Faithfulness and Love

Monthly Archives: January 2016

Tuesday of Week 18 Year 2

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When a parent punishes a child, the parent may use harsh words or raise the voice. Some parents, especially those who come from an older or traditional background, may resort to giving a little smack. Those of us who are older may remember our parents using the cane or rod to give us a little whack for being naughty or mischievous. But generally, our parents said or did such things not because they hated or despised us, they did so because they loved us and those methods of disciplining were the only ways known to them at that time. After all, we were born without a user manual, and our parents did what they thought was best for us.

In the same way, in today’s reading, God had been quite harsh to the Israelites because of their stubbornness, sin, iniquity and obstinate refusal to change. It took many punishments and suffering for the Israelites to learn their lesson, but God did so to help them realise that ultimately, He is the one and only God. Eventually, God even restored His people and said: “And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”

What about us? When God punishes us for something we have done wrong, when we are reprimanded for sinning, will be be humble and docile in accepting such correction? We may feel pain and suffering at first, but by going through such correction, we may become better persons. Let us not feel dejected, since God is our help and guide, and all He does for us is for our own good.

常年期第三周星期四次年

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为什么有时我们会发觉很难在教会的执事中看到新人？其中一个缘由是：有些人有天赋或才华，却不愿意用来服务教会。这一部分人会抱着“对我有什么好处？”的态度；或他们觉得自己的天赋或才华是应该用于个人的利益或好处上；有些则认为自己不够好，但事实上他们的天赋或才华很非凡，甚至惊人的。我们会否愧疚于这样的态度或是思维方式？

在今天的福音中，我们是这样的被提醒：“人拿灯来，岂是为放在斗底或是床下，不是为放在灯台上吗？因为没有什么隐藏的事，不是为彰明出来的。谁若有耳听，听吧！要留心你们所听的：你们用什么尺度量给人，也要用什么尺度量给你们，且要多加给你们，因为凡有的，还要给他；凡没有的，连他所有的，也要从他夺去。”当我们把我们的恩宠，天赋，才华和能力贡献于教会和天主，我们肯定会从祂那里得到更多，有时可能会超乎想象。抑或我们的固执与自私自利，导致我们漠不关心以缺乏复习，直到某天我们失去了这所有的恩宠？

Monday of Week 18 Year 2

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Being a prophet is not something which one takes upon himself or herself, and the message to be delivered is to be from God, regardless whether message is good or bad. Sometimes, we come across so-called prophets who curry-favour or win over people who crave for good news, with the intention of gaining popularity, wealth and fame. Such so-called prophets are what we call false prophets, misusing the word “prophet” for their own ends and purposes.

In today’s reading, we come across an example of a false prophet named Hananiah. The reading warns us of the consequences of being a false prophet: “The prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, ‘Listen carefully, Hananiah: the Lord has not sent you; and thanks to you this people are now relying on what is false. Hence – the Lord says this, “I am going to throw you off the face of the earth: you are going to die this year since you have preached apostasy from the Lord.”‘ The prophet Hananiah died the same year, in the seventh month.” As we can see, a false prophet is asking for trouble, since such persons are not only deceiving others, but they would also face the wrath of God.

Are any among us behaving like a false prophet? Let us take heed of the warning the reading gives us. Let us stop our false ways and the nonsense we have been saying and doing, repent and return to God’s ways, before it is too late.

Thursday of Week 17 Year 2

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As children, some of us may have played with mud or clay before. We may have tried to make an object with mud or clay, so that we could use such an object to play perhaps with our friends or even imaginary friends. Sometimes we would try to make an object which could be used as a decorative item. When we are not too happy with what we made, we just roll the whole thing into a big ball of mess, and start over, until we are satisfied with what we have made.

In today’s reading: “I went down to the potter’s house and there he was, working at the wheel. Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased. Then the word of the LORD came to me: Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done? says the LORD. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.” God constantly worked on the Israelites and tried to help them come back to Him. Likewise, God is also constantly working on us, inviting us to turn back to Him and depend on Him. Sometimes we are resistant to His moulding, and we may not turn out according to what He likes, but He is still willing to try again until we are moulded into something better. Are we willing to let God, like the potter, mould us into the best we can be?

常年期第三周星期三次年

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在弥撒中每当收献时可以观察到我们对于主的信德。有些人会把一令吉或二令吉投进收献袋里，其他的可能会多给一些。但如果我们撇开数目，我们又会给多少奉献给教会的各种需求？那是一个公平或体面的数额或是在我们的个人或家庭状况以最高能力内提供我们能够奉献的，又或者我们只给予最低的数额？由于钱是给教会做各种维修的用途以及各种教会的项目和活动当中也包括一些慈善的活动并通过活动让教徒的信德与灵修成长，如此来看我们会更慷慨奉献所有吗？我们又是否愿意奉献超过我们所能给予的？那时间呢？我们又是否愿意奉献自己的时间来出席教会各种活动或慈善工作？又或者我们是想成为仅仅只给予最底限度奉献的教徒，并期望别人做更多事呢？

