Faithfulness and Love

Monthly Archives: July 2014

Tuesday of Week 21 Year 2

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Does anyone know precisely when we are going to die? Certainly not. What about when the world is going to end? Can anyone predict precisely when that would happen? Once again, no. It seems laughable that there are people who claim they know when the world would end, and they would use all sorts of tricks and so called predictions to support their claims. It is even more crazy that there are people so gullible to believe such claims. More often than not, these so called people who think “they are in the know” are merely tricksters, trying to scare others into giving up their property and wealth. Then when the so called predictions turn out to be a hoax, these people would conveniently make all sorts of excuses and new predictions, and some may just “disappear” with the loot.

In today’s reading, St Paul reminds us: “To turn, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived. Never let anyone deceive you in this way.” Instead of worrying too much about the end of the world, perhaps we should make more effort in remaining in good relationship with God. After all, if we are in good relationship with God, why should we be concerned about when the world would end? Don’t we trust that God would be there to care for us and protect us from harm?

Monday of Week 21 Year 2

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Some of us may have heard the expression “like a dog in a manger.” This expression is meant to refer to someone who keeps something that they do not really want in order to prevent anyone else from having it. It could also mean the attitude of certain people who are a stumbling block to other people, preventing other people from gaining something just because they themselves are unable to gain it.

In today’s Gospel, we see how Jesus was really giving it to the scribes and Pharisees. In a way, the scribes and Pharisees were being and behaving like “dogs in a manger.” Jesus calls them blind guides and hypocrites, preventing others from truly and really understand and experience God’s love and mercy. These scribes and Pharisees had become cold and hardened to God’s ways and since they could not experience God’s love and mercy themselves, they became indifferent towards others and created all sorts of rules and regulations to make it difficult or even impossible for others to do so.

What about us? Have we become stumbling blocks to others? Have we become “like a dog in a manger?” Let us look honestly at ourselves, especially our attitude and behaviour towards others, and humbly and earnestly seek God’s help, lest we become just like the scribes and Pharisees.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

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When a leader such as the pope, an abbot or a religious is chosen or selected after an extended process, we may sometimes question why such a person is selected. According to the ways of the world, such a person may have not even been considered, since the world often looks at a person’s popularity, strength, intelligence, power and other worldly capabilities and attributes. But the interesting thing is, God’s ways and choices are not our ways and choices. God looks at things which are often not noticeable or deep within which people tend to miss out, overlook or ignore. This is why, in the 2nd reading, St Paul reminds us: “How rich are the depths of God – how deep his wisdom and knowledge – and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord?”

When such leaders are chosen, they sometimes have their names changed to another name, often a name of a saint. They put on a new identiy, and perhaps pray that they will be able live up to their new name and identity. In the Gospel, Simon was also given a new name. He was called Peter, which means “Rock.” Throughout the Gospel, we see Peter falling and getting up, and we sometimes wonder if Peter had really lived up to his name and identity. We wonder if Jesus had made a mistake in choosing not only Peter, but the other apostles too. After all, these 12 men were a strange mix of people. At hindsight, we begin to appreciate and realise that, no, Jesus did not make a mistake. He could see potential in Peter, and also potential in the other apostles. What appeared to be weaknesses and limitations could be transformed by God to serve His purposes.

When we are chosen and given a new identity, it is God who chooses us. God chooses us in spite of our weaknesses and limitations. God chooses the weak to shame the strong, the foolish to shame the wise, the sinner to shame the righteous. God’s choice may not necessarily be understood or appreciated. That is because our vision and expectations are sometimes coloured with the ways of the world. But one thing we can depend on, God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways would turn out to be a better way in the long run. We just need to be patient and trust in Him, for He knows better than we ever could.

Our Lady, Mother and Queen

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Being a mother is certainly not an easy thing. We sometimes come across articles of how some women go through great difficulty and sacrifices to bring up their children well. We also see stories on television on how some mothers go through great pain and suffering so that their children would have a better life. Some mothers also go through depression due to the strains of motherhood.

In today’s Gospel, we come across Mary receiving news from Angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of Jesus. For an unmarried woman to become pregnant in those days, such a woman would have been persecuted and even put to death. Today in some cultures, such a woman may be shunned, obstracised, expelled from the village, or even put to death. Mary knew what she was getting herself into, and yet she was still willing to go ahead with God’s plan. She trusted that God would make a way and that He would take care of things. With full of trust and confidence in God’s providence, Mary willingly and wholeheartedly said: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.”

What about us? If we are faced with a similar situation, would we trust God and say the same words as Mary said? If we were to rely on our own abilities and our own strength, we may find it difficult or even impossible. But if we rely on God’s providence and care, nothing indeed is impossible to God.

Thursday of Week 20 Year 2

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As children, some of us may have dreaded taking a bath. Some of us may have run away screaming or crying, not wanting to be given a good washing or scrubbing. Sometimes, our parents would find ways or means to trick us into having a bath. Eventually, as we grew older, we began to realise the importance and necessity of taking a bath. Some of us began to take baths more often, sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, sometimes more, so that we could keep clean and maintain good personal hygiene.

In today’s reading, God gave His people a good cleaning and makeover: “I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.” By doing so, God took the initiative to help His people move away from their uncleanness and shepherd them so that they would grow and prosper as His people. In the same way, God is also taking the initiative to help and guide us. The question is: are we willing to let Him shepherd us and help us?

