Faithfulness and Love

Monthly Archives: December 2015

Thursday of the 5th Week of Easter

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What sort of joy are we looking for in this world? Are we looking for joy which is only temporary? Or are we looking for joy that is complete? Some of you may be thinking: “Of course we would want complete joy.” But how do we get complete joy in this world, when we are constantly bombarded with new things or the latest things? For example, some of us may have bought a computer, and initially we are happy with our purchase, but our happiness is short-lived, since a new model or a much more powerful model could have been released shortly after we had bought the computer. Then what happens? Some of us may feel frustrated, since we had purchased too quickly, without waiting for the newer model to emerge. Can we ever attain complete joy from what this world has to offer?

In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples: “Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.” Isn’t it clear that the joy we experience in this world is only temporary? After a while, we would need to find other ways and means to remain joyful. In fact, we may never attain complete joy. However, Jesus is offering a kind of joy which is complete. We can receive this joy which He offers us if we keep God’s commandments and remain in His love.

Some of us may say: “But keeping God’s commandments is hard! How is it possible for us to do so?” It is a question of trust and dependence on God. If we put our trust and dependence in God, and let Him guide our lives; if we are willing to be detached from worldly attractions and pleasures; if we are willing to truly love God and neighbour, with no strings attached, with no conditions; then perhaps we would be able to remain in Jesus’ love and experience complete joy.

Wednesday of the 5th Week of Easter

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When we go to a country for work or studies or some other purpose, we are sometimes advised to follow some of the customs and practices of that country. We may have heard of the saying: “Do as the Romans do.” Even though we follow some of such customs and practices, we may not necessarily follow all of them, since some of these customs and practices are peculiar to a certain ethnic group, and has nothing to do with the faith.

In today’s reading, we come across some conflict, because certain members of the Pharisees’ party who had become believers objected, insisting that the pagans should be circumcised (in other words, “kena potong”) and instructed to keep the Law of Moses. Such a custom or practice was peculiar to the Jews, as it was handed down to them from their forefathers. But is such a custom or practice relevant to others, those who are not Jews? Should Christians be subjected to such a custom, which Jesus did not impose or insist upon in His teaching or way of life? Of course not, and later in another part of the reading, we would understand why. This is where we need to be clear about what is actual teaching of faith, and what are practices which appear to be common among Christians of a certain ethnic group, but not common among Christians as a whole. We need to be clear, since although matters of faith and morals are non-negotiable, matters concerning practices and customs can and will differ from place to place. May we discern carefully and know which is which.

Tuesday of the 5th Week of Easter

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No matter how challenging of difficult your day has been, when you enter a church to pray or to gaze at the tabernacle containing the Blessed Sacrament, how do you feel? Quite likely you would calm down and feel some peace, isn’t it? When you hear a lovely hymn being sung or played from a CD, you would feel some peace right? When you are gazing at the crucifix at home or at the big crucifix in church, or gaze at a holy picture of Jesus, Mary, the Holy Family, or one of your favourite saint, you would also feel some peace right? Notice what is happening? You are experiencing a sense of security and peace, as you know that God is with you.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a message of peace and hope. He tells us: “Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” When we have God with us, when we have Jesus as our guide, then there is no reason to fret, worry or fear. No matter how difficult the circumstances may be, no matter how tough life is treating you, no matter how painful the persecution you may be experiencing, just remember this: God gives us peace, the kind of peace which is sufficient for us. Let us not feel downtrodden or even despair, since God is there to protect us and guide us to our true home.

Saint Mark, Evangelist – Feast

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It is easy for some of us to be taken in by the ways of the world, especially where fame and recognition is concerned. Some of us want to be known or recognised for what we have done, and sometimes we could go through great lengths to protect what we think is rightfully our intellectual property. Even in universities, we are reminded not to plagiarise but to acknowledge the work of others by giving credit where it is due. Of course, it is right to do such things, since by doing so we are promoting healthy research and scholarship, improving on the work of others while thanking them for what has been done; but are we allowing ourselves to become proud and conceited, as a result of such fame and recognition? Are we focusing only on what we have achieved, thinking that we attained such achievements solely through our own effort?

In today’s reading, we are reminded: “All wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other, because God refuses the proud and will always favour the humble.” When we remain humble even though we have achieved much, we are actually giving credit to God for helping us come to where we are today. We are also acknowledging that all that we have, all that we have achieved, are gifts from His bounty, and we continue to depend on Him for help and guidance. May we not become so proud and conceited into thinking that we can do without God, and continue to serve with humility and joy, for His greater glory.

Friday of the 4th Week of Easter

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Some of us may have experienced a situation called mid-life crisis, where we begin to realise that the many things we once enjoyed, can no longer be enjoyed; the many things we once could do, seem to be harder to accomplish; the many tasks we once worked so hard on, seem to be not much of a big deal anymore. When we are experiencing such a situation, some of us may be slipping towards depression, since our life and body condition is changing, as we are aging and we discover that we are no longer as before, sort of like “no more spring chicken.”

But today’s Gospel gives us some comfort. Jesus is inviting us: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me.” What we are going through is part of life as we grow older, and instead of worrying or fretting, we should just move along and adapt to a different phase of life. Sure, we may not be as we were before, but does it really matter? With Jesus as our guide and help, what we can or cannot do is no longer our concern. We just do what we can, and offer all we do for the glory of God. May we keep on trusting in Jesus, knowing that He will be at our side, as we walk on.

Thursday of the 4th Week of Easter

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What do we look for in life? Are we looking for fame, popularity, recognition, peer acceptance or something else for ourselves? Or are we looking for true joy and happiness? Some of us think that by gaining fame, popularity, recognition, or peer acceptance, we would be joyful and happy. But the joy and happiness we seemingly experience are only temporary things, they do not last, they are merely illusions that come and go. After some time, when the fame, popularity, recognition, or peer acceptance is gone, we may even lose the joy and happiness previously experienced.

