Some of us may have made vows or promises to God for some reason or another, but sometimes, we may have been unwise in the vows or promises that we have made. If God helps us attain what we desire or ask for, would we be able to fulfil the vow or promise made? We may find ourselves in a difficult situation, especially if the vow or promise we made is a foolish one. As Ecclesiates 5:4-5 cautions us: “When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”
In today’s reading: “Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, ‘If you deliver the Ammonites into my hands, then the first person to meet me from the door of my house when I return in triumph from fighting the Ammonites shall belong to the Lord, and I will offer him up as a holocaust.'” Such a vow was indeed foolish and unwise, and Jephthah paid the ultimate price for making it, since the first person to meet him was his only daughter. Unable to go against his word, Jephthah had to fulfil his vow by offering his only daughter as a holocaust.
What about us? Have we made foolish or stupid vows recently? Are we not only setting ourselves up for our own ruin? As Jesus cautions and reminds us: “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Why do we make vows that we know would be quite difficult or impossible to keep? Why are we putting the Lord to the test? Let us not be careless in what we say or the vows we make, but say what we mean and mean what we say.
Monthly Archives: April 2015
Wednesday of Week 20 Year 1
Most people like to be recognised or rewarded for the work they do. When they have completed a task or some projects, they hope to get a good job review and look forward to an increase in salary, perks or even a promotion. Few people in the world are content with remaining as they are, without any reward, remuneration or recognition. However, when the boss or superior begins to reward everyone equally, regardless of how much or how little a person has done, there are bound to be some who feel cheated or that the boss or superior has been unfair in the way the reward was distributed. Some people would begin to feel disillusioned or less motivated, and some may just leave the company in disgust, because in their mind, rewards should be given in proportion to the amount of effort done and results achieved.
In today’s Gospel, we come across a landowner who hired workers at different hours of the day. Each worker was promised one denarius a day no matter how much or how little work he had done. When it came to paying the workers, the landowner had kept his end of the bargain or agreement. He paid each worker one denarius as what had been agreed. But this is where some workers began to grumble, as some of us may do so too. Those workers who had worked longer hours had expected to be paid more, but when they received one denarius too, they felt cheated and felt the landowner was being unfair. But if we recall, the landowner had made an agreement with the workers, and in that agreement, each worker would be paid one denarius a day, nothing more, nothing less, and that is exactly what the landowner had done.
Sometimes we come across a boss or a superior who is like that landowner. If the boss or superior is being kind and generous to all, do we have a right to complain? God is like that landowner, and He cares and loves all, regardless of how good or bad we have been. Do we have a right to complain? Instead, shouldn’t we be grateful and thankful that we have a boss or superior who is generous to all? He or she could have easily rewarded only his or her favourites, but chose to reward all generously. In the same way, God could have cared for only those who have been holy or good, but He cares for all of us and is patient with us. Thus, let us give thanks to God for His generosity and providence, and continue to do all things for His greater glory.
Tuesday of Week 20 Year 1
Have you ever wondered why you are unable to grow in your spiritual life? One reason is because some of us are still clinging on to other things or persons, which we are reluctant to let go. These things and persons may be our wealth, riches, titles, popularity, fame, or even loved ones, but when we cling on and focus on these other things, we are actually being burdened by them, for we fear that if we do not pay attention to them, we worry that they may be lost or stolen.
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.'” The eye of a needle is a door which is shaped in such a way that a camel or any person carrying or clinging to too many things would not be able to pass through. It is only when the things are removed that one could pass through easily.
In the same way, each of us may be finding it difficult to pass through our very own “eye of a needle” to become closer to God. Our deeds and our sins may have become quite numerous; burdening and bogging us down, making it quite difficult or even impossible for us to move on. It is only when we have unloaded or removed such burdens that we would then be able to move closer to God. The question is: are we so fearful or proud to remove such burdens, or are we willing to let go and let God be our guide? God is beckoning us to come to Him so that He can care for us, it is up to us to discard that which is temporary, so that we may attain that which is for all eternity.
Monday of Week 20 Year 1
Some of us find it quite difficult to detach ourselves from something. Some of us are so attached to our wealth and property, some of us are so attached to our titles, some of us are attached to our popularity and fame, some are even so attached to their spouse, so much so that they become easily jealous or suspicious of their spouse should they be just a little late, or they need to go some place. But whatever attachments we have towards people are things, the fact is we will not be able to remain attached to such persons or things forever. There will come a time where we may lose the person or thing for one reason or another. Then what do we do then?
