Faithfulness and Love

Monthly Archives: February 2014

Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 4th, Lent, Lent 4, Tuesday, Weekday Leave a comment

Some people can be extremists in the way they do things. One does not necessarily need to be killing or torturing other people to be called extremists. These sort of people are murderers, terrorists perhaps, but not all extremists do such things.

Today’s Gospel shows us one form of extremism. The Sabbath was meant for people to spend time in growing in relationship with God and not to do unnecessary work. Yet, certain Jews were so extreme that they interpreted unnecessary work to mean not doing anything at all. Even curing people and carrying or moving things is considered work to them. Even today, if we go to the Holy Land, some hotels observe the practice where, on the Sabbath, the lift or elevator will stop at every floor so that people would not need to “work” by pressing the button to whichever floor they wish to go to.

When Jesus cured the man, the Jews began to persecute Him because he was not observing their interpretation of the Sabbath. What about us? Are we extreme in our conduct in one way or another? Do we observe the Lord’s day and spend time with Him in prayer and listen to Him? Or are we so engrossed or extreme in our ways, that we fail to genuinely love God and neighbour?

Monday of the 4th Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 4th, Lent, Lent 4, Monday, Weekday Leave a comment

How much do you trust God? Some people say that they trust God, and yet go to shamans, witch doctors, or even medicine men, thinking that these can help them or cure them. Some people say they trust God, but at the back of their mind, they doubt whether God is really listening and whether God would really heal them or help them. How many of us trust God unreservedly and wholeheartedly?

In today’s Gospel, a court official whose son was ill at Capernaum believed what Jesus had said and started on his way, trusting that Jesus would heal his son. When he received news that his son was healed, he and all his household believed. If we were put in a similar situation, would we believe that Jesus would heal us? Sometimes healing may take place immediately, at other times, gradually. Are we expecting Jesus to heal us according to our time-frame? Or are we willing to be patient and wait, knowing and trusting that Jesus would do what is best for us?

4th Sunday of Lent Year A

Posted on by Posted in 4th, Lent, Lent 4, Sunday, Year A Leave a comment

Blindness can occur in different ways. For some, they are physically blind. For others, they are spiritually blind. Advances in modern medicine may, to a certain extend, restore physical sight. People who were thought to be “blind” could see again after receiving treatment over a period of time. However, healing those who are spiritually blind may not be so straightforward.

Today’s Gospel tells us about the blind man and the Pharisees.Though the blind man was born blind, he had his sight restored by Jesus, and when he discovered that Jesus was the one who restored his sight, he believed in Jesus. On the other hand, the Pharisees could see physically, but due to their stubbornness, pride and lack of compassion, they were the ones who were spiritually blind.

Some of us may be just like the Pharisees. Though we could physically see clearly, we are unable to spiritually see clearly. When we refuse to change our ways; when we ignore the needs of others; when we choose to ignore the injustices happening; when we are filled with selfishness, hatred, prejudice and unforgiveness; when we fail or refuse to recognise goodness in others; then we are spiritually blind.

Are we still refusing to let the Lord heal us and help us see? Today, let us learn to be humble and submit to God, for it is He who can open our eyes of Faith and the eyes of our hearts, enabling us to see clearly.

Housekeeping – 3rd Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in Housekeeping, Lent, Sunday, Weekday Leave a comment

For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:

23 March 2014 – 3rd Sunday of Lent Year A
24 March 2014 – Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent
25 March 2014 – The Annunciation of the Lord – Solemnity
26 March 2014 – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent
27 March 2014 – Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent
28 March 2014 – Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Friday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 3rd, Friday, Lent, Lent 3, Weekday Leave a comment

Sometimes we forget the basic principles of how we ought to live. When we do things, we may be so focused in only our wants, needs and happiness, that others may be sidelined or forgotten. Some of us use people only when it benefits us and once we have achieved our objectives, we just throw them away or put them aside only to be used again later.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that God “is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.” Do we really, genuinely and unconditionally love our neighbour? Or do we love our neighbour only when they are useful to us? Or do we love all, regardless of who they are? The same principle applies when we say we love God. Do we love God only because He is good to us? Or do we really, genuinely and unconditionally love Him “with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength?” It seems easy and convenient to say that we love, but is our love merely words or just for show?

Thursday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 3rd, Lent, Lent 3, Thursday, Weekday Leave a comment

Pride and stubbornness are two great obstacles to our spiritual growth and good relationship with God. When we are proud, we think that we are ok and there is nothing for us to improve on. When we are stubborn, we think that only our way is the right way and we go through great extent to protect our way. This leads to contempt, arrogance, aloofness and a whole list of other attitudes which not only alienate us from God, but also from our fellow humans.

