Faithfulness and Love

Monthly Archives: May 2014

Corpus Christi

Posted on by Posted in Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi Leave a comment

Some of us go through great effort or great extend to find good food and drink. We make trips to remote areas, long distances, brave through bad weather, traffic jams, difficult road conditions; all this just to taste and savour food and drink which will not last. Sometimes, the food and drink we crave for may just our luck be not available or sold out when we arrive.

However, how many of us truly value the body and blood of Christ? Today we celebrate Corpus Christi or the Body and Blood of Christ. Christ gave us His body and blood as real food and drink, not only to nourish us physically, but especially to nourish us spiritually. Do we see the value and preciousness of receiving Jesus’ Body and Blood? At every Mass, we are reminded to prepare ourselves before receiving communion. Are we properly prepared to receive communion? Have we discovered any serious sins and gone for confession?

Perhaps some of us have become complacent about receiving communion. Some of us may have not been regular in attending Mass and receiving communion. Seems strange that we can be so diligent in looking for temporary food on this earth, but neglect in preparing ourselves and receiving food which is for our eternal benefit. Let us be aware of how precious, how significant, how special the food Jesus has offered us; and let us be properly disposed and prepared to receive it.

Housekeeping – Trinity Sunday & Week 11 Year 2

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

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

15 June 2014 – Trinity Sunday Year A
16 June 2014 – Monday of Week 11 Year 2
17 June 2014 – Tuesday of Week 11 Year 2
18 June 2014 – Wednesday of Week 11 Year 2
19 June 2014 – Thursday of Week 11 Year 2
20 June 2014 – Friday of Week 11 Year 2

Friday of Week 11 Year 2

Posted on by Posted in 11th, Friday, Ordinary Time, Weekday Leave a comment

What do you treasure most in life? Do you still continue to look for riches here on earth, or have you been seeking riches in heaven? Some of us may have been enamoured or influenced by the glitter, beauty or value of riches here on earth, so much so that we spend a lot of time accumulating them. But the question is: for how long would we be able to hold on to such riches? When we die, all these riches we have accumulated cannot be brought with us. These riches will either become worthless, lose their value over time, or end up possessed by others.

Jesus in today’s Gospel reminds us: “Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and woodworms destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The riches we accumulate here on earth are only temporary. We cannot own them or hold on to them forever. The riches we accumulate for heaven is for eternity as we will not lose them. Are we reconsidering our priorities and begun focusing that which is eternal? Or are we still stubbornly interested only in that which is temporal?

Thursday of Week 11 Year 2

Posted on by Posted in 11th, Ordinary Time, Thursday, Weekday Leave a comment

Some people think that they need to say a lot of things when praying. They go into all sorts of words, noises, gestures, perhaps thinking that God needs some time and hopefully will eventually hear them. Today’s Gospel reminds us: “In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”

Instead, we are taught the Our Father or Lord’s Prayer. Though this prayer seems short and concise, it is full of meaning. In the Our Father, we learn to be humble and dependent on God’s providence. Are we reciting the Our Father with meaning, humility and conviction? Are we fully aware of what we are praying while reciting the Our Father? Or are we, as the Gospel tells us, merely “babble as the pagans do?” Why the need to rush? Why the need to say so much?

Wednesday of Week 11 Year 2

Posted on by Posted in 11th, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, Weekday Leave a comment

When we do good things or works of charity, what is our motive or intention? Are we doing such things to show how rich, how great, or how wonderful we are? Or are we doing such things for the greater glory of God? Sometimes we may appear to be doing good, but we should be careful not to expect admiration, gratification or rewards. If we expect something in return, then perhaps we may, as today’s Gospel warns us, have had our reward.

Instead, we should make every effort to do good inconspicuously. As today’s Gospel reminds us, “and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.” Ultimately, we need to ask ourselves honestly: by doing good, are we glorifying God and letting His Kingdom come; or are we glorifying ourselves and letting our kingdom come?