That is why, in today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us: “I tell you most solemnly, no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him. Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly.” When we let Jesus be in control, when we do not seek greatness for ourselves, then we will experience true happiness, because all that we are doing is not for our own pleasure, personal gratification or to boost our ego. All that we are doing is for the greater glory of God, and to build God’s Kingdom. May we be humble and willing to walk in Jesus’ ways, and let Him grant us true happiness, the kind of happiness that will last.

Wednesday of the 4th Week of Easter

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It is tempting for some of us to come up with our own opinion or interpretation about what a particular passage in the bible means. Sometimes our opinion or interpretation could be coloured or influenced by our background, attitude towards certain persons or places, or some other criteria. When we begin to interpret passages in the bible on our own, without a definitive authority, then we risk interpreting such passages according to what suits us, or what suits our agenda. This could lead others to follow what we say, instead of what the bible is really telling us, or what Jesus is really teaching us.

This is where Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel: “For what I have spoken does not come from myself; no, what I was to say, what I had to speak, was commanded by the Father who sent me, and I know that his commands mean eternal life. And therefore what the Father has told me is what I speak.” Jesus is showing us what we are to say or teach should not be at our whims and fancies, since what we are teaching is not our own stuff, but what Jesus taught us. Are we trying to build God’s Kingdom by teaching what Jesus is really teaching? Or are we ending up building our own kingdom, by teaching what we think Jesus is teaching, but in reality, is our own stuff instead?

Tuesday of the 4th Week of Easter

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In the corporate world, people would generally not share important matters or company procedures with just anybody. This is because such information is normally classified as trade secrets or company confidential information, and sharing such information could be detrimental towatds the growth of the company, or put the company at a disadvantage. Strict rules and heavy penalties are enforced to ensure that employees and those who have access to such information toe the line and divulge such information only to those who are authorised to know. But when it comes to the Good News of Jesus Christ, we have no such stringent rules. Instead, we are encouraged to share the Good News to everyone without fear or favour. But sometimes, we come across people who seem to be sharing the Good News only with certain groups or certain persons they are comfortable with. As Christians, are we limiting our efforts on sharing the Good News? Or have we learnt to break any barriers or prejudices, and share the Good News with all?

In today’s reading, we are told that those who escaped during the persecution travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, but they proclaimed the Good News only to the Jews. We were not told why they limited the proclamation of the Good News only to the Jews, since there could have been many reasons that made them do so, including reasons like the political, social and cultural circumstances. But some of them who came from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and started preaching to the Greeks, and the Lord helped them, and a great number believed and were converted to the Lord. This shows that if we are willing to move out of the norm and venture into the unknown, if we are willing to come out of our comfort zone and be courageous and daring to reach out to others, God can work wonders through us. May we be humble and willing to let God be in control, so that we can be His instruments in building His Kingdom and glorify His Name.

Monday of the 4th Week of Easter

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One of the things that ought to change when we become Christians is that we should no longer be divided or segregated according to ethnic group, language group, racial lines or whatever that had segregated us in the past. We are brothers and sisters in Christ; not brothers and sisters in Christ according to a certain group, or language, or social status; but brothers and sisters in Christ, full stop. What this means is, we are no longer strangers or foreigners to each other, but one family with Jesus as our brother, Mary as our mother, God as our Father. If we live according to such basic principles, then we should experience peace and happiness in unity with diversity. But are we really living as brothers and sisters in Christ, or are we still distinguishing ourselves according to groups, factions or some other criteria?

In today’s reading, the Jews were initially unhappy that the pagans or the uncircumcised had been baptised. These Jews thought that Jesus belonged only to their club, and all others are to be excluded. But Peter made them realise that God does not limit Himself only to certain groups or certain persons. He is God for all, and He loves us all the same, regardless of who we are, or where we come from, since the reading tells us: “‘God’ they said ‘can evidently grant even the pagans the repentance that leads to life.'”

If God is a God for all, then what about us? Are we still keeping only to our group, our social status, our prejudices, our comfort zones? Or have we learnt to come out and mix around, as brothers and sisters in Christ, one family of God? Are we living and loving as brothers and sisters in Christ, without terms or conditions? Or are we still trapped in our old self and old ways?

Friday of the 3rd Week of Easter

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It is easy for us to write off someone who seems lost or hopeless according to our expectations or according to our standards, or the person is different from us or seems to be lacking in one way or another, according to our coloured and prejudiced eyes. Some of us begin to think that such a person is beyond redemption and is destined to be condemned. Some of us even ostracise the person, and do not want to have anything to do with the person. The funny thing is, sometimes, God uses such persons to teach us never to judge, never to be so quick to condemn, to be humble, and to love unconditionally, just as God loves all of us the same.

In today’s reading, we come across Saul who many feared and despised, since he was fervently and enthusiastically persecuting Christians. But God had other plans for Saul. Instead of writing him off, God caused Saul to change from a Christian basher, to a Christian defender. Imagine the shock, bewilderment and amazement experienced by the Christians when Saul, who became Paul, began preaching in the synagogues, ‘Jesus is the Son of God.’ Who would have ever thought that Saul could be turned into a stalwart promoter of the Christian faith, yet that is exactly what happened. God had shown that what was impossible is made possible.

What does this tell us? It tells us that God can do wonders beyond our expectations. He can change people, no matter how evil, horrible, obnoxious or mean they may have been. Are we willing to put our trust in God, knowing that He will do what is best for us, according to His time and for His glory?