Just as our bodies get dirty and need cleansing, our souls too get dirty when we sin and need cleansing. When we seek forgiveness earnestly and sincerely through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, our souls are cleansed. God is inviting us to come closer to Him and be His people. He wants us to remain clean and happy, depending on His providence and care. Are we still stubbornly trying to run away and remain dirty?

Wednesday of Week 20 Year 2

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In this world, we often expect to be rewarded according to our job performance. We expect better pay, better benefits, better bonuses and better working conditions, especially if we think we are performing well or better than others. When we don’t get what we expect, some of us may become upset, angry, disillusioned or in some cases, even leave the present job in search of greener pastures. In other words, “whats in it for me” seems to be more important to us than “how can I be of service for a better world.”

In today’s Gospel, the landowner hired workers at different times of the day to work in his vineyard. What was agreed upon was one denarius a day, regardless of how long a worker has worked. When it came to payment time, the landowner honoured his part of the agreement by giving every worker the same amount of one denarius, regardless of whether they worked for one hour or several hours. Of course, some of the workers may have felt it was unfair, some may have felt they were cheated, but did they have a right to feel this way? The landowner had agreed to pay one denarius, and he chose to be generous and fair to all. He said: “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?”

God is like that landowner. He is generous to all. He lets the sun shine, the rain fall, crops grow, so that all peoples may grow and prosper. If God is generous to all, do we have a right to complain? Are we trying to tell God what to do, according to our perception or expectations?

Tuesday of Week 20 Year 2

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Some of us may have a lot of baggages in our lives. We carry our baggages wherever we go. These baggages may not necessarily be items or things, there are even baggages that others do not see, and to a certain extend, baggages that we ourselves do not see. When we have these baggages, we become encumbered, we are unable to move properly, we are unable to listen to God’s voice, because these baggages are constantly distracting us, blocking our view, or even making us feel good about ourselves. We begin to think that we are self-sufficient, we do not need help, and we do not need God.

In today’s Gospel: “Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.'” When a camel has a lot of baggages on its back, it becomes difficult for the camel to move easily, and it becomes even more difficult for the camel to pass through narrow gates. The baggages are a cumbersome hindrance and it is only when such baggages are removed that the camel can go through. In the same way, when we continue to cling on to our baggages, we too are unable to move on. We may feel as if our baggages are too difficult or too heavy, but God is inviting us to let go, trust in Him and depend on Him. God can make the impossible possible and make it possible for us to move on. The question is: are we willing and humble enough to let God help us detach ourselves from our baggages, so that we can grow closer to Him?

Monday of Week 20 Year 2

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What is the stumbling block which is preventing us from truly loving God and becoming closer to Him? For some, it is pride, making them think that they are the greatest, smartest, or fastest. For some, it is anger or jealousy, being unable to control their temper and being jealous of other people’s abilities or achievements, instead of being content with the gifts they have. What about you? Do you have a stumbling block which is creating barriers and making it tough for you to grow in relationship with God?

In today’s Gospel, we come across a rich man who wanted to be closer to God. However, this rich man had a major stumbling block. At the beginning of the Gospel, we can see that he possessed great wealth, and he thought that he could find a way to possess eternal life, as the rich man said: “Master, what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?” The rich man claimed to have kept the commandments, but Jesus then challenged him further. Jesus challenged the rich man to give up his wealth and follow him, so that he could learn and depend on God’s providence, instead of depending on his wealth. But when the young man heard these words he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth. His wealth had become his stumbling block. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too, but one needs to choose: to remain attached to one’s wealth, or willing to let go and follow Jesus. When we become attached to our wealth, our position, or our fame, we become more concerned about such things, and fail to listen to God’s voice. Do we want that which is temporary in this world, or do we want that which is eternal?

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

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Some people think that their race or ethnic group are superior or special. They think that others must give in or “kow tow” to their every whims and fancies. Even among people of the same race or ethnic group, we see segregation and discrimination. People treat others unfairly and with contempt, especially those whom they think are less capable or do not think or act like they do. Even in our churches, are we behaving lovingly and caringly like brothers and sisters in Christ, like sons and daughters of God? Sometimes we see people forming cliques or focusing only with people they are comfortable with, people who perhaps share the same age group, language, culture, interests, or ideas. Is this what we should be as children of God?

In the first reading, Isaiah reminds us: “Thus says the Lord: Have a care for justice, act with integrity, for soon my salvation will come and my integrity be manifest. Foreigners who have attached themselves to the Lord to serve him and to love his name and be his servants – all who observe the sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain.” Notice that here, all peoples who listen to God’s will are part of God’s fold. It does not matter who you are, whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, God treats you as His own, if you obey His commandments. St Paul in today’s second reading also reminds us that He was sent to pagans as their apostle, and that “God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.” Our ancestors were once pagans and were saved through the grace of God. This shows that God’s salvation is given to all people without discrimination. God’s grace is not reserved for any particular race.

As Christians, we cannot have an attitude of isolation or think that we are better or superior to others. God reminds us to “have a care for justice and act with integrity” to all. It matters not who we are, what ethnic group we come from, what religion we profess, God loves all. We should not condemn others or belittle them just because they look, behave, act or think differently than us. We should always show respect to them and put aside our prejudices. We must allow our faith to transform our culture, attitudes and our history. In this way, we can become effective witnesses to all. Are we willing to take up the challenge and love and witness to all, as brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of our loving God?