在今天的福音中，我们看到了达味想要为上主建造一座殿宇。因为他觉得内疚与不舒服因让上主供奉在帐篷里。但正如我们在福音里看到那样，上主甚至比达味更慷慨。那时候上主对达味说“你的家室和王权，在我面前永远存在，你的王位也永远坚定不移。”让我们想想上主对于达味如此慷慨，那么上主也必会如此对我们。那么为什么我们还需要对上主计较或吝啬奉献我们的金钱和时间？难道我们还是对天主抱有怀疑？难道我们不相信天主的“话”（旨意）吗？甚至看到天主对于达味的爱与恩宠后还不能相信天主也会如此爱我们吗？

Wednesday of Week 17 Year 2

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Some of us may have slacked in our faith or even gone astray at some point of our lives, due to various reasons. But even though we may have forgotten about God or church, God does not forget us. In fact, God is constantly calling out to us to come back to Him and walk in His ways. But God is not forcing us to come back, nor is He making us come back right away. He gives us time and many opportunities to come back. However, He is not going to wait for us indefinitely. At the end, we are accountable and responsible for coming back to Him or being away from Him.

In today’s reading, God is inviting His people and us too, to come back to Him. He even assures us: “If you come back, I will take you back into my service; and if you utter noble, not despicable, thoughts, you shall be as my own mouth… I am with you to save you and to deliver you – it is the Lord who speaks. I mean to deliver you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the clutches of the violent.” If God is so loving, so forgiving and so willing to take us back, what about us? Why do we delay in coming back to Him? Also, why do we delay in being loving and forgiving to others too? May we learn to be like our loving God, and remain in His love and providence.

Tuesday of Week 17 Year 2

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When we are given a choice to do good or to do bad, what would we choose? We may say that the answer is obvious, that is, we would choose to do good. But sometimes we have people who persistently choose to do bad, despite being given much opportunities to change. Ultimately, our choices could lead to different consequences, some good, some bad.

Our spiritual life too are also full of choices. We could choose to grow faithfully, consistently and humbly closer to God, or we could choose to avoid God. In making effort to grow in relationship with God, we are allowing the good seed to be sown into our soul, as mentioned in today’s Gospel. When we sin and neglect or refuse to go for Confession, we may be sowing darnel into our soul. At the end, what would happen to us would depend on what we sow, either wheat or darnel in our soul. Ultimately, we choose what the outcome would be, depending on the way we lived our lives. Therefore, let us be prudent and make a choice. Whether we choose to live a life with God, or away from God, we should be prepared to face the rewards or consequences.

圣弟茂德与圣弟鐸

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我们当中有许多人自幼便领洗成为基督徒了。我们当中有些人在成年期成为基督徒。无论情况如何，我们是基督徒，身为基督徒的我们被耶稣委托，传扬祂的福音。这不单是个请求，是命令，是旨意，更是一个任务。该履行职责的我们不该害羞或胆怯，就如圣保禄在今天的读经当中提醒我们：“为了这个缘故，我提醒你把天主藉我的覆手所赋予你的恩赐，再炽燃起来，因为，天主所赐给我们的，并非怯懦之神，而是大能、爱德和慎重之神。所以，你不要以给我们的主作证为耻，也不要以我这为主被囚的人为耻，但要依赖天主的大能，为福音同我共受劳苦。”

我们该自问：我们是否对自己的生活感到舒适而让传扬福音的任务变得越来越不重要？我们是否一直被世俗影响，而忘了、忽略了或羞耻于为主作证？愿我们能再更新我们的热忱，让火焰再次炽燃起来，无惧无畏地与我们身边的每一个人分享主的福音，并记住我们最终的目的是以我们的生活来光荣天主。

Thursday of Week 16 Year 2

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We sometimes take for granted what God has done for us. We may have received many blessings and gifts from God, but how many of us are truly grateful or thankful to God for His providence? When times are good, some of us may even begin to think that all the blessings and gifts we received are from our own effort. But when times are bad, then only some of us may turn to God and beg for His help. Why do we behave in this way? Do we not realise where all our blessing and gifts are really coming from?

In today’s reading, the Israelites had become too full of themselves, even to the point of forgetting God. The reading tells us: “The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?”. Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me. The shepherds have rebelled against me; the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal, following the things with no power in them.” Even though the Lord had brought His people out of slavery into a fertile country to enjoy its produce and good things, they took it all for granted and even abandoned and rebelled against God who provided for them. Because of this, the Israelites eventually lost all these gifts and blessings, and ended up in exile.

In a way, we too could be in the same situation as the Israelites, if we take for granted God’s blessings and gifts. Let us never forget that what God has given is could be lost or taken away, and let us always be grateful and thankful for His generosity and bounty.

Wednesday of Week 16 Year 2

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The world that we live in today is full of different kinds of noise and attractions. People are being enticed with pleasure, fame, recognition, wealth, and many other things. This causes some nations to experience a drop in vocation, as fewer people are answering God’s call to the priesthood or religious life. When so many distractions persist, it is indeed difficult to listen and recognise God’s call. Sometimes, a person may have heard the call, but the person may feel inadequate or not worthy of answering the call.

This is where today’s reading assures us. In the reading, the prophet Jeremiah felt inadequate and said: “Ah, Lord; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child!” But God assured him by responding: “Do not say, “I am a child.” Go now to those to whom I send you and, say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you – it is the Lord who speaks!” When you have God as your help and guide, there is no reason to feel inadequate or fearful, since God will take care of things. We just need to trust Him and let Him be our providence and strength. If God is calling you today, don’t be afraid, since God does not call the qualified, but qualifies the called.