Tuesday of Week 11 Year 2

Posted on by Posted in 11th, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, Weekday Leave a comment

How much do we really love others? Do we love only those who are nice to us or love us or do good things for us? Some of us find it easy to love those who are friendly or kind to us, but some of us may find it quite difficult to love our enemies.

Today’s Gospel reminds us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. In the world, this may sound like a crazy or unreasonable request. But if we call ourselves Christians, then we should imitate Jesus, who even prayed for His enemies as He died on the cross. Are we willing and humble enough to follow Jesus’ example and also love our enemies? Or have we become no different than the rest of the world? Our enemies may some day become our friends, or even followers of Jesus, if we love them and show compassion and good example. Are we willing to take up the challenge and love all as Jesus did?

Monday of Week 11 Year 2

Posted on by Posted in 11th, Monday, Ordinary Time, Weekday Leave a comment

Wrath or rage is one of the seven capital sins we need to watch out for. We may fall into wrath or rage quite easily, especially when we have a short fuse or a quick temper. Wrath or rage can lead us to do worse things. Sometimes, we may even kill a person or several people. In the aftermath, we may become proud and refuse to feel any remorse, or we may regret our actions utterly. By then, it is often too late.

Today’s first reading shows us how Ahab fell into wrath or rage, since Naboth refused to sell him his ancestral land. Naturally, Naboth had every right to sell or not sell, but Ahab was determined to get the land at all cost. Ahab had the gall to allow Jezebel to “settle things” for him, so that he could get the land he wanted. Here, we see a classic example of not only wrath or rage, but also greed and pride thrown into a deadly mixture.

Are we guilty of wrath or rage at times? We may not necessarily kill a person, but the words we utter in our rage could still kill. Let us be mindful of our temper and seek God’s help to avoid falling into wrath or rage, lest we only bring ruin to ourselves.

Trinity Sunday

Posted on by Posted in Sunday, Trinity Leave a comment

How do we explain something which is not so easily explainable? Can we ever satisfactorily describe or define God? Today’s readings give us some important points.

Firstly, the doctrine of the Trinity reminds us that God is a mystery. A mystery is something which we can never fully understand or fathom. We do not have all the answers and we should be humble enough to let God guide us and take charge.

Secondly, the doctrine of the Trinity tells us that God is into relationships. God chooses to come close to us by sending His Son to save us. This helps us realise that God is not distant from us, He is with us and wants us to be with Him.

Finally, God is love. This love is not just in the Trinity, it is also shared with us. God loves us so much that Jesus came to help us and save us.

When we look at the Trinity, we are reminded to be humble and happy in letting God take control. Sometimes there are things which we cannot fully explain and cannot fully understand. But if we trust and believe, God can help us. Are we still insisting in finding the answers, or are we letting God be God?

Housekeeping – Pentecost & Week 10 Year 2

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

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

8 June 2014 – Pentecost – Mass of the Day Year A
9 June 2014 – Monday of Week 10 Year 2
10 June 2014 – Tuesday of Week 10 Year 2
11 June 2014 – Wednesday of Week 10 Year 2
12 June 2014 – Thursday of Week 10 Year 2
13 June 2014 – Friday of Week 10 Year 2

Friday of Week 10 Year 2

Posted on by Posted in 10th, Friday, Ordinary Time, Weekday Leave a comment

Some of us look for God in the spectacular. We think that God should make Himself known via a grand entrance. Some of us look for God in beauty, wealth and riches, or in some sort of environment we think would be more fitting and appropriate. However, would we really find God in such situations?

In today’s reading, Elijah came to the presence of God when he heard a gentle breeze. It is in the simple situation, the unlikely place, the strangest circumstances, that we may find God. The question is: are we sensitive enough to God’s promptings? Or have we, over the years, been so flooded with all sorts of noise, expectations or experiences, that we have failed to recognise and acknowledge His presence? God is calling us in His own way and in His own terms to do His will. Are we able to listen and obey?