Faithfulness and Love

Monthly Archives: October 2014

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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There are several words, practices or beliefs in our Christian faith which cannot be explicitly found in the Bible. For example, the word “Trinity” is not specifically mentioned anywhere in the Bible, but Christians still believe that our God is a Trinitarian God or a Trinity. Likewise, the word “Christmas” is not found anywhere in the Bible, but many Christians celebrate Christmas to remind us of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just because a word is not found in the Bible, does that mean it is not true? No. This is because many of these words, practices or beliefs are what we call “Sacred Tradition” which Christians have accepted from the earliest times.

The Memorial of the presentation of Mary in the Temple is another belief among Catholics which is not found in the Bible but from sources other than the Bible. It is found in an extra-biblical source called the Infancy Narrative of James. According to that text, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne had been childless, but then they received a message from heaven that they would have a child. In thanksgiving, they brought the child Mary to the Temple to consecrate her to the Lord. It is believed that Mary remained in the Temple to be formed and prepared for her role as the Mother of God. This feast shows that even in her childhood Mary was completely dedicated to God. It is from this account that arose the Memorial of Mary’s Presentation.

From this Memorial, we are reminded of our presentation, dedication and consecration to God when we were baptised. We were transformed from an old self to a new self, to be God’s chosen children. As God’s children, our duty is to go forth to preach the Good News and to present our lives as an offering that is pleasing to God. Just as Mary fulfilled her mission to bring Jesus Christ into the world, we too are called, chosen and sent to fulfil our mission in bringing His message into the world. Are we following Mary’s example and doing our part earnestly, diligently and joyfully?

Thursday of Week 33 Year 2

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Opportunities come and go. We can choose to seize such opportunities, or we can choose to ignore them and let them go by. Some have become so used to certain ways, habits or behaviours that they are resistant to change. Such people refuse to accept good opportunities to enhance themselves or to change for the better, preferring to remain as status quo. But how long can such people remain as they are? There may come a time they would be replaced or retired, so that new ways and new blood could be introduced. In our faith journey, we may also become stagnant if we refuse to change. God gives us many opportunities to grow closer in relationship with Him, and it is up to us to seize such opportunities, or end up being left behind.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus had every reason to shed tears over Jerusalem. The Jews had heard the message of Jesus but His message of peace did not sink into their hearts. The Jews did not heed the signs that God gave them because of their stubbornness and refusal to change. As a result, Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, and the Jews who attempted to revolt against the Romans were destroyed and crushed. We too may suffer a similar fate, if we procrastinate or remain obstinate in our ways. God is patient and loving to all of us, and He gives us many opportunities to build a deeper and closer relationship with Him. We can choose to walk humbly in His ways, or choose to do things our way. Let us be mindful of the consequences of our actions.

Wednesday of Week 33 Year 2

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Eash and every one of us has been given gifts, talents and capabilities which are meant to be put to good use and ultimately to glorify God. Some of us make use of our gifts, talents and capabilities as intended, but there are some who do not do so. Some make all sorts of excuses, saying that they are not good enough, or not skilful enough, or they are too busy with other things to offer their gifts, talents and capabilities at church or at a parish ministry. The point is, do we consider our gifts, talents and capabilities as our own, to be used as we please, and perhaps to glorify ourselves? Or are we using such gifts, talents and capabilities for the greater glory of God?

In today’s Gospel, we read of a man of noble birth who gave ten servants one pound each to do business with. Most of the servants used their gifts, talents and capabilities to make more money for their master, and they were amply rewarded. But one servant, knowing fully well what sort of person his master was, still had the gall to hand back the one pound to his master without doing anything to it. Such arrogance and refusal to use his gifts, talents and capabilities for the benefit of his master only led him to be condemned.

What about us? Are we using our gifts, talents and capabilities wisely for the greater glory of God? Or have we become selfish, complacent or arrogant, like that one servant, refusing to use our gifts, talents and capabilities in a righful way? Just as that one servant lost his one pound and was condemned, we too may lose our gifts, talents and capabilities if we are not careful.