In today’s Gospel, we come across a young man who claims to have observed all the commandments and wondered what more he needed to do to possess eternal life. While Jesus did not challenge the young man to prove that he had really observed all the commandments, Jesus did challenge the young man to become detached of his wealth, give it all away, and follow Him. This caused the young man to go away sad, for even though he may have supposingly observed all the commandments, he was still not able to observe the commandment to love, rich and poor alike. When we observe all the commandments, we observe them because we want to love God and neighbour, and not observe the commandments like robots. The young man may have thought that observing the commandments was good enough, but what he had failed to realise is that it is meaningless to observe without genuine love and charity towards others.
What about us? Are we observing all the commandments because we love God and neighbour? Or are we still entrapped in our own agenda, by observing the commandments only for our benefit or when it suits us? May we be humble and willing to become detached from things and persons around us, so that we could learn to depend more and more in God’s providence and care.
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Some people think that they are very wise, or that they supposingly have wisdom beyond their years. Others think that they are very intelligent. But is an intelligent person considered a wise person? If a person is clever in doing something or accomplishing something, is that person considered wise? Sometimes we come across people who have given up much of their time and wealth helping others. There are some in society who view such people as foolish, silly or stupid, since they think that such people could have used their time “wisely” for better pursuits. But are such people wise in helping others? Or are those who think these folks are being foolish, silly or stupid the ones who are wise? What is wisdom, really?
In Proverbs 9:10, we are told: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” This is quite a different picture of wisdom from what the world thinks as wisdom. In fact, St. Paul in today’s second reading reminds us: “Be very careful about the sort of lives you lead, like intelligent and not like senseless people. This may be a wicked age, but your lives should redeem it. And do not be thoughtless but recognize what is the will of the Lord.” When we are thinking with the mind of God, when we learn to fear Him with awe and reverence, we begin to learn and appreciate true wisdom, which is God’s wisdom.
This is why we would never be able to reconcile human wisdom with God’s wisdom. One classic example of how human wisdom differs greatly from God’s wisdom is the Eucharist. We Christians believe that Jesus is truly present in the consecrated bread and wine. The bread may continue to look and taste like bread, but our faith tells us that it is no longer bread but Christ himself. This is something really hard to understand or accept if we rely only on human wisdom. Moreover, in the Gospel, Jesus insisted that He is the living bread from heaven and that anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. Not only that, Jesus insisted that his “flesh” is that bread of life. Naturally, the Jews reacted in an understandable way, since they relied on human wisdom and logical intelligence, and they even argued among themselves: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” But God’s wisdom does not need to be logical, since His wisdom goes beyond our logic and our limited understanding. At Communion, it is Jesus that we are receiving, his flesh, his body. This may sound like foolishness or absurdity to the world, but for us it is wisdom, since we know and believe that Jesus is the only food that can satisfy all our wants and desires.
Therefore, let us not focus too much only on trying to be intelligent or clever, since these things are only temporary and will fail us some day. Let us also not depend too much on human wisdom, since what appears to be wise in human terms may not necessarily be so in God’s terms. Instead, let us make more effort to seek divine wisdom, so that with God’s help and guidance, we will grow closer to Him and one day be with Him for all eternity.
Housekeeping – Week 19 Year 1
For your easy reference, the following is a list of weeks and years with their corresponding date:
9 Aug 2015 – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
10 Aug 2015 – Saint Laurence, Deacon, Martyr – Feast
11 Aug 2015 – Tuesday of Week 19 Year 1
12 Aug 2015 – Wednesday of Week 19 Year 1
13 Aug 2015 – Thursday of Week 19 Year 1
14 Aug 2015 – Friday of Week 19 Year 1
15 Aug 2015 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Among the many Feast days and Solemnities which we celebrate each month, one Solemnity which some people may be wondering why it is being celebrated is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Some wonder whether we are giving too much reverence or too much “face” to the Blessed Virgin Mary, so to speak. But if we look closely at what we are doing, we are actually celebrating not the glory of Mary in herself, but the wonderful works of God and His abundant grace. Mary is assumed into heaven only because of God’s grace, which transforms a docile, humble and simple person like Mary into the person whom we admire today. Therefore, on this Solemnity, it is God whom we are actually glorifying and praising.