Today’s reading reminds us of how the Israelites were so proud and stubborn, refusing to listen to God’s voice. We too may, in one way or another, be just as guilty. Are we still continuing on such attitude and behaviour, leading to our own self-inflicted ruin? Or have we learnt to wisen up and walk humbly before God, with hope of being Him with eternally? Let us not be fooled and complacent, and choose rightly.

Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 3rd, Lent, Lent 3, Wednesday, Weekday Leave a comment

Laws and customs are there for a purpose. If we do not have laws and customs, we may descend into chaos. Each person may end up doing as one pleases. People become fearful because of uncertainty. This is why in today’s reading we are reminded: “take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life…” When we take notice of the laws and customs, we are set free and we have life, because we know what is ok and what is not ok.

In the Gospel, Jesus too reminds us that we take notice of the laws and customs when he said: “Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them.” Jesus reminded us of a simple summary of the laws and customs when he taught us to love God and love neighbour. This means that laws and customs are not to be disregarded but to be followed. Are we aware of what are God’s laws and customs, and are we doing our utmost best to follow them?

The Annunciation of the Lord – Solemnity

Posted on by Posted in Annunciation, Solemnity Leave a comment

Whose agenda are you following? Your agenda or God’s agenda? Whose will are you doing? Your will or God’s will? Whose kingdom are you building up? Your kingdom or God’s kingdom? Mary in today’s Gospel was certainly not following her agenda or doing her will or building her kingdom when she said ‘Yes’ to the angel Gabriel to become the mother of Jesus.

Imagine the consequences she faced. She could have been stoned to death according to the law of that time. For that reason Mary knew that from the human point of view she may not even be able to bring her pregnancy to its full term, but she had faith to believe that what is impossible for us is possible for God. And so with that faith she said “yes.” She surrendered into the hands of God, and it really was surrendering because she was dwelling into the unknown. She had faith to believe that no matter what difficulties would follow, God would provide a way out and a solution. Mary’s final words to the angel are a model for each of us, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Surrendering to God, making that act of trust or abandonment into the hands of God, is not easy. It means letting go and like Mary facing the unknown and the unknown scares us. When we are faced with a decision like Mary, will we surrender to God and allow God to do what seems impossible from our human point of view ? Will we surrender our agenda, our will and our kingdom to God and allow God’s agenda, will and kingdom to become a reality?

Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent

Posted on by Posted in 3rd, Lent, Lent 3, Monday, Weekday Leave a comment

Some people say that familiarity breeds contempt. When you think you know a person well enough, you may be less likely to listen to him or her, and you may think that that person is not that great or wonderful. In today’s Gospel, Jesus said, “I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.” To a certain extend, this seems true. This is one of the reasons why a priest or a religious is rarely sent to his or her home town, as the local people there may be less willing or open to listen and work with the local boy or girl.

However, familiarity does not necessarily breed contempt. The issue at stake is whether we are willing to see a person with neutral eyes and hearts. Yes, the person may have been born and raised at that place, we may have known the person and seen the person grow through the years. But that does not mean we know the person absolutely, 100%, completely. The person may have gifts, talents, or abilities which may have escaped our attention due to our personal pride, prejudice and coloured vision. Are we willing to open the eyes of our hearts and be humble enough to support our local boys and girls, who for one reason or another have been sent back to home territory to serve and care for us? Let us do our part and grow in love with all.

3rd Sunday of Lent Year A

Posted on by Posted in 3rd, Lent, Lent 3, Sunday, Year A Leave a comment

Some of us will never be satisfied. We crave for so many things. Our list of needs and wants keep piling up, and it seems as if we will never be able to fulfil all our needs and wants. We become unhappy and dissatisfied. It seems as if the more we need and want, the harder it becomes for us to be content.

Today’s readings uses water to symbolise God’s love and care for us. We can survive without food for some time, but we cannot survive for long if we do not have water. In the same way, we cannot survive for long if we do not have God’s love and care. Without water, we will eventually die. Without God, we will die an eternal death.

Everything that we strive for to fulfil our needs and wants is only temporary. But what God offers us is a living water which will quench our thirst, and satisfy us completely. The Samaritan woman in today’s Gospel was offered that living water of God’s love and forgiveness, even though the people in her town had shunned her. With this living water, we will never be thirsty again. With this living water, we would not need other temporary substitutes. Are we still stubbornly looking elsewhere?