Monday of Week 33 Year 2

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Every once in a while, we are faced with some difficulty or challenges or issues. When we are faced with such things, some of us may expect instant or quick resolution. When such quick resolution is not forthcoming, some may begin to pray earnestly to God, beseeching Him to help them. But what if we still do not get any help or response from God? Some may begin to feel angry or upset, some may think God has abandoned them, some may even give up or despair. But what about us? Are we expecting our issues or challenges to go away as quickly as possible? Or are we able to be patient and persistent in prayer, knowing that God will do what is best for us?

In today’s Gospel,  we see how the blind man was patient, persistent and persevering in asking Jesus to have pity on him. Even though the crowds thought he was a nuisance and scolded him, he refused to give up or be cowed by the crowd. Eventually, the blind man was able to come up to Jesus and because of his faith and perseverance, he got back his sight. What about us? Are we able to be like the blind man, being patient, persistent and persevering? In a world where we have become more and more used to fast results, perhaps we could learn from the blind man. We know that God will help us according to His terms and His time. It is a matter of whether we are willing and humble enough to have faith and trust in His providence.

Tuesday of Week 33 Year 2

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What sort of state or condition are you in today in life? Are you happy, well-off, healthy, feeling peaceful, feeling loved and accepted; or are you feeling destitute, rejected, feeling depressed, struggling to make ends meet? What sort of state is your soul in today in life? Are you consistently making effort to grow closer to God; or have you become lukewarm, paying more attention to what this world has to offer and losing focus in your faith and dependence in God’s providence?

In today’s reading, the church in Sardis was once eager in faith for God but over time, it became more dead than alive in relationship with God. The reading also speaks of the church in Laodecia which was neither cold or hot in its zeal for God, but instead had become lukewarm in faith. How did these churches end up in such a state? Complacency, lack of focus, falling into the temptations of the world and becoming less humble and dependent on God are some possible reasons why these churches in Sardis and Laodecia had become like this. These churches in Sardis and Laodecia were warned by the Lord to wake up and change their ways and return to the Lord’s fold.

What about us? Have we become more dead than alive in our relationship with God? Have we become lukewarm in faith? God is inviting us to repent and turn back to Him, and dwell in His love and presence. Life is unpredictable and short, for we do not know the day or time we would need to face the Lord. We are given many opportunities to let Him guide us and care for us. It is up to us to take the initiative and make effort to change, open the door to our heart and soul, and let Him in.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

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Each and every one of us have talents and abilities unique to us. No two persons are exactly the same. Some people, unfortunately, go through life without living or realising their full potential. Some people are satisfied with doing only the barest minimum, and they often remark: “Why should we do too much? Why do more when we can get by by doing less?” The point is, God created us to live life to the fullest, not to live only a fraction or a small portion of our lives. If the way we are living is only 5% of what we are capable of, then we are wasting the other 95%. We are often reminded not to waste food, not to waste time frivolously, or not to waste our talents, but perhaps we should also remind ourselves not to waste our lives.

We should always be ready to meet the Lord at any time, and being ready means we should be giving glory to God in all we do. We may not be able to do everything, or get things done well, or achieve all our hopes and aspirations; but what matters is not the amount of things we have done, what matters is we have done our best for the glory of God.

In the first reading, we see the example of a perfect wife as a great example of what it means to be a Christian disciple. A perfect wife knows that “charm is deceitful and beauty empty.” What is important is that she is able to fulfil her roles and responsibilities, bringing “advantage and not hurt to her husband all the days of her life.” The perfect wife reminds us that we are made for the glory of God and not to bring hurt to Him or to others. Likewise, the gospel tells us the story of three servants who received different amount of talents from their master. The amount that they received is not important, as what matters is how they used what they received to benefit their master. Sometimes we may feel that we are receiving less than others and we may feel this is unfair. Why are we receiving less? We do not know, no one except God knows, but we ought to know that the more we receive, the more is expected of us. Whatever we receive ought to be used for the good of others and for the glory of God. If we just whine or complain that we do not have enough, if we do not bother to do anything with the little that we have, then even what we have will be taken away.

Are we making the best use of our lives? Are we living life to the fullest? Or are we living a life of mediocrity, thinking that we are not good, not capable, not talented, when the fact is we actually are? Remember that God has given us talents and gifts not for our personal gratification or to exalt ourselves (in Malay, not to “syiok sendiri”); God has given us talents and gifts for His greater glory. Let us not hesitate or procrastinate in our efforts to live life to the fullest or the best we can, since as St. Paul in the second reading reminds us: “But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober.”