The Solemnity of the Assumption gives us several messages of faith and hope. It helps us affirm our faith and hope that we Christians will share in the resurrection of Christ. We can believe in the resurrection because it has already happened to mother Mary and she is proof that the resurrection is a reality. It reminds us of the goodness and beauty of our physical bodies. Mary is assumed into heaven not only in soul, but in both body and soul into heaven. The body is not evil and not the cause for our sinfulness, since the body is created good by God. It is we who are tempted and choose to sin and commit evil. The Solemnity of the Assumption also reaffirms and reminds us of the unity of the body and the soul. A body without a soul is a lifeless thing. But a body with a soul is a person that deserves respect and dignity. If we forget or ignore the spiritual dimension of persons and treat persons only as a physical body, we would start treating such persons as a thing to be used, abused and discarded when no longer useful. We are reminded that the body may decay but the soul continues for eternity. Because of this, we should focus more on what happens for eternity rather than focusing too much attention on what is temporary.
If we call ourselves Christians, then Mary should have a special place in our hearts, for we believe that she is the mother of Jesus, and since Jesus is both God and man, Mary is also mother of God. But our love for Mary is meant to lead us ultimately to love Jesus her son. She brought Jesus into this world and Jesus brought her into eternal life.Thus we should, together with mother Mary, praise God and thank Him for the many things He has done in our lives, and thank Him especially for the gift of His Son, Jesus.
Friday of Week 19 Year 1
Different people have got different views about what a marriage is all about. Some think that it is ok for people to marry, and then if they find that they have differences that they supposingly cannot resolve, then they should divorce. Others, including the Catholic Church, insist that there is no such thing as a divorce and that couples should make every effort to reconcile their differences and seek help where necessary to maintain their marriage. Why is the Catholic Church so strict about marriages where some other denominations have relaxed the rules?
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminded the Pharisees and reminds us too: “Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.”
This is why, when it comes to marriages, the Catholic Church pays particular attention to the pre-marital preparation and the pre-marital course, as well as other programmes to help couples in their married lives. Getting and staying married is not like changing clothes, so the couple should be fully aware of themselves, each other, and what they are getting themselves into. Sometimes, in the process of attending a pre-marital course and making the necessary pre-marital preparations with the parish priest, the couple may discover things about each other which may not have surfaced previously. This gives the couple a chance to decide whether they are still willing to remain united with each other before the marriage takes place. After all, a wedding is only a moment in time, but a marriage is for a lifetime. So, do not play play with marriage, unless one is ready and prepared to work at it and stay committed, united and remain in love with the other, no matter what happens.
Thursday of Week 19 Year 1
How genuine are we when it comes to forgiveness? Some of us say we forgive, but we still keep the hurt in our hearts and even dwell on it. Some of us say we forgive, but we still remember what had happened and we cannot seem to let it go. So what exactly is forgiveness then? Forgiveness is the intentional and voluntary process by which a victim undergoes a change in feelings and attitude regarding an offense, lets go of negative emotions such as vengefulness, with an increased ability to wish the offender well. This also means that the victim no longer allows the offense to affect him or her, and is willing to let God help him or her heal over time.
The first servant in today’s Gospel had had his debt cancelled and he was allowed to go free. But this servant obviously did not appreciate the generosity of his master. He thought that he had been given a lucky break. That is why the first servant did not seem to understand or appreciate his master’s forgiveness. Instead of learning from his master and forgiving his fellow servant by cancelling his fellow servant’s debt, he became mean, arrogant and nasty towards his fellow servant, even to the point of having his fellow servant thrown into prison. In the end, this unforgiving servant ended up in prison himself, and his master in anger and disgust “handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt.”
We ask God for forgiveness whenever we sin, but have we been just as forgiving to others, just as God is forgiving to us? May we take heed and be warned, that we too may end up in prison just like that unforgiving servant, as Jesus cautions us: “And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.”
Wednesday of Week 19 Year 1
Many of us want quick solutions to our problems. This is often because we are so used to having many things done for us instantly. For example, we want to get money, we go to the ATM and withdraw the amount we require. We also have instant coffee, instant tea, instant noodles and so many other instant things which supposingly makes life easier. However, when it comes to relationships, could we ever have instant relationships? Would we be happy with a relationship where it is touch and go, or we hardly know the other, or the relationship is just shallow, sort of more like an acquaintance than a true friend type of relationship? Surely not. I believe most of us would want a lasting, happy, healthy and meaningful relationship.
This is why, in today’s Gospel, we are reminded about how we should deal with people, especially when there is a problem or issue at hand. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us: “If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.” This means that we should not expect instant solutions or jump the gun and go straight to a higher authority without dealing with the other party first. Thus, if we really and truly value our relationships, let us be mindful of how we treat others, since we too would want to be treated fairly, justly and with proper dignity.