Monthly Archives: June 2015

Some of us seem to have the urge to do lots of things in church. Some seem to have the need to be involved in many different ministries, and help out in many different projects and activities, thinking that without their help or involvement, the ministry, project or activity may collapse or be less successful. But is being Christian only about doing, doing and doing?

In today’s Gospel, we come across two sisters who had contrasting views about what doing and being is all about. Martha had been working very hard to make Jesus feel welcomed in her home. She’s the sort of person who cannot sit down and must always be working because there is always someone to take care of or some task to be completed. She’s doing her very best thinking that that her very best is what the Lord wants of her. But it’s not what Martha can do that matters. What really matters is what Jesus can do for her. And this is what Mary had allowed Jesus to do. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, which to some may seem to be useless and doing nothing. But she was actually allowing Jesus to be Jesus, as her Teacher, as her Guide, and as her Lord. Likewise, in the first reading, Abraham thought that he was extending hospitality to the three men, not knowing that God was in his midst. He thought that he was doing his guests a favour by being hospitable, but it would be his guest, God, who would be doing a favour for him. Abraham, who had been childless for so many years, would now have a child, a gift from God.

We sometimes forget that God invites us to participate in His work of salvation. Whatever our contribution, it is always still God’s work, not ours, and we should not be taking credit for all the people that we’ve helped, since God has chosen us as His instruments to help them. If we fail to recognise this, then we would be building our own kingdom rather than God’s kingdom. This is why St. Paul in the second reading can speak with such hope and joy, because he realises that he is only a servant of God, and merely one small piece in that whole plan of God for the salvation of mankind. Ultimately, Paul knew that all that he had been doing is for the glory of God.

What about us? Are we still focused in only doing things for God, without spending time being with Him and listening to His promptings? Are we doing things to show how great, clever, capable or important we are, or have we learnt to give God the glory for all that we do? Let us always remember that we are not the master but merely servants, and that we are building God’s kingdom, not our own.

Some of us would still remember our catechism classes or in some cases even at RCIA sessions, where we are reminded of what we can or cannot do as Christians. For example, some of us recall being told that we cannot eat meat on Fridays; or that if we have committed a serious sin we should go for confession first before going for communion; or that we must go to church every Sunday or every day if possible; so many do’s and don’ts which could go on and on. It seems as if being Christian means observing so many laws and restrictions, making life appearing to be stifling or suffocating for some. But is Christian living merely about keeping laws? Well, yes and no, since Christian living actually demands that we keep one Law, which is Love, of which must be the basis of all other laws.

Today’s Gospel tells us of three different persons who came across a man who had been robbed, beaten up, and left for dead. The first two persons, the priest and the Levite, who walked pass the person in distress, were not being ‘bad’ people, so to speak, but they were actually merely trying to be good Jews, since to them, keeping the Law was more important. This is because, to the Jews, to touch someone who was covered in blood would be to touch someone considered ‘unclean.’ The Samaritan, on the other hand, is an outsider, a non-Jew. Yet, it is this Samaritan who reaches out to help the man in need. He goes out of his way to make sure that the man’s well-being is taken care of till the man makes a full recovery.

The Samaritan’s generosity is an example of the kind love which Jesus speaks about in the Gospel, since as the first reading reminds us, “it is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.” Love is not merely something we observe or do out of obligation, but must be freely given and freely received. Jesus is the perfect example of this love, by becoming man and dying on the cross for us, so that we may live. In His life and in His death, He was faithful to the greatest law, the greatest commandment, that is the law of love.

Today, let us follow the example of the Good Samaritan, and the example of Jesus, and not merely and blindly follow God’s laws like the priest and the Levite. Instead, let us never forget to follow the greatest law of all, that is the law of Love.

Today’s readings give us two conflicting images that do not seem possible to be harmonised. One is of abundance and rejoicing; the other is of the cross and self-denial. When we look at these images, we would wonder how we could link the two, since finding a connection does not seem so evident or straightforward. But if we look discernly and carefully at the messages offered in today’s readings, we can see how they actually do fit together.

In the first reading, Isaiah’s message is a vision of the future Jerusalem, which had been destroyed, its inhabitants scattered, will be made prosperous again and its people brought back home, and the ancient Israelites clung with hope and trust to this promise of future security and happiness. In curent times, some of us too are experiencing cities ravaged by war, cities plagued by poverty; and cities infested with crime. We grieve over what is happening to such cities, and we wonder whether God will turn their mourning into rejoicing. This is not a vain hope or just a dream, for as today’s psalm reminds us, God “changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot.” God liberated a people before; and He certainly could do it again. But how would He do so?

Today’s Gospel offers us answers to this question. The world has an immense need of labourers who will bring to life the kingdom of God. Jesus sent out the seventy-two in pairs, to all the towns and places that He himself was to visit, and he sends us out to continue their work. Today we are the ones with the message, “Peace to this household.” “Peace” seems to be a simple greeting to give, but a great and challenging task to accomplish. But world peace really does begin in our families and in our neighbourhoods, and we can and must establish it there. Jesus warned us that the message of peace may be rejected. Our efforts at change may not always be appreciated. But God restored the people in the past, and through us, God can continue to restore the people today.

One thing we need to constantly remember is that we are the new creation of which Paul speaks in today’s second reading. And like Paul, we too must be willing to be crucified to some of the standards of our world, standards that stand in opposition to the reign of God. It is in this way that the cross enters our lives, and that God’s peace would begin to spread in our homes, our neighbourhood, our cities, our countries, throughout the world. Let us pray that God will continue to help us in our effort and grant us more patience in spreading His message of peace to all.

Many of us call ourselves Christians and do our best to live good and devout lives. We make effort to go to church as often as possible, some even daily. However, let us consider for a moment: if Jesus were to come to you and ask you to “Come, follow me,” what would your answer be? Would you say “yes” immediately, or would you start thinking of all the things you need to settle before following Jesus, or make all sorts of excuses instead?

Today’s gospel gives us a very clear picture of what is required of us to be Jesus’ disciples. In a nutshell, we must be prepared to give up all things that we value in order to follow Jesus. In the Gospel, we see three different situations. Firstly, Jesus reminds us that although all other creatures may have a home, the Son of Man himself has no permanent home. This means that a disciple needs to give up all forms of security such as a good job, a good family, or even a good education, to follow Jesus. The second man was unable to follow Jesus immediately because he needed to fulfil his filial obligation to bury his father. Yet even this, according to Jesus, does not take precedence over the call to follow Jesus. Finally, the third man is reminded that if one is to follow Jesus, there is no turning back: “once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” These three situations are examples of the high cost of discipleship. However, Jesus is not asking us to be not filial or to discard our obligations to our parents and elders, since service to God should never be used as an excuse to escape from one’s obligations to one’s parents. But what the Gospel is telling us is that one must be prepared to die to one’s personal needs, likes and dislikes, and even agenda to follow Jesus.

The first reading tells us of Elisha, who answered the call of Elijah, and slaughtered the oxen and burned the plough. What Elisha was doing is that he is giving up everything: he is abandoning his life as a farmer to be a prophet and follow Elijah. This is a sign of firm commitment. Are we willing to make a firm commitment like Elisha did, to follow Jesus? Remember that once we have truly and sincerely decided to follow Jesus, there is no turning back. Are we willing to sacrifice everything for Jesus, for the sake of the Kingdom of God?