness for this man’s predicament and removed him from the crowd. Perhaps the man would have felt embarrassed or uncomfortable being stared at while Jesus healed him. So Jesus took him aside privately, touched his tongue with spittle, and healed him, so that he could be released of his impediment, his faith awakened and strengthened, and freely proclaim the Good News of God. Symbolically, at RCIA, we conduct the rite of ephphatha, which is the opening the senses, where the ears and mouths of the elect are blessed so they may hear the Word of God and profess it.

Are our ears opened and tongue released? Are we using them to hear and proclaim the Good News? Let us seek the Lord’s healing if we have been dormant or lukewarm, and go forth to share the Good News to all.

Sometimes, we need to be given a hard knock or a good shock to awaken and strengthen our faith. When we are given things so easily, we may become complacent or take things for granted, and think that anything and everything would be given to us on a silver platter.

Today’s Gospel gives us a classic example of having one’s resolve tested. Jesus appeared to be insulting to the pagan woman. But if we read closely, he is actually testing the woman to see how serious she was in having her daughter cured. This woman responded to Jesus’ so called “insult” with wit and faith — “even the dogs eat the crumbs”. Because of this, Jesus praised the woman for her faith and for her love. She made the misery of her child her own and she was willing to suffer insult in order to obtain healing for her daughter, and while doing so, she showed her indomitable persistence. As a result, Jesus gave her what she wanted.

What about us? When we do not get our prayers or demands answered, are we able to be persistent and patient like the pagan woman? Let us not be so easily discouraged when the Lord tests us as He does so to help us grow even stronger in faith.

Is what you are eating halal or haram (clean or unclean)? If you are a Muslim or a Jew, then you would need to worry about this, as there are certain types of foods which cannot be eaten, as it is haram or not kosher (or unclean). However, in today’s Gospel, Jesus is more interested with what comes out of us that makes us unclean, instead of what we eat. The scribes and Pharisees had become quite extreme in their practices when it comes to what can be eaten, and they were paying more attention to that instead of caring for their souls. But Jesus is reminding them that “It is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. For it is from within, from men’s hearts, that evil intentions emerge: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within and make a man unclean.” These are more serious matters to be addressed, because the stain or uncleanesses does not only affect a person physically, but the stain or uncleanesses especially affects a person spiritually.

Today, Jesus is reminding us the same things as he did to the scribes and Pharisees. Are we unclean? Are our souls stained because of what has come out of our hearts? What are we doing to address this situation before it is too late?

The Pharisees are an interesting lot. When we observe their behaviour, we could in some ways begin to feel empathy for them, as they have so many minute details, laws and instructions that need to be observed and followed. It is stifling for them, but because of years of conditioned living, it became extremely difficult for them to break out of their mindset. Certainly not a great way to live life, when you have been living in such an environment for years.

However, having so many rules and regulations is no excuse to ignore the true essence of God’s laws. To put it simply, God’s laws can be summarised into love God and love neighbour, and as Jesus taught and showed in many ways, one’s neighbour is not restricted only to one’s friends or acquaintances, but also others, including one’s enemies. In today’s Gospel, we see how the Pharisees were so engrossed in maintaining and obeserving their numerous traditions and practices, that they put aside the commandment of God. We too could fall into the same trap, if we start treating rules and regulations as more important than God’s commandments. This is not to say that we can forget about rules and regulations and do whatever we like. But the idea of having rules and regulations is to serve God and build God’s Kingdom, with love, mercy and compassion; not to use such rules and regulations to build our own kingdom and lord it over others. The question is: whose kingdom are we ultimately building?

Healing takes place in many different ways. Sometimes, we see the immediate results of healing. Other times, the results may not be so obvious. However, if the Lord heals us, He does so completely. Modern medicine may be able to heal us, but there may be side effects which may occur, due to the use of certain medicines or certain medical procedures.

Today’s Gospel shows the complete healing of many of the sick. These folks were healed by touching Jesus, even if it is merely “the fringe of his cloak.” This shows the amount of faith they had on Jesus. They fully believed that Jesus would cure them and in return, they were fully cured. In today’s world, some of us may put our trust in modern medicine. While there is nothing wrong about that, we should also not forget the spiritual dimension. Sometimes, modern medicine is unable to heal us, due to one reason or another. But if we trust in God, and continuously and consistently pray to Him for healing, we know that God will do what is best for us. We may not get the results we want, as sometimes the result we hope for may not necessarily be best for us. However, are we willing to be persistent and ask God for His help, knowing that He will care for us?

When a person is weak and self-centred, he or she may do things to please others or to win recognition and approval. Sometimes such people may make promises which are difficult to fulfil, and when confronted with possible embarrassment or ridicule for being unable to keep the promise, he or she may be more than willing to fulfil such promises, even though such promises could lead one to greater wrongdoing or even commit sin.

In today’s Gospel, we see King Herod who was an example of such a weak and self-centred person. He was so easily tricked by his wife who got her daughter to dance for Herod and entice him to do what she wanted. This led to the death of John the Baptist, even though initially “Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.” Are some of us like Herod in one way or another, wanting and willing to save face at all costs? Are we so easily duped into making promises without thinking carefully the consequences?

As Christians, we are constantly reminded to go forth and preach the Good News. This command is not to be taken lightly, as it is one of great urgency and importance. Today’s Gospel reminds us of this great urgency and importance: “Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, ‘Do not take a spare tunic.'”

Each of us are called to go forth and preach the Good News. Sometimes along the way, we may be distracted with all sorts of other attractions, and we may lose our focus and concentration in our duty. Let us learn to not be attached to all these other attractions, and depend on God’s providence, so that we can be effective in bringing Jesus’ message to others.

One of the reasons why a priest or a religious is rarely sent back to his home parish to serve is because people tend to assume they know much about the priest or religious. Also, some people may think that just because the priest or religious is a local boy or girl, they think they can manipulate or control him or her. Some people may also not have that much respect or acceptance of the priest or religious, especially since they think they know really well his or her family, his or her background, etc. This may make it challenging or difficult for the priest or religious to function properly or effectively at his home parish.

Today’s Gospel also reinforces this matter. Jesus was not accepted among his home-town people as they thought they knew his family and he really well. This made it difficult for Jesus to perform any miracle at his home-town and only managed to cure a few people, especially because of the people’s lack of faith in him.

When we are faced with this kind of situation, let us consider our options. Are we able to function well in our mission at our home-town? Let us not be apprehensive to voice out our concerns to the relevant authority, so that they can decide what is best for our home-town community and what is best for us.